Guyana Times -Saturday, September 2, 2023.pdf

Investigations into murder of mother & son ongoing – Crime Chief

Over 350 exhibitors showcased services at Int’l Building Expo 2023

Trinidad woman charged with murder of Guyanese accountant

Acute leukaemias account for 69% of cancer cases among children – CMO

Kwebanna man critically injured by falling tree

Mc Doom duo remanded over possession of ganja

Corentyne biker dies after colliding with motor car

Suspected burglar apprehended while attempting to break into home

Residents of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), managed to apprehend a suspected burglar as he was making attempts to break into a home in the Greenfield, Providence, East Bank Demerara area.

He was later identified as 23-year-old Lester Drakes of Christian Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

heard pleading with his intended victim to spare him.

This is not Drakes's first encounter with law enforcement. Last November, he was apprehended by officers from the Grove Police Station and charged with burglary under Section 223 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Another accident along Guyana’s roadways claimed the life of a motorcyclist after he reportedly slammed into a motor car at Rose Hall Town, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Thursday.

Dead is 20-year-old Avishkar Ishmael of Train Line Dam, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police stated that the accident occurred at about 16:00h on Thursday afternoon but the young man succumbed to his injuries at about midday on Friday while receiving medical attention.

Based on reports received, Ishmael was riding a motorbike bearing registration number CM 1602 when he slammed into a car HD 1189. At the time of the accident, the motor car was reportedly proceeding at a normal rate of speed but Ishmeal was seen speeding down the roadway.

However, the collision occurred at an intersection at Rose Hall. Ishmeal’s bike

came into contact with the front portion of the car.

As a result of the collision, Ishmael fell onto the roadway where he sustained injuries. He was picked up

quently succumbed.

A relative of the newdead man told Guyana Times that Ishmael suffered multiple injuries on his body and from all indications, he could not have made it.

“His hand break, his foot break, he has a severed spine

While specific details surrounding the attempted robbery are currently limited, it has been reported that vigilant community members managed to detain Drakes, subsequently subjecting him to restraints and physical confrontation.

In a video circulating on social media, the suspect is

This charge stemmed from an incident at the residence of 73-year-old pensioner Harry Persaud in Farm, East Bank Demerara, where a robbery occurred between 02:00 and 04:00 on the specified day, resulting in the theft of $11,000.

Drakes recently appeared in the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate

Sunil Scarce, where he denied the burglary charge. Subsequently, he was granted bail in the amount of $50,000.

Motorcyclist killed in Mandela Avenue accident

– motor car reportedly breached traffic light

As the road carnage continues on Guyana’s roadways, a motorcyclist was on Friday killed after he was struck by a motor car that breached the traffic lights at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Cemetery Road, Georgetown.

The dead man has been identified as Martin Samuels, 33, of Nutmeg Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

the southern carriageway.

In the process, he ended up in the path of the motorcyclist, thus resulting in the front centre of the motorcycle colliding with the left-side front door of the hire car.

in a conscious state and taken to Port Mourant Public Hospital where he was treated and transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital

Whilst there, he was further treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he subse-

and the top of his head smash in,” the relative added. Meanwhile, Police have since detained the 43-yearold hire car driver who hails from Hampshire, Corentyne. Investigations are continuing.

According to reports received, the accident occurred at approximately 07:15h and involved hire car HD 3165, owned and driven by a resident of Bellfield, East Coast Demerara.

Guyana Times was informed that Samuels was travelling west along the southern lane of Nelson Mandela Avenue on his motorcycle, while the taxi was heading east along the extreme southern lane of the

northern carriageway of the same road.

As both drivers approached the intersection, the red traffic light was illuminated in the direction of the hire car driver. However, he failed to comply with the traffic signal and proceeded to make a right turn south onto

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist was thrown into the air and landed on the road surface, sustaining injuries about his body. Emergency Medical Technicians arrived and transported the injured cyclist in an unconscious condition to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced him dead.

The scene was later visited by investigators, and a breathalyser test was conducted on the hire car driver, but no trace of alcohol was found. The driver of the hire car is currently in Police custody, cooperating with their ongoing investigations. (G-9)

Dead: Martin Samuels

The bike that Ishmael was riding at the time of the accident

The car that Ishmael collided with on Thursday

Dead: Avishkar Ishmael

Lester Drakes just after he was apprehended by residents of Mocha

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, Sep 2 – 04:15h – 05:45h and Sunday, Sep 3 – 07:00h – 08:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Sep 2 – 05:45h – 07:15h and Sunday, Sep 3 – 06:30h – 08:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine 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 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:02h and 18:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.87 metres and 2.83 metres.

Low Tide: 11:56h reaching a minimum height of 0.4 metre.

‘Paralysis of action will be fatal’ –Pres Ali on ‘Vision 25 by 2025’ agenda

– calls on agricultural experts in Region to formulate

implementable

actions

President Dr Irfaan Ali has urged the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) not to lose sight of its Vision 25 by 2025 goals amid the successful progress made, and all actions should be geared towards gains for the Region.

The Head of State delivered the keynote address at the launch of Caribbean Week of Agriculture on Friday.

Dubbing Vision 25 by 2025 as a ‘tipping point’ for the Caribbean, the President underscored, “Failure must not be contemplated. We must persevere. Paralysis of action will be fatal. There is much more work to be done.”

As the lead for agriculture in Caricom, the Guyanese Head of State added, “I urge all key decision makers in the public and private sectors within the region attending CWA 2023 to use this forum as an opportunity to forge the vision of transforming the agri-food system.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Vision 25 by 2025, which was conceptualised by President Ali for a 25 per cent reduction in the Region’s food import bill by the year 2025. Owing to the Region’s dependency on imported foods, it faces hardships when disruptions occur. And in light of this, the intention was to formulate a sense of food stability and security.

During his speech, Ali called on agricultural experts to formulate implementable actions such as resilient food production systems, trade solutions, online platforms, financial flows, transportation solutions, youth and women involvement, product development, and innovative funding.

“Members states have not only committed to a targeted percentage allocation of public spending on food and in the agriculture sector but also committed to production targets for identified priority commodities. Recognizing the key role of the private sector, the Ministerial Task Force has partnered with CARICOM private sector organisations to identify commodities for concentrated regional policy support,” Ali added.

Priority commodities for the region are poultry, corn, meat, soya beans, rice, niche vegetables and coconut products among others.

As of 2022, the region achieved 57 percent of the

production target towards reducing the food import bill by 2025. Over the next two years, the Guyanese Leader asserted that more than 1.4 metric tonnes of commodities must be produced to achieve this target.

“We have the political will and more importantly, we have the capacity within CARICOM to achieve this and produce quality food for our people.”

The region has seen successes with this agenda, with US$100 million in support coming from the United States Government.

A spice development programme has been launched in Jamaica; a national shade house project and cattle farm in Trinidad and Tobago; increased agricultural production in St Lucia and Dominica; a new tissue lab and phytosanitary legislation adoption in Barbados; 75,000 hectares of land for large-scale agricultural projects in Suriname.

Guyana is the lead in agriculture and food security in the CARICOM bloc. This is reflected in its transformative projects in priority commodities such as corn and soya beans – becoming one of the largest agricultural

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

Wheat production trials have commenced, along with the resuscitation of the cocoa and coffee industries. Guyana is also making strides in brackish water shrimp, black belly sheep rearing, new rice varieties, new broil -

er facility to hatch eggs, among other successes.

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

By the 33rd InterSessional Conference, President Ali had presented a detailed plan for commercialising the agri-food sector while reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. Emphasis was placed on countries and their respective target areas. The Heads of State had also agreed on an agriculture forum and expo, cementing a platform for investment in the regional agriculture sector. (Rupa Seenarine)

President Irfaan Ali delivering his address for Caribbean Week of Agriculture

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Amerindian Heritage

Amerindian Heritage Month is being celebrated under the theme “Celebrating Our Traditional Culture While Building One Guyana”.

This year, Heritage Month comes at a trying time for our Amerindian brothers and sisters with respect to their land rights within their communities, but also a time of unprecedented development powered by what they have safeguarded for generations – the forest.

As Guyana celebrates Amerindian Heritage Month, all Guyanese must be conscious that our culture is dynamic and complex. Owing to an interesting unification of six ethnicities, Guyana’s cultural fabric is interwoven with African, East Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, Indigenous and European influences.

Most of today’s international conflicts are driven by differences, including economic and class tensions, and are masked by ethnic and religious differences. Thankfully, Guyana has been spared the atrocities associated with religious and cultural extremism.

One of the main factors which have essentially shielded us is that many in our society have remained open to the viewpoints, thoughts, and experiences of others, and have actively sought to explore and honour those differences.

Over the next month, we will join our Indigenous brothers and sisters in celebrating Amerindian Heritage, and will be invited to participate in the many planned activities across the country. We will undoubtedly be exposed to many aspects of the Amerindians’ rich and diverse traditions, most of which we are familiar with; many will be new to us.

In these instances, it is apt that we remain respectful and mindful of our viewpoints, lest we offend. We must at all times guard against the temptation to judge as wrong views that are different from ours. There will be instances when cultural norms of one group may make us uncomfortable. However, we must resist the urge to judge. Instead, we should make a conscious effort to understand the other perspective.

It is true that we are entitled to our opinions; it is also true that we should feel comfortable expressing our views, this goes without saying. However, we need to avoid imposing our own values on others. Again, because we live in a plural society, we need to make a conscious effort to understand the perspectives of others.

It goes without saying that our answers to important societal problems will not be identical. Also, our understanding of the causes of existing issues will not have the same frame of reference. But, like most things, the development of our cultural identity, our tolerance and understanding are all ongoing processes. Every opportunity that our society is given to celebrate and unite can be used as a platform where individuals, organisations and groups can become aware of each other and recognise existing commonalities.

During the coming month, scores of events will be held nationwide to celebrate a very important aspect of our culture; let us proceed in the spirit of peace and tolerance.

Despite many challenges, Indigenous people on the whole have worked to preserve their cultures and traditions. Today, they continue to work towards gaining full sovereignty over their lands and resources, as well as greater recognition of their cultural identity.

BY: AhmAdi Ali

The grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will be joined by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Egypt as part of an expanded collective.

But these six new entrants are among dozens of countries that have expressed interest in joining the BRICS. Further expansions of an organisation many have touted as a systemic rival to the G7 seem almost certain to follow in future summits.

As economic tensions soar and geoeconomics becomes a battleground, countries of the Global South seem drawn to the BRICS group, which includes and is partially led by China.

So, why are so many countries, including many US partners, participating in this project and seeking to boost its mission?

Many argue we are in the midst of a new Cold War. Even members of the United States Congress have lent credence to that concept. But that is an imperfect analogy.

As many have pointed out, China is a peer economy to the US and is likely to overtake it in gross domestic product (GDP) soon, while the former Soviet Union’s economy was, at its peak, only a third that of the US. But what is critically different in the global landscape of alliances is that many countries are in a position to choose their alignment.

Scholars and analysts have been discussing the rise of the Global South for decades, especially since the 2008 financial crisis, pointing to how the unprecedented and sustained economic growth of many countries outside the West was redistributing global power.

Researchers have also concluded that while the global economy’s centre of gravity was in the Atlantic, between the US and Europe, in 1980, it had moved 4800 miles (7725km) to Izmir, Turkey, by 2008 and will likely lie somewhere between India and China by 2050.

This new environment presents the nations of the Global South with options about how to respond to growing friction among major powers and how to position their nations in the midst of great power competition.

During the Cold War, one could awkwardly divide the world into three

camps: the Western bloc, the Soviet bloc and the countries that were part of the so-called non-aligned movement.

After the Cold War, many of the norms of the Western bloc formed what is often referred to as the liberal rules-based international order. This new order was enshrined into new organisations like the World Trade Organisation and older venues like the United Nations during a “unipolar moment”, when democratic capitalism and trade liberalisation seemed to have vanquished every foe.

But today, the rising power balancing the US is not looking to form a Soviet-type bloc. The reasons are both material and ideational.

China does not have the military capacity to project power over large parts of the planet and make security guarantees to faraway friends. It also has a grim history with alliance politics – such as its fallout with the Soviet Union. So it eschews the kind of alliances that define the US’s relationship with its linchpin allies in Europe and East Asia. Beijing has many partners, even “comprehensive strategic partners”, but no allies.

Beijing also has a precarious relationship with the international order Washington built. The order is one designed and carried out with US interests and preferences in mind – and to a lesser extent those of its close allies.

As China rises, the West, and the US in particular, jealously guard the rules they’ve crafted and the pegging order within those organisations.

China’s voting power and position in international fora are still extremely small compared with its economic weight. For example, China has a 5 per cent voting share in the World Bank’s main lending arm despite representing 16 per cent of the global GDP.

China has repeatedly asked for its voting power, and those of other emerging economies, to be increased to represent modern global economic distribution to no avail. This is a rather enticing combination to many countries of the Global South. Many of them also see their preferences and interests underrepresented or ignored in the world order as currently constituted.

Additionally, aligning with organisations like BRICS does not mean binding commitments to one side of the new Cold War. The Shanghai Cooperation

Organisation (SCO) may be a security cooperation forum like NATO but it lacks any Article 5 feature. If the worstcase scenario, a Sino-American military confrontation, came to pass, US allies would be expected to quickly join it in the war but China’s partners would not.

