Guyana Times E-paper - Tuesday, December 13, 2022

83 persons graduate from New Amsterdam Nursing School

The public health sector has been plugged with even more professionals to aid its delivery of healthcare agenda, with 83 student nurses graduating from the New Amsterdam Nursing School.

Friday’s graduation ceremony held at Leisure Inn Hotel in New Amsterdam marked the school’s 17 biennial exercise.

The 83 comprised students from the professional nurse training programme, the post basic midwifery programme and the nursing assistant programme.

The professional nurse training programme commenced with two batches in 2018, while the midwifery programme was a batch which also comprised of medic students.

School Principal, Sister Meshel Williams-Sampson noted that the students were chosen from all of the regions except Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) in keeping with the health Ministry’s mandate to fill human resource gaps in the health sector.

“Some of the students are from Orealla, Pomeroon River, Region

Two, Lethem and other villages in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).”

Speaking of the training process and challenges, she said the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest challenge the students faced. This, she pointed out, resulted in some degree of academic failure along with financial and personal difficulties for some.

“The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the students because it resulted in the training programmes being extended,” she explained.

The students were also challenged to deal with the availability of technological devices and inadequate internet supply.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh referred to nurses as being the backbone of the healthcare delivery system. He said without them one cannot speak of a healthcare system.

He said for any country it is always pleasing to witness the injection of nurses into the health sector and

an improvement in national statists which will translate to an improved quality of healthcare as well as accessible healthcare.

Dr Singh told the graduates that their graduation signals the beginning and not the end, noting that there are many opportunities for them to grow within the profession.

On average, the three nursing schools in Guyana train about 250 nurses are annually, according to Dr Narine Singh.

“This is far away from what we actually need.

There is nothing to hide that we are suffering a serious nursing shortage in Guyana, in the Caribbean and around the world; nurses are in great demand and especially in countries like ours where they are actively recruiting our nurses. We are in a serious state,” he said.

According to the Chief Medical Officer, currently, Guyana has a deficit of 2556 nurses. This, he pointed out, is against a backdrop that the country can only produce a maximum of 250 nurses per

year.

“So it is going to take us another ten years to reach the actual nursing requirement. We can’t wait for ten years. The Ministry of Health has made a commitment that as from next year we are going to train 1000 nurses. So, not only that the three nursing schools will be having an increase intake but also, we will be extending the training programme to other regions – the non-traditional regions.”

These regions include Region One (Barima-

Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

Meanwhile, already, close to 100 nursing assistant students commenced training on Monday while the New Amsterdam Nursing School currently has 35 professional nursing students who are expected to graduate next year along with 25 midwifery students coming from Region One to Region Eight. (G4)

Some of the nurses that graduated from the New Amsterdam Nursing School

WEATHER

There

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Tuesday,

The

Tuesday, Dec 13 – 07:30h –09:00h and Wednesday, Dec 14 – 08:20h – 09:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

$1.5B in major salary increases for over 5000 healthcare workers

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

Making the announcement on Monday night was President Dr Irfaan Ali. In a national address, the President revealed that medical officers will now have their current minimum salary increased from $219,878 to $300,000, rep-

Nurses

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

Nursing assistants will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $115,000. This represents an additional 29.9 per cent increase on the current

their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $96,974 to $169,438. This represents an additional 74.7 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a midwife.

Staff nurses will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $111,628 to $169,438. This represents an additional 51.8 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a staff nurse.

salary paid to a staff nurse/ midwife.

When it comes to ensuring that the public healthcare system is supported by adequately qualified technicians and allied health professionals, the Government is adjusting the salaries for several categories of these workers.

resenting a 36.4 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, medical officers who have completed one year of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $351,204.

He also announced that medical officers who have completed two years of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $414,032 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.

Additionally, medical officers who have completed three years of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $446,160. The increases for the medical officers are all in line with the current practice at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Specialist doctors, such as gynaecologists and endocrinologists will now have their minimum salaries increased from $276,536 to $450,000. This represents an additional 62.7 per cent increase on the current minimum salary. On the other hand, medical interns will now have their current minimum salary increased from $151,374 to $200,000, representing a 32.1 per cent increase.

minimum salary paid to a nursing assistant.

Midwives will now have

Staff nurses/midwives will also have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $127,963 to $195,000. This is an additional 52.4 per cent increase on the current minimum

This includes pharmacy assistants, who will now all have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $84,662 to $100,000, which is an additional 18.1 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to these workers.

…specialist doctors to get 62.7% increase; medical officers to get 36.4% …staff nurses to get 51.8% increase; midwives to benefit from 74.7%

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Some healthcare workers attached to the Infectious Disease Hospital

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Security measures in Georgetown

As the city of Georgetown lights up with shoppers as the Christmas season lengthens, there is the unavoidable searching and jostling for parking spots creating congestion in the city.

Added to that some of our minibus and hire car designated parks are poorly lit at nights and with the menace of ever-present rampant gangs, many commuters have been robbed.

This seeming norm in criminal activities in these parks’ environs creates high risks for all who depend on public transportation, especially women and children. Children are also exposed to these dangers. With no alternative, commuters have to take those risks every day, with fear lingering in their minds at a place that is literally a stone’s throw away from the country’s Parliament Building.

Many questions abound.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council cannot be oblivious to the security concerns at all transportation parks within the City for incidents of robbery continue to be highlighted in the media. On the surface, it appears that safety and other concerns of commuters were still not given the necessary consideration.

It is time that the M&CC makes efforts towards some lighting around these areas. We have seen the Guyana Police Force have lifted some level of security presence as ranks are dispatched around the city. However, it is not adequate and from reports, the security presence is not sustained especially in the evenings and late into the nights.

Even if the necessary security measures are implemented at the parks, it is not a guarantee that crime will disappear. However, it will offer a much-needed and effective deterrent allowing for almost immediate response and very importantly, comfort the troubled minds.

Adequate and necessary security measures, including effective lighting, should be in place at all minibus parks. It, therefore, is mindboggling as to why such necessary things are not implemented and sustained in the city. All of the bus and car parks within the city are security risks and all are poorly lit including some main roads that lead to them.

That, and the criminal activities it encourages, continues to compromise that aspect of public safety. This is a continuous cycle and with every passing day frustration and fear among commuters increase. One can argue that if the City Council is really concerned about commuters’ safety, it would be making more noise about increased Police presence in the evenings, even if it’s just to appease.

The knowledge and presence of security measures have positive psychological effects. Their absence, or being grossly inadequate, causes one to wonder if the leadership and the rest of the Council really understand the magnitude of what transpires at those parks, especially in the evenings and nights and particularly at the East Bank one in question.

There is great difficulty in accepting the Council is unaware; which brings to the fore the frightening scenario of the current inadequacies probably being accepted as adequate with believably scant regard for commuters’ safety.

The Police implement generally effective and pleasing security mechanisms for the Christmas period with temporary outposts at various points. The positive effect of that is known. The obvious question is why it cannot be sustained to some extent, with emphasis on the parks throughout the year?

While the Force has its own constraints over resources, collaboration with the Council and strategic planning can result in an acceptable and adequate mechanism that can have the city secure.

For Ukrainians, poetry isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity during war

By Charlotte higgins

There is so much poetry coming out of Ukraine now that I’m barely keeping up with it,” the Ukrainian translator and scholar Oksana Maksymchuk tells me. It is hardly the first thing that one would expect of a country at war. But poetry’s ability to, as she says, “crystallise a particular moment in time, or an emotion that is fleeting”, has led to an outpouring of poems – not so much emotion recollected in tranquillity, as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. Often these poems are posted by their authors on social media; the literary journal Chytomo has been gathering up and publishing examples, some by established poets, many by those new to the form, including soldiers. There is even a Ukrainian Government website that encourages members of the public to upload their work. “Every poem, every line, every word is part of Ukrainian history,” the site says. “We know for sure that wars end, but poetry does not.”

At the time of writing, more than 24,000 poems had been added to the site.

It is true that when Russia’s full-scale invasion started on February 24, literature was the last thing on people’s minds – “you could not protect your family from a rifle with your poems”, as the writer Oleksandr Mykhed put it. But as the conflict has continued, the power of writing to record, to testify and to witness has seemed more and more important. Many Ukrainians started to keep diaries, the “first responder”, perhaps, among literary genres, able to gather experience and emotion in its rawest form. But in surprising numbers, Ukrainians are also turning to poetry, while setting aside for the time being that time-greedy literary form, the novel.

“It’s the condensation, the density of it, the way that you can arrange words so that they carry a lot,” explains Max Rosochinsky who, with

Maksymchuk, is co-editor of an anthology of Ukrainian poems, Words for War, born from the conflict that began in 2014 with Russian annexations in the Donbas and Crimea.

Some poets, during the current full-scale invasion, have found themselves harnessing their words to song, attracted to the direct catchiness of lyrics. Lyuba Yakimchuk, for example, has collaborated on an album called Ukrainian Songs of Love and Hate – a collection of sarcastic, pitch-dark pop songs, one of them titled, uncompromisingly, I Have a Dream (Moscow’s Burning). Another leading Ukrainian poet, Serhiy Zhadan, was posting poems on his Facebook page right up until the invasion in February; lately, though, his most prominent output has been with his ska band Zhadan i Sobaky (Zhadan and the Dogs), including a song, Metro, that reflects the experience of spending nights sheltering from missile attacks in a Kharkiv underground station.

Daryna Gladun, a poet based in Bucha before the invasion, has written that the work she is producing at the moment “sits at the boundary between literature and journalism. It is poetry in uniform. I set aside metaphors to speak about the war in clear words.” It interests me that she uses metaphor to describe this process at the same time as apparently eschewing it: in the end, metaphor will out. If war involves a fracturing of language, it is poetry that will eventually creep in to fill the gaps.

One poet, Lesyk Panasiuk, has produced a poem (translated into English by Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris) that embodies the idea of the rupture of language through the physical collapse of signs and lettering on buildings hit by missiles. In the Hospital Rooms of My Country refers to “sentences that are blown by the mines in the avenues, stories/ shelled by multiple rocket launches”.

The

Amelina has turned for the moment from fiction to poems, because the time is not right for novels, yet; as she writes in one poem, the new “war reality” is “devouring plot coherence”. Titled No Poetry, it expresses anxiety about its own status as literature, when there are more urgent tasks at hand than writing poems. “As if shells hit language/ the debris from language/ may look like poems/ But they are not/ This is no poetry too/ Poetry is in Kharkiv/ volunteering for the army.”

The rupture of language – inextricable from the violent rupture of “normality” for Ukrainians – has one starting point in war’s euphemisms and lies. According to Vladimir Putin, for example, the invasion is not really an invasion, but a “special military operation”. When explosions are reported in the Russian media, they are often referred to as “claps”, like the innocuous clapping of hands. But for a slight difference in pronunciation, the Russian word for clap, chlopok, is identical to the Russian word for cotton. The Ukrainians have started facetiously using their own word for cotton, bavovna, for such explosions; at the same time, a cloud of fluffy cotton fibre might remind you of smoke from a missile strike. That kind of wordplay is already on a path towards the poetic; one of Yakimchuk and co’s songs, indeed, is a dark lullaby based on that very slippage of meaning.

that brought clarity. Then, after the invasion, we had to dim our lights at night, we masked our light,” she says – she is speaking of urban blackouts. Now, though, “we have a totally different situation with electricity and attacks on energy infrastructure. Light has become more precious and valuable.” Light – and all its attendant metaphors – has indeed become something that might be extinguished without warning. Ostap Slyvynsky, a poet and translator based in Lviv, describes how Ukrainians have found themselves reaching back into history to find words capable of describing their situation. Gauleiter, the word for the German officials who governed conquered areas during the second world war, has sprung back into use to describe those administering Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

novelist Victoria

Poets, word-watchers par excellence, are watching meaning shifting its ground daily during this invasion. Yakimchuk, when we met in a Kyiv cafe, told me how in this time of war, she has watched the old symbolic systems no longer functioning, the usual cliches failing. You can’t say something’s “going nuclear” when nuclear missiles are an actual possibility, she says. Simple, everyday words suddenly come with a different weight. Take the word “light”, for example. “I used to think of light as something

At the beginning of the war, Slyvynsky eschewed writing in favour of volunteering at Lviv railway station. Handing out hot drinks and food to those fleeing from the east, though, he soon discovered that the refugees had another human need: to tell their stories. Their tales of loss, dislocation and escape often turned on the way a once familiar word had transformed its significance. He began working on what he calls a Dictionary of War, charting these metamorphoses through short stories or vignettes. “It is pure documentary,” he says. “There is nothing imagined, nothing fictionalised, nothing created by me in this text, but there came a moment when I understood that this was also poetry.” Ukrainian writers often tell me that now is not the time for literary experimentation, but rather for directness and documentary. What is clear, though, is that they are experimenting almost despite themselves, as they edge towards the impossible task of expressing the inexpressible.

(The Guardian)

(Charlotte Higgins is the Guardian’s chief culture writer)

Children displaying the gifts they received on Monday when Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud spearheaded the “Wish upon a Star” initiative in Wakenaam. Over 300 children, including children with permanent disabilities, had their Christmas wishes granted (Human Services and Social Security Ministry photo)

Fiji’s opposition confident of victory

Dear Editor, Fiji goes to the polls on Wednesday (Tuesday Guyana time). This will be the third election since democracy was restored in 2014 after a military coup in 2006 by the current ruler, Prime Minister Commander Frank Bainimarama. Fiji also experienced military coups in 1986, 1988, and 2000. Elections are ethnically polarised.

The country is made up of mostly Melanesians, some Polynesians, and Indians with a sprinkling of Chinese and Europeans.

Indians came to Fiji under similar circumstances as Indian Guyanese. There has been a recent influx of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis who the opposition claims have acquired passports for electoral purposes. The opposition

claims recent immigrants are very close with the powerful Attorney General incumbent de facto Deputy Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Politics in Fiji is racially polarised and political parties are (with one exception) ethnically-based, similar to Guyana. Governments led by or dominated by Indians were toppled by the armed forces controlled by ethnic Melanesians. Indians, descendants of Girmitiyas, formed a majority of the population since the 1970s in the polarised pluralist archipelago nation but have not been able to hold power. They began migrating after the 1986 coup and currently constitute under 40 per cent of the population. Hundreds of thousands of Indians have settled in Australia, New Zealand, UK, California,

British Columbia, and Ontario. This writer did research among Indian Fijians and their diaspora. Their culture, cuisine, religious practices, and traditions are similar to Indian Guyanese. Some Indian Fijians are married to Guyanese and Trinidadians in Canada, USA, and UK. A few Guyanese were settled in Fiji and a few African Guyanese studied at USP on scholarships as I discovered on occasional guest lectures at several universities on the main island.

