Kaieteur News

‘Teachers’

Man found chopped to death at WCB

Homeless man begs magistrate to go to jail after accused of stealing

Hicken and Brutus to go into sand mining

Father of 14 found dead after fight

Civil

‘We are not bullies Pres. Ali; all we need is a livable wage’

society must play a role

GTU President, Dr Mark Lyte,Attorney, Darren Wade and other union officials following the court-brokered agreement that will see the end of the four-week teachers' strike

Civil society must play a role in Govt. to Govt. negotiations on natural resources –Int’lbody

The involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) is crucial in state-to-state negotiations for mineralexploitation.

Thesecitizenscannotonlyadd a layer of expertise in decisionmaking for the country's natural resources, but serve as an accountabilitymechanism.

Highlighting the importance of CSOs in these transactions in a recent article was the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), a non-profit corporation focusedontheprudentmanagement ofnaturalresourcesinresource-rich countries for the wellbeing of citizens and the planet. NRGI's governing board comprises experts inawiderangeofsectors,including governance, finance, agriculture andoilandgas.

Delving into 'Deals Without Details: Exploring State-State Mining Partnerships and Their Implications' the Institute shared howresource-richcountriesaround the world were partnering for mineralexploration,productionand processing.

It said such next-generation state-state mineral partnerships have become a key tool for wealthier jurisdictions such as the United States and European Union (EU), often the “buying partners”. Many questions however remain aroundsuchpartnerships,including on their overall purpose and value for lower- and middle-income mineral-rich countries, referred to as“supplyingpartners”.

These deals are usually struck for the buying countries to secure the minerals needed for the solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehiclestoaidinthetransitionfrom fossil fuels but also in some cases are geared towards supplementing their own mineral production, the Instituteexplained.

In the absence of publicly available information about these partnerships, scrutiny has been difficult.

This results in little accountability, even though contract disclosure is a wellestablished norm in the sector, NRGIsaid.

The Natural Resource Governance Institute said for instance, “While some memoranda of understanding have been made public, such as those signed by the European Union, these documents are scant on details despite sometimes taking months to

negotiate. Others, such as those recently signed by Saudi Arabia at itsJanuaryFutureMineralsForum, remainamystery.

We couldn't find any publicly available information about 22 of the 35 partnerships of which we're aware.”

Tothisend,NRGIpointedtothe needforcivilsociety'sinvolvement inthenegotiationofsuchdeals.

“Countries should facilitate the input of CSOs in decision-making around partnership negotiations CSOscanservebothasasourceof expertise and an accountability mechanism, to ensure that the supplyingpartnergetsthemostout ofthepartnership.”

Additionally,theInstitutenoted thatCSOscanhelpdefinestrategic priorities; play a key role in monitoring whether activities advance the country's economic and social development plans and meetinternationalstandardssetout by bodies such as the UN and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD);andstrengthencallsfora moreequitablepartnership.

The body was keen to note, “Because parties to these agreementsaimtoincreaseactivity in the sector, they may exacerbate potentialharmsofmining,suchas corruption, human rights abuses andenvironmentaldamage.

To ensure benefits for people in mining countries, governments mustmitigatetheserisks.”

It said countries with the natural resources could ensure

strong due diligence practices are built into the partnership, require capacity building and technical assistancetostrengthenthecontent

and implementation of environmental, social and governance protections, and urge prospective buying partner governments to do more to address wrongdoing by mining companies basedintheirjurisdictions.

Guyana and bilateral negotiations

The government of Guyana is currently not engaged in state-tostate partnerships for mineral exploitation or exploration;

Mapshowingthe locationofGuyana's offshoreoilblocks

however, the administration has expresseditsintentiontoengagein directnegotiationswithanumberof its key bilateral partners for the country'soilblocks.

This country has become a magnet for petroleum activities, following the discovery of more than 11 billion barrels of oil in the Stabroek Block by a consortium, led by American oil major, ExxonMobil.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

during Guyana's Energy Conference in 2023 revealed that governmenthopestowork through a bilateral arrangement with the

governmentsofBrazil,Qatar,India, Kuwaitandothersontheremaining oilblockshere.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), an Opposition party in the National Assembly had signalled its support for government to secure partnerships in exchange for the nation's oil blocks, on the conditionthatalldetailsregarding thearrangementsbemadepublic.

S e e m o r e : h e r e https://wwwkaieteurnewsonline c om/2023/02/26/govt-to-govtarrangements-for-nations-oilblocks-must-be-made-publickhemraj-ramjattan/

Maritime Boundaries

Block Boundaries

Active Blocks

Available Blocks

Unavailable Blocks

RORAIMA

KAIETEUR

Local human rights activists complain to

Int'l body about Govt. abuse

Loonies, obstructionists, busy-bodies, unpatriotic and anti-development. These are among the titles that have been given to human rights activistsinGuyanabysenior membersofthegovernment.

This was officially broughttotheattentionofthe Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

on Thursday, as the body listened to the “Impacts of private companies on human rights” presented by members of civil society: Danuta Radzik, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes, Karen DeSouza and Vanda Radzik. The citizens' presentation washingedonthe"Righttoa Healthy Environment, Rule ofLawandJusticeinOiland GasIndustry".

In her remarks, Vanda Radzik told the Committee, “The right to our role as citizens and environmental defenders, enshrined in the Constitution, is being denied by state actors, through demonising and insulting us and (Non-Governmental Organizations) NGOs such astheGuyanaHumanRights Association, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc and Red Thread as well as publicly calling activists,

environmentaldefendersand other stakeholders busy bodies, obstructionists, unpatriotic, anti-development andotherderogatoryterms.”

She said this has effectively created an atmosphere of fear and intimation in breach of the Constitution.

The activist pointed out that Article 13 of the Constitution states, “the Principle objective of the politicalsystemofthestateis to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens andtheirorganizationsinthe management and decisionmakingprocessesofthestate with particular emphasis on those areas that directly affecttheirwell-being.”

She continued that the Constitution also mandates “Every citizen has a duty to participate in activities designed to implore the environment and protect the healthofthenation.”

Recognizing the complaint raised by Radzik, Commissioner Jose Luis Caballeroenquiredaboutthe mechanismsofprotectionfor those who exercise the right to defend the environment

Several top public officials still to declare assets

T h e I n t e g r i t y Commission latest announcement has spotlighted 31 public officials who are yet to declare their assets as requiredbylaw

Despite the mandate outlined in the Integrity Commission Act, the officialsareyettofulfilltheir obligation to declare their assetsfortheperiodspanning fromJuly1,2021,toJune30, 2022. This revelation was published in the Official Gazette on March 2, 2024.

The Integrity Commission Act was established to bolster public confidence in the integrity of officials. It stipulates that failure to declare assets constitutes an offence.Section22oftheAct prescribes penalties, including fines of up to $25,000 and imprisonment terms ranging from six

and other rights. He asked, “What mechanisms exist, what protection mechanisms exist for defenders?”

Founding member of civil society body, Red Thread, Karen DeSouza in responding to the IACHR Commissioner told the body there were no such mechanismsimplementedby government.

Infact,shenoted,“Allwe get is more abuse Red Thread has been threatened invariouswaysandwehave got no recourse, not even from the police that we have madereportsto.”

Meanwhile, representing the state was Minister of

Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat Bharrat told the bodyhewasbaffledwiththe accusations of comments made towards civil society activistsinGuyana.

He noted, “I can assure you that government has made no comment or derogatory comments with regards to civil society activistsbutwhatwedowish as a government, is for civil society activists to be fair, balancedandapoliticaltooin whatever they do in the representation of issues and thepeopleatthesametime.”

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall S.C argued that the citizens who challenged the

...Oil Minister denies allegations

Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Permit, granted to American oil giant, ExxonMobil are obstructionists.Accordingto the Court document, “By institutingtheseproceedings, theyarenotonlybusybodies, but are obstructionists to a project of national i m p o r t a n c e a n d fundamentally essential to thepublicgoodandinterest.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at several of his press conferences had described members of civil society as a n t i - d e v e l o p m e n t , unpatriotic and loonies for not supporting the highly touted Gas-to-Energy (GTE)

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

GGDMAcallsonpolicetokeepminers safe in wake of Arimu backdam murder

The Guyana Gold

and Diamond

M i n e r s Association (GGDMA) is callingontheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) to take every action necessary to keep miners safe. The statement by the mining body comes afterthebrutalmurderoftwo miners on Sunday at Arimu Backdam,RegionSeven.

“We urge all our miners to take full security precautions and call on the GuyanaPoliceForcetotake thenecessaryactionssothat our interior can be safe for minerstoconductbusiness,” the statement said while expressing its condolences to the families of the murderedmen.

monthstooneyear

The Commission's primary role is to uphold the standards of good governanceandtransparency within the government. By administering and enforcing the Integrity Commission Act,whichincludestheCode of Conduct and declarations of income, assets, and liabilities, the Commission aims to instill trust in public institutionsandofficials.Itis imperative for public officialstocomplywiththese regulations to uphold the principles of transparency andaccountability,whichare essential for the effective functioning of democratic institutions See link: https://officialgazette.gov.gy

/images/gazette2024/mar/off

icial gazettes 2MARCH20

24 pdf for the names published by the Integrity C o m m i s s i o n

On Sunday, 50-year-old Zaheer Mohamed Sheriff, a prominent miner and businessman and his colleague 26-year-old Donovan Washington were on Sunday murdered by banditswhilereturningfrom Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River,RegionSeven.

Mohammed, a devout Muslim and resident of Byderado Road, Bartica, Region Seven owns a land dredge in the backdam. He reportedly started his day earlySundaywithprayersat the Masjid in Bartica before leavingwithWashingtonfor Arimu Backdam on anATV (four-wheelbike).

The duo had gone into the backdam to wash down [a process of washing to separate gold from mats placedinasluiceboxtotrap thepreciousmetal]andbring outproduction(thegold).

According to police reports, they left with 102 ounces of raw gold worth some $37M but at around 10:00hrs, they were both shot dead and the gold stolen.

The dead businessman's GeneralManager(GM)Joel Stephen, 39, told police that MohammedandWashington were killed some five minutes after leaving camp. Herecalledhearing“several loud explosions which he suspected to be gunshots”, policesaid.

Stephen reportedly followed the directions of thesoundsandafterwalking for500metersawayfromthe camp,hefoundhisbossand Washington dead in the trail withvisiblegunshotwounds totheirbodies.

Notonlydidhediscover that the gold they were carrying was gone but Mohammed's two licensed guns, a .32 pistol and a 12gauge shotgun, were stolen. He reported the matter immediately to the Bartica Police Station and ranks

Murdered Bartica Businessman, Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff Murdered, Donovan Washington

weresentintoinvestigate.

Crime sleuths noted that Mohammed bore four gunshotwoundstohisbody, one to his chest, another to his right thigh, a third to his right arm and a fourth to his left upper back while Washington's body was riddled. Police counted 13 bullet holes about his body

At the scene, investigators found a .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9mm spent shells and three.32spentshells.

Theirbodieshavebeen transported to Bartica as detectives continue their investigation.

Police have learnt so far thatthebusinessmanandhis workerwereattackedbytwo masked men on a Red ATV (four-wheel bike) Residents of Bartica described the two dead men as peaceful souls and respectedindividualsoftheir community

They urged the police to take swift action to apprehend the suspects responsiblefortheirkillings.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e GGDMA said it is deeply saddenedbytherobberyand cold-blooded killing of SheriffandWashington.

“The Association would like to express its deepest condolences to the families of the late Mohamed Sheriff and Donovan Washington whose lives were snatched away from them by these animals as the miner conductedhisbusiness.

TheGGDMAwouldlike toexpressitscondolencesto the families and friends of the late Mohamed Sheriff (aka Zaheer) and his colleague Donovan Washington and calls on the Authorities to have a proper investigation into this incident,” the Association said.

Further, the Association reminded that in December 2022, Ricky Ambrose, Sworn Land Surveyor and Ranger suffered a similar fatewhenhewasrobbedofa quantityofrawgoldandcash and killed at Arimu Backdam.

Tel:

Oil sector management

Guyanaishandlingitsoilwealthwithallthewisdomofa blindman,whohasincreasedhislimitationsbywrappinga kerchiefaroundhisnose,andputearplugsinhisear

Guyana started out not seeing and not knowing what is happening with its vast sea of oil 200 kilometers offshore. And,thiscountry,throughthePPP/CGovernment,hasmade thesituationworsebyblockingitsnosesothatitcannothave ascentofwhatisintheairouttherewithitsoil,whilealso preventing its ears from picking up any signals that more attention must be constantly focused on this depleting commodity

Neithercountrynorgovernmentispositionedcloseenough, nor is bright enough, to wrap arms around this precious oil wealth,andthedepthsofitsoperations Guyanaisill-equipped toseewhatisgoingon,itdoesnotwanttohearwhereitisgoing wrong,andthereisdefinitelynosmelltestthatgivessomeideaof where things truly stand with offshore oil production The distanceof120miles(200km)mightaswellbeasfarasMars, where Guyana is concerned. This country has the faintest ideaofwhatreallygoesonoffshore,orcloselysurveywhat liesatitsfeet. Guyanadoesnotandcannotmonitorthevital aspects of its oil partnership enterprise Taking ExxonMobil’snumbersissurrenderingtocovetousness. No toolsortoofewtoolsmeanbowingtoignorance.