In fact, an increasingly large coalition of countries with competing and conflicting political systems, ideologies and approaches to the West may produce an increasingly unwieldy organisation and exacerbate its collective action problem.

But China is clearly gambling that a larger, more geographically and economically diverse set of countries can eventually be marshalled towards the goal of enhancing their collective representation in the world order. For example, the inclusion of more countries, especially major commodity exporters like Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, may make greater economic integration among BRICS states and the use of non-dollar currencies in trade among them more appetising.

Scholars who have examined Beijing’s relationship with the international order argue that China seeks to engage international institutions to argue for its preferences. But when it is denied what it sees as power commensurate with its global position, it seeks to create parallel institutions. This can be seen in the form of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the SCO and BRICS.

The US and its linchpin allies have common values and deep social interaction. More importantly, they have similar forms of government and economic management. This both binds them together and solves collective action problems regarding world affairs.

US partners in the Global South, however, are not under this umbrella and instead court multipolarity to maximise their bargaining position vis-à-vis duelling powers.

Joining a forum like the BRICS is less a declaration of alignment with Beijing and more an assertion by a country that they wish to remain neutral or play both sides in line with their specific national interest. (Al Jazeera)

(Ali Ahmadi is a scholar of sanctions and economic statecraft. He is an Executive Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and an Analyst at Gulf State Analytics.)

The finalists vying for the coveted title of Miss Universe Guyana 2023 during a swimsuit photoshoot on Thursday at the Marriott Hotel. The official sponsor of the swimwear is Pixton Design Group (Miss Guyana Universe photo)

BRICS expansion: A warning to the US, but not a ‘new Cold War’

...BRICS is alluring to aspiring members precisely because it does not require them to commit to an alliance

President Ali has reinforced demand for reparations on slavery

Dear Editor, Lincoln Lewis wrote that President Irfaan Ali “is usurping and undermining the work done by the CARICOM Reparations Commission” (Aug 31) in another media. Lewis did not state specifically with illustrations and compelling evidence how President Ali is usurping and undermining the work of the Commission. I cannot and do not speak for the President.

My purpose here is not a defense of his remarks on slavery of August 24

on the eve of the apology by the visiting six heirs of John Gladstone for slavery and indentureship. Maybe Lewis and I read different versions of the President’s release to the media or it could be that we have different understandings or interpretations of His Excellency’s remarks. Also, Lewis injected Bharrat Jagdeo’s name into his commentary when the Vice President made no remarks on the Gladstone apology or on slavery or indentureship. Why? There is no relevance

to the VP. The President spoke for and on behalf of the government not the VP. Lewis also made a remark on indentureship which I will correct in another missive.

First, a note on indentureship and slavery –Slavery was not associated solely with Africans but in the words of Prof Hugh Tinker, indentureship was a new form of slavery. The new indentureship and free labor system was expected to demonstrate the superiority of "free" over “slave

labour” showing the former as more cost-effective than slavery in the production of tropical products for imperial markets. The late Trinidad PM Dr Eric Williams, a historian, wrote that slavery was no longer profitable for the plantation owners and the colonial empires in the 19th century. He argued it was abolished and the freed slaves were left to fend for themselves. “Slave labor was replaced by the now more profitable indentureship labor which in reality was akin to

The case for reparations for postslavery indentured servitude

Dear Editor, I recently presented a research paper at the Anton de Kom University in Suriname on the case for reparations for indentured servitude in the Caribbean and the wider Indian Diaspora. The paper was presented in person at the international conference on Slavery, Indentured Labour and Their Impact on Present Societies.

The conference was organised by the History Department of the Faculty of Humanities in collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR), the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Social Science Research Institute (IMWO) of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, and the Directorate of Culture. (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture).

I presented a compelling case for reparations for Indian indentureship. My presentation was followed by the arrival of the family of Sir John Gladstone in Guyana two weeks ago, which marked a significant moment in history. The family expressed their sincere apologies for their ancestor’s direct involvement in both slavery and indentureship in the Caribbean country.

John Gladstone was the father of four-time British Prime Minister William Gladstone. In the year 1838, John Gladstone played a pivotal role in introducing a workforce of Indian indentured labourers to Guyana that was intended to supplant the previously enslaved Africans. He owned several sugarcane plantations in then British Guiana – Demerara, as it was called - on which slaves, and later indentured labourers, worked. The largest of those were the Vreed-en-Hoop

and Belmont estates. Historical records indicate that John Gladstone was also associated with the ownership of two vessels responsible for the transportation of exploited labourers from India. Those labourers were engaged in indentured servitude as a result of the abolition of slavery in 1834.

In a move towards reparatory justice, the Gladstone family announced their intention to contribute £100,000 to the University of Guyana's International Institute for Migration and Diaspora Studies, inaugurated at that historic event. The family also made a commitment to allocate funding towards various unnamed projects in Guyana and the University of London’s Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery, both for five years.

The hope is that a fair sum of this money would go to the study of indentureship, which would also benefit Indian lecturers and students at the university, as well as fund projects in Indian communities in Guyana.

This is an abstract from the research: “In 1838, the first shipload of Indian indentured labourers to be brought to the Caribbean set foot in British Guiana. Over the next 80+years, over half a million more would come, distributed to various colonies throughout the region to work on the colonial sugar plantations. Post-slavery indentureship was described by historian Hugh Tinker as a “new system of slavery”, it being a deceptive system riddled with abuse and exploitation.

Amid the calls for reparation, being made in recent years by the descendants of enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples, the descendants of indentured

Indians are also starting to make their voices heard and recognised. However, the argument in favour of reparations for indentured peoples, specifically Asian Indians who made up the vast majority of post-slavery indentured labourers, is less straightforward than it is for the victims of slavery and Indigenous genocide.

“In a recent Zoom public meeting of 22 May 2022, on the topic ‘Should Indians in the Diaspora demand reparation for indentureship?’, Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager of Culture and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat,

posed the question: “There are established definitions of what constitutes a crime against humanity. And so that includes enslavement, genocide, dehumanisation…. Can we also classify indentureship as a crime against humanity, and in the dialogue, then, where does it fit?

“This paper will look at the impact that indentured servitude had in the Caribbean, and interrogate the justifications for the descendants of indentured labourers to receive reparations.”

Sincerely, Dr Kumar Mohabir

slave labor”. Indentureship started on Reunion Island in 1928. Mauritius experimented with it in 1934. It was a success in both places — very profitable, allowing the investors to expand portfolios. John Gladstone introduced Indian indentureship in Guyana in 1838 with indentured servants replacing slave laborers.

As I understood Ali’s remarks, the President supplemented and reinforced the demand for African enslavement. He did not claim credit for Gladstone presence in Guyana, and he did not equate slavery with indentureship; he did not steal the spotlight on August 25 when the heirs of Gladstone apologized at UG. The President was very respectful to the organizers of the UG get-together.

He stated, among other pointers, “While acknowledging … atrocities of slavery and offering an apology is undeniably significant, it constitutes just the initial step on the path towards achieving comprehensive reparative justice for African enslavement”. He called for reparations for slavery, meaning financial compensation. President Ali also went further than the CRC. He proposed that “those involved in the slave trade be posthumously charged for crimes against humanity”. He also made the very remarks at the UN a couple of years ago.

Instead of feeling that

their mandate was usurped, I think the commission would be happy with Ali’s remarks. One should ask Prof. Hillary Beckles (Chair of CRC) and Eric Phillips (Chair of Guyana branch of CRC) if they agree with Lewis that President Ali’s remarks undermine the work of the commission.

Lewis lambasted President Ali for mentioning indentureship. The President did not mention reparative justice for indentureship in his remarks (unless I miss that line), and descendants of that system of labor who I engaged were peeved. Prof Hillary Beckles stated in the British Parliament a couple years ago and in subsequent speeches that indentureship and slavery and the regional Amerindians or native peoples must receive reparations for abuses suffered, and he used the term “indentured slavery” suggesting that indentureship was a form of slavery. Indeed, as noted, Prof Hugh Tinker called it a new form of slavery as did several other scholars.

The late British Prime Minister Lord John Russell, a Liberal, also referred to it as a ‘new system of slavery’, opposing it as against Conservative PM William Gladstone, son of John Gladstone, who approved of it.

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Page Foundation

Venn Diagrams

A Venn Diagram is used to show groups of data and can show if and when some of the data can be placed in more than one group.

Example

The left circle shows distinctive characteristics of whales. The right circle shows distinctive characteristics of fishes. The overlap shows characteristics both whales and fishes have. Using the data shown in this diagram, identify the skin-related difference. In this case, the skin-related difference is whales have hair and fishes have scales.

Exercises: Interpret

What are the characteristics of ducks according to the diagram above?

BY HARRIET MONROE

Germany casts afar

Her iron robes of war, And strikes her harp with thy triumphal song. Italy opens wide her epic scroll, In bright hues blazoned, with great deeds writ long, And bids thee win the kingdom of the soul. And the calm Orient, wise with many days, From hoary Palestine to sweet Japan Salutes thy conquering youth; Bidding thee hush while all the nations praise, Know, though the world endure but for a span, Deathless is truth.

Lo ! unto these the ever-living Past Ushers a mighty pageant, bids arise Dead centuries, freighted with visions vast, Blowing dim mists into the Future’s eyes. Their song is all of thee, Daughter of mystery.

Alone! alone!

Behind wide walls of sea !

Some animals that live in the ocean

What do you think will happen if you turn a cup full of water upside down? You may think all the water will come spilling out! In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to show you how to turn a cup full of water upside down and magically keep the water inside. Being able to do this seemingly impossible task may appear magical, but we will show you it’s just science.

Materials: A small plastic cup (8oz works well) Sink or outside area that can get wet

Playing card or index card

Optional – little foam balls or something that will float. This adds to the magical illusion of the experiment.

2) Which birds are extinct?

Instructions:

Fill the cup about three quarters of the way full with water.

Optional – add your floating items.

Place the playing card over the top of the cup making sure the card covers the entire top of the cup.

Press gently against the card as you rotate the cup upside down. Be sure to do so over a sink in case of any accidental spills.

After a few moments, remove your hand. The water will appear to magically stay in the cup!

How it works:

When you place the card on the cup of water, the air pressure inside and outside

the cup is the same. As you turn the cup over, a tiny amount of water will escape. This seemingly insignificant amount of water causes the volume of air in the cup to increase. While the volume of air in the cup stays the same, this causes the air pressure inside the cup to decrease. The card will now stay in place even though the cup is upside down, because the air pressure outside the cup is now higher than the air pressure inside the cup.

Make this a science project:

Try scaling this magic science experiment up. Use larger cups and larger amounts of water. Does the magic water cup experiment continue working as the size of the experiment increases? (sciencefun.org)

And never a ship has flown A prisoned world to free.

Fair is the sunny day

On mountain and lake and stream,

Yet wild men starve and slay,

And the young earth lies adream. Long have the dumb years passed with vacant eyes, Bearing rich gifts for nations throned afar, Guarding thy soul inviolate as a star, Leaving thee safe with God till man grow wise.

At last one patient heart is born Fearless of ignorance and scorn. — His strong youth wasteth at thy sealed gate Kings will not open to the untrod path. His hope grows sere while all the angels wait, The prophet bows under the dull world’s wrath, Until a woman fair As morning lilies are Brings him a jeweled key — And lo! a world is free. Wide swings the portal never touched before, Strange luring winds blow from an unseen shore. Toward dreams that cannot fail He bids the three ships sail, While man’s new song of hope rings out against the gale.

TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

Govt reopens competitive bidding process for Amaila Falls Hydropower Project – VP Jagdeo – says delay will not affect promise of cheap electricity

The Guyana Government is still committed to seeing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) to fruition and will be re-opening a Request for Proposal to ensure that there is a competitive process in selecting a suitable contractor for the project.

During a recent press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that the Government has received several direct proposals for the Amaila Falls project.

“So, when you have several proposals, the best way to evaluate is to go to a competitive process.

large to continue without national consensus, and had cited the lack of consensus in Parliament.

At the time, the then A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) oppositions had both expressed concerns about the project and voted down key pieces of legislation which consequently halted the project.

Then during its term in office from 2015 to 2020, the APNU/AFC coalition Administration again shelved the project. The revival of the 165-megawatt hydropower project was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive

facilitated.

At the time of that bidding process, the Government had agreed to pursue the AFHP via the BOOT model, wherein the contractor would supply electricity to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh, and wherein the company would provide the entire equity required by the project and undertake all the risks associated with the project.

According to VP Jagdeo during Thursday’s press briefing, several of the proposals received from bilateral sources are offer-

(CCC) had also held discussions with the Guyana Government on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

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

AFHP is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy, that is affordable and reliable and is envisioned to meet a significant portion of Guyana’s domestic energy needs.

This project is one of the key features in the Guyana Government’s energy mix as the country moves towards reducing its dependency on fossil fuels. The leading initiative driving this transition is the model Gas-to-Energy (GtE) 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).

With these and other projects such as two mega solar power farms, the Government is hoping to meet the growing demands and enhance the national grid with cheaper electricity.

Asked on Thursday

whether the delays in the Amaila Falls project will affect efforts to supply additional power in the short run, the Vice President responded in the negative.

“So, with a mix of different things [the delays with AFHP] would not affect our ability in the next several years to supply power once Wales comes on stream nor the price at which we said we want people to have,” Jagdeo stated. (G-8)

We will have to go to that. We haven’t launched it as yet but we will have to do that,” the VP indicated.

