Guyana Times -Sunday, August 27, 2023.pdf

30 luxury eco-lodges fully booked for CPL – Pres Ali

were completed.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DuraVilla Homes, Rafeek Khan underscored that every component of the project is “innovative” and made locally.

The 30 eco-lodges that are being constructed at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (ECD), have already been fully booked for the Guyana leg of the Republic Bank’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

President Dr Irfaan Ali

inspected ongoing works on the eco-lodges on Friday. The project is being undertaken by DuraVilla Homes and seeks to merge luxury with nature and sustainability.

Built with 100 per cent local wood, the first-of-itskind urban eco-lodges will

be complemented by a pool, a 100 per cent local restaurant, and parking among other facilities. Upon the completion of the CPL, the units will be available to anyone interested.

“As it is, it is pre-rented already for nine days for CPL. All 30 units are com-

pletely rented out. Of course, it is less than four minutes to the National Stadium so it makes a lot of sense to rent the facility here,” President Ali noted.

Occupying two acres of land, it presents the opportunity for a new style of urban living, with coconut

trees and water lilies on the premises to create an ‘oasis’ feel.

“It’s a luxury facility at an affordable cost. Facilities like this with this type of ecosystem are top-end luxury facilities. This would be similar but at an affordable cost,” the Head of State added.

He posited that staying in these homes comes with the assurance of supporting sustainability and a business that involves over 120 women. The women would have invested together, about $400 million in this project, but the value has since increased significantly.

“When they collectively came together, we had about maybe $400 million. From what we’re hearing from the valuation officers, this project has almost increased the net worth by three times already. This is what these projects do.”

The spinoff intention of this project was to showcase the potential of Guyanese wood and the fast rate of completion. Between two to three months, the eco-homes

“We’re going to be taking waste wood and creating live edge tables, countertops, beds. When I say live edge, you’re seeing the raw natural wood in play. Many times, the recovery of wood is about 40 per cent. We want to show when this project is done, we will have perhaps 75 per cent recovery from that log to his home; floor to roof, wall to wall.”

Additionally, uncommonly used timber species have been used in the construction of homes to promote sustainable living.

“We used Mora in the flooring system. We know Mora has been used to build bridges in Guyana in our jungles and it lasts a lifetime. We know Wallaba has been used elsewhere but not inside a home. We’re trying to bring nature into the home and create an element of sustainability, not just the feel of sustainability but economic sustainability.”

Construction, inclusive of landscaping, sewage and internals, will be in place by the end of the new week.

The lodges sit at a prime location, with a new ecosystem of a regional hospital and new highways coming on stream.

Bookings can be made at Stabroek Online marketplace. There are already takes to establish a similar eco-lodge facility on Leguan Island. The Guyana leg of the CPL gets underway on September 13.

President Ali during his visit to inspect the facilities

The eco-lodges are completely booked for CPL

says bidders supplied with new PSAs, other supporting documents

Int’l firm to help evaluate bids from oil blocks’ auction – VP Jagdeo –

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is expected to utilise the services of the United States/British firm IHS Markit to review the bids it receives for the current auction of the shallow and deep oil blocks offshore Guyana.

Making this revelation was Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a recent press conference where he also noted that both versions of the revised Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) have already been made available to bidders.

“I think the same IHS Markit, that worked with us on the preparation for the auction. The PSA, the Petroleum Activities Bill, they would be the firm to help us evaluate the offers,” Jagdeo explained.

“So, we’ve uploaded on the Ministry’s page, both versions of the PSA. The deep-water and shallow-water. You can see that there. And then the law will be sent to the bidders. So, all have been sent to the bidders already, as promised,” the Vice President further said.

IHS Markit previously provided Guyana with advice on the fiscal terms for the new model PSA, when the Government was working on it. Under the new model PSA, Guyana stands to benefit from as high as US$20 million signature bonuses for the auctioning of the deep-water blocks and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks.

Additionally, all future PSAs would also include the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery; the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to a fixed rate of 10 per cent; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of

the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent, from 75 per cent.

IHS Markit is also known for the audit it did in 2019 of Exxon’s cost oil expenses racked up between 1999 and 2017. As much as US$214.4 million ended up being disputed, as IHS Markit flagged these cost oil claims.

IHS Markit is the product of a 2016 merger between two companies, United States (US)-based IHS and Londonbased Markit. Its data and information services business caters to industries such as automotive, energy, financial services, defence, and maritime.

The company has in the past published a number of write-ups and analyses on Guyana’s efforts to develop its capacity. This includes “Guyana’s deepwater areas will remain competitive, despite changes to fiscal terms (IHS Markit, 2018)” and “How activity in the Guyana mini basin is booming with five exciting discoveries since 2015 (IHS Markit, 2017)”.

The Guyana Government launched the current oil block auction in December 2022, putting 14 areas offshore up for grabs – 11 in the shallow area and three in the deep-sea area. The sizes of the 14 oil blocks on auction range from 1000 to 3000 square kilome-

tres (sq km).

More than 20 renowned oil and gas companies have indicated their interest in buying oil blocks, and have already submitted bids. A previous July 15, 2023 deadline for companies to submit their bids for the oil blocks, was extended to September 12, 2023, a decision the Government attributed to ongoing efforts to improve the sector’s regulatory framework.

Those efforts include work to overhaul of the outdated 1986 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act. A few months ago, the Natural Resources Ministry released the draft Petroleum Activities Bill that will eventually replace the 1986 Petroleum Act, for a two-week period of public consultation. In it are a number of new provisions and very stiff penalties for those who fall afoul of the law.

Among the areas it looks to make improvement in is mandating that oil companies make tangible contributions not only on a social level but

a capacity-building level. The Bill contains a provision enforcing petroleum exploration and production licences that may “provide for the payment of a training fee payable annually throughout the validity of the petroleum agreement.”

It also provides for oil companies to establish a system of financial support for environmental and social projects, which they will fund out of pocket. According to the Bill, “the terms of the programme and the financial contribution by the licensee are established in the petroleum agreement.”

Further, the Bill also contains stiff penalties. For instance, an individual can be fined up to $30 million and/ or be subjected to up to three years’ imprisonment for any violations under the law. There is also a fine of not more than $10 million for failure to comply with any order issued under the law. The Bill was passed in the National Assembly only a few weeks ago. (G-3)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

The 14 blocks up for auction

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063

Editorial: 231-0544

223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

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

Reject divisive narratives

All democracies demand discussion, and Guyana has no shortage. But if there is be discussion, rather than sterile polemics, there will have to be at least an agreement on our Foucauldian “history of the present” and our “horizon of ends”. Histories are always written within a particular “space of experience” - the ways that the past is remembered in the present and a “horizon of expectation” – the anticipation of the non-yet-known future beyond the horizon.

A history of our present, in the words of Columbia University Anthropologist David Scott, demands that “histories of the past ought to be interventions in the present, strategic interrogations of the present’s norms as a way of helping us to glimpse the possibilities for an alternative future.” Our “problem space” – the threats and opportunities that confront us in our sociohistorical conjuncture – is inevitably different because of our past, even as concededly it may have some continuities.

What then should be our “horizon of expectation” towards which we should strive? Criticism is always strategic. What do the critics want as a consequence of their criticisms, narratives, actions and exhortations? What is their “Good”? While there will never be – for the simple reason that it just cannot be – a single horizon of ends for all of us, among the various possibly competing ends, surely that of a more harmonious society would be there in common in all formulations. Should we not, with the privilege of hindsight, connect the past with the present in a broader narrative that is healing, rather than destructive? We cannot change the past, but we can certainly change the future.

Our horizon of expectation must generate strategies that speak to those normative ends rather than further dividing us, as some seem determined to do. They must ask whether their particular narrative of “emerging apartheid states”, or any narrative seeking to connect our past to the present and envision a more positive future, will deliver those normative ends. Another way our problem space is different, even from previous decades, is that the demographics now deny any built-in ethnic majority, and so open up the possibilities of democracy of “in and out”. A constructive narrative cannot then picture our opposing groups locked in mortal combat –especially as it was demonstrated in action during elections in 2011, 2015, and 2020.

Crucial to the formulation of a constructive narrative would be what one theorist, Hayden White, labelled the “content of the form” of the narrative – particularly its plot to link past, present, and future. While a popular Opposition narrative sets “us” against “them” into a frenzy of nihilistic Fanonian violence – not to mention teleologically promising a future that can never be delivered – Hegel’s famous interpretation of Antigone as the paradigmatic Greek tragedy might be particularly apt to our situation. In this narrative, both “sides” are morally right: the conflict is not between good and evil, but between “goods” on which each is making an exclusive claim. Isn’t this the situation that our mutually exclusive narratives of victimhood with their facile binary oppositions have delivered us into? Such an employment within a narrative should suggest compromise, rather than a battle of one side overcoming. That would be a constructive narrative for our time, place, and circumstances.

In noting the importance of narratives in the task of nation-building, Benedict Anderson has identified the importance of newspapers (now extended to social media) that are read every morning in constructing what he has tellingly labelled “Imagined Communities”. “The significance of this mass ceremony – Hegel observed that newspapers serve modern man as a substitute for morning prayers – is paradoxical. It is performed in silent privacy, in the lair of the skull.

Yet each communicant is well aware that the ceremony he performs is being replicated simultaneously by thousands (or millions) of others, of whose existence he is confident, yet of whose identity he has not the slightest notion.”

Let us use our media for nation-building rather than tearing it apart by narratives that are fighting long-gone terrors.

An opportune era for Guyanese women

Dear Editor, We all know that women in the workforce contribute to a higher national economic output as measured in GDP, as well as decreasing labour costs by increasing the labour supply in a society.

So, it is very wholesome that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is looking to add some 100,000 women to the current labour force, and is bent on “…making an aggressive push to do so, through training.”

This thrust, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, emanates from the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM’s) 2022 country report intimating that “…if Guyana were to harness all of its unemployed, underemployed and discouraged workers, the potential supply of labour would be only 63,500 in the medium term (and what the country really needs is) “…approximately 160,000 workers.” Thus, we can understand the need to really ‘fire up’ things.

The VP conveyed that “… the Government is optimistic that Guyana could harness even more labour than the IOM estimates, especially if more women enter the formal workforce.” And why not?

First, in slanting towards more women in the workforce, the country will be doing a number of good things for the women folk: boosting their self-esteem; shutting down negativities and stereo-typing; supporting women-run businesses (as is already happening); giving the

required proper education and training; and of course, piloting them towards their deserved liberation (from patriarchal settings).

Another good thing to remember is that many from the developed world, namely the United States of America, find women ‘indistinguishable’ from men on key leadership traits such as intelligence and capacity for innovation, with many saying they’re stronger than men in terms of being compassionate and organized leaders. This was disclosed in a recent Pew Research Center survey on women and leadership.

Yet, in many places, we are likely to see fewer women in top-tier executive positions. And why? Some reason that many companies are still struggling to provide the necessary opportunities to set up women employees for success. Even with the increase in women leaders in recent years, men are still being promoted at a higher rate than women, allowing them access to the people and tools they need to continue their success within a company.

I guess the PPP/C is about to target this injustice.

The word from Jagdeo is that “We think if we can get more rural and more rural women, maybe hinterland women and some urban by providing daycare with the kids, then we can add probably just in female labour participation, maybe 100,000 of our people to the labour force.”

After all, as he pointed out, “For some time, there

have been reports of labour shortage in various sectors. The possibility of importing labour has also been explored”. According to Jagdeo, however, the “Government is still holding out in the hope of ensuring more Guyanese take up these employment opportunities.”

That hope resides in the reality that in the country there is “…an aggressive training programme in the Ministry of Labour (and) we have about 17,000 people on scholarships now through the GOAL programme. There are lots of these activities going on to bring our own peo-

ple into the labour force, and more and more Guyanese are working now”, is how Jagdeo succinctly summarised it.

Editor, let me conclude by imploring our women to make the most of current developmental happenings in the country. If our females can latch on to the possibility of being employed in a dignified way - earning money in an honest way, and being empowered with a voice and a say - then our country will be a force to be reckoned with.

Yours truly, HB Singh

Recommendations for development of the Oil and Gas Sector

Dear Editor, It was said to me recently that the environmental concerns raised around the oil sector seem exaggerated. It was also said that the developed countries took their resources and made the most of them while leaving a mess for others to deal with, and that we should do the same because our overall impact on the environment is negligible when compared to what the developed countries have done. Basically, the point was that we, too, deserve to be rich.

I have no argument with this line of reasoning. Yes, we Guyanese also deserve to be rich and make the

most of our resources. The key, however, is to ensure that we do so in a smarter way, that maintains the healthy lifestyle that we are used to. Many First World countries have gotten rich off of their resources, but have also paid a hefty price in the health of their citizens.

Expanding on the discussion around the oil refinery and the petrochemical plant, if we consider the recent studies on the impact of these two industrial components of the oil sector, we can see how devastating they can be on the health of the surrounding communities.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Saturday assisted in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Mainstay Motocross Park in Region Two, (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Also in photo are the Managing Director of the park, Joel Frederick, and other officials and staff of the park

Investors welcome, as works on Silica City moving apace – Min Croal

the lives of residents from several communities and squatter settlements along the highway, President Ali during a previous visit had announced that there would be three new regularised housing developments established along the major roadway.

Meanwhile, Minister Croal expanded on the work the Housing Ministry has done over the years to honour their commitment of distributing 50,000 house lots by 2025 and regularising several informal settlements in the process.

Infrastructure works on Silica City along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway are progressing smoothly, and according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, the Government is open to expressions of interest to fund mega projects.

Phase One, which includes the construction of 100 residential homes as well as the development of apartment buildings, malls, condominiums, restaurants, and other amenities, is moving apace.

However, the Minister added that investors are needed for several major projects. “We welcome expressions of interest and in-

vestors for this mega project,” Croal said, noting that Silica City, like the Building Expo, is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, who has been working to expand and boost the housing sector to make homeownership a reality for every citizen.

Silica City is expected to be Guyana’s first smart urban centre, powered by renewable energy and developed by adhering to the revised Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Goal 11 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which speaks

to building sustainable cities and communities.

