Guyana Times - Saturday, February 10, 2024 by Gytimes

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5638

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Do not be “used as political pawns” – Pres Ali to teachers …calls for patience as Govt working on best welfare package Page 3

$2.6B Port Mourant oil and gas training institute commissioned Page 7

Bath Settlement man nabbed with 92 lbs of ganja See story on page 16

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt mulls new building for GRA P11 …more investments in pipeline for Govt buildings to improve efficiency

Taxi driver busted with ganja, P11 cocaine granted $300K bail

WCD man intercepted with $12M worth of P18 cocaine

92% of house lots benefited low-to-moderate income earners – Rodrigues P15

Convicted Page drug 17 smuggler busted with imported ganja, ammo at Eccles

Labourer dies 1 month after falling from scaffold P5

GTU has not filed annual financial returns in over 19 years – Commerce Registrar Page 2

GTU President Mark Lyte

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

…no records submitted for audit since 1989 – Auditor General

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

Guyanese P16 company now authorised service centre for Epson products …Finance Minister lauds “strategic partnership”

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU has not filed annual financial returns in over 19 years – Commerce Registrar …no records submitted for audit since 1989 – Auditor General

he Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) is at risk of being struck off the Trade Unions Registry after it failed to submit financial statements for two decades despite collecting billions of dollars in dues from teachers over the years. The GTU is currently leading a two-week strike by teachers across the country – a move which the Guyana Government says is illegal and politically driven. In a brief statement on Friday, the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA) disclosed that the last financial report

year ending 31st of December, 2004, on the 31st of March, 2005,” the DCRA stated. Every month, a $700 fee is deducted from each unionised teacher and remitted to the GTU. This adds up to about $3.1 million monthly, and approximately $37 million annually. According to the Trade Unions Act, Cap. 98:03, Section 35 (1): “A general statement of the receipts, funds, effects, and expenditure of every trade union registered under this Act shall be transmitted to the Registrar before the 1st May in every year, and shall show fully its assets and lia-

required by the Registrar; and every member of, and depositor in, the union shall be entitled to receive, on application, to the treasurer or secretary of the union, a copy of the general statement, without making any payment therefor.” Under this same Section 35 at (3), it goes on to say that “Every trade union which fails to comply with or acts in contravention of this section, and also every officer of the union so failing, shall each be liable on summary conviction to a fine of seventy-five dollars for each offence” . During a press conference on Thursday, Vice President

filed by the GTU was in 2005. “…an examination of the relevant records at the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority discloses that Annual Returns required by Section 35 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap. 98:03 to be filed annually by registered trade unions was last filed by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) for the

bilities at the date, and its receipts and expenditure during the year preceding the date, to which the statement is made out; and shall show separately the expenditure in respect of the several objects of the union, and shall be prepared and made out up to the date, in the form, and comprise the particulars from time to time

Bharrat Jagdeo questioned the transparency and accountability of the GTU, disclosing that its last audited statement was done in 1989, and financial statements to the Registrar were last submitted in 2005. “Anywhere in the world, they would have been struck off and the membership would have been in uproar, but a ca-

bal runs this union…Where are your accounts for 30 years? Why have they not been audited? How much money did you collect? The billions that you collected, where did it go? Why are you violating your own constitution that you have to do this?” the VP highlighted.

Debunked

In response, GTU Vice President Collis Nicholson, on Friday, claimed that Jagdeo’s statements were “totally false”. In an interview with online news media site Demerara Waves, he said the union’s records are up to date and presented every three years to the Auditor General Office and Registrar of Trade Unions. This, however, was debunked by the Office of the Auditor General, which also on Friday indicated that no financial records were received from the union to be audited. “…the Auditor General wishes to confirm that the last Financial Statement submitted by the Guyana Teachers Union to the Audit Office of Guyana for audit was in respect to 1989 and no subsequent Financial Statement has since been submitted,” the statement detailed. Meanwhile, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, during a live broadcast on Friday, called out the GTU official for “pathologically lying”

to the public about the union’s state of affairs. “The last financial report at the Ministry of Labour is 2004. Two decades now they have not submitted, as the law requires, their financial statements to the Registrar of Trade Unions. So, imagine this man [Nicholson] stood in front the camera and lied. He knows he was lying,” Hamilton stated. According to the Labour Minister, the GTU’s failure to submit its Annual Returns puts it at risk of being struck off the Trade Unions Registry. “The law speaks to failing [to submit financial records and] what should happen… If I pay strict attention to the law, the law talks about any trade union that fails to submit their audited financial statement to the Registrar of Trade Unions can be struck off the books… So, these people are shameless that they would lie when you have the documents, the information before you,” Hamilton stated.

The GTU initiated the two-week strike action, scheduled to last from February 5 to February 16, 2024, over Government’s failure to address proposals in a multi-year agreement submitted by the union for better working conditions for teachers. However, out of the 41 demands proposed, the Education Ministry said it has fulfilled 25 of them and of the 16 proposals remaining, two are specifically for the benefit of only GTU and its Executive Members, and two others are contrary to the laws of Guyana. The other 12 are requests that are currently being examined for their practical implementation and sustainability. Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Monday evening had stated that Government was not obligated to agree to the multi-year agreement proposed by GTU, but still went ahead to meet more than half of those demands. TURN TO PAGE 7

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, February 10 – 04:00h-05:30h and Sunday, February 11 – 04:00h-05:30h. The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, February 10 – 16:50h-18:20h and Sunday, February 11 – 05:20h-06:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected during the day interrupted by light rain showers with instances of thunder in the mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours . Clear cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres. High Tide: 17:16h reaching a maximum height of 2.86 metres. Low Tide: 10:48h and 23:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.35 metre.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

11 13

FREE TICKET FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

12 19 23

04 08 LUCKY 3

Afternoon Draw

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

11 18 19

SUPER

PAY DAY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024

04 05 07 09 14

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3 Afternoon Draw

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8 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

955

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.19/barrel

+0.69

Rough Rice London Sugar

$340.38/ton $665.40/ton

+1.39 -0.05

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask Low/High

$2024.40 $2019.40

$2025.40 $2037.60

Change

-9.90

-0.49%

Do not be “used as political pawns” – Pres Ali to teachers …calls for patience, as Govt working on best welfare package

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has asked that teachers exercise patience amid their protest actions for better pay, and has assured that Government is working on creating a welfare package that is incomparable with other countries in the Caribbean. The Head of State attended the opening of the Guyana Technical Training College Facility Stimulator in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Friday, and he used that opportunity to contend that the strike actions currently ongoing are political in nature. Ali sounded that there is no need to down tools, as teachers and other Public Servants are pushing at “open doors”. In due time, he assured, they would be compensated adequately. He said that while it may seem as though Guyana is an oil-rich country, the real growth is yet to come. President Ali said in his address: “I explained to the teachers and Public Servants that we are going to work in an incremental way to ensure that you have the best welfare package than anywhere else in the region right here in Guyana, but it will take time…You don’t need to down tools, because you’re pushing at open doors. We are committed to this, but you have to have patience. Everybody believes that all the resources (are) available now. In 2027, then is when the real growth of revenue is coming in, and will be seen in the country. I say to our Public Servants, ‘We are committed to giving you the best life possible. It is for sure that the current situation with the teachers has been overtaken by political expediency’.” Towards the end of 2024, there will be a complete analysis of different categories of workers, where structured interventions would be introduced to allow for greater benefits, the President has said. At the same time, he has called for stakeholders to reciprocate their contribution in the process of incremental development. “All of us have to give a little in this process of incremental development and patience. It’s not as if you’re going to get five years from now. This very year, I said an evaluation will be made for all categories of our workers,” he reminded.

