Guyana Times -Wednesday, August 23, 2023

CIOG spearheads relief efforts for Success fire victims

“Irreplaceable” Dr Roger Luncheon writes own eulogy for State funeral

Consumer complaints double for 2023 at over $250M –CCAC Director …majority of cases for auto industry, 80% complaints resolved

David Granger, not PPP/C Govt, signed off 1-year extension to Exxon to search for oil – documents reveal

Fisherman abducts 1month-old daughter after assaulting ex-wife …child later found abandoned near trench Lost at sea for 3 days

CoI members visiting tragedy site today, public hearings begin in September

“I hold on on my head saying I gon dead like a hog” – fishermen recount harrowing experience

Man escapes from Police, leaving ganja, motorcycle behind

Caribbean Airlines flights return to normalcy

NY-based Guyanese hires local cop to kill brother-inlaw – unsealed federal court filings reveal Pensioner dies after being run over by minibus at Leonora

Mahdia deadly fire

Berbice fisherman abducts 1-month-old daughter after assaulting ex-wife Canal Polder man wanted for murder of taxi driver

– child later found abandoned near trench

Amother from Berbice was reunited with her one-month-old daughter, who was taken by her ex-husband during an argument on Monday evening.

Nalinie Sukhoo Singh, 32, of No 72 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was physically assaulted by her ex-husband, Satesh Jagnauth, a 28-year-old fisherman, after which he forcibly took their onemonth-old daughter and ran off into the backlands.

He was reportedly out at sea, fishing, and had returned after spending 14 days. However, upon his return, he made his way to Singh’s home to visit his child. According to the woman, the father was playing with the baby in the yard and she approached to collect her, and an argument ensued between them.

Police stated that the man, who at the time was under the influence of alcohol, put the child on a table and dealt Singh several lashes about her body with a stick, after which

he picked up the child and ran into some bushes in the back of the yard.

The woman reported the incident to the Springlands Police Station. Ranks reportedly made checks at his parents’ No 55 Village home but his mother related that she had not seen him for weeks.

In addition, checks were made at his sisters’ residences at No 55 Village and

No 72 Backlands but this was also futile. The ranks did not give up and continued their search throughout the night.

However, at about 08:30h on Tuesday, they received information and went to a house at No 72 Village, where they saw the suspect and the baby. Upon seeing the Police, the man started to run with the baby in his hands but the Police went after him.

The baby was eventually found abandoned near a trench at No 67 Village. The child was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where she remains under observation. The mother and child were reunited.

Meanwhile, the Police are on the hunt for Jagnauth.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for 25-yearold Mark Anthony Mohan for questioning in relation to the murder of Bharrat Gendalall called “Premesh”, who was stabbed to death on Saturday evening at Clay Brick Road, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The last known address of the suspect was given as Lot 657 Belle West, Canal No 2, WBD. Police stated that the wanted man may have been involved in the taxi driver’s murder or possesses vital information to help solve the case.

Gendalall was attacked and fatally stabbed in his yard on Saturday last.

It was reported that the now dead man had returned home from work at about 19:40h on the day in question and was chatting with his friends in front of his home.

However, sometime after, he went across the road to urinate when a motor car driven by the suspect approached at a fast rate, with

bright lights on, and stopped where Gendalall was urinating.

The suspect exited the car, and an argument ensued between the two men. Gendalall reportedly dealt the suspect a cuff but the suspect entered his vehicle and drove off.

Police said Gendalall went back into his yard, and the suspect returned and stopped his car in front of the now dead man’s house.

The suspect and five masked men reportedly exited the vehicle, ran into the yard, and stabbed Gendalall in his chest. They then left

the scene.

The injured man reportedly collapsed but was picked up and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he died while receiving medical attention. The matter was reported, and based on preliminary investigations; the Police issued the wanted bulletin.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrested of the wanted man is asked to contact the Police at 226-6978, 225-8196, 2271611, 225-2317, 638-8440, or the nearest Police station.

Logger nabbed with ganja during Police roadblock at Kwakwani

Twenty-six-year-old Mark Hodge, a logger, was on Sunday

nabbed with a quantity of ganja during a roadblock exercise at Kwakwani Water Front, Upper Berbice River, Region 10 (upper Demerara-Berbice).

Police stated that during the operation, they observed Hodge carrying a bulky backpack, and acting in a suspicious manner.

As such, the ranks conducted a search on his person, but nothing illegal was found. However, a search of his bag unearthed a quantity of ganja.

Upon questioning, he admitted to purchasing "weed" from a man along the Berbice River.

He was arrested and

The suspected narco-trafficker

taken to the Kwakwani Police Station where the narcotic was weighed and amounted to 560 grams. He was placed in custody pending further investigation.

Dead: Bharrat Gendalal

Wanted: Mark Anthony Mohan

The suspect: Satesh Jagnauth

The ganja that was found in the backpack

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, Aug 23 – 04:15h – 05:45h and Thursday, Aug 24 – 22:00h – 23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Aug 23 – 08:05h – 09:35h and Thursday, Aug 24 – 08:55h – 10:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 08:43h and 21:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.39 metres and 2.4 metres.

Low Tide: 14:33h reaching a minimum height of 0.89 metre.

Mahdia deadly fire

CoI members visiting tragedy site today, public hearings begin in September

The members of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire are visiting communities of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) today to get a first-hand feel of the terrain and a better understanding of the lives of the people most severely affected by the tragedy.

Two weeks ago, Major General Joseph Singh, Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Derrick John, and Attorney Dr Kim Kyte-Thomas were sworn in as members of the CoI.

As per the Terms of Reference (ToR), the Commission is expected to inquire into the events and circumstances leading up to the fire; inquire into the responses after the fire; and offer recommendations to prevent its recurrence.

The CoI’s Secretary, Javed Shadick, on Tuesday during a press briefing disclosed the team members’ plan to visit Mahdia, Campbelltown, Karisparu, Chenapau and Micobie in Region Eight.

“The visit is mostly for the Commissioners to have an understanding of the area. There would be a site visit to Mahdia, where the

LOTTERY NUMBERS

selves with the areas prior to the hearings.

Public hearings

The public hearings are intended to begin by September. In these two weeks leading up to the hearings, Shadick explained that work is being done to develop a list of persons being called to speak before the Commission.

He noted that a public appeal has already been published, opening up the opportunity for members of the public to present themselves to the Commissioners, with their relevance to be determined.

“[Members of the public] can call us, they give us their names, and how we can meet with them. The Council for the Commission will have a meeting. They will [see] whether or not it’s relevant towards the Terms of Reference and how to go forward,” Shadick said.

“The other aspect of it –we have the opening where anyone can come. We also know some of the players, in the Ministries and so on, so we will write to those persons asking for information and from that, we will be able to start developing our list of what we’ll be doing,” Shadick

said.

The location of the hearings remains a logistical issue to be resolved and Shadick acknowledged not only the difficulty of travelling from the Region Eight communities but also the comfort level that community members may have in their own villages.

Furthermore, he noted the Commission will be working with Ovid Williams of the Patamona tribe, who is well versed in all nine Amerindian languages, to communicate with community members as needed.

Sensitive nature

Meanwhile, the CoI’s Secretary also noted that

given the sensitive nature of this case and the number of children who may be called upon to speak, the Commission is also developing a framework that ensures their rights are protected.

“Some of the persons we’ll be speaking to are children and in circumstances such as these, we’re very protective of the rights of children. As we move forward, we will try our best to ensure their rights are protected,” Shadick said.

“Even though it’s in the public interest and the public has a right to know, there are safeguards against what can and cannot be done,” he added.

He noted that the Commission aims to work as impartially as possible, with the majority of the work to be done “from scratch.” As such, it has not yet been determined if the teen who was priorly remanded to the Juvenile Centre for her alleged involvement will be brought before the Commission.

On May 21, a fire that engulfed the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory claimed the lives of 19 female students and one five-year-old boy. A fifteen-year-old student was later charged with 20 counts of murder for her alleged involvement in the fire.

Initial reports indicated that this student had her cell phone confiscated, and was previously suspended for engaging in activities contrary to the rules of the institution, after which she allegedly threatened to cause “trouble” during an argument with the administrators.

The CoI members were sworn in on Aug 10 and given two months to deliver their findings on this case, though during the swearing-in ceremony, President Dr Irfaan Ali had clarified that if the Commission required more time, it would be granted. (G13)

tragedy would’ve taken place [and] a visit to some of the connecting communities,” Shadick said.

“We’re leaving very early – 06:30h – and we’ll be going with the helicopter and flying into these communities and coming back out in the afternoon. Our ground time is not more than maybe half an hour per area,” Shadick further explained.

During this one-day trip, the Commissioners are not questioning any community members but only familiarising them -

Mahdia CoI Secretary Javed Shadick

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Curbing alcohol abuse: Changing attitude & behaviour

There is no one solution to curbing alcohol abuse, although some measures may see more results than others. The effects of over-indulging in alcohol consumption continue to wreak havoc in society, and while the authorities have come up with some good ideas to protect public health, not all of the ideas will offer significant results. Some years ago, one such idea was levying a higher tax on alcohol products.

In order to develop the most effective measures to curb alcohol abuse, we must understand why there is a need to curb the abuse. The obvious answer is to have a society that is less susceptible to the ills resulting from excessive consumption. Domestic violence, fatalities due to driving under the influence, under-age drinking with its attendant ills, and other serious crimes are some consequences of alcohol abuse. Each is very damaging to society. Compounding the list of troubles are the social and economic effects of alcohol abuse. Families and relationships are ruined, and the state has to pick up huge medical bills when health complications develop. Were there residential rehab centres around the country, the economic cost to society would be more astronomical.

In 2010, the then Health Minister had called for higher tax on alcohol, given the debilitating effects that domestic violence, driving under the influence, and under-age drinking were having on the society. Over the years, health authorities have pointed out that consumption, and abuse, may be reduced through price increases induced by taxation. What policymakers were attempting to do, through this measure in 2010, was control the elasticity of the demand – the responsiveness of consumers to the product – with a tax increase. It was the notion that abuse can be curbed by taxation that has led to a call for increased taxes on alcohol. Even though there are numerous studies on the effects of taxation on consumption, in the case of alcohol, little has been done to examine the justification of a tax increase in terms of social costs. The latter term refers to the cost incurred by the whole society. Notwithstanding this, would higher taxation curb alcohol abuse to a satisfactory extent?