Cognisant of concerns of the election outcome, the head of the army and Police have pledged to respect the vote result in response to media questions. There is a strong media presence from Australia and New Zealand. Reporters from UK and USA are also mon-

Annette Ferguson’s attack on housing is ill founded

Dear Editor, It is grossly unfair to label the Central Housing and Planning Authority as being in disarray as declared by PNC Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson. Gone are the long and early lines in Brickdam where scores lined up for house lot-related issues. It is worthwhile mentioning that the PPP in its last 2 years has distributed more land titles and house lots than the coalition in its 5 years occupancy of the presidency. Ms Ferguson states: Guyana’s first President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the late LFS Burnham, whose policy on “feed, clothe and house the nation in 1976,” was indeed to make the “small man the real man.” Many institutions such as the mortgage finance bank, cooperative bank, agriculture bank, to name a few were established by this great visionary leader, to help the poor and powerless. Many of these institutions became non-functional during the unconscionable and unscrupulous PPP/C Government’s tenure during 1992 – 2015. The sad indisputable fact is that these institutions had faltered encompassing a lineage of failures as was commonplace under the Burnham dictatorship. I agree that the Burnham built Ruimveldt, Tucville, La Penitence schemes are highly commendable, however, many homeowners failed to make their monthly $18.00 mortgage payments. It was under Dr Cheddi Jagan that a vast

number of defaulters actually received Titles to their homes and their mortgage payments waived.

Ms Ferguson extends her tirade in a most dishonest declaration “The coalition Government inherited approximately eight thousand (8000) squatters, on record, from the PPP/C in May 2015’. What she fails to mention is that when the PPP took office in 1992 it inherited over 20,000 squatters in which Sophia is the most glaring example. The conclusion of her letter is most comical: recommending that the PPP/C regime collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to establish a plan which facilitates CH&PA building rent-toown low-income houses, single and duplex, and or enter into mortgage agreements which allow persons to pay CH&PA a monthly mortgage, without a down payment.

Ms Ferguson envisages Rent to Own. Rent to own evokes a litany of problems: (1) at what stage (5 years, 10 years?) will tenancy somersault into ownership (2) as one has to assume that there are no significant changes in family income and job location, (3) variable vs prevailing interest rates (4) structural damage to property (5) decline in property value (6) divorce, death, illness. The variables are unsafe too much for such a concept as the painful. Zero down-payment phenomenon produced, in 2008, the worst financial crisis the world has ever witnessed.

The Housing Authority

should not embrace financing properties as the body is not capable of such an undertaking: it sole function as a Government institution to evaluate applications and distribute land. In this regard, the leadership with the CHPA can do with some help.

Sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Real Estate Broker & Builder

itoring the elections as are Commonwealth observers.

Going by projections from independent media and opinion polls, the incumbent Fiji First Party (FF) of Bainimarama is trailing the opposition parties. This was also my view in my last visit to the island travelling around and querying voters.

The Government is extremely unpopular and faces the prospect of a resounding defeat. It will take some doing, including creative handling of voting and the counting, for it to pull off a victory. A victory cannot be ruled out. Anything can happen considering that opponents and critics have been harassed. There are concerns about potential voter fraud and whether the Government will accept the outcome if it loses.

As it stands, the combined opposition of several parties contesting separately, is ahead of Fiji First. The opposition parties have agreed to come together to form a Government if they win a majority of seats to keep out FF. A majority of Indians are backing FF. Since 2014, Indians have been overwhelmingly voting for FF because of promise of protection from racial violence and a coup. FF has offered relative equality to Indians’ general peace and calm in the nation. If a third or even 20 per cent of Indian voters defect from FF, it will lose. There are growing political fissures among Indians of varied religious backgrounds. Indian Muslims and Pakistani and Bangladeshi

migrants eligible to vote, are strongly supporting FF. Hindu bhajan singers were recently attacked by a Government Minister; this has resulted in some Hindus moving away from FF. Hindu voters seemingly hold the balance of power. If enough of them defect from FF, it will lose. The small but growing number of Christian Indians are supporting FF.

Like Guyana, Fiji has a PR system with a unicameral Parliament. A nominal President, elected by majority of the Parliament, serves as for a three years term; there is no term limit. The President is Head of State while the Prime Minister, leader of the majority, is Head of Government. The President appoints the PM. There are 51 seats in the Parliament; 26 is needed to form a Government. The incumbent had 27 seats. Members are elected for a four-year term.

Unlike Guyana, a party must cross a minimum threshold of 5 per cent of total valid votes to be awarded seats in Parliament. Only three parties qualified for seats in the 2018 election. The same is likely in Wednesday’s election with the possibility of two more crossing the mark. If this happens, Fiji First may be out of Government.

People’s Alliance (PA), a new party of ethnic Fijians, and the NFP, historically a party of Indians with some recent cross over vote, will win seats. The PA is led by former PM, Ret’d General Sitiveni Rabuka, is capturing the bulk of the ethnic

Fijian vote. Ethnic Fijians are upset with FF which is not making gains from among them. NFP is led by retired USP professor Biman Prasad and is making gains among Indians from the three seats won in 2018. The official opposition, SODELPA, a party of ethnic Fijians, will lose most of its 21 seats to PA.

Labor Party, led by former PM Mahendra Chaudhry, and which won an overwhelming majority in 1999 triggering the 2000 coup, faces an uphill task to reach 5 per cent. No other party will get 5 per cent to qualify for seats.

The USA, Australia, and New Zealand are worried about China’s growing influence on the Bainimarama Government. They have condemned political harassment and crack down in the media and free speech. But they are not taking sides in the election, fearing alienating themselves from the Bainimarama regime should it win a third consecutive term.

Speculation is rife about what will happen should the incumbent lose. There is a threat of racially inspired violence. Indians were at the receiving end of all election related or coup violence. FF has promised security and stability. This could cause disgruntled Indians to stay in the FF camp. The opposition remains confident of inroads among Indians and ethnic Fijians and victory.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Page Foundation

Christmas craft

Paper bag snowman

Question 1:

Supplies

White paper bag

White card stock

Coloured card stock (in black, red, green, orange and pink)

Glue stick Scissors

Directions

Draw a snowman on card stock. Cut out all the pieces you need.

Assemble the snowman’s face by gluing the two pink cheeks just below the eyes.

Glue the carrot nose between the two cheeks.

Place the completed snowman’s head on the top paper bag flap and glue in place.

Assemble the snowman’s body by gluing the scarf into place. Trim off any excess pieces.

Glue the two buttons below the scarf.

Attach the completed snowman’s body to the bottom of the white paper bag with the glue stick.

Finish off the snowman by gluing the hat together. Next glue the mistletoe leaf and berries to one side of the hat.

Glue the completed hat to the top of the snowman’s head.

If you don’t have any white paper bags on hand, we have a two ideas for you.

One, you can simply use a brown paper bag the way it is and glue the pieces on.

Two, you can cut out white paper in the size of the flap and bottom pieces and glue them on. This will allow you to still have the white background without using a white paper bag.

CONTINUED FROM MONDAY

TO BE CONTINUED

Local companies must act fast to capitalise on oil blocks bid round – GMSA

…urges companies to form consortiums

With the Government’s announcement that 14 oil blocks will be up for an auction open to both local and foreign companies, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is urging local companies to capitalise on this opportunity and to form consortiums if necessary.

During a press conference at their offices on Waterloo Street, the GMSA lauded the Government for its transparency in announcing the bid round ahead of time.

GMSA executive Ramesh Dookhoo noted that there is an opportunity for even more local content, with this auction.

“We believe there is huge opportunity for local business. The issue of energy, as you know especially for the manufacturing sector, has been a huge issue. If we put 14 more oil blocks out there, imagine what the supply chain of liquid petroleum gas would (bring).”

“And look what that improved supply would do for prices. We believe there is huge opportunity for local content to be further developed. And for more Guyanese companies to benefit from local content and trickle-down benefits,” Dookhoo said.

Meanwhile, GMSA President Rafeek Khan emphasised that now is the time for these companies to capitalise on the opportunity presented by the Government’s announcement - and possibly

even form consortiums.

“I would say sometimes we were sleeping at the wheel and businesses (did not) realise the growth of our economy. So, this announcement will further help our companies, those especially who have been trying to be a part of the energy mix.”

“And I would like to strongly suggest that those companies who have been seeking opportunities, now is your time. This recent announcement is going to help us prepare ourselves.”

GOGEC Meanwhile, the Guyana Oil & Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) has also lauded the Government for the announcement of the bid round. In a statement, GOGEC President Manniram Prashad congratulated the Government on the transparency with which they are administering the sector.

“GOGEC is pleased with the open and transparent process in this regard and also welcome the opportunity for lo -

cal companies being able to participate in the bidding process – an important favourable consideration on the part of the Government,” Prashad said in the statement.

“GOGEC believes that in this way, Guyanese have the opportunity to be part of the upstream activities in a more meaningful and tangible manner as the local private sector continue to build capacity through formation of consortiums and strategic partnerships with foreign companies.”

And similar to the GMSA’s urgings, the GOGEC President also encouraged local companies and Guyanese in general to take advantage of this unique opportunity to take part in the oil and gas sector, through the bid round.

Consortiums

The President Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has on several occasions publicly called for local companies to form consortiums in order to compete in the energy sector. While it is an important call, Dookhoo said it is nevertheless having a hard time getting through to certain sections of the private sector.

“We still see our businesses as competing with each other’s. And I believe you’ve heard the President speak on this. Especially those businesses that are family-owned. Some of them don’t speak to each other. And this is a culture that needs to change.”

“The important cat -

GMSA

press conference alyst in that cultural change, is perhaps the President himself… I believe when all of us start to feel the squeeze form foreign investment, that is when we’re going to wake up and smell the roses. And that is when we’re going to make a consorted effort to come together.”

Khan meanwhile urged businesses to come to and challenge the GMSA with their ideas for forming consortiums and bidding for the oil blocks. And he noted that when businesses come, it must be with confidence, a willingness to leverage their assets and time and to “take risks.”

“The GMSA can support them by getting the relevant information from the Government to help our businesses be better prepared. It’s going to be in a matter of months be -

fore the opening of this auction. I don’t know if it’s enough time, but I must say we need to work fast to helping our businesses get prepared.”

“Because before mid2023, this auction will be finalised and we want to be better prepared. So, I want to see businesses come forward. Bring your ideas. Challenge us at the GMSA, to see how you can play a better role. But you must put your business in order,” he said.

Just last week, President Dr Irfaan Ali officially launched the much-anticipated first auction of the remaining oil blocks. There will be 14 oil blocks up for tender including 11 in the shallow area and three in the deepsea area. These blocks will range from 1000 square kilometres (sq km) to 2000 sq km but with most of the

blocks being approximately 2000 sq km.

“We’re hoping that the course of the submission of the bids will be on the 14th of April, 2023 and our timeline is to have contracts awarded by end of May 2023. This of course will follow negotiations and evaluation of the bids that we received during this bidding round…,” the President had disclosed.

Each bidder would be charged a participation fee of US$20,000 to join the auction and according to President Ali, this cost was settled so as to not dissuade interest in the bidding process. The payment of this fee will allow bidders access to a virtual data room which will have all the details on the blocks so that interested parties can participate in a competitive bidding process.

Executive Ramesh Dookhoo and the association’s President, Rafeek Khan, during the

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad

Court dismisses M&CC’s challenge to legality of Local Government Commission

Demerara High Court Judge Navindra Singh last Friday dismissed a challenge filed by the Mayor and Councillors of the City (M&CC) of Georgetown to the legality of the Local Government Commission (LGC), the Attorney General’s Chambers reported on Monday.

The AG Chambers said that on March 3, M&CC filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) seeking several declarations and orders against Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and the LGC.

Among the reliefs sought were a declaration that Articles 75 and 78A of the Constitution of Guyana are irreconcilably inconsistent with each other, a declaration that Article 75 is the leading provision and should prevail over Article 78A, a declaration that Article 78A is inconsistent with Article 12 of the Constitution and a declaration that Article 78A is inconsistent with Articles 71 and 74 contained in Chapter VII of the Constitution.

The Georgetown M&CC had also asked the High Court to declare that the establishment of the LGC by Parliament by the Local Government Commission Act #18 of 2013 is contrary to Article 75 and is therefore void to the extent of its inconsistency; alternative-

ly, that Section 13(1) & (2) of the Local Government Commission Act are contrary to Article 75 and are thus void to the extent of its inconsistency and a declaration that Section 118 & 119 of the Municipal and District Councils Act as amended by the Municipal and District Councils Act #15 of 2013 is contrary to Article 75 and are therefore void to the extent of their inconsistency.

According to a statement from the AG’s Chambers, the fundamental issue raised by the M&CC is that the establishment of a Local Government Commission by Article 78A, and the vesting of it with the power to regulate and staff Local Government Organs, and a power to resolve disputes within and between Local Democratic Organs collide with and is inconsistent with Article 75 which provides that

Local Democratic Organs shall be autonomous.

The missive explained: “The Attorney General, in his submissions, contended that it was always the intent of Parliament to repose authority in a Local Government Commission to deal with all matters relating to the regulation and staffing of local government organs and the power to exercise disciplinary control over local government officers as evidenced in Sections 13 and 120 of the Local Government Commission Act 2013 (No. 18 of 2013), Sections 97, 114 (now repealed) and 118 of the Municipal and District Councils Act.”

It stated that the Attorney General also submitted that the legislature in their wisdom to alleviate any ambiguity as to their intendment of the role and functions of the Local Government Commission,

went a step further and enacted the Local Government Commission after the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01, was updated in 2012.

“The Constitution itself is replete with examples of one organ that is ostensibly autonomous and independent being staffed by another organ, as well as its functions being in some way regulated by another agency. This holds true for many statutory agencies as well.”

In dismissing the FDA, Justice Singh awarded cost in the cum of $200,000 to the Attorney General and the LGC. The Attorney General represented himself, along with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, and State Counsel Saabira Ali Hydaralie. Attorney-atLaw Brendan Glassford represented the M&CC while the LGC was unrepresented by counsel. (G1)

Accused in 2016 “Skull City” killing jailed for 14 years

Fifty-two-year-old Hemraj Bramdeo, who admitted guilt to a manslaughter charge over the stabbing death of another man at “Skull City”, Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD), six years ago, has been sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 14 years.