Patience

Drawing example from the case of sugar workers, who have been patient as Government rebuilds and modernises the industry, he said that, in the end, Government would ensure that all workers are empowered to increase their net value.

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the opening ceremony of the Guyana Technical Training College Facility Stimulator

“At the end of the day, it is not only your salary, it is what is your net value. When we build a road in front of your house, that was valued $5 million and because of the infrastructure it goes up to $9 million, this is $4 million increase in your net value. You can then take an asset that carries a higher value and go to the bank and get a higher level of capital. That is how empowerment goes,” he explained. Such is the increase of one’s net wealth possession through the distribution of house lots. As such, the Guyanese Leader sounded a call for persons to recognise when they are being used as political pawns. He added that PPP Governments have a history of being on the side of workers as he lauded teachers who have remained in classrooms.

Political pawns

“I urge our people not to be pawns politically. I am saying to you, as your President, that it will get continuously better, and get better in a short-to-medium- term time; but you

have to give a bit. Do not let yourselves be used as political pawns. We have tremendous love and respect for our Public Servants… You need not push against a hurricane; the wind is blowing with you.” This week, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that, at the end of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s term in office, graduate teachers will benefit from close to 50 percent increase in salaries. According to him, the objective is to ensure that more teachers enter the skilled category by making such investments. This will ultimately increase the quality of education and learning for children. Jagdeo also drew attention to the fact that $135 billion has been allocated to the education sector this year, to better working conditions for teachers. This is significantly more than the $52.7 billion allocated by the former APNU/AFC coalition in their last budget before demitting office. A comparison shows that this now puts $694,000

per child for the 180,000 students in the sector, as opposed to $310,000 per year for 170,000 in 2019. At the helm of the GTU leadership is General Secretary Coretta McDonald, who is also an Opposition Member of Parliament (MP). Calling it a political strike, Dr Jagdeo has urged teachers not to fall prey to such traps. The GTU had initially informed that the protest would last for two weeks, culminating on February 16. Additionally, the Education Ministry issued a statement later this week, stating that many teachers nationwide have refused to participate in the industrial actions to ensure students are prepared for the upcoming National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC). Previously, the GTU had proposed 41 areas identified for better working conditions for teachers. Over the three years, the Education Ministry has fulfilled 25 of those requests. The areas in which the Ministry and the Union have not reached agreement include: salary increases for some scales (MoE has gone above GTU’s request for some scales), allowances, rehired teachers paid at the scale that they retired at, housing fund (which the Union has repeatedly failed to give a way forward for, although the fund has a few hundred million dollars put there by the Government), and salary scales for different HoDS and Sixth Form Deputy Heads, payment for the marking of SBAs, and house lots for teachers in each new housing scheme. (G12)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

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Good step T

he local media reported on Friday that some 300 sexual assault evidence collection kits were delivered to the Health Ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to help women in remote hinterland communities who are victims of sexual and gender-based violence. It is important in every society that there is unhindered access to justice for all, but, most importantly, for women who live in far-flown communities where resources are limited. This is a critical pathway to the achievement of equality. At the donation, which is part of the Justice Education Society (JES) project funded by Global Affairs Canada, “Strengthening Justice for Women, Girls and Indigenous People”, Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said: “We certainly would work with our professionals to make sure that they’re properly trained, especially at our emergency rooms…We would also use the opportunity to train our healthcare staff in all our emergency rooms across the country.” It is imperative that such a commitment is kept so that women and girls living and working in far-flown villages experience and receive the same level of access to justice as those who live in urban areas. In previous editorials, this newspaper has said that sexual violence against children and woman is considered to be a gross violation of rights. According to UNICEF, sexual violence can take the form of sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual exploitation in prostitution or pornography. It can happen in homes, institutions, schools, workplaces, in travel and tourism facilities, and within communities. Increasingly, the Internet and mobile phones also put children at risk of sexual violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children. There is also an increase in the number and circulation of images of child abuse. A UNICEF study, “Hidden in Plain Sight”, estimates that worldwide, around 120 million girls under the age of 20 (about 1 in 10) have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts at some point of their lives. Boys also report experiences of sexual violence, but they do so to a lesser extent than girls. Evidence shows that sexual violence can have serious short- and long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences not only for women, but also for their families and communities. These include increased risks for illness, unwanted pregnancy, psychological distress, stigma, discrimination and difficulties at school. In Guyana, the Police Force and hospital staff are key partners in the fight against sexual violence against women and girls. The Force must continue to provide the necessary training to its officers to properly investigate sexual crimes against children. Our women and girls need to be assured that when violence against them is reported, the law will act quickly to persecute the perpetrators and that our judicial system will function efficiently and equitably to bring such criminals to justice. Importantly, too, is that all the necessary support systems must be put in place to ensure victims and their families are provided with counselling, etc, to overcome the trauma of sexual violence. Women and girls, irrespective of religious, cultural or social backgrounds, deserve to live in an environment where they feel safe and are part of loving and nurturing families. Many incidents of rape sometimes are not ever reported because of lack of confidence in the system to get justice. Everyone involved in investigating sexual violence must take its mandate seriously and must not appear to be complicit in such occurrences. The public must have enough confidence in the authorities involved to report more instances of rape. All women and girls, irrespective of where they live in Guyana, should have access to fair and effective mechanisms for the protection of their rights and be able to obtain a fair and just remedy in the justice system.