This is a tailor-made disaster for a country already taken advantaged of through an unimaginably horrible one-sided contract Being unable and unwilling, through the PPP/C Governmentnotmakingmonitoringofoilproductionaveryhigh priority, is the equivalent of recklessly entrusting this nation’s prosperityintothehandsofExxonMobil Itispatrimonycasually surrenderedtoapartner,andevenabloodbrothercouldbetempted tohelphimself

Fromallindications,thePPP/CGovernmentiscontenttobe spoon-fed by ExxonMobil with numbers furnished by the companyThisisinsane Thisisnothingshortofamazing,tobeso whollydependentonthenumbersandrepresentationsofapartner inadog-eat-dogbusiness Itisunbelievablethatanygovernment, any oil commissioner, would trust its present and its destiny so muchtoapartner,onewithlessthanastellarreputation Therecord ofExxonMobilintheUnitedStates,andinmostplaceswhereits hugefootprintisfirmlyplanted,hasgeneratedconsiderableanger, disappointment,andregretatwhatthecompanyhaspresentedas itsversionofaccounting Whetheraboutclimatechangerelated documentation,orotheroilfieldstatistics,ithasbeenatroubled history,onethatstretchescredibilityItspeaksofbeingallforitself, and wringing the last dollar out of an oilfield, project, or contract. But this is the partner in which the PPP/C Government and its high-ranking people place all their confidence. Truth be told, listening to the carefully presented words and postures of the government, it is obvious that there is greater trust, a more intimate relationship,withExxonMobil,thanwithlocals. Guyanese criticalofhowtheoilcompaniescarryontheirbusinessfeel the distaste and wrath of both government and its chief oil people. The savvy operators at ExxonMobil are given a handshake,whileconcernedGuyanesearegivenahardkick. Inabusinessthathasbeencharacterizedbyknowinginsiders and outside observers as cutthroat from the inception, yet the GovernmentofGuyanaplacesitseggsinExxonMobil’sbasket. With the record of oil behemoths in general, and poor host countries,asspecificreminders,thegovernmentoftodayandthe peopleatthehelmofthismassivenationalwealthareapictureof serenity, where there are abundant opportunities for playing games with oil production numbers and gouging Guyana Advanced technology, or independent outsiders could help reduce the monitoring deficit The PPP/C Government, however, dismisses such recommendations. Guyana has beengougedfromthebeginningbyExxonMobilwithitsoil. Again and again, the people that are elected to stand as stewards over this oil help in the gouging of the Guyanese people. Monitoring, and not just production, should have beenamust,andnowrisestohighurgency

Governance and equitability cannot be accomplished in a timely manner, if ever, without serious constitutional reforms

DEAREDITOR

Every so often in letters to the editor, former prime ministerHamiltonGreenhas been imploring the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to abandon its evil ways and adopt good governance if it wishes to build ‘One Guyana’. The response of the PPP and its supporters hasbeengenerallynegative: regurgitating the usual PPP propagandistic tit bits about the People’s National Congress and Mr Green’s dictatorialhistory Mr Green seems to have lost patience: recently in a piece entitled ‘Effectiveness of a Constitution dependent on personnel in captain’s deck on the ship of state’ (VV,11/02/2024), he exhibited this frustration to the point of suggesting that onlyGodcanhelpGuyana!

Green claimed that b o t h e r i n g w i t h constitutional reform ‘is a complete waste of time, energy and money’.We live in a terribly administered countryandtimeandenergy will be best directed at o v e r c o m i n g t h e s e deficiencies Whatever remaining energy we have should be directed towards our religious organisations, thehome,theschool,andthe community. Guyana needs ‘Men and women of integrity willing to practice what they preach, willing to be faithful to a constitution, men and women who truly believe in righteousness, men, and women with a moral sense. In other

words, ‘let us in our mosques,temples,churches, work feverishly to affect an attitudinal change and inject into the veins of those who lead to have a moral sense. …It is not what is in the Constitution.Itistogetmen and women of honour and rectitudetoleadournation.’

Perhaps unwittingly, he is taking the position of those, particularly in the PPP,whoaresetuponethnic dominance and do not wish tomakestrongconstitutional arrangements to protect the interestofAfricansandother ethnic groups. Those who absurdly would have us believethatnotwithstanding decades of knowledgeable advice about the nature of countries like ours, longstanding suggestions from sources such as the Carter CenterandnowtheUSState department, the constitution is good but it is the politicians that are bad Therefore, rather than immediately making fundamental changes to the constitution, let us leave the badpoliticianstooperatethe good constitution until the politicians change their bad ways and can manage the good constitution in an equitable and sensible manner!

W e l l , h i s recommendation is utopian twaddle and at a practical levelitissimplynotpossible for a longstanding political activist such as Hamiliton Green to relinquish immediate political results. So, according to Vincent

Alexander from the floor of theannualsymposiumofthe ForbesBurnhamFoundation late last month, Green ‘sarcasticallyconcludedthat inthecircumstanceofbeing accusedofriggingandgiven the crassness of the regime, then rigging may well be resorted to in an effort to save the country from the disregardfordemocracyand the lives of people by the PPP ‘devils, bastards, and demons’(KN:25/02/2024).

Mr Greenhasapparently apologized for his outburst, andthisisgood.Butsofaras I am concerned, a sufficiently dictatorial regimemustbeconfrontedat any level, so I do not contribute to the PPP’s highly questionable propagandistic disdain for electoral manipulations. In 1956, the Governor of British Guiana went to London for consultations and returned with a constitution that was clearly designedtorigthePPPoutof government. According to CheddiJagan,‘Weprotested against this allocation to the Chief Secretary Derek Jakeway Wepointedoutthat itwasaimedathelpingthose opposed to us, that in the greater Georgetown area where Burnham was entrenched, 5 seats of 1953 were combined by this ‘gerrymandering’ into 3, whileinourareaofstrength ineasternBerbice31/2seats were combined into 1. That Berbice constituency had 31,947votescomparedwith 5,879 for the town of New

Amsterdam Jakeway admitted that the object was to defeat us and did nothing about our protest’ (Cheddi Jagan (2004) ‘The West on Trial’,Harpy).

Of course, given the behaviour of some PPP members,theWestandtheir allies had already identified those in the PPPwhom they believed were Soviet-type communists and perhaps also had in their possession Cheddi’s 1951 letter to the Communist International suggesting that ‘British Guiana will most likely play the leading role in any future development of the Caribbean Area and... As such, a strong militant party in British Guiana is vitally necessary The balance of power in the Executive Committee of the party is with the communists’ (SN: 11/04/2023) Communism was about the global destruction of liberal democracy and so far as the West was concerned, one cannot legitimately use democracy(majorityrule)to end democracy I agreed with and still hold to this position.

Mr. Green purports that the present constitution is good.So,letussaythatlike theBritishandtheirallies,he is successful in rigging the PPPout of office, where are the good men and women with whom to replace it?

Whatever he may think of thePNC,hecertainlyknows that half this country thinks verybadlyofitandcanmake

(Continuedonpage06)

NYGuyanese Remember Ghazal Maestro Pankaj Udhas

DEAREDITOR, Indian Guyanese and otherloversofIndianmusic in the diaspora remember ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhaswhopassedawaylast week at age 72. He had a golden voice and was a master at the harmonium, a great singer He had several memorable hits He was h o n o u r e d b y t h e Government of India with a Padmashri.

His most famous ghazal was “Chitthi Aayi Hai”, a popularhitamongtheIndian diasporaandinIndiaitself.

He was adored by Guyanese who had great m e m o r i e s o f h i s

performances. In fact, he was a favorite among Guyanese and IndoCaribbeanpeople.Guyanese and Trini tabla players accompanied him on tours several times Several Guyanese businesses, including the late Ramesh Kalicharran group of companies, sponsored his performances in New York. He performed countless times for Indo-Guyanese and other Caribbean audience in New York, Toronto, and London including at New York mandirs. He also performed in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname. He was in New

York not too long ago singing to large IndoCaribbeanaudiences.

His passing came as a shock to not just the music industry in Bollywood but also fans around the globe. Sad faces were observed among Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people Condolencespouredinfrom Bollywood celebrities as well as Indo-Caribbean singers and musicians

Guyanese remember him as a fantastic musician and singer

Inaddition,theyspokeof how he was a quiet, softspoken gentleman who was worried about copyrights of

musicians and singers. He appealedtoGuyanesenotto patronize duplicate recordings and to purchase original tracks of all artistes as a means to supporting them. He brought Ghazal musictothem.

His coffin was draped with the Indian flag, and he was given a gun salute beforehiscremation.

Bollywood and sports personalities, including legendary Sunil Gavaskar, attended his cremation rites. H i n d u s , M u s l i m s , Christians,dressedinwhite, cametothefuneral.

Yourssincerely, VishnuBisram

Our government should seek international assistance to combat the fires consuming the Kanuku mountains

DEAREDITOR

Iwouldfirstliketomake special mention of the Toshao and villagers of my villageofNappiVillagewho havebeenbattlingheroically tocontainthefiresengulfing the Kanuku Mountains

ManythankstotheRegional officials and all other volunteers who have joined this fight. These fires have expanded beyond this village’s boundaries and included other villages such as Moco Moco Sadly, despite all of these heroic efforts, fires continue to blaze since some fires are highupthemountainslopes andcompletelyinaccessible. Pictures shared by residents of Region #9 have shown just how high up the slopes these fires are Other pictures have shown the more than 40-mile length of the mountains completely obscuredbysmoke.

The Kanuku Mountains areofsuchhighbiodiversity that it became a National Park protected under the lawsofGuyana.Ourcountry hasearnedbillionsofdollars in revenue from Carbon Creditsbecauseofareaslike the Kanuku Mountains Certainly, a vital biodiverse locationsuchastheKanuku Mountains deserves all effort to protect its pristine treasures The brave

voluntaryeffortsofresidents ofRegion#9isnotenough!

The Brazilian President was recently in Guyana discussing many areas of potential collaboration. Did anyone in our country’s delegation raise the idea of seeking assistance from Brazil on using air methods to attempt to douse these fires high up in the mountains? We were also recently informed that the Brazilian Army has moved battalions into the state of Roraima Can they be approached to offer assistance?Evenifitcannot be sourced from Brazil, we most certainly now have enough money in our treasury to hire specialized services from overseas. I guess it all comes down to w h e t h e r t h o s e i n government deem the tragedyunfoldingbeforeour eyes as serious enough to warrant a major investment tocontainthesefires?

The Protected Areas Commission should be much more vocal about this threat to one of its most prized assets They should/must be leading the call to demand more from the government to combat this threat. Strangely, not much has been heard from them.

How about getting some

realtimesatelliteimageryto have a clear idea of the extent of the area already destroyed? State of the art satellite technology is already in the country to monitor the oil ships in real time. Can they be requested to provide imagery over the Kanukus?Arealtimevisual imagery of the mountains may galvanize our leaders intodecisiveaction.

There is too much technology and money now availableinGuyanaforusto onlybedependingonheroic villagers and volunteers to tackletheseragingmountain fires over one of the most prized biodiverse areas of the country It’s time the government gets more involved and takes decisive action. Let’s not only see these areas only in terms of the revenue it brings in for the country Let’s treat it as theprizedtreasurewhichitis anddowhateverisnecessary toprotectit.

Every day that goes by only further magnifies the problem Let those with access to more resources thantheheroesofmyvillage be inspired by their efforts and get on board and collectively do everything possible to contain these mountainfires.

Sincerely

M.Abraham

Dr. Jagan was quintessentially a democrat and a developmentalist

DEAREDITOR

March 6, 2024 marks twenty-eight years since the passing of former President and founder-member of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr CheddiJagan.

Several individuals have proferred varying views on Dr Jagan and his role in the politicsofGuyana.Thereare somewhofeltthatDr Jagan was responsible for the PPP losing political power in the 1964 and subsequent elections by embracing an ideologythatdidnotsitwell with Washington. I beg to differ Dr Jagan was quintessentially a democrat and a developmentalist and, asfarasIknow,didheatany time advocate a system of governance that was at odds withwesternvaluesofmultiparty democracy, a marketdriven economy and ideologicalpluralism.

The records will show that Dr Jagan during the early PPP administrations encouraged private sector development through the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f manufacturing hubs and other incentives to the private sector After the PPP/C administration assumed power in 1992, Dr Jagan referred to the private sector as ‘the engine of growth’ and encouraged a tri-sectoral economy with the private sector playing a leadrole.

It is true that he stood at the left of the ideological spectrum but that did not

make him a ‘communist’or in any way diminished his popularityamongthemasses inGuyana.Infact,Dr Jagan andthePPPbecamethefirst ‘leftist’party in the western hemisphere to have won political office through constitutional means in the 1953 elections, the first that was held under universal adultsuffrage.

The fact that the constitution of Guyana was suspended by the British Government soon after the 1953 elections cannot be blamed on Dr Jagan who was popularly elected, having won 18 out of the 24 seats.NorcanDr.Jaganand the PPP be blamed for the imposition of Proportional Representation (PR) which ledtotheremovalofthePPP from office in the 1964 electionsdespitethefactthat thePPPwonapluralityofthe votes All subsequent elections were blatantly and massivelyriggedbythePNC until October 1992 when democracy was finally returned to the country, thanks to the intervention of the Carter Centre and other westernpowers.

In hindsight, it is fair to conclude that a mistake was madebytheUnitedStatesin its assessment of Dr Jagan, whose patriotism and n a t i o n a l i s m w a s m i s c o n s t r u e d a s ‘communistic’ This acknowledgementwasmade by no less a person than Arthur Schlesinger, who

later admitted that an injustice was done to Dr Jagan by the then US State Department. In fact, it was Schlesinger who, in his capacity as Advisor to President Kennedy suggested to the President ‘that an independent British Guiana under Forbes Burnham would pose fewer problems to the United States than an independent BritishGuianaunderForbes Burnham’.

The rest is now history Burnham not only broke off relations with the United Statesduringthelate1970’s but rigged all national and regional elections until October 1992 when democratic elections were heldafteranabsenceofsome twenty-eight years The country experienced prolonged economic and social decline to a point whereGuyanawasregarded at one point as the poorest country in the western hemisphere Indeed, whatever progress the country experienced was made under the PPP administration.

