Guyana Times -Thursday, July 20, 2023

JSC threatened with legal action if vacancies for Judges not advertised

…criteria for appointments, candidate list must be made public – Attorney

Just days after the swearing in of new members of the long-awaited Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the scrutiny on the Commission is evident, as it has been threatened with a legal challenge if it does not advertise both locally and regionally for judges prior to any appointment.

The Commission has been sent a letter by Attorney-at-Law CV Satram, acting on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Arud Gossai and Ramon Gaskin. In that letter, Satram warned that his clients want to ensure compliance with the Constitution of Guyana when the time comes to appoint Judges.

“The Commission may be aware that its decisions are subject to Judicial Review. This means that in the exercise of any discretion, the Commission must act reasonably, rationally and fairly,” Satram said in his letter.

“We are aware of the practice, rooted in the traditions of England, whereby the Head of the

Judiciary would invite suitably qualified persons to join the Judiciary. This practice is not consistent with our Constitution, particularly Article 129 thereof.”

According to Satram, Article 129 stipulates that “all persons qualified for admission as Attorneysat-Law in Guyana are eligible to be appointed as a Judge.” He went on to urge the Commission to advertise both within Guyana, the wider Caribbean and the Commonwealth, to fill all vacancies for Judge.

“It would amount to a gross violation of the Constitution for the

Commission by its conduct to limit the number of applicants for any vacancy of Judge. The provisions of the Constitution and good administration and transparency dictate that all persons eligible for appointment should have an opportunity to be considered for the position,” the lawyer said.

“Unless the vacancies are advertised, the Commission can never be properly satisfied that it has attracted the most suitably qualified candidates. Every person who meets the requirements specified in Article 129 of the Constitution and sec-

tion 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 noted that the position of Judge is a public position, and thus must be treated with the utmost transparency, with an emphasis on attracting competent candidates who are capable of delivering written judgements within the time limits. In fact, Satram urged that the criteria that would be used to appoint judges, as well as the list of potential appointees, should be publicized.

“The appointments must be done on the basis of objective criteria. Our clients demand that the criteria which the Commission intends to utilize should be made public in the interest of transparency. The Commission ought to be aware that its decisions will impact thousands of litigants and po-

tential litigants who will not be consulted in the appointment process. As a result, the Commission has a heightened duty of transparency and accountability in any appointment process it embarks upon or employs.

“Our clients will challenge any decision of the Commission, which does not enjoy immunity from suit, that fails to comply with the Constitution and the ordinary principles of Judicial Review. The need for this form of transparency is a legal necessity because, once appointed, Judges enjoy security of tenure and immunity from suit, making it virtually impossible to remove them,” Satram also wrote.

The Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC’s) new members were sworn in on Friday by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who disclosed his belief that their appointment would now alleviate some of the burden

on Guyana’s Judiciary.

The newly appointed members are: Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards; Chief Justice Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; former Chancellor Justice Carl Singh, and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Justice Beasraj Singh Roy.

The day before, Prashad was sworn in by President Ali as one of the new members of the PSC.

The JSC is a constitutional body established under Article 198 of the Constitution of Guyana. It handles matters related to appointments, discipline, removal and promotion of judicial officers.

Prior to Friday, there had been no JSC since 2017, as the last Commission was appointed by former President Donald Ramotar in September 2014. (G3)

Attorney-at-Law Arud Gossai Ramon Gaskin

Newly-appointed members of the JSC – Chancellor (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; former Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh; and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Justice Beasraj Singh Roy – alongside President Dr Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira; and Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 20 –04:15h-05:45h and Friday, July 21 – 04:15h-05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 20 –05:30h-07:00h and Friday, July 21 – 06:00h-07:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected during the day interrupted by light to thundery showers. Mostly clear skies are expected at night, with occasional thundery showers. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 18:20h reaching a maximum height of 2.43 metres.

Low Tide: 11:55h reaching a minimum height of 0.69 metre.

EU-CELAC Summit

Pres Ali discusses Guyana’s nomination for visa-free Schengen status

…in-country visa processing also addressed with Slovenia Deputy PM

Guyana’s bid to be added to the list of countries with visa-free Schengen access was among the topics President Dr Irfaan Ali raised with at least one European leader during the just-concluded European Union- Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit.

It was revealed in a statement from the Office of the President that President Ali had bilateral discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon on the sidelines of the EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

A number of issues were raised during the discussions, as the two leaders explored potential collaboration between Guyana and Slovenia in sectors that include agriculture and renewable energy. Importantly, they also discussed Guyana’s nomination letter for visa-free Schengen status.

“The talks centred around exploring potential trade collaboration between the two countries, especially in agriculture, clean and renewable energy.

President Ali also discussed Guyana’s nomination letter for visa-free Schengen status and the possibility of an interim in-country processing of Schengen visa applications,” the Office of the President also revealed.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Guyana and Slovenia established diplomatic relations on April 20, 2007. Slovenia is one of 27 European countries in the Schengen area that Guyanese require a visa to travel to. A pressing issue for Guyana in its relations

with Europe is the setting up of a local Schengen visa processing office.

For some time, concern has been expressed that visas for Guyanese to travel to the EU still have to be processed in Suriname at the Netherlands Embassy.

Former EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó had told Guyana Times last year that the request for an office in Guyana to process visa requests to Europe was a reasonable one and was, in fact, being addressed by the EU.

He had cautioned, however, that the granting of Schengen visas was subject to individual member countries, and not to the EU as a whole. As such, he noted that the EU did not have the power to grant the visas. Cantó had also expressed the hope that visa-free travel could be facilitated at some point in the future.

“The problem, and I

need to be very clear on that, the Schengen visa is not under our responsibilities. It is a responsibility of the member states of the European Union, not the institutions of the EU that we represent. We cannot give the visas ourselves, but we can help and we’re trying to help facilitate the process.”

“Of course, I would be very happy if in the longer term, we arrive at a point where we have visa liberalisation so that visas are not necessary for Guyanese to come to Europe, but also for the Europeans are not necessary to come to Guyana,” Cantó had said.

In the absence of visa-free access, the Schengen Visa would enti-

tle non-Europeans to travel to Slovenia and any of the other 26 Schengen countries, including Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland- for a stay of up to 90 days.

Most notably, Guyanese enjoy visa-free access to a few European countries already, including the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, Russia and Kosovo. Guyana has meanwhile been pushing for visa-free access to Italy. (G3)

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Women’s role in development

The issue of women and their role in development has always been a topic of interest, not only in Guyana, but in countries around the world. The debates have centred around the challenges women face in getting access to the same opportunities as men, and in a general sense, programmes and policies that could be implemented to ensure their economic and social advancement.

Women, over the years, have made tremendous progress, not only in terms of their own advancement, but by playing a key role in the development of their own communities, and by extension allowing other women opportunities to develop themselves. However, many challenges remain, which must be tackled to ensure that women have access to the opportunities and resources needed to allow them to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

We believe that when women are allowed to develop their full potential, it is not only women who gain, but the entire society. Women make enormous contributions to economies, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home.

According to the United Nations, investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth.

Here, in Guyana, women have made tremendous progress at every level of the society, and they enjoy equal rights as their male counterparts. This country deserves commendation for the advances it has made in ensuring that, in addition to women being protected under the law, they are also given the relevant opportunities for their personal and professional advancement.

However, there is still a far way to go before we can safely say that women have access to the resources and opportunities they need to fully develop themselves. For example, our single parent mothers have, over the years, found it very difficult to make ends meet. Many of them have found themselves in a position where they work from month to month and there seems to be no end to the financial hardships they experience.

In some cases, they lack the necessary skills and qualifications required to get suitable, well-paid jobs, so that they can earn enough to provide for themselves and their children.

For some who would like to venture out into establishing their own small business etc, the strict criteria set by banks and other lending institutions make it difficult to access the necessary loans. There are a few institutions which give grants and other forms of support, but they are on a limited scale, and most of them are Georgetown-based, making it a bit difficult for rural women to have easy access to them.

There is also the issue of the high level of domestic violence affecting countless families, with women being at the receiving end of the violence most times. There were numerous dialogues with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders to tackle the issue, but yet the number of cases of women being abused or killed is going up. We believe that the policy-makers should revisit the issue and come up with practical solutions to address this scourge in a holistic manner, with greater focus on the root causes of the problem.

The COVID-19 pandemic had also worsened the situation, as it continues to have serious socio-economic repercussions on the lives of women. As a consequence of the partial lockdown, significant sections of the female working population are now unemployed, or are receiving reduced pay, including single parents.

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry has started funding projects led by women so that they can secure their livelihoods. The Ministry had said that, in addition to other measures, funding for cottage industries is among long term measures to be implemented. The Labour Ministry, though its Board of Industrial Training (BIT), also offers support to women.

Certainly, the economic and social advancement of all women, including those in hinterland and rural communities, should remain a priority for this Government.

housing

By Dario Colmenares millán

The global refugee crisis is unprecedented, with more than 35.3 million people having been forcibly displaced worldwide due to conflict, violence, or natural disaster. Events like last month’s World Refugee Day are encouraging greater awareness of forcibly-displaced people, but the scope of the global conversation on the needs and rights of refugees is still very limited. It is critical we recognise this growing population has not only physical needs, such as food and housing, but also intangible ones surrounding truth, justice, and memorialisation, particularly when their displacement is the result of fundamental human rights violations.

The nearly one million Rohingya refugees who, since August 2017, have fled persecution in Rakhine State, Myanmar and relocated to Bangladesh, offer a prime example of the complex needs facing displaced victims of Government-sanctioned atrocities.

For decades, Myanmar’s Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority with their own language and culture, were subjected to mass killing, enforced disappearances, rape, torture, and other violations committed against them by Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, resulting in the largest forced human migration in recent history.

In Bangladesh, the majority of these refugees are women and children, with more than 40 per cent below the age of 12, all of whom require and are deserving of psychosocial support and at least some form of resolution.

In an ideal world, this would entail Rohingya refugees participating in justice processes, including the formation of a truth-seeking mechanism, such as a truth commission, during which they are given the opportunity to bear testament to their experiences, point to questions of accountability, and encourage action when it comes to holding their perpetrators accountable. In reality, such formal measures are unlikely to happen any time soon, if ever. This does not, however, negate the demand for continued focus on the crimes committed in Myanmar against Bangladesh’s Rohingya population and the suffering they have endured.

Of course, when it comes to truth-telling initiatives and accountability efforts, the inherently itinerant existence of refugee communities presents unique challenges. Refugees generally do not have access to their own independent media and rarely are they afforded the opportunity to speak for themselves. There is a universal tendency, among host countries, to limit refugees’ agency and avenues for expression to prevent, for example, one million new residents from asserting a unified and, therefore, potentially disruptive voice.

International agencies do, at times, intervene by travelling to refugee camps and launching their own documentation initiatives. However, these interviews are conducted through intermediaries or “fixers”, meaning there are no guarantees that details do not get either omitted from the final narrative or lost in translation.

For refugees to heal and secure peaceful futures, it is essential that both the experiences that led to displacement from their home countries and the details of their current circumstances as displaced people in a foreign land are recorded and relayed in full. In short, they need platforms to share their experiences firsthand.

This is particularly true for women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by conflict and forced migration. Their voices have traditionally been excluded from mainstream media coverage as well as post-conflict negotiations, rebuilding efforts, and narratives, even though, for many, a new country does not necessitate safety or the freedom to speak about experienced abuse.

For example, in Cox’s Bazar, where the Bangladesh refugee camps are located, there has been a reported spike in domestic violence within the community. Because there is no legal recourse for harmful acts committed against women or children, they remain silent out of fear of retaliation from their abusers.

While the challenges to affording refugees the resolution they deserve vary, the solutions unilaterally rely upon giving them a safe way to not only tell and preserve their stories but also disseminate them to a global audience. One effective and sustainable support strat-

egy is the organisation of onsite workshops, where leaders within the refugee community are trained in the facilitation of support groups, therapeutic arts initiatives, and/or documentation efforts that meet the standards of international tribunals.

This approach has proven successful in Cox’s Bazar where, over the past few years, in response to a need assessment by international agents, select residents have been invited to participate in various workshops to build the capacity of the Rohingya as documenters, advocates, counsellors, and peacebuilders.

Some of these workshops were gender specific, providing a safe space for women to simply share with each other their experiences and challenges or offering instruction in sewing, a common pastime, as a vehicle for collective storytelling. For the latter, women embroidered memories of the homes they fled, the injustices they endured, as well as their hopes for the future onto individual panels that were then sewn together and displayed online.

The inaugural quilting project inspired future ones. They are an essential element to larger documentation efforts, which might otherwise not have accessed or recorded these experiences. Additional pilot workshops that were offered to both women and men included educating refugees on formal and informal transitional justice processes, and in the creation of advocacy campaigns, providing mental health and psychosocial support, and gathering more traditional forms of documentation for future accountability.