The Education Ministry on Thursday launched it's 2024 Mash Band themed, “Blazing the Trail of Knowledge with Transformative Technology and Inclusive Education". The Ministry will be competing in the medium band category (Education Ministry photo)

Chinese Spring Festival Greetings in the New Year of the Dragon

ebruary 10th , 2024, marks the Chinese Spring Festival in the Year of the Dragon. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, I’d like to avail this opportunity to extend our warmest greetings and wishes to all Chinese compatriots and Guyanese friends. Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the oldest and the most important traditional festival in the Chinese culture. It’s a holiday featuring family reunion and good wishes for the coming year, which carries the common values of humanity such as harmonious family, social inclusiveness, world peace and sound coexistence between man and nature. It’s celebrated in China and around the world. Some rough estimates suggest that Spring Festival is a public holiday in almost 20 countries, a UN floating holiday and celebrated in various ways by about one-fifth of humanity. Spring Festival activities have been organized in nearly 200 countries and regions, bringing joy to people around the world. Spring Festival is no strange for Guyanese friends. Last year, the Chinese community held the Guyana 2023 Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair in National Park, Georgetown, where more than 2,000 friends from all walks of life, including Hon. Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, attended the celebrations. Tomorrow, the Chinese Association of Guyana and the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana will hold the 2024 Chinese New Year Gala, which is highly anticipated by local friends. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Last month, the word “Chinese dragon” was included in the Oxford English Dictionary. Unlike the winged, fire-breathing evil dragon in Western mythology, the Chinese drag-

Her Excellency Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana

on symbolizes auspiciousness, fertility, wisdom and strength, and serves as the totem of the Chinese nation. Last year, the Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe from China visited Guyana and performed a wonderful dragon dance in the National Cultural Center, winning numerous rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. The year 2023 has been a uplifting and fruitful year for the Chinese people in terms of overcoming difficulties and making progress. China achieved a smooth transition in its COVID-19 response efforts. With a GDP growth of 5.2% in 2023, the Chinese economy has sustained the momentum of recovery, providing a strong impetus to the global economy. China has made major breakthrough in science and technology. The China-made C919 large passenger airplane entered commercial service. The Chinesebuilt large cruise ship completed its trial voyage. The Shenzhou spaceships are continuing their missions in space. Products designed and made in China such as mobile phones and new energy vehicles, are highly popular with consumers. We successfully held the Chengdu FISU World University Games, the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation among other diplomatic events.

The Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) proposed by President Xi Jinping have gained broader support, uplifting China’s enhanced international influence, enhancing China’s capacity to steer new endeavors, and boosting China’s moral appeal in the new era. Guyana is also highly commendable. In 2023, Guyana has not only maintained rapid economic growth, but also made significant progress in infrastructure development, betterment of people’s lives, and social security, etc. Holding the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council and CARICOM concurrently, Guyana’s international visibility and influence has been further enhanced. As Foreign Secretary Hon. Robert Persaud wrote, small states can be meaningful actors in global governance. China supports Guyana in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to work with Guyana to contribute to world peace, security, prosperity and progress. Last year was also a year in which China and Guyana continued to consolidate relationship and expand cooperation. President Xi Jinping met with President Ali on his visit to China, ush-

ering in a new chapter in China-Guyana friendship. Exchanges resumed, cooperation accelerated, and projects such as highway, bridge, hospitals and hotels progressed smoothly. Last year we also celebrated the 170th anniversary of the Chinese arrival in Guyana and the 30th anniversary of the Chinese Medical Team in Guyana. As the saying goes, “A year’s plan starts with spring.” Recently, the Guyanese government unveiled ambitious development plans, launched several new projects and will host the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2024 and the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government CARICOM this month. These busy schedules signify a good momentum of Guyana’s advancement of its development and diplomatic agenda in 2024. For China, 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and a critical year to fulfill the goals and tasks in its 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. Next month, the Chinese government will unveil its development goals for 2024 at the Two Sessions, which is highly anticipated by the world. In terms of our bilateral relations, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana, which is an important milestone in cultural exchanges between the two countries. Guyana is China’s good friend and important partner. In 2024, China is willing to work with Guyana, to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in Chengdu, expand exchanges and cooperation in various areas and build a more close-knit China-Guyana community with a shared future. Finally, I wish you all a Happy Year of the Dragon!

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Labourer dies 1 month after falling from scaffold

ne month after falling from a 10-foot scaffold at Imam Bacchus and Sons Limited at Affiance, Essequibo Coast, 27-yearold Domindra Narayan of Columbia, Essequibo Coast succumbed to his injuries on Friday, while receiving treatment at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Narayan, who had been employed as a labourer at the company, had been washing a building on January 9 when he reportedly slipped off the scaffold and landed on the concrete ground, sustaining severe head injuries from that fall. He had been admitted a patient at the Suddie Public Hospital after the incident, but his condition worsened, and he reportedly took his last breath on Friday. Occupational Safety and Health Officer Naipaul Persaud, who has responsibility for Region Two, is currently investigating this incident, as is Regional Labour Officer Ravi Persaud. A release from the Labour Ministry said Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has ex-

Dead: Domindra Narayan

pressed concern about workers being injured on the job, and has emphasised the need for workplaces to institute safety and health practices so that employees can be safe at work. Minister Hamilton has said the Labour Ministry, through its OSH Department, is aggressively tackling unsafe workplace conditions and unsafe work practices through inspections and audits, in order to reduce the number of accidents that occur. He has also expressed sincere condolences to the Narayan family.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

6:00 6:30 7:00 8:00 9:00

(Sign on) Inspiration Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stop Suffering Movie - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) 10:30 Indian Movie - Jawan (2023) 13:30 Movie - My Husband's Seven Wives (2024) 15:00 Movie - My Secret Valentine (2018) 16:30 Explained 17:00 Payless Power Hour 18:00 Evangelistic Hour 18:30 Hepzibah 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Islam for Guyana 20:30 Movie - The Secret Kingdom (2023) 22:00 Movie - Hellhound (2024) 0:00 Sign off

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Page

Foundation ◄

Power Up Maths

Power Up Maths Maths Subtracting decimals Power Up Subtracting decimals Power Up Maths Subtracting decimals is just like subtracting whole numbers. However, you must correctly line up the Subtracting decimals decimals . Write placeholder zeros if you need to.

Subtracting decimals is just like subtracting whole numbers. However, you must correctly line up the Subtracting decimals Subtracting decimals is just like subtracting whole numbers. However, you must correctly line up the decimals . Write placeholder zeros if you need to. decimals . Write placeholder zeros if you need to. Subtracting decimals is just like subtracting whole numbers. However, you must correctly line up the Example: Subtract 82.72 - 9.3 decimals . Write placeholder zeros if you need to.