We also need to consider the paradoxical nature of alcohol consumption, and question the fairness of a tax increase. There are two classes of consumers: abusers and moderate drinkers. A price increase would be targeting the abusers, but at the same time would have an externality, or undesirable outcome, for moderate drinkers. That is primarily because it is impossible to differentiate between abusers and moderate drinkers at the point of sale. So, the responsible drinkers would be paying the price for the actions of abusers of alcohol.

Thirteen years later, we are again at the same place, with drinking and driving, domestic violence, alcohol abuse at its peak again. Maybe it’s time we do a proper assessment on if a higher tax on alcoholic products would have any effect.

Therefore, the best way to reduce the ills associated with alcohol abuse is by changing the attitude and behaviour to impact consumption. This is perhaps the most effective measure, one which the authorities must be more enthused about, because it is not always the easiest to do. There is numerous literature that supports the argument that a drinker’s behaviour has a lot to do with culture, upbringing, and societal influences. Sociologists, anthropologists, historians, and psychologists, in their study of different cultures and historical eras, have noted how malleable people's drinking habits are. Over the course of socialisation, people learn about drunkenness what their society ‘knows' about drunkenness. They accept and act upon the understandings thus imparted to them. They become the living confirmation of their society's teachings. In other words, the problems associated with alcohol abuse are not simply a result of how much people drink; there are more factors to it. A more effective approach to stopping the ills of alcohol abuse is to change behaviour and the actions of people and society. But how do we do this? One of the ways have already been included in the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2022, where those hundreds of rum shops and bars around the country are now required to verify age of patrons before serving alcohol; and bartenders can now be fined for selling alcohol to drunken persons who are likely to drive after leaving the business place. This is a good step to curbing this abuse; however, it is not enough.

Will Gladstone heirs also apologize for indentureship?

Dear Editor, I write in reference to an invitation from the University of Guyana (no office mentioned) for a ceremony on Friday August 25 relating to the official opening of “The International Institute for Migration and Diaspora Studies”, with a talk or dialogue on “Legacies and the Future”, at the university.

I wish to commend the initiators and planners of this institute, and the talk and/or dialogue which the organizers say is being done now to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1823 slave rebellion that occurred on the Gladstone Plantation (estate). The 200th anniversary of commencement of indentureship is 15 years away; it is hoped there will also be a commemoration at UG.

The invitation and an accompanying press release do not say whose legacies and whose future will be addressed. It is hoped that the dialogue and/or talk will address the legacies of the native Indigenous people, slavery and indentureship, although we can’t draw that conclusion or make a logical rational inference based on the invitation and an accompanying press release.

The feature address or dialogues are announced to be delivered by heirs of John Gladstone of England. The Gladstone family introduced the exploitative, inhumane Indian inden -

tureship system in British Guiana and the Western World in 1838.

One of the Gladstones (William), son of John, was Prime Minister of Britain multiple terms. William Ewart Gladstone was the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on four separate occasions between 1868 and 1894, during Indian indentureship in Guyana (1838 to 1920). A Liberal PM was a promoter of slavery and indentureship. There were great debates between him and Benjamin Disraeli.

William’s father, John Gladstone, was the one who experimented with the indentureship system in the Indian Caribbean and found it very profitable, more lucrative than slavery. He institutionalized Indian indentureship, which led to some two million girmitiyas being engaged in forced exploitative labour in Africa, Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean territories.

The Gladstone family had owned ships that were used to transport indentured labourers from British India to the Caribbean. Whitby and Hesperus, the two ships that transported the first batch of indentureds (girmitiyas) to British Guiana, arriving on May 5 1838, were owned by the Gladstone family. The family also owned slaves, indentured labourers and

plantations.

Slavery was abolished in 1834. A period of apprenticeship resulted in the ex-slaves remaining on the plantations or estates, working or being trained with payment. Some 240,000 girmitiyas were indentured in Guyana, as against some 72,686 slaves. Historians describe the indentureship system as not being much different from slavery. In fact, it was called a “new form system of slavery”.

The Gladstone family became extremely wealthy as a direct result of Indian indentureship. The family also reaped profits from slavery, although not profitable in later years, as historian Eric Williams revealed in his book ‘Capitalism and Slavery’.

Curiously, the talks or dialogues by heirs of John (and William) Gladstone, and the launching of the Migration Institute at UG, are being done in collaboration with the National Reparations Committee and Heirs of Slavery, an African-Guyanese group. No Indo-Guyanese spokespersons; no descendants of indentureship; no Indian scholars, such as Ravi Dev, Ryhaan Shah, Tota Manager; and no ethnic Indian organizations whose ancestors were indentured, such as the Indian Arrival Day Committee, have been approached as collaborators or co-sponsors.

No Indian (historian or

activist) speaker or counterpart from another ethnic group has been advertised in the release.

The release notes that the public is invited “to witness an apology from Gladstone Heirs”. It is not known if the apology is related exclusively to the former slaves, or will also include the indentureds from India (Girmitiyas), and the native people (Amerindians) whose ancestors, like the African slaves and indentureds, were also victims of the forced, inhumane, abusive labour systems.

A (Christian) church service is also planned. There is no mention of a Hindu or Islamic prayer service. The victims of slavery and indentureship were Christians, Hindus and Muslims, and Hinduism and Islam were discriminated against by the plantation owners. Those faiths should be included in prayer services, and the Gladstone family should also seek their forgiveness.

I will eagerly look at the programme on Friday to see if the University of Guyana's principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are being upheld. The apology should be comprehensive, and inclusive of slaves, indentureds, and the Indigenous people.

Yours truly, Dr

Vishnu Bisram

Chief-of-Staff (CoS) Brigadier Omar Khan was warmly greeted during a recent visit to Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, where a number of children from age 8 to 14 are enjoying the Men on Mission’s (MOM) National Youth Camp. Brigadier Khan visited along with Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and a team. He also toured the facility (GDF photos)

David Granger, not PPP/C Govt, signed off 1-year extension to Exxon to search for oil – documents reveal

While the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition has been blaming the current Government for allegedly giving ExxonMobil a one-year extension to explore for oil under force majeure, it is actually APNU/AFC, before leaving office in 2020, that granted this extension.

On Tuesday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo released at least three letters written by former President David Granger and addressed to ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge. In the letters, dated July 24, 2020, the former President approved extensions for Exxon’s holdings in the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

“In further recognition of EEPGL’s indications regarding section 43 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1986 and the Stabroek Petroleum Agreement 2016, represented by the

Minister responsible for petroleum, has determined to offer relief in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic in accordance with the following parameters (Covid-19 relief) pursuant to section 43 (3) of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act,” the three letters state.

Those parameters include providing the company with an extension by waiving the period of March 11 2020 to March

10 2021, which Granger said in the letters would not be counted in the overall life span of the prospecting licences. The letters add that this timeline will be reviewed quarterly.

Among the persons who have misdirected their criticism at the current Government are former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head, Dr Vincent Adams, and current Parliamentarians Khemraj Ramjattan and David Patterson.

During a recent press conference, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton had also been critical of what he had claimed was the Government’s decision to allow the postponement of Exxon’s relinquishment of 20 per cent of the Stabroek block until next year. Norton’s economic advisor Elson Lowe had also supported these claims.

“Jagdeo cannot tell this nation that it was done as a result of COVID without providing clear documentation so that we

can know the rationale… the only way we could verify it is by having the documentation to be able to discern whether what he’s saying is true, or he is just being Jagdeo and formulating his realities as he moves along and send them out as if they are truths,” Norton was quoted as saying at his press conference.

At the time, Jagdeo had slammed the Opposition for this falsehood, and had said that the only extension the PPP was contemplating for Exxon had been an extension to ensure continued gas supply for the Gas-to-Energy project.

In fact, Jagdeo had questioned whether the Opposition really understood the issue, since the force majeure clause in the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) dictated Exxon be granted an extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think they understand. That’s the problem with Norton. He thinks we’re extend -

Dr Terence Yhip’s book on Guyana’s oil is a must-read

Dear Editor, Terence Yhip, a Ph.D from McGill University, is solid as they come, with outstanding academic and professional credentials in banking and finance in various international settings. He taught briefly as a Visiting Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He has written a textbook on credit risk and lending. He hails from Canje, and despite his decades abroad, he has not lost his authentic “Berbice brogue” accent.

In 2020, he wrote and published “From Rags to riches; Is Guyana ready for the oil boom?” It discusses the pros and cons of Guyana’s oil boom, and the risks of the resource curse and Dutch Disease. In layman’s language, the book explains a production sharing agreement (PSA) so the general public may understand the 2016 ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement and its gross inequities.

The book has just been updated with a new Preface that brings the reader up-todate with the major economic developments, including the new PSA and what it means for new contracts outside the Stabroek Block. It is available on Amazon and at Austin’s Bookstore. A Kindle electronic edition should be out before the end of this year.

The following gives a flavour of what to expect:

Guyana is experiencing a growth surge, which is not unique to Guyana. The surges, typical of oil-rich economies, usually give way to growth deceleration and even economic stagnation.

What’s more, the countries remain resource-dependent;

The oil money is being used for productive investment transportation, human capital (hospitals and schools), housing, and energy. The Gas-to-Energy Project is the largest capital project that Guyana has ever invested in. No energy, no

growth and economic transformation;

US$1.5 billion has been saved in the Natural Resource Fund, a positive start compared to other oilrich countries that had been exporting oil and gas for many decades and have little, in absolute dollars or in proportion to the tens of billions earned; The Government’s emphasis on growth rather than blanket income distribution, much leaking out in imports, is a wise decision; A reminder to policymakers that growth and development is not a sprint, but a marathon. Guyana has proven to the rest of the world its capacity for growth; it must also prove its capacity for development; and

The provocative but honest question that comes at the end: Can Guyana go ‘from rags to riches and to rags?

The book neither applauds nor disparages political parties, political lead-

ing the overall permit for the Stabroek block. We’re not extending the entire Stabroek block permit. We’re extending only the permit for the well that is producing, that FPSO that’s producing the gas for the Wales project.

“Now, because we’re not extending the Stabroek block, they have certain relinquishment provisions that will kick in. so that is what will happen next year. Next year, they have to relinquish 20 per cent of the Stabroek block, as per our law,” Jagdeo had explained.