When formal accountability measures are stalled or look unlikely, we can ensure refugees’ stories reach a mass audience by equipping them with instruction and technology that allow them to be the creators and distributors of their own content. This is why, in 2022, a year-long filmmaking programme was launched in Cox’s Bazar. The programme was led by Bangladeshi filmmakers, who trained residents to be both creators and instructors, allowing for a sustainable community of Rohingya filmmakers. “We want to open the eyes of the world to see things that have been hidden from them, and to understand our reality as it is,”

said one of the inaugural participants.

A recent effort in Colombia grounded memorialisation and truth-telling initiatives firmly in the 21st century by facilitating the creation of a new podcast series of life stories of survivors featuring and produced by individuals from rural communities across the country. The medium and instruction allowed them to share their stories of survival in a country that, for more than five decades, was afflicted by a longstanding conflict between the Government, rebel fighters, and paramilitaries, resulting in a wide spectrum of human rights violations. The series is a prime example of the type of support the international community can and should be providing the world’s growing number of refugees.

In follow-up surveys, participants from each of the pilot workshops for the Rohingya in Bangladesh have expressed an interest in sharing what they have learned with the wider community, which many, as leaders of network sub-groups in the camps, are well-equipped to do. Their feedback and enthusiasm are a powerful reminder that in our efforts to support the world’s refugees, we need to think beyond the basics.

We should empower them to develop their own autonomous voice and document their stories, unmediated, by providing them with widely-available tools and resources that abrogate the need for interference from external actors.

When international actors and domestic agencies based in capital cities lead or guide transitional justice processes, they will eventually depart, leaving local communities responsible for their own advocacy and memorialisation processes. This is why supporting the world’s refugees should not simply entail producing and implementing sensible recommendations from a group of experts. In fact, the strongest, most impactful recommendations often come from the voices of the communities. If broad swathes of these populations, including victims and survivors, women, elders, youth, and other marginalised groups, are not part of developing those processes, they are neither well-positioned to nor deeply invested in moving them forward. (Al Jazeera)

President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, on the sidelines of the European Union-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, was also at the meeting (Office of the President photos)

Refugees need more than food and

Young Influencers win Speaker’s Youth Debating Competition

The Speaker's Young Debating Competition concluded on Tuesday with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Young Influencers Programme team securing the coveted win.

Hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), the final moot was “CARICOM’s biggest achievements are exemptions and excuses.”

Serving as the proposition team, the Young Influencers’ Corissa McClure, Saaya Prasad and Andrew King competed against reigning champions Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation’s Nareema Ali, Devekanand

Nandkumar and Deyomini Ramlochan and ultimately emerged victorious.

“We were coming up against the defending champions and we were first-timers in this competition, so it was really scary for us. Before the competition, we were really anxious, but having won and having gained the title of the best debaters in Guyana is really fantastic,” said McClure, first speaker of the Young Influencers team.

“I am really thankful to the Honourable Speaker [of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir] for giving us this platform to engage with other like-minded youth and hone our debating abilities. We had to do

a lot of research, thinking, anticipating; and overall, I really think it broadened our horizon and expanded our knowledge,” McClure said.

In the upcoming month, the Young Influencers team will advance their skills at Youth Parliament. “We will shadow ministers at the Youth Parliament in the senior category, and that’s going to kick off on August 12. After that, hopefully, a member of our team can go to represent Guyana on the regional field,” McClure said. McClure, who also secured the Best Speaker title, indicated her interest in pursuing politics and potentially becoming a Member of

Parliament in the future.

The Speaker’s Youth Debating Competition is in fact aimed at increasing the youth population’s participation in community activities, their interest in careers of service to the nation, and their overall awareness of the Parliament as an institution.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. commended the participants and noted that their educational journey does not end at this competition.

“What you’re learning here is not something that is not going to be valuable to you as you move forward in your life, and it should not stop here,” Ramson Jr. said.

Number portability to come into effect before July ends - PM

Prime Minister Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips has assured that, before the end of July, all systems will be put in place to allow persons to switch their mobile networks without changing their cellphone numbers.

It had previously been announced that this would have been in effect in July, but when contacted on Wednesday for an update on the progress, the PM said some technical aspects are being finalised.

"We're working towards having it ready before the end of July…everything is already covered, it's just mainly technical issues we're dealing with to get it up and running by the end of July," Phillips told this publication.

The introduction of the number portability system in Guyana was first announced in May by Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Dela Britton, during a webinar held in observance of World Telecommunications and Information Society

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips

Day. She had explained that the PUC has the statutory mandate to implement number portability in Guyana, a system which allows phone users to retain their phone numbers when changing from one network provider to another.

“Number portability is game-changing in the competition space, as it allows consumers to retain their existing telephone or cellular numbers when switching providers. It generally forces players, when faced with

competition, to improve their service offerings,” Britton had said.

She had also explained that the process to ensure number portability is introduced locally began in July 2021 when a working group comprising representatives of the PUC and service providers was established.

“PUC now eagerly awaits the completion of the testing processes, and we anticipate number portability will become a reality in Guyana in July of this year,” Britton had outlined.

Currently, the phone service providers in Guyana

are GTT, Digicel and E-Net. Another telecoms provider, Green Gibraltar, had received its licence in 2022. It is a 100 per cent Guyaneseowned company established in 2019.

Reports indicate that Guyana has 745,689 mobile subscribers; 97,179 landline subscribers; and 123,856 fixed internet subscribers.

The Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), after taking office on August 2, 2020, officially liberalised the telecommunications sector, with the commencement orders issued on October 5, 2020. (G11)

“We’re going to open up to anyone, if you’re interested in an apprenticeship or mentorship, or even to volunteer with anything we’re doing. We’ll take down all your names, if you’re interested, and we’ll work around the kind of spacing that you can have at the [Culture, Youth and Sport] Ministry,” Ramson Jr. said.

He noted that following last year’s debating competitions, three participants started working within the Ministry.

The competition was launched in March as part of a series of activities to commemorate Parliament’s 70th anniversary. It saw the initial participation of some 50 youth groups across the

country, with 16 groups advancing to compete at the National Youth Debating Competition until its final round on Tuesday.

Chief judges in the final round were former lecturer at University of Guyana (UG), Dr. Valarie Goorsammy-Smith; Distinguished Toastmaster from the Cacique Toastmaster Club, Delon Fraser; and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN), Neaz Subhan.

Awards were given to both the final teams and other participants who demonstrated key public speaking skills in the previous rounds.

Young Influencers’ Corissa McClure, Saaya Prasad and Andrew King alongside Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation’s Nareema Ali, Devekanand Nandkumar and Deyomini Ramlochan alongside Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

Page Foundation

◄

Dividing mixed numbers

To divide mixed numbers, change each mixed number into an improper fraction. If only one number in your division problem is a mixed number, change it to an improper fraction. If both numbers in your division problem are mixed numbers, change both to improper fractions.

Example:

Ancient aqueducts were used to transport water over great distances by using gravity and keeping water sources high. Build an aqueduct at home to learn a little about ancient engineering while repurposing recyclable materials!

Materials

Exercises: Divide

BY LEWIS CARROLL

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snickersnack!

He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

Paper towel tubes

Scissors

2 or 3 cereal boxes

Glue or stapler

Tin foil or parchment paper

Bowl or plate

Water, marbles, balls or small toys with wheels

Directions

1.To get started, cut the paper towel tubes in half lengthwise. Set the paper towel tube halves aside.

2. Let’s create some arches! Disassemble a cereal box and cut off the flaps and short ends so the box creates a rectangle when laid flat on a table. Draw matching arches on both of the larger sides of the box and cut them out. Arches should slightly decrease in size, leaving about 1 inch of space between the edge of the box and the top of the tallest arch. Keep in mind that the difference in height between your first and last arch will determine the angle of your aqueduct path. Cut out the arches so that they remain connected to the middle and top of the cereal box.

3.Staple or glue the paper towel tube to the inside of the box, just above the top. Staple or glue the other side of the paper towel tube to the other side of the box.

4.Repeat the process with another set of paper towel tubes and a cereal box. This time, adjust the height and angle of your arches. By creating a few aqueduct parts of varying heights and angles, you can create a complex system that can move everything from water to toy cars!

5. Waterproof your aqueduct by lining your paper towel tubes with parchment paper or tin foil. Place a bowl at the end of the aqueduct to catch the water that you send through the tubes! (adapted from pbskids.org)

WORD SEARCH

US$159M contract signed for transmission lines, substations

AUS$159 million contract has been signed between the Government of Guyana and Indian contractor Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) for that company to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the transmission lines and substations’ component of the Gas-to-Shore project.

The transmission lines and substations are for the Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Plant and 300-MegaWatt (MW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant.

Signing the contract was Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Derrick Cummings; Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Maurice Gajadhar; and General Manager of KPIL, Mainak Majumdar.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for energy and is currently the acting President, meanwhile emphasised the transformational nature and importance of the mega Gasto-Energy Project, and how it was part of a comprehensive plan of the Government of Guyana to realize the development potential of Guyana.

He also alluded to the fact that two Indian companies are involved in critical aspects of the project – KPIL as the EPC Contractor for transmission lines and substations; and Engineers India Limited, whose contract was signed last year, as the Project Management Consultant to the NGL Plant and the 300 MW CCGT Power Plant.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, was present at the event. In his remarks, he underlined the growing and diversifying India-Guyana relationship, and noted the presence of several premier Indian companies, both from the Indian Public Sector, like RITES (currently supervising the Ogle Road project), GRSE (which manufactured the ferry for Region One), REIL (for the 30,000 solar energy systems) & Engineers India Limited, along with Private Sector companies like Ashoka Buildcon,

and now KPIL being the newest entrant to Guyana.

“High Commissioner expressed hope that the Indian company will be able to execute the project well within the timeframe and guidelines prescribed and specified by the Government of Guyana. High Commissioner also dwelt on the multifaceted developmental cooperation between India and Guyana, including in infrastructure, education, healthcare, energy, oil and gas, and capacity building,” a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

KPIL is one of the largest specialised EPC companies in India. It has an annual turnover of approximately US$2 billion. The company is publicly traded, and engaged in power transmission & distribution, buildings & factories, water supply & irrigation, railways, oil & gas pipelines, urban mobility (flyovers & metro rail), highways and airports.

KPIL is currently executing 250 projects in over 30 countries, and has a global footprint in over 70 countries, having executed orders worth over US$14 billion around the world. The Company’s presence in Europe and South America has been further strengthened by the acquisitions of Linjemontage, Sweden and Fasttel, Brazil.

“Linjemontage offers power supply solutions and services for electricity networks up to 400kV. It operates in three core business areas of substations, transmission and local networks, and electricity network services.

Fasttel has a presence in more than 20 states in Brazil, with primary focus on EPC of substations, transmission lines and power distribution services,” the Indian High Commission said.

Meanwhile, other persons present at the event were Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Winston Brassington – Head of Guyana Gas to Energy Task Force, and officials of the Task Force; along with other senior Government officials of the Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Natural Resources, and executives of KPIL.

Government officials, dignitaries and company officials at Wednesday’s signing

Prime Minister and acting President Mark Phillips (centre) is flanked by company officials, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr KJ Srinivasa and (immediate right) Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

Berbice man withdraws appeal against 9-year sentence

Felonious wounding …almost served out sentence

Dwayne Morgan of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, who in 2017 had been found guilty of chopping his neighbour Randholl Bissondat, called “Katcha” and “Kempton”, of Lot B18 Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and had been sentenced to nine years’ jail, on Wednesday withdrew an application to appeal his sentence for felonious wounding in the Court of Appeal.

Since that sentencing, the 44-year-old Morgan had been in prison awaiting the hearing of his appeal, and when his appeal came up for hearing on Wednesday, the unrepresented Morgan indicated his desire to withdraw the matter, citing that he has almost completed serving his sentence.

After his request was granted, he proceeded to ask the court if he was free to go, but Chancellor

of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, who was part of the three-member Bench, advised the convict that the prison authorities are the ones who have to commute his sentence.

In this matter, the State was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Dionne McCammon.

Morgan, who had initially been indicted for attempting to commit murder, had instead been convicted of the lesser offence of felonious wounding by a jury before Justice JoAnn Barlow.

On the day in question, Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at Bath, WCB, Morgan and Bissondat, who are both businessmen, were driving separate trucks around the Bath area. At about 20:14hrs, they both tried to turn into a street, coming from different di-

rections. However, the street had a heap of sand, thus making it impossible for the two trucks to pass at the same time.