For its first five years, the highly anticipated secondary city of Guyana will initially cater to just over 3000

households before growing to house more than 12,500 households once completed.

In February, a $2.1 billion contract was signed to commence the infrastruc-

Recommendations for development of...

For example, studies in California have shown that communities near oil refineries have an increased risk of cancers, birth defects, neurological damage, difficulty breathing, and blood disorders.

When it comes to petrochemical plants, the risks are similar. Within the United States National Library of Medicine, there is a publication that states “scientific studies reported a high incidence of lung and bladder cancer in Taiwan, Italy, and USA, as well as an excess mortality of bone, brain, liver, pleural, larynx and pancreas cancers in individuals living near petrochemical complexes from Taiwan, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and USA.

“Thus, human exposure to certain carcinogenic pollutants emitted from petrochemical industries might increase the incidence of some cancers and cancer mortality.” Additional studies are required, but the evidence is there. Hence the need for many additional specialty hospitals. This development strategy requires it.

If the current approach taken to manganese mining in the country is any indication of how these industrial components of the oil sector will be managed, then the risks of adverse exposure will be extremely high.

We must also consider that these industrial capabilities can be effectively and efficiently out-

sourced. Excess capacity in the industry does allow Guyana to reap the benefits of this part of the sector without taking on the risks. Trinidad has the capacity, experience, and capabilities. They have managed the environmental, health, and safety risks associated with these two industrial components of the sector, and there is no need for Guyana to reinvent the wheel on this.

Outsourcing these components would allow us to maintain our ecotourism credentials while also keeping our citizens in a healthy environment. Being fully vertically integrated is not always the best option. The pros and cons must be considered in order to make the

FROM PAGE 4

best ‘make vs buy’ decision.

CRG supports outsourcing these capabilities to Trinidad if this is the chosen path for the sector’s development. However, our preferred approach would be to not use the petrochemicals in our agriculture sector, but instead sell them to offshore customers who prefer the non-organic approach to their food production.

Maintaining an organic-focused agriculture sector in Guyana aligns not only with our ecotourism credentials and pursuits, but also effectively helps maintain a sustainable environment and a healthy nation.

Best regards,

Jamil Changlee

ture works on the initial 109 acres of the 3000-acre land that has been designated for Silica City.

In an effort to improve

“For 2023 alone, we have allocated over 4600 residential lots and 115 commercial lots. We have regularised 224 informal lots, and established 15 new housing developments on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) and East Coast Demerara (ECD), since the last expo,” Croal said.

“We have provided 258 home improvement subsidies, handed out 927 Steel and Cement Vouchers and allocated 184 homes,” Croal said. “We have completed the construction of 955 houses within two years.”

He noted that upon completion of the Ministry’s “Dream Realised” Housing Drive exercise taking place at this year’s expo, in which 2000 house lots are being allocated, the total number of lots distributed will increase to 27,000.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

Infrastructure works moving apace

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY DOG

– kidneys, prostate gland, constipation

weeks.

Over the last few weeks, we have been zeroing on behavioural, physical and sensory changes in elderly dogs.

I wanted to commence a discussion on the most important factors associated with aging, namely nutrition/diet. The nutritional protocols relative to feeding the elderly dog (cat) are extremely important, and must be comprehensively addressed.

However, since there are other important ailments of the elderly dogs, in addition to the ones already addressed over the past few weeks, I will defer the discourse on feeding of the geriatric dogs by a further few

Let us now add to the list of ailments that tend to be concomitant with aging.

KIDNEY AND URINARY MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELDERLY DOG

I always refer to observations that my guru, author and professor, under whose wing I was nurtured for many years at my Alma Mater, the University of Leipzig’s Companion Animal Clinic and Polyclinic. He maintained that, mostly, if one organ will begin to malfunction in a dog, it will be its kidneys. Over the

many decades that have followed, I have no reason to dispute his evidential statement.

There is no doubt that Urinary Tract difficulties are common in older dogs (cats, less so). The excretion of increased amounts of urine occurs because the kidneys have lost the ability to concentrate the waste fluids. The caregiver will notice that the animal is drinking a lot of water – much more so than usual.

Furthermore, one will observe that the dog gives the impression, not lastly via facial expression, is almost shameful that it is wetting its bed and surrounding areas in the house

(if it is a house dog). Well, obviously, the animal, instead of being berated or even beaten, must be given the opportunity to go outside several times a day, the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, and perhaps during the night. I must mention that experience has taught me that caregivers succumb to the temptation to reduce the animal’s water/fluid intake. My advice is that water must always be made available. If the caregiver lapses, in this regard,

the pet might experience kidney failure.

N.B.

Spayed females have been observed displaying this condition of frequently discharging urine – as a dribble or more copiously during the day, especially as they get older.

The constant discharge of urine leaves a strong ammonia–like odour on the dog and its sleeping area.

The caregiver is advised to check the area around the tip of the penis (in males) or around the vulva (lips that form the entrance to the vagina) for redness/swelling/chemical burn marks.

Special commercial diets are available which purport to be helpful in the elderly dog with reduced kidney functions. Your vet may be of assistance in procuring such products.

If bladder stones/ infection/inflammation are the cause of increased urination and incontinence, your vet can relatively easily solve this problem, after a correct diagnosis is

made.

ENLARGEMENT OF THE PROSTATE GLAND

Discomfort as the dog walks around, and even when positioning itself to sleep is the main symptom of prostate gland issues as the dog gets older. Of course, the problem lies in the fact that, as the prostate gland enlarges, it presses against the rectal aspect of the intestines, causing pain and the unwillingness of the animal to defecate, which leads to constipation/fecal impaction.

CONSTIPATION

Notwithstanding the points made in the paragraph above, constipation in the older dog is often as a result of improper diet – aggravated by reduced bowel activity and weakness of the muscles of the elderly animal’s abdominal wall. As stated in the introductory paragraphs, the entire nutritional regime for the elderly dog will be discussed in future columns.

JSC will have to act with speed, alacrity in filling vacancies – AG Nandlall

Given the long hiatus between the last Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the new body that was sworn in last month, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has underscored the need for the newly-appointed body to move with speed and alacrity in filling the number of vacancies in the local Judiciary.

Since the expiration of the previous JSC in September 2017, Guyana only appointed a new Commission last month when President Dr Irfaan Ali swore in Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; Retired Justice Carl Singh and Retired Justice Beasraj Singh (BS) Roy as members on July 14. The new JSC is being chaired by the Chancellor.

The JSC is a constitutional body responsible for handling matters related to the appointment, discipline, removal, and promotion of judicial officers including Judges and Magistrates.

With the Judiciary currently permeated with a series of vacancies at the Magistracy, High Court, and Court of Appeal levels, AG Nandlall pointed out that speed and dispatch are needed in the work of

–

Several hinterland schools have achieved more than a 50 per cent matriculation rate at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, while a few are yet to catch up.

The matriculation rate is students who obtained five CSEC passes inclusive of English Language and Mathematics.

The matriculation rate was 62.5 per cent for Santa Rosa Secondary; 57.8 per cent for Three Miles Secondary; 56.06 per cent for DC Caesar Fox Secondary; 67.7 per cent for Aishalton Secondary; 58.8 per cent for Annai Secondary; 53 per cent for Karasabai Primary Top; 66 per cent for Sand Creek Secondary and 52 per cent for St Ignatius Secondary.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand while delivering the results on Thursday last, shared that while there are successes, there is a need for improvement in schools such as Bartica Secondary.

“Right in Bartica, a stone’s throw away from Three Miles, 21 per cent matriculation rate. Same children, same air, same kind of food, what is it we must do to look more like Three Miles? What is it that they must do to make sure they look more like Three Miles?” she questioned.

Across the country, 12,118 students sat the CSEC examinations, an increase of 10,368 in 2022. There were 75,764 entries. Overall, the pass rate

the new JSC.

“It is expected that the JSC will proceed with alacrity addressing these vacancies… a lot of work has to be done and it has to be done with speed and dispatch. Hopefully, the Judicial Service Commission appreciates the monumental task with which they are shouldered,” he asserted.

Senior judicial officers such as the Chancellor and Chief Justice, for years, have been voicing their concerns about the lack of Judges in the system.

As it is, the Court of Appeal has a complement of nine Judges but there are only three Judges currently sitting in the highest local court. The High Court, on the other hand, has a complement of 20 Judges with only about half of those positions occupied. Additionally, the Berbice Land Court has been without a Judge for a while now.

“Those voids need to be filled as early as possible,” the Legal Affairs Minister stated.

Only last week, a local newspaper reported that the newly appointed Commission will be advertising publicly to fill these vacancies – a move which the Attorney General has welcomed.

According to Nandlall, the Commission will be held, both financially and functionally, to the same level of accountabil-

ity and transparency as other State agencies that are funded by public monies.

Traditionally, the JSC would invite suitable candidates to apply in order to be appointed as a Judge. However, recently, there has been a clamour for these vacancies to be publicly advertised so that the process is open to more candidates.

The Attorney General contended, “Once the application is public, then hopefully we will get applications from outside of Guyana. The intention is not to confine applicants to Guyanese but to invite the commonwealth, to invite the Caribbean, to extend the applications to all and sundry who are qualified and who desire to be part of the Guyana

schools

per cent, Human and Social Biology, from 73 per cent to 63 per cent, Physical Education and Sport, from 98 per cent to 88 per cent, and Portuguese, from 76 per cent to 62 per cent.

The Education Ministry is aiming to make universal secondary education a reality by 2025. Universal access to secondary education is the ability of all students to have equal education regardless of their social class, race, gender, sexuality, ethnic background, or geographic location.

Education Minister

Priya Manickchand

was 65 per cent this year – a decline from 68.5 per cent last year.

Outstanding performances – which translates to a pass rate of 80 per cent or more - were reported in 14 subject areas:

Agriculture Science (Double Award), Agriculture Science (Single Award), Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), Family and Resource Management; Food, Nutrition & Health, Industrial Technology (Building), Industrial Technology (Electrical), Information Technology, Physical Education, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, Technical Drawing, Theatre Arts and Industrial Technology (Mechanical).

Stable performances were noted in English, Mathematics, Technical Drawing, Caribbean History and Economics.

Declines were seen in Biology, from 82 per cent to 72

The Government is eliminating primary tops, with the construction of several secondary schools across the country.

Schools to be built are the $1.9 billion Kopinang Secondary School (Region Eight); the $2.5 billion Hosororo Secondary School (Region One); the $2 billion Kwebanna Secondary School (Region One) and the $2 billion Jawalla Secondary School (Region Seven).

With the establishment of the new Jawalla Secondary School, the Ministry would be able to close the primary tops in Philippi, Wax Creek, Chinoweing, Imbaimadai, Jawalla, Quebanang, Kako and Kamarang.

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

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

Judiciary. So, this approach [by the JSC to advertise vacancies] augurs well… At least, we are moving in the right direction...”

Days after the reconstitution of the new JSC last month, Attorney-at-Law Arud Gossai, and economist, Ramon Gaskin, wrote the five members of the Commissioner to ensure they advertised vacancies for Judges, both in and out of Guyana and then published potential candidates so that they could be vetted by the legal fraternity before any appointments are made. They threatened legal action against the Commission if this was not done.

In the letter sent by the law firm – Satram and Satram – on behalf of Gossai and Gaskin, it was suggested that advertisements be published in Guyana, the Caribbean, and the wider Commonwealth, inviting suitably qualified applicants for these posts as opposed to the

practice of merely inviting suitably qualified to apply for the position – something which is not consistent with Article 129 of the Guyana Constitution.

Article 129 stipulates that all persons qualified for admission as attorneys-at-law in Guyana are eligible to be appointed as a Judge. Attorneys have to serve the local bar for seven years in order to be qualified for this appointment.

“Every person who meets the requirements specified in Article 129 of the Constitution and Section 5 of the High Court Act enjoys a right to apply for and be considered for appointment. The Commission has no power to curtail this right,” the letter detailed.

According to a document from the law firm, any refusal to advertise the vacancies would amount to a gross violation of the Constitution by the JSC.

Moreover, the letter also

calls on the Commission to publish the names of potential candidates so that they can be vetted by the public which will foster greater transparency in the process.

On the issue of promotion within the Judiciary, Gossai and Gaskin urged the Commission to ensure that in their evaluation methods, they take into account the conduct and performance of persons who are being considered.

“The Commission has to be, therefore, satisfied that the persons they intend to appoint or recommend for appointment are capable of giving written decisions within the time-limits stipulated by Parliament… It would be a violation of the Constitution for the Commission to appoint or promote sitting Magistrates and Judges who have a history of not delivering timely judgements. In the circumstances, the Commission has a constitutional duty to request and consider, from potential applicants and other sources, evidence of their compliance or ability to comply with the Time Limits for Judicial Decisions Act,” the correspondence stated.

The letter went further to note that if these cannons of transparency, accountability, and fairness in the recruitment and promotion of judicial personnel are not adopted by the JSC, then legal proceedings may be instituted to review appointments made.

Several hinterland

record above 50% CSEC matriculation rate

Min Manickchand

President Dr Irfaan Ali and AG & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, along with other officials with the five members of the newly-constituted Judicial Service Commission

Woman who attempted to smuggle ganja in slippers remanded to prison

weighed and amounted to 227 grams. However, the prosecutor objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the of-

fence. Jordon will make her next court appearance on September 15.

Man gets 13 weeks, fined $5M for narco-possession

Thirty-year-old Eon

Jordon, who was attempting to smuggle a quantity of ganja in two pairs of slippers, into the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Headquarters, was charged and remanded to prison on Friday.

Jordon appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and

pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on August 22, she had 227 grams of cannabis in her possession.

Police stated that on the day in question, a quantity of cannabis was found wrapped in two pairs of slippers, which were intended for a prisoner.

The woman was arrested and the ganja was

Richey Sewadhan, who was nabbed with approximately 12.8kg of cannabis back in 2021, was on Friday found guilty following the conclusion of his trial. He was charged with the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

As such, Magistrate Azore, who presided over the matter at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, sentenced Sewadhan to 13 weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $5 million.