Yet there are some who continuetocastblameonDr Jagan for what they felt was his failure to understand the geo-political realities of the hemisphere.

In other words, the ‘victim’is being blamed for the actions of those who aided and abetted the subversionofthedemocratic

(Continuedonpage06)

Corruption stinks at Ministry ofAgriculture, NDIA

DEAREDITOR

,

Reference is made to “ContractsandContractors” (KNMar2).

The situation at the Ministryismuchworsethan the editorial suggests Payments are made for works not done, no-show works.

Wrong equipment and tools are purchased For whatends?

Some contractors and government functionaries have become extremely wealthy.

Some NDIA staff are provided vacations overseas

for approving non-working andunsuitableequipmentas well as payments for nonperformance.

Theyareclosingeyesto fraud.

R e c e n t l y , t h e Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and CEO of NDIA opted not to renew their contracts rather than put signatures to matters they disapproved and would b e c o n s i d e r e d a s corruption.

They were opposed to approving substandard pumps, unworkable pump

stations and making payment for non-existent works

They left the ministry rather than have to face questions from an investigative public on wrongdoingsattheministry Severalcompetentengineers also resigned for same reasons.Butsomeengineers arefetedwell.

Eight went on an allexpense paid vacation to Las Vegas courtesy of a local pump station contractor.

It is reported that a regional engineer who

Food airdrop as ally seeks to redeem itself

DEAREDITOR

While the blocking of aid trucks from enteringGazacontinues,thebestitsallycan counter with is to airdrop humanitarian assistance, in face of hundreds who were killedwhileseekingfoodrelief.

Instead of calling for Israel to allow accessofthebesiegedstripinordertobring muchrelieftocitizens,theallyisseekingto redeem itself now by decisions which have

come back to haunt, with criticisms being levelledagainstitfortheairdropplan.

Now the VP is calling for an immediate ceasefire. Willthecallbelistenedtomuch lessheeded?

PeacemustcometoPalestine. Someday, the wind will carry their laughter instead of theirscream.

Regards

ShamshunMohamed

supposed to represent NDIA’s interests is working for a contractor in Region 2; he gets high remuneration

T h i s p a r t i c u l a r engineer was among those who went on the ten-day holiday in Las Vegas, sponsored by a pump supplier of sub-standard pumps.

How is this acceptable to Ministry and the government? Did the Minister and Chair of NDIA approve of the vacation and did he query how the group of engineers was going to Vegas? Why and who was paying for such lavish and expensivetrip?

Some pumps recently arrivedfromChina.

The specs required for the job should have been American or Indian made. The specs of the arrived pumps have not been met. Theywillnotwork.

The pump stations, as your editorial and reports in other independent media noted,arealreadymorethan ayearbehind.

The station itself is poorly designed and not done by certified engineers.

The new CEO and engineers are being pressured to approve the pumps

At my visit at my sister’shomeinEssequibo

a few days ago, I saw two pumps being parked at AndrewsVillage Villagers told me that the pump station has been under construction for three years When will it finish?

Would the new CEO of NDIA, new Permanent Secretary, and remaining engineers (not sent on vacation) be strong enough to push back againstcorruption?

Would they hold ground and refuse to succumb to pressure to approve substandard equipment, pumps, and works?

Yourstruly, RudeshJodha

Dr. Jagan was quintessentially...

Frompage05 cultureofthecountry.Dr.Jagan’sroleinthe struggle for independence and for a free and democraticGuyanaislegendary His vision for a better and more humane society continues to influence the thinking and policyorientation of all subsequent PPP/C administrations.

Vision, itissaid,istheabilitytobeyondthe immediate.Inthisregard,Dr Jagan’scallfor a New Global Human Order, debt relief for impoverished nations, a regional development fund, sustainable environment and world peace has found resonance with millionsofpeoplearoundtheworld.

Regards

Hydar Ally

Governance and equitability...

Frompage04 a creditable case for their position, even without reference to the PNC’s most recent performance Furthermore, to many in the PPP, the leadership of the PNC is made up of some of the most vicious ‘devils, bastards,anddemons’.

When one honestly expressesapositionthatruns counter to one’s interest, I consider it the result of a povertyofthought.

As suggested above, Mr Green was rightly uncomfortable with the position he had adopted and he pleaded, ‘If someone can tell me what changes in our Constitution can alter this fact (that making changes would be a waste of time), I will readily change my position’.

Globally, nowhere are politicians as a group thought of as ‘men and women of great honour and rectitude’, but it does not take much to recognise that in the context of Guyana, if, somewhatlikeSuriname,the constitution had required a 2/3 majority vote in the National Assembly for someone to become the president and/or pass the n a t i o n a l b u d g e t , government/ opposition relations would have been muchdifferent.

Similar changes that will force positive behaviouralchangesinthe wicked politicians could be made in relation to the all-important judiciary and a whole range of other issues.

Religion and ethnic

allegiances are much stronger when compared to loyalty to ideologies a n d t h e p r e s e n t relationship between Ukraine and Russia is a goodexample

Over decades, ethnic fidelity has made Guyana into a country with two competingpoliticalvisions.

Thetask,Mr Green,isto arrange and optimally manage this context with peopleastheyareandnotas you would like them to be.

Whenyoutakethisonboard youwillcometorealisethat good governance and equitability cannot be accomplished in a timely manner, if ever, without serious constitutional reforms.

Sincerely

Dr.HenryJeffrey

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Childrenstarving todeathinGaza

“Severe levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, hospital buildings destroyed" in northern Gaza, where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.

"The lack of food resulted in the deaths of 10 children," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,

Director-General of the World Health Organization.

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‘We are not bullies Pres. Ali; all we need is a livable wage’

“The union and teachers arenotbulliesandtheyarein no way trying to bully the government, they are simply asking that their terms are met at the mediation table before they return to the classroom, said President of the GuyanaTeacher's Union, Dr Mark Lyte on Sunday during a live stream via the Union'sFacebookPage.

He was at the time responding to remarks made by President Irfaan Ali on Saturday, who accused the teachersoftryingtobullythe government. Lyte said that, “We are not going back to schoolunlessthegovernment agreestoourtermsandthisis not bullyism this is standing our ground and this is what unions do. Unions recognise whengovernmentstrytotake advantage of their members and they stand their ground with their members. Unions hold fast to their position so letmedeclareclearlytheball isinthegovernment'scourtto agreeatthemediationtableto our conditions for resumption,thatisbeforethe mediation panel.” The GTU president reiterated that the Union's actions were in no

- GTU President

way, “bullyism, we are not bullying the government, we are saying these are the conditions under which we willreturn…,”Lytesaid.

During a live broadcast on Saturday, President Ali said that, “We cannot be politicallybullied.Thereisa system, an ongoing process. You cannot return to that ongoing process under duress.Iftheunionisserious about returning to the process, then they will have the teachers back in school and proceed to the process that was underway The Presidentaddedthat,“Thisis the point we have been making consistently, that the meetings that were planned mustbeallowedtocontinue, and that is where issues relating to the welfare of teachers will continue to be discussed, but those who are alignedwiththeleadershipof the GTU allow political directives to supersede the natural course of things, to influencetheirbehaviour.”

Duringthelivebroadcast on Saturday, the President

also said according to a DPI bulletin that since assuming office, the government has had more than 25 meetings with the GTU. “In these meetings with the union, 30 out of the 41 requests made by the union was fulfilled. Apart from the 30, 28 additional non-requested benefits were implemented by the government and the Ministry of Education,” he pointed out Additionally, DPIsaidlastyear,theheadof state directly engaged with teachers from the 10 administrative regions. This engagement gave teachers the platform to discuss the stateoftheeducationsystem andaddresschallengesfaced.

In a statement issued on

President of the GTU, Mark Lyte

Thursdaylast,theMinistryof Educationmadeitclearthata 'long and settled' practice of meeting monthly with the GTUhasbeenongoingsince 11th August 2020 The release stated that at these meetings, multiple issues relating to the welfare of teachers and improvements in the administration of the education sector have been addressed, including salary issues. The last of these engagements took place on 31st January 2024, with the next meeting scheduled to take place on 21st February 2024 As a result, the president in his address said that the responsibility is in thehandsoftheteachersand theGTU.

Lyte on Sunday also debunked claims by President Ali that the union and the Ministry of Education were holding meetings on salary issues, when talks broke down and the teachers proceeded on strikeaction.

"Let them produce the minutes that are signed by both sides the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers' Union. Let those minutes come forth and let those minutes say that we have spoken on financial matters,salarymatters,"Lyte said. Lyte said that the only waytoresolvethematterand bury the issue was to have those minutes produced today that these types of discussions were indeed held."Inordertoburythis,let them produce the signed minutes and we have to be careful because they can make-up minutes " The GTU President went on to say, " lies have been peddled about our engagements, and I want to spend some time talking about the engagements with t h e M i n i s t r y o f Education...we have shown

Harrisescalatesadministration callsforGazaceasefire

(CNN) —Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday forcefully called for more humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying that people in the region are “starving” in the face of “inhumane” conditions and urging Israel to do more in one of the strongest pushes by a US official to date.Harris – who was in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday – has been closely monitoring the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and has been involved in the post-conflictplanningforthe besiegedcoastalenclave.

Her Sunday remarks marked an escalation in the US push to address the situation in Gaza “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses,” Harris said. Her comments also come at a criticalmomentintheIsraelHamas war On Monday, the vice president is expected to meet with Benny Gantz, a key member of the Israeli

War Cabinet and rival to Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu,whois in Washington as the US continues to advocate a temporary ceasefire and hostagerelease.

“What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from m a l n u t r i t i o n a n d dehydration,” Harris said, citingthedeathsofdozensof Palestinians amid Israeli gunfire and panic at Gaza foodlines.

“Our hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocentpeopleinGazawho are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane, ” she continued Harris also echoedcallsbyPresidentJoe Biden for a six-week

ceasefire — a proposal that wouldallowforthereleaseof hostages held by Hamas and a surge of humanitarian aid intoGaza.

“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire,foratleastthenext six weeks, which is what is currently on the table,” Harrissaidtocheersfromthe crowd. “Hamas claims it wantsaceasefire.Well,there is a deal on the table.And as wehavesaid,Hamasneedsto agree to that deal. Let's get a ceasefire.

Let'sreunitethehostages with their families.And let's provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza,” she added.

On Saturday, the United States and Jordan airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza after Biden had asserted that the US would pull out “every stop” to get more aid into the territory Senior administration officials touted the effort as successful but maintained thatmoreneedstobedoneto

address the crisis in Gaza, including ensuring land crossings are available to sendmoreassistanceintothe region Officials are also exploring a maritime corridortodeliveraid.

Anannual commemoration

Speaking at the site of a critical moment for the civil rightsmovement,Harrisalso warnedSundaythat59years after Bloody Sunday, Americans' freedoms were again at risk as she drew a direct link to “extremist” Republican efforts to restrict reproductive rights, voting rights and other issues “Selma, the challenges we currently face are not unlike thechallengesfacedbythose 600 brave souls 59 years ago,” she said before marchingacrosstheEdmund Pettus Bridge, the site of violence in 1965 as 600 people began a march from Selma to Montgomery, demanding an end to discrimination in voter registration.

In 1965, state and local

you very clearly that the engagements with MoE are nothing but statutory meetings which we have committed to based on our multi-year agreement " He further explained, "The engagementshavedealtwith howwecanimprovepolicies in the education sector, and the last agenda which we sharedonourFacebookPage had nothing to do about salaries So, I cannot understandwhytheleaderof this country the President would take to his presentation to try to say to teachers, to try to say to the public, that the Ministry of Education was engaging us onfinancialmatters.

These are lies, absolute liesandtohearthatdifferent governmentofficialswillsay this, somebody is giving them a script from which to read " "We have been meeting,thePresidentisnow sayingwemetfor25times,I want to see those 25 times thatwemet.Infact,wewere notmeetingeverymonth,we were meeting as the need arises to deal with educational issues," he added.

lawmeninAlabamaattacked the marchers on the bridge withbillyclubsandteargas, drivingthembacktoSelma.

Seventeen people were hospitalized and dozens morewereinjuredbypolice.

Monthsafterthebrutality,the VotingRightsActwassigned intolaw

“Inthismoment,we,too, then are confronted with a fundamental question: What kindofcountrydowewantto livein?Dowewanttolivein acountryoffreedom,liberty, and justice, or a country of injustice, hate, and fear? We each have the power to answer that question, with

our voice, with our feet, and with our votes,” Harris said Sunday.

The vice president also said that “the fight for freedom is not over,” pointing to efforts to curb voting rights, reproductive rights and the ability to live free of gun violence. Harris' visit to Selma marked the fifthtimeshehasparticipated in the annual civil rights pilgrimage.

Sheattendedasasenator in 2018, as a presidential candidate in 2020, and as vice president in 2022. She also took part virtually in 2021.

Vice President, Kamala Harris

Never heard of an installation ceremony for a credit union

I do confess to never having heard of an installation or swearing-in ceremony for the members of the executive of a credit union. If such a practice exists anywhere in the world,itwouldbeoutsideof thenormal.

Creditunionsareprivate financial institutions and their governance typically involves the election or appointment of board members or executives and officersbythecreditunion’s members or by a governing body established according tothecreditunion’sbylaws.

While there may not be a formal swearing-in ceremony, elected or

appointed officials of credit unions are usually required to take on fiduciary responsibilities and adhere to certain ethical standards outlinedbythecreditunion’s rules. But it would be quite unusual for the elected management or executive committeetosubscribetoan oathbeforetakingoffice.