There was a near collision as both men tried to force their way through, and an altercation subsequently ensued, during which Morgan allegedly inflicted several chops on Bissondat, resulting in him receiving several wounds and other injuries to his head, left hand, and about

What’s going on…

…in PNC bunker

Yes, there ain’t no PNC “Camp” – it’s now been converted into a bunker, as the bedraggled troops of Burnham – such as they are – desperately scramble for survival. Remember Hitler and the remnants of his Third Reich as the Russians advanced from the east and the Allies from the west?? With defeat staring them in the face, it was every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost!! Some underlings even went to Britain to try to cut deals!!

his body. Morgan was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court, the presiding Magistrate had ruled that sufficient evidence had been led by the prosecution to put Morgan on trial for the crime. Accordingly, he had been committed to stand trial at the Berbice Criminal Assizes. (G1)

Youth remanded over armed robberies at Lamaha Park

Nineteen-year-old Matthew Sylvain of Melanie, East Coast Demerara was on Tuesday arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel-Isaacs Marcus in that Georgetown Magistrate’s court on a charge detailing that, on

July 5, at Lamaha Park in Georgetown, while being in the company of another person and being armed with a gun, he robbed Colin Hooper of one gold chain valued at $1.7 million and a gold band valued at $300,000.

It is further alleged

that on July 5, at Lamaha Park, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, Sylvain robbed Marlon Austin of an iPhone 13 Pro max valued at $300,000, a gold chain with diamond pendants valued at $210,000, and

And so it’s turning out in Guyana, as the PPP continues its political blitzkrieg along all fronts – economic, political, social, cultural etc. – against the leaderless and moribund PNC. Unlike Hitler - who tried to mass his troops till the (bitter) end - PNC leader Granger immediately retreated to his bunker at Pearl after his rigging gambit - and hasn’t been seen or heard from apart from one comment during the LGE!! The 2021 leadership elections threw up a leader – but he was just supposed to be a utensil!! When he balked, they undermined him and the PPP moved in to fill the leadership vacuum!! The rump PNC can expect at least another 23 years of wandering in the political wilderness staring at them in the face.

Not surprisingly, there’s much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth – not to mention stentorian lamentations! – about what’s gonna be the fate of the PNC.

In politics, if your following are trooping across to your opponents’ banner, there’s no tomorrow for you. There’s the object lesson of other parties that once had tens of thousands of followers who’ve now collapsed into black holes from which nothing emerges – even radiation!! AFC anyone??

But you’ve got to give it to the new PNC leader – he’s at least trying to have a go at putting together their HumptyDumpty party back again after its great fall. There’s gonna be a PNC Congress by this December, and we see the various factions floating their candidates whom they think would be able to stop the PPP juggernaut. In a sense, what we’re seeing is an attempt to raise the dead in 2023, years after the first and only successful attempt!!

And as you may suspect, it ain’t gonna be easy getting that Congress scheduled! As the then comparatively uncharismatic Desmond Hoyte showed - he who controls the party’s bureaucracy can call the shots, even against hugely popular opponents!! Look at what he did to Hamilton Green!! Kicked out the man whom everyone and their uncle in the PNC thought was gonna be Burnham’s successor.

So, this being the PNC, the smart money’s on whichever candidate they figure controls the Accreditation Committee. They decide who gets to represent their group at Congress - and so ultimately will call the shots, since rigging’s a given!!

So, the PNC still ain’t getting no female leader??!!

…with domestic violence

two gold rings valued at $200,000. Sylvain pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He also faced another charge: of escaping from the Ruimveldt Police Station on July 8. To this charge he pleaded guilty, and offered an explanation. In his brief address to the court, the defendant apologised for escaping from Police custody, but maintained that he was not involved in the robberies.

The court prosecutor, in objecting to the accused being placed on bail, pointed out that one of the stolen articles was found on Sylvain. Bail was refused and Sylvain was remanded until August 2, when he is expected to be sentenced on the charge to which he admitted guilt. (G1)

Your Eyewitness lifts up his hands to the skies (Heaven?) as he echoes John King, “How many more, Jah?” The opening lyrics went, “Rose up early this morning/ To the sounds of crying/ Another mother shedding her tears”. While King was bemoaning the police killing sons, he could as well be singing about all the mothers and other women who’re shedding tears every single day with the violence being meted out to them.

Defeat isn’t implicit in the lines, “Heavenly father, won't you hear my plea?/ Send a helping hand for this country/ In man, there's no solution/ (How must we carry this load?). It’s just that the pattern seems to be so deeply imprinted in the men who batter the females in their lives that drastic interventions are necessary. Is it, “Too many big shots with too much connections/ Too many loopholes in Babylon system”?

Maybe bringing back the cat-o-nine tails might work?

…on seafood

There’s a lot of handwringing about us importing seafood because of “disappearing” fish stocks. But have we noticed how much we EXPORTED in seafood last year?

Is it a supply or regulatory problem?

Dwayne Morgan at court on Wednesday

Remanded: Matthew Sylvain

lost legal cases

Seizure of assets likely as Opposition yet to pay millions in court costs

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has warned that court marshals may soon move to seize assets of certain Opposition members who have failed to pay millions in costs, as awarded by the courts, in the various legal cases they have lost.

It was just last month that the Attorney General Chambers revealed that it was in the process of moving to recover costs awarded in litigation lost by the main parliamentary Opposition.

Providing an update on this process during his programme “Issues in the News” on Tuesday, Nandlall shared that the Opposition has continued to refuse to pay up what is duly owed.

“They were sent noti -

fication letters, they were sent reminders, the matter was widely published in the press when I made comments that enforcement proceedings would be filed and notwithstanding all the above, they have refused, obstinately refused, to pay the costs,” he outlined.

“This constitutes contempt of court and I have already instructed my lawyers to begin the

process of enforcing the judgements or the cost orders. It means that persons’ vehicles and other movable properties will be seized by marshals of the High Court and sold at an execution sale to recover the monies,” the AG added.

Among the cases where outstanding costs are yet to be made, Nandlall made reference to the Christopher Jones and

Norris Witter matter where they were each ordered to pay some $1.2 million in costs after the judge had dismissed their case.

Another case he highlighted is the one involving eight Opposition parliamentarians who were each ordered to pay $350,000 to each of the three defendants in the case being Nandlall, House Speaker Manzoor Nadir, and Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs. The Members of Parliament are: Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha SinghLewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Maureen Philadelphia.

Moreover, Nandlall had previously informed that the Opposition has unpaid costs orders dating back

to its 2020 election-related cases, at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In relation to the series of cases filed by the then APNU/AFC Opposition to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from declaring the PPP/C the winner of the March 2020 election which was tossed out by the CCJ, Nandlall had estimated costs being several millions of dollars.

He had explained that costs to be taxed fit for two counsels will require an elaborate bill of costs to be submitted to the court which would include all of the expenses associated with the two appeals, including preparation of written submissions, preparation of pleadings, preparation for oral argument, appearances in the court, stationery, photo -

copying, and filing fees. He had estimated the photocopying cost for one case alone to be $500,000.

According to him, the charge rate for one counsel runs into several hundred US dollars per hour. In short, he had said that several millions of dollars would have to be paid in costs.

Meanwhile, as an alternative to the seizure of assets, Nandlall had disclosed that the Opposition could also face jailtime for failing to honour the judgments or cost orders. Another option is going to their employers to garnish wages/salaries due to them monthly, or depending on their pay frequency. Nandlall assured that these processes will be examined and that he will “move swiftly” to recover the owed monies. (G11)

Guyana’s passport ranks better than Suriname’s, China’s …improved

from 2022 position

The Guyana passport is now ranked number 59th in the 2023 Henley Passport Index, with access to 88 visa-free destinations, an improvement from the number 64 ranking in 2022.

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

The world’s most powerful passport is Singapore, with access to 192 countries; followed by Germany, Italy, and Spain with access to 190.

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

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

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

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

Guyana has already initiated talks on

GYSBI launches scholarships in technical studies for Guyanese

Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) on Wednesday launched its Technical Scholarship aimed at supporting educational opportunities for persons between the ages of 16 and 25 at the various Technical Institutes across the country.

These scholarships will be available at the Essequibo Technical Institute, Government Technical Institute, Linden Technical Institute, Mahaicony Technical Institute, New Amsterdam Technical Institute, and the Upper Corentyne Technical Institute for the 2023/2024 academic year.

The initiative will cover expenses such as travel, uniforms, study materials, reg-

company wanted to create a programme, which would benefit young Guyanese and ensure they were equipped with valuable life skills and positively engaged.

“This initiative is simply our investment in the young people of Guyana so that they can benefit from the bountiful opportunities existing in this country. It is our intention to offer approximately 10 scholarships per year in any area of study selected by the successful applicants at the identified Technical Institutes

workers, supervisors, and managers not only for the oil and gas industry but the other sectors of the economy as well.

the possibility of visa-free travel with Italy and Mexico. In November 2022, it was reported that Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd initiated such talks with Italy’s NonResident Ambassador-designate, Fabrizio Nicoletti.

In February of this year, the Executive Management Committee (EMC) of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) met with Mexican Ambassador to Guyana Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo where the topic of visa-free travel was raised. The GCCI has also been lobbying for visa-free travel to Canada. (G11)

istration, and examination fees, among others. The programme is designed to offer internships to successful applicants during their semester breaks so that they can gain valuable hands-on training and knowledge transfer. At the end of their studies, they will also be afforded the opportunity to be fully employed within the company.

GYSBI General Manager Robert Albiez related that the

and we are looking forward to having our first cohort come September 2023,” he said.

Albiez further added that the initiative was birthed after realising that while many possess the experience and technical skills needed to fill the positions on the operations side of the oil and gas sector, they lacked the proper academic certificates. The initiative, therefore, aimed to build a cadre of qualified

“What we have found is that a lot of persons who are working in operations have 10 or 20 years of experience because they were informally trained or they worked in the mining industry, etc, but they do not have formal education certificates. So, we want to be able to create and develop a workforce, which will be both experienced and certified three or five years from now. GYSBI, as a Guyanese company, has always focused on creating tangible opportunities for Guyanese and this is just another one of our initiatives geared at doing that,” he said.

As it relates to eligibility, anyone who is between the ages of 16 and 25, who has been accepted for a programme at any of the institutes (new and current students) and is willing to serve an internship at GYSBI during semester breaks can apply.

Each beneficiary of this initiative will have their yearly academic expenses up to the sum of $500,000 fully paid. To access the application form and list of documents required, please visit Gysbi.gy/scholarship-form.

The deadline for submission of applications is August 18, 2023.

UK’s Smart Hospital initiative in Guyana ends as 5 facilities upgraded

The United Kingdom’s Smart Hospitals Initiative in Guyana has officially come to an end, with all five hospitals that were earmarked to be upgraded having been commissioned.

The British High Commission in Georgetown on Tuesday evening held a reception to commemorate the past several years of working on this project which has seen all five institutions transformed into more efficient facilities that better serve the needs of their respective communities.

Seven Caribbean countries were identified to benefit from the £46.3 million Strengthening Health Facilities in the Caribbean (Smart Hospital) project which was funded by UK AID and implemented by PAHO in close collaboration with the Ministries of Health of the selected countries.

Those countries are Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, Saint Vincent and The

ing remarks, the Minister revealed that the Government has also taken it upon itself to add to the hospitals, outside of what the UK project catered for.

Smart Hospitals

The first facility that was upgraded and commissioned was the Diamond Hospital along the East Bank of Demerara. It was reported

The green upgrades provided more efficient cooling, ventilation and waste management; rainwater harvesting systems; LED lighting; solar panels – all aimed at lowering the operating expenditures and environmental footprint. The facility also received a full upgrade of the Pharmacy and HVAC system to keep medicines and supplies at a safe storage temperature. These upgrades cost around $222 million.

In October 2021, the Lethem Regional Hospital was recommissioned as a smart facility, which costed US$4 million. This was the second facility to be retrofitted.

In August 2022, the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was officially handed over to the Health Minister, having been fully converted into a smart facility at a cost of about US$1.2 million, becoming the third institution to be completed under the project.

damaged roof frame members; replacement of damaged floor finishes, doors, and windows; the introduction of antimicrobial floor surfaces in critical clinical areas; upgrades to the electrical network; the introduction of firefighting apparatus, and improvement of fire detection devices. The green upgrades provided for more efficient cooling, ventilation, and waste management; boosted rainwater harvesting systems and stormwater drainage and installed LED-lighting solar water heaters. The functional upgrades included the construction of a new 1000 sq ft pharmacy complete with bond area and the construction of a new external ramp to facilitate safe movement from the

triage, isolation, and reception and screening rooms while the waiting room was also expanded to accommodate more patients.

Meanwhile, the Mabaruma Hospital was upgraded into a smart facility to the tune of $150 million and was official-

ery room; a state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU); a refurbished kitchen; a sterilisation room and two surgical theatres.

The last hospital to be transformed was the Paramakatoi facility, which saw the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) coming on board to provide assistance owing to the number of challenges faced with regard to this leg of the project. The Paramakatoi Hospital was officially launched as a smart facility in April 2023. Reports are that the GDF started the retrofitting works of the Paramakatoi Health Centre in February 2022. Despite being challenged by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, transport issues, and the remoteness of the facility in Region Eight, work was completed in March with the community’s help.