Force Majeure is a French legal term meaning the occurrence of circumstances beyond control that prevent the fulfilment of a contract. The Stabroek Block co-venture partners will have until next year to relinquish 20 per cent of the Stabroek Block, since the one-year extension to explore for oil was granted in an effort to make up for the force majeure that was applied during COVID-19 that re -

sulted in lost time. The relinquishment clause is typically included in contracts so that companies can relinquish a portion of the block when the renewable period is up, thereby allowing other companies to buy into the respective blocks.

For the Stabroek and Canje Blocks, operators are required to relinquish 20 per cent of their blocks after the first renewal period; while those of the Demerara and Corentyne Blocks are expected to relinquish 15 per cent within this period.

Relinquishment is of particular importance, since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is currently auctioning 14 oil blocks offshore Guyana. Only recently, the deadline for companies to submit their bids for the oil blocks was extended to September 12, 2023, a decision the Government attributed to ongoing efforts to improve the sector’s regulatory framework. (G3)

ers, or governments of the day. However, while Dr. Yhip gives the current Government credit for laying the foundations for future growth and development, he cautions against the governance risks that tend to accompany “oil money”: Unequal distribution of economic opportunities, and uncontrolled spending that would cause macroeconomic instability and lead to Dutch Disease, all of which would deepen the racial divisions and trigger a brain drain.

The book is an excellent and timely work that anyone having anything to do with managing Guyana’s newfound wealth would do well to read. Can Guyana go ‘from rags to riches and to rags again?’ You are invited to read the book for the necessary information and analytical tools to make your own judgement.

Yours faithfully, Sieyf

Shahabuddeen

…former President wrote 3 letters to Exxon greenlighting extensions

Former President David Granger

Page Foundation

Unit test

BY ROBERT BURNS

On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785.

Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ bickerin brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An’ fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen-icker in a thrave ’S a sma’ request: I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave, An’ never miss ’t!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin! An’ naething, now, to big a new ane, O’ foggage green!

An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin, Baith snell an’ keen!

TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

Lost at sea for days

“I hold on on my head saying I gon dead like a hog” – fishermen recount harrowing experience

rection to where he was advised to go.

“I take me own knowledge and go in this direction so when the gas finish

morning then a boat come and take us to Essequibo and from there, we go to the station.”

By Andrew CArmiCheAl

Two fishermen, who were lost at sea and rescued four days after they had set sail, in recounting the harrowing experience, said they will not be returning despite having 20 years’ experience at sea.

On Friday morning, 35-year-old Keston

nor in the evening, Culley said the area got dark as a result of the storm, which resulted in heavy lightning and loud thunder during the afternoon hours.

“We were trying to reach in but the whole course change and we end up outside and then the gas finish.”

He said they were able to use a device that showed

go in the cabin and relax yourself’ and I hold on on my head saying I gon dead like a hog,” Fordyce revealed.

According to him, even though they had a halfpack of crackers, he did not have the urge to eat anything. In fact, for the three days, he ate nothing.

Fordyce expressed disappointment at the way

I would turn back the bow and so that we would meet back there.”

Doing just that, Fordyce said they arrived at an uninhabited part of an island at the mouth of the Essequibo River but at the time, he did not know where he was.

Nevertheless, they pulled through the thick vegetation and realised that they were on an animal farm.

“We sleep right there till

According to Fordyce, it was not until Monday evening that they reached home.

“It is hard for a man to get me to go back there because of what I pass through... I pass through death and it is tight for me to go back to sea,” he said.

Meanwhile, Culley also expressed similar sentiments, saying during their time at sea, he never gave up hope.

“Sometimes given the situation you just have to

relax and focus on what has to happen. Forget about everything else and just keep your strength so if anything should hap -

pen, you have the strength to deal with it... For me, I don’t plan to go back to sea. Maybe years from now but not for now,” he said.

About 17 years ago, the two men had an experience which also resulted in them running out of gas before reaching port. However, after that storm was over, Fordyce took the boat to shallow waters and they had to push the boat in waist–high waters until they were able to get help.

Fordyce of Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice, and 37-year-old Lincoln Culley of Catherine village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, left the port at Abary at about 5:00h and were expecting to return in the afternoon with their catch.

They went into the Atlantic and headed east before dropping their seine.

However, a storm during the course of the day pushed them out into the Atlantic and westwards.

Fordyce, who was the captain of the boat, said when the storm was over, he did know where he was but there was no sight of land.

While family members got worried as the men did not return as expected neither on Friday afternoon

them the direction they needed to go in order to get back to the port.

“We went out so far that we had to lose the seine because he had no gas.”

He explained that they used a sail to get the boat moving but it only took them further out in the ocean.

“We see boats and we wave but nobody coming,” the fisherman revealed.

The men drifted past the mouth of the Demerara River and were in deep waters somewhere off the Essequibo Coast when Fordyce gave up hope, knowing that they could only depend on a miracle since there was no gasoline and the wind was pushing them further out at sea.

“And the breeze start to carry us away and I lose it and he [Culley] said, ‘you

they were treated by other fishermen who operate in the vicinity of the Upper Essequibo.

“A boat pass near to us and we wave to them and they just go away so from then we feel like we can’t make it ashore anymore because of the distance that we are at,” Fordyce added.

However, the two men at sea - one giving up and the other holding on for a miracle - eventually were approached by some fishermen who gave them a little assistance.

Fordyce said they were given a little bit of gasoline, which was not enough to take them to shore, but more importantly, they were shown the direction to Guyana.

The boat captain said using his wisdom and experience, he navigated the boat in a south-eastern di -

The two fishermen, 35-year-old Keston Fordyce and 37-year-old Lincoln Culley

The Abary River leading to the Atlantic: the fishermen had planned to return 12 hours later

The port at Abary from where they set sail

Man escapes from Police, leaving ganja, motorcycle behind

Meeting…

…of the new order?

Police in Division 10 are now on the hunt for a man who reportedly escaped from law enforcement while leaving nine pounds of ganja and a motorcycle behind.

Police stated that ranks were on mobile patrol in the vicinity of Coomacka Mines Junction, Upper Demerara

River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), when they observed a motorcycle bearing registration number CH 8670 travelling in the opposite direction.

At the time, the motorcyclist was carrying a large bulky plastic parcel strapped to the back of the motorcycle.

Upon seeing the Police,

the motorcyclist turned around and rode away from the ranks, who gave chase.

During the chase, the suspect eventually stopped the motorcycle, jumped off, and made good of his escape through some nearby bushes, leaving the motorcycle and bulky plastic parcel behind.

As such, Police took possession of the parcel and, upon checking, discovered that it contained a quantity of ganja.

The cannabis and the motorcycle were taken to the Mackenzie Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to nine pounds.

Man found dead in Soesdyke died from pesticide poisoning — autopsy

An autopsy conducted on the body of 34-year-old Ovril Adamson Pedro, which was found at Soesdyke, East

Bank Demerara (ECD) on Saturday, has determined that he died from pesticide poisoning.

The post-mortem was

conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, and Pedro’s body has been handed over to his family for burial.

The BRICS meeting kicked off yesterday in South Africa with great expectations on what’s gonna be achieved. No less than seizing global leadership from the US - if some are to be believed!! Now, your Eyewitness has been around the block - and some!! So, he knows nothing lasts forever, and the American hegemony that started after WWII’s gonna come to an end sooner or later. After all, didn’t England rule the roost for over a hundred years, and then had to step aside??

But the thing is, no great power willingly gives up all the perks of being numero uno in the world!! England uniquely handed over the baton to the US, and assumed a “special relationship” that persists to this day. And from what we’re seeing right now, the US ain’t passing no baton to any of the contenders – whether singly as in China, or collectively as, say, BRICS!! The last challenger was the USSR, and look what happened to them – split like Humpty Dumpy into pieces, and nothing’s gonna bring them together again!! As we’re seeing with Russia trying to claw back parts of Ukraine!! Just shows you how far the US will go to maintain its role as top dog!! But that doesn’t mean challengers will roll over and play dead. They know - as we said - that change is inevitable. So how exactly will BRICS try to seize power?? Well, in this modern dispensation, everything is financialized, and money is even more powerful than guns. The US greenback is the world’s reserve currency, and as such, they simply have to keep their money presses rolling to buy whatever they want – from every country in the world!! That’s POWER, baby!!

It was reported that a fisherman in the area had stumbled upon Pedro’s body while he was out searching for iguanas, and he immediately contacted the Police. However, an examination of the body revealed no marks of violence thereon.

A black wallet containing Pedro’s identification card and a bank card were discovered in the front right pocket of his pants, and a Samsung Galaxy S9 cell phone was found near the body. The man had reportedly gone missing two days prior to this discovery.

So BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – will try to agree on using their own currencies to pay each other, rather than the US greenback. But right away we can see the problem: trading isn’t gonna be perfectly evened out between them. The question is, who’s gonna be shipping the most goods - and will it be willing to accept those countries’ currencies, which will then in effect become IOUs?!! So, is any of the BRICS countries willing – as the US has been since WWII – to run a deficit with, say, China or India, which can then use their currencies to buy up their countries?? Like China can do with the US right now with the US$3 trillion it has piled up by becoming the US factory??

Frankly, only the two heavyweights - China and India – are possible candidates for a new world currency, but Your Eyewitness doesn’t see either of them willing to take on debt to their necks – as the US has been willing!!

…sugar demands

It wasn’t for nothing it’s been said that, for something so sweet, sugar can also be most bitter!! Sugar workers in Berbice are experiencing this right now. To outsiders, it might seem paradoxical that Rose Hall workers who’d been transferred to Albion when Rose Hall was shuttered by the PNC are now up in arms because they’re being brought back to the reopened Rose Hall. The logic is they should be happy to return “home”, no??

Well, no!! What irks the workers is: since they’re being “severed” from Albion, shouldn’t they be collecting “severance” pay – as their mates who’d stayed fired (severed) had done?? The latter – who’re also being rehired - had also collected $250,000 in relief and several rounds of hampers!! Seems to the Albion redeployed they’d been left holding the short end of the stick in that round!! Even though things have been really “brown” in the Berbice sugar belt, the workers know that they have a Herculean task ahead to get Rose Hall going successfully.

Management should give them something.

…of minds

When is a strike not a strike? The airline union said the CAL pilots and crews were on a “sickout”, and not a strike. Tell that to the stranded passengers!!