Further, he stated that the delay in the reward of the contract for the project will not affect the Government’s promise of cheap electricity in the short term.

The 165-megawatt AFHP was the flagship initiative of the Bharrat Jagdeo-crafted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). However, the project failed to take off despite having a developer in United States-based Sithe Global, which was backed by investment major The Blackstone Inc.

In August 2013, Sithe Global announced that it was pulling out of the project, which it said was too

Party/Civic (PPP/C) in its 2020 manifesto.

Construction of the Amaila Falls project was supposed to start last year, with an expected completion date being in 2027.

The AFHP was awarded to China Railway First Group (CRFG) in November 2021, but the contract negotiations were stalled and eventually annulled after the company indicated to the Government, its inability to execute the project in keeping with the Build-Own-OperateTransfer (BOOT) model – an arrangement that Government insists on keeping. CRFG wanted to enter into an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with the Government instead, but this was not

ing the same US$0.07 per kWh.

Only in July, the Vice President disclosed that at least two proposals were received from companies in Brazil to do the hydro project. He had noted too that companies out of the United States have similarly submitted proposals to take over the initiative.

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

Meanwhile, back in October 2022, the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, disclosed that the Canadian Commercial Corporation

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

An artistic impression of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project

Mc Doom duo remanded over possession of ganja

Do fuh do… …na obeah!!”

Two men, who were allegedly found with marijuana in their possession for the purpose of trafficking, were on Friday remanded to prison when they appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Dodstin Clarke, 45, a driver, and 62-year-old Lindon Rudder, a miner— both of McDoom, Greater Georgetown, denied having 3.186 kilograms of Cannabis

sativa (marijuana) in their possession.

The men will return to court on September 22.

It was reported that on Wednesday, August 27, at Itabali Landing, Lower Mazaruni River, Police ranks on mobile patrol at Itabali Landing, Lower Mazaruni River, observed a grey motor van bearing registration number GTT 2796, with three men inside, proceeding in the opposite direction.

The van’s owner, Clarke,

was driving the vehicle. The ranks instructed the driver to stop the vehicle, and he did. Rudder and Albert Griffith, 63, a seaman, also of Mc Doom, were the two other occupants. The ranks searched all the occupants and their personal belongings.

A further search was carried out on the motor vehicle, and located in the vehicle’s tray was a bag containing five bulky parcels, two of which were wrapped with black plastic and three wrapped with transparent

plastic.

All of the parcels had a quantity of cannabis. According to Police Headquarters, Clarke and Rudder accepted ownership of the drugs.

As such, they were cautioned, arrested, and escorted to the Bartica Police Station along with the narcotics. On arrival at the Bartica Police Station, the suspected cannabis was weighed in the presence of the defendants, and it amounted to three kilograms, 186 grams.

Trinidad woman charged with murder of Guyanese accountant

A25-year-old

Trinidadian woman has been charged in Trinidad and Tobago with the murder of Guyana-born accountant Reagan Henderson Reece, whose remains were found in a grave at Arouca, a short distance from the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad.

Alima “Shorts” Reid ap-

peared before an Arima Magistrate on August 22 where she was charged with the murder.

She was charged with the offence after Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region Two officers executed a warrant at the prison on August 21.

Reid was previously charged with conspiracy to

commit murder on July 24 and was remanded at the Arouca Prison.

Reece, 45, went missing about two months ago. He was last seen on June 22, at a barber shop at the Lapinot Junction, Trinidad, decked in a pair of black three-quarter pants, a black T-shirt, and black sneakers and was driving his Hyundai Tucson

One Hamilton Green – who signs himself as “Elder” in the letters’ columns – penned a missive in which he claims that comparisons between slavery and indentureship are “odious”. To wit, that comparison is hateful, and creates “hatred” between those compared. Fair enough. But the problem is, the gentleman goes on to do exactly what he condemns: comparing, in this case, slavery and indentureship – a comparison that he complained about being made by an eminent American professor emeritus. He even compared his credentials with the professor’s by boasting that he “spent time in London perusing records and documents available there” -- implying that the professor didn’t!!

From his previous interventions, your Eyewitness believes this fella is the same strongman of Burnham’s who denied that eminent Guyanese historian Walter Rodney a job at UG -- after the latter had not only perused records in London, but in Holland and Africa, about the subject matter at hand! In fact, Rodney wrote a book on the subject after he lost the job – History of the Guyanese Working People –before he was assassinated by Green’s mentor Burnham!!

But from the statements Green – who’d once rejected his “British slave name” and adopted his presumably original one of “Bilal” – made, one wonders which record he actually consulted!! For example, he declared conclusively: “From the records, one slave owner was paid 20 million pounds sterling.” Unfortunately, he didn’t state the name of that fantastically lucky slave owner, because from all the stated records – including the Act of the British Parliament Abolishing Slavery in 1833 - 20 million pounds were shared among some 47,000 slave owners!!

Another claim the erstwhile Bilal made was that “teachers and nurses of African descent …willingly and lovingly taught Indo Guyanese” - who ungratefully didn’t do a single thing for African Guyanese. But didn’t that most erudite Bajan novelist George Lamming write about “those Indian hands that fed us all – and made two blades of grass where there was but one”?? He was poetically referring to the rice industry which the Indians founded, and supplied cheap rice not only to then British Guianese Africans, but those of the entire British West Indies!! And as for bringing Indians into “the mainstream of a western white cultural environment” - weren’t African teachers trapping those Indians by pushing white values at the expense of their native values? As has been done to Africans, about which Bilal bemoans??

Bilal also claims expansively that “descendants from Madeira, China and India must know that they came here as free men, they came here, were paid, not so for the Africans.” But isn’t there this fella who keeps pointing out that some 40,000 Africans from the Caribbean and 13,000 Africans from Africa came here AFTER slavery - AS INDENTURED SERVANTS??!!

Maybe Bilal should spend some more time in London!!

motor car, PEC 735.

The car was spotted several times in certain areas in the Twin Island Republic but there were no signs of the now dead man. However, as reported in Trinidad Express, the Police in Trinidad and Tobago, on July 23, found the remains of the Guyanese accountant.

According to media reports, the discovery was made after Police investigators acted on a tip. The Express stated that the remains were found in a grave close to a shack, and were covered with wooden boards. The body was found wrapped in plastic and investigators recognised a tattoo on the chest area of the body.

Following his disappearance, the Hunters Search and Rescue team in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago anti-kidnapping Unit suspected that Reece might have been abducted and later murdered. Police are continuing their investigations.

…on work permits

Becoming “free”, we found out, meant the planters were free to look for the cheapest form of labour to perform the work the slaves used to do. So, from then on, the socalled “free workers” introduced have been agitating and striking to improve their wages and conditions of work. We all know the indentured labourers who replaced the slaves – in a “new form of slavery”, according to some – protested something fierce during the 79 years of indentureship. Look what’s going on right now in Berbice!!

But your Eyewitness was shocked out of his pants when he read that the Government’s now looking to bring in possibly some 100,000 workers from foreign – because we don’t have enough to fill the jobs opening up in the new oil-driven economy!! Holy cow!!

Is this on top of the thousands of Venezuelans already taking up the low paying jobs??

…on an African Bank

The African Guyanese-owned New Hayven Merchant Bank was licensed by the Bank of Guyana last year. Shouldn’t this settle one source of tension: the claim that African Guyanese are discriminated against by Banks in getting loans?? Especially now they’re linked with the African Union US$1.5 billion line of credit?!!

Reagan Henderson Reece

Dodstin Clarke Lindon Rudder

The parcels of marijuana that were found in the vehicle

Over US$40M to be invested in corn & soya bean development in Guyana by 2026 – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali

on Friday announced that in another three years, Guyana’s burgeoning corn and soya bean industry will see over US$40 million in investments that will help catapult the country into self-sufficiency and aid in realising the Region’s objective of reducing its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

“As of the first half of 2023, Guyana has cultivated over 3000 acres of soya beans and over 1200 acres of corn. We are committed to ensuring that by the end of 2026, we will have 50,000 acres of land cultivated in corn and soya,” the Head of State revealed whilst delivering remarks at the launch of the 17th Caribbean Week of Agriculture.

“This is a co-investment between the developers and the Government.

When this project is fully matured by 2026, it will be one of the largest agricultural investments in the Region, with over US$40 million invested in the development of corn and soya beans.”

At present, there is a consortium that includes Guyana Stockfeed Limited, Edun Farms and Bounty Farm Limited. Other investors are Royal Chicken, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and the Brazilianowned N F Agriculture, who are cultivating over 1000 acres of soya bean crop in the Tacama Savannah. The first cultivation trial was launched in 2021.

President Ali has already disclosed that there is a huge international interest in joining the local industry.

In the feed industry, Guyana imported close to US$30 million in products

annually. The aim is to not just attain self-sufficiency but also establish the country as a net exporter of soya.

The key stakeholders in the massive corn and soya bean project include the Government, farmers, and private companies. The Government has played a crucial role in supporting the growth of the industry, with a commitment of over $1.2 billion to infrastructural development in the Tacama area, Berbice River.

Last year, the Government improved access to the area by constructing 40 kilometres of road, with the remaining seven kilometres scheduled to be completed in 2023. Additionally, the Government invested in a drying and storage facility for corn and soya bean, which will be completed

Kwebanna man critically injured by falling tree

AKwebanna, North West District (NWD) resident was air-dashed to Georgetown on Thursday after he was injured by a falling tree which he had cut moments earlier with his chainsaw.

The injured man is Martin Domingo, who sustained spinal injuries. He is listed as critical at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Reports are that around midday on Thursday,

Domingo and others ventured up the Waini River from Kwebanna to cut wood. Shortly after cutting a tree, its branches fell on him, thus injuring him in the process.

He related to others at the scene that his entire body felt numb.

He was taken to the health centre at Kwebanna and subsequently transferred to the Kumaka District Hospital at Santa Rosa.

Since his condition was critical, medical staff there informed their superiors in the city and a Guyana Defence Force helicopter was dispatched to Moruca to airlift the injured man to the city late on Thursday.

Doctors later informed the man’s relatives about the severity of his injuries, noting that his spinal cord was ‘stretched.’ Domingo’s relatives are praying for his recovery.

this year, establishing the first such facility in the country.

Plans are also afoot to

start cultivating corn and soya bean in Moco Moco Village, North Rupununi. The Ministry of Agriculture

is also assessing the capacity in other regions, with the aim of taking the project there in the future.

Soya cultivation in Berbice

President Dr Irfaan Ali recently inspected a crop of corn

Unit of Allied Arts makes donation of musical instruments to CPCE

The Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Unit on Friday handed over several pieces of musical instruments to the Music Department of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Turkeyen Campus.

This is in keeping with its commitment to promoting music at the nursery, primary and secondary school levels.

The pieces of instruments include acoustic guitars, trumpets, keyboards, drum sets and recorders which totalled one million, three hundred thousand dollars.

Education Officer with responsibility for Music at the Unit of Allied Arts, Joel Gonsalves stated that the aim is to ensure that graduating teachers are skilled in playing at least

three instruments. He explained that this will add to the growing cohort of music teachers across the country.

Gonsalves further stated that this is also in keeping with the Education Ministry’s plan to ensure each child is exposed to a foreign language, a TVET subject, a sport and a musical instrument before graduating from secondary

The musical instruments that were handed over to the CPCE school.

The Music Coordinator at CPCE, Althea HamiltonWintz, expressed grati-

tude to the Unit of Allied Arts on behalf of the college. She noted that the donation will enable each

teacher enrolled in the music class access to an instrument.

TSA commends CJIA for robust security infrastructure during audit

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States Department of Homeland Security has successfully audited the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The audit was conducted from July 31 to August 4, 2023, and was aimed at evaluating the security measures implemented at CJIA as well as the airlines' compliance with TSA guidelines for flights to the United States.

The audit process included on-site inspections, interviews with staff, and a review of security documentation, including training records and standard operating procedures.

The audit verified that

CJIA has implemented robust security infrastructure and advanced technologies to maintain high security standards. This includes modern baggage screening systems, CCTV surveillance, access control mechanisms, and trace detection equipment.

In their out brief, the team commended the airport and its stakeholders for being compliant with international standards and recommended practices.

Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir said, “These audits are always welcomed and serve to gauge the airport's performance in this highly regulated industry.”

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our security measures and are grateful to TSA for their

feedback and guidance. We will continue to work closely with TSA to ensure that CJIA remains a safe and secure airport for all passengers,” Ghir added, The successful audit conducted by TSA at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport confirms their commitment to maintaining high security standards. This audit success reflects positively on the overall security record of CJIA, law enforcement, and the airlines.

The TSA agents were accompanied by staff of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority during the audit. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is the main entry port into Guyana and a significant hub for international air travel regionally and further afield.

Officials of the Unit of Allied Arts and CPCE at the handing over ceremony

An aircraft being inspected

No request from Guyana to lift US visa requirement – outgoing Ambassador

It was reported that a pressing issue for Guyana in its relations with Europe is the setting up of a local Schengen visa processing office. As it is, visas for Guyanese to travel to the EU still have to be processed in Suriname at the Netherlands Embassy.

visa-free travel for citizens from 13 countries including Trinidad and Tobago.

Even as several major Western nations consider following the United Kingdom (UK) in removing the visa requirement for Guyanese, outgoing United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch has disclosed that there were no formal requests from local authorities for a similar lift on the visa requirements to travel to the North American nation.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch is departing Guyana after a four-year stint here as the United States Ambassador. During her final press conference on Thursday, the US diplomat was asked whether her country is considering removing the visa requirement for Guyanese.