Grenadines, Belize, Guyana, and Jamaica.

In Guyana, 71 health facilities were assessed and it was determined that the hospitals at Diamond in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Leonora in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini), Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Paramakatoi in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) would benefit from the upgrades.

Today, all five institutions have been upgraded into smart hospitals, that is, facilities that can withstand disasters and are more efficient and climate-friendly.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller noted that although the physical upgrade of the facilities has ended, the initiative has long-lasting impacts.

“It was never the intention that the end of retrofitting would be the end of the project. The whole idea of the project was to develop a blueprint, to develop a toolkit that would enable facilities to be retrofitted or facilities to be built with…better standards in mind,” she said. As such, she encouraged the Government to ensure these standards were embedded in new infrastructure going forward.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony agreed. In deliver-

that on June 1, 2020, contractor Raffik and Sons started the retrofitting works which were supposed to be completed on May 31, 2021; however, with the cooperation of all stakeholders, the facility was completed on April 6, 2021. The Diamond Hospital was retro-

On November 23, 2020, contractor Correia & Correia Ltd started the retrofitting works, which, despite being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, were completed on January 31, 2022. In addition to the project scope of works, the Health Ministry funded other works, including the construction of a new gener-

ground floor to the top floor. Other works include an improved ambulance bay, new emergency room, new consultation and x-ray rooms, and expanded records, emergency

ly commissioned in December 2022. The Mabaruma Hospital now features a new Accident and Emergency (A&E) department; a renovated recov-

The facility has new safety measures, contingency provisions, and green technology to provide the community with a much-improved patient experience and service. (G11)

fitted to improve its resistance to strong winds, flooding, and earthquakes as well as boost the ‘greenness’ of the facility and emergency contingency provisions. The safety aspects included the installation of wind-resistant roofs, windows, and doors as well as improved storm water management. Walls were strengthened, electrical wiring renewed, and a fire safety system installed. The functional aspects of the retrofit included specific improvements for disabled persons, accessibility, telecommunication, and infection control.

ator room, renovation of the kitchen, storage bond, maternity ward and laundry room along with the extension of an external shed pharmacy waiting-area and eye care department. It also provided medical equipment such as ultrasound machines and dental units to improve the accessibility and delivery of quality health care. These works were completed in August 2022. Moreover, the Leonora Hospital has new safety measures as well as green technology and improved patient flow. The safety upgrades included the replacement of

Leonora Hospital

Diamond Hospital

Paramakatoi Hospital

Lethem Hospital

Mabaruma Hospital

GPSU challenges

Mohandatt Goolsarran’s nomination to PSC

…“an attempt to sabotage work of Govt” – AG

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has moved to challenge the nomination and appointment of Mohandatt Goolsarran as a member of the recently sworn-in Public Service Commission (PSC), but Attorney General Anil Nandlall has described the move as an attempt to sabotage the work of the Government.

Goolsarran, currently Chairman of the National Accreditation Council, was formerly Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). He was one of two nominees that the National Assembly had settled on for the PSC, having been nominated by the Guyana Public Service Senior Staff Association (GPSSA).

The GPSSA and the GPSU are organisations which the National Assembly has recognised, as per the Constitution, to submit nominees for positions on the PSC.

During his programme of “Issues in the News”, Nandlall revealed that the basis for the GPSU’s challenge is that the GPSSA is not certified by the Trade Union Recognition Board.

However, the AG argued that this contention is “immaterial”, since the Constitution does not speak about the need for the National Assembly to consult with a trade union in coming up with nominees for the PSC.

lic officers. So, whether this body is registered under the Trade Union Act or has complied with some provisions in the Trade Union Recognition Act is completely immaterial. It could be a friendly society, is could be a religious organisation, it could be a coop society, it could be a limited liability company…the Constitution says ‘bodies’, it didn’t say trade union,” Nandlall explained.

In fact, Nandlall asserted that the GPSSA has been established since 2002, and is registered under the relevant laws; and moreover, the National Assembly had, some ten years ago, passed a resolution confirming its recognition of the organisation as a body with which it can

Union, challenging the legal authority and competence of this body, the [GPSSA], to send a nominee,” Nandlall argued.

“After 20 years, the GPSU suddenly awakes from a slumber and begins now to challenge, legally, the qualification of this body to send a nominee,” he expressed. He noted that, in his view, “this is a disguised attempt to sabotage constitutional democracy, and to sabotage the work of the Government.”

As recent as last week, President Dr Irfaan Ali swore in six members of the PSC. In addition to Goolsarran, other members are Manniram Prashad, Maurice Gajadhar, Melcita Bovell, Chandrawati Ramson and Janice Bowen.

Nandlall outlined that the Constitution provides, among other things, that “two members are to be appointed by the President upon nomination of the National Assembly, after it has consulted such bodies as appear to it to represent public officers or class of public officers.

“…not trade unions representing classes of pub-

consult, or can submit nominees as per the Constitution.

Nandlall in fact emphasised that this body has been submitting nominees for over 20 years now. “And no one has ever questioned the qualifications of this body… to make this nomination. No one, for the past 20 years…[now] we’ve received legal proceedings filed by the Guyana Public Service

Bowen was the other National Assembly nominee. These members have been appointed to serve for a period of three years.

The PSC is a constitutional body responsible for overseeing the Public Service in Guyana. Its composition and functions are outlined in Articles 200 to 205, as stated in Article 135(1) of the Constitution. (G11)

Mohandatt Goolsarran

Patrick Yard

Man wanted for felonious wounding nabbed with illegal gun in Bartica

Michael Isaacs, a resident of Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara who is wanted for felonious wounding, was on Wednesday arrested and searched by Police at the Bartica Stelling in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and an unlicensed .32 pistol was found in his possession.

The 34-year-old Isaacs was told of the offence and cautioned, and he admitted to ownership of the said firearm. He remains in custody at the Bartica Police Station, pending charges for both matters.

Issacs is no stranger to the law. In May 2017, he and Cologne Toney, a 24-year-old known as ‘Country,’ of #53 Village, Corentyne Berbice, were charged for allegedly chopping and robbing a shopkeeper at his residence at Pamela Landing, Potaro River.

They had appeared be -

fore Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and had denied the charge which detailed that, on May 21, 2017, at Pamela Landing, Potaro River, they robbed Eric Singh of $85,000 cash and of one pennyweight of raw gold valued at $10,000. At the time of the robbery, they had used personal violence on Singh.

It was reported that on the day in question,

Fire at Police lock-ups

Prisoner who started fire charged with attempted robbery

Stephon Howard, a former vendor of East La Penitence, Georgetown and a former murder accused who is presently accused of setting fire in the Brickdam Police Station lock-ups, has been charged with attempted robbery.

The 23-year-old has been remanded to prison on Tuesday after his arraignment before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel-Isaacs Marcus in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on an allegation that on June 29 at Norton Street, Georgetown, while armed with a gun and a knife, he attempted to rob Jermaine Simon. Howard has pleaded not guilty to this charge.

the two accused went to the victim’s home and attacked him with a cutlass while he was asleep. They dealt him several chops about his body, and allegedly took the articles mentioned in the charge before making good their escape. They were later arrested, charged, and had severed time in prison before being released.

In objecting to this accused person being placed on bail, the Police prosecutor cited the serious nature and prevalence of the offence, and the court was told that the attempted robbery of Simon was captured on Close Circuit Television (CCTV) and there also are eyewitnesses to the event.

Remanded: Stephon Howard

After considering the prosecution’s objections, the presiding Magistrate remanded Howard to prison. His next court date is next Wednesday, July 26.

The Police, in a release late on Sunday, have said that Howard was questioned in relation to the fire, and he told ranks that upon entering the lock-ups, he discovered a lighter and a piece of toilet paper inside of the cell, and due to mosquitoes biting him, he lit the piece of toilet paper around 06:40h on Sunday and placed same on

the cell door.

He added that, about 10 minutes later, he realised that the toilet paper had fallen on, and ignited, the mattress on the floor of the cell, but he successfully extinguished the flames by throwing water thereon from a plastic bottle he had.

In 2021, the Brickdam Police Station was burnt to the ground after a “frustrated” prisoner had allegedly set fire to the decades-old structure. That alleged arsonist, Clarence Greene, has been charged and placed before the court, but the matter is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, this is not Howard’s first run-in with the law. He was previously charged with armed robbery.

In 2021, Howard and another man, Sean Dos Santos, were acquitted of the murder of Abdool Fazal Saheed after a jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts. Saheed was shot dead during a robbery in 2017. (G1)

The gun that was found in Michael Isaacs’ possession

Govt commits to regularising Mocha/ Arcadia informal settlement

Following months of engagement with residents, the Housing and Water Ministry, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is progressing works to regularise an informal settlement in Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

On Tuesday, Housing Minister Collin Croal and Public Service Minister Sonia Parag met with residents to address their concerns and update them on plans to resolve the matter.

The land in question consists of five fields and falls under the purview of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Croal stated that the Ministry would be communicating with GuySuCo regarding the transfer of land to ensure that residents were granted legal ownership. Thereafter, three of the more densely-populated fields will be regularised.

“We are not here to displace or remove persons. So, our presence here is to work with a process and that process will mean that we'll have to do the planning and the alignment and take stock of where people are. There are three blocks that we are committing that we will do regularisation for,”

Croal said.

“We can capture 100 per cent of you [residents] when some of you move into the [area] that we will regularise and we will do the design for,” Croal added.

As such, persons outside of these three fields as well as those living within the buffer for the emerging fourlane highway will have to shift into the eventually regularised areas.

The Minister emphasised that the Government intended to facilitate a structured process and that the Housing Ministry is committed to working closely with residents throughout each step.

As such, a team from the Ministry will continue meet-

ing with residents and monitoring the area.

In turn, Croal called on the residents to report the construction of any additional structures and discourage others from squatting in the area, as this would prolong what he noted was already a costly and time-consuming process.

"The Government is committed to working with you, but this process can’t move quickly if you don’t hold your end of the bargain,” Croal said.

Minister Parag shared similar sentiments, as she noted the Government’s agenda for inclusive growth and development.

There are several steps to this extensive regularisa-

tion process, Croal further stated.

“We have to be cognisant

ing because you have to have access, you have to have drainage, etc. We also have

tory and recorded a total of 357 occupied and unoccupied structures in the area.

of [and] take stock of where persons are. And so, when we are doing the design, we have to have road network-

to do what is called the [occupancy] survey,” Croal said.

In November 2022, the CH&PA conducted an inven-

During

Tuesday’s meeting, the Ministers also listened to and addressed concerns raised by residents.

Residents within the Mocha/Arcadia informal settlement at the meeting (CH&PA photo)

Overview of the informal settlement at Mocha/Arcadia (CH&PA photo)

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal explaining plans to regularise the Mocha/Arcadia informal settlement (CH&PA photo)

Single Window System

Special Select Committee completes review of Bill

…several new clauses added, report to be tabled in National Assembly

Almost three months af-

ter the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill (2022) had been sent to a Special Select Committee, a report on the committee’s review of the bill will be presented to the National Assembly when it meets on Thursday. A number of clauses have been added to the bill.

The Planning and Development Single Window System Bill is a piece of legislation that is intended to revolutionise the way business is done in Guyana. Back in April 2023, the Government had agreed to send the bill to a Special Select Committee for it to be reviewed by both sides of the house. With that review now completed, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, will on Thursday be presenting a report of the committee’s review to the National Assembly.

Among the changes that have been made to the bill is a subclause mandating the monitoring and evaluation of the relevant agencies as they do their work.

According to this proposed change, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) of the Ministry of Housing shall “monitor and evaluate the operations of the relevant agencies” in addition to the CH&PA’s responsibil-

ity to “establish timelines for the processing and approval of planning and development applications.”

Another new inclusion is mandating the publishing of semi-annual reports on the number of applications received, and their status.

According to this new subclause, “The unit shall publish on the website of the Ministry semi-annually reports on the number of applications received, and their status.”

The bill, meanwhile, provides for a Planning Appeals Tribunal that will hear complaints by persons whose applications for building and other permits have been refused. The tribunal shall “(a) allow or dismiss the appeal; (b) uphold the decision of the central authority; (c) reserve or vary the decision of the central authority.”

Following the Select Committee’s review, it was decided to have all appeals to the tribunal heard in public, where the complainant may appear in person or be represented by their lawyer. Appeals to the tribunal must also be heard within three months of the Notices of Appeal being filed.

And while the bill states that the tribunal’s decisions shall be final, another clause was added giving the cabinet the power of reviewing deci-

sions of the tribunal that are of national interest. According to the clause, “If a declaration under subsection (11) is made, the decision of the appeals tribunal shall be reviewed by the cabinet, which may (a) confirm the decision; (b) confirm the decision with conditions or; (c) revoke the decision.”