Sewadhan was arrested on July 29, 2021, after the vehicle in which he was travelling was in-

Celebrating… …African culture

One thing we’ve got to get out of the way is, when we speak in Guyana - or the Caribbean - about “African” culture, we have greater legitimacy to do so because our African citizens were brought from all parts of West Africa – from Angola in the south to Senegal in the north. This includes the Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria, just to mention some of the more popular names. So, we can immediately appreciate that while in Africa - even within what we call Ghana today - there are dozens of ethnic groups or tribes. During the hundreds of years of enslavement, those cultural differences were homogenized as the Whites tried to ground their culture out of them in totality.

Sentenced: Richey Sewadhan

tercepted by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). He was subsequently charged and pleaded not guilty.

But what’s not appreciated enough is that, after the abolition of slavery in 1838, there were over 13,000 Africans brought directly from Africa and transported to Guyana to work as Indentured Immigrants!! That’s right –not as slaves, but as indentured servants - to drive down the wage aspirations of the freedmen and women – just like the other indentureds!! So, how were they brought?? Well, after the Brits abolished the slave trade in 1807, and then emancipation in 1838, other countries, such as Brazil and Cuba - which continued with slavery - kept on shipping their African “cargo”. The British Navy was assigned to patrol the coast of West Africa and intercept these slave ships.

The “liberated” Africans were sent generally to Liberia or Sierra Leone, from where they were persuaded to emigrate to the West Indies. One unintended consequence of this latter arrival, when African cultural practices weren’t seen as a threat, was that after the Indentured Africans were distributed to plantations in all three countries, they became the nucleus and catalyst for the flowering of African culture. Among the new arrivals were Igbo, Kalabari, Mende, Temne, Mandinka, Yoruba, and above all, West Central Africans such as Kru and Congolese.

If we were to map the areas where there are more significant expressions of African Culture, you can bet that some of the new arrivals were settled there in greater numbers – like in Bagotville on the West Bank. After their Indentureship, some returned to Sierra Leone, but, like other Indentureds, most remained. They gravitated to African villages and bought lands, where their immigrant drive for economic improvement soon made them exemplars.

Some African cultural retentions have spread in the wider Guyanese populace in the kind of food we eat. While we may think of foo-foo and conkie, let’s not forget that the entire repertoire of “ground provision” dishes from soups (including metemjee) and “boiled and fried” are of African provenance!!

So today, let us all celebrate this African Heritage that’s now “ours”!!

…“the apology”

Your Eyewitness is a tad surprised at the excitement over the Gladstone family’s apology for their role in Caribbean African slavery. At the last moment - because some from Guyana pointed out the irony of the family that introduced Indian indentureship not even mentioning that monstrous system - “indentureship was” slipped it as an afterthought!! And it showed – from the speakers to the whole bash.

He would’ve been a bit pleased if the Gladstones had parted with at least ten times the 100,000 pounds they’re supposed to have donated to a UG project on migration. Wasn’t their entire family fortune – reputed to be in the billions – based on slavery and indentureship?? But the “migration” moniker for the UG institute suggests slavery and indentureship were just simple jaunts taken by the millions who were dragged across the Atlantic in chains –and across the Indian Ocean - on lies and deceits!!

Anyhow, the point is that the GOVERNMENT of Britain still haven’t apologised – and until they do, our chances of getting reparations is zilch.

Let’s keep the fire to their feet!!

…and reversions

Wasn’t it wonderful that so many people are now garbed in African clothes?? Time there was when wearing them was seen as “backward” – but thankfully, that’s now in the past!!

The ganja concealed in the slippers

Indentureship and slavery

Ihave noted some interventions following the apology of the Gladstone family for their role in “slavery and indentureship.”

Unfortunately, rather than using the fortuitous occasion presented by this specific family, which owned the plantation on which the 1823 slave rebellion was sparked and also initiated the introduction of Indentured labourers into Guyana, to look at both institutions as methods of extracting labour as cheaply as possible in the early development of capitalism, emphasis was once again placed on which group “suffered more”. The point of that comparison, of course, has been to argue that the group that “suffered more” has a greater claim to the national patrimony. In one of the earlier iterations of this trope, Mr Eusi Kwayana had suggested that we should rather agree that we all “suffered equally” and move on. In that vein, when asked to speak at the funeral of Mr Ronald Waddell, who to me sadly represented one nihilistic futility of comparing suffering in a plural society, I pointed out that we had all cried when we sat by our Rivers of Guyana and remembered our own Zions.

I have repeatedly asked interlocutors that our individual group narratives acknowledge the separate historical contingencies but take cognizance of the implications of odious comparisons. We must attempt to craft a national Guyanese narrative that is based on the premise that we each have an equal place in this mosaic that forms the Guyanese nation. Take, for instance, the strict dichotomy that is assumed between the descendants of enslaved Africans and indentured labourers. One recent interlocutor mentions Portuguese, Indian, and Chinese indentured who was introduced after the abolition of slavery, but studiously avoided mentioning the 40,783 Bajans and small islanders, along with the 13,355 “liberated Africans” straight out of Africa, who also came as indentured.

The last group had never been enslaved, and those who chose not to return to Africa brought and practised their West African cultures. Not subjected to the same intensity of violence from the colonials as had the original enslaved People of African Descent prior to 1838, they were living exemplars of African culture. From the records, some of them ended up in the villages across the coast where we see higher levels of African cultural retention.

When we compare these overall 54,138 indentured of African descent to the 82,000 local Africans who had been freed, we would appreciate the significance of African indentureship. Especially when we know that the 82,000 who had survived the slave regimen continued to suffer a higher mortality rate. Ironically, there were several instances recorded of Indian indentured – along with freed enslaved Africans - protesting that the West Indian indentured were undercutting their wages! For several decades after the formation of the Guyana Police Force in 1839, most of the policemen recruited were immigrant Barbadians, to ensure that the orders of the White officers were carried out. In my village of Plantation Uitvlugt, we had a separate “Bajan Quarters”, distinct from the old “Nigger Yards” Martin Carter wrote about, and in which, ironically, the new Indian and other early indentured were housed.

As late as the 1920s, after the much-criticized “Colonization Scheme” was eventually aborted, 1729 West Indians of African Descent were contracted to work on the plantations, as opposed to 607 Indians. The 100th birthday of one of those Bajans from Uitvlugt will be celebrated this coming October. Both Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte had Barbadian forbears. Incidentally, a pernicious falsehood being peddled in one divisive narrative is to claim that the land being titled for our Indigenous Peoples is for “reparations”. It is nothing of the sort. The European colonists had treaties with the latter group, and Annex C of our Independence Legislation acknowledged their pre-colonial ownership of land occupied.

As I have stressed, it was the working of the systems imposed on us by the British, whether political (imperialism), economic (pre-capitalist), or cultural (cultural hegemony), that kept us all in thrall. Today, we are still busy blaming each other for our mess, and not questioning whether those bequeathed systems are not still contributing to our problems. And that we should get busy, as a first step, in modifying them to assist in leading to greater equity and justice for all of us. Colonialism continues as “coloniality”, and those narratives that stress greater rights for some citizens over others facilitate its divide-and-conquer imperative.

UMDC wants illegal mining, better healthcare addressed at NTC

Day ahead of the Conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) is hoping that issues of illegal mining, and the need for proper facilities will be addressed. The conference is set for August 28 to 31.

The UMDC represents the eight villages and their satellite communities within the Upper Mazaruni. The eight villages are Paruima, Kako, Philippi, Chinoweing, Jawalla, Waramadong, Kamarang, and Omanaik/ Kambaru.

This week, the UMDC held an extraordinary meeting where representatives of the villages gathered in Kamarang to prepare for their participation at the NTC.

A statement outlined, “Key concerns raised during the meeting were illegal mining on Indigenous lands,

Amerindian Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Legal Affairs Ministry had announced plans of establishing a committee that would be responsible for consultations in order to revise the Amerindian Act 2006.

The committee would

make recommendations and engage every single Amerindian community to solicit recommendations that would eventually make up the amended Amerindian Act.

Some $10 million had already been earmarked by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry in 2022, to establish the committee, the modalities of the consultation process, and the training of facilitators.

Additionally, the UMDC said it endorses the Chinese Landing Village Council’s appeal for a slot on the NTC’s agenda to bring attention to their ongoing land dispute.

This month, the Government announced that all mining operations at Chinese Landing, Region One (Barima-Waini) have

been temporarily halted.

The Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Ministry has said that in response to the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) precautionary measures issued to Guyana on July 21, 2023, the Government took a decision to stop all mining in Chinese Landing temporarily to allow for a more conducive environment to address the concerns of the community and all concerned.

This, according to the Ministry, comes in response to the claims contained in the IACHR resolution including that community members “felt unsafe even passing through the concessions to the other side to farm, hunt and fish, and to visit our families”.

inadequate health and educational facilities and services, the Government’s persistence in ignoring Indigenous peoples’ right to Free Prior and Informed Consent, and amendments to policies and legislations that impact Indigenous peoples.”

As the council calls for better healthcare, this is already been realised with the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital at Kamarang – one of four being built in the hinterland region through a US$97 million Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan.

Some $100 million was injected in 2022 for Region Seven to upgrade primary healthcare facilities. Another $100 million will be expended throughout this year to address human resources shortfalls.

Meanwhile, the UMDC said it believes a critical step in ensuring that the rights of Indigenous peoples are respected and protected is the revision of the Amerindian Act.

Therefore, the council is hopeful that adequate time will be given to discuss the process of revision of the Amerindian Act, mainly since there are concerns in relation to the revision process.

Last year, the

Ravi Dev

National Toshaos Council Chairman Derrick John

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing Indigenous leaders at the opening ceremony of the NTC last year

Fly Allways airline to commence flights to Canada on Sept 12

Fly Allways on Saturday announced its latest venture into international skies with the introduction of new flights connecting Georgetown to Toronto, Canada.

The new flights from Canada will come on stream from Tuesday, September 12, and will be operated two days per week out of Canada - Sundays and Tuesdays. As well, there will be two flights out of Guyana on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The flights will be direct flights with a 45-minute fuel stop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Tickets are now available for booking online.

However, the new route was launched at a special event hosted at the Guyana Marriott for about 25 local representatives and travel agents during which the airline’s executives and representatives shared insights into the new flight routes and exceptional benefits to offer.

Country Manager Patricia Lewis welcomed the agents and gave introductory remarks while the airline’s Director of Commerce, Natascha Abdulhak, presented on the new route.

Abdulhak also expressed the airline’s enthusiasm for expanding its horizons and fostering stronger connections between Georgetown

and Canada while boasting that the airline has always been dedicated to connecting people, cultures, and experiences.

The event also included interactive sessions where travel agents had the opportunity to engage directly with Fly Allways’ team, gain-

ing deeper insights into the flight schedules, services, and unique offerings that set the airline apart.

Local travel agents and other attendees expressed their enthusiasm for the new route and lauded Fly Allways for its unwavering commitment to quality, comfort, and

innovation.

“Fly Allways has noticed that there is a substantial demand for the Toronto/ Georgetown VV route, and we believe that we will be successful with the introduction of this route. The flight on the Toronto route will be operated with airbus A320 aircrafts with a seating capacity of 180, in Economy setting,” the airline stated in a release to the press.

Additionally, the airline provides free 8kg (17lbs) hand luggage and 23 kg (50lbs) Check-in Baggage included within the ticket price.

Fly Allways is a young, dynamic airline based in

Suriname, with its new sales office on Main Street, Georgetown. The airline offers charter and scheduled flights and cargo services out of Guyana within the Caribbean, central America and South America.

The aim is to be the preferred airline with a dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with joy, creativity, respect and responsibility.

For more information, bookings, and inquiries about the new flights to Canada, please visit Fly Allways’s website www.flyallways.com or contact them via contact numbers listed on the website.

The auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as the pure love of a sister for her brother.

Traditionally, a sister ties a sacred thread on her brother’s wrist as he goes to war, as a symbol of protec-

nation, and clarity to overcome any adversities.

This union activates the coming together of the mind (which has knowledge of belonging to the One) and the heart (that feels the warmth and comfort of that belonging). Thus, the in-

undertake the various symbolic practices:

Let this tilak awaken me to the awareness that I am not a mere body of flesh and bones, but I am a living being of pure consciousness. A being of light in the centre of the forehead.

tion, to remind him of his innate resilience and courage.

In fact, this sacred thread that the sister ties around the wrist of her brother is reminiscent of the eternal, invisible link of love between the soul and the Supreme Soul.

dividual attains the power to be a self-sovereign, selfaware soul, who is master over the physical senses of the body.

In the light of this self-sovereignty, the authentic beauty of being a subtle, nonphysical entity is accessed, and the intrin-

Let this thread rekindle the eternal relationship and bond of love between me, the Soul, and God, the Supreme Soul -- the Supreme Being who is ever pure beyond this world of matter; who is called by many names: Shiva, Jehovah, Allah…

Let the sweets remind me that my mouth should always be filled with words of sweetness that create harmony. Let the exchange of gifts be the symbol of good wishes and blessings to every person.

As we collectively shift our consciousness from the festival rituals into the spiritual awareness that underpins these physical practices, we can collectively create a world of harmony and pure love.

When an individual remains conscious of the connection with the love of the Supreme Parent, an indomitable bond is sealed. With the power of that union, the individual experiences the strength, courage, determi-

sic soul virtues of peace, purity, power, love, and bliss are experienced.

So, on this occasion of Raksha Bandhan, allow yourself the opportunity to explore and experiment with this awareness as you

We all understand the enormous power of love. The energy of love can transform the world of sorrow into a world of peace for all. Love can bring heaven onto earth.

(By Brahma Kumari)

Award-winning pageant director, Teri Brown-Walker who acquired the Miss Universe franchise for Guyana is confident that the country will make history by placing at this year's international pageant, which is set for November 18, 2023, in El Salvador.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Times, Brown-Walker stated, “We’re going to place. The first goal is to be the winner of the costume contest, and the second is to be the first to ever place in the history of that competition. It would be great to win, but I’m just taking it in small steps.”