Bramdeo, upon his arraignment in November before Demerara High Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall, had been indicted for the capital offence of murder, to which he pleaded not guilty.

As such, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case.

However, on the date, his trial was scheduled to commence, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, thereby admitting that he unlawfully killed 25-year-old Dellon Bradford, called “Chicken” on March 23, 2016, at “Skull City” Patentia.

Following his guilty plea, Bramdeo, called “Rickey Scrawley”, a father of three, and former resident of Back Street, Patentia, was further remanded to prison to

await sentencing.

At his sentencing hearing on Monday, the Judge, inter alia, took into consideration the aggravating circumstances, including the loss of life and that a knife was used to commit the crime. Another aggravating factor considered by her was Bramdeo’s prior conviction.

In light of the convict’s early guilty plea, he was given a one-third deduction of the base sentence of 21 years in jail, leaving 14 years from which the prison service was ordered to deduct the time

he has already spent on remand. He has been on remand since 2016.

Bramdeo was represented by Defence Attorney George Thomas while the State’s case was led by State Counsel Simran Gajraj in association with State Counsel Muntaz Ali.

Following the murder of Bradford, the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Bramdeo.

According to the prosecution’s facts, on the night of March 23, 2016, Bramdeo and the now deceased man

were imbibing at different homes on the same street in Patentia. Bradford left his location at about 18:00h and was shortly after seen arguing with Bramdeo’s daughter on a dam in the same village. Bradford and Bramdeo’s daughter had a physical altercation and her father intervened and stabbed Bradford thrice -once in the back, belly, and under the right armpit.

Following the stabbing, Bramdeo, with the knife still in his hand, chased the injured man a short distance. His granddaughter had to relieve him of the murder weapon. Bradford, who later collapsed on the roadway, told someone that it was “Scrawley” who had stabbed him.

He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a post-mortem report, Bradford died from perforation of the spleen and kidney as a result of stab wounds. (G1)

Modern…

…IDs

The PNC used to have an ironic slogan during the days when they destroyed the country and everything in it with their vindictiveness and compulsion to control everything and every person – “Progress Never Ceases”!! The acronym, of course, spelt out PNC!! Well, with our revenues from oil flowing steadily into our coffers, all citizens are expecting the Government of the day – the PPP, in another twist of irony!! – to make the slogan reality. Your Eyewitness wonders whether they’ll adopt the name – and its acronym – going forward!! With us being so politicised and all, he doubts that’ll happen anytime!!

Well, as one of the innovations to signal our progress the Government just announced that with the assistance of Abu Dhabi, we’ll soon have Electronic data ID Cards. Imagine that…Abu Dhabi now providing cutting-edge electronic thingmajigs!! There’s hope for us, no?? And what will this card do, you ask, Dear Reader?? Like all those physical gadgets that are now ABSOLUTELY necessary to “save labour and time” for those of us who have to be in the kitchen – these eID will save so much more in the new world that oil is sliding us into!! For instance, with all those rich countries providing us with “visa free” travel maybe we’ll now slide right past those pesky immigration agents?? And not be sent back like that fella from Linden?? Let’s see!! According to VP Jagdeo, who made the announcement, there will be a chip embedded in the card that “can store a lot of the biometric data. Blood type, data for driver’s licence, GRA, your TIN number, etc”. Now the moment your Eyewitness read the “etc” bit, his antenna jumped to attention. Back at the turn of the millennia, hadn’t Estonia introduced just such a card that was a “unique key to access public services – from healthcare to business registry, from i-voting to e-residency.” Welcome to a brave new world!! But with his experience of the Burnhamite dictatorship, he immediately assumed this gave Big Brother a free pass into all his affairs.

And nothing that’s happened since 1984 has diminished Your Eyewitness’s paranoia. Imagine he and the Missus were talking casually about buying a shirt for the young Eyewitness then presto!! Ads for shirts started popping up like Jumbie Umbrellas on his smart phone!! Ever since then they’ve had to adopt the strategy they used when the kids were small – don’t say anything sensitive around them unless you want to have it blurted out to any visitor to the home!! In the case of the card it would literally be “Big Brother”!!

Now your Eyewitness knows that these innovations are inevitable in the new seamless world opening up to us moving from a sh*thole country to having the highest growth rate in the world!! But you gotta take precautions!!

…schoolchildren

Here we go again – another schoolchild savagely and mercilessly beaten by some of his “schoolmates” – in inverted commas since these certainly weren’t “mates” of any type. Unlike the student from GTI who was actually pummelled and kicked to death in the Stabroek Market area – where it appears passers-by and habitues feel there’s nothing untoward about such violence –this time it was in the vicinity of Parade Ground. And a father who happened to be a football coach and used to dealing with rambunctious youths – intervened to prevent the student from nearby Christ Church from being murdered.

So, what is it that’s creating these feral children? And feral they are…for even though school kids have gotten into tussles from the time of Cain and Abel –that incident served as a cautionary tale as how kids ought to behave towards each other. And friends are supposed to “part” them.

Our schools are failing us in this area!!

…land relations

In a time where there are daily accusations of Government land given away to this or that crony – of both Governments – comes the story of a private owner giving land to the Government!!

Man bites dog!!

High Court Judge Navindra Singh

Jailed: Hemraj Bramdeo called “Rickey Scrawley”

Appeal Court upholds 28-year jail sentence for child rapist

Aman who claimed that his conviction for child rape was unsafe and that his 28-year jail sentence was excessive, did not sway the Court of Appeal (CoA) of Guyana to rule in his favour.

In 2018, 28-year-old Colvin Norton was found guilty by a mixed 12-member jury on two counts of the offence of engaging in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16.

The charges against Norton had stated that he sexually penetrated a sixyear-old girl on August 1, 2013, and then again on August 6 of that same year. He was 19 years old at the time.

Demerara High Court Judge Jo Ann Barlow sentenced him to 24 years in prison on the first count and 28 years on the second count, ordering that the two sentences be served concurrently.

In Norton’s appeal against his convictions and sentences, his lawyers Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt contended, among other things, that their client’s convictions were unsafe, that the Judge’s summation was unbalanced, and that he did not have a fair trial.

They also contend-

ed that the sentences imposed by the trial Judge were manifestly excessive given the circumstances of the case and not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines.

Evidence presented during Norton’s trial revealed that after he had raped the girl for the first time, he told her not to tell anyone as her mother would not believe her.

It was also revealed that he had also threatened the girl, that if she told her mother, he would kill her and her mother. The second time, he was caught in the act by the child’s mother.

In delivering the CoA’s decision on Monday, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-

Edwards recalled the facts of the matter, particularly that the young girl told her mother that Norton took off her clothes and put his penis into her vagina.

According to the Chancellor, the child’s mother had testified that on April 6, 2013, she was outside of her home doing laundry when Norton came and asked how long she would take.

When the woman told him that she had a while, Norton left and went inside the house, Justice Cummings-Edwards disclosed. She said when the woman ventured into the house, she caught Norton raping her daughter and screamed, resulting in him running away.

A report was made to the Police and Norton was subsequently arrested and prosecuted.

Todd and Smartt had argued that the jury’s verdict was unsafe and unsatisfactory since the results of a medical examination performed on the child did not show “abrasions and bruises” in her private area.

According to the CoA, a doctor testified that her hymen was not intact and that her vaginal area was inflamed, which is consistent with something large being

forced into there.

Given the Judge’s directions to the jury on how to treat this evidence, especially her advising them that this does not mean that it was Norton who committed the act, Justice Cummings-Edwards said that the “verdict cannot be said to be unsafe or unsatisfactory”.

The convict’s lawyers' contention that his sentences were excessive was also rejected by the appellate court. The CoA held that the trial Judge considered all relevant factors before passing the sentences, including the victim’s age, Norton’s age at the time, him being a first-time offender, the seriousness of the offence, and the repeated acts of rape committed

by him.

Not excessive

Accordingly, the Appeal Court dismissed Norton’s appeal against his convictions and sentences and affirmed the decision of the trial court. “We don’t find that the sentence was excessive or that it erred in principle,” remarked the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag).

At Norton’s sentencing hearing in April 2018, the child, in her impact statement, had expressed that she still gets flashbacks about the incident, which she blamed for causing a decline in her grades at school. At first, she said she felt sad and as though she was the cause of it happening. However, af-

ter realising that she was not the only child who had something like this happen to them and that Norton would be punished, the girl said she was not ashamed anymore.

High Court Judge Barlow, in sentencing the convict, considered his age at the time of the commissioning of the offence, but stressed that it was not an excuse for violating the young girl.

She also considered that the offender breached the trust of the child’s mother, who had entrusted him to care for not only the sixyear-old but others as well.

“Like a thief in the night, you violated a six-year-old,” the Judge had told the sex offender.

According to Justice Barlow, Norton trying to silence the victim showed his total disregard for proper moral values. Because sex offenders have issues with controlling their emotions, she ordered that Norton undergo treatment under the sex offender’s rehabilitation programme.

Justice Barlow also ordered the prison service to expose him to programmes to improve his literacy and expressed hope for the victim to continue receiving counselling. (G1)

Child rapist: Colvin Norton

Colvin Norton at court on Monday

Region 6 RDC vehicle intercepted with ganja

Over 400 grams of cannabis was on Monday found in a vehicle belonging to the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Reports are that the driver attempted to flee during a during a stop and search exercise on the Number 19 Public Road, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

According to Police, at about 14:00h on Monday, ranks of the Lewis Manor Police Outpost, during an exercise, stopped a red X-Trail motor vehicle. The ranks were told that the vehicle belonged to the Regional Democratic Council, New Amsterdam Health Department.

On inspection, the ranks observed two brown bulky bags in the trunk of the vehicle at which time the driver sped off in an eastern direction. The ranks then gave chase and apprehended the driver.

A search was conducted on the motor vehicle, and the bags were found in the trunk of the car containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be Cannabis sativa.

The driver was arrested and escorted to Albion Police Station where the suspected

cannabis was weighed and amounted to 411 grams. The suspect remains in custody pending charges.

In October, an ambulance attached to the Skeldon Hospital was intercepted in Corentyne with several hundred pounds of chicken believed to have been smuggled from neighbouring Suriname. The driver has since been fired. (G12)

2 Brazilians missing after Mazaruni River mishap

Two Brazilians have been reported missing following a river mishap in the vicinity of “Looking Glass Falls” in the Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) on Sunday.

The only names given for the two missing Brazilian nationals are “Japow” and “Bartolomeu”.

Reports are that at around 16:20h on Sunday, 27-year-old Assardo Adrian Savory, a boat captain of Lot 31 Five Miles, Bartica, went to the Bartica Police Station in the company of 52-year-old Juarez De Morais, a Brazilian businessman of Providence, East Bank Demerara; 61-year-old Carlos Santos of Regent Street, Georgetown; and 21-yearold Dillon Perreira of Parika Village, East Bank Demerara.

According to Police, Savory reported that he was the captain of a boat which left Bartica Stelling, Essequibo River on Sunday morning en route to Poppy Show, Mazaruni River.

The man reported that with him in the boat at the time were Juarez De Morais, Carlos Santos, Dillon Perreira and the now missing Brazilians,

“Japow” and “Bartolomeu”.

Police said that the captain reported that at about 07:00h on Sunday as he was navigating the river in the vicinity of the “Looking Glass Falls”, the boat came in contact with a strong wave which caused the bow of the boat to break off. As a result, all the occupants were tossed overboard. After being flung overboard, the two missing persons were not seen again.

The captain further told the Police that he, Dillon Perreira, Juarez De Morais, and Carlos Santos swam to safety and were rescued some two hours later by a passing boat.

He said efforts were made to locate the missing men but proved futile.

Police on Monday said that the survivors received injuries to their bodies and were escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital where they were all seen, examined, and later sent away.

The boat captain is presently in custody at the Bartica Police Station assisting with investigations.

The vehicle belonging to the Region 6 RDC

The suspected cannabis found by Police

Vendors impeding traffic opposite GPHC given final notice to move

The Public Works Ministry has initiated actions to remove vendors who are occupying spaces along New Market Street, between Thomas and East Streets as of Monday, following notices that they were impeding traffic flow in the vicinity.

The Public Works Ministry would have served “Violation Notices” prior,

bulances and other emergency vehicles will be trying to enter the gates at GPHC and from the vehicles parking indiscriminately, to these vending stalls taking up the parapets in its way, we cannot allow this to continue,” Minister Edghill asserted.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has since indicated that the City Council

can either remove all makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, or other receptacles used for vending or have these removed by the Ministry’s team.

With the latter choice, the Ministry will not be responsible for any damage or loss when these encumbrances are removed. The act of encumbering public reserves inclusive of road shoulders,

Chapter 51:01 of the Road Act states that “Any property obstructing or damaging a road or canal may be seized and removed by the road officer of the district, or by anyone authorised in writing, and if it remains un-

claimed for fourteen days after notice given to the owner thereof to come forward and claim the property, and pay all damages incurred, it shall be sold and the proceeds paid to the Accountant General.”

For many months, the Ministry has reminded that the road reserve is the property of the Government and persons who have been occupying and encroaching these reserves have made it unsafe for all road users. (G12)

giving the vendors seven days to vacate the area for persons to remove all erected makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, motor vehicles, and other receptacles used for vending.

These vendors, according to the previous notice, have been impeding the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the main public health institution in the country.

After a final reminder that the seven-day period had expired, teams from the Ministry begun the removal process on Monday.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has reiterated that this type of illicit activity can no longer be tolerated as vending in this area is causing serious traffic hazards and congestion.

“Health and safety must be a priority for all Guyanese. We have to try harder and we have to be conscious of what is right practice and what is a wrong practice, there are times am-

has

The New Market Street vendors were told that they

filed court proceedings against the Minister.

embankments, pedestrian walks, Government reserves, and State reserves is a criminal offence.

$35M water distribution system for Quarrie village

…to push potable water coverage from 20% to 95%

Some 150 residents of Quarrie, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will soon receive first-time access to potable water from the drilling of a new well and distribution network within their community.

The contract to the tune of $35 million was awarded to R Kissoon Construction Company and residents were engaged on Sunday at Quarrie Community Centre by Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues.

This forms part of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali's commitments to the residents during a three-day outreach in August of this year.