Credit unions are typically formed and owned by individuals who share a common bond, such as belongingtothesamesector, working for the same employer, or belonging to the same organization or association. Members pool their deposits to provide loans and other financial

services to one another at competitive rates Unlike banks, which are owned by shareholdersandoperatefor profit, credit unions are usually owned and controlledbytheirmembers, who elect a volunteer board of persons to oversee the institution’s operations Credit unions therefore, can have thousands of members and this, as we are now seeing,canpresentproblems in obtaining a quorum for special or annual members meetings.

There has been a report in the media which suggests that the Guyana Public Service Credit Union has about 25,000 members and

Man found chopped to death at WCB

A45-year-old man was on Monday found dead with multiple chop wounds to his body at Number 41 Village backlands, West Coast Demerara(WCD).

Police identified him as Odit Persaud Thom and he was last seen alive around 08:00hrs on Saturday He reportedly worked as a labourer and was employed byacattlefarmerRennision Mitchell and other cattle farmers in the area to take care of their animals at SeafieldBackdam,WCB.

At around 12:30hrs on Monday, Mitchell and another cattle farmer Thom worked for found his decomposing body floating inatrenchbetweentworice fields at the Number 41 Villagebacklands.

According to police, the body bore chop wounds to thearmsandhead.Thecattle

The murdered Odit Persaud Thom’s ID card found in his haversack

farmers told police that Thom stayed at the camp in the Seafield Backdam to watch over their animals.

On Sunday, Mitchell said that he and another farmer learntthattheiranimalswere impounded at the Weldaad Police Station by a rice farmer from Foulis Village.

Asaresult,Mitchellandthe othercattlefarmerwentinto the backdam in search of Thom but did not find him. More cattle farmers joined

them on Monday, to continue the search for him and his body was recovered around midday Police were immediately called to remove his body Police notedthatThom’sbodywas clad in a pair of black jeans andblackjerseyalongwitha haversack on his back Inside the haversack police found his ID card and toiletries. A pair of slippers and a black cap were also foundonadamcloseby

DEM BOYS SEH

Power is like a hat to a bald head

Deh gat people does hold on to power like it’s demlastplateofpepperpot at Christmas time! It’s like demcyantfunctionwithout it,likeafishouttawateror acricketbatwithoutaball. Dem boys seh, it’s like a bald-headed man clingin’ ontohimlasthatlikeit’sthe crownjewels!

Whendetimecomefuh dem fuh step aside, dem doesfindallkindofexcuse fuh delay the inevitable.

Butintheend,demstillgat to walk. So dem does only embarrassdemselves.

Some of dem does be goin’ to real desperate measures to hold on to power Dem could mek an actionmovieouttasomeof dem antics! Dem wah addictedtopowermakin’a spectacleofdemselves.

But yuh see, deh ting dat mek it even funnier is datindeend,nobodytakin’ dat power wit’ dem to de GreatBeyond!Isliketryin’ to pack a suitcase with nothinginside.

When yuh time come, yuh leffin’ all dem fancy titles, prestige and shiny

that for a general or special members’meetingaquorum of one-quarter of these members are required. This forallintentsandpurposesis impractical It would be impossibletoassemblesome 6,000personsforameeting, even with the use of technology Special or annual general members meetings are supposed to be held in-person because the intent is not only attendance but also to allow for participation. How do you facilitate a meeting with 6,000 persons when the meeting is being held in a place which can hold only a few hundred? Even with online attendance, it does presentlogisticalchallenges.

Assuming a credit union grows to encompass 25,000 members,assemblingsucha large number for a meeting presents logistical challenges including space constraintsandtheabilityfor all members to effectively engage and participate diminishes.Ifindeedthereis aquorumrule(formembers’ meetings) of a quarter of members, it is more than likely that this rule was set whenthemembershipwasa few hundred. This rule may no longer be feasible or relevant with tens of thousands of members. The legality of any such special or annual general meetings

would thus have to rest on thedoctrineofnecessity

This doctrine of necessity allows for actions to be taken that would otherwise be illegal or impractical under normal circumstances when necessary to prevent greater harm or ensure the functioning of an organization. In the context of a credit union or any organization with quorum requirements, if it is genuinely impossible to gatherthefullquorumdueto factors beyond reasonable, thedoctrineofnecessitymay justify proceeding with the election to avoid a situation wheretheorganizationisleft without leadership or d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g capabilities. However, this justification typically requires clear evidence of the impossibility to convene a full quorum. To manage quorum requirements effectively in a credit union withalargemembershiplike 25,000, one approach is to implement a representative system. Instead of requiring a fixed percentage of total membership to be present at meetings to establish a quorum, the credit union c o u l d e s t a b l i s h a representative assembly composed of delegates electedbythemembership. Each delegate would

representacertainnumberof members.Suchasystemwill ensureamanageablenumber of representatives can convenetoestablishquorum while still representing the interests of the entire membership base This system not only streamlines the quorum process but also encourages greater e n g a g e m e n t a n d representation among members. These members will have the opportunity to elect individuals who best reflect their interests and concerns

In the interest of advancing the work of the Guyana Public Service Credit Union, it is now critical that the newly elected executive be permitted to proceed with their duties, including the revision of rules pertaining to quorum requirements and ensuringthebestinterestsof the union’s members A protracted legal battle will have implications for public and membership confidence inthecreditunion.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

badges behind, and all dat power still sittin’ deh waitin’to be picked up by de next eager beaver who tinkhecoulddobetter

Oneminuteyuhholdin’ on tight like yuh life dependin’onit,anddenext minute, yuh passin’ it off like a hot potato. So, all dem wah holding on to or fighting fuh power, should know dat dem can’t tek it with them when dem leff thisworld.Demgoingback to dem Maker emptyhanded.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Lessons from India for Guyana

Muchenergyandpassion have been manifested in Guyana about coverage, and itsproperlevels,intheevent ofanoilspill.

There have been endless back and forth, ups and downs, and twists and turns, relativetoinsurance,proofof insurance, partial guarantee, subsidiaryguarantee,andfull parent company guarantee, plusproofsofthosealso.

Igodownonrecordtosay that something exists somewhere in some amount. Regardingitssufficiency,the mostIoffertodayisthatitis notenough.

This is sight unseen, and notwithstanding how it is being packaged and sold by eitherthecorporatePrinceof Wales, His Majesty Alistair Routledge, or Guyana's r e i g n i n g p o l i t i c a l panjandrum, Infallible BharratJagdeo.

Jagdeo the Oreo, as I believe. But I do have some gemstosharewithmypeople ofidenticalandothercolours.

The dark jewels are all the wayfromIndia,andfromthe worst of circumstances These are the surrounding facts.

Inabbreviatedform,there was an industrial disaster in BhopalIndiainMarch1984. Theresultwasapproximately 20,000 dead, and well over a

half million Indians injured. The disaster has never really ended because the human wreckagecontinues40years later. C'mon! There are plenty of them, so it doesn't matter, nobody should be counting. Iam. Thevictims were awarded US$470 millionintotalcompensation for the thousands dead, the countless crippled, and the multitudessavagedbyUnion Carbide's dangerous recklessness. The Indian Government was a part of that settlement, and many thought that the Indian judiciary could have been more independent, much stronger

I repeat so that this grabs Guyaneseandholdthem:the Indian Government settled on US$470 million whittled down from US$3.3 billion, an 85% leadership discount. The Indian Government was also instrumental in the release and immediate flight of Union Carbide's CEO WarrenAndersonbacktothe US. For their pain and suffering, their loss and wretched lives left, each impacted Indian received aroundUS$550.

Whoeversaidthatthelife of colored people, or their existence, is expensive is a damn liar, a diabolical criminal. All should recall

thebarteringandbuyingand bringing out and bringing down of slaves. Little has changed.

Using the US$470 million quietly worked out and finalized as recompense for 20,000 dead Indians, and 558,000injuredIndians,asa measuringrodandprecedent probably explains something.

It is that initial US$600 million identified by Exxon as generous insurance for 750,000 (or a million) Guyanese should there be a disastrousoilspill.

The US$600 million kindness of a figure named byExxon(withcollaborating localpoliticalmindshelping) may have risen because it is four decades later, and as a bow to inflation, and the present value of a dollar I willbypassthenoisethatled to the creature called the US$2 billion guarantee (currentlynothingmorethan a surety bond for court purposes), in lieu of a full parent guarantee, and head from India and Guyana to goodoleAmerica.

The land of the free, the true,andthebrave. Another lesson is in store for my f e l l o w G u y a n e s e , particularly those patriots that love to fetch water for Exxon and Alistair, shine

their shoes, and get some polish on their own nose proudly presented before otherhorrifiedGuyanese.

In 2001, Dow Chemical (Dow) bought Union Carbide. Now here is the first beauty from that story. Dow said that it has no responsibility for Union Carbide's existing liabilities relative to India. In a total breach and departure from longstanding norms, and international law about “successor liability” Dow washed its hands of the people of Bhopal, India According to the company's line of reasoning, Dow did not inherit that, but what Dow did was spit upon that duty, and upon the people of Bhopal, and India. Now get ready for this glaring contradiction, this racist inspiration Dow paid US$2.2 billion to settle old American asbestos matters inherited in its purchase of Union Carbide (my emphasis added) Dow could have paid billions in America to Americans in Texas for Union Carbide's asbestos liabilities, but not a cent for hurting, dying, Indians of Bhopal. White is alright. Brown don't bother tostickaround.

In fairness, I should mention that Union Carbide

hadclaimedthatitsoldthe Bhopalplant,anditwasnot onitsbooks. False! Thefact was that the Indian Government had shut down the plant. Here is another delicious part of the Union Carbide-Dow Chemical obscenity Recall the US$550 comp for each injured Indian, Ms. Kathy Hun, the Public Relations Officer for Dow had this to say:“US$500 is plenty good for an Indian ” That's telling them sister! Putting them in their second status places. Insteadofflayingmy beloved fellow Guyanese at OP, OPM, OVP, I place before them, inclusive of Excellencies Ali, Phillips, Jagdeo,andtheposseofeach the ongoing Bhopal tragedy This is commentary: prostrate self as much as it pleases, but always remain a…(insertappropriateracial slur).

Derogate honest, conscientious Guyanese for the white man's favor, and still stand as an abhorrence (make the best use of Dr Jagdeo's descriptive that beginswithan'l').

Sellself,sellcountry,sell citizens, and still the sellers remainapallandaparasitein t h e e y e s o f t h e unreconstructed bigots and racists at Exxon. Exxon is

Guyana's Union Carbide on standbyandsteroids. Exxon isGuyana'sDowChemicalin waiting. I go my way, after leaving this parting gift for President Ali and President Jagdeo and President to be Norton: remember that original US$600 million coverage? Go ahead and divide it by 750,000 Guyanese The result is US$800forlossofeconomic livelihood, promised potential Even if only 100,000 Guyanese are directlyimpacted,themathis still depravedly callous and pureanimal.

Go ahead, my brothers: ask Exxon and Messrs Woods and Routledge how they (and their actuaries and assessors and assayers) arrived at US$600 million originally for Guyanese for an oil spill. Most of all, my dearly beloved brothers Ali and Jagdeo should stare at themselves and ask of themselveswhathasbecome ofthem.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the o p i n i o n s o f t h i s newspaper.)

Hicken and Brutus to go into sand mining

...get 12 acres of land each for operations

Two senior members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken,andDeputyCommissioner (ag) Calvin Brutus have each secured11.7acresoflandfortheir respective sand mining projects in Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway

The project summaries, prepared by geological engineer Robert Bostwick, were officially submitted to the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month and have been available for public scrutiny since February 26, 2024. According to the documents, Hicken and Brutus acquiredfromtheGuyanaGeology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Mining Permit for the purpose of extracting on commercial scale quarry sand These plans encompass various aspects, including operational procedures, environmental impact mitigation measures and strategies for site reclamation upon project completion.Theprimaryobjective

ofbothprojectsistoextractquarry sandonacommercialscale,withan anticipated production target of 76,000tonsannuallyoveraperiod of10years.Operationsareslatedto runfivedaysaweek,withasingle eight-hourshift.

Thedecisiontoembarkonthese sand mining endeavours is

unde rpinned by the robust demand for silica sand both domestically and globally, the documents stated.

Silica sand, renowned for its versatile applications in industries such as construction, glassmaking, andfiltration,hasseenasteadyrise in demand Market projections

indicatecontinuedgrowth,making investments in sand mining ventureseconomicallyviable.

Itwasstated,“Nowadays,silica sand is being used for welldiversified applications including paving roads, glass making, foundriesandcoalburningboilers, oil and water filtration, industrial casting,sandblasting…”

Moreover,itwashighlightedin the documents that the Ministry of Financereportedthatin2018,there was an increase of 12% in the construction industry and there continuestobeasteadyincreasein the demand for construction material including sand. Based on the current market trends and prices,themarketforecastoverthe next few years is extremely viable forthiscommodity

Financial analyses conducted within the current market framework support the feasibility of these projects, with estimated capital costs totaling US$104,000 for the initial setup period and ongoing operating costs projected at US$576,000, the documents stated.

Notably it was stated in the

document that mining projects create a 'boom and bust' economic cycle for the nearby communities.

It was explained that during the constructionperiod,therewillbea high demand for labor, goods, and services.

However, this demand is expected to decrease significantly once the project enters its operational phase. As a result, workers and subcontractors sourced from local communities may become economically vulnerable during this transition. Certainareasmayexperiencemore significant economic impacts than others, leading to widespread and sudden unemployment, loss of supplycontracts,anddisruptionsto assuredsourcesofincome.

To this end, it was stated that thereislikelytobeadeclineinthe demand for construction workers as the project shifts into the operation phase. The demand for skilled mining workers will however increase. It is expected that the number of skilled mining workers will be less than the number required for the constructionphase.