During the 63rd Sitting of the National Assembly, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), in a concession to the parliamentary Opposition and concerns they had expressed, committed to having the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill sent to a special select committee for further examination.

Members of that Special Select Committee included Attorney General Anil Nandlall; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Texieira; Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues; and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar. On the Opposition side, the members had included Members of Parliament Roysdale Forde, Annette Ferguson, David Patterson and Ganesh Mahipaul. The single-window process is a strategy implemented by the Government to integrate agencies’ approach to services, efficiency, and to

significantly reduce the processing time for planning and building permission. The legislative framework now paves the way for, among other things, standardized application forms and checklists, as well as minimizing the time for completing a transaction. Further, the electrical portal will enable investors to submit planning and building permits and check the status from anywhere around the globe, as this new mechanism forms part of the Government’s attempt to increase the ease

of doing business and foster a business-friendly environment.

In December 2022, a $202 million contract was signed with Global Services – a Guyanese-led consortium with global experience – to make the issuance of planning and building permits hassle-free. The company was tasked with providing a server and network infrastructure; security solutions; and hardware and software maintenance and repairs.

The single-window sys-

tem will feature five key elements, including one-window access to allow the CH&PA to be the point of entry for planning and building applications; as well as a dashboard to show the status of individual applications and generate progress reports, which can also be accessed by applicants. Another feature of the system is a time-bound element by which the relevant agencies will have to respond to applications, otherwise they would automatically be considered approved. (G3)

Annandale man wanted for Laing Avenue murder

The Guyana Police Force

(GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for Carlton Newbourne Waldron, wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of 19-yearold Dequan Pyle of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, which was reportedly committed on June 17, 2023.

Police have said the wanted man Waldron may have been involved in Pyle's killing, or may possess vital information to help solve the case. His last known address

The suspect’s house that was destroyed by fire

is Lot 100 Rabindra Street, South Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

It was reported that on the day in question, Pyle was trying to part a fight between his sisters and a group of females in the neighbourhood

when the male partners of the other females also intervened.

The Police say that one of the males, who was armed with a piece of wood, hit the teenager to the back of his head, causing him to fall to the ground, where he became motionless. The suspect then

dropped the piece of wood, and he and the others began to pelt bottles and bricks at the nowdead teenager’s relatives before making good their escape.

Pyle was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a doc-

tor on duty. According to the Police, efforts are in progress to locate the 30-year-old male suspect and his accomplices.

Meanwhile, the incident that led to the death of the teenager has resulted in tensions flaring in the area. In

fact, hours later, the Laing Avenue home of the alleged killer was set on fire, and it reportedly ripped through the small wooden house. At the time of the inferno, no one was at home.

Police have since urged

anyone with information on Waldron's whereabouts to come forward and contact the Police at the following telephone numbers: 225-6940, 225-8196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 225-8196, 227-1149, or at the nearest Police station.

Dead: Dequan Pyle

Wanted: Carlton Newbourne Waldron

The Central Housing and Planning Authority

Discrepancies in nurses’ salary increases to be fixed soon – Minister

Salary increases which were announced for health workers last year are yet to benefit some nurses in the health system, but these discrepancies will be remedied by the Health Ministry soon.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony explained recently that while the pay hike was announced since December 2022, some persons are not receiving the increased sum.

“I understand that in some of the regions there might be a few discrepancies, and if there are those, we need to address them. Recently, I was in Region Five, and I understand that there were a number of nurses, although this has been passed several months now, that the persons are not getting the appropriate salary increase,” he revealed.

For those who have experienced this issue, the Minister has asked that the Regional Health Officers mobilise to have this problem fixed soon.

“If there is anybody who is having these deficits, then we need to fix them, and we need to do that as quickly as possible. We can’t announce salary

increases and then there are people who are not getting them. But by a large, I think everyone has benefitted from an increase,” he said.

Nurse aides and patient care assistants had their minimum salaries adjusted upwards from $80,892 to $100,000. This represents an additional 23.6 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to each worker.

Additionally, nursing assistants were entitled to an increase, as their wages were adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $115,000. This represents an additional 29.9 per cent increase on the minimum salary paid

Over 2000 special needs children to benefit from Digicel’s $5.9M donation

to a nursing assistant.

Salary increases for midwives moved from $96,974 to $169,438. This represents a 74.7 per cent increase. Staff nurses were able to benefit from their salary being adjusted from $111,628 to $169,438 monthly, or a 51.8 per cent increase. Staff nurses/midwives’ salaries moved from $127,963 to $195,000 – an additional 52.4 per cent increase.

At that time, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government had announced a raft of new salary increases for medical workers, with some increases ranging from 36.4 per cent to as much as 74.7 per cent. (G12)

Digicel Guyana donates in excess of $5.9 million to advance special needs training

Digicel Guyana on Tuesday handed over in excess of $5.9 million as the company maintains its commitment to investing in special needs training for individuals and professionals within the disabilities community in the country.

Some $4.16 million was donated to support 40 Guyanese professionals – inclusive of occupational thera-

Man dies after being struck by lightning

Twenty-nine-yearold Shawn Easton, known as "Shawnee," a labourer of Swan Village on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, has lost his life allegedly after being struck by lightning.

The incident reportedly occurred at sometime between 15:30h and 16:00h on Sunday in Swan Village. Easton's common-law wife, Sharon Calistro, spoke to Guyana Times on Wednesday and explained that her husband was returning home from work when an unexpected and intense downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, engulfed the area.

Calistro mentioned that she last spoke with her husband at about 15:26h while she was at her mother's place with their three children.

"After he called me and said he reached home, I informed him that I would be there as soon as the rain stopped. I also reminded him that I left the keys where we usually keep them, as we only have one key," Calistro recounted.

During the heightened rain activity, she said, a strong lightning flash caused a knife she was holding to pitch out of

her hand, and other people in the vicinity experienced similar effects.

She said, "When the lightning flashed, I was cutting up greens for my mother, and the knife pitched out of my hand. The electricity was cut off as well. Is today [Wednesday] we get back current. Someone else in the area got injured too; they were slammed into their fridge when the lightning struck."

As soon as the rain stopped, Calistro said, she hurried back home, but her husband was nowhere to be found. She said she initially thought he might have lied about being at home.

“When I reach, I tell my children that he was lying, that he said he was home and he wasn’t home. I started looking over at

his uncle and I see his uncle walking up and down. So, I tell them children let us go and bathe and so until he comes.

“I went and pick up the bucket and so and we went to the creek to bathe. The creek is not far from where we live. When we reach, I see his bag and his slippers floating in the water, when I go closer, I see him lying face down in the water, so I thought he drowned or something.

“I jump in the water and I raise his head up and his tongue was out his mouth, so I know he was dead. I started hollering, and his brother and everybody come”.

Easton’s body was later retrieved from the wa -

ter, and his wife said it was apparent that he had sustained severe burns on the right side of his body, from his head down to his knee. It was only then Calistro said, that she connected the dots and realized that the lightning strike must have been responsible for the tragedy.

She told this publication that losing her partner in such a sudden and heart-wrenching manner has been devastating for her and her family.

"We were together for 12 years. He was a very hardworking man. I can't even sleep or stay in the house, because the pain is unbearable. This is very hard," she expressed with deep grief.

pists, speech therapists, special needs teachers and social workers – as they attend an autism training programme offered by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

Through this training, participants are expected to become equipped with specialised knowledge and skills to better understand and support individuals on the autism spectrum in order to ensure that they receive the highest quality of care and assistance.

Director of the Disability and Rehabilitation Services Department, Dr Ariane Mangar noted that more than 2000 children would benefit from this investment.

“We’ve recently had four speech therapists attend the University of North Carolina and the University of San Hosea where they spent two weeks submersed in programmes to upskill their supervisory skills and learn the best practices and ways we don’t have here in Guyana, to work with children with autism and other children with disorders. So, this will impact so many lives as these staff members were selected from across the various regions,” Dr Mangar said.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Jemima Crosse received $1.748 million to pay her tuition for a Master's Degree in Physiotherapy at the

University of the West Indies (UWI).

This investment forms part of Digicel's aim to cultivate a highly-skilled workforce of physiotherapists, who typically play pivotal roles in improving the lives of individuals with special needs.

Crosse noted that the funding helped to support her passion for helping children with special needs and would enable her to serve with excellence.

These contributions are part of Digicel Guyana’s larger commitment of $60 million to enhance the skills of professionals dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs.

Last September, the company made a financial commitment of $60 million over a three-year period to the Health Ministry as part of its ongoing support to improving special needs and rehabilitation services.

"By funding the Master's Degree in Physiotherapy and providing support for the autism training programme, we aim to empower these professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to make a lasting difference.

These contributions reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering excellence in the health-care and education sectors,” said Digicel Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deonarine Gopaul.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

in Guyana

Dead: Shawn Easton

1st breast reconstruction surgery performed at GPHC

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), in collaboration with the British Foundation for International Reconstructive Surgery and Training (BFIRST), on Tuesday successfully performed the first-ever local breast reconstruction surgery using the tissue reconstruction technique.

The surgery was performed at the GPHC and was described as a groundbreaking achievement. In a post on its Facebook page, the Hospital said the procedure was performed on a 54-yearold patient who conquered breast cancer 20 years ago.

“The local surgical team, led by the exceptional Doctor Shilindra Rajkumar, worked tirelessly to make this life-changing surgery possible. The team from BFIRST,

including Doctors Maniram Rhagbir and Naveen Cavale, lent their expertise and support to ensure the surgery’s

success,” the post stated.

The medical facility further stated that through years of research, dedica-

Works begin on jetty in Corentyne River for fisherfolk

Works have commenced on the construction of a jetty in the Corentyne River that will benefit fisherfolk in the Corriverton area.

Senior Minister with responsibilities for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, recently committed to having the facility built for the communities that engage in fishing. It was during the Government’s campaign for Local Government Elections that Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh was approached by fishermen of Corriverton, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) about the challenges they faced in bringing their catch to shore. As such, Dr Singh committed to having a jetty built to improve working conditions for the fisherfolks.

Work has already commenced on the structure at Line Path.

According to Region Six Chairman David Armogan, the facility will assist the fishermen to get their catch from their boats onto land with ease.

“We have a place at Fyrish where we have a big waft, at Number 66 Village we have a waft, and there are many other places where we have big fishing complexes where we have wafts, but this is a little jetty where

small fishermen do a bit of fishing in the Corentyne River. The only area that we have on the Upper Corentyne is at Number 66, so any other person who is coming out and would not be going to Number 66 will have to use the seawall, and it is very difficult sometimes for them to fetch their catch. When the water is low, they would have to walk a long distance and then climb that seawall to be able to bring out their catch,” Armogan pointed out. The project is being funded through the Finance Ministry.

Meanwhile, at Islington, which is considered by many

as East Bank Berbice, but which falls under the New Amsterdam Municipality, fisherfolk also use the seawall to bring in their catch. Those fishers also experience the same difficulty.

“That is exactly the situation, and so maybe we need to look at another jetty for the Islington area, which is going to assist them greatly,” Armogan has said.

Fishers who operate from seawalls would normally have to wait on the tide before they can bring in their catch. With a jetty, they can eliminate that time loss and also be out fishing more often. (G4)

tion, and unyielding commitment to patient care, it has achieved a surgical milestone that brings hope to countless individuals who have faced similar challenges.

This groundbreaking achievement, it stated, would not have been possible without the collective efforts of everyone involved.

“The successful surgery marks a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation between medical institutions across borders. It also strengthens our resolve to continue pushing boundaries, exploring new possibilities, and delivering the best possible care to our patients at GPHC.”

As such, the medical institution extended heartfelt gratitude to its medical team, whose expertise and skill made this historic milestone a reality.

“We also want to thank the patient and her family for placing their trust in our hands, allowing us to be a part of their inspiring journey,” the GPHC said.

“As we celebrate this achievement, we are reminded of the incredible potential that lies within our local medical community. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence, providing cutting-edge health care and transforming lives in ways we once thought were impossible.”

Region 6 NGSA results consistent, but consistently poor – Chairman

Region Six Chairman

David Armogan believes more work is needed to ensure the region’s students perform better at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

On Tuesday, he said the region’s students did “reasonably well” at this year’s NGSA examinations, considering the region’s past performances, but he believes that much more could be achieved.

He explained that schools that have been doing well over the past years continue to do well, and those schools which have, over the years, been performing poorly continued the trend. Those schools, he said, need to be upgraded so that their students can be placed in high-mark schools.

This year, students attained a 37 per cent pass in mathematics. This is compared with a 30 per cent pass rate last year.

“But if you look at it over the years, you will find that, in 2017, we had 42 per cent passes in mathematics; in 2018, we had 34 per cent; in 2019, we had 37.7 per cent; in 2020, we had 35 per cent; in 2021, we had 33 per cent; and then we went down in 2022 to 30 per cent, and we are back up at 37 per cent. So, it is not really a big improvement, it had been pretty much consistent,” Armogan said while giving a breakdown of the region’s performance at this year’s NGSA.