Subtracting decimals

Example: Subtract 82.72 - 9.3 decimals is just like subtracting whole numbers. However, you must Example:Subtracting Subtract 82.72 - 9.3

correctly line up the decimals . Write placeholder zeros if you need to. Step 1:Subtract Line up the numbers. Example: 82.72 - 9.3 Make sure that the decimal points line up. Write placeholder zeros if you need to. Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points. Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up. Write placeholder zeros if you Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up. Write placeholder zeros if you need to. Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points. 82.72in need to. Place a decimal point the answer line under the other decimal points. Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up. Write placeholder zeros if you 82.72 - 9.30in the answer line under the other decimal points. need to. Place a decimal point 82.72

Example: Subtract 82.72 - 9.3

9.30 Step 2: Subtract: --82.72 9.30 Step 2: Subtract: 82.72 - 9.30 Step 2: Subtract: 82.72 - 9.30 Step 2: Subtract: 82.72 - 9.30 73.42 -82.72 9.30 73.42 See if you can figure- 73.42 out 9.30how to provide an answer for this exercise. Perform this subtraction: 34 - 10.65 For example: See if you can figure out how to provide an answer for this exercise. Perform this subtraction: 34 - 10.65 See if you can figure out73.42 how to provide an answer for this exercise. Perform this subtraction: 34 - 10.65 For example: you added a decimal point and placeholder zeros to the whole number, you were correct! and add ForIfexample: Seeplaceholder if you can figure how to provide an answer for this exercise. Perform this subtraction: 34 - 10.65 zeros out after: If you added a decimal point and placeholder zeros to the whole number, you were correct! and add For example: If you added a decimal point and placeholder zeros to the whole number, you were correct! and add placeholder zeros after: 34.00 placeholder zeros after: If you added a decimal point and placeholder zeros to the whole number, you were correct! and add Remember 34.00 10.65 The value of a number does not change if you add a placeholder zeros after: 34.00 decimal and placeholder zeros. Add as many placeholder - 10.65 23.35 - 34.00 10.65 zeros as you need in order to solve the problem. 23.35 - 23.35 10.65 Remember

23.35

Exercises: Subtract

By Kathleen Jessie Raine CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

From star to star, from sun and spring and leaf, And almost audible flowers whose sound is silence,

Remember 1)Remember 12.20 - 7.58 33.60 - 10 894.08 2.36 4) 31.05 1 5) 54.31zeros. - 23.48 6)many 92.88 - 7.12 The value of a 2) number does not 3) change if you- add a decimal and-placeholder Add as

And in the common meadows, springs the seed of life.

Balloon Inside A Bottle

Now the lilies open, and the rose

placeholder zeros as you need in order to solve the problem. The value of a number does not change if you add a decimal and placeholder zeros. Add as many Remember The value of a number does not change if you add a decimal and placeholder zeros. Add as many placeholder zeros as you need in order to solve the problem. placeholder zeros as you need in order to solve the problem. The value of a number does not change if you add a decimal and placeholder zeros. Add as many >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> n this fun andzeros easy experiment, of to water into theproblem. bottle. out of the bottle. When the steam cools, placeholder as you needwe’re in order solve the

going to show you how to use science

Heat the bottle in the microwave for

it contracts and turns back into liquid

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subtract to Exercises: put a balloon inside a bottle. one minute. You may need to tilt the water. This lowers the pressure inside >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Important – This experiment requires bottle in a bowl if it is too tall for the the bottle allowing the higher outside Exercises: Subtract 1) 12.20 -and 7.58 2) 33.60 - 10 3) 894.08 - 2.36 4) 31.05 - 1 5) 54.31 - 23.48 pressure 6) 92.88 to- 7.12 adult assistance supervision. microwave. push the balloon inside the >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Exercises: Subtract Have an adult remove the bottle bottle. Materials: 1) 12.20 -Subtract 7.58 2) 33.60 - 10 3) 894.08 - 2.36 4) 31.05 - 1 5) 54.31 - 23.48 6) 92.88 - 7.12 with an oven mitt- 1and place -it23.48 on a 6) 92.88 - 7.12 Exercises: Glass bottle with2) a narrow 1) 12.20 - 7.58 33.60 -neck 10 3) 894.08 - 2.36 4) 31.05 5) 54.31

secure surface. Balloon Make this a science project: 1) 12.20 - 7.58 2) 33.60 - 10 3) 894.08 -Ask 2.36the 4) 31.05 - 1 carefully 5) 54.31 -put 23.48 7.12easy balloon experiment adult to the 6) 92.88 Water Try -this balloon over the mouth of the bottle with a medical glove. Does adding Measuring spoon and observe what happens. Funnel salt to the water have any noticeable Oven mitts effect on the experiment? Do different How it works: amounts of water have any noticeable Instructions: The water heats up in the microwave effect on the rate at which the balloon Use the funnel to put a tablespoon and turns into steam. This pushes air inverts into the bottle? (sciencefun.org)

Released by summer from the harmless graves That, centuries deep, are in the air we breathe, And in our earth, and in our daily bread. External and innate dimensions hold The living forms, but not the force of life; For that interior and holy tree That in the heart of hearts outlives the world Spreads earthly shade into eternity.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$2.6B Port Mourant oil and gas training institute commissioned P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday commissioned the Guyana Technical Training College (GTTC) Inc at Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The $2.6 billion facility will be used primarily for training in the oil and gas sector. Speaking at the commissioning, the Head of State referred to the establishment of the world-class training facility as an incredible development, pointing out that it would not only be used for training in the oil and gas sector. “This is about the transformation of our country and the building of world-class facilities that would not only train and equip our human resources with the skillset but give them world-class certification,” President Ali noted. “When these young men and women leave this facility, they can be hired anywhere in the world, but we want you to stay here, that is why we are building a system that will allow you to stay here,” he told the first batch of 25 students who have already undergone one year of training in Canada. ExxonMobil Guyana has partnered with the Government of Guyana to

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the commissioning of the $2.6 billion Port Mourant oil and gas training institute on Friday

have the Facility Simulator (FacTor) established, and according to ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge, it is one of fewer than 10 such facilities around the world. “That is testimony that we are committed to bring the latest and best technology and processing techniques to Guyana to responsibly develop the resources. There are a few places in the world that you will find a facility like this,” he said. The FacTor is a stateof-the-art training facility consists of classrooms, workshops and the FacTor module. The facility is designed to provide practical

training for multiple programmes, enabling trainees to execute practice operations, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities in an environment that mirrors real-life plant conditions. The facility is considered safe for training because it is designed to use mediums such as water and air, and there are no potentially hazardous gases or liquids used. The plant comprises several major pieces of equipment to simulate the process conditions on a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in a safe and controlled environment. FacTor can accom-

GTU has not filed annual financial...

She pointed out that while the GTU has proposed a 25 per cent salary increase for 2019 and a 20 per cent increase for every other year from 2020 to 2023, Government has increased teachers’ salaries by more than 20 per cent since taking office in 2020. The Education Ministry has already described the strike as illegal and has adopted a recommendation from

the Labour Ministry not to pay the teachers who do not turn out to work. In addition, the Education Ministry has also indicated to the GTU that it would stop deducting dues from the wages and salaries of teachers on behalf of the union. This means the union would now have to collect its fees directly from teachers. Government is contending