Deputy Commissioner, Calvin Brutus Top-Cop Clifton Hicken

Elections fraud case trial further delayed

…asdefenceattorneyrequests additionaldocuments

The trial into the 2020 elections f r a u d c a s e , scheduled to begin on Monday, some three years after the matter was brought beforetheMagistrates'Court hasbeenfurtherdelayeddue to a request by attorney Nigel Hughes for additional documents.

Multiple criminal charges were brought against several former officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as well as two P e o p l e ' s N a t i o n a l Congress/Reform (PNCR) members in relation to the alleged attempt to rig the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and the eventsthatfollowed.

Those charged are: former GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) ReturningOfficerClairmont

Mingo, PNC/R members, Volda Lawrence, and Carol Smith-Joseph and other GECOM employees, Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise BobbCummings and Michelle Miller

On Monday, defence attorney Hughes made a request for additional documents when he represented his clients Lowenfield, Myers and Mindo, at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly

Hughes called on the prosecution, led by Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani,KCtotoprovide him with additional documents in relation the minutesofmeetingsheldby GECOM, during the period under examination and documents of all decisions taken.

Hughes argued that an unfair trial would offend his clients' rights to equality before the law and its' equal protection as well as the benefitsofthelaw

In response, Ramdhani

said that the disclosure was made over two years ago, and no request for minutes and decisions of the Commission was ever made bythedefencethen.

He pointed out that Section 140 of the Representation of the People's Act (ROPA) which prohibitstheuseofGECOM decisions or communication incourtproceedings.

However, the defence attorney contended that a submission was made and that Section 140 ROPA is unconstitutional, as it

breaches the fundamental rights of his clients to a fair trialasguaranteedbyArticle 144oftheConstitution.

The prosecution argued that it was only until last Wednesday (February 28, 2024) at about 23:06 hours, that Hughes made a request for the disclosure of the minutesanddecisionsofthe Commission.

The lead prosecutor also informedthecourtthatheis not in possession of the document,anddoesnothave the power/authority to disclosethem.

Notwithstanding, the Special Prosecutor's statement Attorney Hughes maintained that it is unconstitutional and suggested that his request shouldbependedtotheHigh Court to determine whether such documents can be disclosedintheGeorgetown Magistrates'Court.

In keeping with the request, Magistrate Daly adjourned the court case to Wednesday, for the determination on whether such application should be madebeforeajudge.

Former national cyclist wanted for airport drug bust

Tyrone Hamilton, one of two men wanted in connected with a recent drug bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), surrendered on Monday in the presence of his attorney Nigel Hughes, the Customs Antinarcotics Unit (CANU) disclosed onitswebsite.

On February 28, 2024, CANU issued two wanted bulletins for HamiltonandGavinMcKie.

Last Thursday, 26-year-old Travis Sealey, a shift leader attached to the New Timehri Handling Service (NTHS) and 20year-old Koby Bakker, a ground security coordinator, attached to Secure Innovations and Concept (SIC) were busted with G$64M worthofcocaineatCJIA.

The interception was done by officers attached to the airport's CANU who observed the men retrievingfourdufflebagsfroman unidentified male through the airport'sfence.

Asearch was conducted on the bags and 64 brick-like parcels, suspected to be cocaine, were discovered.

The men, as well as the suspected drugs, were taken to the CANU's headquarters where tests were done on the parcels. The contents of the parcels were

Former Reg.5 REO purchases drugs months before going to tender – PAC hears

Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Ovid Morrison back in 2019 allegedly made purchase of medical drugs for the region months before he actually tenderedforthesupplies.

This was revealed on Monday during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) This violation was raised during the examination of records related to matters at the Region Five Regional Democratic Council as highlightedinthe2019report oftheAuditorGeneral(AG). It should be noted that following Morrison's departure as REO, the position was taken up by Genevieve Blackman who wasjustrecentlyreplacedby thenewREOofRegionFive Dwayne Adams The three officials were on Monday present at the PAC meeting along with other regional officials.

In the AG's report, it statedthatuponexamination of some 93 payment vouchers, it found, “thirtyone instances totalling $3.829M where the bill date wasbeforetheRequisitionto Purchase (RTP) date. This is an indication that standard

procedures were not followed.”

Highlightingthefindings on Monday during the meeting was PAC member and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who asked “how did this happen, what was the process that allowed for this to happen?” Not answering the question directly, Former REO Blackman informed the meetingthatthe31instances as highlighted by the AG were in relation to the purchases of medical supplies.

She went on to say, “So we have the list of the 31 instances…likeinthecaseof drugs and medical, for the firstinstance,theRTPdateis th the6 ofSeptember2019,but th the bill date is the 10 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9 ” Highlighting another instance,shesaidthatthebill date for items was the 27 August 2019, and the RTP was the 27 of September, 2019.

Not getting a direct answertohisinitialquestion, Minister Edghill went on to ask if the former Regional Health Officer (RHO) at the time or the current RHO can recallhowthisbreachwould have happened It was disclosed at the meeting that

the former RHO Dr DesmondNicholsonwasnot present at the PAC meeting despite being contacted to makeanappearance.

The former REO Morrison was then asked if hecangiveananswerandhe replied saying that it was the former RHO who can give account as to what had happened. Edghill then further asked whose signaturewasontheRTPsat thetimeanditwasdisclosed that it was the former REO andcurrentDeputyRegional Executive Officer (DREO) Sherwyn Wellington. When asked if he can give account to the AG's findings, WellingtontoldthePACthat “What I used to do is just assist in signing off the RTP

when it comes to the region becauseitwassomuchthatI wouldsigntheRTPbookand theREOwouldsignthePVs (paymentvouchers),thatisin some instances when he is notavailable.”

After listening to the exchange between the regional officials and MinisterEdghill,Opposition Member of Parliament, G a n e s h M a h i p a u l commented that the process inwhichthemedicalsupplies were acquired was not right.

“I think and I agree with comrade Edghill, it is not an issue that should be overlooked… This is clearly where the health services programme received items th on the10 of February, 2019 from suppliers and the

The ganja farm at Ebini going up in flames

preparation of documents to satisfy payment happened in September And that is not right,”hesaid.Alsospeaking on the findings was PAC member and Minister of G o v e r n a n c e a n d Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira who said “The deeper we dig, the worse it gets in that what theAuditor Generalfound.”

Teixeira stated that if the items were not available, or thehospitalranout,arequest would have to be made for the items to be purchased or acquired. On that basis, the RDC would have to take the necessary steps in acquiring theitems.

“So there seems to be some disconnect, how could we pay and then making

request to pay in September andthedeliveryofgoods,soI think that the deeper we dig the worse it gets but clearly this is violation of administrative procedures to do with the purchases of drugs,”sheraised.

ThePACmemberfurther mentionedthathavingfound the wrongdoings and emphasizing that it is a total of 31 instances in which this happened,“Ithinkthishasto be flagged as a violation of t h e P r o c u r e m e n t arrangements as well as a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e Administrativeproceduresin the region with regard to purchasingofdrugs sothis is a repeated pattern by the region which I think needs furtherinvestigation.”

Policesetganjafarmablaze

Region Ten police on Sunday set a four-acre ganja farm ablaze at Ebini,BerbiceRiver Ranks were conducting a 'narcoticseradicationexercise'inthe

Berbice River between 12:00 and 16:30hrs when they found the farm.

“Therewereonehundredandthirtytwo (132) beds and each bed had seventy-six plants, ranging from twelve inches to five feet in height,”

policesaidwhileaddingthatanother 10,032 Cannabis plants weighing 334.4lbs,werealsofound.Some34 poundsofdriedcannabiswerefound too in a makeshift camp, which was alsosetonfire.

Regional officials of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Five during the PAC meeting on Monday.

‘Teachers’ strike called off’

After just over a m o n t h o f industrial action, the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU)onMondaycalledoff the nationwide teachers' strike following a successful mediation process that brokered an agreement for salary talks to take place betweentheGovernmentand GTU.

The agreement between the GTU and the Attorney General the State's legal representativefollowsalmost two days of mediation that was ordered by High Court JusticeSandilKissoon.

The mediation process was presided over by Senior Counsel, Robin Stoby and EdwardLuckhoo.

Following an entire day oftalks,representativesfrom the GTU told reporters that teachers will return to work on Wednesday, March 6, 2024,asthemediationpaved the way for discussions on salaries and other issues to beginonThursday

GTUPresident,Dr Mark Lyte has welcomed the agreement, stating that the upcomingmeetingwillcover all of the issues such as financial matters which would include salary matters at the collective bargaining level.

“Well, as you know, we've been here all day And we've finally been able to have an agreement with the government, after all these years to come to the table to discusstheimportantpart[of those agreements] in financial matters.” Dr. Lyte

...asGovt.agreesto commencetalkswithGTU oversalaryincreases

toldreportersonMonday

He continued “We have given a commitment in that on or before 6th March, we expect that our teachers will return to school We have beengiventheassurancethat the financial matters, as we were hammering them on, willbediscussedthiscoming Thursday.”

TheGTUPresidentnoted too other issues to be discussed including proposals for teachers' housing and more duty-free concessions.

Dr. Lyte noted however that the financial matters such as loss of pay for strike days and the government's refusal to automatically deduct and remit union dues were not part of the agreement.

“Thosemattersarebefore the Court so those were not placedonthetable,”Dr Lyte added.

GTU Attorney, Darren Wade, said the signed agreement which is now an order of court provides for financial matters to be the firstitemontheagenda.

Wade noted that “the agreementhas to act in good faithsoitputsaburdenonthe governmentwhentheyareat the table to ensure that the teachers' issues are addressed.”Accordingtothe lawyer, “the agreement is bindingand“thegovernment cannotbackout”.

Meanwhile, Attorney-atLaw, Darshan Ramdhani who represented the interest of Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC the legal

representative for the Government of Guyana during mediation remarked that “we're very pleased that theyarereturningtothetable andthattheseconversations, discussionswillnowtakeon a more conciliatory approach.”

“The government has been engaging with the unions.

And so, we are very pleased that they are returningtothetableandthat these conversations and discussions are meaningful ones for the teachers of this country, and for the students of this country, and for the general good governance of thiscountrythatthiswillnow take on a more conciliatory approach,”Ramdhanistated.

The agreement between

the GTU and the Attorney Generalfollowingmediation statesthefollowing:

1. The two sides agreed that teachers shall, in good faith, resume work on or before Wednesday 6 March 2024.

2 Discussions shall proceed within 48 hours of resumptionofworkandshall beaboutthosematterswhich either Party considers relevant for discussion between the Union and the Government,whichincludes financialmatters.

3 The discussions referred to in clause 2 above

shall take place at the Ministry of Education Boardroom, Lot 26 Brickdam, Georgetown, and willcontinueforareasonable periodoftime.

4.Bothpartiesreserveall their rights under any agreement or the laws of Guyana.

Thedocumentstatesinter alia that the Government of Guyana represents that it continues to assure and reiterate its position that it will continue to act in good faith and by the laws of Guyana to all matters under discussion.

Senior Counsel, Robin Stoby and Edward Luckhoo after successfully brokering the agreement between the GTU and representatives of the Government of Guyana which brought an end to the teachers' strike

2nd from left) GTU President Dr. Mark Lyte flanked by union reps and Attorney at law Darren Wade

Teachers engaged in protest on Brickdam outside the office of Minister Priya Manickchand on Monday

Canadian Vision Care Team performed 33 cataract surgeries, over 2000 eye examinations

Th i r t y - t h r e e cataract surgeries andover2000eye ex

nations were conducted over the last two weeks by the Canadian Vision Care Medical Team, which concluded its successful outreach in GuyanaonMonday

Themedicalteam,during its visit engaged in outreach activitiesthatwereheldatthe P o r t M o u r a n t Ophthalmology Centre in RegionSixonFebruary28th and 29th, followed by another in Georgetown from March1stto4th.

TheMinistryofHealthin

a press release said that duringtheteam'spresencein Guyana, participants underwent comprehensive eyeexamination,anddisease screenings,andthoseinneed received spectacles, free of cost.

The medical team was headedbyDr AnnuKaul,an Optometrists, and included Dr SajalFlora,Optometrists; Dr Tazeen Haider, Optometrists;Dr BarryNolt, Optometrists; Anthony Harychan, Optician; Caysi Klingspohn, Optician; and Jose Braz and Elenor Nolt whobotharevolunteers.

The ministry noted that

the Canadian Vision Care team visits Guyana annually to conduct outreach at variouslocations.

Theentitywasformedin 1981asafederallychartered non-profit organisation that provides primary eye care and surgical care in low and middle-income countries aroundtheworld.

This year the outreach was done in collaboration with the Ministry, the

Parliament Office and the Lion's Club of Central Demerara.

At the conclusion of the outreach on Monday, MinisterofHealth,Dr Frank Anthony visited the team at the Guyana Everest Cricket Club, where he was briefed on the findings over the period and together, the Minster and team, discussed possibilities for future partnerships.

Magistrates' Court

Homeless man begs magistrate to go to jail after accused of theft

“Give me a lil sentence, your worship, I ain't get nowhere to go,” a 48-yearoldmantoldCityMagistrate Rhondell Weever on Monday, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates'Courttoanswer toasimplelarcenycharge.

PhillipsAdams made his first court appearance on Monday, where the simple larceny charge was read to him.

The simple larceny charge stated that on March 2, 2024 at Lamaha Street, Georgetown, Adams stole one weeding Machine, valued$120,000 from the virtualcomplainant.

Thefatheroftwopleaded guilty with explanation; however, as he explained, it indicatedto the court that he did not accept stealing the machine. As a result, the

courtrejectedtheguiltyplea andchangedittoanotguilty

“I was going to sleep on thepave,menahgahnoway fuh go to,” Adams told the court whilst noting that he was told to move from the spotbyanunknownperson.