She acquired the franchise earlier this year after she applied to the open call for applicants.

“The Miss Universe organization had an open call for applicants. And I am an American citizen so I applied for some US States opportunities but there were none available, and they really wanted me to be a part of the team so they opened it up to me to select any available country. Most of my friends are Guyanese and of course, they were pushing me [to] take Guyana,” BrownWalker explained.

She added, “I didn’t know anything really about the country other than through them and so with their support, I submitted my application.”

The director noted that at the time of applying, she was unaware that Guyana had previously been banned from the competition but she still saw the opportunity to challenge herself.

“I’ve had a pretty good success rate in the US so I took it on as a personal challenge to get this thing going and we’re going to make history this year because we’re going to have our first placement ever at the Miss Universe International Pageant,” a confident Brown-Walker shared.

Brown-Walker added that she was offered the opportunity to host the pageant in 2024 given the short timeline for this year's competition but she was determined to pull off the impossible with the support of her team.

This year's pageant saw a total of 500 applicants who expressed interest, however, when the residency requirements process began that number was reduced to 90 because of competition fees and other deterrents.

The eight delegates were given the freedom to select their own title to represent a specific region, village, or town across Guyana. The Miss Universe Guyana pageant will be held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown on September 2, 2023.

GET TO KNOW THE DELEGATES:

MISS GEORGETOWN Lieve Blanckaert

Crowned Miss India Guyana 2015, model, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Lieve Blanckaert who represents the capital city of Georgetown is determined to leave an impact as she takes the stage on coronation day at this year's pageant.

She is an Operation Manager by profession and is passionate about educating people on the benefits of holistic living and why it is important for our overall well-being.

“I want to send the message that holistic living is very important for us and it’s very important to take care of our overall well-being when Miss Teri brought back the Miss Universe Pageant, I was super excited and I knew I had to be a part of this, not only for me but for my community.”

She added, “I think my biggest challenge in everything right now is definitely trying to balance all of my roles, but the most rewarding part is knowing that I’m being impactful to my community and everyone’s like Lieve I’m so happy that you’re doing this because they know this has been my dream and I want to be a voice for change.”

Blanckaert shared that the biggest takeaway from her pageant experience thus far is being a role model for people.

According to Blanckaert, “If I win the Miss Universe Guyana title, I will use this platform to continue educating people on the importance of holistic living. I believe it’s very important to live a balanced lifestyle and I’ll collaborate with local groups, NGOs [and] schools to spread the message.”

MISS ONDERNEEMING Anika Felicien

In an effort to make her family proud and walk in the footsteps of her mom and grandmother, Miss Onderneeming Universe, Anika Felicien entered this year's pageant to fulfill a childhood aspiration as well as advocate for mental health awareness.

The full-time student who is finishing off her Associate's Degree in Communications at the University of Guyana shared that her initial challenge was finding a designer for her dress however, her family played a huge part in braving that storm.

“My family has been a huge support… I think when everything comes together, I’ll owe every part of this experience to them.

She confidently added, “The biggest takeaway for me will be the ability to believe that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I struggled with self-confidence be-

fore and to be able to be here at this stage where I’m a part of the competition and I’m going to be on stage I think no matter the result the biggest takeaway would be my give it a shot.

“I did my research and I really thought about this and the Miss Universe committee it’s all about empowering women of every background, [and] every ethnicity, and this is a chance to teach people the importance of confidence and how important it is to love yourself,” she explained.

Profeiro unveiled that when her photos were officially released on social media, she was a bit bothered by the negative comments about her teeth but didn’t let it affect her overall confidence and her ability to press forward in this competition.

According to the young woman, her most rewarding moments have been the amount of support she has received from people who are inspired by her. She added that winning the Miss Universe Guyana title would be the chance to be a voice for those who have been unheard.

“This is a chance to amplify the voices

of those who have been unheard. This is a chance to speak for meaningful causes such

“My biggest takeaway from this pageantry has got to be how impactful I was on different people's lives without even knowing I was doing so much or I would have done so much for them in that moment or in the future. I’ll be honest I don’t even think we’re into half of what we’re supposed to be doing as yet, but to know that I would have impacted people in such a manner and they’re willing to show up and root for me means a lot.”

The determined young woman added, “Should I become your next Miss Universe Guyana I would love to expand on my platform which is geared towards championing climate change through educational campaigns. I believe it’s important that I use my voice to be a transformational leader by encouraging collaborations. I want to see collaborations with both reputable local and international environmental groups. I believe it’s very important that we have collaborations to raise funds for reforestation and supporting programs for sustainable developments for Guyana.”

MISS LA PARFAITE HARMONIE

want to see every child having access to quality education so they themselves can be empowered and educated to take up their future and also through sustainable livelihood development where fishing and farming practices can be given to families so that they can earn an income for themselves. And also, we can have incentives for entrepreneurial opportunities so that skills and passions can be nurtured and we’ll have a Guyana where the poverty rate reduces and there is economic equality for everyone.”

Highly driven by purpose, Miss Pomeroon-Supenaam Universe, Lisa Narine is determined to make a change in the lives of citizens across the country through skills training and entrepreneurial opportunities.

we have a purpose in everything we push for, then we’re able to be successful and be an impact and be a force for change,” Narine told Guyana Times.

MISS PAKARAIMA Britny Mack

Twenty-three-year-old, Britny Mack is representing the Pakaraima (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Her platform is Violence Against Women

Her hobbies include inte rior decorating, dancing, and riding bikes. Apart from help ing at the hospital, I truly en joy the pleasure of spend ing time with my daughter. Additionally, I enjoy “gyming” and sharing my dance skills with the Latin Heat Dance Studio.

She is a final-year stu dent at the Texila American University.

Born in the heart of Guyana, from a lineage of strong and re markable women who embody true determination and will power.

“It is with this that I stand in confidence that I am indeed capable of being your next Miss

Young entrepreneur Melissa McLean, who too is a firsttime pageant contestant, is using her platform to advocate for better living conditions for families in underprivileged communities across Guyana.

“This is my first pageant, I did it for the opportunities, just to feel empowered, to grow [and] to advocate for people that are less fortunate.”

According to McLean, “The most challenging part of this journey would be time management, getting everything done. And the most rewarding would be seeing my family, [and] my friends genuinely supporting me and I can’t wait to make them proud. They work so hard behind the scenes.”

The ambitious young woman shared that her biggest takeaway from this experience would be the importance of community and family, adding that if it wasn’t for the people that she has around her she wouldn’t have been this calm and composed.

“My motivation is where I want to be, where I see myself, so what I do now I want to act how my higher self or my best self would act so that Is what really motivates me to keep going.”

McLean highlighted “If I have the opportunity to become Miss Universe Guyana, I would use the platform to better advocate for children and families in underprivileged communities. I would

The ambitious woman shared that if she is suc cessful in acquiring the ti tle of Miss Universe Guyana, she would use her platform “To [offer] skills-based class es to persons in less fortunate areas so that they are able to take that skillset that they have gained, coupled with business and entrepreneur ship abilities to foster sus tain - able businesses of their own so that they can then turn and create a constant stream of income for them selves and their families.”

“Right now, it’s concentrated in my community but if I’m able to grow this to a national level and then with the help of the Miss Universe orga nization take it to the international platform then that itself will be a major growth for that cause.”

According to Narine, she en tered the pageant because the Miss Universe organization has created many success ful stories and this is an opportu nity to share hers with the world.

“The most important thing that I have gathered so far since joining the pageant is that my platform has been able to gain the recognition and growth that it hasn’t been able to in quite some time,” Narine added.

She shared that she also faced a chal lenge with finding balance in her dayto-day life and other responsibilities. However, “The one fulfilling thing for me is the support I’ve been getting, not only from my family but my community in gen eral and the country.”

“Being a young woman from a rural community to becoming the woman that I am today, I would say this platform has allowed me to become more of a trans formational leader, to be more confident, empowered, and most importantly to be a voice for my platform. I believe that if

Melissa McLean

MISS POMEROONSUPENAAM Lisa Narine

Lisa Narine

Courts Business Solutions generating interest at Int’l Building Expo

The recently launched Courts Business Solutions initiative is generating significant interest among entrepreneurs of varying sectors, who have been visiting the CBS booth at the 2023 International Building Expo at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Since the launch on Thursday evening, dozens of business owners have positively responded to the initiative, and during discussions, they highlighted the great need for financing solutions for members of the corporate community.

Courts Business Solutions Manager Ulander Leitch related, “The business community’s response during the International Building Expo has been overwhelmingly positive, showing genuine

interest in our offerings and engaging in meaningful conversations that could lead to viable opportunities and collaborations. We implore other like-minded entrepreneurs to visit us to cash in on what we have to offer, especially to take advantage of our expo offer where businesses can pre-order commercial equipment during Building Expo and get up to 15% off their order.”

She added that so far, hoteliers, restauranteurs, and operators of Airbnb are the main groups showing keen interest in the CBS offerings.

The CBS initiative provides its customers with a complete purchasing solution from product selection to procurement. And, through Courts Ready Finance, CBS is providing its customers with a one-stop-shop

suite of solutions to help secure their product purchases. Irrespective of the size of the business, CBS is designed to assist with driving growth and business innovation.

Also, through leveraging Unicomer’s vast network of suppliers and significant buying power, CBS not only ensures that the equipment and furnishings provided are wide-ranging and of high quality but also provides after-sales support.

With the launch of CBS, the company is further introducing and providing sole distributorship for luxury brands like Electrolux Commercial.

By launching CBS, Unicomer aims to foster a thriving business ecosystem that drives employment, innovation, and economic prosperity.

GFC launches 1st magazine on forest

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC)

on Friday launched a magazine named Canopy — the first publication of which focused on the forestry sector — at the 2023 International Building Expo at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Canopy — produced by Energy Magazine with the support of Sagacity Inc — showcases the achievements, challenges and opportunities of the forestry sector, and the GFC's promotion of best practices, innovation, and sustainabili -

ty. The magazine features articles on sector-related topics such as forest governance, certification, products, product development, value-added projects, carbon credits, conservation, sustainability, and more.

While commending the launching of the magazine, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said, "The publication of Canopy magazine will help to keep the nation in tune with the rapid gains we are achieving in the forestry sector, which sometimes fly under the media’s radar. I

see this magazine will be a valuable asset for sharing vital information about the massive progress of forestry and its value-added and spin-off sectors in Guyana.”

Energy Magazine and the GFC widely distributed the first issue of Canopy magazine at the International Building Expo. Canopy magazine is available in print and digital formats. Click on the link to view: Canopy Magazine. The magazine welcomes feedback, suggestions and submissions from its readers and potential contributors.

BritCham Guyana appoints full-time Business Development Executive

The British Chamber of Commerce

Guyana (BritCham Guyana) has appointed former Banking Executive Remonna Graham as its first Business Development Executive, with responsibility for growing the Chamber’s membership and supporting existing members in developing business and networking opportunities.

Graham, a Guyanese national, joins BritCham with more than 10 years of corporate and client-facing experience in Guyana’s banking

industry.

Graham said, “I am honoured to be the first Business Development Executive to join the BritCham Guyana team. I am looking forward to continuously delivering exceptional support and service to the BritCham members and the larger community, as together we advance and strengthen trade relations between Guyana and the UK.”

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in international relations and is pursuing an MBA. The full-time role of Business Development

Executive will be based at BritCham’s headquarters in the New Pegasus building in Georgetown.

“Remonna is a talented and dedicated business development expert with long-standing experience on the ground and strong relationships with decision-makers across Georgetown,” said BritCham Chair, Faizal Khan.

He added, “We are confident she will help us continue to drive the impressive growth in our membership that we have already seen

this year while offering valuable support and guidance to BritCham members as they build networks and navigate the business terrain - in particular, Guyana’s banking and legal systems.”

Launched in February,

BritCham Guyana is an independent trade and commerce body that acts as a hub and partner for British and Guyanese companies interested in working together or investing in each market, as well as fostering a strong ecosystem for information sharing and networking, improving the ease of doing business, and collaborating with UK and Guyanese authorities to support the business community.

At that time, it was revealed that the Chamber has close to 30 member companies, with some 50 verbal commitments. It was also communicated that BritCham Guyana would be launched in London, England, and Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Chamber was set up to act as a support for other Chambers of Commerce that exist in the coun-

tries in which it operates. British and Guyanese companies were also encouraged to sign up as members with BritCham Guyana to enjoy the full benefits of its support in exploring and accessing each market.

The independent, non-profit Chamber also serves as a leading promoter and enabler of trade and investment between the UK and Guyana, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. BritCham Guyana also works closely with the British High Commission in Georgetown and UK Government departments to support their advocacy work in Guyana.

New Business Development Executive of BritCham Guyana, Remonna Graham

CXC students overcome challenges to attain academic excellence

for his life by the roadside. His resilience, however, defied all odds.

He was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital where he spent two gruelling weeks with doctors, uncertain about his chances of recovery due to the extent of his brain injury.

Despite the odds stacked against him, the 17-yearold not only recovered but emerged stronger than ever.

Amidst life’s challenges, a group of students from Chase’s Academic Foundation, Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, have emerged triumphant in the recent Caribbean Secondary

Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Their stories of determination and achievement are nothing short of inspiring. Azriel Waldron, Cicle Dookharan, Steve Kumar, and Orin Smith are each a

testament to the power of resilience and hard work.

Just two years ago, Waldron was involved in a life-threatening accident after he was struck down while riding his bicycle. After the accident, he was left fighting

While he still grapples with walking difficulties and hearing loss in one ear, his zest for life has been rekindled. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “Things like that make you really appreciate life more and show you how, in the twinkle of an eye, everything can be gone.”

Through sheer determination and hard work, he transformed his academic trajectory. With guidance and dedication, he leaped from struggling with writing skills to achieving Grade Ones in English A and B.

He said his drive to excel was fuelled by his awareness of the challenges his mother faced in supporting his education and his determination to rise above them. Today, Waldron stands proud with an exceptional achievement: 12 CXC passes, including 2 Grade Ones, 8 Grade Twos, and 2 Grade Threes.