The ganja left behind by the motorcyclist

Dead: Ovril Adamson Pedro

The motorcycle that was left behind has been impounded

Consumer complaints double for 2023 at over $250M – CCAC Director

…majority cases for auto industry, 80% complaints resolved

Intensifying its awareness campaign has proven successful for the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), which has reported complaints valuing about $250 million for 2023 thus far.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Director (acting) of the CCAC, Anil Sukhdeo outlined that as consumers are increasingly aware of their rights, it is reflective in the 260 complaints received – double the amount when compared to 2022.

However, the Commission has already resolved 212 of these, while 47 are still ongoing. Over $50 million are already in the hands of complainants.

“We’ve had a number of cases. We’ve actually had cases valuing just above $250 million. It’s quite significant when compared to last year, which was just around $120 million –more than double,” Sukdeo pointed out.

The acting Director linked this number to amplified efforts on the part of the Commission to extend its reach and offer greater sensitisation.

“I do believe the increase is because of the awareness of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission because we have been out in the regions. Last year, we actually reached every single region and those hubs in

the history of the commission. That, along with our strong PR activities would have played a role in the increase in cases that we would have received.”

A breakdown of complaints for the first half of the year showed 53 for January, 47 for February, 46 for March, 44 for April, 36 for May and 34 for June. The majority of reports were predominantly from persons residing in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) at 173 or 67 per cent, followed by Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) with 45 complaints or 17 per cent.

Product-based complaints accounted for 82 per cent of the 260, while 18 were service-based.

Auto industry

For 2023, Sukhdeo said the majority of complaints were for the auto industry – both in value and the number of reports. There were 77 recorded at

the commission, pegged at $169.5 million.

“It’s a wide variety of complaints, from defective parts, incorrect parts sold, transmission issues, multiple issues with one vehicle. It’s a long list, nothing in particular. The complaints varied but it’s just that that category is leading with number and in the case of value,” he noted.

The commission is working on two pieces of documentation to address issues associated with vehicle sale. The first is a vehicle buyer’s guide that will soon be launched, assisting first-time buyers in how to navigate the process. The second is in collaboration with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), to create mandatory standards for the sale of vehicles, including public display of information for the potential buyer.

The Director opined, “We do have great inter-agency collaboration at the moment because in all of our outreaches, we always include the GNBS because our mandates are similar. They are consumer protection. We just do it through different methods.”

Dissecting the other complaints, 65 were for electronics; 27 for appliances; 22 for construction materials or services; 17 for clothing, jewellery or accessories; 11 for heavy

machinery or outdoor power equipment; eight for medical services; six for shipping or online services among others.

In smaller occurrences were unsatisfactory purchases or services in furniture items, financial services, waste disposal service, airline industry,

internet or cable, rental, agricultural or livestock, educational service, extermination services, gym and janitorial service.

Some 55 per cent of the 260 complaints the unit received in the first half of the year indicated that suppliers had violated Section 22 of the Consumer

Affairs Act which speaks to Return of Defective Goods.

Awareness

Trends show that many persons within the populace are unaware of their rights as consumers. CCAC has targeted senior secondary students in its awareness efforts, in order to establish consumer confidence from the inception. “Many times, persons are unaware of what their rights are. We’re trying to build upon that at the level of the school. We have school lectures and once a month, we go into the regions and engage students. We want to build that level of consumer confidence and knowledge just before those persons enter the market.” (G12)

Acting CCAC Director, Anil Sukhdeo

Pensioner dies after being run over by minibus at Leonora

A74-year-old man has become the country’s latest road fatality after he was killed in a freak accident along the Leonora Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Monday evening

Dead is Ograsane Samaroo of Stewartville, WCD. His death has now taken the toll of fatalities to 94 for the year thus far.

According to reports received, the accident occurred at about 19:15h and involved minibus BXX 6727, at the time being driven by a 54-year-old man, and motorcar PSS 1233, which was about to be boarded by the now dead man.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the minibus was travelling east along the northern side of the road when the driver noticed a stationary black motorcar (PSS 1233) on the northern footpath, facing east, with the driver's side door open.

The minibus driver told Police that the now-deceased 74-year-old was attempting to enter the driv-

er's seat of the car when he fell on the roadway and was run over by the left-side front wheel of the minibus, thereby sustaining injuries.

He was picked up by Police and transported in an unconscious state to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the minibus detected no trace of alcohol in his system. Investigations are continuing.

It was only last Friday that Traffic Chief,

Superintendent Dennis Stephen, told Guyana Times that 93 deaths have resulted from 80 road accidents for the year so far. Twentynine of those who have so died had been motorcyclists, while 8 had been pillion riders. In addition, 191 serious accidents were recorded, with 100 motorcyclists receiving serious injuries.

“Traditionally, pedestrians would’ve been the most vulnerable road users who would’ve lost their lives. But, for this year, we have a new phenomenon, where we’ve observed motorcyclists, including pillion riders, being a [significant] part of that number of persons who lost their lives,” Stephen explained. There were 62 road fatalities recorded for last year, of which 25 were pedestrians, 13 were motorcyclists, and two were pillion riders. This year, 24 pedestrians have died in road accidents.

Further, the Traffic Chief reported that speeding is the leading cause of fatal accidents this year.

Dead: Ograsane Samaroo

24 Guyanese complete 1st phase of SBM Offshore Technician Programme

Twenty-four Guyanese have successfully completed phase one of SBM Offshore Guyana’s Trainee Technician Programme in Advanced Skills Training in Petroleum Operations.

The trainees are now one step closer to being internationally qualified to function in various technical roles onboard the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating offshore Guyana. This is the second cohort of Guyanese that have been trained under this programme.

They received training at LearnCorp International (LCI), a privately-owned in-

stitution operated by Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Over the past year, the trainees received both theoretical and practical instruction in their respective disciplines which included Mechanics, Electrical, Instrumentation and Production.

On August 11, they were honoured with a small celebratory ceremony in Canada, where several trainees received awards for their outstanding performances. Several female trainees performed exceptionally well in their respective disciplines.

Arantxa English received two awards — the LCI Safety Award by Discipline and the

LCI Most Improved Trainee by Discipline, both within the Electrical field.

“I felt honoured and blessed that I was granted this opportunity to experience the programme and I feel well-accomplished. I am grateful that they continue with putting out these programmes because it is important for young Guyanese generations to be involved in this sector as SBM Offshore has provided for us,” she expressed.

In addition, Shannon Tungcap was awarded the Best Trainee per Discipline in the Mechanical field while Selma Simon and Preya Singh attained the LCI Safety Award by Discipline in their

GTA, THAG launch Tourism Product Development Playbook

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and Target Euro on Tuesday launched the official Tourism Product Development Playbook.

The Playbook outlines guidelines that provide a structured approach to developing tourism products that appeal to visitors and respect our environment, culture, and heritage. It emphasises sustainable practices, community engagement, and experiential learning, positioning Guyana as a leader in responsible tourism.

The Playbook was derived after the GTA and THAG were awarded a Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF) grant to accelerate the development of the tourism circuit in the Essequibo region of Guyana.

This project comprises two parts - one focuses on creating a governance structure for the Regional Tourism Committees across the ten administrative regions in Guyana and the second forms the basis of Tuesday’s launch - a Tourism Product Development Playbook.

This comprehensive manual highlights the full processes and steps of product

development, not just in the Essequibo region but countrywide.

It involves phase oneidentifying the tourism potential of the proposed product, phase two - conducting a market readiness assessment, phase three - building the actual tourism product, and finally, phase four - launching the product.

During his feature remarks, the Director of GTA, Kamrul Baksh, emphasised that the manual is part of a much bigger picture of the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Tourism, Industry & Commerce Ministry.

“The GTA and the Ministry, in their quest to develop new products, recently launched the Guyana Tourism Product Development Grant programme, which saw a number of new product ideas being proposed. We have received in excess of 10 new interesting and diverse experiences across the regions, including mountain biking, kayaking, and community tours. This playbook will go hand in hand and play a very complimentary role with the grant for the operators who wish to put together these experiences. They will be privy to a detailed guide and financial resources from the Government to ensure their

products are feasible. I think those are two very important aspects of making this all possible,” Baksh added.

In addition, he stated that the GTA wants to ensure that the booklets get into the hands of passionate people and more so those who want to develop the products.

“Additionally, in the coming weeks, we will launch the Community Tourism Guide and Entrepreneurial Programme, where we aim to create a community of guides, outfitters, and experiential providers who can take the booklet and develop these experiences within all of the regions. We want to fully unlock the potential of tourism in Guyana across all regions.”

Also delivering remarks at the event were President of THAG, Omadelle George; Country Rep, Inter-American Development Bank, Lorena Salazar; Head of Mission, Canadian High Commission, Mark Berman and British High Commissioner Jane Miller.

Target Euro Representatives, Santiago Soler and Brian Mullis were also present and guided attendees through a thorough presentation of the Playbook and the key areas of managing tourism development in the Essequibo region.

The 24 trainee technicians who recently completed their Advanced Skills Training during phase one of the Trainee Technician Programme respective fields of Mechanics and Instrumentation.

Further, Kester Tobin, who was awarded the Best Overall Trainee and also the SBM Offshore Operations Manager’s Award for Best Trainee per Discipline for his stellar performance in the Electrical field, asserted that he learnt a plethora of new electrical information that he was not exposed to prior to the training.

“I really appreciated this opportunity because it really helped me to grow overall, in terms of safety, teamwork – it was a real wonderful opportunity and I believe that more youths should try to get into this programme because it’s a very great programme, you

benefit a lot from it,” Tobin noted.

During the ceremony, Operations Manager of the Liza Unity FPSO, Ranieri Soares relayed a message from the company’s Group Human Resource Director, Anne Guerin-Moens, commending the team for their excellent performances, and emphasising the company’s commitment to developing their capacity.

“We are very committed to building local Guyanese as the Local Content Act stipulates. We are very proud to be part of this development of the whole country, and you are now ready to embrace SBM Offshore’s core values, which is Integrity,

Care, Entrepreneurship and Ownership.”

SBM Offshore Guyana’s Human Resource Manager, Onecia Johnson, applauded the team for a job well done.

“Your SBM Offshore family is delighted at your success and welcomes you to the team. We look forward to your return and the invaluable contributions you will make as you continue this journey within our operations,” she stated.

The Trainee Technician Programme is one of several initiatives undertaken by the company to build the capacity of Guyanese to serve the local oil and gas sector, and is aligned with the company’s Local Content commitments to upskill Guyanese.