The man told the court that he has no knowledge about the weeding machine, and said he did not enter the yard where the machine was reportedlystolenfrom.

Theprosecutionobjected to bail on the grounds that Adams does not have a fix place of abode, which can pose as a difficulty in locating him on his return date for trial. Bail was also objectedtoonthegroundthat thereisawitnessstatement. Adams was remanded to prison and is expected to court on April 8, 2024 for statementsandfixtures.

Phillips Adams at the Georgetown

CARICOM, USAID Partner on Cyber

Resilience Strategy 2030 Project

T

h e C a r i b b e a n Community (CARICOM)

Secretariat and the United States Agency for International Development launched a Cyber Resilience Strategy 2030 Project to enhance cyber security capacity across CARICOM States.

Against a backdrop of rising cyber threats globally, the CARICOM's Council for Trade and Economic Development, in 2019, unanimously approved the development of the Cyber Resilience Strategy 2030 Project.

The Project seeks to galvanise Caribbean-wide collaboration on cyber securityeffortsandempower stakeholders to protect themselves digitally The strategy aims to empower CARICOM states by strengthening resilience at the individual and collective

levels, a dual approach that will enable each state to reinforce cyber defenses befitting their unique landscape, while benefiting from pooled regional knowledge and resources to drivebackexteriorattacks.

A c c o r d i n g t o CARICOM, “This multilevel approach will ultimately enhance agility, information sharing, and strategic partnerships in the face of digital threats. It is a criticalinitiativethatmarksa significant milestone in implementing cybersecurity safeguards,akeypillarofthe CARICOM Single ICT Space.”

Expert advisors from Cambridge Global Advisors (CGA) will develop a strategy, engaged through USAID's Promoting AmericanApproachestoICT Policy and Regulation (ProICT) activity, funded by

wants fossil fuel firms to contribute to climate fund

(OILPRICE.COM) Oil

andgascompaniescouldbea source of additional funding foraUNclimatefinancingto help developing economies cope with the consequences of climate change, according to a draft EU document seen byReuters.

After failing so far to establish a clear-cut framework of how much wealthy developed nations shouldcontributetoafundto help developing economies, the next COP summit in Azerbaijan at the end of this year is seen as the deadline for reaching some kind of a deal.

The COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, is expected to decide in November if the climate finance goal should include only public funding, orraisefundsfromtheprivate sector and international institutions,too.

The EU, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, is looking at the fossil fuels sectorforpotentialadditional contributions to these funds.

“Recognising that public finance alone cannot provide thequantumnecessaryforthe newgoal,additional,newand innovativesourcesoffinance from a wide variety of

the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP).

The Cyber Resilience Strategy 2030 Project Steering Committee, chaired

b y t h e C A R I C O M Secretariat, will direct project implementation, and build on existing regional

efforts to improve cybersecurity The

Committee comprises technical and governmental personnel from CARICOM MemberStatesandAssociate Members, officials from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management

Agency (CDEMA), as well asanindependentexpert.

In the upcoming months,

CGA will interview cybersecurity practitioners across the region's public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors These consultations will inform a series of reports analyzing CARICOM Member States' legal and regulatory f r a m e w o r k s , t h e cybersecurity market, and regional cybersecurity workforce capacity and developmentneeds.

Usingaphasedapproach, CGA will also conduct extensive research and assessments to identify r e g i o n a l c y b e r

vulnerabilities. The findings will shape a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy for CARICOM, providing an essential framework for increasing information

sharing, reporting, collaboration, and safeguarding assets to create a united front against cyber attacks.

“The resulting landmark strategy will lay the foundation for collaboration on cyber security through concrete recommendations

and implementation guidance It will address legislative gaps, assess infrastructure, and take a proactive approach to bolstering regional cyber

resilience.Theseactionswill empower CARICOM to adapttoevolvingthreatsand promote the development of a robust cyber workforce to prevent and respond to digitalattacks,”thestatement said Meanwhile, Joseph Cox, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General in charge of Economic Integration, InnovationandDevelopment said, “This cyber-resilience strategy is crucial for the security and stability of CARICOM Small Island Developing States (SIDS) due to their vulnerability to cyber threats and natural disasters. SIDS often have limitedresourcesand

(Continuedonpage16)

sources, including from the fossil fuel sector, should be identified and utilised,” according to the draft EU statement which Reuters has seen and which has been preparedforameetingofthe foreign ministers of the bloc laterinMarch.

Developed economies need to provide at least $1 trillion per year to climate finance for developing countriestomeetthenational and global climate targets, oneofthebiggestdeveloping economies and a major carbonpolluter,India,saidin a proposal to the United Nations last month Developed countries have pledged to support developing economies with funding to address climate changeandreduceemissions.

Developing countries have been arguing for years thattheycannotmeetclimate goals without substantial international mobilization of finance.

In addition, the worst effects of climate change are beingfeltinmanydeveloping and very poor countries that don't have the financial means to recover and build resilience amid extreme weather events and natural disasters.

WANTED

Wanted Carpenters and Labourers in Linden and Georgetown. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385 or 625-7642.

Vacancy for Sales Clerk. Call: 661-1000.

Interested in renting space for restaurants in Georgetown. Call: 712-8070.

Nanny needed 11 am- 7pm (Monday to Friday) and (Saturday) 10am-2pm. Contact : 678-5764 / 600-407

Workers needed to work on Cash Crop Farm, $6000 per day. Call: 679-7552.

Office assistant to work in Campbellville.Must be a licenced motorcycle rider. telephone: 621-5140

One filling clerk to work in office. Telephone: 621-5140

To purchase Antique or Vintage collectable souvenir Call or whatsapp 674-6452.

Experienced Mechanic and Technician wanted for mining operation. Call: 696-2182.

Experienced male Cooks and Camp attendant wanted for mining operation. Call:6962182.

Dredge workers wanted for mining operation. Call: 6883844

Abled-bodied experienced handy boy/girl willing to work & be a team player call: 2278539

Wanted Sous Chef & Bartender for restaurant. Call: 226-7392 Mon-Fri between 9am-4pm.

Handy man and Gardener to work in Georgetown. Call:6247436

PEN PAL

Single male seeks a live in domestic partner, Light housework. Salary;-60,000. Call; 603-9085

PROPERTY FOR SALE

3 Bedroom flat concrete house 57x34, Landsize 100x53 in Herstelling.Call 610-6869

VACANCY

One clerk for TSI Eccles office.English & Math, grade 1 or 2.Email application: techserigy @yahoo.com or call 615-9132.

Male Cleaner for Eccles. Call: 645-8443/ 615-9132.

One industrial Electrician needed. Call: 645-8443/ 6159132.

One Handy man & one night Watchman needed. Call: 6122125.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

Sales clerk and vehicle driver with licence for canter (truck licence) apply @ mikeswholesaledepot@yahoo.com or at their location.

One House-keeper, Must know to cook. Preferably from West coast Demerara. Contact: 680-4718

Aulicio Mining Inc is hiring Dredgemen, Porter &Truck Drive. Email: shebika@officegy.com or Call: 658-9158/ 619-5886.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crashbar, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Contact: 649-0956.

1 Toyota Allion, Pioneer DVD, CD & USB deck, reverse camera, alarm, low milage. Excellect condition. Call: 649-0956.

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Business/ residential PFSGYD$58M, Visa Application, advertisements, graphics design, passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. For more information Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

Spoil Child remanded on gun, ammo possession charges

Teon Allen called ‘Spoil Child’ was on Monday remanded to prison on charges of possession of firearm and ammunition without licence when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Zameena Ali-Seepaul.

He pleaded not guilty, after the charges were read to him and was subsequently remanded to prison until March 27th, 2024. Allen was nabbed on Saturday with a gun for which he does not have a licence while attempting to enter the Leonora Stadium for a party, police had

FOR SALE

House lots & commercial plot for sale available at blankenburg W.C.D. Call: 652-0251/ 650-0402.

FOR SALE OR RENT

All sizes loaders, excavators & rollers, concrete pump & mixer trucks, mobile crane and Howo 30 ton dump trucks. Call: 650-0402/652-0251

1 Lexus SUV, forklifts 3.5 tons diesel truck weigh scales -(60 tons,40 ft) .Low bed trailers60 tons,triple axle. Call: 6653880.

FOR RENT

2 fully furnished apts East Bank, 4 bedroom semi-furnished Bel Air Park. Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685.

LAND FOR SALE

44X80 located at Policeman Street, Dairy. 2 minutes away from Harbour Bridge, $11 mil neg. Call: 677-4286.

20 Acres of vacant land in La grange West Bank Demerara. Contact: 622-7446 /416-9513995

Recycles, Friendship, East Bank 85x213, Better Hope, Someday Highway 10 Acres Lenten commercial zone. Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685.

said. In a statement, the Guyana Police Force said that, “ranks from the Regional Police Division Number Three were performing security duty around 23:00 hrs. Saturday when they observed, intercepted and searched the 42year-old Allen who was acting suspiciously and who was later found to have an unlicensed 9mm pistol and eighteen (18) live matching rounds of ammunition in his possession.”

The ranks including a woman superintendent were at the stadium’s main gate where a show was being held. Allen was walking in with a black Gucci side bag.

The man appeared to be acting suspiciously. As a re-

Remanded Teon Allen called ‘Spoil Child’.

sult of his actions, he was stopped and asked to be subjected to a search. Subsequently, he resisted but the

police then managed to search the bag on his person. It was discovered that the man was carrying a 9mm pistol and a magazine that contained eighteen matching live rounds of ammunition in the bag.When asked if he was licensed to carry the firearm, the man refused to cooperate with the police and instead opted to behave in a disorderly manner. Allen was then arrested and escorted to the Leonora Police Station, along with the firearm and ammunition. At the station, he was asked again by police if he was a licensed firearm holder, to which he responded in the negative. The suspect was placed into custody pending charges.

Police capture twins wanted for multiple robberies

Police in Bartica captured the Fredricks’ twins who are accused of committing a series of armed robberies in December last year.

Wanted bulletins were issued for the brothers, 21-yearold Kevin and Kellon

Twins: Kellon and Kevin Fredricks

Fredricks on February 7.

The duo reportedly conducted robberies at Windsor Castle, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, and at the Sandhill Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Kaieteur News under-

stands that the brothers were nabbed by the police in Bartica for another allegation leveled against them.

The men are in police custody at the Bartica Police Station as investigations continue.

Father of 14 found dead after fight

Police have con firmed that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a labourer on Sunday at New Amsterdam Berbice, Region Six.

The dead man has been identified as Godfrey Daniels,

42, a father of 14 and according to police, he was found dead around 22:30 hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that man might have been a victim of a fight earlier in the evening at his home. Details are sketchy on what caused the fight and who is

responsible for beating the father of 14.

Police have reportedly detained the man’s son-inlaw for questioning. The two are known for frequently getting into fights with each other due to an ongoing feud they had.

CARICOM, USAID Partner on Cyber...

From page 15 capabilities to combat cyberattacks, making them more susceptible to disruptions in critical infrastructure, such as water and electricity, financial systems, and essential services.

This strategy will serve, therefore, to bolster the legal, regulatory and trust frameworks of the Region

and enhance international Relations.”

Similarly, Nicole D. Theriot, United States Ambassador to Guyana and CARICOM spoke of the importance of investing in cyber resilience.

“By investing in cyber resilience, CARICOM can mitigate the adverse effects of cyber threats, bolster its ca-

pacity to respond to cyber incidents effectively, and foster greater trust in its digital ecosystem…Together, our organizations aim to prioritize investment, innovation, and cooperation to build resilient cyber defenses and safeguard the digital future of the Caribbean region,” the U.S. Ambassador said.

Hopes for ceasefire in Gaza falter ahead of Ramadan

(BBC News) Hopes had beenhighoverthepastweek following talks in Paris that there could be a new Gaza ceasefiredealinplaceforthe start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan next week.

However, while Hamas hasnowsentadelegationto C a i r o f o r f u r t h e r negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, Israel has not. This looks like a seriousnewblock.

Israeli officials - quoted in local media - demand clear answers from Hamas onkeyissuesaswellasalist of the surviving Israeli hostages who could be released with an agreement. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official, Dr Basem Naim, toldtheBBConSundaythat “practically, it is impossible to know who is still alive” becauseofcontinuingIsraeli bombing.

“They are in different areas with different groups. We have asked for a ceasefire to collect that data,” he added. Dr Naim went on to say that such “valuable information” aboutthehostagescouldnot be given “for free”. He, and

other senior Hamas figures, havealsobeencontinuingto demand a full ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, rather than a temporarytruce.TheUSand regional players with leveragewillnowbeputting pressure on both Israel and Hamas trying to shore up recent progress on the potentialdeal.

This would reportedly seesome40Israelihostages released in exchange for about 10 times as many Palestinian prisoners being freedfromIsraelijails.More than 130 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas.

Israeliofficialshavesaid that at least 30 of them are dead. Over the course of a proposed40-daytruce,there would be a surge in desperately needed aid entering into Gaza. Without adeal,thereisahigherthreat of a further spread of tensions during Ramadan, which this year is due to begin on 10 or 11 March, depending on the lunar calendar

Israel is expected to imposerestrictionsonaccess forPalestinianstotheholiest

(ALJAZEERA)

His voice breaking, Hussein Jaber recalls how his fouryear-olddaughterwaskilled by Israeli forces before his eyes.

The photographer, who works with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), was trying to flee Gaza City on December5togethisfamily tosafetywhenhisdaughter’s lifewasended.