In response, the US Ambassador said, “I’m not aware of any requests.”

Nevertheless, Ambassador Lynch noted that the US will continue to welcome Guyanese but through legal means.

“Our goal at Embassy Georgetown is to ensure that there are legal pathways, if you will, to come to the United States to visit whether you’re a tourist or whether you have children in school, whether you’re a student and also there’s the immigrant visa… So, what I do know is that we have lots and lots of people every day outside the Embassy waiting to have an interview, and we welcome them.”

“We welcome Guyanese to the United States. You know the [Guyanese] diaspora is quite large and so a lot of people have deep family ties, economic ties,

and as I said, educational ties to the United States. So, we welcome that large number of Guyanese into the United States and doing so legally,” the outgoing US envoy stated.

In November 2022, the UK Government lifted the visa requirement for Guyanese passport holders.

Reports are that Guyana is already in talks with Italy and Mexico on the possibility of visa-free travel.

And only two months ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed that at least five European countries have agreed to support Guyana’s bid for visa-free travel to Schengen countries.

“In terms of the removal of the visa, you have to have sponsoring countries, and I’m very pleased to tell you that we have at least five countries that have agreed to sponsor us to begin the process within the EU itself. But there’s a bigger issue that we have to address, and this is our passports and what is required for future travelling.”

“You know biometrics and e-passports are very critical for global travellers. So, we have to now work expeditiously on having our system transformed so that we can have ease of movement and ease of travel,” the Head of State had noted.

In addition to obtaining visa-free travel status, President Ali had also said Guyana is working on having the Schengen visas processed more efficiently in Guyana.

Moreover, stakeholders including the local private sector – Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) – have been calling for Canada to also lift its visa requirement for Guyanese. This call was heightened in June after Canada announced

In July, the 2023 Henley Passport Index ranked the Guyana passport at number 59, with access to 88 visa-free destinations – an improvement from the number 64 ranking in 2022.

Guyana ties in the 59th spot with Jamaica and Bahrain, but outperforms nations like Suriname, which is ranked 65; China, which came in at 63 and India, which is at the 80th position.

Outside of their

Caribbean Community (Caricom) neighbours, Guyanese passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Malaysia, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, among others.

In other cases, Guyanese passport holders can benefit from a visa upon arrival in countries like Armenia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and others.

The Henley Passport Index is the original, au-

thoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.

Meanwhile, the Guyana passport is only projected to grow stronger as the Government forges deeper partnerships with nations around the world. (G-8)

Outgoing US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

Over 350 exhibitors showcased services at Int’l Building Expo 2023

expo saw new innovative technologies, international companies seeking to establish local standings

gave over 350 exhibitors the opportunity to display useful products and services within the housing sector.

The exposition was described as a major success by subject Minister, Collin Croal during a recent televised programme, “The Guyana Dialogue.”

“In the sense of showcasing our country, showcasing construction and building innovative technologies in this sector – yes, we have achieved that objective,” Croal said.

quaint themselves with relevant companies that appeal to their interests, and to allow stakeholders to effectively network.

The curtains were pulled on the Housing and Water Ministry’s four-day International Building Expo on Sunday, which

The two main goals the Ministry aimed to attain through the expo, Croal explained, were to give the public the chance to ac-

“I’ve met a few companies that came and participated in this expo. They were new companies, they didn't have a local branch, and they didn't have much networking locally. But coming out of the expo, they were able to establish relationships so that they can have agents or they can set up local offices here just because they were using the expo as a feeler for the industry,” Croal said.

The event, held at the National Stadium in Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) from August 24-27, saw the attendance of close to 50,000 paying patrons, with Sunday seeing the most foot traffic, according to Croal.

Participating companies included Windsor Estates, which offered a glimpse of their luxury gated community slated for establishment within Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Excel Guyana launched its new subsidiary company, Excel Guyana EPI Inc; and Unicomer Guyana launched Courts Business Solutions (CBS), a division of its Courts brand, that provides customers with a

one-stop-shop suite of solutions to help secure their product purchases.

Within the expo, the Housing Ministry also hosted another one of its "Dream Realised" Housing Drives during which 2000 persons were allocated their house lots and some 600 received their Certificates of Title.

Subsequent to this house lot distribution exercise, the Ministry has now allocated about 26,000 lots countrywide, forming part of their five-year commitment to deliver 50,000 house lots by 2025.

In response to questions raised about how lots are

assigned and their distribution among the population, Croal clarified that allocation is done without racial bias.

“First of all, we don't determine where you're going, in any case. You don't know your neighbour; you're pulling from an envelope so it's spontaneous where your lots fall. And so, we remove any biases in terms of placement,” Croal said.

“The Government does not ask your ethnicity in the application,” he added, noting that this applies to programmes carried out across Ministries.

Excel Guyana launches new construction company

Excel Guyana Inc in partnership with a Venezuelan construction company, DICCA, has launched its new subsidiary company, Excel Guyana EPC Inc. The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company which was launched at the International Building Expo 2023 last weekend, is said to make waves in the EPC industries.

During a telephone interview with <<<Guyana Times>>>, Excel Digital Marketing Specialist, Terrence Walker noted that the company will be a separate entity established in Guyana and will be managed by Excel.

Chief Executive Officer of Excel, Kris Sammy unveiled that they have been working on the company for months and are wellequipped to bid for large projects in the construction sector. DICCA, he added, was one of the largest construction companies in Venezuela 20 years ago and boasts over 200 qualified engineers.

“We’ve been working on this for many months and essentially what you have under the Excel banner in terms of the services, recruitment, procurement, custom brokerage, and marine and offshore unit, we provide those services but when it comes to construc-

tion projects, we’re always filling a role of…a sub-contractor and essentially,” Sammy said.

“The importance of engineering, procurement, and construction, is not many Guyanese businesses can fill those categories, so essentially, we’re really stuck as being sub-contractors to larger companies. What we’re able to do under Excel Guyana EPC Inc is with the backing of DICCA, they bring 200+ engineers, very qualified in the construction sector, building roads, hospitals, power plants, [and] schools, we’re able to bring that now under EXCEL as a local consortium offering and tendering for very large infrastructure projects,” Sammy further explained.

He added that there are also a few other international companies under the EPC structure.

“Under the EPC structure, we have other partners, like the Inver Group. Inver is a very large American company based in America, Puerto Rico, and Mexico and they build warehousing. So, some Baker Hughes warehouses here in Guyana, they’ve built that. So those types of structures we’ll do under our new Excel EPC.”

Excel Guyana is a fully integrated management company that was launched

in Guyana in 2019. Prior to that, the company had been very active in the mining sector, with one of their flagship companies that they were very involved in bringing forward the Omai gold mines, which has recently been quite active in gold discovery.

The company is fully registered with the local content secretariat and is also the first to achieve IMS, the Integrated Management System which has three levels of ISO certifications.

Georgetown schools ready for new academic year – Manickchand

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday inspected several schools around Georgetown, in light of reopening for the new school year on Monday.

As she checked on their readiness for the new school term, the Minister said she is “very pleased with the completion and readiness of most schools considering the limited time the Ministry had for some extensive repairs and rehab works.”

In Georgetown, some schools were expanded in time for the new school year. Manickchand added

that hundreds of children will occupy spanking new buildings.

In 2022, a decision was made to expand Queen’s College with new classrooms to the tune of $103.5 million. The Bishops’ High School was also extended at a cost of $95.4 million.

At the 2023 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), cut-off marks this year were 499.2 for Queen’s College, 496.2 for The Bishops’ High School, 493.6 for St Stanislaus College, 490.7 for St Rose’s High School and 488 for St Joseph High School.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

One of the many booths at the expo

The CH&PA team at the expo with Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

Education Minister Priya Manickchand inspecting one of the schools on Friday

Excel representatives during the launch of the EPC company at the International Building Expo

Billions in 2024-2025 budget projected to address priorities of Amerindian communities – Pres Ali

As the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference came to a close on Friday, President Dr Irfaan Ali assured the Indigenous leaders of the Government’s multibillion-dollar investments

added.

Meanwhile, after committing to an audit of healthcare and education facilities across the country last year, Ali explained that as the Government now has a better understanding of the

quarter in 2024, we must have built out a complete platform through which our teachers will sit in their villages and be able to become trained teachers from right where they are,” Ali said.

“This is going to be an expensive endeavour but we’ve committed to this – that our Information Technology (IT) infrastructure must bridge the divide and allow persons in the hinterland to have access to all the facilities, including becoming trained teachers, healthcare workers and more importantly, the full potential of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme will then be at your disposal,” Ali stated.

expressed intentions to not only expand tourism products in the country but also on a large scale, noting a need to build the country’s capacity to do so.

He explained that the Tourism, Commerce and Industry Ministry will be launching a special initiative to train and certify young people in hospitality management to allow them to work in the new internationally-branded hotels currently being constructed across the

country.

Women and youth

Acknowledging concerns raised on the challenges that women and youth face within the hinterland communities, President Ali shared the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s plans to work on specific programmes that target these groups.

“We are going to work on an aggressive, integrated plan with the Ministry to support women, children and

youth in our hinterland and riverine communities,” Ali said.

As such, the upcoming budget will speak directly to a new initiative that seeks to support women, in areas of skills development.

Ali further assured the Indigenous leaders of their continuous input as the 2024-2025 budget is developed to consider the priority areas raised during the conference these past few days.

(Pooja Rambaran)

in key areas of education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and tourism within the hinterland and riverine communities.

The week-long conference saw leaders across the hinterland communities discussing areas of concern with Government officials at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

“I believe that the per capita combined investment we’ve invested in the last three years in hinterland and riverine communities is perhaps the highest in the combined history of our investment in Amerindian affairs,” Ali said. “This is only going to get better.”

Infrastructure

“Based on the requests made to the Government, we have immediately set aside $100 million for community grounds and community facilities,” Ali said.

This is in addition to the further $16 billion investment remaining for this year, of which $6 billion is specifically for hinterland roads, he

state of those facilities, they are embarking on an aggressive programme to improve teachers’ quarters and hostels, expand existing schools and build new schools, where practical.

He further noted that the Government is also working to construct new regional hospitals and health centres, while expanding health services and telemedicine sites.

“We want to work with communities in the utilisation of local labour and local materials in the build-out of infrastructure in your communities so we create jobs, we create economic activities and we create demand for your own products,” Ali said.

ICT

The President also disclosed plans to work with community members on a programme for the remainder of this year and the following year whereby the Government will increase investments in improving internet connection.

“We’ll look at newer, faster technologies because, by the time we get to the last

The Head of State further stated that investments are also being made to advance the level of expertise of teachers, declaring that by 2026/2027, all teachers in Guyana will be trained and those who already are, they will move on to become graduate-trained teachers.

Agriculture

In the agriculture sector, the President stated that $300 million will be set aside in the new budget for food security and agricultural development, adding that Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is working to set up a specific unit that deals with hinterland food security and food production.

“Furthermore, we want you, in every single region, to identify young people who can be trained to become vets, agriculture support staff and extension officers,” Ali said.

“We are willing to immediately train 150 of your young people from your regions and communities in these areas to support food production, food security and agricultural expansion,” Ali said.

Tourism

By 2025, the President

Amerindian leaders at the NTC Conference on Friday

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Fire Service must work on saving assets in burning structures – Min Benn

Home Affairs Minister

Robeson Benn has called for a new culture in firefighting where there are increased efforts to salvage assets from a burning structure, rather than just curtailing the spread of fire.

During a recent event at the Guyana Fire Service Headquarters, Benn underscored that as additional resources are being pumped into the various fire stations, this must be reflected in their performance.

He called for greater emphasis on saving assets when firefighters arrive at a scene, through preparedness and proper training.

“When we arrive, we have to be able to try and save the assets. We want to be able to stop the spread of fire. We want to extinguish and douse properly so that we don’t have to talk about reignition. We have to be able to deal with those issues in a way which is sound and we’re not embarrassed. The fundamental thing is the awareness as to training and the following of procedures and rules, the discipline that is required,” he divulged.

However, the Minister noted that soon, the Wales Fire Station will come on stream while noting that it must be able to fight fires as-

sociated with threats in the oil and gas industry.

A modern facility is being constructed at the West Bank Demerara location, with the fire station costing some $69 million. Other infrastructural works are pegged at almost $24 million.

It was catered that when the gas-to-energy project comes online in Wales, the area will be in need of such a facility. Among the benefits for Guyana would be the saving of between US$150 million to US$200 million in foreign currency which would have otherwise covered the country’s fuel import bill.

“We have to get beyond the concept of merely being there, even while the outfits will also have to put in their own measures to ensure that they don’t have problems by way of fires or explosions.”

The scope of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating pro-

duction, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

Fire stations were planned for new townships – Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini); Mahdia,

Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-

Upper Essequibo). The Guyana Fire Service was also getting ready to build a fire station in Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Collectively, the fire stations in the county of Berbice: New Amsterdam and Rose Hall Town, which are in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and Onverwagt in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) make up the Berbice Fire Division. But authorities were mulling another station at Rose Hall earlier this year, having witnessed an alarming rate of fires in the area.