Minister Rodrigues highlighted that successive PPP/C Governments have always been support-

ive of Indigenous communities. This is seen by the injections of budgetary allocations in the various sectors and the plethora of programmes rolled out to accelerate Amerindian development.

By the completion of this project, the Minister highlighted that the new system will see water coverage in the area moving from 20 to 95 per cent.

Meanwhile, Guyana Water Incorporated's (GWI) Hinterland Director, Ramchand Jailall indicated that the well should be completed by early January which will bring instant relief to the residents within the community.

Minister Rodrigues would have also engaged residents of Shulinab and Meriwau, Region Nine –who are now receiving improved water supply with

the extension to the water distribution system in Shulinab.

The expansion to the water network will benefit some 18 households in Shulinab and 12 households in Meriwau since residents were getting water from hand-dug wells.

Minister Rodrigues during her engagement with the residents noted that the overall goal is to attain 100 per cent access to water by 2025 since the aim of the Government is to ensure everybody has access to water.

Minister Rodrigues also conducted a visit to the water distribution system. As part of the Government’s housing drive in Region Nine, the Government has signed contracts with several village councils to manufacture clay bricks that will be used for the construc-

tion of homes.

These include 100,000 blocks from Kwatamang, 120,000 clay bricks from Shea, and Moco Moco and

Surama for the supply of timber. A contract will be signed with the Shulinab Village Council for the supply of 400,000 clay

bricks very soon. Moreover, 80 beneficiaries have already signed contracts for their homes to be built.

$1.38B contract signed to remove wreckage from Guyana’s waters

The Public Works

Ministry has signed a contract to the tune of $1.38 billion for the removal of 17 maritime wreckages, in a bid to ensure safer navigation of Guyana’s waters.

The contract was awarded to Koole BV – an international industrial and maritime service and solution provider. The Dutch company specialises in industrial demolition, remediation, wreck removal, and marine construction.

At the simple signing ceremony on Monday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted that this project is extremely important.

“The country is advancing and it is, therefore, necessary for us to make our waterways safer for ships by removing these 17 wrecks quickly and efficiently,” he stated.

MARAD Director General, Captain Stephen Thomas said that some of the wrecks to be cleared existed since the mid-1900s. Thomas further added that Guyana’s ports were previously viewed as hazardous to seafarers. However, the clearance of these wrecks, along with the three that were cleared earlier this year by Koole BV will allow the country’s ports to be of international acclaim.

The signing of the award also represents the Government’s thrust in developing and maintaining the sustainable use of our ocean and river resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean’s ecosystem referred to as the Blue Economy. The removal of these wrecks is key to port development in Guyana, in particular, the

Vreed-en-Hoop port and the gas-to-energy projects.

“Safety and security on our waterways are of paramount importance to the Government of Guyana. The Ministry of Public Works through the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), is ensuring this mandate is effectively conducted, with the signing of the agreement to embark on the clearance of a number of submerged wrecks and obstructions across the country,” the Ministry said.

Once completed, the wreck removal information will be submitted to the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) for similar removal from the navigation charts. These efforts are expected to garner renewed confidence for mariners and vessels that it is now very safe to navigate our waters. It will

also significantly decrease the insurance risks posed to vessels calling on Guyana’s ports.

MARAD said it is invested in seeing all ports and port facilities in Guyana meet international standards. This wreck removal project is expected to be completed within eight months and will cover the entrances to the Demerara, Berbice, Pomeroon, Waini, and Essequibo Rivers, as well as off of the coast in general.

Previously, three wreckages that were earmarked to be removed from the Demerara River under a $787.6 million project had been completed by the same company. The company was contracted following unsuccessful attempts in the past to remove those wreckages which hindered the smooth flow of vessels in the river.

Minister Rodrigues engaging residents of Quarrie in Region 9

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and other officials at the signing ceremony

Guyanese farmers attend UN family farming event in Chile

Two Guyanese farmers have attended the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) meetings, which was held at the FAO Office for Latin America and the Caribbean headquarters in Santiago, Chile.

The Guyanese farmers’ – Javed Ishmael of the West Berbice Sheep and Goat Association and Cindy Halley of the Central Mahaicony/Perth Village Farmers Association – experience will serve as inputs for national policy dialogues on the importance of family farmers and positioning small-scale producers at the centre of the agri-food systems transformation agenda.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is aiming to strengthen family farming by implementing closer integration of countries

within Latin America and the Caribbean.

Participants at the event highlighted the need to strengthen family farming by increasing investment and budgets to build new rural development governance in Latin America and the Caribbean. They also placed emphasis on the

simple fact that it is essential to direct more investments to family farming in order to combat inequality in the territories and provide society with healthy and nutritious food produced more sustainably.

The event saw a major turn out of representatives of over twenty countries, ten Ministers and Deputy

Check weight of goods before purchase – GNBS urges holiday shoppers

In the busy season of Christmas where consumers are likely to purchase a variety of goods, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has urged consumers to be mindful of their purchases so that they get value for money.

GNBS said it uses highly accurate equipment and skilled professionals to inspect scales, meters and packaged products in stores, markets and supermarkets to ensure equity in trade. Despite fulfilling its mandate, consumers should also play their part.

“Everything we buy is sold by weight, measure or count…While the GNBS has been executing its mandate to ensure all weighing and measuring instruments used in trade are verified (stamped) and in conformance with the Weights and Measures Act, consumers have meaningful roles to play to guarantee that they are not given short weights and measures.”

When purchasing goods, it was advised that the supplier or business establishment should be using measuring instruments that are verified, suitable and accurate.

It is recommended to buy goods from vendors who are using verified scales and other verified measuring instruments. If used properly, approved devices give correct weights or measures. Persons should also

look for GNBS verification seals on devices. The affixed GNBS seals are one way of determining whether the instrument was verified.

More importantly, persons can ensure that the device used to weigh or measure their goods is clean and tidy. Dirty devices often give inaccurate weights and measures and can cause the contamination of goods.

“Make sure that you can see the measuring indicator of scales. Ensure that the scale is positioned in a manner which will allow you to see the weighing process. Do not buy from vendors or shopkeepers using the domestic (kitchen) scales. These scales are not approved for commercial trade because their internal mechanisms are quickly worn, hence they give inaccurate weights,” it stated.

Consumers can also choose not to accept a purchase if they have doubts about the weight or measure. It was recommend-

ed to buy in metric quantities. Instruments used in the market place are in metric units and by requesting goods in metric quantities you are assured of the quantity of goods issued to you.

“Buy all solids by weight instead of measure. Rice, peas and channa are solid goods and all solids must be weighed, not measured. Request these goods in grams and kilograms. Buy pre-packaged goods that are labelled with the quantity or net content.”

Persons can call the GNBS hotline or visit the Weights and Measures office in their region and make complaints if the need arises.

Notably, nearly all measurable goods must have quantities stated in metric amounts such as kilograms, litres or meters. Equivalent ‘imperial’ quantities such as pounds, ounces, pints and yards may be given in addition to the required metric indicators. (G12)

Ministers and also two hundred delegates who gathered to discuss the progress and policies of the UNDFF.

The FAO has been supporting the work of smallholders in Guyana through a portfolio of projects to improve the livelihoods of family farmers, and the food and nutrition security of their communities.

The farmers were supported by the FO4ACP programme, which is being implemented by FAO with funding from the European Union, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

FO4CP aims to improve access to services to empower women, rural youth and vulnerable communities by strengthening the organisational capacity of farmers' groups in areas of entrepreneurship, business and operational development.

Representatives of governments, multilateral bodies, and regional rural organisations also committed themselves to developing and implementing public policy agendas aimed at empowering family farmers. This is because of

their key role in eradicating hunger and poverty and mitigating the effects of climate change.

FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin in his speech, "Between 2019 and 2021 alone, hunger figures increased to more than 13 million, people and poverty is projected to reach 201 million people and extreme poverty to reach 82 million people by 2022."

He also stressed that, "collaborative work is required to change this situation, and this must be led by the countries, through their institutions, to ad-

vance their priorities."

Lubetkin reaffirmed the willingness to "continue working with governments and all actors in the Region, civil society, and academia, with our technical capabilities to facilitate initiatives that strengthen the bonds of integration and solidarity. I reiterate: This is your home".

"We must recognise this meeting as an exceptional opportunity to generate agreements that facilitate dialogue and the design of differentiated policies for family farming and highlight its role in the transformation of agrifood systems," Lubetkin added.

Guyanese farmers Cindy Halley and Javed Ishmael with FAO Regional Representative Mario Lubetkin at the UNDFF

Ideathon-Guyana 2022 highlights creativity of local students

The much-anticipated Ideathon-Guyana 2022 was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Sunday with over 101 teams from across Guyana participating.

With teams comprising of two to five members in two age categories of 1417 years and 18-21 years, the youngers brainstormed problems currently affecting Guyana’s education, entrepreneurship, environment and health sectors provided by the respective Ministries to the organisers.

Based on a one-page brief summary of their proposed project concept, these 101 teams were whittled down to 35 teams, that is, 17 teams in the 1417 years category and 18 teams in the 18-21 years category.

Over 125 participants from these two categories were present at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Sunday. A team of expert advisers/mentors chosen by the organisers in coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit and the University of Guyana were on hand to offer their advice and mentorship to these teams to help them better understand the problems they were dealing with as well as how to present their solutions in a suitable way.

The judges adjudged the teams in two groups – one group judging the 14-17 years category and the other judging the 18-21 years category. The final rounds were held in the afternoon inside the main dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where the top seven contenders from each category were given the opportunity to present their reports/presentation in front of a packed audience of about 250 people which included the Diplomatic Corps; Public Works Minister Sonia Parag; Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Members of Parliament including Ganesh Mahipaul of the Opposition, Vice Chancellor of University of Guyana – Prof Paloma

Mohamed, businessmen/entrepreneurs, Civil Society, NGOs etc. Former Captain of the West Indies Cricket Team the legendary Sir Clive Lloyd was also present in the audience.

Based on Judges’ decision, four prizes were given in each age group category including Overall Best prize followed by three Runners Up prizes. The winners were awarded with trophies, medals, certificates, gift hampers as a cash prize consisting of US$400 to each team member of the winning team that won the overall prize; US$300 for each team member of the first runner Up team; US$250 to each team member for the second Runner Up team and US$200 to each team member of the third Runner Up team.

The mentors comprised of Dr Quincy Jones – Director of School of Allied Health of University of Guyana; Eric Phillips – Lecturer at University of Guyana; Diana Gobin –Lecturer in Department of Environment in University of Guyana; Malik Williams – a talented ICT Engineer & Digital Consultant and Shahrukh Hussain – Director of the Office of Prime Minister, Industry and Innovation Unit.

This was followed by judging of these presentations by the judges comprising of wellknown experts of Guyana – Dr Charmaine Bissear from the Department of Education of University of Guyana, Prof Leyland Lucas – Dean of the School of Business of University of Guyana, Norwell Hinds of the Environment and Sustainable Department of University of Guyana, Shawn Coonjah of the Office of Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit, Dr Ritesh Tularam –Deputy CEO of the Ministry of Education, Lance Hinds – Chief Executive of the BrainStreetGroup, Shomari Williams – Global Webby Award Winner & Lecturer at University of Guyana among others.

The Ideathon Guyana 2022 concept was initiated by Athrav Kotehal Gowdara, a student of Class 12 at the Guyana International Academy (American International School of Guyana) based on advice and mentorship received from Peter Han – founder of SkyTree mentoring, Eldon Marks –Founding Director of V75 Inc and Shahrukh Hussain – Director of Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit.

Athrav then teamed

up with his colleagues –Pratham Joshi of St Mary’s International School of Tokyo, Yash Saxena from Monte Vista High School, California USA and Lucien Stanley of the American School of Georgetown. They reached out to the Ministries of Health, Education, Tourism/ Commerce/Industry and Natural Resources of the Government of Guyana with the request for problem statements on the issues affecting Guyana currently, based on which the teams were asked to come up with innovative solutions.

Speaking to the participants, Athrav stated that his idea of promoting such Ideathon came as a result of being the son of a diplomat (he is the son of Dr K J Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana). He said after travelling across over 40 countries, staying in six countries across five continents, where he saw a huge polarity between elite and non-elite, rich and poor people, the distinct challenges faced by the under-privileged across societies and the fact that he noticed that many young people having potential solutions to these problems never got a chance to be heard. He added that

he realised that he should do something in Guyana to provide solutions afflicting those sectors under this Ideathon. The aim of this Ideathon was to promote a spirit of competition among the youth but at the same time to be an educative event being all inclusive - which was achieved with youth from all across Guyana representing diverse socio-economic groups being present. Their solutions to each of these problem sectors were well received by not only the judges/mentors but also a wide range of audience who had come to observe the Ideathon in progress.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana Dr K J Srinivasa, spoke about how India has become a centre for start-ups and entrepreneurship and the need for the youth of Guyana to pitch in to resolve these problems of Guyana.

Meanwhile, Public Service Minister Sonia Parag commended Athrav Kotehal Gowdara for the initiative and expressed her appreciation at the huge participation and innovative solutions presented by the participants. She appreciated the competitive spirit of the Guyanese youth. The Vice Chancellor of the University of

Guyana Prof Paloma Mohamed while commending the role by the various judges and mentors from the University of Guyana and the participants from the University of Guyana, also applauded the initiative and stated that the University of Guyana stands ready to support such initiatives in the future. She appreciated the support by the High Commission of India to this initiative of Athrav.

The Overall winning team in the 14-17 years category was from Queen’s College School - comprising of Vasanna Persaud, Sameera Shaw and Anaaya Jain, who gave a solution to an education sector problem. The other winners in this category included teams from Marian Academy, Queen’s College and University of Guyana who presented projects in education, health and entrepreneurship sectors. The senior category of 1821 years was won by a team from University of Guyana – Young Influencers Programme and included Terriann Wright, Andrew King and Jerry Collins. The other winning teams were from the University of Guyana and Amateur Groups - Chicken Fry Bytes and Ultimatus Electricus, who presented their projects in Environment and Education.

The winners of this Ideathon will now be encouraged to be a part of an Impact Lab which is proposed to be held (based on the availability of resources) in consultation and coordination with Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit, IDB Innovation Labs, V.75 Inc, TheBrainStreetGroup, Action Invest Caribbean Inc, University of Guyana etc wherein their proposed solutions could be improved to a scalable level, bearing in mind the potential practicability of the solutions.

The event is deemed to have excited the youth of Guyana to participate in similar such events in the future and the potential spirit of innovation among these students.