FROM PAGE 2

that the countrywide strike action called by the GTU was part of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition’s tactic to mislead teachers for its own political agenda. At the helm of the union’s leadership is its General Secretary, Coretta McDonald – who is also an Opposition Member of Parliament (MP). (G8)

modate up to 24 trainees for each batch, with four trainers across four disciplines - Mechanical, Instrumentation, Electrical, and Production. The facility is designed to recognised in-

dustrial standards used in the oil, gas, and energy industry worldwide. It is expected to have a positive impact on the local oil and gas sector by providing trained technicians who will have the relevant competencies and skills to execute their roles offshore. President Ali noted that the GTTC was conceptualised two years ago to provide competent skills training to young Guyanese. “The training aims to prepare them for employment in three sectors: our new technically-sophisticated offshore and rapidly-growing oil and gas industry; 2) the hospitality and tourism industry and 3) manufacturing, construction, and other technical service-based industries including welding, fabrication...” The Head of State pointed out that building such a

modernised sophisticated piece of infrastructure would meet the needs of Guyana’s economy. The FacTor was designed and engineered in Singapore; previously it served major oil and gas companies in South East Asia before being shipped to Guyana in 2022. The equipment is expected to allow Guyanese students to undergo training using hands-on experimental technology as well as the mechanical and electrical instruments and process operations of the FPSOs operating in the Atlantic. The application process for trainees is open to all Guyanese who meet the entry requirements. President Ali noted that some of the first batch of students were recruited from the GuySuCo Training College at Port Mourant. (G4)

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Changes… I

…in Constitution

t’s been a while, but it looks like the long-promised constitutional reform process will begin. There’s already the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Constitutional Reform, where lawyerly big-wigs of both Govt and Opposition have been members for a while. Last November, Government sponsored a bill for the process to commence, but it was only last month that letters were sent out to the twenty constitutionally approved bodies that are supposed to submit representative to the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC). And let the games begin, and the two big political parties have submitted their names!!! And unfortunately, much of what will follow is gamesmanship. Let’s take the Opposition: when they were in Government, they sponsored the very same bill to reform the Constitution, which was a big chunk of the manifesto that had gotten them elected. They set up a CRC – headed by one of their legal worthies - which held hearings; took submissions from individuals and groups they’d invited; summarized the reports; and culled their suggestions in a report which they submitted to the esteemed (albeit toothless) PM Nagamootoo. And from that point, it appeared that the Opposition was able to open a portal into a Black Hole into which they threw the Report – from which it can never be seen again!! Your Eyewitness suspected the existence of the Black Hole when the PNC SoPS from the 2020 elections disappeared!! So, did the Opposition keep a copy of their CRC Report - which they might resubmit to the new CRC?? If they do, they’ll have the support of at least the former Chair of their CRC, whom they’d appointed to the new CRC. Are you following this?? But it ain’t gonna happen…for the simple reason that they’re NOW in Opposition!! And all they’re concerned about now is how they can change the Constitution to get themselves back into office – even if it means forcing the PPP or any larger party winning elections to SHARE power!! And the PPP?? They might very well say that if it ain’t broken, then what’s to fix?? The PNC had battered PPP supporters in riots and arson after the 1997 elections to force massive constitutional changes in 2000. The big one was the reduction of the powers of Burnham’s imperial constitution. The PPP can very well say that all of the changes that the PNC had accepted to increase their powers – such as their chair of half of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees – have not been utilized by them to identify areas that could possibly be improved through better governance. You’re beginning to see the game unfolding?? T&T’s Panday had suggested “the people” be first consulted on what they want – and the Committees should devise ways to achieve that!! …in VP’s role? The Opposition PNC and AFC have gone to the court to have VP Jagdeo ejected from the National Assembly!! And what will they “pray” to the court to justify their demand?? Their high powered (high paid also?) lawyers have gone to the Constitution to claim that, with Jagdeo not having sat in Parliament for the last SEVEN sittings, through Art 54 and 156 (1) and Standing Order 106 (2) of the National Assembly, he can’t sit no mo!! For good measure, they’re also claiming if the VP ain’t an MP, he can’t be in Cabinet or be a VP!! And they get rid of the biggest thorn in their side!! But S.O. 106 says that once permission to be absent was sought and granted by the Speaker, then all is well in the status of the MP!! So, all Jagdeo pointed out, when asked about the suit, was the Speaker would pronounce on the matter!! But these Opposition fellas also argued that 33 wasn’t the majority of 65!! …in world’s bragging rights Some folks are adamant that America’s star has dimmed so greatly that America can’t claim to be #1 no mo’!! The BRICS grouping – recently augmented to BRICS + - together outperform the US by a mile!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt mulls new building for GRA …more investments in pipeline for Govt buildings to improve efficiency

The Guyana Revenue Authority building on Camp Street, Georgetown

overnment is mulling a new building for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as its current headquarter operations have outgrown the current Camp Street, Georgetown location, but it is a project which will not be undertaken this year. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made this disclosure on Thursday in response to questions about a new GRA building. Given the current trajectory of the country and new standards being developed, he admitted that a new building would eventually be needed. The VP stated, “We will have to eventually get a new building for GRA. They were at Lamaha Street and different places, then we got to Camp Street. At that time, Camp Street was a powerful new building. Eventually, they would have to get a new building, but I don’t think it’s

going to happen this year.” One of the current bugbears has been the lack of parking in Central Georgetown for persons conducting transactions at GRA. Citing potential locations for the new building, Jagdeo added, “Most likely, the building would be either along the corridor going from Georgetown to Eccles or on the new highway from Ogle to the Bridge. The Government has land there so once they decide on the project, it will go on one of these places.” Employees had reportedly complained of mould in the building, to which the Vice President also responded that GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia was responsible for ensuring that staffers were comfortable. “He’s the Head of GRA [to ensure] that the workers are as comfortable as possible,” he said. GRA presently operates at

eight established Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs), most of which offer the services available at its Georgetown headquarters. Establishing regional offices, it had said, is a groundbreaking initiative, since taxpayers no longer needed to travel to Georgetown to access GRA’s services. In 2022, GRA kickstarted construction of a new IRTO at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice (WCB), which expanded its reach to taxpayers in Region Five, offering a full-service tax office. The Authority opened the doors of its Mabaruma Tax Office in 2019, and it was expected that construction would commence on its Mahdia Regional Office last year. New headquarters are being built for the Housing Ministry and the Guyana Police Force. In the near future, the Public Works Ministry’s operations will also be decentralised. Jagdeo said focus would be placed on upgrading Government buildings to add to their efficiency. “We’re going to spend more money on Government buildings, but to make our workers more comfortable, modernise the services available…but not for like Office of the President. We had proposals to building, but the President is still using State House. It’s not for prestige activities. It is for better functioning of the Government,” he explained. (G12)

Taxi driver busted with ganja, cocaine granted $300K bail

Madho Persaud, called ‘God’

adho Persaud, called ‘God’, a 52-year-old taxi driver of Riverstown, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), has been placed on $300,000 bail after appearing on Thursday before Suddie Magistrate Esther Sam and pleading not guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis charges. Persaud was arrested on Tuesday after 119 grams of cannabis and 28.6 grams

The narcotics allegedly found in Persaud’s vehicle

of cocaine were allegedly found in his vehicle when it was intercepted by Police at Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast. Police report that, on the day in question, Persaud was driving his vehicle when he spotted a mobile patrol and made an aboutturn. Police gave chase, and Persaud’s vehicle was intercepted. The narcotics were reportedly found under the mat on the driver’s side of the car. The prosecutor stren-

uously objected to Persaud being afforded his pre-trial liberty, but the magistrate granted him bail in the following amounts: $200,000 for the possession of cannabis charge, and $100,000 for the possession of cocaine charge. A condition stipulated in Persaud being granted bail is that he has to report to the Suddie Police Station every Monday at 09:00h until his matters have been determined. His matters have been adjourned to March 1, 2024.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Foreign national arrested following discovery of ‘creepy’, cocaine in CI house

ased on intelligence received, ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) recently went to a home in the Cornelia Ida Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and conducted a search thereof, during which a total of 518 brick-like parcels containing cannabis were discovered wrapped in transparent plastic, along with 12 bricklike parcels of cocaine. Two foreign nationals who were at the premises were arrested and escort-

The cocaine that was found at the premises at Cornelia Ida

ed to CANU Headquarters, where the cannabis tested positive for “creepy”, an im-

ported marijuana. They remain in custody as investigations continue.