Last year, the Eccles Fire Station was commissioned at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, at a cost of approximately $37.8 million to

provide fire and rescue services to persons living on the East Bank of Demerara from Agricola to Providence, and lend support to residents of West Demerara. (G-12)

Investigations

into

murder of mother & son ongoing – Crime Chief

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday stated that investigations are still ongoing by the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into the murders of 31-year-old Melisa Arokium and her eight-year-old son, Anthony Arokium.

This update was provided by the spokesperson of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mark Ramotar.

On August 23, 2023, the bodies of the mother and son were discovered at their home at Mangrove Street, Rose Hall Town, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The case was almost immediately transferred to the Major Crimes Unit.

Within two hours of the discovery, Police told the media that four persons of interest were taken into custody and had been assisting with the investigation.

In a subsequent statement, Police said those arrested were Serrana Arokium called “Foody”, a

33-year-old cane-harvester, a brother; the brother that discovered the body of the victims, Nicholas Arokium, called “Nico”, a 26-year-old vendor; the boyfriend of the victim, Shailendra Umrao, a 37-year-old of Belvedere, Corentyne Berbice; and a neighbour of the victim, Deo Naris, a 38-year-old deejay. A fifth person was also subsequently detained but they have all been released.

Only a few days ago, relatives of the victims urged the

Police to intensify their investigations.

Meanwhile, the boyfriend of the victim, Umrao, had told this publication that one day prior to the gruesome discovery, he had visited the woman’s home where he found her crying. The man explained that when he asked her why she was crying, but she did not give much details.

The mother and son are expected to be laid to rest today.

MMA monitoring broken sluice at D’Edward Village

The Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) is monitoring a situation at D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), where a section of the sluice door broke away.

The three-door sluice protects the villages of D’Edward and Cotton Tree, allowing for timely drainage of water from the respective communities.

Reports are that sometime after 16:00h on Friday, villagers saw the water levels rising and it was soon discovered that a section of the middle door was damaged,

thus allowing water to freely enter the drainage canal.

However, Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal explained that the situation is being monitored while noting the remedial

work could not have started since the tide was high. The D’Edward Sluice falls under the control of the MMA. Up to late Friday evening, there were no reports of flooded areas.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Murdered: Melisa Arokium and son Anthony Arokium

US is “here to stay” – Ambassador Lynch on support to Guyana

Outgoing United States Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch has reassured that her Government will continue to support Guyana on its unprecedented development trajectory, noting there are a number of new deals that will further enhance ties between the two countries.

During a recent press conference – her last as she wraps up an almost fiveyear tenure in Georgetown, Ambassador Lynch noted that the United States is a strong bilateral partner to Guyana and its presence here will remain for a long time.

“We know positive change takes continued effort but the United States Government is proud to be a partner who is here to stay. We will continue to partner with Guyana in the critical areas of governance, economic development, and security. And we will also continue to invest in Guyana’s growing and vital civil society,” she stated.

The outgoing envoy pointed out that Guyana and the US have achieved many successes in recent years at the Government, private sector, and civil society levels. In fact, she noted that bilateral trade between the two countries has tripled over the past four years alone.

Ambassador Lynch further stated that during her tenure, they have been working hard to tell the story of Guyana’s transformation and attract US investors here. This, she added, has resulted in significant historic deals between the two countries.

Among these partnerships is the model gas-to-energy project, for which the Guyana Government is seeking funding from the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.

In July 2022, Guyana and the US EXIM Bank signed a US$2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to finance infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, water treatment and sanitation, and agriculture projects.

Earlier this year, the Government applied for a loan to the tune of $134 million (US$646 million) from the EXIM Bank to finance the multi-billion gas-to-energy project, that will see natural gas being piped from offshore to the facilities in Wales.

Another deal that Ambassador Lynch mentioned between the two nations is the landmark US$750 million carbon credit sale agreement with the US energy major, Hess Corporation. That historic deal was signed in December 2022 for Hess Corp to buy some 37.5 million high-quality certified REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) carbon credits from the Guyana Government between 2022 and 2032.

Moreover, the US diplomat highlighted that these successes are further bolstered by the multiple large trade missions such as the Louisiana Trade Mission – the largest from the US to date – that the Embassy in Georgetown facilitat-

she posited.

According to the outgoing Ambassador, US companies bring some unique things to the table such as quality, excellence on-time for budget projects, and high standards of safety. She noted these are important aspects that Guyanese companies have to think about when they are considering partnering with foreign businesses.

In fact, the US envoy noted that the interest from the US in the local economy is diverse both at the State and private sector levels. This, she noted, was reflected in the recently held International Building Expo in Guyana, which saw participation from several US companies and a major deal signed between the Guyanese Government and New Century International Florida for South Atlantic Logistics and General Service, a New Jersey-based firm, to construct 200 homes at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

“They have a very unique product whereby they can build a one-storey three-bed-

ed, which has resulted in US businesspeople getting the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships with local companies, educational institutions, and Government Ministries.

“US companies always bring high standards and responsible business practices to their work, further promoting shared prosperity… There are many opportunities here and not just in the oil and gas sector but across sectors whether it be agriculture, IT services, tourism, manufacturing…”

“The United States has been working very hard, as you know, to bring US companies here to explore and potentially take part in some of these opportunities. And my goal is to get more and more – has been and will continue to be – continue to educate US companies on those opportunities, bring them here, play kind of a match-making role to put them in touch with local companies so they can see all that is available here,”

room home in less than a month that’s affordable. So, that sort of unique product is really getting a lot of attention here in Guyana. And I think companies like that, what they’re doing is they’re doing their homework, first of all, they’re coming here to explore Guyana, and they’re listening to the people and Government and others in their conversations, and that’s what we’re encouraging them to do. And that’s resulting in real deals,” the US envoy posited.

According to the Ambassador, there are other US companies that are also looking at major road infrastructure projects and new hotels as well. She added that there is also much scope for new partnerships in other areas such as agriculture, where the US has expertise and tools to assist locals in enhancing their production.

Manufacturing, healthcare, education, and ICT are among other areas where there is growing interest in US businesses.

“So, there are so many different areas and our job in the US Embassy is to describe what we see as areas of opportunity, and then encourage these companies to do exactly what I said, do their homework, come up with a plan, and definitely come here because I think it's important to build trust with the local partner, for example, that's also very important… So, I think we are here, we are strong and we will remain here,” the outgoing US Ambassador stressed. (G-8)

The MoU for the construction of 200 homes was signed between Guyana’s Ministry of Housing and Founder of New Century International, Alex De La Cruz, last month on the sidelines of the International Building Expo

Outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch

Acute leukaemias account for 69% of cancer cases among children – CMO

In the children demographic, the most prevalent cancer detected in Guyana is acute leukaemia cases - accounting for about 69 per cent of detected cases.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh appeared on this week’s edition of the Health Matters programme, which focused on Childhood Cancer Awareness. He shared that Childhood Cancer Awareness is geared at spreading the word on early detections to improve survivability and prognosis. To date, he noted that leukaemias account for about 69 per cent of detections.

“We think about cancer, we think about adults. We always report about the cancer stats in adults but sometimes the childhood cancer stats get neglected or sometimes it is not brought to the forefront. It is important because we are seeing more

and more cases in Guyana,” the CMO underscored.

Many times, Dr Singh divulged, detection is late owing to subtle symptoms. This impacts prognosis and treatment.

Consultant in the Paediatric Medicine Department at GPHC, Dr Sherelyn Stanton underlined that Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed in September, drawing focus on the fact that it is the second leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the Americas.

The Paediatric Medicine Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has several teams, including a haematology and oncology service that examines children with blood disorders and cancers.

Dr Stanton disclosed, “The team focuses not only

on seeing those patients who are already diagnosed and managing them, giving them chemotherapy and the like, but also investigating potential patients that have cancer. We operate not only in a treatment measure but in an advisory capacity.”

While the department

facilitates children under 13 years of age, older kids spanning up to 18 years are seen by the adult oncology department.

The consultant zeroed in on family support as one of the ‘big areas’ for children diagnosed with cancers, which are oftentimes overlooked. When children are admit-

ted, they are more prone to desire the presence of a family member. However, this is many times marred by financial constraints and other family obligations.

“We don’t pay as much attention to that but the management of any type of cancer should be holistic where we not only think about getting blood work done, giving chemotherapy, or having surgery…but also what are the things that will make the quality of life of that child improved, or at least tolerable.”

She added that the first conversations after a diagnosis are difficult. However, parents have been encouraged to have their children screened if they are not feeling well.

The medical professional noted, “If your child is not well or not getting better, the ideal thing would be to

seek medical attention and at this point, let the clinicians do the work for you.”

There are no general screening methods available around the world for prevalent cancers such as leukaemias, brain cancers, and lymphomas.

Plans are being made to expand the paediatric haematology and oncology services. Capacity is expected to increase with the new €149M Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, with dedicated clinic area; and facilities for chemotherapy, transfusions, and other services in an outpatient-type setting – safe from potentially infectious diseases.

“Once we have those facilities available, they should be able to come and comfortably get their outpatient care for their cancer.” (G-12)

PPC conducts training for stakeholders in Mahdia

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on Friday hosted a Public Procurement Training at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Boardroom in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Some 21 persons from nine procuring entities

across the region seized the opportunity to educate themselves and be guided on various topics covered by the PPC, through an engagement facilitated by the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Singh and other staff.

Topics covered during

this training included an introduction to the PPC– who they are and what they do; what the public procurement process entails; how to lodge a complaint; what the debarment process includes; how to complete a procurement plan; and tender openings and evaluation.

This event forms part of the Commission’s ongoing public awareness campaign to empower stakeholders with the rules and procedures of the public procurement system so that they are able to better navigate, comply, and benefit from its resources.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Cap 1:01 to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures, and special requirements of the procurement process among suppli-

ers, contractors, and public bodies.”

Pursuant to Section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap 75:03, the PPC is responsible for organising training seminars regarding procurements.

This training adds to the several the PPC has held across the country, for this year alone.

In August, about 252 persons from 19 procuring entities, suppliers, contractors and consultants as well as the general public attended a public open day hosted by the Commission at the

Tabatinga Sports Ground, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Meanwhile, in July, over 200 persons within Region One (Barima-Waini) engaged in a similar training on the various aspects of the procurement process.

For entities seeking to join those that have engaged in these trainings, the PPC encourages them to contact them via their telephone numbers (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364 or their email at operations@ppc.org.gy for further information.

Georgetown schools ready for new academic ...

More students were placed at some national schools when compared to last year, owing to the expansion works undertaken by the Education Ministry.

This year, the Education Ministry increased its “Because We Care” cash grant

for schoolchildren across the country, which aims to provide financial assistance to families with regard to their children’s educational needs.

The $40,000 cash grant saw children registered in nursery, primary, and secondary public and private

FROM PAGE 12

schools receiving a $35,000 grant, together with $5000 for school uniforms and other supplies.

Several new secondary schools are also in the pipeline, all geared at bettering the experience of children in the public schools.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh

Consultant in the Paediatric Medicine Department at GPHC, Dr Sherelyn Stanton

Mahdia participants with the staff of the Public Procurement Commission during training on the procurement process

UG launches post-graduate Certificate in Trauma, Grief Resilience

Afirst-of-its-kind post-graduate Certificate in Trauma and Grief Resilience has been introduced by the University of Guyana to provide professionals working in schools, communities, and on an interpersonal level with skills and techniques to support those working through trauma and grief.

This new programme was conceptualised and implemented by the university, which has a specific interest in looking at resilience as a strategy, system, and discipline.

At the recent launch of the programme, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed, noted that this course is being offered at the post-graduate level to equip people working at a certain level in communities, and schools with specific skills and techniques.

“Such a programme of study is not only relevant and needed in Guyana but in other parts of the Caribbean and the world. A lot of activities and events that have happened since even COVID have left people with the need for professional care

Mastermind, gunman in Lusignan Chinese supermarket robbery arrested

to their motorcycles, which they mounted and rode off the scene.

Ryan Goodluck is no stranger to the law, he has a prior history with the law, having been among six individuals charged and remanded to prison for a $13.4 million heist at GTT's Giftland store in September of the previous year.

Marva Langevine

and help in getting over grief and trauma.” According to her, this ranges from interpersonal deaths and loss and catastrophic events such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and in particular in the Caribbean, hurricanes.

She added, “We would hope in rolling this programme out that we are going to be able to support the work, in particular, of counsellors in schools who are placed by the Ministry of Education or by private organisations who could help children, especially who carry a lot of ‘hatred’ in them.

post-graduate certificate to persons in the Region as there is no other programme like this being offered in the Caribbean.

The post-graduate certificate will cover a broad range of topics, according to course lecturer Marva Langevine, who holds a Master of Science in Psychology of Mental Health from St Mary's University in London.

As the founder of Guyana Golden Lives Organisation, a bereavement charity, Langevine has offered grief and trauma support to scores of children.

Stressing the need for such a programme, Langevine said, “As we are gathered here today, we are reminded of the pressing challenges faced by our nation. High rates of suicide, domestic violence and other traumatic events have left scars on our communities. This course empowers course participants with the knowledge to identify those at risk and to provide preventative strategies that foster resilience and healthy coping mechanisms.”

homes, schools, and communities, noted Minister Persaud.

The programme is the product of a collaboration between the University of Guyana’s Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security, and the Future and UNICEF Guyana. During the virtual launch, UNICEF’s Area Representative, Nicolas Pron congratulated the University of Guyana for driving the creation and rollout of the course.