The winners along with runners-up of the Ideathon-Guyana 2022 along with Public Works Minister Sonia Parag, Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul; UG Vice Chancellor, Prof Paloma Mohamed; High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa and his son, Athrav Kotehal Gowdara who initiated the concept

$40M surgical theatre commissioned at Moruca

Residents of Moruca will no longer have to travel long distances to access surgical treatment, as a new surgical theatre was commissioned at the Kumaka District Hospital, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The theatre, which was built and equipped at a cost of over $40 million, will accommodate residents of the Moruca district to access surgeries within the region, cutting their transportation cost to travel for medical assistance significantly.

It is fully furnished with an anaesthetic machine, oxygen, an Intensive care unit, a sterilisation unit and also a recovery suite. There are currently two theatres in the region and another is expected to be completed soon.

Regional Health Officer of Region One, Dr Steven Cheefoon told members of the media that it is extremely beneficial that residents can access the best health services right there in the region.

“I have no other words… to express the joy I feel that we are able to do surgeries in Moruca… Access to health service is a very important feature that we need. In prior years… the patients

$1.5B in major salary...

Dental aides and laboratory aides will meanwhile have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards, from $80,892 to $100,000. This represents as much as an additional 23.6 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to these workers.

Community health workers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $100,000. This represents an additional 13 per cent increase on the current minimum salary.

Medex will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $152,420 to $200,000. This represents an additional 31.2 per cent increase on the current minimum salary. The President made it known that over 5000 people will benefit from these increases.

Optimum service

According to the President, his Government has kept their commitments, whether it was for the sugar workers or the healthcare workers. He further assured that the salary and benefits for health workers will continue to be improved. At the same time, he urged healthcare workers to deliver services at the utmost levels.

“This Government re-

mains committed to bringing prosperity to every home. In improving the livelihood and living conditions of every single Guyanese, in every single village. We are working day in, day out, to make your lives better. Every day is getting better. Every year will get better. We ask you to stay the course with us, as we work together on making life more beautiful, promising and prosperous.”

“We ask of our healthcare workers, to deliver at the highest levels. We ask you to repay our country with excellent care. With good customer service. With patience and love. With dedication and commitment. With trust and fulfilment of your oath. These are only some of the long categories of workers in the healthcare system, that I have addressed tonight.”

The President further noted that under his Government, the healthcare system has been steadily improving from an infrastructure, medical, skill, human resource and now, from a welfare perspective.

These increases come just a few weeks after President Ali had announced an eight per cent salary increase for all public servants, retroactive to

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January 1, 2022. At the time, he had said further announcements would be made regarding specific categories of public sector employees, particularly for the Disciplined Services.

True to his word, the President subsequently announced that 8000 members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Defence Force would get salary increases that would amount to over $1 billion.

Since coming to office in 2020, the PPP/C Government has made concerted efforts to improve the lives of public servants and Guyanese as a whole. Among these measures were the payment of a seven per cent across-the-board increase to public servants in 2021; the restoration of the onemonth tax-free year-end bonuses to the Disciplined Services totalling more than $1 billion per annum; an increase of about 40 per cent in the monthly oldage pension from $20,500 to $28,000, providing a total pension pay out of more than $21 billion to senior citizens; and an increase of 55 per cent in public assistance payments from $9000 to $14,000 monthly, providing a total of more than $3 billion in annual income support to the beneficiaries. (G3)

of Region One had to be referred to Georgetown Public Hospital or Public Hospital Suddie in order to get surgery,” Cheefoon Expressed.

“The region has developed so fast as it relates to healthcare and we are on that continuum to offer optimum care, and this surgical outreach is just a picture of what is yet to come, it’s just a picture of what we can achieve when we

believe in what is called a dream,” he also added.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo said the new theatre is in keeping with the Government’s manifesto promise of expanding and upgrading health facilities and diagnostic services to improve access to healthcare countrywide.

Dr Mahadeo said efforts will continue to further expand the range of healthcare services in the region, especially in the training of medical personnel.

Some residents related that they are very grateful to the Government for the provision of this service as it will be of great benefit to their families and reduce the financial burden of having to travel to the Georgetown or Suddie Public Hospitals to undergo surgeries.

“I’m so happy… my grandson… could get a good surgery and he is already clear from that,” one

resident added.

Another chimed in and said, “Sometimes our roads are very bad… and we have our doctors right here now, it’s more convenient for us. Thank you, Mr Ali… for looking into some of our problems at this time, I wish you can do more for us”.

Additionally, the Government also conducted its Snap-on Spectacle project which saw a total of over 100 spectacles being distributed to residents on Region One, within two days. This project will extend throughout the region to ensure that persons’ visually impairment can be corrected through the use of spectacles.

Meanwhile, there is also the nursing assistant training which is currently being conducted in the region for the first time. There will also be the pharmacy assistant, medical technician and other trainings which will begin next year.

El Dorado Offshore spreads Christmas cheer to children in NA

El Dorado Offshore hosted its Children's Christmas Treat at the New Amsterdam Special Needs School to put smiles on the faces of over 75 students.

The company on Monday said that Christmas is a time to give back and spread joy in our communities, and it seized the opportunity to collaborate with the Teachers of the New Amsterdam Special Needs School to spread Christmas cheer and make a difference in the lives of these children.

It noted for December, the team decided to focus on the New Amsterdam community for a particular reason.

"While EDO employs persons from all regions within Guyana, our records show that many of our employees reside in Berbice, Region Six. With that in mind, for 2022, we decided to support Berbice during this season," said EDO Guyana Head Sherry Ferrell.

The team surprised the children with a special appearance by Santa

Claus, who handed out gifts specially addressed to the Children. During their visit, the EDO team also played games with the children and assisted the teachers for the day to help usher in the Christmas spirit.

"We feel honoured to be given this opportunity to work with the teachers and children of the NSNS. We believe that the hard-

working teachers of the NSNS go above and beyond every day in executing their roles as educators, and they too deserve a day to celebrate with their children," Sherry explained.

EDO said it looks forward to more partnerships with the NSNS and other schools, community groups and governmental organisations in 2023.

Kumaka District Hospital

El Dorado Offshore Guyana Inc Head Sherry Ferrell and a student from the New Amsterdam Special Needs School burst into laughter during the Christmas treat

Journey along the Canje River – home of the Canje Pheasant

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) may not be one of the places one would think of when looking for a tourist destination.

However, for birdwatching enthusiasts, the chance to see Guyana’s National Bird – the Canje Pheasant – in its natural habitat along the Canje River, may be worth the trip.

The Canje River (sometimes referred to as Canje Creek), located in north-eastern Guyana, is the main tributary of the Berbice River. It runs roughly parallel to the

Pets can also take the ride.

Ross, who was the tour guide on a recent trip up the Canje River organised by the Ministry of Tourism as part of awareness campaign, stopped at Torani Canal because the boat was too large to pass under the sluice.

However, the tour operator noted that from that area, camping and hunting is done on tours.

Unfortunately, we were not able to get to that area because of time constraints.

“It gets to be true beauty; true wilderness but below here you get to see a lot of the culture that is Canje

it was described as a small timber enclosure surrounded by a small cannon and palisades.

From 1629-1630, the fort was moved 80 kilometres from the mouth of the Berbice River. This new fort featured an earthen wall with its palisades and other defence structures built of timber and earth.

On the riverbank, there were 12 cannons and on the north side two cannons. It is believed that in the middle of the fort, there was a brick house which served as the seat of Government with a Council Hall and also functioned as the Lutheran

remains including the Court of Assembly where Cuffy was tried; it also takes visitors through old cemeteries which are still intact. The ruins for the ancient church still stand

onboard, have you interact with it, educate you about it and then release it back unharmed.”

Tours along the Canje River also give nature lov-

censes from the department of conservation of wildlife.”

According to Ross, he spends about five days weekly in the Canje River on tours. He said there are intentions

The settlement of Baracara where escaped slaves settled in the early 1800s lies on the bank of the Canje River located approximately 120 kilometres or 75 miles upriver.

Tours along the river are available – where patrons can visit the Canje Pheasant, Guyana’s national bid.

The tour operator is Dillon Ross of Blackwater Adventures.

Creek – the people living in Baracara....”

Additionally, there is the Fort Nassau tour up the Berbice River which takes one to the heritage site which is an actual village in the jungle. Fort Nassau was the capital of the Dutch colony of Berbice, in present-day Guyana. It was situated on the Berbice River approximately 88 km upstream from New Amsterdam.

church.

In 1796, the fort was abandoned completely. On November 27, 1999, the Fort Nassau complex, comprising an area of 0.68 square kilometres was gazetted as a National Monument. Some of the ruins to see along the Fort Nassau trail include: the site of the first Lutheran Church, the Western and Eastern Grave Plots, the Court of Assembly site, the

and is an ideal area for pictures.

Ross explained that the Fort Nassau tour also goes through the Torani Canal (a manmade canal which was built to take water from the Berbice River into the Canje River to push back salt water allowing the fresh water to be available to irrigate the cane fields) and down the Canje River passing and also including a brief stop at Baracara.

Ross also organises fishing tours on the Canje River

ers an opportunity to witness monkeys, sloths and deer in their natural habitat.

The scenery is breath-taking.

The tour, which is relatively new, can also take tourists to the Fort Nassau Dutch heritage site.

As it relates to camping trips, Ross said it is one of his favourites and explained that tourists are taken to Iquora, which is a small creek from Canje River which leads to a huge black water lake.

to expand but finding the right persons is difficult.

“If I can find someone who is licensed especially a boat captain. People in Guyana like to proclaim themselves to be licenced but they don’t actually have a licence – a boat master’s grade iii speed boat captain licence. It is not very difficult to get but it is a legal requirement. In addition to that if they want to be a tour guide, they have to be licensed by the Guyana Tourism Authority.”

“Fishing up here is wonderful and also the sightseeing – it’s a beautiful place.”

The $12,000 package also includes snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The site is managed by National Trust.

Fort Nassau was established in 1627 as a Dutch trading post. The first location of the fort is believed to be near the Wiruni River and

Warehouse, the Inn Steps, the Bridge and the ‘Talking Tree’.

The tour to that site includes a two-and-a-halfmile hike through the jungle during which tourist can see

which he says is most popular.

“We also give you the caiman experience where we catch a live caiman, bring it

Ross is inviting licensed hunters to take that trip with him.

“By licenced hunter I am talking about getting your li-

-

Berbice River.

Ross explained that find

ing persons who have put themselves through the procedures needed has been difficult.

Heritage site Fort Nassau along the Berbice River

Former FTX CEO Bankman-Fried arrested in Bahamas, US to unveil charges

Sam Bankman-Fried, who founded and led FTX until a liquidity crunch forced the cryptocurrency exchange to declare bankruptcy last month, was arrested on Monday in The Bahamas after being criminally charged by US Prosecutors.

It marks a stunning fall from grace for the 30-yearold entrepreneur who rode a cryptocurrency boom to create one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and a net worth that Forbes pegged a year ago at US$26.5 billion.

The exchange, launched in 2019 and based in The Bahamas, filed for bankruptcy November 11 after it struggled to raise money to stave off collapse as traders rushed to withdraw US$6 billion from the platform in just 72 hours.

The Attorney General’s office for The Bahamas said it proceeded with the arrest after receiving formal confirmation of charges against

Bankman-Fried, adding it expects he will be extradited to the United States.

A statement from The Bahamas Police said Bankman-Fried had been arrested shortly after 18:00h (6:00 pm) Monday at his apartment complex, located in Albany, Nassau, in The Bahamas.

“He was arrested reference to various financial offences against laws of the United States, which are also offences against laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” the statement said, adding he was taken into custody without incident and was scheduled to appear in Nassau’s Magistrate Court today.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan confirmed Bankman-Fried had been arrested in The Bahamas, but declined to comment on the charges.

“Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-

Fried at the request of the US Government, based on a sealed indictment filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,” United States Prosecutor

Damian Williams said in a statement. “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Mark Cohen, a lawyer for

Bankman-Fried, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bankman-Fried’s indictment by US authorities comes as the Department of Justice is considering charges against a far bigger player in the crypto world, industry-leading exchange Binance.

Reuters reported Monday that some Justice Department Prosecutors believe they have gathered sufficient evidence in their long-running investigation of Binance to charge the company and some top executives. A Binance spokesperson told Reuters in relation to the story: “We don’t have any insight into the inner workings of the US Justice Department, nor would it be appropriate for us to comment if we did.”

Binance is under investigation for possible money-laundering and sanctions violations, Reuters has reported. Others in the Department have argued for

taking time to review more evidence, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The arrest also came a day ahead of BankmanFried’s scheduled appearance before US lawmakers on Tuesday, where he was planning to give testimony via a video link.

The US House Financial Services Committee was scheduled to hear from Bankman-Fried and current FTX CEO John Ray during the first in a series of hearings to examine the collapse of FTX beginning at 10:00h.

Investigations

FTX’s liquidity crunch came after Bankman-Fried secretly moved US$10 billion of FTX customer funds to his proprietary trading firm, Alameda Research, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. At least US$1 billion in customer funds had vanished, the people said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

6 dead in shooting at remote Australian property

With investigations ongoing, Ms Carroll said she couldn't say if police were lured to the property, or comment on a possible motive. She said "many weapons" were used during the incident.

Local media reported that the officers were ambushed and Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers alleged they were killed "in cold blood".

"They were met by gunfire which was just relentless," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"They were executed."

Six people, including two police officers, have been shot dead after a suspected ambush at a remote Australian property.

Police said they had been searching for a missing person in Wieambilla - 270km (168 miles) west of Brisbane, Queensland - when they were fired upon.

After a lengthy siege, three suspects were fatally shot by police. A motive remains unclear, authorities said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a "heartbreaking day" for Australia.

Four Queensland police officers initially went to the property on Monday afternoon local time, after a request from New South Wales police.

Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead as they approached. Another officer suffered a "bullet graze" and the fourth escaped the property, police said.

An unnamed neighbour, aged 58, was also killed by the suspects during the

siege after going to investigate.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll described it as an "unimaginable tragedy" and the force's largest loss of life in a single incident in many years.

"Those officers did not stand a chance. The fact that two got out alive is a miracle," she said after visiting the scene on Tuesday.

Mr Arnold and Ms McCrow were relatively new to the police force but both had earned a reputation for being committed and courageous, Ms Carroll said.