Officials at the book launch on Tuesday

“Irreplaceable” Dr Roger Luncheon delivers his own eulogy at State funeral …tributes pour in for his contributions to Guyana’s development

Veteran politician, Dr Roger Luncheon on Tuesday received a State funeral that saw an outpouring of tributes from some of the highest officials of the land. And in true Dr Luncheon style, his eulogy was recited by none other than himself – which he had recorded prior to his passing.

The long-standing Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), who died on August 2, 2023, was given a State funeral at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). Luncheon, whose career accolades also included Secretary of the Defence Board, was accorded a military guard of honour.

At his funeral service, a eulogy that Dr Luncheon himself recorded back in 2019 when he was seriously ill and thought to be on the brink of death, was played for attendees. In that eulogy, the former Cabinet Secretary recounted the events of his long life, including his decision to continue his political work in 2015 rather than go into private practice.

“In 2015, the PPP lost power to the Opposition APNU/AFC coalition. I did not use that opportunity to go into private practice. But merely to make my skills more available to the People’s Progressive Party and to be in a position to acquire more knowledge and information about Guyana, the land I dearly love. I became the news editor of a programme, Luncheon and Government, until 2018, when I was forced by illness to abandon that political responsibility.”

“At the political level, I continued to represent the party at different levels. I became ill in 2013, recovered, but became ill again in [2018]. An illness that I failed to overcome. And leading to my release from many of the party responsibilities and duties and ultimately, to become bed ridden and waiting to die. This is my story, from the years 1949 when I was born, to the year [2019], when I died,” Luncheon said.

President Dr Irfaan Ali described Luncheon, who was appointed as a special advisor in 2020 when the

PPP returned to office, as someone who the party can never replace. According to him, Luncheon was special, with an intellect none can replicate.

“For decades, he served as the light house of the Government, directing us to safe and secure harbours. Many an occasion, he pulled the nation back from the precipice. He was nicknamed, the gate keeper. But he could also be deemed the defender of faith,” President Ali said.

“The sound of his shuffling steps will no longer be heard. The echoes of his familiar ‘what happening bannas’, has gone silent. Roger Luncheon, our beloved comrade, is no more. Many a comrade will rise in our party, but in my humble view, none can replace him. He was special. He was unique… there can never be another. Because a star only pitches once.”

Absolute trust

During his tenure as HPS from 1992 to 2015, Luncheon served a total of five Presidents, three of whom – Samuel Hinds,

Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar – are still living and were present at the funeral. In his tribute to his former Cabinet Secretary, Jagdeo also described Luncheon as irreplaceable. According to him, throughout his tenure, the Presidents Luncheon served came to rely on him.

“Roger was a man for that era. He was the best ally that a Minister of Finance could have found in a Head of a Presidential Secretariat, when I was Minister of Finance. Because he understood the challenges of the times. No money, huge needs, in health, education, infrastructure. And a lot of high expectations in the country. It was a tough path towards financial viability,” Jagdeo said.

“Today, we can say that we have one of the lowest debt servicing figures in the world, coming from the highest in the world when we started. Largely because of a sustained economic strategy that Luncheon was central to. many people think that when we write the political history of Guyana, Luncheon would be a central figure there. But he should

also be a central figure when we document the economic history of Guyana.”

According to the Vice President, Luncheon wielded almost unfettered power and influence, second only to the President, because the party trusted his judgement and commitment to the cause. He further noted that Luncheon represented an uncomfortable truth for the Opposition, that the PPP is a multi-racial party.

“Roger Luncheon was one of the figures… who was an uncomfortable thorn in the side of those. Because of his unmatched intellect, they hated him. Many people hated him with a passion, I don’t think personally. But because he was so inconvenient to their narrative,” the Vice President said.

“Because here was a black person, who wielded so much power in the PPP Government, as Cabinet Secretary and HPS and as Secretary to the Defence Board, power that probably only the President had more of. But a practical power. There was absolute trust in Dr Luncheon’s judgement

from the political leadership of the party and his commitment to the cause of this country.”

Dr Luncheon’s family also poured out their tributes, including his children, brothers and sisters, inclusive of his twin sister. Following the funeral service, Dr Luncheon’s remains were conveyed to the Memorial Gardens Crematorium.

The former Head of the Presidential Secretariat passed away on August 2, 2023, after an extended period of illness, at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) at the age of 74. He received his education and training in the United States and became Guyana’s first Nephrologist, dedicating almost two decades of service at the GPHC.

As the Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Luncheon served under five consecutive Presidents, and as Secretary to the Defence Board. Until his passing, he remained a member of Cabinet, serving as a special advisor. (G3)

The casket of Dr Roger Luncheon, draped in the Golden Arrowhead is being borne by members of the military at the ACCC

Dr Roger Luncheon’s casket surrounded by his close family members

Top officials of the PPP during the funeral. From left; Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and President Dr Irfaan Ali

The casket made a stopover at PPP headquarters at Freedom House

NISA HQ to be renamed in honour of Dr Roger Luncheon – Pres Ali announces

…military, Police salute contributions of former Def Secretary

President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that as a mark of respect for Dr Roger Luncheon and for his sterling contributions to national development and the security sector, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) building will be named after him.

The President made this announcement while delivering a heartfelt tribute at the funeral service of the late Dr Luncheon, hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Tuesday. In his tribute, the President also hailed Luncheon’s dedication to serving the country.

“When I assumed the office of President, some key appointments were made very quickly. Including Roger Luncheon as special advisor. I still have little notes he sent on every issue. And when he couldn’t write, Shaline would call for him to speak to me. And when he didn’t have the energy to do that, I would receive voice messages.”

“That is why every time he requested to see me, I left my office and I went to his office. And we have decided, at the Defence Board, that in his honour, the NISA building will be properly renamed, to recognise his contribution to Guyana and the security of this country,” President Ali said.

According to the President, Dr Luncheon’s dedication to public service was exceptional, and he maintained high standards throughout his career. As a politician, he exhibit-

ed a strategic mindset, coupled with unwavering loyalty to both his party and Government.

“His decision to stay clear of the glamour, which was often associated with the famous, wasn’t an act of isolation. It was a conscious choice that he made to stand shoulder to shoulder with those whose lives mirrored his working-class origin,” the President emphasised.

Earlier this year, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Bill was tabled in the National Assembly, before being sent to a parliamentary Special Select Committee in order to get feedback from stakeholders.

At the time of its establishment in 2010, under the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) was named the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU), and there were

calls then for there to be legislation to govern this body.

However, in 2015, under the David Granger presidency, this unit was integrated into the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) established by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, again, without the relevant laws to govern the functioning of this body.

The NISA Bill provides for the creation of an Intelligence Agency that will, among other things, protect Guyana against espionage, terrorism, and sabotage. The agency will also protect against agents within or outside of Guyana, as well as against foreign powers seeking to undermine the State. There is also scope for the agency to collaborate with other foreign agencies in the interest of national security.

The Bill spells out the

agency’s functions, which include to “collect information of national intelligence and security interest that provides a basis for decision making and preventative actions; gather, store, process, analyse and disseminate information that is relevant to national intelligence and security; conduct analysis of information of national interest and security interest.”

Additionally, the agency’s functions are to “maintain a national database of information of national intelligence and security; conduct relevant research to enhance efficiency in information management and all matters relating to national intelligence and security; provide national intelligence estimates and intelligence and security advice to the President… provide support to investigations of matters pertaining to threats to national intelligence and security.”

Additionally, the proposed legislations also provide for the President to appoint the Head of NISA. It also caters to the establishment of an Intelligence and Security Committee, which will have oversight over the conduct of NISA.

This committee will have

three members appointed by the President. These include a nominee from the President, a nominee from the Opposition Leader after consulting with other Opposition parties in the National Assembly, and a nominee from civil society. (G3)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Drilling of well at Capoey completed, to soon serve over 200 residents

Drilling of the well at Capoey, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has been completed, and some 200 residents there will soon be receiving potable water for the first time.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc., Shaik Baksh, during a recent visit to the well site, commended the in-house team that completed the work within a reasonable

time. The well was drilled utilizing a Pat Rig acquired by GWI earlier this year to work in the hinterland regions.

Toshao of Capoey, Ralph Hendricks, who watched as water flowed from the well in his community, stated, “This is now reality. We can see progress, and we could see that you have fulfilled your promise. I am quite certain that the ladies will be happy having

water here, rather than having to go to the lake, because of the distance and hot sun. This is a plus for us.”

The residents at the site also expressed similar sentiments.

GWI Hinterland Services Director Ramchand Jailall explained that the community has been mapped, and tanks will be placed on the hilltop to obtain max-

imum water pressure. He added that the connecting pipes to transmit the water are being acquired, and GWI would also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community for the execution of some aspects of these works.

Through the MoU, residents of Capoey will be employed in the laying of the pipelines as well as the fencing of the area housing the well in their community. Those workers will be paid by the Government. GWI would disburse the money to the Village Council,

which in turn would pay the workers for their labour. At a later time, the well at Capoey would be formally commissioned by ministers of the Housing and Water Ministry.

Now that the drilling of the well is completed, Baksh indicated that the Pat Rig will, in the coming days, be deployed to Pomeroon. In Pomeroon, new wells will be drilled at Wakapao, Bethany, Akawini and Karawab by yearend.

Some 40 new wells are expected to be drilled in the hinterland regions

this year. This year, the Government has also allocated some $1.4B to increase access to potable water in hinterland communities.

Over the past two years, access to potable water in the hinterland regions has increased significantly. In fact, coverage in the hinterland has moved from 46 per cent in 2020 to 75 per cent in 2022. GWI is working to achieve 85 per cent coverage by the end of this year, 93 per cent coverage by the end of 2024, and full coverage in the hinterland by 2025.

Water flowing from the well at Capoey

Hinterland Services Director Ramchand Jailall briefing GWI CEO Shaik Baksh on the work done

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

PRIME MINISTER ROWLEY REALLY EYE-PASS GUYANA – HE MUST APOLOGIZE

Ionce had the occasion to call on PM Keith Rowley to apologize to Guyana for remarks he made on Guyana’s choices for COVID-19 vaccines. I must make a similar call on the Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago for remarks he made soon after the results of the local government elections which were held in Trinidad and Tobago on August 14th. Questioned about the number of votes opposition parties garnered in a specific local government district, he asked if the votes were like the Guyana dollar. He clearly thought that the reporters’ numbers were inflated, and that the reporters must think of votes in Trinidad as if they were Guyana dollars, which in his mind are worth nothing. Prime Minister Keith Rowley was out of line, and was out of sync with his own business community and the people of T&T, who are looking at Guyana for business and employment opportunities.