As investigations continue into the robbery of a Chineseowned supermarket, which occurred in Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) on Tuesday evening, the Police have apprehended two suspects.

Ryan Goodluck, a 29-yearold vendor from Herstelling Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Jamal Seymour, a 25-year-old mason residing on Sussex Street, Georgetown, were arrested on Wednesday evening.

According to the Police, the two men carried out an armed robbery at the Chinese-owned supermarket. The breakthrough in their capture came as a result of information and feedback received after the release of CCTV screen grabs of the suspects on the Police's Facebook page.

One of the arrested suspects is believed to be the mastermind behind the robbery, while the other is suspected of being the one who held the cashier at gunpoint.

"Commander Division 4

‘C’, his Deputy, along with a team from Divisions 4C and 4A, conducted searches at the homes of the two suspects at about 23:00 hrs last night," the Police reported.

During the search, law enforcement discovered the clothing worn by the suspect who brandished the firearm during the robbery. Both suspects are currently in Police custody and are expected to

Goodluck, along with Andrea Dover, Priecy Roberts, Ashley Mansfield, Jamal Haley, and Osman Brummell, appeared in court at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where they faced armed robbery charges. They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison.

On September 8, 2022, at the Giftland Mall, two individuals posed as security guards from Amalgamated Security Services Limited (ASSL) and stole $13.4 million in cash and $6 million in checks from GTT store located on the mall's second floor. The suspects were apprehended after Police tracked down the getaway car, a white Toyota Raum, which was owned by Priecy Roberts.

We don’t know it until they start to act out later on. And all those who have lost so many people in the last few years. This includes migrants and children who are being displaced from our neighbouring countries through very tragic and sad circumstances…”

Mohamed expressed that the university is offering this

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who delivered brief remarks, highlighted that the new programme will enhance Guyana’s development. The offering of the post-graduate certificate course is critical to the professional development and specialisation of social service practitioners who work with children, individuals, and families in

“Building a protective environment, especially for children, within homes, schools and societies must be our collective mission to ensure each child can not only survive, but thrive,” he said.

In order to advance research and strengthen the human resource abilityofGuyanaandothercountries in the Caribbean to tackle mental health and other related challenges head on, the university of Guyana has over the years created a number of programmes.

face charges in the near future.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), four armed men approached the business establishment via XR motorcycles, one red and the other black.

CCTV footage seen by this publication showed that the perpetrators brazenly parked their bikes in front of the supermarket before storming inside, brandishing firearms, and threatening two cashiers, 50-year-old Xie Zie Ying and 46-year-old Xie Zi Xia.

The criminals then confiscated a stack of phone cards and an undisclosed sum of cash before returning

During questioning, Roberts admitted to being the getaway driver and led the Police to recover $500,000 from his share of the stolen money. Andrea Dover, a cleaner at Giftland Mall's GTT branch, confessed to her involvement in planning the robbery but claimed she wasn't the mastermind.

She identified Haley, known as "Biggs," as the mastermind and revealed her role in providing key details about GTT's cash movements and the layout of the building. She received $800,000 for her participation, which was found hidden in her sister's backyard.

Police later located Haley and arrested him, along with his accomplice, Goodluck, who had a significant amount of cash in his possession. Both men confessed to their involvement in the robbery. Additionally, Biggs handed over $1.1 million to the police, which he had given to a bus driver for safekeeping.

UG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed

UNICEF Area Representative Nicolas Pron

Arrested: Ryan Goodluck

The bandits who robbed the supermarket

Arrested: Jamal Seymour

Regional Ecuador prison violence: Dozens of guards taken hostage

More than 50 prison guards and seven Police officers have been taken hostage in several jails in Ecuador, according to officials.

Two car bombs also went off in the capital, Quito, both targeting the country's prisons authority (SNAI).

Nobody was hurt in the bombings and at least six people have been arrested.

The authorities believe at least one of the incidents could be retaliation for a Police search for weapons at one of the country's biggest jails.

Ecuador's Interior Minister, Juan Zapata, said the authorities were taking action, but did not give further details.

"We are concerned about the safety of our officials," said Zapata.

Hours earlier, a bomb targeted a building that had formerly been used by the SNAI in Quito. The second explosion targeted the

agency's headquarters.

Police said the later attack was carried out using a vehicle that had been rigged with explosives.

Quito Mayor Pabel Munoz said there were also grenade explosions in the city during the night.

Ecuador is facing growing violence linked to drug-trafficking gangs, which has put a huge strain on the under-resourced and overcrowded prison system.

Hundreds of inmates have been killed in dead-

Peru tears down Lima 'wall of shame' but wealth divide stays strong

A4.5-kilometer "wall of shame" separating luxurious estates in Peru's capital Lima from neighbouring communities living in poverty is being torn down after some four decades, though divisions remain strong.

ly fights in Ecuador's overcrowded jails in recent years. Such is the influence of narco-politics in Ecuador, its prisons are places of power - it's where those involved in drugs offences get locked away.

But they're also the control centres of many of the cartels and gangs now - so when inmates don't like what the authorities are doing, they make that known through violence and riots.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

The wall, which has sections up to three metres high and secured with barbed wire, separates people living in precarious housing on dirt roads with no basic services from residents of an asphalt-paved gated neighbourhood of well-to-do homes, some luxurious mansions even equipped with swimming pools.

The wall, which has become a symbol of deep inequality in the Andean nation, began to be demolished thanks to a ruling by the country's constitutional court, following a four-year legal battle.

"It affects free transit,

but also hurts the dignity of the neighbours," said court Magistrate Gustavo Gutierrez, who is overseeing the demolition. "It is a division that separates two social groups that should not exist."

Residents of the wealthy La Molina district began building the wall in the 1980s, citing security concerns during years of violence from the Shining Path, a Maoist rebel group

which intended to overthrow the Government. Their campaign of guerilla warfare led to 20 years of brutal conflict with Peru's armed forces, leaving some 69,000 dead or missing, according to official figures. The group was largely destroyed in the 1990s, but the wall dividing La Molina and the poorer Villa Maria del Triunfo remained and has grown in size. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Western creditors and Cuba pledge to salvage debt deal

When Venezuela's economy was showing tentative signs of recovery in 2020, Enrique Perrella thought it was time to open a cafe in eastern Caracas serving coffee, desserts and breakfasts.

But by January of this year, faced with rising rent, increased taxes and financing constraints, he closed it down.

"The boom is over," said Perrella. "There is no protection for investment."

After a brief recovery on the back of de-facto dollarisation, Venezuela's economy is once again falling victim to high inflation, lagging salaries, and decreases in purchases and production of goods, say business owners and analysts.

The Government of Nicolas Maduro relaxed currency controls in 2019, allowing more transactions in dollars despite US sanctions. The move led to a slight recovery in 2021 and 2022 after eight years of economic collapse and the migration of some 7.3 million Venezuelans. Maduro hailed economic growth of 15% last year and said in August that expansion was continuing.

But merchants and analysts said the dollarisation boost has proven insufficient in the face of limited credit, a depreciating local currency, higher taxes, straitened public spending amid lower oil income, and rising utility bills.

Economic activity de-

creased 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period the year before, according to the non-governmental Venezuelan Finance Observatory, while inflation reached 398% year-on-year in July, according to the central bank.

Other businesses which have survived said they were slashing prices, salaries and profit margins to stay afloat.

Industrial production was down 7.6% in the first half of the year, compared with the same period in 2022, according to manufacturing guild Conindustria. Commercial sales were down 9% in the same period, local analyst firm Ecoanalitica said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil top court expected to reject limit on Indigenous land claims

Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to rule later this month against attempts by the country's powerful farm lobby to limit land claims by Indigenous peoples to areas they occupied before 1988.

Lawyers and Indigenous rights advocates believe a majority of the 11-member court will vote to reject the date restriction on the grounds it is unconstitutional.

The vote count is currently 4-2 against the proposal and voting will resume on Sept 20, the court said.

Congress has pushed ahead with Bills allowing Indigenous reservations only on land that was occupied by native communities when Brazil passed its Constitution in 1988. The

Lower House passed a Bill last month and its backers want the Senate to follow suit before the Supreme Court rules on the issue.

Brazilian farm interests want to establish the cutoff date to secure non-Indigenous farmers' claim to lands they have settled in Brazil's expanding agricultural frontier.

The case before the court stems from a dispute in Santa Catarina state where the Government rejected a land claim by the Xokleng people, who were evicted by tobacco farmers from what was their ancestral land. The Government argued that they were not living on the disputed area in 1988.

Indigenous groups protesting in Brasilia against the limitation of their land

claims celebrated a crucial vote on Thursday by Justice Cristiano Zanin that all but ensured the 1988 cut-off date would be rejected by the court.

Zanin said Indigenous communities that were not present on their lands in 1988 may have been forced to leave. He raised the possibility that farmers could be compensated if they settled on lands without knowing they were claimed by previous inhabitants.

Indigenous leaders say the Supreme Court decision is vital for the resolution of some 300 pending land recognition claims that would protect their communities from land-grabbers and invasion by illegal loggers and wildcat gold miners.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Representatives of 14 western creditor nations, grouped in the Paris Club, were in Cuba this week to salvage a debt agreement with the import dependent country which is expected to default on payments for a fourth consecutive year.

“The discussions enabled us to come closer to finding a solution to delays in meeting (Cuba’s) obligations ... negotiations will continue to establish a new payment plan agreeable to both sides,” a brief statement released on Thursday evening said.

William Roos, co-chairman of the Paris Club, had said on Wednesday that he proposed a plan which ap-

parently was rejected.

Thursday’s statement said Foreign Investment and Cooperation Minister Ricardo Cabrisas had expressed the Communistrun Government’s determination to meet its obligations as soon as conditions permitted.

Cabrisas was seen on State television during the talks blaming tough new US sanctions on top of the decades old trade embargo and the pandemic for the payment delays.

The 2015 Paris Club agreement forgave US$8.5 billion of the $11.1 billion in sovereign debt Cuba defaulted on in 1986. Cuba agreed to repay the remainder in annual instal-

ments through 2033. The country’s foreign exchange earnings used to import goods and pay debt have fallen by more than 50% since the deal was signed, according to official statistics.

Gross domestic product is eight points short of its 2019 pre-pandemic level, the Government reported. Reuters, which has seen the agreement, estimates Cuba has failed to pay the creditors more than US$500 million as it struggles with shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and other basic goods amid rising social tensions. The estimate includes money due by November. (Excerpt from Reuters)

From bananas to LNG, Panama Canal backlog has wide-reaching implications

Bananas from Ecuador to Florida. Poultry from Chile to northern Europe. Liquid Natural Gas from the United States to Asia. And virtually anything under the sun out of China.

The traffic jam that has been piling up on the doorstep of the Panama Canal is a snapshot of how goods move across our globalised world, and the collateral damage that is at stake.

For months now, the queue for passage through one of the most iconic shipping routes on the planet has been getting worse. In late August, roughly 135 ships were waiting to cross

the 82-kilometre waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, 50 percent more than would normally be there.

The cause is a protracted drought that has driven water levels down and forced canal operators to reduce the number of ships that can pass through its locks. As a result, giant container ships and tankers carrying dry goods, perishable items, and energy are sitting idle in the sea.

And while this is not the first time that delays have occurred, the intersection of a variety of factors has a compounding effect that will not go unnoticed, espe-

cially as the high-demand holiday season approaches. For companies, it means higher freight rates and longer transit times.

In 2006, Panama made the “brave and smart move” to expand the canal, adding another set of locks that opened in 2015, said Thomas. Now, some 6 percent of the world’s marine traffic passes through the Panama Canal – or about 32 vessels a day. In addition to the shipment of food and dry goods, the expansion opened the door for massive tankers carrying liquid natural gas to start using the shortcut. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The remains of a 4.5-kilometer wall, separating luxurious estates from a neighbouring community living in poverty, are pictured as it is being torn down, in Lima, Peru August 31, 2023

The authorities have been seeking to regain control of prisons following surge in violence linked to drug trafficking gangs

'The boom is over': Venezuelans lament end of brief dollarisation boost

OIL NEWS

Oil rises to highest in over 7 months on supply worries

Oil prices rose on Friday to their highest in over half a year and snapped a two-week losing streak, buoyed by expectations of tightening supplies.

Saudi Arabia is widely expected to extend a voluntary 1 million barrel per day oil production cut into October, prolonging supply curbs engineered by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, known collectively as OPEC+, to support prices.

Russia, the world's second-largest oil exporter, has already agreed with OPEC+ partners to cut oil exports next month, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.

Brent crude settled up US$1.66, or 1.9%, at US$88.49 a barrel. Earlier it gained to a session high of US$88.75 a barrel, the highest since Jan 27.

US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) had risen US$1.39, roughly 1.7%, to US$85.02. It rose earlier to US$85.81, the highest since Nov 16.

Brent rose about 4.8% this week, the most it has increased in a week since late July. WTI advanced by 7.2% in the week, its biggest weekly gain since March.

"There is a realisation the economy is not falling off the map, and signs that demand is near record highs," said Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn. "People have to face the cold, hard reality that supplies are below average."

The appetite for oil in the United States has been robust, with commercial crude inventories declining in five of the most recent six weeks, according to surveys conducted by the US Energy Information Administration.

A keenly watched US report on Friday also showed a rise in the unemployment rate and moderation in wage growth, bolstering expectations of a pause in interest rate hikes.

Meanwhile, expectations for demand recovery elsewhere are growing.