“This area was empty,” Jaber said as he stood amid massivedestructionwithhis left arm in a cast and held together with external screws. He was hit in the same attack that killed his daughter “Therewasnoone on this road here except the building’s residents who were walking out, about to leave towards the west as ordered by the army, including my family “I was waiting over there,” he gestured to his right, “waiting for them They were women, children and

claimedHamaswasshowing flexibility in negotiations, but also called on Palestinians in the occupied WestBankandJerusalemto marchtothemosquetopray onthefirstdayofRamadan.

International pressure for a ceasefire deal has ratcheted up with the dire humanitarian conditions in Gazawhere,accordingtothe UN, hundreds of thousands of people are facing famine following nearly six months ofwar.

official and reflect the growing frustration within Washington-theclosestally o f I s r a e l - a b o u t developments in the war Increasingly what is happening on the ground in Gaza is hurting President Biden’s presidential reelectioncampaign.

In Israel, there is also intensedomesticpressureon the war cabinet to agree a newdealfromthefamiliesof thehostages.

The UN has warned of famine in Gaza after nearly six months of war

MuslimsiteinoccupiedEast Jerusalem, the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, citing itssecurityconcerns.

The site - which is also theholiestplaceinJudaism, known as Temple Mounthas often been a flashpoint for violence in the decades-

old Israel-Palestinian conflict. Hamas is well aware of international fears about a new conflagration and has previously used alAqsatoraisethestakes.Last week,inatelevisedaddress, the leader of the Islamist group, Ismail Haniyeh,

“Given the immense scaleofsuffering,theremust be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table,” the US Vice-President Kamala Harris told an event in Alabama. “This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in.”

“People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanitycompelsustoact,” MsHarriswenton.

Her comments were some of the strongest language used yet to describe the situation by a senior US government

Thousands of Israelis joinedthemforthelastlegof a four-day solidarity march, which began close to the Gaza border at one of the sites that was a focus of the deadly 7 October Hamas attacks, and ended in JerusalemonSaturdaynight. They held up Israeli flags and posters of the hostages. Speakingattherally,Sharon Sharabi whose brother, Eli, is stillbelievedto be heldin Hamas captivity, said: “We’velostfourmembersof our family, the Sharabi family - my family, your family

We do not intend - listen carefully, leaders of Israelwe do not intend to bring a fifthcoffinhere.”

Father describes young daughter’s killing by Israel in Gaza

elderly folks, and you could see them clear as day.” His familyhadbeenshelteringin abuildingforfourdayswith friends Jaber had been staying elsewhere for work until he drove over to evacuate them. “Salma was first She got to the crossroads with her sister Sarah running behind her towards me, and suddenly, intense gunfire broke out,” he said, describing later on social media how an Israeli tank sprayed the area with bullets.

“I saw Salma get hit in the neck before my eyes. She was writhing with pain butkeptrunningsomehow I rantohertoembraceherand carryhertothecarwhilemy wife and children Omar and Sarahkeptrunning,”hesaid. Jaberisnotsurewhenhewas hitinthearm.

He still cannot comprehendwhathappened, hesaid,pointingoverheadin the direction of a buzzing sound and saying there had been surveillance aircraft

overheadthewholetime. “It was apparent to those aircraft that these were civiliansfleeingthebuilding andheadingwestwardasper theinstructionsoftheIsraeli army We posed no threat,” he said. “Salma was killed while Sarah, her nine-yearold sister, miraculously surviveddeathwhenabullet penetratedherjacket.Itwent inonesideandouttheother Millimetres separated her

fromdeath.

“My three-year-old son, Omar, still asks me where Salma is He doesn’t understand how she could havebeenwithhimwalking downtheroadandnowshe’s justgone.”

Jaber walks to stand in front of the Buraq School, where his family had told himIsraelitankshadmoved in after the refugees staying there had fled. “The school

was east of the building wheremyfamilywas.That’s why I asked them to exit to the west, to stay away from thedirectionwherethetanks were,” he continued, walkingovertostandwhere he could point out the building,whichhadbeenhit with artillery shells every daytheywerethere.

Insidethebuilding,Jaber stands in a dark, burned-out stairwell, telling Al Jazeera that this is where his family stayed, crowding into the centre of the building to escape the continuous bombing that targeted the buildingfromallsides.

Last week, the United States estimated that more than 25,000 women and children had been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza International criticism of Israel targeting residential areas has been growing as thewargrindson.

In December, South Africa accused Israel of genocide in Gaza in a case filed at the International

Court of Justice. More and more children have been starving to death as famine gradually takes hold. Twomonth-old Mahmoud Fattouh starved to death last weeknextdoortooneofthe richest countries in the world. He is one of the now 16childrenwhohavediedof hungerinGaza.

According to the United Nations, one child in every six below the age of two is a l r e a d y a c u t e l y malnourished.

Today, all Jaber’s family has of Salma are the digital images of her on his mobile phone. The videos are a testament to joy Salma can be seen dancing for her father’s camera, proudly readingapoemorsmilingon abeach.“Salma’simagewill remain present in my heart andmind.Salma,mymiddle daughter, intelligent, mischievous, affectionate, forever beloved,” her father wrote.Salma’sfifthbirthday would have been on February4.

Salma Jaber was killed by Israeli fire in December 2023 as her family was trying to escape Gaza City [Screengrab from Sanad/Al Jazeera]

AJM Enterprise adding quality and professionalism to West Berbice cricket

- Plans in place for country-wide cricket tournament

Cotton Tree Cricket Club were crowned champions of the AJM Enterprise Mash It Up T20 tournament last weekend at the Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground.

The tournament lived up and went beyond expectations as it was a packed event; thousands of viewers from across the world were locked in to view the match on livestream.

After a successful onemillion-dollar first place prize payout, AJM Enterprise will continue to play a role in the development of cricket, from West Berbice to all parts of

Guyana, as plans are in place to host a country-wide cricket tournament.

The recently concluded tournament provided a marketing platform for young players in the West Berbice area to showcase their talent to the world. The likes of Guyana Under-15 player Arif Khan, Leon Swamy, and Shamal Angel were the youngsters who gained from the AJM Mash It Up T20 tournament.

“It is competitive cricket, not because it is a second division tournament, and it won’t be competitive. There

are a lot of youngsters in the tournament, it is a great tournament, and I am happy to play in it,” Swamy said after he blasted 87 for Cotton Tree.

Meanwhile, captain Roshan Gaffoor expressed similar sentiments in relation to the high-quality of cricket played in the AJM tournament.

“First of all, we must thank AJM for sponsoring such a wonderful tournament; to invest in so much cash and prizes. This encouraged cricketers in the West Berbice area to play, because the game was dying in the region. Now with

the introduction of the AJM tournament, people want to play cricket,” Gaffoor said.

Player of the final Kevon Jawahir also spoke highly of the level of cricket being played in the AJM tournament. “In this tournament you have a lot of franchise players, first-division players playing, and at this seconddivision level it is really good,” Jawahir said.

AJM Enterprise, a subsidiary of Jumbo Jet. Jumbo Jet has been in operation for more than three decades, and they are synonymous with supplying heavy duty equipment. The heavy-duty giants, Jumbo Jet are responsible for supplying 70% of the local contractors.

CWI CG United Women’s Regional Super50 Cup Round 1… Millington, Grimmond

help Guyana draw first blood by 56-runs

Guyana opened the CWI CG Women’s Super50 Cup with a thumping 56-run win over Leeward Islands, as action got underway yesterday in St. Kitts.

Guyana posted 142 all out after some solid batting from Realeanna Grimmond (37), Shabika Gajnabi (20), Shamaine Campbell (13) and Cherry-Ann Fraser (12).

Guyana spinner Plaffiana Millington stunned the Leeward Ladies with 4-10 with Niya Latchman chipping in

with 3-27 and Ashmini Munisar (1-10), shutting the door on their opponents.

Divya Saxena (19) and Reneice Boyce (16), looked threatening as they were steamrolled by the Guyanese.

Meanwhile, Jamaica beat Barbados by 200 runs after posting 289 all out to which Barbados could only respond with 89 all out.

Windward Islands (1866), also secured a huge win, beating Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas (185 all out), by 2 wickets.

Tuesday March 05, 2024

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You'll notice that your emotions are coming to a monthly climax today, Aries. Don't be alarmed but do be cautious about lashing out at people for no reason. You may feel on edge.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Extremes is the name of the game now, especially for you, Taurus. Today the emphasis is on action. You're the one to call to get the job done. You won't wait another second to simply go for it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Be adventurous and strike out into new territory, Gemini. Be a pioneer. Work to make some new discoveries in the world. Today isn't a day to worry about consequences.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Certain situations may be difficult to deal with today as they take an emotional spin, Cancer. You're getting anxious.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

You should find that the general mood of the day is favorable to your personality style, Leo. Take this opportunity to present more of your thoughts and ideas to the world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

The fog has lifted and you're ready to take off, Virgo. The dreaminess you may have experienced lately has been nice, but now it's time to get moving again.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

This is a terrific day for you, Libra, and you'll find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal. This is a day of new beginnings. You have the opportunity now to start over.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

The fire is raging today, so be careful, Scorpio. Try not to be too impulsive in your actions. Your natural tendency may be to lash out against others without really thinking about the consequences.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Go for the gold, Sagittarius. Today marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. You may be on a crusade and your combative instincts could be working overtime.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You may feel as if someone is poking you today, Capricorn, urging you to get up and get moving. Don't be surprised if someone seems to be picking on you for no reason.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

This is a great day for you to get up on stage and make your presence known, Aquarius. Let people know that you're the leader of the pack.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

This is a good day to add spark to your life, Pisces. If things have seemed boring and stagnating lately, you may need to infuse a bit of excitement into the situation.

AJM deals with specialized transportation, crane rental, equipment rental, supply of raw materials, (sand, aggregate) and the list goes on. The AJM enterprise is involved in significant projects across Guyana.

Currently, AJM Enterprise has been working on the Schoonard to Crane Fourlane highway which will soon benefit thousands of commuters in region three.

GBA hosts successful Shuttle Time Programme outreach

Friday last the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) visited Region 2 (Essequibo Coast) to introduce and demonstrate Badminton to three secondary schools in the Region (Aurora Secondary, Abram Zuil Secondary School and Anna Regina Multilateral School) and also donated equipment through the Shuttle Time Programme to promote and develop Badminton in Guyana.

The Shuttle Time Programme was introduced to some schools in the Berbice Region in 2019 and a follow-up was done in 2023producingathleteswho compete in the GBA tournaments.

In 2023 during the National Junior Tournament sponsored by the National Sports Commission in his remarks the Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle, challenged the GBA Executives to take the sport of Badminton to Region 2.

The GBAis happy to report that the challenge was accepted and the Shuttle Time Programme was implemented in the Cinderella County We will now follow up with the PE Teachers, visits to the schools and assisting with equipment whenever we can.

In 2012 BWF launched ShuttleTimetotheworld.A School level badminton programme supporting the principle that children should lead a healthy and activelife,bothinandoutof school.

BWF’s goal is to make badminton one of the world’s most popular and accessibleschoolsports.

Shuttle Time offers school teachers access to resources, training and equipment that support the teaching of enjoyable, safe and inclusive badminton activitiestochildrenaged515yearsold.

ShuttleTimelessonsare designedtoprovidechildren

with a positive image of badminton through many opportunities to have fun, engage with others and experiencesuccess.

ShuttleTimeiscurrently being implemented in more than 140 countries in partnership with BWF’s Continental Confederations andMemberAssociations.

Special thanks to Mr SaeedZameen,Mr Nicholas Fraser of the Allied Arts Department of the Ministry of Education, the Principals and PE Teachers of the Schools, for making this activityasuccess.

The equipment was handed over to the PE Teachers by the members of the Guyana Badminton Association.

Ms.PriyannaRamdhani, Mr Akili Haynes and Mr Nkosi Beaton, Senior NationalBadmintonPlayers taught the students a few drills to improve their techniqueonthecourt.(This is an official release of the GBA)

GBA officials hand over some equipment to Aurora Secondary school in the programme as teachers and students share the moment.

Abram Zuil Secondary School receives their donation of gear at the outreach.

BCB Diors bits and pieces under23...

Rose Town Pepsi defeat Albion to lift 2023 title as Matthew Pottaya clinches man of the match

A brilliant all round performance by national under17 vice captain M a t t h e w P o t t a y a spearheaded his team Rose Hall Town Pepsi to defeat Albion in the final of the Berbice cricket board Diors bits and pieces under23 tournament. The final was played at the Bush Lot Sports Club ground in West Berbice in steamy weather andafairsizedcrowd.

Albion led by former national U19 player Kelvin Umroa elected to bat first againsttheKevlonAnderson lead Rose Hall Town Pepsi. Albion were given a flying start with Ari Arizal Kadir tearing into Anderson and RajTika.

They lost Tameshwar Mangal caught behind by Sohil Mohammed off Andersonforat29foronein the 3 rd over Damian Cecil joined Kadir at the crease andtheyadded26forthe2nd wicket before Cecil was trapped LBW by national under19 off spinner JonathanRampersaudfor14 and then Kadir was dismissed to leaveAlbion at 65forthreeinthe12thover

The introduction of National Youth spinner JeremySandiaandMatthew

Pottaya caused several headaches for the Albion team as they lost their last seven wickets for just 53 runs to be dismissed for 118 in 31st over The batsmen dismiss by the left arm spinner Sandia were Afraz Budhoo 5, Gaurav Ramesh 0,LeonCecil15andKelvin Umroa one, while Pottaya got rid of Devin Lalbehari 3

andNazeemKhan0. Amazon Warrior all rounder Junior Sinclair got rid of Arvin Jawarhir 18, which included two boundaries and ended with four for 18 from seven very impressiveovers,while Pottaya 2 for 1, Rampersaud 2 for 17 Sinclair 1 for 17 and Andersononefor33.