Whatever Keith Rowley thinks of Guyana is his own business, and he, as a person, is free to express those feelings. But T&T and Guyana have always enjoyed a strong friendship, even though we are strong competitors in cricket. As Prime Minister of T&T, he has done the most to hurt the relationship between the countries, when he should be working hard to ensure the strongest relationships exist between the countries of Caricom. This column is not calling for heads of government not to criticize countries in Caricom when those countries take actions that are not in the interest of their people, or in the interest of the Region. When the Guyana Government under APNU/AFC was trying to rig the elections in 2020, this was an action that deserved the heads of states raising their voices. To his credit, the Prime Minister of T&T was one of the heads of states of Caricom that intervened.

But the Guyana dollar faux pas in the heat of the election results fall-out reveals deep inner feelings for Guyana, with the PM showing no warm feelings for Guyana. The same Guyana dollar that he seems to have no respect for is paying for many products being imported into Trinidad. We know that Trinidad companies operating in Guyana are procuring products intended for use in Trinidad with US dollars they secure in Guyana because of the shortage of US dollars in the Trinidad market. Prime Minister Rowley’s penchant for off-the-cuff remarks that are inappropriate has highlighted an issue that can only create more harm for T&T’s business communities. He has unnecessarily raised the question as to whether these businesses operating in Guyana are flirting with inappropriate diversion of US dollars from Guyana to support their operations in T&T.

With Guyana today being the fastest growing economy in the world three years in succession, and predicted to maintain high GDP growth rates among the top performers in the world for several more years to come, Guyana is the investment capital of the world right now. Guyana’s economy, which was about 20% T&T’s GDP of US$22B in 2019, is set to surpass T&T’s GDP by 2025. Guyana’s own FDI has increased by leaps and bounds, far more than T7T’s FDI, or any other Caricom country’s FDI. Trinidad and Tobago businesses have flocked to Guyana. With the Local Content Laws of Guyana kicking in, one would think that the PM, whoever it is, would want to strengthen the relationship with Guyana, so that he or she could represent as strongly as possible T&T’s entrepreneurs. His constant and consistent sniping and Guyana-bashing cannot help.

Three of T&T’s biggest corporations have their most profitable enterprises in Guyana. Caribbean Airlines, a T&T corporation, has its most profitable route in Guyana. Guyana imports from T&T more than US$1B in goods, while T&T barely imports anything from Guyana.

Prime Minister Rowley and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali have developed a strong personal relationship that has already led to strengthening economic relationships. Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture have worked with their counterparts in T&T, and one of the consequences is helping to resuscitate and strengthen the rice industry in Trinidad. With Trinidad’s experience with OIL and GAS, there are mounting opportunities for Trinidad investment in Guyana that could also help in strengthening T&T’s own economy. Why would a PM want to stir tension with reckless remarks such as the one dissing Guyana’s dollar and insulting Guyana?

Asked about Keith Rowley’s remarks, VP Bharrat Jagdeo dismissed them as irrelevant. The VP pointed to his own remarks about the struggles of T&T’s economy and the controversy it caused, and therefore he has decided not to make such comments. Bharrat Jagdeo was a spokesperson for his government, and therefore for his country, and he acted and behaved in a manner that avoided tension. When it comes to Guyana, PM Rowley can hardly resist his “cold” feelings towards our country. He needs to recognize it is not about him, it is about the people of T&T. The people of T&T do not share his resentment towards Guyana.

Guyana and T&T share a remarkable friendship and camaraderie. Guyana is grateful to T&T because, when we were in need, T&T was there for us. T&T was part of the Paris Club arrangement that softened our international debt burden when it was unsustainable. A significant amount of our debt to T&T was waived under the Paris Club. Guyana has not forgotten. But PM Rowley is playing the fool in mixing his own prejudices with the diplomatic and brotherly relationships between our two countries.

I am certain that PM Rowley regretted those remarks. He needs to act like a man and own those remarks and apologize for being so flippant. But from the perspective of our two populations, in the words of President Irfaan Ali, whether it is chicken curry or curry chicken, we are one.

Residents of Victoria village to benefit from skills training, employment opportunities

In a continued effort to expand employment opportunities made available to Guyanese, residents of Victoria village on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) will be undergoing training and upskilling through the Housing and Water Ministry’s Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP).

Executed by the Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the CESP allows villagers to produce and supply concrete blocks for contractors building homes through the national housing programme.

While engaging residents on the initiative on Monday, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal emphasised that the Ministry is committed to offering support to the groups participating in the programme while noting the importance of adhering to stipulated timelines.

Block-making training, an important component of this project, will be carried out by the CH&PA’s Projects Department in September.

Start-up resources, such as tools, will be provided to these groups, who have already identified suitable lands for the project.

CH&PA Deputy Director of Community Development, Donell BessBascom noted that the project goes beyond the technical skills required for block-making, and also covers concrete block production as well as a larger look at improving life skills, job readiness, and small business management training.

This comprehensive approach seeks to equip individuals not only with the requisite skills but also with the tools for personal and professional growth.

Established in 2021, the CESP was primarily created to enhance the lives of those within vulnerable communities and groups in Guyana by generating employment opportunities.

Operating within Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the CESP also involves organisations working with persons living with disabilities.

At this point, close to

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

10,000 blocks have been sold and over 60 persons have become employed as

a result of the CESP from Mocha, Leopold Street and persons living with disabil-

ities across Georgetown. This project is expected to run until 2025.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal addressing Victoria residents on the Community-based Employment Stimulation Project

Floor It gets GNBS certification for its hardwood flooring, wooden moulding & wooden decking

The elegant look of wooden finishes has attracted many buyers in recent years, reinforcing the need to ensure that the wood produced meets the highest standards of quality. This demand also promotes the creation of value-added products from Guyanese companies which are now moving one step further to get certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

One of those companies is Floor It, a Guyaneseowned company established in 2014 by Cummings Wood Products (CWP). Using various species of Guyana’s wood, including Locust, Greenheart, Purpleheart, Crabwood, Kabakali, and Darina, which it has trademarked ‘Demerara Oak’, the company is focused primarily on producing kiln-dried lumber, flooring, and moulding for the local market.

The company, which has its showroom at Oronoque and Forshaw Streets in Queenstown, Georgetown,

originated from a need to produce and install wooden products which are harvested, produced, and installed to the highest standard. It employs a total of sixty-two (62) staff from harvesting to production.

Chief Executive Officer of Floor It, Andre Cummings, recalled his first local customer being faced with challenges, since the items he purchased were not installed properly at his premises.

“I felt empty to see that what we supplied was not being used as it should meet clients’ expectations. This

led to the idea of offering installation and the establishment of Floor It,” he said.

The company has since trained its staff on sand and finish techniques, subfloor preparation, installation methods, tools, moisture testing, application of stains and sealers, and other key requirements for a perfect end product. Cummings says that, when completed, nail holes and creases among other defects must not be visible on any wooden surface.

To prove that its products are of quality, Floor

CIOG spearheads relief efforts for Success fire victims

It signed up for the permit to use the GNBS Made in Guyana Certification Programme in 2023. On April 20, 2023, the company was successful in achieving certificaton to use the auspicious mark on its hardwood flooring, wooden moulding and wooden decking.

“Deciding to get certified under the Made in Guyana programme was a conscious commitment to continually uphold and exceed the rigorous quality standards set by the GNBS. This certification reassures our customers that, when they choose our

products, they are investing in top-tier quality that meets and surpasses recognized national standards,” the CEO stated.

He explained that the certification has added another layer of credibility and trustworthiness to the products. “The Made in Guyana Certification Mark is more than just a label; it is a promise of quality and reliability that we are committed to delivering consistently,” he said.

This Guyanese businessman is encouraging others to sign up to be a part of

the certification programme as a way to showcase local content. “Being part of this programme isn’t just about our individual businesses; it’s about collectively building and promoting a strong, positive image of Guyanese products, and fostering a sense of national pride and unity,” he said.

The GNBS-approved Made in Guyana mark aims to provide recognition to locally manufactured products on a national, regional, and international level. It focuses on creating competitiveness for authentic Guyanese products certified under the programme, while creating a framework for the development of quality systems within local content.

In addition to its flooring solutions, Floor It offers doors, kitchen cabinets, and intricate mouldings to enhance interior and exterior finishes, and is moving to attain international certification to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System Standard.

Govt undertakes project to improve drainage system in Melanie

Following concerns surrounding the lack of proper drainage and irrigation in Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha assured residents of upcoming work to desilt the canals and resolve the issue.

On Monday, Mustapha met with residents from Melanie and other surrounding communities to discuss the scope of the scheduled drainage works.

Five persons comprising a family were rendered homeless after a fire completely gutted their home at Lot 412 Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last Thursday.

Shafiez Mohamed and his family were at home at the time of the blaze, but they were unable to salvage any household items or personal belongings. It was reported that Mohamed and his family resided in the lower flat of the two-storey wooden-and-concrete structure.

Mohamed told Fire officials that he was at home cooking, but had left his gas stove unattended and gone outside to fill a bucket with water. Upon his return, about two minutes later, he observed that his kitchen was engulfed in flames.

“The victim claimed that he suspected his cooking gas bottle was leaking, and tried throwing a wet cloth over it in an attempt to extinguish the fire. This proved futile. He subsequently alerted his other family members, who were in the upper flat of the house at the time, and they quickly exited the building,” the Police stated in a release. The fire was subsequently

extinguished. The Central Islamic Organization (CIOG), along with the Islamic community in Success, is raising the necessary funds required to

Mohamed and his family.

The CIOG, in its 44 years of existence, remains committed to providing leadership for the development of the Islamic community in

“I saw there is a lot of encroachment on the reserve. As a result of that, our machines cannot get free access to desilt the canals,” Mustapha said.

“I have put some other plans in place where the machine will manoeuvre to go to different parts of the reserve so we can clean those canals,” Mustapha said.

This move comes after a visit to the community by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who shared the Government’s plans to intervene and resolve the matter.

“The Vice President would’ve promised the residents in this area that I would visit the area and start some excavation work which we’ve started a few days back but because of the impediment of the reserve, we are getting these kinds of problems,” Mustapha clarified.

gagement with residents on Monday, engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) visited the area to assess the communities’ drainage networks.