"Both under 30 years of age. Both had wonderful careers and lives ahead of them," she said, visibly emotional.

A group of 16 local officers had "bravely" tried to rescue the pair - hoping they were still alive - before specialist police arrived and took over the operation, she said.

The siege continued for hours, before the suspects - two men and one woman who have not been namedwere shot.

Local MP David Littleproud said the at-

tack had left his community "numb".

"[These] are small country towns where this sort of

thing just doesn't happen," he said.

The deaths will be investigated by the coroner and

the police response will be examined by the force's ethical standards command, in line with standard practice. (BBC)

EU sanctions Iran over protest crackdown and Russia drone sales

Ministers of the European Union of Foreign Affairs have imposed new sanctions on Iranian religious leaders, senior officials and top state media employees over new crackdowns on antigovernment protests and supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Twenty individuals and one entity were sanctioned on Monday over human rights abuses, while four more people and as many entities were added over the issue of drones. Sanctions include freezing of assets and travel bans to the EU.

The state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting had its assets frozen; the EU said the media outlet was a “mouthpiece” for “the violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran”.

Iranians have protested against the government’s restrictions on their daily lives since late September, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

The antigovernment protests, which have turned into a popular revolt by Iranians from all sections of society, now pose one of the biggest challenges to the country’s leaders since the 1979 Iranian revolution, which led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

The EU “will take any action we can to support the young women and peaceful demonstrators”, said the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.

In a statement, the ministers said: “The European Union strongly condemns

the widespread, brutal and disproportionate use of force by the Iranian authorities against peaceful protesters, including women and children, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives.”

On Monday, Iran executed a second man, who was arrested during the nationwide protests, by publicly hanging him from a construction crane as a dire warning to other protesters.

“With this sanctions package, we are targeting, in particular, those who are responsible for the executions [and] the violence against innocent people,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The ministers also hit out at Iran for supplying drones to Russia, saying the “weapons provided by Iran are being used indiscriminately by Russia against Ukrainian civilian

population and infrastructure, causing horrendous destruction and human suffering”.

Russia stands accused of sending Iranian-made drones over Ukraine to strike at power plants and other key infrastructure. The EU has said it had evidence that Iran sold drones to Russia since the war began in February.

In recent weeks, despite denials by Iran and Russia, images of the Shahed-136 drones (rebranded in Russia as Geran-2), their distinctive delta wings silhouetted against the sky, have circulated around the global media.

Iran has confirmed it shipped a small number of drones to Russia, but that it had done so before Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

(Excerpted from Al Jazeera)

Julius Branker

Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow had only recently started their policing careers

The remote property where the incident unfolded

Regional

Peru's new leader proposes early election amid violent protests

Peru's new President, Dina Boluarte, is proposing bringing general elections forward by two years to April 2024 amid continuing political tension.

She also declared a state of emergency in areas where protests have erupted.

Protesters are demanding fresh elections after Boluarte's predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was impeached following his attempt to dissolve Congress.

Castillo called Boluarte's plans to move the elections a "dirty game".

In a handwritten letter that he tweeted on Monday, he called Boluarte a "usurper", and said he had been "kidnapped" and humiliated.

In a televised address to the nation early on Monday local time, Boluarte said she would submit a bill to Congress to hold elections in April 2024 instead of April 2026.

The move represents an about-turn. Boluarte, who was sworn in as President on Wednesday, said on tak-

ing office that she would serve out the remainder of Castillo's five-year term in office in full.

But protests, some of which turned violent, in the regions of Apurímac, Arequipa and Ica by people demanding fresh elections increased the pressure on Boluarte.

Two teenagers were killed in clashes between demonstrators and Police in the south-western Apurímac region.

Andahuaylas airport in Apurímac had to be closed as protesters and Police

clashed and smoke could be seen billowing from its buildings.

In her address, Boluarte said that she would also propose a series of constitutional reforms to achieve "a more efficient, transparent and participatory system of government", but did not go into detail about what those reforms would be.

"I call on all the parties and the Peruvian people to take part in this process so that we're guided by a wave of democratic feeling," she said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Government of St Kitts Nevis to make dividend payment from CBI

The Government of St Kitts-Nevis says that it has approved the payment of a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) dividend to the citizens and residents of the twin-island Federation.

The Prime Minister’s Office, in a recent statement, noted that the CBI dividend is a share of the profits and retained earnings received from the

Programme.

“The CBI dividend will be facilitated through Saint Christopher and Nevis Social Security, and will be distributed in two tiers or categories. The first category is the pensionable and pensioners, and the second category is classified as those who are not yet pensionable.”

The release further explained that this was a new

policy implemented by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, as a commitment to Dr Terrance Drew-led St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration’s campaign pledge to the citizens and residents of the Federation.

It is expected that an announcement would be made by the Prime Minister, giving details of the payout in a subsequent announcement. (CMC)

Chile battles to combat forest fires amid threat to residents

Chile is battling to control the spread of several wildfires that have already destroyed more than 4000 hectares (9900 acres) of woodlands and are putting local communities at risk.

Central regions including the Santiago metropolitan area, Valparaiso, O'Higgins and Maule are on red alert, with nine active fires currently being fought, data from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) showed on Monday.

Members of the Federal Government met emergency agencies overnight to discuss firefighters' progress and the threat of new outbreaks.

"We have put in place all resources to fight the forest fires that are impacting the central areas of Chile," President Gabriel Boric said on Twitter on Sunday

night.

"Our main concern is the safety of affected people, who are being helped, and the extinguishing of the fires that are still active," he added.

As the fires edge closer, evacuations were ordered in Melipilla, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) southwest of the capital, where school classes were suspended Monday.

"Residential areas have been threatened by fire

and in many of those places, despite the risk factors, there has been resistance to following the guidelines to evacuate," said Interior Minister Carolina Toha.

Forest fires are common around the southern summer season where high temperatures and strong winds help the rapid spread of flames. This season has registered 44 wildfire outbreaks throughout the country, according to official data. (Reuters)

T&T: 2 shot dead in King’s Wharf ambush

Gunmen opened fire near a gas station at King’s Wharf, San Fernando, on Saturday night, killing two men and injuring another in what Police believe to be a drug-related hit.

Fisherman Kerry Perrot, aka “Mamoo”, 30, of King’s Wharf, and Joshua Codrington, 27, of San Fernando, died after being shot multiple times while standing near Maraj Tyre Shop at the Wharf around 20:45h.

A third man, Simon De Vignes, 26, a salesman of Hubert Rance Street, who was standing close by, was hit by a bullet in the abdo-

men during the gunfire.

Witnesses told Police that a car heading north pulled alongside the men and loud gunshots rang out. The driver of the vehicle then drove off.

Des Vignes was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he received medical treatment for an injury on the left side of his stomach.

Both Perrot and Codrington died within minutes of the shooting. Their bodies were viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Bachan, who ordered them removed to the San Fernando General Hospital Mortuary. Autopsies are

scheduled to be done of the deceased at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

Police recovered 39 spent casings fired from a 9mm calibre, 10 apparent projectiles and one live 9mm round at the scene of the shooting.

Two vehicles parked close by – a black Toyota Fielder Wagon and a yellow Kia Rio – were also damaged by bullet hits.

Investigators believe the hit was linked to the murder of Ricky Worrell, who was shot on Friday night at King’s Wharf.

These latest murders have brought the 2022 murder toll to 575. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Cuban Coast Guard rescues would-be migrants adrift off of Havana

Amakeshift boat loaded with Cubans drifted just off Havana's seaside drive on Monday before those aboard were rescued by the Cuban Coast Guard as hundreds of spectators looked on.

A passer-by who said he helped Police bring on shore two men who had jumped ship as the Coast Guard arrived, told Reuters the migrants said they had left from a town just west of Havana, but their motor had quickly failed.

"They had paid 50,000 Cuban pesos each (approximately US$285) to get on the boat to leave for the United States, but the engine broke and began to smoke," Joel Anibal, who had been riding his bicycle along the promenade of the drive, known as the Malecon. "Thank God it seems they’re all fine.”

As the Coast Guard towed the boat into Havana Bay an American flag could be seen pasted to its side.

Would-be migrants receive health checks and are

released, though organisers of the dangerous journeys can be charged with human trafficking.

A severe economic downturn in Cuba has driven a massive spike in migration from the Caribbean island.

Some migrants attempt to reach Florida via dangerous journeys on rickety vessels that sometimes end in

tragedy, though most fly to Central America or Mexico and cross by land.

A record 220,000 Cubans were stopped at the USMexico border in fiscal year 2022, which ended on September 30. The vast majority were allowed into the United States to pursue immigration cases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia, ELN rebels conclude first round of ‘successful’ talks

The Colombian Government has concluded a first round of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, part of an effort to end six decades of armed violence that has roiled the South American nation.

In a joint statement on Monday, representatives for Bogota and the ELN said that the discussions –held in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas – “ended successfully” and served as “a beacon of hope in a world mired in … war and destructive tension”.

While a ceasefire has yet

to be reached, the two sides vowed to “implement a partial agreement for emergency care” to begin in January in several areas worst hit by violence.

Mexico will hold the next round of talks starting next month, the Mexican Ambassador in Caracas, Leopoldo de Gyves, said on Monday after the country agreed to be an official guarantor for the peace talks.

Since taking office in August, Colombia’s leftwing President Gustavo Petro has vowed to negotiate with armed groups to try to bring an end to the armed conflict that has

killed more than 450,000 people.

Petro’s approach is a departure from the more aggressive and militarised tactics of his right-wing predecessor Ivan Duque, who broke off negotiations with the ELN in 2019 after a car bombing killed 22 Police cadets.

Colombian Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez said on Monday that there had been a “noticeable drop in operations” by the ELN – the country’s largest remaining armed group – since the peace talks resumed in November.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Two teenagers were killed and a number of Police and protesters injured in clashes

Cuban Coast Guards give life jackets to men who tried to migrate illegally to the US before towing their boat near the seafront Malecon in Havana, Cuba, December 12, 2022 (Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini)

A volunteer works during a wildfire at the 'Santa Rosa de Colmo' area, in Valparaiso, Chile, December 11, 2022 (Felipe Benavides/ Vina del Mar Firefighters/handout via Reuters)

Oil up $2/bbl on supply risks amid ongoing Keystone outage

Oil prices settled up about US$2 a barrel on Monday on supply jitters, as a key pipeline supplying the United States closed and Russia threatened a production cut even as China's loosening COVID-19 restrictions bolstered the fuel demand outlook.

Brent crude futures settled at US$77.99 a barrel, gaining US$1.89 or 2.5 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude settled at US$73.17 a barrel, rising US$2.15, or 3 per cent.

Last week, Brent and WTI fell to their lowest since December 2021 as investors worried a possible global recession could hurt oil demand.

The potential of a prolonged outage of TC Energy Corp's Canada-to-US Keystone crude oil pipeline helped turn prices around.

"Keystone Pipeline repair appears to be taking longer than expected (and) upping the possibility of further stock draws at Cushing," said Jim Ritterbusch at Ritterbusch and Associates.

Traders worried about how long it would take to clean up and restart the Keystone oil pipeline after more than 14,000 barrels of oil leaked last week, the largest US crude oil spill in nearly a decade.

TC Energy shut the pipeline after the spill was discovered late last Wednesday in Kansas. The company told officials in Washington County, Kansas, that they have not yet determined the cause or timeline for a restart. Officials were excavating around the 622,000 barrel-per-day Keystone line, a critical passageway for heavy Canadian crude shipped to US refiners and to the Gulf Coast for export.

The outage is expected to shrink supplies at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub, and delivery point for benchmark US crude oil futures.

Seven analysts polled by Reuters estimated, on average, that overall crude inventories dropped by about 3.9 million barrels in the week to Dec 9, a preliminary Reuters poll showed.

Bank of America Global research said Brent could rebound past US$90 per barrel on the back of a dovish pivot in the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy and a "successful" economic reopening by China.

"China's reopening is definitely something the market is focused on," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures group.

China, the world's biggest crude oil importer, continued to loosen its strict zero-COVID policy, though streets in the capital Beijing remained quiet and many businesses stayed shut over the weekend.

On Monday, queues formed outside fever clinics in the cities of Beijing and Wuhan, where COVID first emerged three years ago.

"Oil markets will likely stay volatile in the near term amid uncertainty over the impact on Russian output from the EU's ban, headlines on China's COVID policy, and central bank movements in the US and Europe," UBS analysts said in a note.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could cut production and would refuse to sell oil to any country that imposes a "stupid" price cap on Russian exports.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister also said on Sunday that price cap measures had no clear results yet.

The number of tankers waiting to pass through Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait fell on Monday, showing an easing of the recent build-up in traffic.

"The emergent EU embargo on Russian crude... may add moderate upside energy price risks in the next few months. But supply uncertainty should ease by spring 2023, after the embargo on oil products (on Feb.5) plays out," Deutsche Bank said in a note. (Reuters)

Around the World

Fighting rages in east Ukraine, G7 considers more air defence for Kyiv

Russian missiles, artillery and drones hammered targets in eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukraine's General Staff said on Monday as global economic powers pledged to beef up Kyiv's military capabilities with a focus on air defences.

The Group of Seven promised to "meet Ukraine's urgent requirements" after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to the virtual G7 meeting for modern tanks, artillery firepower and long-range weapons against Russia's devastating invasion.

He also urged the G7 to help Kyiv obtain an extra 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas in light of Ukraine's dire energy shortages as millions lan-

guish without power in sub-zero cold after further Russian air strikes on crit-

China to deactivate national COVID tracking app

ical infrastructure.

Separately, European Union Foreign Ministers agreed to put another 2 billion euros (US$2.1 billion) into a fund that has been used to pay for military support for Ukraine, after it was largely depleted during almost 10 months of

war. More top-ups may be possible at a later stage.

There are no peace talks and no end in sight to the conflict, the biggest in Europe since World War Two, and which Moscow describes as a "special military operation" against security threats posed by its neighbour. Ukraine and its Western allies call it an unprovoked, imperialist land grab.

Russia does not yet see a "constructive" approach from the United States on the Ukraine conflict, RIA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin as saying on Monday.

US President Joe Biden told Zelenskiy on Sunday that Washington was prioritising efforts to boost Ukraine's air defences, the White House said. Zelenskiy said he had thanked Biden in the call for the "unprecedented defence and financial" help the United States has provided.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Kabul hotel attack ends as 3 gunmen killed; 2 foreigners injured

green arrow on the app

Chinahas announced it will deactivate a phone app that has tracked people's movements during the pandemic.