A downturn in euro zone manufacturing eased last month, suggesting the worst may be over for the bloc's beleaguered factories, while an unexpected rebound in China offered some hope for export-reliant economies, private surveys showed.

Both OPEC and the International Energy Agency are depending on the world's biggest oil importer, China, to shore up oil demand over the rest of 2023, but the sluggish recovery of the country's economy has investors concerned.

The remainder of this year promises to bring supply shortage, partly owing to reasonably healthy global consumption and partly because of the Saudi determination to provide a high price floor, said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.

"Unless the Chinese economy stages a confident revival next year, the mood will sour markedly," he said.

In an indication of future supply, US oil rigs were unchanged at 512 this week, the measure holding at its lowest level since February 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. (Reuters)

Around The World

Ukraine says troops breach Russian lines, heavier defences lie ahead

Ukraine said on Friday its troops had broken through Russia's first line of defences in several places, though they have then encountered even more heavily-fortified Russian positions.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv's troops, in a much-vaunted counteroffensive against Russian forces, were advancing in the Zaporizhzhia region. Washington also said on Friday that Kyiv had made notable progress on the southern front in the last 72 hours.

"There is an offensive in several directions and in certain areas. And in some places, in certain areas, this first line was broken through. In some areas it was not broken through, the situation is

different there," Maliar said on television.

She added, however, that Kyiv's troops who have been battling to advance through heavily-mined areas for almost three months had now run into major defensive

Russian fortifications.

In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States had "noted over the last 72 hours or so some notable progress by Ukrainian

armed forces ...in that southern line of advance coming out of the Zaporizhzhia area".

Ukraine's counteroffensive has not yet recaptured any major settlements, though it has retaken more than a dozen small villages. Last week it captured the village of Robotyne, beyond which lies Russian-occupied high ground, huge anti-tank ditches and lines of concrete fortifications visible from space.

Russia already calls the Ukrainian push a failure; Kyiv says it has been advancing slowly on purpose to minimise losses, and that its task is more difficult because it lacks the air power that its Western allies take for granted. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Flights scrapped, businesses shut as super typhoon Saola nears Hong Kong, Guangdong

Across Guangdong, 785,155 people had been evacuated from high-risk areas, while 13 cities delayed the start of the school term on Friday following the summer break.

In Hong Kong, more than 300 people were stranded at the airport by the cancellation of about 460 flights as the city of 7.5 million people raised its hurricane warning to the highest level.

"It's very sad for me because I am not able to attend my daughter's oath-taking," said a tearful Ledenila Barizo, 54, who had been due to fly to the Philippines, as she paced in front of the airline desk.

The weather will deteri-

President

Hundreds of people have protested in southern Syria to urge President Bashar al-Assad to step down, capping nearly two weeks of demonstrations that had erupted over poor living conditions but have spiralled into renewed calls for political change.

“Bashar out! Syria free!” shouted a large crowd on Friday in the city of Sweida, according to the Reuters news agency.

“Syria is not a farm. We are not sheep,” read a poster.

Syria is in a deep economic crisis that has seen its currency plunge to a record low of 15,500 Syrian pounds to the dollar last month in a rapidly acceler -

ating free fall. It had traded at 47 pounds to the dollar at the start of Syria’s war 12 years ago.

The protests were initially driven by surging inflation and the war-torn country’s worsening economy but have quickly shifted focus with marchers calling for the fall of al-Assad’s Government.

Centred in the Government-controlled province of Sweida, the heartland of Syria’s Druze, a religious minority that had largely stayed neutral in the conflict between al-Assad and the Syrian opposition, the protests are unusual.

Open criticism of the Government had remained rare in Government-

Syria

controlled areas, but as the economic situation has grown worse, the discontent has gone public.

Friday’s turnout was large despite apparent divisions within the Druze leadership over the demonstrations. Some Druze sheikhs have criticised protesters’ calls for al-Assad to step down and say that any improvement to the socioeconomic situation must come through dialogue.

Peaceful protests in 2011 were met by a violent response from the Syrian Government, leading to the outbreak of a war that has continued to this day and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

orate rapidly as the typhoon makes landfall, Hong Kong weather officials said, with storm surges of about 3 metres (10 feet) higher than the normal tide and maximum water levels reaching a record.

Weather authorities in China have said Saola could make landfall along the coast between the cities of Huidong and Taishan. Hong Kong and Macau lie in the centre of that stretch.

Saola is one of three tropical cyclones to have formed in the northwest Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. The second, Haikui, is approaching Taiwan, and is set to hit the island on Sunday before heading towards China's province of Fujian.

The third, Kirogi, the most distant from land, was still classed as a tropical storm.

Authorities suspended

train services in Guangdong up to 6 pm (1000 GMT) today.

Nearly 85,000 fishing boats operating off the coast of Guangdong had returned to port.

Shenzhen, a city of more than 17 million, suspended work, businesses and financial markets from Friday afternoon, warning that destructive winds could lash it through today. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tourists from Morocco shot dead after straying into Algerian waters

Two French-Moroccan men have reportedly been shot and killed after they accidentally crossed Morocco’s maritime border with Algeria on water scooters, according to Moroccan media reports.

The incident took place on Tuesday after five men lost their bearings while exploring the sea on jet skis. France confirmed on Friday one of its citizens had been killed.

The Foreign Ministry in Paris reported the death without providing the circumstances, saying another one of its citizens was jailed in “an incident involving several of our nationals”.

Mohamed Kissi told Moroccan news website 360.ma that he, his brother Bilal, and two friends were on vacation and riding jet skis off the waters of the Moroccan town of Saidia as the sun began to set.

“We were low on gas for the water scooters and were drifting. In the darkness we

found ourselves in Algerian waters,” Kissi was quoted as saying.

A speedboat with the word “Algeria” emblazoned on the side carrying naval forces approached the group.

After a brief exchange, Kissi said Algerian forces fired on the group, and his brother Bilal and their friend Abdelali Mechouer were killed. Their other friend, Smail Snabe, was

wounded and detained by Algerian forces.

The French-Moroccan said he swam to escape until he was rescued by Moroccan maritime police.

The French Foreign Ministry said its “crisis support centre and our embassies in Morocco and Algeria are in close contact with our fellow citizens’ families, to whom we are offering every support”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

‘Bashar out!’: Protests in southern

over economy now target

People stand near a border post on the Algerian side of the Morocco-Algeria border [Youssef Boudlal/Reuters]

Russian service members walk near a burnt car following recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, September 1, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Spending time with a loved one will mellow you out. An activity or lifestyle change will give you the energy and spirit you need to achieve the happiness you deserve. Be good to yourself.

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

Look for opportunities in any situation. If you let your intuition guide you, you won’t be disappointed. A unique opportunity will allow you to show others what you can achieve.

Find a way to keep things running smoothly. Don’t jump into a conversation without having all the facts. Question the motives of people pushing questionable agendas. Focus on your needs.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Keep your emotions in check and your mind on what counts. An innovative approach will get you where you want to go. Do your homework regarding home improvements.

Be careful what you wish for. Slow down, smell the roses and keep your costs low. Concentrate on personal growth, learning and doing your best to improve the world around you.

Reunite with people you remember fondly. Look at the past, and the reminders you receive will help you make wise decisions moving forward. Listen to your inner voice.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Speak your mind and reach out to people who matter. How you conduct yourself will be crucial. Put your best foot forward and make peace and love your priorities.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

If you don’t like something, make a change. Don’t waste time pondering over something that is standing in your way. If you do what’s right, you’ll have no regrets. Embrace the future.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Surround yourself with beauty, friends and family. Aim to put your best foot forward and work toward personal growth, better health and a stress-free lifestyle. Strive for peace of mind.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Not everyone will agree with you today. Follow the road that takes you where you want to go. Trust in your ideas, and be willing to pay for the freedom you deserve. Nothing comes without a price.

Consider how you manage your money. Refuse to let someone entice you with ideas that will benefit them more than you. Focus on self-improvement, not on pleasing others.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Start doing what’s necessary to head in a positive direction. You’ll find the people, places and pastimes that put your mind at ease and a smile on your face. Fulfill your dreams.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Australian men’s, women’s Big Bash League 2023…

-van Niekerk out of women’s league

The Al-Ittihad bid for 31-year-old Egypt forward Mo Salah was for in excess of £100M, with add-ons taking it up to £150M. Liverpool, however, remain insistent the Egypt international is not for sale, and that is final as far as Liverpool are concerned.

Salah, who joined the Reds from Italian side Roma in 2017, signed a new threeyear contract last summer, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said last week that Salah is "100% committed" to the Anfield cause; and on Friday he reiterated the club's stance that the player is not for sale.

"The position remains the same. Absolutely no doubt about that. That's how it is. Nothing else to say," said Klopp.

Liverpool would have little time to react to Salah's potential departure, with the transfer window closing at 23:00 BST on Friday for incoming deals involving Premier League teams. However, Al-Ittihad would still be able to sign players, as the Saudi Pro League transfer window is set to close on 7 September.

"Mohamed remains committed to Liverpool," agent Ramy Abbas Issa wrote in a social media post on 7 August. "If we considered leaving Liverpool this year, we wouldn't have re-

newed the contract last summer."

Salah has started all three of Liverpool's games this season, with Klopp's side having accumulated seven points following a draw with Chelsea and wins against Bournemouth and Newcastle United. He set up Luis Diaz to score at Chelsea, but showed frustration at being substituted in the draw, before knocking in the rebound from his saved penalty in the win against Bournemouth.

Salah had the assist for Darwin Nunez's winner at Newcastle, with Liverpool getting the three points despite being down to 10 men for most of the match.

A key player for the Merseysiders, Salah has 187 goals in 308 games for Liverpool, and registered 76 assists. He has won the Champions League, Premier

-for applauding Luis Rubiales

The head coach of Spain’s men’s team has asked for “forgiveness”, after applauding the speech in which Luis Rubiales said he would not resign for kissing player Jenni Hermoso. Luis de la Fuente said it was an “inexcusable human error”, but added he would not step down from his job.

Rubiales, president of Spain’s football federation, kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup win, but Hermoso has said the kiss during the medal ceremony was not consensual.

In a speech last Friday, Rubiales - who has since been suspended by FIFArefused to step down, and said he was facing a “social assassination”. De La Fuente and women’s head coach Jorge Vilda were among those pictured applauding the speech, although both later released

League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Anfield. He has also won or shared the Premier League Golden Boot three times, and been named “the PFA player of the year” twice.

Liverpool have already had to deal with midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson moving respectively to Al-Ittihad and AlEttifaq in the Saudi Pro League. Roberto Firmino left Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expired and joined Al-Ahli.

The approach for Salah comes in a summer when clubs from the Middle East country have signed a number of superstars, including Karim Benzema and Neymar, while Al-Hilal made a world record £259M bid for Kylian Mbappe.

(Modified from BBC Sport)

West Indies left-handed batter Nicholas Pooran and Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan have both withdrawn from the Australian BBL draft, while South African Dane van Niekerk is out of the WBBL due to the fractured right thumb she suffered during the recent women’s Hundred.

Pooran and Rizwan were set to be platinum picks in the BBL draft, and Pooran was potentially going to be a sought-after option, given he was likely to be available up until finals before heading to the ILT20. His West Indies white-ball commitments in December against England may have affected his early availability, and he has withdrawn from the tournament.

Rizwan was always going to have availability issues, given his commitments with Pakistan, as they are playing three Tests against Australia in Australia across the first month of the six-week-long BBL.

Van Niekerk did not play in the WBBL last year, but has previously played for Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers. Her fractured thumb means she is unavailable for the tournament.

Meanwhile, former Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle has returned to Melbourne Renegades after six seasons at Adelaide

Strikers, where he captained Strikers 27 times. Siddle, who will be 39 by the time the BBL starts, previously played seven games at Renegades, from 2013-15, while he was a mainstay in Australia’s Test attack.

Renegades have become one of the oldest lists in BBL history, with Siddle joining Nathan Lyon (35) as a new signing. Renegades already have three players over 35 years old: Shaun Marsh

Liverpool reject £150M Al-Ittihad bid for Egypt International Salah Pooran and Rizwan withdraw Spain men’s head coach asks for ‘forgiveness’

statements condemning the behaviour of Rubiales.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, De La Fuente said: “Almost all of us RFEF (Spanish football federation) workers went in there thinking that we were going to see the dismissal of a president, and we found something completely different. It was not easy to digest; it was a situation that overwhelmed me.

I have not felt betrayed by Luis Rubiales, but I arrived thinking that it was going to be a resignation meeting, and we were shocked when we saw that it was not this way.

“I don’t have to resign; I have to ask for forgiveness. I made a mistake, an inexcusable human error. If I could go back, I wouldn’t commit that act again. I am on the side of equality and respect. We all have to improve in terms of equality, and I am the first.”

After Rubiales’ suspension by FIFA, Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.

Spain’s Sports Tribunal (TAD) met on Monday to discuss the Spanish Government’s request to suspend Rubiales. The announcement on a decision has been expected immi-

lers, has “demanded change”.

In a statement issued on Friday, it said: “We, the players, are stronger, more united, and more determined than ever. The systems are failing us, governance is failing us, accountability is failing; discrimination runs deep, and occurs at every level. Football must respond, and rise to this critical moment, not only in

or to announcing his squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, De La Fuente said he did not fear losing the respect of his players.