He extended his gratitude to his mother for her unconditional love, the Director of Chase’s Academic Foundation for believing in him, and the remarkable educators who guided him to success.

Meanwhile, his peers, Cicle Dookharan, Steve Kumar, and Orin Smith who are from St John’s Bosco Boys’ Orphanage, also performed exceptionally well at the exams.

Bound by shared goals and unbreakable bonds, these students proved that hard work and determination can reshape destinies, regardless of challenges.

These teenagers crossed paths in the realm of education, driven by a common desire to succeed against all odds. Each with a unique journey, they converged in their pursuit of academic excellence and a brighter future.

When asked about their aspirations, their responses were heartfelt and resolute, reflecting their deep-seated motivations. In fact, prior to the examination, the children were tasked with an activity to write about life

and their expectations.

“I badly want to be successful to show my parents that even without them I can still be successful in life,” Orin Smith wrote.

“…When people see me, they see me as a drunk like my father, but I want to show them that I can be somebody good in life,” Kumar scribed on his piece of paper.

According to them, their individual struggles and aspirations created a powerful connection with their teacher, whose belief in their potential became a guiding force.

Among these students, Cicle stood out for determination and quiet resilience. Overcoming obstacles, he emerged as a shining example of hard work paying off, celebrating eight CXC passes including Math and English.

Kumar’s self-taught proficiency in Spanish revealed his innate thirst for knowledge. From once contemplating life as a fisherman due to limited opportunities, Kumar defied expectations, securing 10 passes. His mes-

sage to the world is clear: “Regardless of one’s circumstances, aspirations can transcend limitations.”

Smith, on the other hand, is known for his vibrant personality and brilliance, which according to his teachers, made him stand out. Despite a period of doubt and setbacks in the lead-up to the exams, he overcame the challenges with determination and support.

Today, he celebrates a remarkable achievement: passes in nine CXC subjects, including Math and English. His message resonates deeply: Life’s challenges might bring us down momentarily, but resilience ensures the final victory.

The successes of Cicle, Steve, and Orin are also a testament to the unwavering support of the Bosco Boys’ Orphanage staff, who believed in their potential and helped them overcome obstacles. These young men now stand as beacons of inspiration, illustrating the power of perseverance and a nurturing community.

Cicle Dookharan, Steve Kumar, and Orin Smith

Azriel Waldron

Govt pushing for more US investments in non-oil sectors – PM Phillips

– says Govt remains committed to creating attractive investment climate

While a United States (US) company, ExxonMobil, is the single largest investor in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is also pushing for more American investments in non-oil economic sectors.

This was according to Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, while addressing the American Chamber of Commerce-Guyana’s (AmCham) 5th anniversary dinner and awards ceremony on Friday evening at the Marriott Hotel.

The Prime Minister emphasised the Government’s commitment not only to enhancing Guyana’s international connections and trade, something AmCham has played a key role in supporting, but also in facilitating investments.

“Our Government remains committed to strengthening our international ties, and AmCham has been playing a key role in promoting trade and economic relations between Guyana and US interests. We continue to encourage American investors to explore and look for opportunities in the various sectors and not just remain limited to oil and gas,” the Prime Minister said.

In his address, the Prime Minister also highlighted the success of AmCham since its formation in 2018, which, according to him, showcases the vitality of its membership base – a membership that spans various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and tourism, among others. He further lauded AmCham for being a valuable partner in strengthening Guyana’s business landscape.

According to Phillips, the Government remains committed to ensuring a

robust environment exists to support investors, including through its infrastructure development and updating its business-related legislation.

He also commended these companies for embracing their corporate social responsibilities and encouraged AmCham’s membership to continue providing opportunities through training and various educational and social programmes at the community level, since these initiatives contribute to enhancing lives.

“I take this opportunity to thank all of the companies represented here for not only investing in Guyana and Guyanese but for honouring your corporate social responsibilities and recognising the significant impact such responsibilities have on the lives of our people in Guyana,” the Prime Minister said.

Guyana has long been recognised as an attractive investment destination. With a projected growth

rate of 37.2 per cent for 2023, Guyana is expected to continue its trend this year, of outpacing every other Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) country when it comes to economic growth. Additionally, the nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has almost tripled in the space of two years, moving from $1.1 trillion in 2020 to $3.1 trillion at the end of 2022.

Guyana has also recorded the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in the Caribbean.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) “Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean” 2023 report stated that Guyana recorded FDI inflows for 2022 totalling US$4.389 billion. It is a similar result to the record inflows in 2021. All in all, Guyana played a critical role in the overall 55.2 per cent rise in FDI in the Caribbean –a historic rise.

According to the report, the rise in FDI project announcements in Latin America and the Caribbean was mainly a result of a higher number of projects in Guyana, Mexico, Brazil, and Panama. In Guyana’s case and the Caribbean in general, companies from the United States were re -

sponsible for a significant chunk of these investments.

Since its establishment in 2018, AmCham has sought to provide a network and support structure for US enterprises doing business in Guyana.

AmCham Guyana’s main success has revolved around creating a plat -

form for its members to collaborate, and explore potential partnerships.

This has been facilitated through business networking events, seminars, and workshops allowing US-based entities to connect with the local private sector, as well as the public sector. (G-3)

AmCham President and Attorney-at-Law Devindra Kissoon, with Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips at AmCham’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony

A section of the gathering at Friday’s ceremony

UNICEF donation to aid in elimination of violence against women, children in Reg 6

Working towards the eradication of violence against women and children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), within the framework of the European Union-United Nations (EUUN) Spotlight Initiative, recently donated key supplies to a number of schools and health centres supported by the St Francis Community Developers (SFCD) umbrella in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

These supplies, includ-

ing tents, smart televisions, printers with backup batteries, backpacks, umbrellas and water bottles, filing cabinets and stationery, will go towards increasing the education and health capacity development within the region.

Regional Health Officer of Region Six, Dr Vishalya Sharma noted that the generous donation will aid in training some 44 part-time workers within her department to sensitise community members on gender-based violence and the reporting mechanism

of these instances.

“These part-time workers will be trained to assist the health centres at Angoy’s Avenue and Port Mourant to help publicise activities at the health centres, and also report instances of violence where necessary,” Sharma said.

As the second largest populated region in Guyana, Region Six is plagued with many challenges including poor parenting, alcohol abuse and gender-based and family violence.

Since the introduction of the Spotlight Initiative in the region in collaboration with the SFCD, reports have indicated that there have been many improvements in the awareness and reporting of violence against women and girls.

UNICEF Area

Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron commended all stakeholders for their commitment to the programme while noting that it takes a multisectoral approach to end violence against women and girls.

“We know it takes a collective effort of the public, private and intergovernmental agencies along with the people to make rapid changes possible. It is always a great feeling to witness the works of our implementing partners, especially when they understand the vision and when they work towards achieving that vision,” Pron said.

“While we are far from achieving the goal we really want to achieve, we cannot do it alone. We are pleased to see the progression so far.

Be assured of UNICEF’s con-

tinued commitment to ending violence against women and girls in this region, and in Guyana,” Pron added. Students and teachers of the schools receiving the supplies extended their gratitude to UNICEF, noting that it would enhance the delivery of the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) subject.

Meanwhile, SFCD President, Alex Foster, who oversees the implementation of the prevention component of the Spotlight Initiative in Angoy’s Avenue and Port Mourant, also thanked UNICEF for its unwavering support over the past two years under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative.

Other stakeholders including the Town Clerk, Education, Health and Human Services and Social Security Ministries’ staff, and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were also present during the handing over ceremony and highlighted the other areas within the region that need support.

In keeping with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU’s global human rights priority to achieve gender equality under the Spotlight Programme in various countries around the world, the two organisations have been working collectively over the years to address violence against women and children through efforts as such.

UNICEF donating supplies to end violence against women and children to Region Six schools and health centres

Labour Ministry investigating electrocution of Kuru Kururu man at worksite

dent site to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton conveyed heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, colleagues, and friends of the deceased young man. In a release to the press, he emphasised the paramount importance of implementing robust workplace safety and health practices for both employers and employees.

Family seeks answers following death of NA prisoner

A30-year-old inmate of the New Amsterdam Prison reportedly died on Wednesday, raising concerns and suspicions of potential foul play after his family asserted that he was assaulted while in prison.

The man has been identified as Devendra Singh of Number 65 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne, who was serving a 16-month sentence on an assault charge.

Dead: Robert Chin

Ayoung serviceman was on Thursday electrocuted while working on the Splashmins Housing Project, SoesdykeLinden Highway. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department.

The dead man has been identified as 21-year-old Robert Chin of Kuru Kururu Squatting area, SoesdykeLinden Highway.

While specific details about how the incident unfolded remain unclear, reliable sources told Guyana Times that Chin received shocks at the work site and despite efforts to resuscitate him, he did not make it.

He was pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre after he was rushed to the medical facility.

In response to the tragic event, an OSH Officer from the Ministry of Labour promptly visited the inci-

The release highlighted the necessity of reminding both employers and workers about the significance of adhering to good workplace safety and health practices to prevent similar incidents that could lead to the loss of precious lives.

The Ministry further conveyed its dedication to addressing unsafe workplace conditions and practices through inspections and audits conducted by the OSH Department. This proactive approach aims to mitigate the occurrence of accidents within both the formal and informal economies.

The Police have not yet issued any official statement regarding the matter.

A family member, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times , related that on Wednesday they received a telephone call informing them that Singh was injured and hospitalised.

“When we do find out, they say that he in the hospital since the week before Thursday and we were shocked. Anyway, the family had to get permission to see him and when they went, they say he looked like he got beat up bad,” the relative said.

Since then, the family has been seeking answers but is always given contradicting information by the authorities.

“They keep saying different, different things,

and nothing they saying not making sense…”.

However, an autopsy conducted on Wednesday revealed that Singh's cause of death was attributed to shock and haemorrhage to the brain. Additionally, an enlarged liver and lung failure were noted.

Despite the autopsy findings, the family remains resolute in their belief that Singh's demise is linked to the injuries he suffered while incarcerated.

"Is somebody had to beat he up and cause this to happen to he. Because the autopsy say he die

from haemorrhage to the brain, which mean somebody probably beat he in he head,” they said.

Following the incident, Police officials of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway. There was also confirmation that Police are interrogating the other inmates who shared the cell with Singh.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the Guyana Prison Service has not yet issued any official information concerning the circumstances of the young man's demise.

Dead: Devendra Singh

2000 house lots distributed at Int’l Building Expo 2023

– 600 land titles handed over

In just three years, the Government is on track to deliver 50,000 house lots by the year 2025 in keeping with its manifesto commitment, as a total of over 25,000 house lots have been allocated countrywide to date.

Another 2000 allocations would be achieved at the end of this year’s International Building Expo. In addition, about

to distribute 2000 house lots at the end of the expo and this was realised.

However, in implementing its national housing programme, the Government has chosen an integrated strategy that ensures Guyanese have equitable access to affordable and sustainable housing.

Guyanese continue to express gratitude to the

their standard of living.

Additionally, housing solutions for low-income and vulnerable groups continue to be a top priority for the Administration, as well as the necessary infrastructural development.

In 2023 alone, a total of 4682 residential house lots and 115 commercial lots were allocated, while 224 informal lots were regula -

Staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority attending to citizens

homes in Region Three by the end of 2024. On the East Bank of

Demerara, infrastructure projects for more than 5000 low, moderate, and

middle-income residential house lots and industrial/ commercial lots covering over 1700 acres of land are progressing.

Along the East Coast of Demerara, the Government has spent over $10.9 billion on infrastructural improvements, with an additional $10.1 billion planned for this year.

These kinds of investments would have a big influence on the local economy, including job prospects.

2 remain in custody for beating death of Speightland man

Two persons, including a teenager, are currently in Police custody and are being questioned in relation to the murder of construction worker Kevin Surfin, of Speightland, Linden, who was tragically beaten to death during a birthday party.

appeared to be blood on his body and then collapsed to the ground.

He was subsequently transported to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival.

House lot awardees at the expo on Saturday

600 certificates of title were also handed over to landowners at the event. The Housing and Water Ministry had set a target

Government for giving people the opportunity to own homes and for improving their access to finance, which will help them raise

rised.

To provide citizens with affordable housing alternatives, the Government intends to construct 2000

Police reported that the incident took place on Thursday last in Speightland village, Lower Kara Kara, Linden. An eyewitness had reported that on the day in question at about 05:00h, she left the now dead man with a group of his friends as she went to purchase cigarettes.

However, upon her return just five minutes later, she was met with a distressing scene; a group of about

15 persons, three of whom she could identify, had attacked Surfin.

During the altercation, Surfin managed to evade his assailants by leaping into a nearby creek. He emerged from the water with what

An examination of Surfin's body revealed a small wound in the region of his heart and a bruise above his left eye, underscoring the brutality of the attack.

Prior to the current arrests, several individuals had been taken into custody and interrogated but were later released. The Police are diligently continuing their investigation into the tragic incident, seeking to uncover the full details and bring justice to the situation.

Dead: Kevin Surfin

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine/ enDocrinology, DiabeTes

While there are endless diets, supplements, and meal replacement plans claiming to ensure rapid weight loss, most lack any scientific evidence. There are, however, some strategies backed by science that do have an impact on weight management.

These strategies include exercising, keeping track of calorie intake, intermittent fasting, and reducing the number of carbohydrates in the diet.

Methods of weight loss that scientific research supports include the following:

1. Trying intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a pattern of eating that involves regular shortterm fasts and consuming meals within a shorter period during the day. Several studies have indicated that short-term intermittent fasting, which is up to 24 weeks in duration, leads to weight loss in overweight individuals.

The most common intermittent fasting methods include the following:

Alternate day fasting (ADF): Fast every other day, and eat a typical diet on non-fasting days. The modified version involves eating just 25–30% of the body’s energy needs on fasting days.

The 5:2 Diet: Fast on 2 out of every 7 days. On fasting days, eat 500–600 calories. The 16/8 method: Fast for 16 hours and eat only during an 8-hour window. For most people, the 8-hour window would be around noon to 8 p.m. A study on this method found that eating during a restricted period resulted in the participants consuming fewer calories and losing weight.