Mathematics, he pointed out, is one of the key subjects in modern-day science and technology.

“That is the way we are going in this country and many other parts of the world,” he added, while emphasizing the importance of mathematics. Armogan said there needs to be an improvement in that subject area.

In English, the past rate was 55 per cent, compared to 60 per cent last year. In 2021, the pass rate was 62 percent.

“We have seen a decline in the performance in English in 2023. In Science, we managed 51 per cent when compared to 44 per cent in 2022 and 39 per cent in 2021. This is the highest percentage we have had so far between 2017 and 202351 per cent,” he said.

The pass rate for Social Studies was 53 per cent, as against 55 per cent last year and 54 per cent in 2021.

1,650 students sat the examinations in the region this year. The figure last year was 1920.

Overall, the region recorded a 49 per cent pass rate, and in recent years, the pass

rate had been between 47 and 49 per cent.

“Generally, I think it has been consistent over the years, but consistently poor I would say, because we need to achieve a higher overall percentage than we have presently of 49 per cent. Fortynine per cent means that 51 per cent of the students have failed, although they are placed into a secondary school. These figures tell you that 51 per cent of the students have not been able to achieve 50 per cent and for me. That is not good enough,” Armogan said.

Eight of the top ten students in the Region were awarded places at Queen’s College, the other two were awarded places at Bishops’ High. Three students tied for the top place in the region with 502.9 marks. They are Annalisa Siriram of Cropper Primary School, Aaron Munessar Anamayah of Cropper Primary School, and Jade Archibald of St Therese’s Primary School. (G4)

The medical team that performed the surgery

Region 6 Chairman, David Armogan

Construction of the jetty at Line Path, Corentyne has commenced

Honduras to build island colony to imprison gang members

Honduras plans to build the only island prison colony in the Western hemisphere and send its most-feared gangsters there, tearing a page from neighbouring El Salvador’s unforgiving approach to murder, robbery, rape, and extortion.

Honduras’s progressive President once promised to address gang violence through systemic reforms to governance and the criminal justice system.

Now, President Xiomara Castro plans to build an isolated prison for 2000 gang leaders on the Islas del Cisne archipelago 250 kilometres (155 miles) off the coast, part of a larger crackdown following the gang-related massacre of 46 women in one prison.

Island prisons once were common across Latin America, with facilities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru. Deadly riots, brutal conditions, and bold prison escapes captured filmmakers’ and authors’ imaginations before the last island prison closed in Mexico in 2019.

In Honduras, authorities are betting that a return to the past will help stem the wave of violence, but scep-

[Planet

tics say such moves are little more than optics and fail to address the root causes of endemic violence.

“A new prison is quite useless if you don’t first regain control of the others you already have,” said Tiziano Breda, a Latin America expert at Italy’s Istituto Affari Internazionali. “Criminal gangs have shown throughout their history that they can adapt.”

Last month, 46 women were killed in a fight between gang members in one pris-

As Cuba’s Private Sector roars back, choices and inequality rise

“Capitalism must be uprooted, parasitism must be uprooted, the exploitation of man must be uprooted,” cried Fidel Castro in 1968 to rapturous applause, explaining his decision to ban virtually all private business in Cuba.

For Castro, the fundamental problem was that capitalists live off the work of others – creating “man as the enemy of man” rather than an “instinct for solidarity” among people.

incorporate small and medium-sized businesses which can employ up to 100 people. More than 8000 have already been registered.

The Private Sector is roaring back, bringing with it more productivity, but also more inequality to the island nation.

told Al Jazeera. “We have examples in the world: Vietnam and China – they have sustainable economies.”

on. Many of those killed were sprayed with gunfire and hacked to death with machetes. Some inmates were locked in cells, where they were doused with flammable liquid and burned in the worst atrocity in a women’s prison in recent memory.

Castro said she would “take drastic measures” in response and crack down on the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, gangs that have terrorised the nation for years.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PM Rowley denies allegations of bribes to bring down THA

Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has flatly denied allegations of any attempted interference in Police work in Tobago, dismissing such talk as a fabrication for nefarious ends.

Dr Rowley, in a press statement on Wednesday, said that at a special sitting of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) earlier that day, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine made serious allegations against him, including playing into the assembly’s records, a purportedly secret recording that included Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) membership officer Akil Abdullah.

Dr Rowley denied the allegation of him being in contact with Abdullah and others towards interfering and

directing Police work.

"Let me firmly place on the record the following: With respect to Mr Akil Abdullah, I do not know any person by that name.

"I have never met with any such person. I have never spoken to him in any form or fashion. I have never communicated with him in any way," the PM said.

Rowley said he had absolutely nothing to do with any of that story or action as described by Augustine or Abdullah.

"Additionally I categorically deny that I know Inspector Weaver- Ali. I do not know this officer. I have never met her.

"I have never spoken to her. To the best of my knowledge I have never been in her presence."

Rowley said he had never been in any meeting of any kind with her, alone or with others, as presented by Augustine.

"Further I categorically deny that I was in any meeting with persons named as described by the Chief Secretary, that is, officer Weaver-Ali, Attorney-atLaw Gilbert Peterson and Ancil Dennis.

"I state, without fear of contradiction, that this purported meeting wherein I supposedly directed the Commissioner of Police to take certain action, never occurred. As far as I am concerned it is a pure fanciful fabrication by person/s for their own nefarious purpose."

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Venezuela's ex-spy chief extradited to US

Venezuela's former head of military intelligence, Hugo Carvajal, has arrived in the United States where he faces charges of drug trafficking.

Carvajal was a close ally of the late Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, and is thought to hold key information about his Government and that of Chávez's successor, Nicolás Maduro.

The former spy chief fled Venezuela after he turned against Maduro.

He was extradited from Spain, where he had spent years in hiding.

Carvajal is expected to make his first court appearance within hours of landing in New York.

Prosecutors accuse the 63-year-old of having used his position as chief of military intelligence to protect shipments of cocaine from Venezuela bound for the US.

He also allegedly provided weapons for the FARC, a Colombian Marxist rebel group which reportedly has camps in neighbouring Venezuela.

He is accused of forming part of a drug-smuggling organisation dubbed the

Now, more than half a century later – and after decades of anguished debate – the Communist Party of Cuba is allowing private businesses to spring up on the island. Since 2021, Cubans have been able to

Roberto Rojas, who has a portrait of Fidel Castro in his office, incorporated Rojas Dairy 18 months ago in the town of Güines in Western Cuba. Today, his company employs 28 people to make yoghurt and ice cream and unlike the former commandante, he sees no contradiction between a socialist state and private business.

“On the contrary,” he

Rojas Dairy is something of a poster child of young, innovative, socially-responsible businesses. It pasteurises milk in large metal vats that Rojas found in a rubbish tip and mended. The factory is based in an old state canteen that had fallen into disrepair before Rojas gave it a lick of paint and started renting it.

Crucially, for a cashstrapped country in which putting a decent meal on the table has become a harder task in recent years, the business produces food.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US sanctions Guatemalan officials over "undemocratic” activity

The United States Government has slapped sanctions on 10 Guatemalan officials, including several accused of undermining democracy and targeting Journalists, as the country contends with an ongoing electoral crisis.

The sanctions come as part of a report issued on Wednesday, which names individuals accused of anti-democratic activity and corruption in Central America.

Those identified in the report have become ineligible to enter the US, and any visa they have from the country is revoked.

“This list identifies individuals who have knowingly engaged in acts that undermine democratic processes or institutions, in significant corruption, or in obstruction of investigations into such acts of corruption in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador,” reads a press release from the US Department of State.

The State Department’s report includes 13 officials and public figures from Nicaragua, 10 from Honduras, and six from El

Salvador, as well as the 10 from Guatemala.

They include Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sanchez Ceran, two successive Presidents of El Salvador.

The report amplifies existing concerns over Guatemala’s fragile democracy, which has faced scrutiny in recent weeks as the country prepares for the second round of voting in its presidential election.

Last week, Guatemala’s top prosecutor successfully pushed to suspend a progressive political party that had defied expectations in the first round of voting on

June 25, securing one of two spots in the August run-off. Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has since intervened with an injunction against the suspension. On Wednesday, the Organisation of American States (OAS) issued a statement alleging that “actors unsatisfied” with June’s election results had abused legal pathways to introduce a “high degree of uncertainty in the electoral process”. Those efforts, it said, “put at risk the country’s democratic stability”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaica: Man in custody after store with J$200,000M in counterfeit goods searched

Cartel of the Suns, which Prosecutors say is made up of high-ranking members of the Venezuelan military.

Carvajal has denied any wrongdoing and waged a long and ultimately unsuccessful legal battle against his extradition to the US.

As head of military counter-intelligence from 2004 to 2011, he was one of the most powerful men in Venezuela and a confidant of Chávez.

His legal troubles date back to 2011, when a US court first indicted him on drug trafficking charges.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

The police have revealed that one person is now in custody after around J$200,000 million worth of counterfeit goods were discovered in a store in Downtown Kingston on Wednesday.

Assistant Superintendent Victor Barrett of Intellectual Property Rights CTOC said the operation took place at 24 West Parade, as part of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s on-going efforts to “rid the streets” of counterfeit goods.

"On close inspection of

this store we discovered a large quantity of Crocks, Nike, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, in all shapes and sizes and a rough estimate puts this store to be around $200,000 million worth of goods. Because there is a warehouse also inside this store that has a massive amount of counterfeit goods,” Barrett said.

“So most of these merchants, they have the storefront and then they have the warehouse upstairs,” he added, noting that the person in custody will be charged for breaches against

the Trademark Act.

As such, Barrett issued a warning to those who have the intention to sell counterfeit goods.

“We just want to warn those who want to get involved in the selling of counterfeit goods that it is a bad thing, it’s not good for the country. It fuels organised crime and that is to say that we have laws in place and once we get a report we will continue to act. So I will suggest that you take your money and invest it into legitimate means,” Barrett said.

(Jamaica Observer)

Honduras plans to build a new prison colony for gang members on Great Swan Island, or the Islas del Cisne, in the Caribbean Sea

Labs PBC via AP Photo]

A demonstrator on July 4 holds a sign that reads, ‘At the ballot box, not in the courts’, to protest court interference in Guatemala’s elections [Cristina Chiquin/Reuters]

Around The World OIL NEWS

Deadly shooting in Auckland hours before Women's World Cup

Oil prices dip on profit-taking despite tighter US supplies

Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday, as investors took profits following earlier gains on tighter US crude supplies and China's pledge to reinvigorate its economic growth.

Brent futures dipped 17 cents at US$79.46 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 40 cents at US$75.35 a barrel.

Prices pared gains late in the session after both contracts had risen by over US$1 a barrel. Market participants took advantage of the higher prices and took profits, said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

Strength in the US dollar index also weighed on prices. A stronger greenback makes crude more expensive for investors holding other currencies.

Limiting losses, US crude inventories fell by 708,000 barrels in the last week to 457.4 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a drop of 2.4 million barrels, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed on Wednesday.

The data showed inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve climbed for the first time since January 2021, as the US tries to refill the reserve following last year's record drawdown.

"It's an end of an era," Flynn said. "We're reminded the SPR releases have come to an end, and the market is going to be on much more solid footing."

In a measure that could boost oil demand, China's top economic planner pledged on Tuesday to roll out policies to "restore and expand" consumption in the world's second-largest economy.

US data on Tuesday showing retail sales rose less than expected in June boosted views that the Federal Reserve will stop raising interest rates. Higher rates increase borrowing costs and can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

In another positive sign, European Central Bank governing council member Klaas Knot on Tuesday suggested that rate hikes beyond the ECB's meeting next week were "by no means a certainty".

"Traders have started to become a lot more optimistic as inflation eases off. ... Any improvement in the inflation data also means an improvement in oil demand," said Naeem Aslam of Zaye Capital Markets.

Russia is set to reduce its oil exports by 2.1 million metric tons in the third quarter, in line with planned voluntary export cuts of 500,000 barrels per day in August, according to the country's Energy Ministry. (Reuters)

Protests in Thailand as rivals derail Pita’s PM bid

Ashooting has left two people dead in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand, hours before the city is due to open the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Six other people, including Police Officers, were injured and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being seen as an act of terrorism.

The tournament would go ahead as planned, he said.

The public, he added, could be assured Police had neutralised the threat and there was no ongoing risk

after the incident on Queen Street.

No political or ideological motive for the attack had been identified, the Prime Minister said.

The gunman, he said, had been armed with a

pump-action shotgun.

Hipkins thanked "the brave men and women of the New Zealand Police who ran into the gunfire, straight into harm's way, in order to save the lives of others".

"These kinds of situa-

tions move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic," he added.

According to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, all FIFA personnel and football teams are safe and have been accounted for.

The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway in the city's Eden Park.