The national app, which has been operational for three years, will go offline at the end of Monday.

It is the latest policy change that signals Beijing is abandoning its controversial zero-COVID strategy.

The move is highly symbolic but will not have a huge impact on people's daily lives because of the local apps still in use in cities across China.

The state-run Communications Itinerary Card app, which uses phone signals to track whether someone has travelled to an area considered to be highrisk, was seen as a central part of China's zero-COVID policy.

People were required to enter phone numbers in the app in order to produce a green arrow indicating they were able to travel between

provinces and enter events.

Now travel between provinces has been eased with the removal of COVIDprevention restrictions, the national app has been deemed to be obsolete by officials.

Many social media users in China have welcomed the app's retirement.

But it is only one of several tracking apps that have governed everyday life in China, with many people still using scanning systems run by their city or province to access local amenities and public buildings.

The policy change is symbolic for a nation which is turning away from its controversial zero-COVID strategy following widespread protests in several cities.

Recent unrest was triggered by a fire in a high-rise block in the western Xinjiang region that killed 10 people in November, with long-running restrictions blamed for hampering the rescue effort. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Armed men opened fire on Monday inside a hotel in central Kabul popular with Chinese nationals in an attack that ended when at least three gunmen were killed by security forces, the Talibanrun administration said.

Two foreigners were injured while trying to escape by jumping from the hotel balcony, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter.

Kabul's Emergency Hospital, run by an Italian non-profit near the attacked hotel in the Shahr-e-Naw area, reported receiving 21 casualties - 18 injured and three dead on arrival.

Taliban sources said the attack was carried out at Longan Hotel where Chinese and other foreigners usually stay.

Videos posted on Twitter by a journalist in Kabul and verified by Reuters showed smoke billowing out of one of the floors amid sounds of gunshots, while a person was seen trying to escape

the attack by jumping out of a hotel window.

Kabul Police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the attack took place around 2:30 p.m. local time, with residents in the area saying they heard a powerful explosion followed by gunfire.

The attack came a day after China's ambassador met the Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister to discuss security-related matters and sought more attention on the protection of its embassy.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the attack happened near a Chinese guesthouse and its embassy in Kabul was closely monitoring the situation.

Several bombings have taken place in Afghanistan in recent months, including an attack on the Pakistan embassy earlier this month and a suicide blast near the Russian embassy in September. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran publicly carries out 2nd protest-related execution

Iran has publicly executed a second man who was arrested during unrest linked with the country’s ongoing protests.

The Judiciary’s news website announced early on Monday that Majidreza Rahnavard, who was convicted of killing two members of

security forces, was executed in an unidentified public location in Mashhad while a group of people looked on.

It published several images of the public execution, showing a man, whose hands were tied, hanged by the neck from a crane. Masked security forces were shown cordon-

ing off the area, with a crowd of dozens watching behind barricades.

Iran executed the first detainee linked with the protests, a 23-year-old named Mohsen Shekari, on Thursday for allegedly attacking and wounding a member of the Basij paramil-

itary force with a long knife in central Tehran.

Like the case of Shekari, Monday’s execution aimed to show the speed with which the Iranian Judiciary is advancing cases related to the protests, as Rahnavard was executed less than a month after his arrest.

The Judiciary claimed Rahnavard carried out a “terrorist” act against two Basij members on November 17. He was reportedly arrested two days later for “waging war against God”.

After the execution, Gholamali Sadeghi, the Judiciary Chief of the

north-eastern Razavi Khorasan, thanked Police, security and Judiciary officials for carrying out the sentence as soon as possible, and for “answering public demands for establishing order and security and dealing with rioters and law-breakers”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Firefighters work at a local market hit by shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, December 12, 2022

The

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Listen carefully, and you’ll avoid a dispute. It’s not worth your time to start a feud with someone who doesn’t share your beliefs. Put your energy into being the best you can be.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

If you crave change, do something simple and fun rather than extensive and expensive. Use your connections to find out what’s going on and how you can use what’s trending to get ahead.

Not so fast. Time is on your side, and doing your due diligence will pay off. Focus on what’s important to you and on your responsibilities. Don’t clean up someone else’s mistake.

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

Draw on your insight and creative talent to make improvements. Promote what you love to do and turn it into a commercial venture. Avoid shared expenses or picking up after others.

If you want something, speed up the process, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. Do your best to help others along the way and share your success with those you love.

Promote change and make things happen. Your enthusiasm and drive will help draw attention and support for you to achieve something new and exciting. A little charm will go a long way.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Learn all you can before you make a move or say something you’ll regret. Discipline will be a necessity to reach your goals. Do what you can to be of help, but don’t neglect your responsibilities.

Don’t back yourself into a personal or professional corner. Take time to go through things from start to finish before deciding on what’s best for you. A move may not be welcomed by loved ones.

Listen carefully; misinformation is heading your way. Verify information before you pass it along or alter your course due to what you hear. Hard work will pay off.

Address financial, medical or legal issues before time runs out. Don’t leave anything to chance or in someone else’s hands. Make positive changes to your home.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

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(Feb. 20-March 20)

Make a promise to yourself or a loved one that will show how you feel and how committed you are to a project, decision or plan. Added discipline, coupled with emotion and desire, will pay off.

Abide by the rules and make sure your paperwork is updated. The more you do now, the easier it will be to enjoy the festive season. Transition into next year with a clean slate.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

World Cup 2022:

Messi and Modric’s last chance for World Cup glory

Two iconic Ballon d'Or-winning number 10s. Two beaten World Cup finalists. Two captains. One last chance to finally reach the peak of football and lift the famous trophy before they retire.

It is hard to look past Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia's Luka Modric as the two difference-makers in Tuesday's first World Cup semi-final.

With Paris St-Germain's Messi now 35 and Real Madrid's Modric 37, it seems highly likely the final or thirdplace play-off this weekend will be where their World Cup careers end.

So how do the two compare and which one will lead his country to a final against France or Morocco on Sunday?

How do they compare at this World Cup?

Both players have been crucial to their country's runs at this World Cup, and scored in their quarter-final penalty shootout wins.

Messi took the first kick as Argentina beat the Netherlands, while Modric scored Croatia's third kick in their win over tournament favourites Brazil.

Modric is the first player to score three penalties in shootouts at the World Cup (also netting against Denmark and Russia in 2018).

In 90 or 120 minutes,

Messi has the edge. He has scored four goals and assisted two, while Modric has yet to record a goal or an assist –however Messi plays up front, while Modric operates in midfield.

Barcelona legend Messi scored a penalty against Saudi Arabia, scored and assisted a goal against Mexico, and had a penalty saved against Poland in the group stage.

He scored the opener against Australia in the last 16 and assisted the opening goal against the Netherlands in the quarter-final, before scoring from the spot in the 73rd minute – and again in the shootout.

Speaking on BBC One, Martin Keown said: "Lionel Messi just keeps producing. It was a really quality penalty. He is in top form. His confidence and belief is flowing through his colleagues."

Following Argentina's victory over Australia, fellow former England defender Rio Ferdinand said: "The best individual performance from a player at this World Cup. It was almost god-like. I've not seen anything like this."

And former Argentina team-mate Pablo Zabaleta said: "I think Messi knows that this is his last World Cup and you can really see that he is enjoying it."

Former Tottenham

Hotspur midfielder Modric caught Micah Richards' eye in Croatia's quarter-final against Brazil.

"We thought it would be his last World Cup," the ex-England defender said on BBC One. "Some of the passes he made, controlling the tempo – he dictated at his pace and Brazil didn't know what to do."

Modric was replaced before the penalties in Croatia's last-16 shootout win over Japan – but stayed on against Brazil.

"Again, Luka led for 120 minutes and was at the head of the team," Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic said. "It is unbelievable how he plays for his age, and he was not tired.

"When we fell behind, we were thinking of replacing a midfield player and asked

him what his situation was. He said he was still fully ready. He showed again that he is one of the best players in the world."

Messi has had more shots (25) and efforts on target (12) than anybody else in the World Cup – with France's Kylian Mbappé, his Paris StGermain team-mate, second on both counts. Mbappé leads him 5-4 in the race for the Golden Boot.

Only four players have made more successful passes in the final third than Modric's 201; Messi is eighth on the list with 171. Modric has made the fifth-most crosses, 28, in the tournament.

Modric has also impressed further back on the pitch, with only two players having won possession more times (39) or made more in-

terceptions (eight) than the Croat.

In the much less scientific BBC Sport player ratings, as selected by our readers, Messi's average over five games is 7.01, with Modric on 7.46.

How do their international legacies compare?

The past two World Cup finals have seen one of these two on the losing side.

In 2014, Messi's Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany and Mario Gotze's extra-time goal. Four years ago, Modric's Croatia were beaten 4-2 by France.

Both won the Golden Ball, the award for the tournament's best player, in the process. And both have potential milestones to reach in Tuesday's game.

Messi will equal Lothar Matthaus' record for the most World Cup appearances (25). He would then break the German's record at the weekend in either the final or the third-place play-off.

Messi has scored 10 World Cup goals. Only seven players have managed more – with Germany's Miroslav Klose top on 16. He is just one behind Hungary's Sandor Kocsis and German Jurgen Klinsmann, and two behind Pele.

He already holds the record for most assists in World Cup knockout games, passing Brazil great Pele's old record of four in their last game.

Messi has both scored and assisted a goal in three different World Cup matches, including two this year. Since that data was first recorded in 1966, no player has done so in four games.

He has scored 95 goals in 170 caps – both national records.

Modric has won a Croatia record 160 caps and scored 23 international goals.

Modric will become the oldest outfield player to start six games at one World Cup – beating Brazil wing-back Nilton Santos, who had just turned 37 in 1962.

He has made the most World Cup appearances (17) and most appearances at major tournaments (30) for Croatia – before this semi-final.

Messi has one Copa America to show for his international career, while Modric has yet to win a trophy.

There is also a nice symmetry between the players' careers. Messi scored his first Argentina goal and Modric made his Croatia debut in the same game – a friendly between the sides in March 2006, which Croatia won 3-2.

This will be the 27th time they have faced each other, with 22 of those coming in El Clasico meetings between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Modric has the edge with 12 wins to Messi's nine. (BBC Sport)

The big “fear” for fallen cricket giant as “hurt” Test great delivers sobering reality check

After another crushing defeat to Australia, this time by 419 runs, you would think West Indies could not fall much lower.

Former Test skipper Carl Hooper though said otherwise on Sunday.

Speaking on ABC Radio, a brutally-honest Hooper warned this was not even “rock bottom” for the side, admitting he was “hurt” by what he saw from the West Indies in Adelaide.

“I don’t think we’ve hit rock bottom, because every time I think we have, we keep going lower,” Hooper said.

“It’s getting more and more embarrassing. I’m hurt today. I’ve never played in a West Indies side that has been bowled out for under 100. Just never.

“I mean your personal pride means you go out and fight. We’re not fighting to qualify in major tournaments. How much lower can we go?”

An injury crisis certainly did not help the West Indies, who showed promising signs in the first Test at Perth, putting up a fight to take it to a fifth day before going down by 164 runs.

This time around was different though.

In Adelaide they were completely outclassed, dismissed for just 77 in their second innings to crash by a huge 419 runs.

“Bad days happen and bad games, and obviously this was a bad game for us, but it’s not the end of the world,” West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said.

If you asked Hooper though, this was not just one bad loss. It was more than that. It was emblematic of deeper problems which he believes starts with the administration.

“Since 1993 we’ve struggled and certainly judging from the results, there’s no policies or systems that have been implemented that is changing the downwards course we’re on,” he said on ABC Radio.

“We’ve changed captains, we’ve changed personnel, we’ve changed coaches... [it] hasn’t worked.

“So maybe let’s go a little bit higher and get people in these positions that can lead us in the right direction.”

It was not just Hooper, with Australian cricket great Simon O’Donnell also

revealing his fear for the future of West Indian cricket while speaking on SEN Breakfast on Monday morning.

“I really fear for West Indies cricket from what we’ve just seen,” he said.

“I just don’t see the enthusiasm. It was really interesting listening to Phil Simmons and he was so upbeat about the pride they take in their performance. I didn’t see it.

“They just absolutely rolled over. It just doesn’t smell right to me.

“Let’s hope they can turn it around, because they’ve been an integral part and an exciting part of the interna-

tional cricket scene for a long time, but I really have fears.

“No sponsor on their shirt. Two or three guys came out without a sponsor on their bat. It’s real danger time for their existence as an international cricketing nation, I think.”

West Indies now ranks eighth in the world in the Test format, 10th in ODIs and seventh in T20s, a far cry from the cricket powerhouse it once was.

There was a 10-wicket win over England in the third and final Test match earlier this year though, proof that there is still talent for West Indies to work with when its squad is healthy.

But according to former Australian Test Captain Michael Clarke, it should not be left to West Indies alone to restore its position in the cricket world anyway.

Rather, speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘Big Sports Breakfast’, Clarke argued that other countries such as Australia, England and India could help by taking more games to the West Indies.

“If we say no to West Indies, then why would India play West Indies or

why is England going to play West Indies?” he asked.

“This has been the problem with a lot of the stuff over the last 10 or 15 years, it’s like the higher-ranked teams are getting looked after and the rest are getting thrown away or Australia and England play more games against India and make more money, but these other teams can’t do it. As soon as we go that way, there’ll only be three teams playing Test cricket.

“Does it make a difference if you play in their backyard? I don’t think West Indies make any money or not much coming to Australia. They make their money when Australia goes to the West Indies.

“Could there be more of that for example? Even if you brought West Indies to Australia a little bit less, just using West Indies as a team, but still Australia still commits to going to their country and you could say the same about Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe. The big teams –Australia, England, India –where your money is made, maybe more responsibility from them committing to still going to these other

countries to play, but then we’re a bit more selective with who comes to Australia.

“They need the money, so we’ve got to keep giving, we might just have to be more selective with our taking.”

Further to that, Clarke also said the International Cricket Council (ICC) could play a greater role by directing more of its funds into helping with any financial troubles West Indies may face — now and into the future.

“I don’t know why we’re seeing the West Indies continue to decline. I don’t know the answer to that, but I’d imagine their structure and set-up from a young age, that development period, is not what it used to be,” Clarke added.