It is best to adopt a healthy eating pattern on non-fasting days, and to avoid overeating.

2. Tracking your diet and exercise

If someone wants to lose weight, they should be aware of what they eat and drink each day. The most ef-

HEALTH TIPS

NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS REMEDIES

fective way to do this is to log these items in either a journal or an online food tracker.

Researchers estimated in 2017 that there would be 3.7 billion health app downloads by the end of the year. Research suggests that tracking diet, physical activity, and weight loss progress on the go can be an effective way of managing weight.

One study found that consistent tracking of physical activity helped with weight loss. Meanwhile, a review study found a positive correlation between weight loss and the frequency of monitoring food intake and exercise. Even a device as simple as a pedometer can be a useful weight-loss tool.

3. Eating mindfully

Mindful eating is a practice wherein people pay attention to how and where they eat food. This practice can enable people to enjoy the food they eat and maintain a healthy weight. As most people lead busy lives, they often tend to eat quickly on the run, in the car, work at their desks, and watch TV. As a result, many people are barely aware of the food they are eating. Techniques for mindful eating include:

Sitting down to eat, preferably at a table: Pay attention to the food, and enjoy the experience. Avoid distractions while eating: Do not turn on the TV, or a laptop or phone. Eating slowly: Take time to chew and savour the food. This technique helps with weight loss, as it gives a person’s brain enough time to recognize the signals that they are full, which can help to prevent overeating.

• Making considered food choices: Choose foods that are full of nourishing nutrients and those that will satisfy for hours rather than minutes.

4. Eating protein for breakfast

Protein can regulate appetite hormones to help people feel full. This is mostly due to a decrease in the hunger hormone ghrelin and a rise in the satiety hormones peptide YY, GLP-1, and cholecystokinin. Research on young adults has also demonstrated that the hormonal effects of eating a high-protein breakfast can last for several hours.

Good choices for a high-protein breakfast include eggs, oats, nut and seed butter, quinoa porridge, sardines, and chia seed pudding.

the sugar occurs in beverages rather than food. Refined carbohydrates are heavily processed foods that no longer contain fibre and other nutrients. These include white rice, bread, and pasta. These foods are quick to digest, and they convert to glucose rapidly.

Excess glucose enters the blood and provokes the hormone insulin, which promotes fat storage in the adipose tissue. This contributes to weight gain. Where possible, people should swap processed and sugary foods for more healthful options. Good food swaps include:

Whole-grain rice, bread, and pasta instead of the white versions

Fruit, nuts, and seeds instead of high-sugar snacks

Herbal teas and fruit-infused water instead of high-sugar sodas

Smoothies with water or milk instead of fruit juice

6. Eating plenty of fibre

Dietary fibre describes plant-based carbohydrates that are impossible to digest in the small intestine, unlike sugar and starch. Including plenty of fibre in the diet can increase the feeling of fullness, potentially leading to weight loss. Fibre-rich foods include:

Whole-grain breakfast cereals, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, oats, barley, and rye

• Fruits and vegetables

• Peas, beans, and pulses

• Nuts and seeds.

7. Balancing gut bacteria

bacteria in the gut. These include:

A wide variety of plants: Increasing the number of fruits, vegetables, and grains in the diet would result in an increased fibre uptake and a more diverse set of gut bacteria. People should try to ensure that vegetables and other plantbased foods comprise 75 per cent of their meals.

Fermented foods: These enhance the function of good bacteria while inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria. Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, tempeh, and miso all contain good amounts of probiotics, which help to increase good bacteria. Researchers have studied kimchi widely, and study results suggest that it has anti-obesity effects. Similarly, studies have shown that kefir may help to promote weight loss in over-

weight women. Prebiotic foods: These stimulate the growth and activity of some of the good bacteria that aid weight control. Prebiotic fibre occurs in many fruits and vegetables, especially chicory root, artichoke, onion, garlic, asparagus, leeks, banana, and avocado. It is also found in grains such as oats and barley.

8. Getting a good night’s sleep

Numerous studies have shown that getting fewer than 5–6 hours of sleep per night is associated with an increased incidence of obesity. There are several reasons behind this. Research suggests that insufficient or poor-quality sleep slows down the process of metabolism, in which the body converts calories to energy. When metabolism is less effective, the body may store unused energy as fat. In addition, poor sleep can increase the production of insulin, which also prompts fat storage.

How long someone sleeps also affects the regulation of the appetite-controlling hormones leptin and ghrelin. Leptin sends signals of fullness to the brain.

9. Managing your stress levels

Stress triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which initially decrease the

appetite as part of the body’s fight-or-flight response. However, when people are under constant stress, cortisol can remain in the bloodstream for longer periods, which would increase their appetite and potentially lead to them eating more.

Cortisol signals the need to replenish the body’s nutritional stores from the preferred source of fuel, carbohydrates. Insulin then transports the sugar from carbohydrates from the blood to the muscles and brain. If the individual does not use this sugar in fight or flight, the body will store it as fat.

Researchers found that implementing an 8-week stress-management intervention programme resulted in a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents who are overweight or have obesity. Some methods of managing stress include:

• Yoga, meditation, or tai chi

• Breathing and relaxation techniques

• Spending some time outdoors, for example walking or gardening

It is important to remember that there are no quick fixes when it comes to weight loss. The best way to manage weight is to eat a nutritious, balanced diet.

5.

Cutting back on sugar and refined carbohydrates

The Western diet is increasingly high in added sugars, which has definite links to obesity, even when

One emerging area of research is focusing on the role of gut bacteria on weight management. The human gut hosts a vast number and variety of microorganisms, including around 37 trillion bacteria. Every individual has different varieties and amounts of bacteria in their gut. Some types can increase the amount of energy the person harvests from food, leading to fat deposition and weight gain. Some foods can increase the number of good

Haitians shelter in sports centre as fresh attacks displace nearly 9000

driving a devastating humanitarian crisis that has displaced around 200,000 nationwide.

Ariel Henry, Haiti’s unelected Prime Minister, called for urgent international security assistance last October.

Though countries were wary of backing Henry and repeating the serious abuses committed by past interventions, Kenyan delegates met with Henry and top Police chiefs this week to assess leading such a force.

Brazil’s inflation slightly worse, central bank chief says

Brazil's Central Bank

Governor Roberto Campos Neto said on Saturday that the latest inflation data had worsened but underscored the bank's non-reliance on singular index readings to shape its policy decisions.

"Recently, we even had a slightly worse inflation number, very loaded with volatile elements," he said at an event hosted by think tank EsferaBR.

"But we don't behave with real-time data. We look at it (inflation) as a trend."

Inflation hit 4.24% in the 12 months through mid-Au-

gust, accelerating for the third fortnight in a row and beating market forecasts.

Earlier this month, the central bank kicked off an easing cycle with a 50-basis-point rate cut to 13.25%, signalling more of the same for future meetings as board members have called the pace "appropriate."

After Congress greenlit new fiscal rules proposed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to curb unbridled public debt growth, Campos Neto stressed the need for tax revenue to expand through sustainable means, thereby enhancing the out-

look for public accounts and interest rates.

"Government is making a big effort, it doesn't depend solely on it," he said. Regarding proposed measures aimed at taxing offshore and closed-end investment funds, which the Government intends to submit to lawmakers, Campos Neto refrained from offering a direct opinion.

But, generally speaking, he said that measures should seek to safeguard the revenue base, ensuring the efficiency and continuity of the collection processes. (Reuters)

Hundreds of people are crammed into small white tents in the courtyard of a sports centre in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, drying clothes on the access ramps and washing their children in small, plastic tubs.

Some 8730 people have been displaced around the heavily populated neighbourhood of CarrefourFeuilles, according to UN

mates on Saturday, more than half due to a fresh outbreak of violence two days earlier.

Residents began moving out of the area en masse from Aug 12, when armed gangs mounted their attacks on the area.

Under-resourced Police have struggled to fight off the armed groups which now control large parts of the capital, their turf wars

The motion is eventually expected to go to a UN Security Council vote.

“Even if order was restored to the area, I would not come back,” said Orisca Marie Youseline, who grew up in Carrefour-Feuilles and is now one of some 930 people the UN estimates is sheltering at the Gymnasium Vincent sports centre.

“We are running too much, we are tired of always being victims.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelan bookstores, publishers struggle under economic crisis

Publishers and book stores in Venezuela are trying to survive the country's long economic crisis and sky-high inflation by selling used texts and a handful of new books from Venezuelan writers, booksellers said.

A drastic reduction in the number of publishers, imprints and bookstores began more than decade ago, as the Government put in place currency controls, rules about the distribution of school textbooks and import restrictions.

Though economic activity enjoyed a slight recovery in 2021 and 2022 as the Government eased curren-

cy controls, leading many to use dollars instead of the hugely-devalued bolivar, the respite was brief, with inflation reaching 398% year-onyear in July.

A decade ago the country's bookseller and publisher guild had 110 members, said its President Julio Mazparrote. That number has dwindled to 25.

Many book shops in the capital Caracas now have limited offerings, mostly secondhand, and customer numbers are low.

"What little money people have goes to food," said Mazparrote, 54, who inherited a small textbook publisher from his father, which he

Guatemala President-elect, deputy facing death threats: rights body

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked Guatemala to provide more protections for Presidentelect Bernardo Arevalo and Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, it said on Thursday, citing "serious and urgent" risks to their wellbeing.

The IACHR, noting that Guatemalan authorities had told them Arevalo and tection scheme" that the

runs out of two-story house in western Caracas. "The crux is there is no money."

Resurgent inflation is devouring the income of many Venezuelans, making basic staples like food and medicine prohibitively expensive even for those with access to dollars.

Textbook publishers like Mazparrote were among the first to suffer a major blow, when the education ministry in 2011 limited use of textbooks from private publishers in public schools, which had represented some 80% of their business. The government has not printed textbooks since 2018.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

J/ca: Arsonists leave national netballer, nearly 50 others homeless

There is tension in Kingston Central Police Division following Thursday's firebombing of three premises at 33, 33 1/4 and 33 1/2 Rum Lane, leaving roughly 30 people, including more than 13 children and a national netballer, homeless while another 17 were burnt out in an apparent reprisal, as the Darksyde and Gennasyde gang feud, which previously appeared to be on pause, is apparently heating up again. That first incident occurred approximately 12:00 am on Rum Lane. About an hour and a half later, in what

appeared to be a reprisal for what had happened earlier on Rum Lane, a premises at 6 Rosemary Lane was set on fire, displacing 17 people, including eight children, close to next month's start of the new school year.

In what is believed to have been another act of reprisal, there was an attempt to torch a premises nearby at 12 Foster Lane. Luckily, quick response from residents prevented that fire from igniting anything substantial. However, residents there claimed that a message was sent that the arsonists will be back soon to "flatten everything".

One victim of the fire on Rum Lane said it was the screams from a child at approximately 12:00 am which alerted her to danger.

National netballer Latanya Wilson told the Jamaica Observer that she lost almost everything in the fire, including the bronze medal she won with the Sunshine Girls at the Netball World Cup tournament earlier this month in Cape Town, South Africa.

None of the people impacted could understand why they were targeted as they claimed no gunmen live among them. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

In a statement, the commission said the threats include two plots against the politicians' lives. In response, the Government said it has already reinforced security, and called on the IACHR to be "prudent."

Anti-corruption candidate Arevalo won Guatemala's presidential runoff on Sunday by a landslide after an effort to disqualify his party and sideline his candidacy.

Before the runoff, Arevalo said he expected attempts to prevent him from taking office should he win.

The IACHR, an autonomous organ of the Washington-based

quested the Guatemalan Government to take precautionary measures to protect the lives of Arevalo and Herrera.

The commission cited two plans against Arevalo and Herrera's lives, including one that had been alerted by Guatemalan prosecutors, without giving further details.

port on actions it has taken to investigate the threats.

The Government, in a statement, said it had provided "all necessary protection measures".

"The commission must always speak objectively and guarantee impartiality due the consequences of unfounded statements," the Government said. (Reuters)

Dominican Republic: Authorities assess damage from Tropical Storm Franklin

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are fanning out across the Caribbean country to evaluate the damage Tropical Storm Franklin inflicted on crops and homes after causing heavy flooding that killed at least one person.

More than 670 homes were affected by the storm, according to preliminary Government figures, and 24 communities were cut off by heavy rains.

Crews helped more than 3300 people move to higher ground ahead of the storm, and another 352 residents sought safety in Government shelters.

The storm left hundreds of thousands of people without power and more than

1.6 million others without water after knocking 120 aqueducts out of service.

The country’s civil defence agency said a man identified as Carlos Marino Martinez died in San Cristobal after being swept away by floodwaters.

The agency initially said he was one of its volunteers, but later corrected the information, saying it misidentified a uniform he was wearing. Authorities did not provide further details.

Two women in that city also were injured following a landslide, officials said.

By Thursday, schools, businesses and Government agencies were reopened as the tropical storm spun northeast of the country.

As of Thursday morning, Franklin was about 85km (53 miles) east-northeast of Grand Turk Island. It had maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour) and was moving north across open waters.

It is the seventh named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. An eighth named storm, Gert, dissipated on Tuesday.

On August 10, the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration updated its forecast and warned that this year’s hurricane season would be more severe than normal. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A man carrying an elderly man as they flee their neighbourhood Carrefour Feuilles after gangs took over, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti August 15, 2023

Guatemalan Presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo of the Semilla party addressed supporters during his closing campaign rally, ahead of Sunday’s presidential run-off, at the Plaza Central in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 16, 2023

Around the World OIL NEWS

Putin orders Wagner fighters to sign oath of allegiance

Russia's oil exports via western ports slightly up in August despite pledged cuts

Crude oil loadings from Russia's western ports in August are seen slightly higher from July despite Moscow's pledge to cut oil exports by 500,000 barrels per day, according to traders, shipping data and Reuters calculations.

The loadings remain well below a four-year export peak achieved in May, the data shows.