With this impending project, residents are expected to not only receive better drainage but also health benefits, as the area is typically infested with mosquitoes.

they want a meeting with me. Also, the co-op society wants to meet with Minister Hamilton. I am hoping that I will bring Minister Hamilton

rebuild the family’s home, and as such is asking for the public’s assistance. Anyone wishing to offer assistance can contact the CIOG on telephone numbers 225-6167 or 227-1030.

The CIOG has expressed gratitude to all those who have come forward to assist

Guyana, in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah (way of life/conduct) of Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace); and to meet the spiritual, social, economic and general welfare needs of both the Islamic and non-Islamic communities.

“So, I hope that after today, we’ll not have this issue arise again – that we’ll have some drainage facility for the residents but at the same time, we’ll do a comprehensive drainage plan for this area so that we can desilt all the canals.”

Prior to Mustapha’s en-

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha plans to return to the community alongside Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton to engage with cash crop and livestock farmers, as well as the co-op society.

“I will be back in the area because there are a number of farmers, both livestock and cash crop farmers, and

with me when I come back here,” Mustapha said.

Melanie, like several other communities across the country, is undergoing significant development, not only with an enhanced drainage system but also in its road infrastructure.

In March, a once deplorable access road that runs along the nursery school in the village was replaced by a $27.6 million newly-paved roadway.

Constructed by Omari Blocks Construction, this reconstructed asphalt concrete road measures 476m by 5.48m.

CEO of Floor It Guyana, Andre Cummings, receiving the Made in Guyana certificate from GNBS Head of Standardisation Services, Andrea Mendonca, in the presence of management and staff of the company

The aftermath of the fire

The Mohamed family

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha meeting with residents of Melanie to discuss improved drainage

Plans are underway to improve the drainage network at Melanie

Caribbean Airlines flights return to normal schedule

Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) flights have returned to normalcy following the fiasco of pilots reportedly calling in sick en masse – a move which had affected dozens of flights.

In a statement on Tuesday, the carrier said international and domestic flights were operating as scheduled. At the same time, it was also liaising with affected passengers on their updated flight details, having been left stranded on Sunday when the issue broke out.

“The regular operation is working in parallel with recovery flights, some operated by charters on behalf of the airline to accommodate any remaining displaced passengers. The company continues to contact affected customers by phone. E-mails and SMS notifica-

tions with updated information are also being sent to passengers,” the airline company updated.

On Sunday, the Trinidadbased carrier cancelled over three dozen flights, reportedly owing to a large number of pilots calling in sick.

Caribbean Airlines

Limited (CAL) on Monday secured an injunction by the Industrial Court against the Trinidad and Tobago Pilots Association (TTALPA), which mandated pilots to return to work.

In addition, the injunction further ordered TTALPA to instruct its

membership to immediately report for duty as rostered and required in the normal course of their employment with Caribbean Airlines.

In a release to the press later in the day, CAL stated that it sought the support of the Industrial Court after receiving calls from 75 pilots between August 19 and 20, 2023, each indicating they were unwell and unable to report for duty.

The airline received each of these calls around three hours before the scheduled departure times of the respective flights. This resulted in approximately 60

flights having to be cancelled between August 19 and 20. The unavailability of these pilots, combined with the short notice, made it impossible to recover.

In response to the critical situation, Caribbean Airlines said at significant costs, it immediately wetleased two aircraft and obtained accommodation for stranded passengers.

“We took these measures to safeguard the interests of our valued customers, our amazing staff and our beloved airline. Our aim was to do our best to return to stability to our operations, and

we are now actively working towards restoring our flights…We accept that this is a significant setback in our relationship with you. However, we are resolute in our commitment to restoring the trust,” the company was quoted.

Meanwhile, the Association has denied reports that it was striking; it is illegal for pilots to engage in that type of action. The Union has also been asked to instruct its membership to immediately report for duty as rostered, with a warning that a penal clause can be endorsed. (G12)

NY-based Guyanese hires local cop to kill brother-in-law – unsealed federal court filings reveal

ANew York bank manager allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill her brother-in-law, but things were swiftly derailed when the hired gun informed the man—one day prior to when the deed was supposed to be done—that he was the target of an assassination plot.

Reshma Massarone, a 39-year-old mother of two, was arrested Monday and charged with racketeering/ murder-for-hire, according to federal court filings unsealed Tuesday. She agreed to pay $10,000 to have the brother-in-law shot dead, locking it in with a $2,500 down payment sent from a suburban Walgreens, the criminal complaint against her states.

Massarone, née Bhoopersaud, remained detained on a judge’s orders on Tuesday, as a danger to the community. Reached by phone, Massarone’s husband Jeffrey told The Daily Beast, “You have to talk to my lawyer,” before hanging up. Mark Gombiner, Massarone’s court-appointed federal defender, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union customers who visit Massarone’s branch webpage are greeted by her headshot, along with the quote, “It is a pleasure assisting the MHV membership while working in Woodstock, the home of renowned artists, unique shops and specialty restaurants.” As of Tuesday afternoon, the page was still live. MHV did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The case against Massarone can be traced back to July 20, when she got on Facebook Messenger and contacted a police officer she knew in Guyana, according to the complaint. The unidentified cop had known Massarone’s brother-in-law for years, and provided security for him and his family whenever they visited the South American country, the complaint says.

Massarone told the officer she wanted her broth-

er-in-law dead, and that “because of the preexisting friendship between [the officer] and [Massarone’s brother-in-law], Massarone believed that [her brotherin-law] and his wife would never expect that [the officer] would murder [the brother-in-law],” according to the complaint. In conversations over Facebook and WhatsApp, Massarone’s police officer pal told her that he couldn’t do the actual shooting himself, but that he knew a hitman who “could get the job done,” the complaint states.

“You take care of business and you be a rich man,” Massarone wrote to the officer, according to screenshots included in the complaint.

“I do hope that when we get rid of [your brother-inlaw] for you, you don’t roll us over,” the officer replied. “It’s all about trust.”

“Swear on my kids,” Massarone wrote back.

On July 21, Massarone went to a Walgreens in Orange County, New York, and sent $2,500 to the officer in Guyana, via Western Union, the complaint states, noting that Massarone can be seen on store security video counting out 25 $100 bills and handing them to the Western Union clerk. She sent a photo of the transaction receipt to the officer, who wrote back, “Delete my contact. Or store my name as fake name,” suggesting, “Officer Smith.”

On July 24, Massarone’s brother-in-law and his wife went to the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, where he accused Massarone of having taken a hit out on him, according to the complaint. He said he “learned of the hit because [the officer] had told him about it, and that the hit was supposed to take place the next day, July 25, in Guyana,” it states. Although the complaint against Massarone does not explicitly lay out a motive, it says the brother-in-law told embassy officials that he and Massarone “had an ongoing civil litigation matter pending in New York.”

In a July 25 phone call, the officer told Massarone

that everything was set, that he had hired the hitman, and that he had secured a car to use for the job. He then checked one last time that she only wanted the brotherin-law killed.

“Just he, just he,” Massarone replied, according to a transcript included in the complaint. The officer said the hitman was waiting for the brother-in-law to leave home.

“We have to do it in a fast and smart way,” the officer told Massarone. “They shoot him from the road, you understand. So why I call you back, you understand, to make sure I let you know everything goes as planned and there is no turning back.”

“Right,” Massarone replied, before asking the officer to delete her number. “No turning back.”

But there was a hitch in the plan, because the hit didn’t happen. On July 27, the complaint says Massarone and the officer spoke again, gaming out their next move.

“So, who there with them?” Massarone asked.

“Nobody there with them,” the officer said. “Everything stick the plan. Everything set for today. Everything planned already.”

The officer told Massarone that the hitman would make the murder look like a robbery, the complaint states. Once it’s done, Massarone “can’t move wild, you understand?” the officer warned. “Watch the town.”

Again, the hit didn’t come to fruition, according to the complaint, which says Massarone and the officer, who appears to have in fact been working closely with police, “continued to communicate” as recently as August 16. According to the complaint, the officer turned his communications with Massarone over to U.S. law enforcement.

Five days later, Massarone would be in handcuffs. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Massarone is due back in court on September 5.

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Be careful whom you trust with personal information. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and a minimalist attitude to avoid overindulgence. Honesty will be necessary in tricky situations.

(March 21-April 19)

Think and act, and you’ll make headway. Mix business with pleasure to make valuable connections. Refuse to give in to temptation. Someone may be searching for an opportunity to make you look bad.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Get the facts; don’t act on hearsay. Your reputation will be at risk if you are too quick to judge. Evaluate your lifestyle and adjust anything slowing you down or causing you grief.

Honor your promises. The help you give others will assure that you’ll receive the same kind of treatment in return. An offer will tempt you, but don’t take on more than you can handle.

(June 21-July 22)

Keep tabs on what’s happening around you. Don’t overplay a situation or act hastily. Time is on your side, and patience will pay off. Work on self-improvement instead of trying to convince others to change.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Don’t share secrets or offer unnecessary information. You must decide what’s in your best interest. Trips and educational pursuits will stress your budget.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

The connections you make through networking will provide helpful suggestions for the future. The gestures you make will determine what kind of support you receive.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

A partnership looks better than anticipated. Do your due diligence, and you’ll clear your mind of any anxiety. Your dedication will not go unnoticed. An invitation or offer looks promising.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Consider how you present yourself to the world, and think about sporting a trendy new look. Fitting in will help you get the support you require to get things done on time.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Take advantage of whatever comes your way; your efficiency will lead to victory. Your instincts are on target, and your ability to manipulate situations to suit your needs is extraordinary.

Keep moving forward, regardless of what others do or say. Don’t venture down a path to avoid friction. It’s up to you to make decisions that help you instead of helping someone else.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

A detailed plan will help you get what you want. Stay focused on the end game and remain intent on strategically putting everything in place. Don’t let temptation bring you down.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Falcons, U19 team impress at GRFU Sevens League

The Guyana Rugby Football Union

(GRFU) continued its Sevens League over the weekend, providing spectators and passersby in the National Park at Georgetown with entertainment and ex-

citement.

On Sunday, the armed forces proved too strong for their opponents, dismantling all the teams that crossed their paths.

In the first encounter, the Guyana Police

Force Falcons walloped the Under-19 team 36-nil in a one-sided affair. In like form, Falcons, coached by well-decorated former national player Theodore Henry, demolished arch-nemesis Panthers 47-7. Panthers, now reduced to

Senior Men’s League…

Beacons maintain perfect record in the city

Beacons FC are one win away from being crowned Champions of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Senior Men's League (SML).