The imported marijuana found during the raid at the house in Cornelia Ida

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

92% of house lots benefited low-tomoderate income earners – Rodrigues T

he distribution of over 30,000 house lots by the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration since 2020 saw 92 per cent benefiting low-to-moderate income earners, thereby supporting the creation of new homeowners in the country. Appearing on the Guyana Dialogue on Thursday evening, Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues expressed that the objective was to give low-income earners access to affordable housing – an ideology that has been kept under successive PPP Governments. “A mere eight per cent went to high-income applications…The 30,000 is just a number, but when you break it down and look at the impact that the housing programme has had on the lives of these people, then you really appreciate the bigger picture,” she disclosed. From the 30,000 plus house lots allocated in just about three years, 54 per

cent were granted to young persons. Some 50 per cent of allocations also encompassed single women. There is a quota by the Ministry for consideration of servicemen and women in the allocation process. When new schemes are completed, they are equipped with first phase infrastructure, allowing beneficiaries to construct their homes. They also have access to water and electricity. “In the second phase, you would have the upgrading of roads as people occupy their lots and complete their construction. We have the paving either with asphalt or concrete. The agreement of sale strictly prohibits the resale of your property until after 10 years. There is a 10year restriction there until you can transfer,” she explained. Government has moved ahead of its manifesto promise by constructing homes in several areas. There have been reduced interest rates for loans, removal of

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

VAT on building materials, increasing the low-income ceiling for mortgages, increasing mortgage-interest release, and introduction of the steel and cement subsidies among other incentives. She disclosed, “As it relates to our programme, we have an arrangement with our private developers who are building these homes. They have been approved by our project department. It has been de-

Man slapped with damage to property charge granted bail

lishama Belfield, a 24-year-old labourer of Henrietta Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast, was on Thursday placed on $60,000 bail after appearing before Suddie Magistrate Esther Sam and pleading not guilty to a charge accusing him of maliciously damaging the property of Devon Hardy of Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, on February 7, 2024. The matter has been adjourned to March 1, 2024.

Charged: Elishama Belfield

signed by us in-house… This entire project is overlooked by our clerk of works and the banks. There is a lot of oversight in the housing construction aspect.” To provide citizens with affordable housing alter-

natives, the Government intends to construct 2000 homes in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) by the end of 2024. On the East Bank of Demerara, infrastructural projects for more than 5000 low, moderate, and middle-income residential house lots and industrial/ commercial lots covering over 1700 acres of land are progressing. Rodrigues pointed out that infrastructure has a direct impact on alleviating poverty and reducing inequalities. It is also linked to levelling the playing field for all citizens. “When the Opposition talks about infrastructure, you would think that infrastructure is just roads and bridges. But when you dig deeper, the infrastructure

spending that we are undertaking has a bigger objective. The bigger goal is to ensure that we have equitable distribution, that Guyanese can have a better quality of life and access to all of the services that Guyanese in other parts of the country have,” she said. Meanwhile, the Minister also quelled concerns about potential discrimination in the award of house lots as she maintained, “There is no discrimination, whether based on ethnicity or religion or race or gender. We have effectively killed that criticism, because we have provided the data on our site.” Government has previously said it was on track to deliver 50,000 house lots by the year 2025 in keeping with its manifesto commitment. (G12)

16 NEWS Guyanese company now authorised service centre for Epson products SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…Finance Minister lauds “strategic partnership”

ocal business technology solutions company Synetech Inc is partnering with Epson American Inc to provide maintenance and repair services for printers and scanners produced by the Japanese multinational electronics company. During a reception hosted at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Thursday evening, Synetech revealed it is the official Authorised Service Centre for Epson – one of the world’s largest manufacturers of printers, whose parent company is renowned watch maker Seiko. Currently, Epson printers, projectors and scanners are being widely used in Guyana, and this partnership with Synetech would allow local customers to access support services for their purchases, such as warranty and parts. Managing Director of Synetech, Anil Singh, has said Synetech is already collaborating with some of the big names in technology solutions. “Companies and organisations here wanted, and still want, more than just products in a box; they want solutions, and more so, they want solutions that address the challenges that they face every day. And they want those solutions provided to them by companies and manufacturers that are reputable and that can be relied upon to be there for them when things go wrong, as they inevitably do in the IT (information technology) world,” he declared. Singh explained that this partnership with Epson has been fuelled by his com-

pany’s customer-centric approach to service delivery. He noted that while Synetech could have secured a mere distributorship agreement with Epson, they want to offer more to customers. “How could we reasonably claim to be an end-toend technology-solutions partner without an offering that included print, scan, or projector… [Epson] understood my desire to not only compete in this space, but simultaneously provide top class service…and we were able to quickly formulate and cement a partnership between Synetech and Epson,” he said. Through this partnership, the Synetech Managing Director said, his company is now Epson’s local Authorised Service Centre, “where we can offer you a solution while having our personnel trained and equipped to support that solution…I want you in your minds to equate Synetech with service, and understand that this is what we’re striving to do.”