Overall crude exports and transit from Russia's western ports in August are seen around 7.7 million metric tons (1.8 million bpd) compared to 7.5 million tons in July (1.77 million bpd), according to the traders, provisional shipping data and Reuters calculations.

"August exports grew (more) than initially planned as there were a couple (of) additions to the programme," one of the traders said, citing oil cargoes added to the loading plans from Baltic ports this month.

Moscow pledged last month to cut exports by 500,000 bpd in August, in tandem with OPEC leader Saudi Arabia which extended its output cuts. OPEC and major oil producers including Russia, together known as OPEC+, have been cutting supply since November to support prices.

But as Russia has not provided the baseline for its supply reduction, the rise of loadings in August from July does not mean Moscow is not fulfilling its pledge.

Russia's Energy Ministry and the office of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of oil and gas, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Combined, Russia's flagship Urals and Kazakhstan's KEBCO crude oil grades loadings from the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga are expected to rise to between 5.3-5.5 million tons in August (1.25-1.3 million bpd) from 5.1 million tons (1.2 million bpd) in July.

Loadings at the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk are expected to be largely unchanged compared to July at 2.3-2.4 million tons (about 550,000 bpd) including volumes of Urals, KEBCO and Siberian Light.

August oil loadings from Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiisk are still some 0.6 million bpd below the volumes seen in May when Russia's exports peaked at 2.4 million bpd amid seasonal turnarounds at local oil refineries, Reuters data shows.

ESPO Blend grade loadings from Russia's Far East port of Kozmino are expected to stay little changed in August compared to July at 3.8 million tonnes.

Novak said in early August that Russia would cut the exports by 300,000 bpd in September.

Meanwhile large seasonal maintenance on Russian refiners planned for September, according to data from industry sources and Reuters calculations, suggest higher loadings of oil. September loading plans from western ports were yet to emerge.

The loading data for Russian ports may be incomplete as it is based on information on volumes available in the market. Russia has limited access to its official oil exports data due to Western sanctions. (Reuters)

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Wagner fighters to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian State after a deadly plane crash believed to have killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the volatile chief of the mercenary group.

Putin signed the decree bringing in the change with immediate effect on Friday after the Kremlin said that Western suggestions that Prigozhin had been killed on its orders were an "absolute lie". The Kremlin declined to definitively confirm

Uganda bans imports of used clothing from 'dead people'

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has banned the importation of used clothing into the east African country, saying it stifles the development of local textile industries and that the clothes belonged to dead Westerners.

Like most African countries, Uganda has traditionally imported large quantities of used clothing, which some consumers prefer because it is low-cost.

But local manufacturers complain the dumping of second-hand apparel swamps the market, undermining Uganda's ability to climb the value chain of the cotton and textile industry.

"They are for dead people. When a White person dies, they gather their clothes and send them to Africa," Museveni said on Friday.

At least 70% of garments donated to charity in Europe and the United States end up in Africa, according to Oxfam, a British charity. Reuters was not able to immediately ascertain what percentage of the donated

clothing came from people who had died.

"We have people here who produce new clothes but they cannot infiltrate the market," Museveni said at a groundbreaking ceremony of nine factories in the SinoUganda Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale city.

Uganda is a significant producer of cotton but much of it is exported in semi-processed form, with the value of its cotton exports ranging between US$26-76 million per year in the decade to 2022, according to Uganda's central bank.

The East African Community, a regional economic grouping of which Uganda is a member, agreed in 2016 to a complete ban on used clothing imports by 2019, but Rwanda was the only country to enact it.

As a result, the United States in 2018 suspended Rwanda's right to export clothing duty-free to the United States, one of the benefits of the United States' tariff and quota-free African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). (Excerpt from Reuters)

High-altitude heist shocks Switzerland

Thieves in Switzerland have conquered one of the country's most challenging protected climbing routes.

They ascended to an altitude of 2350m and traversed gorges on narrow steel cables - all to rob a collection box.

The box belongs to a local climbing club, which maintains Switzerland's longest protected climbing route on the Gemmi pass above Leukerbad village.

What has caused the biggest shock is that the donation box is accessible only to the most experienced climbers.

The route, known as a

via ferrata, is classed as level 5, the most difficult, and involves serious climbing as well as ascending ladders bolted into the vertical rock face, and traversing gorges on narrow steel cables.

Those who discovered the theft believe it was carefully planned well in advance.

The donation box was found smashed open and empty. The thieves were not only good climbers, equipped with all the necessary mountaineering kit, they took the tools with them to break open the donation box "with brute force" the climbing club said.

Astonishingly, it appears they then continued their

his death, citing the need to wait for test results.

Russia's aviation authority has said that Prigozhin was on board a private jet which crashed on Wednesday evening northwest of Moscow with no survivors exactly two months after he led a failed mutiny against army chiefs.

President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash on Thursday and spoke of Prigozhin in the past tense.

He cited "preliminary

information" as indicating that Prigozhin and his top Wagner associates had all been killed and, while praising Prigozhin, said he had also made some "serious mistakes."

Putin's introduction of a mandatory oath for employees of Wagner and other private military contractors was a clear move to bring such groups under tighter state control.

The decree, published on the Kremlin website, obliges anyone carrying out work on behalf of the military or supporting what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine to swear a formal oath of allegiance to Russia.

Described in the decree as a step to forge the spiritual and moral foundations of the defence of Russia, the wording of the oath includes a line in which those who take it promise to strictly follow the orders of commanders and senior leaders.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the accusation and many others like it were false. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bob Barker, long-time US TV game show host, dies at age 99

ascent, with the money, to the top of the Dauberhorn, at 2941 metres.

The climbing club is not sure exactly how much money was stolen; but club member and mountain guide Richard Werlen told the BBC it was likely to be at least 400-500 Swiss francs (€420-520; $450-560).

Switzerland is still a country where cash is used on a regular basis, and the Swiss are proud of their voluntary work maintaining hiking paths and climbing routes. A donation for such effort is expected, and gladly given, by large parts of the population. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bob Barker, an affable fixture on US television for half a century who hosted the popular game show "The Price Is Right" for 35 years and was a committed animal rights activist, has died at age 99, his publicist said.

The silver-haired Barker, host of "The Price Is Right" from 1972 to 2007, won 19 Daytime Emmy awards, the top US television honours, and also was known for a memorable comic turn playing himself in the hit 1996 film "Happy Gilmore," beating up a character played by Adam Sandler.

Barker died on Saturday morning of natural causes at his longtime Hollywood Hills, California, home, his publicist Roger Neal said.

Barker gave millions of dollars to pro-animal causes, including donating US$5 million for a 1200-ton ship named the Bob Barker that was operated by the Sea Shepherd Conservation

Society to stop Japanese whaling ships from killing whales off Antarctica.

"The Price Is Right," in which contestants tried to guess the price of various consumer products and played a slew of games to win prizes, became a US pop culture institution on daytime TV with the smoothtalking Barker at the helm for 6586 episodes.

Over the years, he handed out more than US$300 million in cash and prizes like cars, appliances and trips.

Barker was known for pro-animal causes and campaigned for them into his 90s. He would end episodes of "The Price Is Right" by urging viewers to get their pets spayed and neutered to control the animal population and began a foundation to subsidise the practices. He also spoke out against the treatment of animals in zoos, rodeos and circuses.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia August 25, 2023

Bob Barker introduced the "Plinko" game segment during the taping of his final episode of the game show "The Price Is Right" in Los Angeles June 6, 2007

The climbing club is not sure exactly how much money was stolen, but club member and mountain guide Richard Werlen told the BBC it was likely to be at least 400-500 Swiss francs (€420-520; US$450-560)

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 21June 20)

CANCER

A change will intrigue you, but before you begin, consider its cost. Put your energy to the test and do as much work as possible before calling in an expert.

You’re in a better position than you realize. Take stock of what’s happening around you, and you’ll get a clear vision of what’s best. A chance meeting will offer hope for greater stability.

Read between the lines. False information will hinder your ability to make the right decision. A social event will bring you in contact with someone harboring ulterior motives.

Trust your intuition. When in doubt, ask an expert and you’ll receive information and help. Making your space more welcoming will promote growth in your relationships.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Simplify your life. Go through your belongings and rid yourself of what’s no longer necessary. Don’t deny yourself the things you want most or carry a weight that is no longer necessary.

Share your knowledge without being critical. Taking the time to be a good listener will help you decide the truth and eliminate outside interference.

Catch your breath and revisit a long-term plan. Don’t let temptation bring you down. Stand behind your word and do what’s best overall. Listen to complaints and suggestions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t complain or let temptation lead you astray. Your happiness depends on the decisions you make. Start a dialogue with someone who can offer insight into something that intrigues you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Consider how to use your money effectively. Cutting corners and selling items you don’t need will ease stress. Focus on health, fitness and being happy.

Don’t hesitate to make a move. A long-term investment will help fund a project you want to pursue. Alter your space to accommodate what you need to do. Someone close will offer a helpful suggestion.

Discuss your plans or team up with someone who can help you reach your goal. Be selective, and don’t waste time on people with different agendas. Don’t reveal your ideas prematurely.

Participation will spark your imagination, challenge your mind and bring you in contact with valuable people. Attend a social event, reunion or conference.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Pickles

Elite League top 4 cart off prizes

Space Gym 2.0, Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop lift with GAPLF for Raw Nationals

to display their strength

With a number of Guyana’s leading strongmen and women already pencilled in to compete at the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation’s (GAPLF’s) Raw Nationals on Monday at the National Gymnasium, two more corporate entities have added their support for the event.

Space Gym 2.0 and Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop have both contributed to the competition, which will lift off at 09:00hrs following the weigh-in of the athletes.

Four football clubs were richly rewarded on Friday afternoon when prizes for the 2023 KFC Elite League Competition were distributed in a simple ceremony at the title sponsors’ Headquarters, located at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

Attended by KFC Guyana Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Director of Competitions Troy Peters, players and coaches, the activity saw cash prizes to the tune of $4.5M being handed over to 4 clubs, namely the Guyana Defence Force, Western Tigers, the Guyana Police Force, and Santos Football Club, with Champions GDF FC receiving their whopping $2M grand prize.

Cash prizes were also awarded to the football clubs that secured second, third and fourth places in the prestigious national competition: Western Tigers ($1.2M), Guyana Police Force ($800,000) and Santos ($500,000).

Guyana Defence Force

FC Captain Kenard Simon said the victory was not surprising because the team and coaching staff “go about doing things different” from the other clubs. “It wasn't surprising for us, because we know that we are the number one team, we know that we could’ve come out victorious just because of the level of training, the level of respect that we have in the country."

Simon added that players are looking forward to Season Six of the Elite League, and that supporters will see "a lot more” from the defending champions.

The winning club recorded eight wins and one draw to finish on 25 points, while Western Tigers and Guyana Police Force scored 22 and 21 points respectively at the end of Season Five.

The GFF-KFC Elite League Season 5, which kicked off on May 14 and concluded on July 22, featured 10 of Guyana’s best

football clubs in a one-round format - Fruta Conquerors, the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Western Tigers, Santos, Milerock, Ann’s Grove, Buxton United, Victoria Kings, and Den Amstel.

In May, KFC Guyana signed a ten-million-dollar sponsorship deal with the GFF as part of the company’s commitment to football development in Guyana.

KFC Guyana Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh congratulated the champions and pledged the company's continued support of the GFF’s football programme.

“Congratulations to the winner! Congratulations to the opponent! You guys did a fantastic job! To the coach, I must say, ‘Behind everything there's a good backbone. We at KFC Guyana are always on board to support these events’. So, we will continue doing so. We'll continue making our youths smile and develop, and at the same time, we must say this is all about…football.”

She added that she attended the matches and ‘saw the glory’. “I saw the history, and I'm adding to it. Thank you, guys, you did a great job, we continue as KFC family to support you.”

Matches were played at Eve Leary Ground in Georgetown and at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

GFF Director of Competitions, Troy Peters, thanked the ten participating clubs, players, fans, KFC Guyana, Guyana Beverage Inc, EC Vieira Investments Limited; Brass, Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry; and GT&T for making Season Five a resounding success.

“The league was a resounding success, and the GFF would like to say a big thank you to our suppliers and contractors, the 10 elite clubs, our passionate fans, and remarkable players who entertained us with countless memorable moments through-

out the tournament,” he noted during his brief remarks.

“KFC Guyana added a special flavour to Season Five, and I'm proud to say today that this ceremony is the icing on the cake as we express our heartfelt gratitude to your company and key partners who made invaluable contributions to the league.”

He, too, congratulated the top four teams and acknowledged the other six participating clubs for producing some of the most memorable moments in club football history.

“The Guyana Defence Force stood tall among the 10 clubs to emerge winners after 45 pulsating matches, and even on the final night of the League, the atmosphere was electrifying,” Peters added as he thanked the GFF team for their hard work and commitment to the game.

For the first time ever, matches were streamed live via FIFA+ platform, giving sponsors and players global exposure.

Supervisor at Space Gym 2.0, Ms. Roann Pierre, handed over the contribution to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson, and said the entity is pleased to be supporting the sport once again, as had been done in the past.

“We were on board for your Intermediate competition a few months ago, and we are happy to be of assistance once again. The sport has been steadily growing in popularity here, and we have been observing that the athletes are being afforded the opportunity to represent Guyana abroad, which is gratifying. We wish you continued success, and assure you that we will continue to support the athletes and the sport.”

Former lifter Brandon Badal, Manager of Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop located at Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara, expressed delight at being approached to support the sport.

“As a former lifter my-

self, I am more than happy to be able to give back to the sport. It has come a long way, and I am seeing good things happening for our athletes. We applaud this new executive of the GAPLF, and will be working along with you as best we can to further advance our athletes and the sport.”

President Wilson expressed, on behalf of his executive, the Federation’s appreciation to both Space Gym 2.0 and Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop for partnering with the entity for Monday’s event.

“It is never an easy task to attract sponsorship, especially when you have so many things going on all at the same time. So, we are very thankful to Space Gym 2.0 and Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop for answering our call for support. We anticipate a very exciting competition, as a number of our top

athletes will be competing. Fans can look forward to good entertainment as the lifters seek to outdo each other by exhibiting their strength in the squat, bench press, and deadlift involving both female and male athletes.