Needing to score 119 from their allotted 40 overs to lift another Berbice championship, Rose Hall Town Pepsi openers Sincliair and the promising RomeshBharratadded29in 3.40 fours before Sinclair wascaughtoffArvinJawahi for12.Barrattsoonfollowed Sinclair at 36 for 2 in the sixth over when he was also

dismissed by Jawarhi but level ever headed batting by sandia close out Rose Hall Town Pepsi to victory with 13oversremaining.

Victorywasachievedvia a wide delivery to Sohil Mohammed.Arvin Jawarhir took2for23andLeonCecil 2 for 18 were the best bowlers for Albion while Nazeem Khan, Kevin

Umrao and Gourav Ramesh eachtookawicket.

Berbice chairman of competition committee Leslie Salomon hailed the tournamentasissuccessand expressed thanks to Miss Sandie Ross for her support ofBerbicecricket.

B C B p r e s i d e n t congratulatedbothteamsfor a competitive final and p l e d g e d t h a t h i s administration would continue to organize similar tournamentsinthefuture.

Representative of Dior bits and pieces Ranjiv Kishan stated that Miss SandieRosswasveryhappy to sponsor the tournament. He expressed satisfaction withthewaythetournament was organized by the Dr Beharry administration. The winning team received $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 a n d t h e championship trophy while Albion took home $50,000 andatrophy

Themanofthefinalsalso tookhomethefinancialprice and a trophy Rose Hall Town Pepsi captain Kevlon Andersondedicatedhisteam victory to the management and staff of the Demarara

Disdedicate Limited especially marketing representativeofPepsi.

Briton John retains Jagan’s Memorial Cycling Road Race title

Briton John,

representing

UnitedWeStand Cycle Club, continued his impressive streak in the 2024seasonbyclinchingthe Jagan’s Memorial 41-Mile RoadRaceOpentitle.

Thechallengingfirstleg of the Three-Stage event unfoldedonSunday,starting fromSchoonord(WestBank ofDemerara)toBushyPark (West Coast of Essequibo), andback.

On Sunday, the peloton witnessed the dominance of seasoned rider Briton John, breaking away just two milesintotherace.

The top six cyclists collectively maintained a swiftpaceuntilreachingthe turnaround point at Bushy Park.

On the return leg, John seized the opportunity, acceleratingtoclaimvictory and the Senior’s/Open title.

Christopher Griffith, Segun Hubbard, and Alexander Leung showcased their skill and endurance by securing thesecond,third,andfourth placepositions.

I n t h e J u n i o r ’s category, rising stars Alexander Leung and Alexander Newton engaged in an exciting battle, with Leung ultimately clinching the first-placeposition Newton and Nivone Wilson closely followed insecondandthirdplace Adding diversity to the competition, the

Female’s race saw

Abigail Jeffrey of

Kaieteur Attack Racing

Cycle Club emerge victorious, displaying her prowess on the challengingcourse

IntheUnder-50Veterans category, Segun Hubbard, Kwame Ridley, and Roy

Mangru claimed the top three spots, contributing to the thrilling spectacle of the event.

The 24 edition of the Jagan’s Memorial race, a celebration of cycling prowess in memory of late President Cheddi Jagan, concluded with podium finishers receiving trophies along with monetary prizes for their outstanding performances.

Flying Ace Cycle Club also extended heartfelt congratulations to outstanding performers, notably Briton John, Alexander Leung, and Abigail Jeffrey, as the anticipation builds for the second leg of the event, which is scheduled for March10thinBerbice.

The action is set to roll off in front of the Freedom House building in New Amsterdamat8:00am.

Stage 1 champion: Briton John receiving his winner’s cheque at the conclusion of the first stage 2024 Cheddi Jagan Memorial event.

Man of the finals Matthew Pottaya receives his prize.

Captain of the Rose Hall Town Pepsi Anderson receives the trophy from Diors bits and pieces representative Rajiv Kishun.

The winners’row

Lusignan Golf Club hosts successful annual Survival Golf Tournament Golf …Ganpat emerges victorious

The Lusignan Golf

Club proudly hosted the highly anticipated Survival Annual G o l f To u r n a m e n t , showcasing the exceptional talent and sportsmanship of golfers from across the region.

With a day filled with excitementandcamaraderie, participantsputtheirskillsto

the test in a thrilling display ofprecisionandtechnique.

Theoverallwinnerofthe Survival annual Golf Tournament was Hardeo Ganpat, who achieved an impressive best net score of 63 Ganpat’s remarkable achievementunderscoreshis mastery of the game and serves as a testament to his dedication and perseverance

Hardeo Ganpat won the overall tournament and the 14-36 flight.

onthecourse.

In the fiercely contested 0-13 flight, Mohanlall Dinnauth emerged victorious, demonstrating outstanding prowess and strategicplaythroughoutthe tournament.

Dinnauth’s exceptional performance earned him the covetedfirst-placetitleinhis division, showcasing his dedication and commitment tothesport.

Meanwhile, in the 14-36 flight category, Hardeo

Ganpat showcased remarkable skill and determination, securing the first-place position Ganpat’sstellarperformance highlighted his talent and abilitytorisetotheoccasion underpressure.

L G C P r e s i d e n t Patanjilee Persaud said, “”We are thrilled to have hosted another successful edition of the Survival Annual Golf Tournament and we would like to thank Survival for their

names released for G/town Zone of Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Now that the thirty-two teams have been revealed those making the list could now focusontheirpreparations forthisyear’sGeorgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competitionwhichissetto kickoffonMarch15,atthe NationalPark.

Widely regarded as the most famous of the street footballtournamentsinthe country, fans are being assuredthatthelongwaitis nowover,andallroadswill leadtothearenaforwhatis anticipated to produce fireworks over the eight daysofcompetition.

Ballers, Festival City, BroadStreet,Unstoppable, Bent Street, California Square, Lodge All Stars, Stabroek Ballers B, Bent StreetYoungGunners,Bad A Yard, Up Top Boss, Laing Avenue Ballers, Street Ballers, Sophia B, Make It Happen, Ballers FC, Renegade All Stars, Airport Ballers, Rising Stars, Back Road Ballers, Tucville Rangers and MiddleRoadBallers.

speaking recently said b e c a u s e o f t h e tournament’sabsencefora prolonged period, they are justasexcitedandanxious astheteamsandfanstosee the unrivalled tournament makeitsreturntothesports calendar

unwavering support Congratulations to Mohanlall Dinnauth and Hardeo Ganpat for their outstandingperformancesin theirrespectiveflights.Their skill and sportsmanship are trulycommendable.”

The success of the Survival Annual Golf Tournament would not have been possible without the dedicationandsupportofthe participants, sponsors, and organizers.

As the golfing

communitylooksforwardto future events, the spirit of c a m a r a d e r i e a n d competition continues to thrive on the greens of the LusignanGolfClub.

The results for the tournamentareasfollows:

0-13Flight

1stMohanlallDindnauth

–Gross74,HC7,Net67

2ndPatanjilee Persaud –Gross83,HC13,Net70

3rdFeroze Barkat –Gross83,HC11,Net72

4thDasoRamsundar –

Guyana Harpy Eagles pacer Nial Smith and batsman Akshaya Persaud, will lace up their boots as they prepare for action in the 4th round of the ongoing CWI Regional 4Day Championships, which bowls off from March13.

Gross85,HC11,Net74

14-36Flight 1stHardeoGhanpat –Gross89,HC26,Net63

2nd Eureka Giddings –Gross87,HC23,Net64

3rdAnasha Ally – Gross 93,HC25,Net68

4thJasonClarke–Gross 89,HC21,Net68

Overallbestnet–Hardeo Ganpat(63)

Longest Drive –Ferozebarkat

Nearesttopin–Maurice solomon

The teams making the cutare:AlexanderVillage, SpartaBoss,Albouystown, Sophia, North Ruimveldt, Leopold Street, Back Circle, North East La Penitence,TigerBay,Gold i

Returning after an unavoidable hiatus, the Organisers are pulling out all the stops to ensure that the hugely popular tournament makes a triumphant re-entry to the footballarena.

Lucrative prize monies andtrophiestotallingmore than$1.5million,whilean automatic berth in the nationalfinalisassured.

ney, Stabroek

Guinness Brand executive, Lee Baptiste

“Wearehopingthatthe tournament enjoys an exciting return, and it is played with the same level of discipline and keen rivalry that fans became accustomed to in previous years,”Baptistesaid.

Herevealedthattothis end they have been planning meticulously to ensure that teams, managementstaffandfans who come out to the event haveagreattime,afeature that is usually associated withthetournament.

The other playing days are March 16, 17, 22, 23, 24and30withthefinalset forthe31st.

Guyana endured a mixed start to the tournament, with a no-result, followed by a losswhichwasslightlyerasedfollowingthe Eagles win in the previous round before the break.

Withactionresuminginamatterofdays, teams will look to regroup and reshift their focustothemiddlestagesofthecompetition. Persaud,whoissettoplayhistoryfirstmatch this season, will add depth to the team’s batting given his form this year, while his part-timespincouldalsocomeinhandy.

SmithwillrejointhesquadasheandIsai Thorne along with Ronaldo Alimohamed will be seeking to reform the Eagles threemanpageattack.

Tevin Imlach will resume his role as Captainwhilemiddle-orderbatsmanKevlon Andersonwillcontinuehisroleasdeputy,as theEagleslooktoturntheircampaignaround whenactionresumesinthenearfuture.

GuyanaHarpyEagles4-Dayteam-Tevin Imlach (Captain), Taganarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson (Vice Captain), Raymond Perez, Kemol Savory,

Massy WCPL sets new viewership record

(CPL) - The Massy Women’sCaribbeanPremier League (WCPL) set a new record for viewership numbers in 2023. The total broadcast and digital viewership for the 2023 tournament reached 36.2millionfortheexpanded tournamentwhichtookplace inBarbadosandTrinidad.

The Massy WCPLhad a 45% rise in viewership in 2023,withahugeincreasein thenumberoffanstuningin around the world for the secondseasonoftheevent.

The seven-match tournament concluded with theBarbadosRoyalsbeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors to claim the title, with the final at the Brian LaraCricketAcademybeing themostwatchedmatch.

The tournament saw someamazingperformances with New Zealand’s Sophie Devine finishing as the leading run scorer and breakout Indian star

ShreyankaPatilclaimingthe most wickets. West Indies all-rounder Hayley

Matthews was the player of the final with a brilliant 82 runs and two wickets as the

In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF), Fight Central, and Ruff and Tuff Trinidad and Tobago, esteemed professional MMA fighter Jose Torres, will be in action at the upcomingevent“Rage.”

Gavin Singh, President ofGMMAF,MichaelSingh, founderofFightCentral,and Jason Fraser, President and CEO of Ruff and Tuff TrinidadandTobago,jointly confirm Shorty Jose’s attendance at this historic event, scheduled for March 23rd,2024,attheprestigious PegasusCorporateBuilding.

This event signifies a momentous occasion, h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e collaborativeeffortsofthree distinguished organizations within the martial arts and sports entertainment industry. Shorty Jose’s presence serves as a testament to the collective dedication of all parties involved to push the boundaries and raise the bar in martial arts and sports entertainment.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to all

Jose Torres will be on show at the upcoming GMMFARage fight-night card.

individuals who have contributed to bringing this event to fruition, and we eagerly anticipate an unforgettable showcase of talent, athleticism, and sportsmanshipat“Rage.”

‘Shorty’ Torres (born August 2, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the

bantamweight division of Brave Combat Federation where he is a former Brave C F B a n t a m w e i g h t Champion. A professional mixed martial artist since 2016, Torres has also competed in the Titan Fighting Championships and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Pete Russell, CPL’s

CEO, said: “We are delighted with the viewing figures in 2023 as global

interestinthewomen’sgame continues to grow The secondeditionoftheWCPL surpassedallexpectationsin terms of interest and the qualityofcricketandweare already looking forward to the2024eventwhichweare certain will be even more s u c c e s s f u l ”

Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, said: “The growth in the interest and opportunities in women’s cricket in the Caribbean in recent years has been incredible and CricketWestIndiesarevery pleased with the impact WCPL has had on giving opportunities to our players to further develop their skills.

ToseetheWCPLalready showing such fantastic growth in year two is very pleasing and we are looking forward to seeing the tournamentgofromstrength to strength in 2024 and beyond.”

Jahshii joins Slingerz FC for training ….formerEliteLeagueChampionsin actiontonightagainstFrutaConquerors

Dcelebrated for his dual talents on stage and the football field, joined Slingerz FC for their recent trainingsessionattheGFF’s National Training Centre (NTC)inProvidence.

Tonight, Slingerz FC w i l l k i c k o f f a doubleheader at the NTC in the GFF/GFC Elite League, facing off against Fruta Conquerors at 6:30 pm, while Den Amstel takeonSantos.

Mluleki Clarke, aka Jahshii, honed his football skills at Excelsior High School before pursuing hismusiccareer

After finding success in music, he rekindled his passion for football, competing in Jamaica’s Wray & Nephew KSAFA Championship with Constant Spring FC and nowwithShortwoodFC

Slingerz FC coach, Alex Thomas, was delighted to see Jahshii arrive first at the training venue, noting his full engagementinthesession

acc

la

a

Dancehall star, Jahshii, in action during his training session with Slingerz FC.

celebration.

IntheirreturntotheElite League, Slingerz dominated with a 7 – 0 victory over Monedderlust, led by Marcus Tudor’s remarkable five-goalperformance.

Barbados Royals emerged victorious.

Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrate during the finale of the 2023 WCPL.

International MMA star ‘Shorty’ Torres set for Rage fight-card at Pegasus

The winning Rose Hall Town Pepsi team.

Realeanna Grimmond led Guyana’s batting.

Spinner Plaffiana Millington starred with 4 wickets for Guyana.