Strategic partnership

Epson’s Regional Representative for the Caribbean, Reshmi Ramnarine, has said Synetech saw the value proposition that her company brings to the Guyanese market. “Together, Epson and Synetech (are) pledging a partnership to provide the wonderful citizens of Guyana exceptional customer value, and we will always find a win-win scenario for all persons involved.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh with Epson Regional Representative Reshmi Ramnarine and Synetech’s Managing Director Anil Singh

Epson’s solutions are designed to raise the bar, and Synetech is striving to also continuously raise the bar… so we can both grow together in a sustainable manner, fostering creativity with cutting edge technology that saves time and money,” Ramnarine has said. And speaking at the launch of the SynetechEpson partnership, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh lauded this venture as designed to bring critically needed support services to Guyanese consumers. He noted that as Government builds out the environment and infrastructure for a modern Guyana, the quality and level of service that is enjoyed in major cities around the world must also be offered here. According to Finance Minister Singh, while Government is working to

address the lacuna that exists in the quality of services provided by the Public Sector, the Private Sector also has a shared responsibility to similarly enhance the services they offer to customers. “We want every single Guyanese customer today to enjoy the same warranty they would (have enjoyed) if they (were living) in New York or Toronto, or London or Paris or Tokyo. We want

them to enjoy the same global warranty, the same reliability of service, the same quality of after-sales service and customer service, irrespective of what it is that you’re buying,” he explained. “We want the Guyanese customers to enjoy the same quality and level of service that they would enjoy anywhere else in the world, and in particular in the best served markets in the world. And so, strate-

gic partnerships entered into by a Guyanese company like Synetech with a manufacturer with a global footprint like Epson represents, in my mind and in our mind in Government, a significant step towards achieving that reality,” Singh declared. Singh noted that this strategic partnership represents a qualitative shift in the services offered to current and future Epson customers in Guyana. Synetech Inc is a business technology solutions partner which supplies and supports major brands, such as Dell technology solutions, APC and Vertiv UPS solutions, and Fortinet cybersecurity solutions. Synetech partnered with the Japanese company in 2023, and has now become an Epson Authorised Service Center. By utilising Epson’s online platform, customers can confirm details pertinent to their specific product; such as warranty details, basic troubleshooting tips, product manuals etc. Through this collaboration, Synetech’s customers would benefit by accessing solutions from a world-renowned brand while at the same time being assured of quality support services. (G8)

Bath Settlement man nabbed with 92lbs ganja

Arrested: Ramlall Ramdihal

amlall Ramdihal, called ‘Jack’, a 38-year-old field supervisor who resides at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, is now in Police custody following the discovery of 41.768kg (92 pounds) of cannabis in his car. Reports are that Police intercepted motorcar PVV 1495, which was parked on the southern side of the Now-or-Never Public Road at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, at about 20:30h on Thursday, and Ramdihal was found alone in the vehicle. When questioned, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his presence at that location, and this resulted in his vehicle be-

The ganja that was found in Ramdihal’s possession ing searched and three bulky white salt bags being discovered in the trunk of the car. Each bag, upon inspection, was found to contain parcels wrapped with cannabis. Together the bags had 15 parcels of cannabis. During interrogation, Ramdihal allegedly claimed that he was instructed to pick up the bags from #30 Village and transport them to Georgetown, where he

would have been compensated. However, he allegedly refused to divulge the identity of the individual who had hired him. Ramdihal was taken, along with the confiscated narcotics and the motorcar, to the Mahaicony Police Station, where the parcels were weighed and amounted to 41.768kg. He remains in custody pending charges. (G9)

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Convicted drug smuggler busted with imported ganja, ammo at Eccles C

onvicted drug trafficker Rohan Rambarran, called “Sauce”, of Eccles Housing Scheme, EBD, was on Friday busted at Eccles, East Bank Demerara with a large quantity of the foreign marijuana called “creepy” and several rounds of ammunition. The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has said that, on the day in question, its agents were conducting an operation at Eccles Housing Scheme when they intercepted a motor vehicle being driven by Rambarran. He was the lone occupant of the vehicle, and a search of the vehicle unearthed five large bales wrapped in black plastic. An inspection of the bales uncovered 250 brick-like parcels of cannabis. Following this discovery, Rambarran was escorted to his home, where a further search was conducted, and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition were found in a magazine. Rambarran was arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters, where the cannabis tested positive as ‘creepy’. Rambarran and four

Convicted drug trafficker Rohan Rambarran, called “Sauce”

Rambarran had been sentenced to 25 years for trafficking cannabis and 30 years for trafficking cocaine, but the sentences were to be served concurrently. His

The ganja that was found in the motor car

others had been convicted in December 2009 for the importation into Barbados,

possession, and trafficking of 91.3kilos of cannabis and 119.4kilos of cocaine.

The narcotics were found in a consignment of logs on November 29, 2005.

sentence in 2010, and the matter was heard in 2014. On August 29, 2019, the Barbados Court of Appeal had ordered the release of Rambarran on time served,

The ammunition found in Rambarran’s home

attorney had, however, appealed the conviction and

and he was subsequently deported to Guyana.

EU, Guyana commit to enhanced collaboration under Global Gateway initiative …as Guyana identifies priorities in climate change, energy & trade

he Guyana-European Union Partnership dialogue which occurred this week has paved the way for both parties to commit towards new areas of partnership, especially through the Global Gateway Investment Agenda. The meeting was convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Tuesday, and Guyana’s delegation comprised subject Minister Hugh Todd and senior officials of that Ministry; while Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Rene Van Nes, led the EU delegation, which comprised of French Ambassador to Suriname and Guyana, Nicolas de Lacoste; Chargé d’Affaires of the French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, Jean-Jacques Forte; and Representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Suriname, Bianca Hettinga, among other EU officials. A joint statement issued on Thursday read, “Minister Todd and Ambassador van Nes agreed that the opportunity should be explored to seek new areas of cooperation, and to collaborate un-

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and EU Ambassador Rene van Nes

der the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which focuses on forest management, health, water management and renewable energy, as well as connectivity.” Aligned with the dialogue’s objective of exchanging information and fostering mutual understanding, both sides engaged in open and constructive discussions on areas of common interest at bilateral, regional and international levels, including on new challenges in international settings. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continuation and further en-

hancement of collaboration between Guyana and the European Union, and acknowledged the transition from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which ended in December 2023 even as they discussed Guyana’s accession to its successor - the Samoa Agreement. Todd has underscored the importance of this relationship between the European Union and Guyana, and has reiterated Guyana’s unwavering commitment to enhancing collaboration in the areas of climate change, energy, security, people-to-people ties,

and trade. He also noted the European Union’s pivotal role as a key developmental partner for Guyana. Ambassador van Nes looked back on 2023 as a meaningful year for relations between the EU and the Caribbean, and for bilateral relations between the EU and Guyana. He acknowledged Guyana’s political role in the region and at the global level, as well as the country’s sustained economic growth. He stressed the European Union’s commitment to human rights, democracy, and respect for the rule of law, and commended Guyana’s engage-

ment in this regard. “Both sides agreed that increased interaction between companies from Guyana and the European Union should be encouraged. In this context, Ambassador van Nes referred to the EU Economic Mission to Guyana in November 2023, and announced a follow-up before the end of the year.” From January 2017 to September 2023, total trade with the European Union stood at approximately US$11 billion. It has increased steadily in the past five years, with an average annual growth of 20 per cent. During the Trade Mission’s visit last year,