Meanwhile, Wilson also shared that the Federation is in a very busy period. “We have two of our best sub-junior and junior athletes (Romeo Hunter and Dominic Tyrell) at the moment in Romania getting ready to compete at the World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships next Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

“We are also well into plans for the 10th Annual FESUPO Regional Powerlifting Championships slated for 6th to 10th September 2023 in Lima, Peru,” he disclosed.

Bartica ATC begin Summer Grassroots Camp

The Bartica Football Association (BFA), by way of its Academy Training Centre (ATC), has embarked on a Summer Grassroots Football Camp, which is being run off during the last two weeks of August. The sessions are designed for children aged 6 to 12 years old.

The Summer Camp is an extension to the yearround Saturday morning Grassroots Training Sessions of the Bartica Football ATC, for which the Association receives financial and material support from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) through its Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP). The Bartica Football ATC has been in operation for more than three years already, and caters to training for boys and girls in the following catego -

ries: Under-13 (Mondays), Under-15 (Wednesdays), Under-17 Fridays, and Grassroots (Saturdays).

Leading up to this year’s summer holidays, the BFA received a handsome donation of balls and equipment from the GFF, and was able to distribute same to various nearby riverine communities in a bid to kick start their own ATC

cells. As a result, the BFA Summer Grassroots Camp will culminate with a grand Kids Football Festival on Saturday, September 2nd, at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, where all the beneficiaries of M-FAP donations will be invited to compete against each other.

At conclusion of the summer programme, the BFA expects to see an increase in

attendance at its continuous Academy Training Centre sessions.

Since its inception, the Bartica ATC has borne much fruit, providing quality players to local clubs, performing exceedingly well in national tournaments, and seeing a number of its charges being called to the Guyana National Team at various age categories.

…Some of the nation’s best set

Space Gym 2.0 Supervisor, Ms. Roann Pierre, handing over sponsorship to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson

Championship winners GDF FC receiving their prize from KFC’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh

A look at some of the young participants in the BFA ATC Summer Grassroots programme

CPL 2023: Spinners lead the way as Kings beat TKR

on an 85-run partnership to provide a platform for the Saint Lucia Kings, and du Plessis reached his half century from just 33 balls before losing his wicket to an Andre Russell delivery.

Trinbago Knight Riders then frustrated Saint Lucia Kings as their variation of bowlers kept the runs down, before Sikandar Raza led a

counter-attack, scoring four boundaries before departing for 32. Dwayne Bravo and Ali Khan bowled superbly at the end of the innings, combining to concede just 11 runs and taking three wickets across the final two overs, as the Saint Lucia Kings set a target of 168 to win. There were early setbacks for the Knight Riders,

leaving the Knight Riders on 86-6 after ten overs.

Saint Lucia Kings continued to utilise spin effectively. Khary Pierre was the pick of the bowlers, taking four wickets for 20 runs as the Knight Riders were dismissed for 113.

At 10AM, Guyana Amazon Warriors will play St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, while Trinbago Knight Riders will look to rebound in tomorrow evening’s match as they face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 19:00h.

SCOREBOARD

St Lucia Kings (20 ovs maximum)

Faf du Plessis (c)

c Hosein b Russell 57

Johnson Charles c

†Pooran b Russell 37

Bhanuka Rajapaksa †c

†Pooran b Bravo 15

Sikandar Raza c

St Lucia Kings recorded their second win of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a 54-run victory over the powerful Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR).

The Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field first, but Saint Lucia Kings, powered by the batting of Faf du Plessis and Sikandar Raza, scored a substantial

167/5 after 20 overs.

Trinbago Knight Riders began their chase by scoring runs rapidly, but the spin bowling of Khary Pierre, Roston Chase and Sikandar Raza was ultimately their undoing, as they lost frequent wickets and were bowled out for 113, falling 54 runs short of the target.

Openers Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles put

as they lost the experienced wickets of Martin Guptill, Chadwick Walton and Nicholas Pooran in the powerplay. Captain Kieron Pollard provided a destructive cameo as he scored 34 off 15 balls and ensured they stayed ahead of the run rate, but wickets continued to fall,

Pollard b Bravo 32

Roshon Primus not out 3

Roston Chase b Ali Khan 1

Sean Williams not out 4

Extras (lb 10, w 8) 18

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.35) 167/5

Fall of wickets: 1-85

(Faf du Plessis, 9.4 ov), 2-108

(Johnson Charles, 12.4 ov), 3-157

(Sikandar Raza, 18.2 ov), 4-158

(Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 18.4 ov), 5-162

(Roston Chase, 19.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Akeal Hosein 4-0-21-0

Jaden Carmichael 1-0-13-0

Ali Khan 4-0-40-1

Sunil Narine 4-0-24-0

Dwayne Bravo 4-0-31-2

Andre Russell 3-0-28-2

Trinbago Knight Riders

(T: 168 runs from 20 ovs)

Mark Deyal lbw b Hatzoglou 33

Martin Guptill c Charles b Pierre 7

Chadwick Walton c †Rajapaksa b Joseph 0 Nicholas Pooran †c

Clarke b Chase 0 Kieron Pollard (c)c Pierre b Sikandar Raza 34 Dwayne Bravo lbw b Sikandar Raza 1 Akeal Hosein c & b Pierre 12 Andre Russell c Hatzoglou b Pierre 10

Narine c du Plessis b Chase 1 Jaden Carmichael not out 1

Khan lbw b Pierre 6 Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 2) 8 TOTAL 14.5 Ov (RR: 7.61) 113

Fall of wickets: 1-33

(Martin Guptill, 2.5 ov), 2-34 (Chadwick

Impressive showing for Guyana at ongoing Youth CAC chess event

Ten-year-old Kataleya Sam is currently poised to medal at the CAC games for chess in Trinidad and Tobago. After six rounds, she has shown grit and determination to stay within striking distance of the tournament leader in the Female Under-10 division. The next three rounds could create the impetus for the future of chess in Guyana.

In a recent bout against her Trinidadian adversary Kira Nanan, Sam's strategic prowess took centre stage. Her gameplay showcased a tenacious blend of aggression, tactical precision, and adept piece coordination, resulting in a compelling assault on her opponent's king. The meticulously orchestrated sequence of sacrifices and checks culminated in a resounding checkmate, underscoring Sam's exceptional mastery of the game.

Guyana's chess representation extends beyond Sam's impressive showing. National Under-14 Champion Kyle Couchman has emerged as a formidable contender in the Caribbean chess arena. Currently positioned 9th in the Under-14 division, Couchman's upcoming match against Jamaican contender Corbin Harvey carries considerable significance, potentially solidifying his prowess on the regional stage.

Alexander Zhang, the Under-16 Champion, has also garnered attention with

his strategic finesse. A victory against Trinidad and Tobago's Michael Roberts in Round 3, coupled with draws against formidable opponents from the Twin Island Republic and St. Lucia in Rounds 4 and 5, have thrust Zhang into the spotlight as an ascending star in Caribbean chess.

Additional standout performances from the Guyanese contingent are notable. Ronan Lee's Round-5 triumph over the higher-rated Trinidadian player Keagan Ragoobar, and Matthew Singh's impressive Round-3 victory against Trinidadian challenger Kalel Scoon, further underscore the depth of talent within Team Guyana.

The pivotal Rounds 7 and 8, scheduled for today at the Cascadia Hotel in Portof-Spain, promise riveting encounters. Team Guyana will square off against seasoned adversaries hail-

ing from Trinidad, Haiti, Jamaica and Suriname. The outcomes of these matchups hold the potential to redefine the trajectory of Guyana's presence in regional chess. The ninth and final round was scheduled to be played on Saturday August 26.

Points so far:

Ciel Clement

U14 Female 3

Kaija Clement

U14 Female 2

Kyle Couchman U14 Open 4

Aniyah Couchman U18 Female 1

Ronan Lee U18 Open 2.5

Dominic Sam U14 Open 2

Kataleya Sam U10 Female 4

Matthew Singh U18 Open 2

Nicholas Zhang U12 Open 3.5

Alexander Zhang

U16 Open 3

TKR with a star-studded team suffered a heavy defeat

Khary Pierre claimed four wickets

Kyle Couchman Nicholas Zhang

Royals bounce back to win run-fest against Patriots

– Warriors and Tallawahs in action today from 10h

By Brandon Corlette

Barbados Royals have defeated St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by six wickets in match 10 of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). More than 390 runs were scored in a run-fest between the two teams at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Patriots, batting first, posted 197-6 in their allotted 20 overs on the back of Andre Fletcher’s half-century, while Royals ended victorious on 200-4 in 18.3 overs. Rovman Powell scored an unbeaten 67 from 29 balls to lead his side to the second highest successful chase in CPL history.

In the chase of 198, Rahkeem Cornwall got off to a blistering start. He took down Ashmead Nedd for 16 in the first over, but his dangerous presence at the crease was short-lived, and he departed after scoring 38 from 15 balls, which included four sixes and three fours.

However, he had given Royals the perfect start, and Kyle Mayers continued to stand tall, being joined by Jason Holder, with whom he took the Royals’ score to 74-1 in the powerplay, their highest in the history of CPL.

Nedd returned to the

bowling attack and created chances. He sent back Mayers for 31 one ball after he was dropped, and one ball thereafter, he found Alick Athanze wanting when he was dropped on zero.

After 10 overs, Royals were poised to chase the target on 105-2, requiring 93 from 60 balls. Bosch continued his good day at the office, bowling with steam to remove Holder (24) with a short-ball when the score was at 109-3 in 11.1 overs.

Captain Rovman Powell and Athanaze (30) made light work of the chase in the final stages, adding 74 runs to

the tally. Powell’s fifty was slammed in 21 balls, and was the fastest this season as the Royals rumbled. The big Jamaican scored 67 from 29, slamming five sixes and five fours.

Earlier, Barbados Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first. Guyanese Nedd was in the Patriots team for the first time this season, while Alick Athanaze was the notable change for the Royals. Patriots’ openers Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis (08) added 42 runs in 3.4 overs for the opening stand.

Fletcher was elegant and equally aggressive with his strokeplay, as he led Patriots to a commanding powerplay score of 56-2. Joshua Da Silva ran himself out for five on the penultimate ball of the sixth over, but Sherfane Rutherford joined Fletcher, and the duo motored along, Rutherford getting off the mark with a maximum off Rahkeem Cornwall.

At the half-way stage, Patriots were standing firm with the score on 882. Rutherford had already struck two sixes in his 21 at that stage, while Fletcher was shy of a 50. But after the break, Royals kept things tight, and Rutherford played a loose shot and was caught and bowled for 28, with the score at 95-3 after 11.3 overs.

Fletcher reached his 14th CPL 50 in 36 balls, but was removed two balls later by leg-spinner Qais Ahmad with the score at 99-4 in 12.4 overs. Fletcher struck five fours and three sixes in his classy knock.

Dominic Drakes then found his championship winning form of the past, as did Corbin Bosch. The duo added 54 runs in quick time to propel Patriots to a massive total of 197-6 in 20 overs. Young, bowling the last over, saw it contribute 34 runs to the tally, being the most expensive over in the history of CPL.

Bosch ended unbeaten on 38 from 12 balls, which had three sixes and four fours. Drakes made 20 from 14 balls. Ahmad was the star with the ball, claiming 2-16 from four overs.

The tournament will continue today, Sunday August 27, with two matches. Guyana Amazon Warriors will play Jamaica Tallawahs from 10:00h, and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will play Trinbago Knight Riders from 19:00h

SCOREBOARD

St Kitts And Nevis Patriots (20 ovs maximum)

Andre Fletcher lbw b

Qais Ahmad 51

Evin Lewis (c)c Mayers

b Cornwall 8

Joshua Da Silva † run out (Greaves/Holder) 5

Sherfane Rutherford c &

b Young 28

Jyd Goolie b Qais Ahmad 11

Ambati Rayudu c van der

Merwe b Young 15

Dominic Drakes not out 20 1

Corbin Bosch not out 38

Extras (lb 10, nb 2, w 9) 21

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.85) 197/6

Fall of wickets: 1-42

(Evin Lewis, 3.4 ov), 2-56

(Joshua Da Silva, 5.5 ov), 3-95

(Sherfane Rutherford, 11.3 ov), 4-99

(Andre Fletcher, 12.4 ov), 5-111

(Jyd Goolie, 14.3 ov), 6-143

(Ambati Rayudu, 17.2 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kyle Mayers 2-0-23-0

Jason Holder 3.1-0-30-0

Rahkeem Cornwall 2-0-23-1

Obed McCoy 4-0-32-0

Qais Ahmad 4-0-16-2

Roelof van der Merwe 1-0-9-0

Nyeem Young 3.5-0-54-2

Barbados Royals (T: 198 runs from 20 ovs)

Rahkeem Cornwall c Thomas b Drakesb 38

Kyle Mayers c Goolie b Nedd 31

Jason Holder c & b Bosch 24

Alick Athanaze c †Da Silva b Drakes 30

Rovman Powell (c) not out 67

Nyeem Young not out 2 Extras (w 8) 8

TOTAL 18.3 Ov (RR: 10.81) 200/4

Fall of wickets: 1-58

(Rahkeem Cornwall, 3.6 ov), 2-76 (Kyle Mayers, 6.2 ov), 3-109 (Jason Holder, 11.1 ov), 4-183 (Alick Athanaze, 16.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Ashmead Nedd 4-0-36-1

Corbin Bosch 3-0-28-1

Oshane Thomas 3.3-0-48-0

Dominic Drakes 3-0-37-2

Izharulhaq Naveed 4-0-34-0

Sherfane Rutherford 1-0-17-0

Eastern Caribbean Time at Warner Park St Kitts.

Rahkeem Cornwall removed the dangerous Lewis

Alick Athanze played the anchor role

Qais Ahmad was the best bowler on show

Young’s bowling contributed 34 runs in an over that decidedly was the most expensive over in CPL history

Andre Fletcher was in regal fashion

Sherfane Rutherford wasted a good start

Ashmead Nedd created chances on debut, and got among the wickets