“I’m not afraid of losing the trust of the dressing room because of everything that has happened over the past few days,” De La Fuente has said. “They have known me since they were very young, they know what values I have. I have always behaved within the framework of maximum respect for equality.”

Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias, who won the second of his two caps for Spain in March, has made himself unavailable for selection “until things change”. On Iglesias, De La Fuente has said “the doors are open” for the 30-yearold to return to the squad when he is ready.

(BBC Sport)

(40), Aaron Finch (36) and Jon Wells (35).

“We’ve made a concerted effort to add more experience to our playing list this off-season. So, to welcome ‘Sidds’ back to the Renegades, alongside the additions of Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon, is a fantastic result,” Melbourne Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten has said.

“Sidds is well respected, not just for his contributions with the ball over a long period of time, but for his leadership, tactical awareness, and broader knowledge of players and the T20 landscape.

“He has plenty of existing relationships within our playing group, and we know he will be an important contributor for us, not only on the field, but with all the other attributes he brings that help build successful teams,” he added.

“I’m excited to be returning to where my Big Bash journey started, and to be back in red this year,” Siddle has said. “I’ve loved my time in Adelaide over the last six seasons, but it’s time for a new challenge, and I’m looking forward to reuniting with some good mates of mine at the Renegades.

“Looking at the playing list that’s being assembled, there’s no reason we can’t challenge for the title this year,” he added.

Elsewhere, Queensland and Australia ‘A’ fast bowler Mark Steketee has signed with Melbourne Stars in the BBL, after 10 seasons with Brisbane Heat. Steketee had been a mainstay in all formats for Queensland and Heat earlier in his career, but played only eight games in each of the last two BBL seasons.

The emergence of Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett forced him out of the Heat side last season, and he did not play in their finals campaign. He instead joined the Stars to bolster their bowling stocks alongside the off-season signings of Scott Boland and Joel Paris.

“We identified Mark as a target to further strengthen our fast-bowling stocks, and we can’t wait to see what he can do at the MCG,” Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch has said. “He has been a consistent wicket-taker in the BBL over a number of years now, and he’ll bring a lot of valuable experience and cricket IQ to the group.”

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Salah has had one goal and two assists for Liverpool in three games this season

Nicholas Pooran

Luis de la Fuente (right) was appointed Spain men’s head coach in December 2022

GOA, UG collaborate on sports-related issues

Digicel Schools’ Football Championships 2023…

Top four teams receive rewards

The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed met on Wednesday 9th August at the UG Turkeyen Campus to collaborate on a number of sports-related issues.

Godfrey Munroe, President of the Guyana Olympic Association, led his team, comprising GOA VicePresidents Steve Ninvalle and Cristy Campbell and Secretary-General Ms. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon.

The central objective of that meeting was to explore possible avenues/opportunities for collaboration, and development of synergistic partnerships/agreements between the University of Guyana and the Guyana Olympic Association, and by extension affiliate members, in the area of sports and academia.

In this regard, the following areas were discussed in-depth:

Establishment of a framework at the different faculty levels for the selection of areas of research, project student assignments that benefit sports and enhance the performance of athletes and national federations and University of Guyana sports programme. These would target the areas of marketing, sociology, communications strategy, strategic planning, computer science in the areas of soft ware and database development, web site social media en gagement and use, science technology in the areas of nat ural science, bio mechanics, phys iology, nutrition, among other facul ty areas.

Assisting the University with sports development through the sup port from programs the GOA can access

through support funding provisions available through Olympic Solidarity, Panam sport and through support from affiliate associations and federations in helping to develop the University’s sports programmes.

ments being currently explored, as a means of enhancing and improving the student experience and development.

Further, the two entities discussed the approaches, protocols, strategies to be adopted in accelerating the collaboration, the specific areas for immediate intervention, and next steps.

In a simple ceremony held at Cara Lodge in Georgetown on Friday, the top four teams and outstanding individual players in the Digicel Schools’ Football Championships 2023 were rewarded for their efforts by the telecommunications giant.

The following persons attended the proceedings: representatives of Digicel, representatives of the Petra Organisation, and representatives of the four top teams.

In total, over two million dollars were handed out.

Developing internships and scholarship partnerships among other areas.

Dr. Mohamed gave an overview of the university’s sports programmes (academic and practical), and also highlighted key partnerships being pursued and developed with the University of Wisconsin to propel curricula in sports studies and other areas. Here she intimated that the University is embarking on creating and undertaking a paradigm shift in operations, with sports becoming an integral part of student activities.

She also outlined the intention to develop sport fundamentals and sport facilities on campus through support funding arrange-

The Executive Committee announced the recent Commonwealth Games Federation’s approval of the Equip Programme for Guyana. And as such, in the very near future, will seek to recruit a suitable candidate for internship from the University of Guyana pool of student/alumni. To support the developmental work of the Guyana Olympic Association through support funding provided by CGF Equip programme Both organizations shared, and intrinsically believe, that the collaboration between the University of Guyana and the Guyana Olympic Association can yield significant benefits in the following areas:

Creating a cultural shift in the integration and use of data, research, and scientific approaches to guide and inform sports development and performance.

Create networks and clusters of personnel and different actors that come together to boost innovation in the sport sector, with University of Guyana and GOA each playing a key

Shape policy that enhances and improves sports development, among other areas.

The two organizations have resolved to work out details for an MOA to be signed, which will guide the collaboration between the two en-

Winner of the 8th edition of the countrywide tournament, Carmel Secondary (Georgetown), claimed the top prize of one million dollars; while runners-up St Ignatius Secondary (Region 9), carted off the $500,000 second place prize. Third place finishers Desiree Caesar-Fox (Waramadong) Secondary (Region 7) won $300,000, and fourth place holders Waramuri Top (Region 1) received $200,000 for their efforts.

Each of the sums paid out would go towards an initiative of the respective school. At the moment, the Champions, Carmel Secondary, are considering the establishment of a school cafeteria area as part of their project.

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, who spoke briefly, was very appreciative of

Digicel and all those involved in every aspect of the tournament.

“I can guarantee you, Digicel, that this tournament would create an environment where most of our young men would want to either go to school or stay in school [to play]. And so, not just the sport aspect, but this tournament would contribute to encourage youngsters to stay in school,” Mendonca shared.

He added, “We all know this tournament is the biggest schools’ tournament; and to have a single corporate organization invest so much, we must take our hats off.

Mendonca also disclosed the willingness his organisation has for the grassroots level of the sport, and believes tournaments of this magnitude keep the youths

in school and away from ill-fated decisions.

Digicel Communications and PR Manager Gabriella Chapman congratulated the event’s top performers, as well as the organisers for playing their part in another memorable tournament. Chapman said that from her observation, bragging rights were well-placed.

Meanwhile, the Highest Goal Scorer: Bevon Jones of Waramadong; the Most Valuable Player: Ian Daniels of Carmel; and the Best Goalkeeper: Ray Richards of Carmel, were also handsomely rewarded for their exploits during the tournament.

It has further been disclosed that a ninth edition of the impactful tournament is already being discussed by the sponsor and organizers.

‘Best of the Best’ tape ball cricket

Tape ball cricket returns to the spotlight with Devon Paul hosting the Best of the Best tape ball cricket tournament on Sunday, October 2.

A total of 11 persons will be contesting in one team, with each side bowling 10 overs to decide the winner.

Entrance fee per team is set at $15,000, while the winning team would be awarded $300,000 and a trophy and medals. The best batsman, bowler, and MVP in the finals would each be awarded a trophy.

Organizer of the event, Devon Paul, emphasising that the aim of this tournament is to promote the sport, said:

“Trying to promote the cricket, but we are trying to do

it (as) a little bigger and better event. So, we trying to do it on grass, and not on the tarmac this occasion,” he said.

The first 16 teams eager to participate in the tournament can register by contacting organizer Devon Paul at #650-

1689.

The league is sponsored by I&S Trading Imports, C&L Construction, and RIM Construction. For more information on the event, persons can contact the organizer at +592-650-1689.

Digicel 2023 Champions, Carmel Secondary, receiving their prize from a Digicel Representative in the presence of Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca

Tournament MVP Ian Daniels receiving his reward from Digicel’s Gabriella Chapman

In photo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed (at centre), flanked by Executive members of the Guyana Olympic Association. From right to left: Vice-President Ms. Cristy Campbell, Vice-President Mr. Steve Ninvalle, President Mr. Godfrey Munroe, and Secretary-General Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

tournament set for October 2

Glimpse of what to expect

RBL CPL 2023: Paul confident as Warriors, Patriots battle today

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors men’s team will be in action against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots today, Saturday September 2, from 10:00h local time, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

All-rounder Keemo Paul is confident that the Warriors team would pull off their third win this season and remain unbeaten.

Having scored his second half-century, Paul has credited former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir for the improvements he has shown with the bat.

“It felt good. I always felt that I am a talented cricketer, and it was always a mental battle for me. Reflecting on it, there is a few people that I want to thank: being my family, and Gautam Gambhir (the Indian legend). He keeps in contact with me, and it is good that a legend of the game keeps in contact with you and motivates you; so, I want to give him thanks,” Paul has said.

Paul, from Saxacalli in the Essequibo, has said he wants to be the best

all-rounder, and ‘produce the goods’ in the CPL.

“I have challenged myself in this tournament to do better. I think it is about time. I have been in this CPL set-up for a while now, and I have not contributed in the way I wanted to. So, coming into this tournament, I challenged myself to get scores and take wickets, and be the top all-rounder this season and going forward,” he disclosed. “I just want to stay focused, hardworking, and be humble and do what I have to.”

The Warriors are thus far the only team unbeaten in the tournament, and Paul has said the team wants to remain clinical.

“We are in a good spot, but we want to stay humble and grounded. Cricket is a funny game, so we want to stay grounded and humble. There are areas we can improve on, that we have discussed; and that is what we will work on, to get better as a team and hopefully progress and get a few more wins,” he said.

Paul had bowled one ball in the last match before going off the field with an injury.

He says he is 100% ready, as was seen when he returned to the field during that same match.

“I am pretty confident in my body. We have a good physio team, and they have been taking care of me. I am a 100%, and I am ready to go,” he declared.

Paul and Patriots skipper Sherfane Rutherford will be on opposing teams today, and according to Paul, he is looking forward to the battle.

“First of all, I am very happy for Sherfane. He has been named captain of the Patriots team, and that is an esteemed privilege. Coming up against him is always good. We played youth cricket together for a very long time,

we are really good friends, we keep in contact a lot, (and) we motivate each other. So, it will be a good battle; there will be some banter, but there will be good fun,” Paul has said.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Saim Ayub; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Azam Khan(w); Shai Hope; Shimron Hetmyer; Dwaine Pretorius; Keemo Paul; Romario Shepherd; Odean Smith; Imran Tahir(c); Gudakesh Motie; Matthew Nandu; Hazratullah Zazai; Kelvon Anderson; Kevin Sinclair; Junior Sinclair and Ronsford Beaton.

Massy CPL 2023: Guyana Amazon Warriors Women return to action tomorrow at 15:30h

By Brandon Corlette

Guyana Amazon

Warriors Women will be aiming to bounce back from their opening defeat in the 2023 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a win in the rematch against Barbados Royals Women tomorrow, Sunday September 3, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown Barbados from 15:30h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Sophie Devine was a shining light for the Warriors in the first match, scoring an unbeaten 103 and claiming 1-20 in her four overs of medium pace. Speaking after her ‘player of the match’ effort, which went in vain, Devine said the Warriors’ bowling was poor. “Mixed emotions for the team. I think we had enough runs on the board, but Barbados were outstanding. Hayley Matthews, Gabby Lewis was outstanding, and Laura Harris, who can strike the ball, from ball one. It was a good game of cricket, that did not go our way,” she said.

“I think there (are) still opportunities with the bat where he probably lost a little bit of momentum; so, we could have done a bit hard in

the middle. With the ball, I think we missed our areas. We were poor at times; when we spoke about certain plans for batters, we did not execute, and you cannot afford to miss in this competition, you will get punished,”

Devine has said.

Devine also noted that the Women’s CPL is important for the growth of women’s cricket in general.

“Lots of learning for us, and great that we have a couple more games to go.

It is awesome to be a part of the CPL. I heard some good

It is great that the standard of women’s cricket continues to grow, and I think this is another opportunity for players to make their mark,” she said.

The Women’s CPL will move to Trinidad and Tobago after Sunday’s game. Warriors will play

15:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday September 5 from

Barbados Royals Squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Laura Harris, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Qiana Joseph, Marizanne Kapp, Gaby Lewis, Chedean Nation, Vanessa Watts,

Amanda-Jade Wellington, Rashada Williams

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Stafanie

Taylor (c), Suzie Bates, Shemaine Campbelle, Sophie Devine, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabnim Ismail, Djenaba Joseph, Natasha McLean, Ashmini Munisar, Shreyanka Patil, Karishma

Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman. Trinbago Knight Riders squad: Deandra Dottin (c), Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Mignon du Preez, Zaida James, Fran Jonas, Marie Kelly, LeeAnn Kirby, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Carena Noel, Orla Prendergast, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh.

was the most economical bowler in the first match

Sophie Devine cracked a century in her first CPL game

Skipper Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews will be key players

Keemo Paul struck his second T20 fifty in the last game

Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford would be leading the Patriots Shimron Hetmyer has also been in good form with bat in hand

Romario Shepherd has been in top form this year

Paul is aiming to be the top all-rounder