Sport Minister Grant Robertson said there would be extra Police in the area to provide reassurance.

The ninth Women's World Cup is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Russia delivers Black Sea shipping warning as Ukraine decries “hellish” port attacks

Russia warned that from today any ships sailing to Ukraine's Black Sea ports would be seen as potentially carrying military cargoes, as Kyiv accused Moscow of carrying out "hellish" overnight strikes that damaged grain export infrastructure.

Russia attacked the Odesa region for the second consecutive night after quitting on Monday a yearold deal allowing the safe passage of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, a decision that prompted the United Nations to warn it risked creating hunger around the world.

Ukraine, which wants to try to continue Black Sea grain shipments vital

to global food supplies, said on Wednesday it was setting up a temporary shipping route via Romania.

"Russian terrorists absolutely deliberately targeted the infrastructure of the grain deal," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app.

"Every Russian missile – is a strike not only on Ukraine but on everyone in the world who wants normal and safe life."

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's office said 10 civilians, including a nineyear-old boy, were wounded. Grains terminals were damaged as well as an industrial facility, warehouses, shopping malls, resi-

dential and administrative buildings, and cars.

A considerable part of the grain export infrastructure at Chornomorsk port southwest of Odesa was damaged, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, adding that 60,000 tons of grain had been destroyed.

Russia on Wednesday said it would consider all ships travelling to Ukraine's Black Sea ports as potential carriers of military cargoes from midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT on Wednesday), following the end of the grain deal.

Russia's Defence Ministry said flag states of ships travelling to

Ukrainian ports would be considered parties to the conflict on the Ukrainian side. The Defence Ministry did not say what actions it might take. It said Russia was also declaring southeastern and northwestern parts of the Black Sea's international waters to be temporarily unsafe for navigation.

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said Russia's exit from the deal threatens to increase global food insecurity and could raise food prices, especially in poor countries. In Chicago, US wheat prices soared on the latest developments in the war. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump handed dual court defeats amid ongoing legal woes

Former United States President Donald Trump has been handed dual court defeats on Wednesday, as he continues to face an array of legal woes since leaving the White House.

The bitter battle to name Thailand’s next Prime Minister took a major turn as Parliament voted to deny Pita Limjaroenrat, whose progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May’s election, a second chance to be confirmed for the post.

Pita had assembled a coalition of parties holding a majority in the House of Representatives. But his nomination for Prime Minister was defeated in a joint vote of the House and Senate last week, with conservative military-appointed Senators mostly refusing their support.

A joint session debat-

ed Wednesday whether Pita could be nominated for a second time, and House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha put the question to a vote. A motion to deny him a second chance was passed 395-312 with eight abstentions, dashing the hopes of Pita’s millions of supporters. The Speaker told reporters that the second round of voting was scheduled for July 27.

The 42-year-old had told Reuters news agency in an interview on Tuesday that he was expecting “pre-planned” obstacles, describing efforts by the establishment to stop him as like a “broken record”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The first ruling, made by a federal judge, rejected Trump’s bid to have his criminal trial in New York state court moved to a federal court.

Trump’s legal team has long argued that the former President will not receive a fair trial in ultra-liberal Manhattan, where he faces 34 felony charges connected to falsifying documents in a hush-money case involving an adult film star.

But his lawyers’ latest bid alleged that since the case was related to Trump’s time as President, it should be heard in federal court.

However, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected that argument, saying the hush-money allegations pertained to Trump’s personal life, not his presidential duties. They, there-

fore, did not merit a move to federal court.

“The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was a purely a personal item of the President – a cover-up of

an embarrassing event,” Hellerstein wrote in a 25page ruling.

“Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a President’s official acts. It does not reflect in any way the colour of the president’s official duties.”

Hellerstein’s decision means Trump could stand trial in a state court in Manhattan as early as next spring. That would overlap with the 2024 presidential primary season. Public opinion polls show the former President is currently leading a crowded Republican field. Meanwhile, a federal judge in an unrelated case on Wednesday also rejected Trump’s request for a new trial, following the conclusion of a civil lawsuit brought by the writer E Jean Carroll in May.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The public could be assured Police had neutralised the threat, the Prime Minister said

Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat attends a voting session on the day of the second vote for a new Prime Minister, at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand [Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters]

Former US President Donald Trump

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Take the initiative and prove yourself to the powers that be, and you will make headway and a difference. Don’t make a hasty financial move. Let your instincts be your guide.

PICKLES

(March 21-April 19)

Keep things in perspective. Don’t feel like you must follow the crowd or make promises that are difficult to honor. Put your energy into taking care of your responsibilities while having fun.

(April 20-May 20)

Spend time with loved ones or fix up your space to suit your lifestyle. Don’t let what others do or say upset you. Let your freethinking attitude shine, and do what makes you happy.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Get in touch with long-lost friends. Attend a reunion, set new goals and research how to get where you want to go. Use your intuition to help you make better decisions.

Don’t let what others do stand in your way or disrupt your day. Head in a direction that puts a smile on your face. Put your energy into doing the best job and earning your keep.

Don’t deny yourself when the possibilities are endless. Take a stand and work to eliminate instability and emotional uncertainty. Ask questions, and you’ll discover workable solutions.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Distance yourself from pushy individuals and uncomfortable situations. Reach out to those who share your concerns. Be true to yourself, keep life simple and maintain a strict budget.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Let your actions speak for you. If you say too much or allude to something untrue, you will discredit yourself and miss an opportunity to grow. Don’t try to impress others.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Refuse to let your emotions or circumstances dictate what happens next. Voice your opinion and be prepared to do your own thing. Trust and believe in yourself, and you will find your way.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Rethink how you earn and manage your money. With some ingenuity and lifestyle changes, you can lower your stress and maximize your ability to enjoy what life offers. Alter your living conditions and thrive.

Be willing to listen, but don’t sign up for something that doesn’t interest you just to please others. Someone will offer false information to grab your attention. Read the fine print.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Concentrate on responsibilities and how to use your skills and experience to advance. Say no to temptation and people trying to reroute you down a path you cannot afford.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

The Ashes Series 2023…

England chip away at Australia in crucial fourth Test

England chipped away at Australia’s batting on a tense and fluctuating first day of the crucial fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

At 2-1 down and needing to win to force a series decider at The Oval, England struck at regular intervals to leave the tourists 299-8 at the close. Stuart Broad took two, with the secondTravis Head hooking to long leg - making him only the fifth bowler in Test history to reach 600 wickets.

Chris Woakes was the most consistently dangerous - his 4-52 included a magnificent catch from under-fire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow to remove Mitchell Marsh.

Though England won the toss, Australia, who only need to draw one of the final two Tests to retain the urn, were presented with ideal batting conditions. But scores of 51 each from Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne, 48 to Head and 41 by Steve

Smith tell a tale of batters doing the hard work but failing to make telling contributions.

Indeed, at 255-7 Australia were in danger of being bowled out inside a day, only for Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc to resist.

As the close drew near, Woakes removed Carey with the second new ball, leaving England with the opportunity to mop up the tail on Thursday morning. All this against the backdrop of bad weather that is forecasted to disrupt the final two days, possibly adding another variable in a series that has already produced three tight finishes.

Perhaps because the stakes are so high, this was a nervy occasion, not helped by the tight nature of the cricket. Only after Bairstow’s stunning grab in the evening session did the Old Trafford Party Stand find its voice. England’s decision to field first was based on necessity. With the bad weather due at

Manchester City accept bid from Al Ahli for Riyad Mahrez

the weekend, the home side needed to give themselves as much time as possible to take 20 Australian wickets.

When the coin landed in favour of Ben Stokes for the fourth consecutive match in this series, the overheads suggested a favourable time to bowl, but by the time play began, the sun was shining, and did so for the remainder of the day. Therefore, on a flat pitch, it could be that Australia did not make the most of the best bat ting day of the matchcertainly the amount of bat ters who got out after mak ing starts points to a collective lack of ruth lessness. By the end, little had been determined, neither side able to say with cer tainty they had grabbed the up per hand.

This was an impressive performance by England with the ball and in the field. To be hy-

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st Innings

David Warner c †Bairstow

b Woakes 32

Usman Khawaja lbw b Broad 3

lar threat; and, importantly, held all of their chances.

Broad was wayward with the new ball, but still removed Usman Khawaja, then bowled a beautiful spell after tea that included bouncing out Head for the milestone 600th

Mark Wood had the pace to draw a mistake from Smith, Moeen Ali found turn and pinned Labuschagne leg before, while James Anderson was economical bowling from the end that carries his name.

Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Ali 51

Steven Smith lbw b Wood 41

Travis Head c Root b Broad 48

Mitchell Marsh c †Bairstow

b Woakes 51

Cameron Green lbw b Woakes 16

Alex Carey †c †Bairstow b Woakes 20

Mitchell Starc not out 23

70-4-0-32.85

Pat Cummins (c) not out 1

Extras (b 8, lb 3, nb 2) 13

TOTAL 83 Ov (RR: 3.60) 299/8

Bairstow, under pressure for his glovework, had been untidy throughout the day, but the swoop to his right to grasp the edge off Marsh was as spectacular as it was unexpected. Sitting on the floor with both fists clenched, he celebrated with gusto.

Yet to bat: Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-15

(Usman Khawaja, 4.6 ov), 2-61

(David Warner, 14.1 ov), 3-120

(Steven Smith, 29.2 ov), 4-183

(Marnus Labuschagne, 46.1 ov), 5-189

(Travis Head, 49.5 ov), 6-254

(Cameron Green, 62.1 ov), 7-255

(Mitchell Marsh, 62.5 ov), 8-294

(Alex Carey, 80.4 ov)

BOWLING

Stuart Broad

O-M-R-W

14-0-68-2

James Anderson 17-4-43-0

Chris Woakes 19-4-52-4

Mark Wood 16-4-60-1

Moeen Ali 17-1-65-1

to get in. There were partnerships of 46, 59, 63 and 65 for the second, third, fourth and sixth wickets respectively, only for the majority of the top order to find sloppy ways of getting out.

Manchester City have accepted from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli a bid worth up to £30million for Riyad Mahrez, the PA news agency understands.

The Algeria international has consequently been given permission to miss the treble winners’ pre-season tour of Asia. Mahrez, 32, is now set to discuss terms ahead of a potential move to the Jeddah-based Saudi Pro League outfit. Reports have suggested he has been offered a threeyear contract.

The former Leicester winger was not included in the 25-man City squad due to leave for Japan and

South Korea on Wednesday. Mahrez had two years remaining on a contract which he extended last summer, but had reportedly been frustrated with a lack of game time in the treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.

Mahrez made just 22 Premier League starts last term, and was an unused substitute in the finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League.

He joined City in a £60million deal from Leicester in 2018, having helped the Foxes to win the Premier League two years previously. He went on to win the title four more times with Pep Guardiola’s side.

(Sportsmax)

Chris Woakes starred with four wickets on the day

per-critical, they occasionally bowled a touch too wide, but, on the whole, carried a regu-

The pick, though, was Woakes, recalled to play a vital role in the win at Headingley, and rewarded for maintaining a full length here. He drew David Warner into an edge in the morning session, then bowled a crucial spell in the evening that included reing Cameron Green and Marsh in the same over.

It looked like England would be defied by Carey and Starc, yet the dependable Woakes was trusted with the second new ball, and he took an edge as Carey looked to leave.

Even if captain Pat Cummins said he would have bowled first, Australia knew they were one strong batting performance away from effectively retaining the urn. The tourists had even lengthened their line-up by including all-rounder Green at the expense of spinner Todd Murphy, but could still not take full advantage of the flat pitch and warm sun.

Only Khawaja, trapped on the crease by Broad, failed

Warner at least avoided falling to Broad, but played a loose drive at Woakes. Smith looked ominous until he played across the line against Wood. Labuschagne made his first half-century of the series, then missed an innocuous delivery from Moeen. Head was suckered into England’s shortball plan, and as Marsh and Green looked to be swinging the day Australia’s way, both fell in the space of five Woakes deliveries.

Carey and Starc dropped anchor, their stand of 39 coming at little more than two runs an over, before Carey’s misjudgement against Woakes. That left Starc unbeaten on 23, joined by skipper Cummins on one.

(BBC Sport)

World champion hurdler Tobi Amusan vows to clear her name after being charged

World100m hurdles champion Tobi Amusan is in danger of missing out on the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month, after being charged by the Athletics Integrity Unit of the World Athletics body with missing three anti-doping tests within a 12-month period. She has vowed to fight to clear her name in time to try and defend the title she won in Oregon a year ago.

The Nigerian champion, who is coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena GoldingClarke, has revealed that the AIU has slapped her with a charge that could see her suspended from the sport for up to two years.

Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months,” she said. “I intend to fight this charge, and will have my case decided by a tribunal of three arbitrators before the start of next month’s World

Championships.”