The former City Champions notched up their 6th win from as many games in the 9-team League, recently reduced to eight after the expulsion of Camptown FC.

In one of last Sunday's 3 matches played at the GFC ground, Beacons were inspired yet again to victory by 43-year-old former Senior National Anthony 'Awo' Abrams, who fired in a double to maintain the team's perfect run.

Against the home side, 'Awo' opened the scoring in the

22nd minute, and then sealed the win two minutes from full time. For GFC, Joaven Cole equalised in the 68th minute.

In the first match of the triple-header, Vengy FC brushed aside bottom team Order and Discipline FC 6-0.

Eduardo Herrera led all scorers with a hat-trick (20', 38' and 52'), while David Escobar supported with a brace (65' and 68') and Carlos Escobar opened the scoring in the 15th minute.

In the final game, East Veldt FC proved to be no match for Pele FC, and were dubbed 4-0. Jamal Cozier gave Pele the lead in the 10th minute, and doubled the score in the 70th minute. Calvin Shepherd made it 3-0 af-

ter 75 minutes, and Gregory Richardson made it 4-0 five minutes from the end.

The GFA's Senior Men's League, like the eight other Regional Associations, is funded mainly by the Guyana Football Federation’s Members-Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP).

a shell of the team that ruled the rugby roost in sevens for

a number of years, could not handle the firepower of the

GPF side.

The Under-19 team also defeated Panthers, who had the likes of former national players Rondel ‘Bull McArthur, Ryan Dey, Jacques Archibald and Kiefer Lopes. Showing that the future of local rugby will be in capable hands, the Under-19 team stole the match 21-17. However, the other military team, GDF, did not allow the Under-19 team to get the better of them, as they stormed to a 21-5 victory. Proving to be a formidable team coached by former national player Claudius Butts, GDF also soared to a 24-7 win over a badly injured Panthers outfit. Action continues on the rugby pitch in the National Park this weekend – August 26 and 27 - from 14:00 hours.

Guyanese Scouts return from South Korea with invaluable experience

The Scouts Association of Guyana, which was represented at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea, returned to the Land of Many Waters last week.

The Scouts Association was represented at the Jamboree by Bonicka Gordon who led the contingent, along with Akeelah McAlmont, Christopher Garcia, Dietra Fields, Kareem Rollox, Malachi Jones-Alleyne, Neville McDonald, Randle Austin, Robert Henry, Zionara Lawrence, followed by Mrs. Zaida Joaquin who was appointed as a Deputy Sub Camp Leader, making her part of a team overlooking 10,000 campers.

Scout Randlen Austin expanded on how she proposes to share knowledge gained with fellow scouts.

“Many of the scouts are from different cultures. Everybody seems to be doing different kind of scouting, in which they all have the same values and essentials. But I think

Scouts who represented Guyana at the jamboree (L-R): Dietra Field, Zionara Lawrence, Randlen Austin, Malachi Jones-Alleyne

it’s nice that every country has their own way of doing things, so I would love to share my experience on some of the things that I have learnt with people from my scout group,” she said.

The Scouts were engaged in many activities, such as ‘Escape the Roof’, climbing and water activities, survival village with different aspects; culture day, showcasing the different cultures around the world; and trades among

the scouts present.

The theme for this year’s Jamboree was “Draw Your Dream”, which saw 50,000 participants in attendance and being encouraged to bring dreams to reality.

The World Scout Jamborees is held every 4 years, and Scouts from all over the world gather in a country to meet, socialize, and work on many activities that would help to develop them for a lifetime.

Rugby action at the National Park (File Photo)

Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors…

Guyana grabs 6th consecutive title

For the sixth consecutive year, there was much to celebrate for the Guyanese contingent, as they defended their home turf and their Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors title.

Guyana again secured the top spot, while second place went to Trinidad and Tobago and third overall to Barbados.

The final day of the three-day competition, on Sunday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, saw Guyana adding several gold medals to the 5 they picked up on Saturday night, on their way to the overall win. The most glittering of the lot was a spectacular display from Guyana’s Shakquain James over Trinidad’s Michel Medica in the Youth Welterweight 67kg final. James’s points victory was exceptional enough to have him being deemed the best overall boxer at the tournament.

“It feels really good. I promised I would knock he

out, but I see like he was going down a little bit, so I had to pressure he more before I knock he out. But he strong! He had balance, and so I had to pressure he more and pressure he more until I could try to knock he out; but it didn’t happen,” James shared with this publication about his expectations for the fight.

“I think I had it. I think they would stop the fight cause of the power in my hand I was knocking he with,” James added about his

thoughts after forcing his opponent into an 8-count.

“Gold again! It feel great to me, and I trust The Father so,” the youngster added.

In other bouts on the final night, Guyana’s Tiquan Sampson, out of the red corner, defeated Trinidad’s Prince Charles in the Junior Lightweight 60kg final, while Raheem Peters added another gold to Guyana’s tally by way of a victory on points over Barbados Abisihai Baptiste in the youth welterweight divi-

sion. Akeila Vancooten clinched a gold medal of her own following a riveting encounter with Trinidad’s Shania Nunez. After enduring several unsporting attempts, Vancooten fought back to take the win on points in the Junior Girls’ 60kg final.

Guyana’s Tianna Moore was not as fortunate in the Girls’ 80+kg final, and had

to settle for silver against Nordisha Williams.

Also in the winners’ row for Guyana on Sunday night were: Leon Albert, following a victory on points over Jazari Narine Mayers of Barbados in the Youth Bantamweight 57kg final; and Matthew Thomas, who pulled off a win over his countryman Wayne Castillo.

St. Lucia picked up two

gold medals on Sunday, as John Dedier, in the Youth Light Heavyweight 80kg final, pummelled Trinidad’s Joshua Lewis, and Kyle Marcel overcame local boy Kaiden Weithers in the Youth 75kg class.

Over in the Schoolboys 57kg final, Makieve Bellille secured the Gold for his country with a victory over Barbadian Jaquan Grant.

New court integral to GTA’s expansion of tennis SVC powers DCB InterAssociation tournament

The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) is one of three sporting disciplines to have an integral part of the administration of their sport boosted with the opening of 3 new courts in the compound of the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

In the case of Tennis, their two other facilities are both located in the North Georgetown area, on Woolford Avenue and in the National Park. As such, the commissioning of a new court on Mandela Avenue is set to open new horizons for the sport, as indicated by GTA President Cristy Campbell.

“The plan for this facility, of course the first objective, is to introduce this sport to the residents, the children and even adults in the South Georgetown area. That is important. It allows us to expand our reach and introduce the sport and expand it into new areas,” Campbell related to this publication at the Court’s opening on Saturday last.

“Because many people are of the impression that tennis is somewhat of

an exclusive sport, so we do not want to have those barriers in place. It is important to have the sport introduced into as many areas as possible. That is a goal and objective and vision of the Executive of the GTA.”

She added about plans to further expand the sport, “When we start in this area, and then we look to take the sport into another area, and then branch off into other region.”

Not only is the court set to attract new players, but playing time would be extended with the inclusion of high-powered lights. Campbell spoke about the convenience that this component would offer to tennis players.

The GTA President explained, “We’re extremely grateful, because it allows our players to have more time to train, especially with the facilities that are all equipped with lights. So that is important to us, and I’m certain it’s going to go a far way in developing our sport. It also gives our working players, even those who play competitively or recreationally, it gives them the opportunity to hit up to 10 - 11 o clock at night.

That is important, and we’re grateful for the infrastructural development that we’ve been seeing recently.”

This has been the second facility in recent months to have been commissioned for the playing of the sport, and Campbell could not be more grateful to the agencies who have made it possible.

“Within the past 2 and a half years, the GTA has seen a tremendous investment in terms of funding and infrastructural development from the National Sports Commission; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension the Government of Guyana,” Campbell shared.

She further stated, “So we, the GTA and those agencies, we have really good relationships, and it’s something that all the members of the GTA, the players, the parents and the entire Tennis fraternity, we sincerely appreciate that. Because, for many years we have tried to foster good relationships in terms of funding and make representation for better facilities, but we have not been able to see that materialise, until recently.” (Jemima Holmes)

Sawh Voltcomm Construction Inc (SVC)/ Precision Service Center and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) launched the senior inter-association tournament on Thursday last, August 17, 2023, at the Demerara Cricket Board office in Georgetown. The tournament will

is a part of our culture, and we are happy to be a part of the process,” he said.

The tournament is sponsored entirely by Sawh Voltcomm Construction Inc (SVC)/ Precision Service Center. A cheque for Gy$2M dollars was handed over to Marketing Manager of the DCB, Mr. Anil Beharry, who

tion will be given to the Upper Demerara Cricket Association for guest players to participate. Additionally, each association must select two under-19 players eligible for national selection in 2024, with at least one player participating per game. Players will adorn coloured clothing, which the sponsors will pro-

consist of five teams: Upper Demerara Cricket Association, East Bank Cricket Association, West Demerara Cricket Association, Georgetown Cricket Association and East Coast Cricket Association.

Mr. Badesh ThakurDirector of Sawh Voltcomm Construction Inc (SVC)/ Precision Service Center, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to cricket in Guyana.

“It is our pleasure to be part of the development of cricket in this country. Cricket

conveyed his appreciation.

“On behalf of the DCB, we would like to thank you for coming on board with us,” he said.

Additionally, DCB

Secretary Mr Davteerth

Anandjit stated that the funds given would be used aptly. “We want to assure you and the general public that these funds will be used applicably for this tournament”.

Players are required to represent the association where they permanently reside. If necessary, an excep-

vide.

Sawh Voltcomm Construction Inc (SVC)/ Precision Service Center are specialized in General Construction (Residential, commercial & Medical Construction), Equipment Rental (Excavator & Bobcat), as well as General Servicing (Oil changes, brakes, Filters) Alignment, AC Repairs and Maintenance, Fleet Maintenance, Parts Sourcing, 24-Hour Roadside Assistance, and 24-Hour Tow Truck Services.

Guyana’s contingent celebrating their overall win in the Winfield Braithwaite tournament

Best overall boxer Shakquain James

GTA President Cristy Campbell

A look at the new tennis court and accompanying bleachers at the National Gymnasium

DCB Marketing Manager Anil Beharry receiving sponsorship from an SVC representative