“If that’s where money needs to be put to help West Indies cricket, I think they need to do that. It is the ICC, we’re talking about a billion-dollar business here. It’s the ICC’s responsibility. If they went to India, because they need some money or need something, I think they would do that, I think the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India) would help grow the game.” (Fox Sport)

Lionel Messi and Luka Modric will meet in today’s World Cup semi-final

Carl Hooper

“Madness; More Madness & Hope for 2023!!” (Part 1)

– Colin Croft lambasts state of West Indies cricket

Usually outspoken, former West Indian pacer Colin Croft has lamented the current state of West Indies cricket, on the heels of an embarrassing loss to Australia by 419 in the Test Match format.

Below reads the first part of Croft’s musings, the second part of which will be published in Wednesday’s edition of Guyana Times Sport

Croft wrote, “It is very unfortunate and disappointing to be discussing the current standards of men’s representative West Indian cricket and cricketers.

While I am severely disappointed by our recent international results, I am not at all surprised.

I truly believe, as I have said many times, that any present West Indies men’s team’s players you name, that they are actually indeed doing their very best.

I truly believe that.

This has nothing to do with making money.

India’s and England’s players and probably Australia’s, are the best paid cricketers in the world.

So why do their standards not drop and flop appreciably?

The answer is very simple.

These other teams’ players prepare properly for the games, series, situation and/ or competitions at hand, not focusing about match fees, but expecting to be paid well too.

The point is that most WI’s men players’ present best efforts and skills are not even 50 per cent of what is required to not only regularly compete very well at international levels, but to win Tests and ODIs, even T20Is regularly.

Of course we will win a

few games here and there, but that is simply not acceptable!!

Consistently playing at that higher level required, is a priority.

What confuses me more is that the people who run WI’s cricket seem to be living on another planet, as they cannot be on earth, and really expect and believe that these collective men’s teams players, who represent us, will do well regularly.

Simply – Madness!!!

By the way, exactly what is that group, including West Indian Brian Lara and South African Mickey Arthur, going to tell us, that we do not already know??

So many reports have been commissioned over the last decades, including one from former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

Where are all of those now-cobwebbed reports, observations and recommendations??

Do we now need yet another set of people telling us

what we already know?

That our regional and international cricket standards are extremely poor?

But we all, right now, from Presidents to Prime Ministers to Public Servants to Primary School students, and those in between, all know that already!!

Indeed, West Indies cricket efforts and standards actually started being severely depleted and diminished when Lara himself took over the captaincy.

That was more than 20 years ago!!

What the hell will we learn that is now new????

Papa!!

That our cricket teams had become individualistic instead of being qualitative and quantitative units?

We knew that already over two decades ago!!

West Indies cricket is also severely top heavy.

It has more supposedly integrated directional and operational people than Amazon and US Space Force combined!!

But are these people properly functional for purpose, and looking out for West Indies cricket, or are they looking only at their own well-being, and survival, to enjoy their spoils at their hierarchy positions?

Most of our on-field representative cricketers are not even physically fit enough to finish regional games well, much less Tests or ODIs.

Even in T20s, where we have had relatively recent successes, we struggle much, as our natural preparations are simply much below par and basic requirements.

How the hell could playing T10s cricket somewhere around the world help you to bowl 10 overs, straight if required by your captain, in one innings, as in ODIs, or at least 40 overs in two innings, as in a Test match?

There is a massive difference between JUST bowling and actually bowling WELL!!!

These present guys most-

ly train to bowl a maximum of four overs.

Not 40!!

So, it is not a mystery to me as to why so many of our present players break down so very quickly when exposed to long sessions of activities.

Truth be told, all of the people preparing our guys have proved to be of no use or value at all.

Please do not tell me that players do not have time to train properly.

That is absolute unadulterated crap!!

As quoted to me by Ambassador Deryck Murray, former T&T and WI wicket-keeper, back in 1975, when I first met him:

“Crofty – Everyone has talent. How that talent is developed, individually and collectively, is the biggest problem we have here in the Caribbean.”

He was not wrong!!

It is fully the players’ responsibilities to be ready for cricket combat; not the teams’ coaches.

The coaches are there to augment each individual’s abilities and efforts, not to teach senior cricketers how to be fit for purpose, or how to field, especially at inter-

in Antigua

Another dismal display with the bat saw the West Indies Women lose the first T20 International (T20I) against England on Sunday by eight wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Batting first, West Indies fell into early trouble slipping to 38-4 after eight overs. Rashada Williams scored 23 and Chinelle Henry’s 21 helped the WIW get past the 100-run mark in the face of incisive bowling from Player of the Match Lauren Bell, who took 3-26.

Heather Knight, Nat Sciver, and Katherine Brunt each claimed a wicket against the hosts, who limped to 1057 from their allotment of 20 overs.

Bell then scored an unbeaten 59 from 34 balls as England raced to victory scoring 106-2 in just 12.4 overs. No West Indies bowler managed to claim a wicket as opener Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Winfield-Hill were

dismissed by runout for 25 and 15, respectively.

A distraught Henry was critical of her side’s batting after yet another poor showing against their English rivals.

"To be three, four wickets down in the first 10 overs with no kind of runs on the board, that is where we fell short; since the ODI series we've been struggling with the bat,” she said.

“We just have to pick ourselves up and keep going. A couple of us got short partnerships going to get us to

100, but it wasn't enough. It was really good to see little Djenaba Joseph standing up against Katherine Brunt, facing her head on, and to have an Under-19 player in our squad so fearless is a move in a good direction for us."

The series now moves to the Kensington Oval, where the teams will meet for the remaining four matches on December 14, 17, 18, and 22. All matches start at 18:00h (6:00pm) Eastern Caribbean/17:00h (5:00pm) Jamaica time. (Sportsmax)

12.1 ov), 6-60 (Shemaine Campbelle, 12.2 ov), 7-89 (Shabika Gajnabi, 17.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Katherine Brunt 4-1-20-1 Lauren Bell 4-0-26-3

Nat Sciver 3-0-17-1

Sophie Ecclestone 4-1-6-0 Sarah Glenn 4-0-19-0 Heather Knight 1-0-6-1

England Women (T: 106 runs from 20 ovs) Sophia Dunkley run out (Campbelle) 25 Danni Wyatt not out 59 Lauren Winfield-Hill run out (Campbelle) 15 Nat Sciver not out 3 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL 12.4 Ov (RR: 8.36) 106/2 Did not bat: Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones †, Maia Bouchier, Sophie Ecclestone, Katherine Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Sophia Dunkley, 4.5 ov), 2-85 (Lauren Winfield-Hill, 9.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Chinelle Henry 2-0-21-0

Hayley Matthews 2-0-12-0

Cherry-Ann Fraser 2-0-17-0

Aaliyah Alleyne 2-0-21-0

Afy Fletcher 2-0-9-0

Karishma Ramharack 2-0-17-0

Shabika Gajnabi 0.4-0-8-0

national level!!

Those ought to have been learnt at the developmental levels.

So, as most know, I was an Air Traffic Controller between 1973 and 1982.

I was also a Guyana Youth and Senior player, and West Indies cricketer, between 1970 and 1982; almost the same corresponding period.

My two primary professional lives coincided closely back then.

Indeed, in almost all of my professional life, from 1971 to right now, I have almost always had two forms of employment at the same time.

Yet I managed to run much, bowl much, learn to field properly, learn to bat to an acceptable level, and to excel very well too, at cricket, while being in ATC and WI teams.

Also, as I have said so often, I ran over 15 miles, every day in that period, if not travelling somewhere to play, either on the runways at the airports in Guyana & T&T, or at the cricket grounds in Guyana or T&T or where-ever we were, or on the streets of Georgetown or Port of Spain, etc, or on the Unity-Lancaster beaches, or any combination of all of these!!

I even remember running in the streets of Lahore, etc, in Pakistan, and Sydney, etc, in Australia, or London, etc, in the UK, or Hamilton, etc, in NZ, while still playing, and which continued even after I had stopped playing for West Indies too. Anywhere!! 15 miles per day!!

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The West Indies teams have come in for much criticism, given their poor form across formats recently

Former Guyanese/West Indian pacer Colin Croft

Goal fest as Region 9, Region 3 take 1st wins

…President Ali reaffirms football development

President Dr Irfaan Ali got in the game last Sunday evening, making the official kickoff of the One Guyana President’s Cup tournament at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara (WCD). But that wasn’t the only fireworks as two scorching opening games took place.

Commanding victories from Region Nine and Region Three headlined the opening of the One Guyana President’s Cup tournament, where President Ali recommitted to the development of the unifying sport.

The football action was punctuated by an official march past featuring the 10 teams that represent Guyana’s administrative regions. It was then that the President spoke of the talent on display and his intention to develop the sport locally, before making the official kickoff.

“And do not doubt yourself, the first game that we

saw today shows us the diversity of talent we have of football in this country. And I think, with continued partnership between the Government, corporate Guyana and the Football Federation, nothing else would occur other than football being the grand winner,” the Head of State shared with players, officials and spectators on Sunday night.

“And that is what we want, football being the grand winner.”

On the topic of development, he noted, “This is a sport that brings us together, like many other sports; but football is an energetic sport and our country is on an energetic pathway to development. We want you to know that we’re working with the Football Federation in developing facilities all across Guyana.”

The first game of the national leg of the tournament saw fireworks from

Region 9 and Region 6, but Region 9 prevailed in the final moments of the match.

The Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo side was off to a flying start with goals from Stephen Mc Donald and Sherral Daniels in the 5th, 17th and 21st minutes. It was then that Region 6’s first goal came off the boots of Lenardo Adams in the 32nd, but Matrim Martin was almost lightning fast

with the reply, further extending Region 9’s lead in the 38th minute. Region 6’s Keon Williams struck in the 45th, leaving the halftime score at 4-2 and the fans wanting more.

In the second, one goal each from Dane Johnson (62nd) and Allista Williams (84th) for Region 6 levelled the scores, 4-4, in exhilarating fashion.

In the 90+4, Stephen McDonald completed his hat-trick, by striking the game winner for Region 9.

Region 1 suffered a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Region 3 in the following game. A double from Malcolm Miggins in the 33rd and 85th minutes, along with one apiece from Junior Redman (42nd), Trayon Bobb (47th), LeoOrion Lovell (56th) and Colwyn Adams (63rd) spurred Region 3 to victory. The tournament continues on Wednesday, December 14 at the Leonora Track and Field facility. (Jemima Holmes)

GBI, Trophy Stall throw support behind KFC Goodwill Tournament

Two renowned corporate names in Guyana’s sporting fraternity, the Guyana Beverages Inc (GBI) and the Trophy Stall have confirmed their support for the upcoming KFC Goodwill International Schools Football Tournament, at the behest of the Petra Organisation.

GBI will be the official beverage sponsor of the fiveday Under-18 football tournament while Trophy Stall will be supplying the accolades inclusive of the coveted championship trophy.

At a simple handing-over ceremony on Tuesday morning at Trophy Stall’s South Road location, Devi Sunich presented Petra Organisation representative, Nareeza Latif with the championship trophy.

Latif, in turn, expressed her and the Organisation’s gratitude for Trophy Stall’s

ing the trophies for our KFC Goodwill International tournament. Once again, I would like to say thank you guys very much for supporting us over the years and we do look forward to having your continued participation,” Latif

Boodie spoke of the company’s long-standing relationship with the Organisation.

“Today, the Petra Organisation is pleased to inform you that the Guyana Beverages Inc is the official beverage sponsor of the KFC Goodwill Tournament 2022,” Boodie stated.

She further said, “We have been in partnership with the Guyana Beverages Inc for many, many years, and we take this opportunity to be thankful for this immense support and commitment by the company towards the Petra Organisation, in the development of youth football.”

Meanwhile, GBI Finance Manager Kemraj Misir highlighted the company’s intention to support community initiatives, while expressing elation on its behalf.

community and this is just one to say that we’re going to continue doing this going forward. So, we are elated to be a part of this great initiative.”

With the KFC Goodwill Tournament set to com-

mence on Wednesday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, the out-of-town and foreign schools have begun arriving. On Sunday, the SVB Academy out of Suriname arrived on Guyanese shores,

while Annai Secondary arrived in Georgetown on Monday. DC Caesar Fox Secondary (Waramdong) along with St Benedict’s out of Trinidad and Tobago are expected to arrive today (Tuesday).

Latchman prepared as GBBFF Seniors Championship less than 1 week away

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The Guyana

Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) is all but in the final stages of gearing up for its highly-anticipated National Seniors Championship on December 18, 2022 at the National Cultural Centre. For Daniel Latchman capturing the men’s physique title will be at the forefront of his mind.

continued involvement.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and we would like to say a big thank you to Ramesh/ Trophy Stall for sponsor-

shared.

Later on Tuesday, GBI solidified its support at its Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) location, where Petra Secretary Jackie

Misir remarked, “Guyana Beverages is proud to be on board of this great initiative. For years we have always been developing the youths, always giving back to the

In the 2021 edition of the competition, the talented Latchman was not successful; however, his strongwilled mindset pushed him the extra mile. His no-retreat no-surrender motto has taken him to higher heights and seen him reap new gains in his bodybuilding journey. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, when asked his view on hitting the stage on Sunday, Latchman said, "It’s been a long year of working, so I’m excited to hit the stage again. Training has been gruesome, but the improvements are evident. Mentally I’m prepared, looking forward to going out there and have fun."

Latchman noted that he

was confident that he has the package which would mean that all he has to do is deliver it on stage. He also divulged that it was definitely going to be an amazing show; therefore, he was encouraging everyone to come out with their family and have a great time. To his fans, he touted that 2022 will be a different year for him as he will be presenting a much better package this year.

"Just a shoutout to my trainer Michael, the people at Space Gym – Chatram, Dwayne, Tremel and those who’ve been pushing me for this past year," he highlighted.

Approximately 30 athletes would be competing in the four different segments of this competition: Bodybuilding, Bikini, Women’s Wellness, and Men’s Physique. An official list of participating athletes would be presented as time progresses.

Among the athletes whose participation has been confirmed are Darious Ramsammy, Christina Ramsammy, Rosanna Fung, Nicolas Albert, Emmerson Campbell, Odel CrumEwing, Ashanti Conway, Jonathan Jeffery, and Julio Sinclair.

A glimpse of the stiff contest between Region 9 (black) and Region 6

Trophy Stall’s Devi Sunich presented the KFC championship trophy to Petra’s Nareeza Latif

From left: Petra representative Nareeza Latif, GBI Finance Manager Kemraj Misir and Petra Secretary Jackie Boodie