Amusan holds the world record for the event, and has been rounding into form after early season struggles with injury. On Tuesday, she followed her win in 12.34 at Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Silesia with a

12.35 winning performance in Szekesfehervar, holding off 2019 world champion Nia Ali, who clocked 12.41, and Alaysha Johnson was third in 12.50.

She insists that she is innocent of the charges that the AIU has laid against her, and expressed confidence that she would be cleared in short order.

“I am a CLEAN athlete, and I am regularly (maybe more than usual) tested by the AIU,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was tested within days of my third “missed test”. I have faith that this will be resolved in my favour, and that I will be competing at the World Championships in August.” (Sportsmax)

Riyad Mahrez

Stuart Broad claimed his 600th Test wicket

Tobi Amusan

Kevin Sinclair Cricket Academy to conclude today with 35-over match

The Kevin Sinclair Cricket Academy has been a huge success for Demerara cricketers. The Academy commenced on July 17, and catered for cricketers under the age of 17. More than 35 cricketers had gathered at the Everest Cricket Club ground to learn about the game from top coaches in Guyana: Garvin Nedd, Esuan Crandon, and national cricketer-coach Antony Adams.

On the opening day, Coach Garvin Nedd, Coach Antony Adams, and Coach Esuan Crandon conducted the sessions.

In addition to the on-field knowledge the cricketers gained, they were educated about the rules of the game during an indoor umpir-

No result in first match of historic GCB U13 Inter-County tournament

The Round 1 match of the historic GCB U13 Inter-County 40-over tournament was abandoned because of heavy rainfall on Wednesday.

Demerara had been scheduled to face Essequibo at the GCC Ground at Bourda on Wednesday, but that opening round match will now be played on Saturday, after heavy showers rendered the Ground unplayable following the initial opening round.

Thursday's match will bowl off at 10:00h, weather permitting. Friday’s match will see archrivals Berbice and Demerara doing battle.

This is the first official U13 inter-county competition since last year, when it was badly affected by rain and resulted in matches being played indoors at the National Gymnasium.

This historic Under-13 Inter-County tournament is one of the key plans of the Bissoondyal Singh-led administration’s five-year development plan.

Demerara U13 team: Khush Seegobin, Nathan Bishop, Brandon Henry – Captain, Makai Dowlin, Reeaz Latiff –Vice Capt., Joshua Bollers, Patrice Fraser, Theiry Davis, Kyle Gibson, Kristoff Tracy, Joshua Williams, Shakar Ramesh, Lomar

Seecharran, Jermaine Grovesnor, Hezekiah

Hohenkirk, Junior Ruel

Dindyal

Stand By play-

ers: Mario Singh, Amit Shivdarsan, Caleb Basham, Nathan Suknanad, Nicholas

Rukhdeo and Navin Narine Manager – Kevin Ross Coach – Kumar

Bishundial

Essequibo U13 team Makaya Homes,

Ethan Silas (Capt.) Ravid Frederick, Usain Frederick, Darrius Pearson, Arav Sukran, Bomeshwar Lall, Joseph Bolo, Justin Dowlin, Zaheer Ramkissoon, Nathaniel Nurse, Jaden Frederick, Arif Singh, Mark Daniels, Justin Henry, Tyrese Stephen

Reserved: Marc Anthony Obermuller, Otis Roberts, Aron DeCosta, Kevin Denjimin, Jonathan Barry

Head Coach - Rayon

DeCosta

Manager - Wayne Holder

Berbice U13 team

Richard Ramdehol(Captain), Tameshwar

Deonandan- vice, Arif

Marimutoo, Nathaniel

Ramsammy, Farhan

Ballee, Leon Reddy, Rafell

McKenzie, Balraj Narine, Kemar Joseph, Dinesh

Singh, Dev Seepersaud, Rajesh Singh, Arif Bacchus and Ricardo Dhanessar

Standbys - A. Nabbie, D. Newland, A. Hemraj, R. Lallbeharry, L. DeJonge, K. Kisten and S. Gajnabi.

Manager - Ameer Rahaman

Coach - Leslie Solomon

conclude today, Thursday July 20, with a 25-over game sponsored by Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore.

Sponsors of the Kevin Sinclair Cricket Academy are Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Star Rentals, Suri Trading, Genuine Auto Spares and Tools, A Ally & Sons, and Flawless Dentals.

Former Indian batsman calls for Windies to be stripped of Test status

Former India opening batsman Aakash

Chopra has called for West Indies to be stripped of their Test-playing status. He believes that the team has been doing nothing in international cricket for a few years now, and they should be replaced by associate member teams from individual islands.

“They won’t be playing in the World Cup. In all three formats, they are lagging behind in the rankings. Eventually, there has to be a threshold,” Chopra argued during a question-and-answer session with Sportsekeeda.

“I have been talking about that tier system - promotion and relegation. Just because they are an erstwhile champion side, till when can you carry on with them as a Test-playing nation? The team, as such, is doing nothing.”

Chopra says West Indies' lack of unity and coordination has been a major factor in their downfall, and that many top players prefer

franchise cricket over representing West Indies.

“Their case is unique because they have separate islands. Their pitches are so slow. You saw it in Dominica and you will see it at Port of Spain as well. It’s not a bad idea. Maybe the island teams might play with more pride. All said and done, West Indies’ state of cricket is quite bad,” he said.

“The five fingers are split and everyone is thinking about themselves - be it Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua

or Guyana. There is hardly any coordination. During their prime, Clive Lloyd kept them together. This team needs leadership, because it’s a scattered side. Every island nation has their own anthem. As it is, things were difficult, and then players became T20 journeymen. The pride in playing for West Indies has reduced,” Chopra declared.

Chopra's comments come at a time when West Indies are struggling both on and off the field. The team was

Deadly shooting occurs in Auckland hours before Women's World Cup

Ashooting has left two people dead in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand, hours before the city is due to open the Fifa Women's World Cup.

Six other people, including Police officers, were injured, and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.

PM Chris Hipkins has said the attack is not being seen as an act of terrorism; the tournament would go ahead as planned. The public, he added, could be assured that Police had neutralised the threat, and there was no ongoing risk after the incident on Queen Street.

No political or ideological motive for the attack had

been identified, the Prime Minister has said. The gunman, he said, had been armed with a pump-action shotgun.

Mr Hipkins thanked "the brave men and women of the New Zealand Police who ran into the gunfire, straight into harm's way, in order to save the lives of others".

"These kinds of situations move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic," he added.

According to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, all Fifa personnel and football teams are safe, and have been accounted for.

The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway in the city's Eden Park. Sport Minister Grant Robertson

said there would be extra Police in the area to provide reassurance.

The ninth Women's World Cup is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Earlier, the mayor warned people should stay home and avoid travelling into the city. Mr Brown said it was a "dreadful thing to happen" in his city.

Police say they heard reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the construction site, and the gunman moved through the building and continued to fire. The man then went into a lift shaft, and Police attempted to engage him.

Further shots were fired by the man, and he was found dead a short time later, Police say. (BBC)

recently hammered by India in the first Test in Dominica, and they are currently ranked ninth in the Test rankings. Chopra believes the team needs to be shaken up, and that stripping them of their Test-playing status would be a wake-up call.

Chopra played 10 Tests for India between October 2003 and October 2004, scoring 437 runs at an average of 23. (Sportsmax)

Brandon Henry

Akash Chopra

Coach Nedd with some of the cricketers at Everest on day one

Wounded West Indies eye fight back in 100th Test against India

It's a historic occasion.

The second Test between West Indies and India, in Port-of-Spain, will be the 100th Test between the two teams. Of the 99 played so far, West Indies have won 30 and India 23, while 46 have been draws.

In the last 21 years, however, West Indies have not managed a single win against India. Their previous victory came in 2002, when Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Match in the first Test of the current series, was not even five months old.

The two sides have since met 24 times, with India winning on 15 occasions and

er nine. Given how the first Test went - India winning by an innings and 141 runs - West Indies will have to put in a serious effort to end that streak.

Having said that, this could be one of their better chances to do so. The pitch at the Queen's Park Oval has traditionally been conducive to fast bowling, and West Indies have a far more experienced seam-bowling attack in this series.

Neither West Indies nor India play another Test for the next five months at least, so both teams will be looking to make the most of this opportunity, apart

India will aim to dominate again

Test Championship points. West Indies will be looking to achieve some stability with the bat, and India will hope that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan spend a considerable time in the middle.

Form guide

West Indies LLLWD (last five Tests, most recent first)

India WLDLW

In the spotlight

The world first took notice of Alick Athanaze when he topped the runs chart at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Last month, against UAE, he smashed the joint-fastest fifty by a batter on ODI debut.

KFC Elite League… Western Tigers, Santos end season on high note

Both Western Tigers

FC and Santos FC have finished their KFC Elite League Season 5 campaign on a high note on Tuesday night, with victories at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Western Tiger’s clash with Ann’s Grove United FC, who were also playing their 9th and final game of this year’s league, was up first on a night when another double header had been scheduled.

Malachi Grannum opened Western Tigers’ account in the 27th, following a promising start from Ann’s Grove defensively. And just a minute before the half ended, William Europe found the back of the net to push the score to 2-0.

It was once again another good start from Ann’s Grove, but it fell away quickly as Daniel Wilson looked hungry to add a third. After several offside calls and awry attempts, Wilson finally found the back of the net in the

71st minute, and again in the 77th, to complete his brace.

Second half substitute Raushan Ritch eventually added the cherry on top with Western’s fifth strike in the 86th minute, to end the season with a 5-0 win.

In the following encounter between Santos FC and former Champions Fruta Conquerors FC, Bevo Marks was the marksman on show, as his hat trick led Santos to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Fruta Conquerors man-

aged to hold off Santos for the entirety of the first half, which ended in a deadlock, but Marks would have none of it in the second. He first beat the goalkeeper in the 61st minute, and then again in the 75th and 90th+4 for the hat trick.

This year’s 5th edition of the Elite League is set to conclude this Saturday, July 22nd 2023, at the same Providence venue. There Fruta Conquerors will take on Den Amstel FC from 18:00hrs,

followed by the feature clash of the season at 20:30hrs.

With both teams having a chance to clinch the 2023 title, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC will lock horns in the highly anticipated ‘final’ of the league. While the Police men would need a victory to clinch their first title, all the soldiers need is a draw to seal the top spot. Ticket prices to enter the venue on Saturday are set at $1000.

Kemar Roach would want to get in the wickets

Then on his Test debut last week, against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and a turning track, he showed he had the temperament for the long format as well. With wickets tumbling at the other end, he top-scored for West Indies in each innings with knocks of 47 and 28. West Indies would want him to build on that start.

At the same U-19 World Cup where Athanaze was the leading run-scorer, Shubman Gill was second on the list, and was named the Player of the Tournament. While it took Athanaze five years to make his international debut, Gill is already seen as the heir apparent to Virat Kohli. In the first Test, by asking to be moved down to #3, he took another step in that direction. Experts believe the middle order is his natural home. But a failure in India's only innings in Dominica meant he now averages 31.96 after 17 Tests. The good thing is he has all the time in the world and the backing of the team management.

Team news

With Raymon Reifer out of the squad, left-hand batter Kirk McKenzie could be in line for a debut. West Indies may also be tempted to bring in Shannon Gabriel for either Jomel Warrican or Rahkeem Cornwall. Meanwhile, uncapped offspin-bowling allrounder Kevin Sinclair will be on standby as a likefor-like replacement for Cornwall in case the latter is yet to fully recover from his chest infection.

West Indies (probable):

1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Jermaine Blackwood, 5 Kirk McKenzie, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Rahkeem Cornwall/Kevin Sinclair, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel/ Jomel Warrican

Two days out from the Test, India captain Rohit

Sharma said he was not looking to make "any drastic changes". He also backed Ishan Kishan, saying he was "very impressed" with the wicketkeeper's glovework. So it will not be a surprise if India field an unchanged XI.

India (probable):

1 Rohit Sharma (capt),

2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Ishan Kishan (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed Siraj.

Pitch and conditions

While the Queen's Park Oval has not hosted a Test since 2018, fast bowlers have always enjoyed the conditions here, registering a much better average (27.39) and strike rate (61.0) as compared to spinners (36.57 and 88.7). Rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, though.

Stats and trivia Kohli (8555) needs 32 runs to go past Virender Sehwag's Test tally of 8586. Among Indians, only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman have more Test runs.

Ashwin is 14 short of 500 Test wickets.

In Dominica, Athanaze became only the second West Indies batter to top-score in each innings of his Test debut. The first was Lawrence Rowe, who scored 214 and 100 not out against New Zealand at Sabina Park in 1972.

India have won three of their 13 Tests at Queen's Park Oval. Another win here will make it their joint-most-successful overseas Test venue alongside the MCG.

England and Australia are the other two teams West Indies and India have met 100 times in Tests. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Ashwin is fresh from 12 wickets

Daniel Wilson (7) netted two for Western Tigers (yellow)