President Irfaan Ali mentioned that, with the driven leadership on food, energy and climate, there is a demand for investments in the building out of services in healthcare, education, biodiversity and pharmaceuticals. Both parties have agreed that the dialogue has set the tone for continued collaboration at all levels in areas of mutual interest, and for building on the existing cooperation between Guyana and the European Union. The next round of dialogue is scheduled to occur before the end of 2024. (G12)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Venezuela builds forces near border with Guyana despite agreement to de-escalate …satellite images show expansion of operations at Anacoco military base – CNN

atellite images show Venezuela has bolstered its military presence near the border with Guyana, despite Caracas saying it would pursue a diplomatic avenue to try and resolve the long-standing territorial dispute over an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Imagery from Maxar collected in January showed an expansion of operations at Venezuela’s Anacoco Island [Ankoko] military base, on the Cuyuni river, which borders Guyana, with several new sections of rainforest cleared recently and others being bulldozed when the images were captured. The pictures also show new infrastructure and several armored vehicles present on site. While the base’s airstrip appeared unchanged, a helicopter could be seen on it, and

access roads were improved. North of the base, on the Cuyuni River crossing that provides land access to the base, a heavy river ferry is visible, and large swaths of rainforest have been cleared. Large stockpiles of what ap-

pear to be construction supplies are visible on the side of the road, as are three armored vehicles. In January, Venezuela bragged about expanding its military presence in the region in propaganda videos

released on its army’s social media accounts, showing bulldozers clearing land, as well as light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles on the move and an Mi-17 military transport helicopter. “[The expansion of the base] promoted by the 11th Armoured Brigade together with the 6th Venezuelan Army Corps Engineers, is im-

proving the response system of the FANB in this important border area with the state of Guayana Esequiba and repelling any eventuality that attempts against the Republic,” the Venezuelan Army said in a post on X. The expansion of Venezuelan operations along the disputed border was first reported by the Washington-

based think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Tension over the land, which amounts to about twothirds of Guyanese national territory, mounted last year after a Venezuelan referendum in which voters assented to creating a Venezuelan state within the disputed region. Guyana had called the move a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the specter of armed conflict loomed over the region. Venezuela later reached an agreement with Guyana on December 15 to avoid escalation and try to settle the dispute between the two countries without force. In a joint declaration, both sides agreed to “not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances” and “refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.” (CNN)

Essequibo labourer gets bail on simple larceny charge Chileans throng streets for former

uey Anthony Corlette, a 26-yearold labourer of Charity River Dam on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), has been placed on $200,000 bail after appearing on Thursday before Suddie Magistrate Esther Sam and pleading not guilty to a charge of simple larceny committed on Ronaldo O'Neil of Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), on February 6, 2024 at Charity River Dam. This matter has been adjourned to March 1, 2024.

President's funeral procession

Charged: Huey Anthony Corlette

WCD man intercepted with $12M in cocaine

funeral procession for former two-time Chilean President Sebastian Pinera wound though Santiago on Friday, past La Moneda presidential palace as thousands of people lined streets and rooftops holding flags and photos of him. Pinera, 74, died on Tuesday after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake in southern Chile. Earlier on Friday, a State funeral was held at the former congress building. "Today we share the shock of the tragic departure of a man, a father, husband, grandfather and public figure that was a leader in our transition to democracy," President Gabriel Boric told mourners. After the service, horse-mounted Police saluted Pinera's casket at the Palace as a Police marching band played. Then cars carrying family members and government officials escort-

The coffin containing the body of Chile's former President Sebastian Pinera leaves the former National Congress building for his funeral in Santiago, Chile, February 9, 2024 (Reuters/ Rodrigo Garrido photo)

ed Pinera's casket onward through the city to a cemetery in northern Santiago. "I came because I felt he was a good president for Chile," said Diego Arrayada, who watched the procession. "He was honest, was close to the people, gave social aid, and knew the engine behind Chile was small

business." Pinera, a conservative billionaire whose first term ran from 2010 to 2014, oversaw strong economic growth, but also faced protests. Boric himself led student protests for education reforms during Pinera's first Administration. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Net tightens on Bolsonaro as Police seize passport in coup probe

Arrested: Sahadeo Prasad

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have taken into custody a male resident of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara following a huge drug bust on Thursday. CANU has said that its ranks conducted an intelli-

The cocaine that was found in the car

gence-led operation on the Cornelia Ida Public Road and intercepted a motor vehicle which, when searched, was found to contain 10 brick-like parcels wrapped in transparent plastic and suspected to be cocaine. This discovery led to the arrest of Sahadeo

Prasad, 39, of Grant 104, Anna Catherina WCD. He was taken to CANU Headquarters, where the narcotic tested positive for cocaine. And when weighed, the cocaine amounted to 11.4kg, which has an estimated street value of $12 million.

razilian Police on Thursday confiscated former President Jair Bolsonaro's passport and accused him of editing a draft decree to overturn election results, pressuring military chiefs to join a coup attempt, and plotting to jail a Supreme Court Justice. The bombshell allegations are the result of a probe into Bolsonaro and

his inner circle for allegedly plotting a military coup after his electoral loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022. Thursday's operation included search warrants against four former Ministers and the arrest of four former aides. The confiscation of Bolsonaro's passport augurs badly for the former leader, a far-right populist

often likened to former US President Donald Trump. A federal Police official directly involved in Thursday's raids said the evidence against Bolsonaro was strong, adding that the seizure of his passport offers benefits of an arrest, such as mitigating flight risk, without creating as much noise. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Around the World

Israel prepares assault on Rafah, OILNEWS OIL NEWS seeks to allay fears of “bloodbath” Oil settles up, notches weekly gain on tight supply, Middle East conflict

il prices settled higher on Friday, up about six per cent on a week-on-week basis, as worries about supply from the Middle East mounted and as reining outages tightened refined products markets. Brent crude futures settled up 56 cents, or 0.7 per cent, at US$82.19 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up 62 cents or 0.8 per cent, at US$76.84 a barrel. Oil futures rose throughout the week, buoyed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a Hamas ceasefire proposal on Wednesday. This week's rise followed a seven per cent loss in the prior week. "We believe that this type of week-to-week wide price swings will further characterise the crude markets through the rest of this month short of major bullish headlines out of the Mideast that could force adjustment in global oil balances," said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois. US energy firms this week also added four oil and natural gas rigs to 623 this week, its highest since mid-December, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely-followed report. US domestic production returned this week to a record 13.3 million barrels per day level, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Last month, frigid weather caused widespread shut-ins in oil-producing regions. Israeli forces on Friday continued deadly air strikes on the Gaza Strip. On Thursday, the bombing of the southern border city of Rafah helped boost oil prices by around three per cent. "With the words that, 'no part of the Gaza Strip would be immune from Israel's offensive', it was not hard for oil participants to conclude that without even a passing regard for peace, there was not enough conflict-premium priced in," said John Evans, an analyst at PVM. Crude futures were also supported by strength in gasoline and diesel prices as significant US refinery downtime, both planned and unplanned, tightened product markets. Gasoline futures rose about nine per cent in the week to US$2.34 per gallon while heating oil futures increased by 11 per cent to US$2.96 per gallon. Ukraine launched drone attacks against two oil refineries in southern Russia on Friday, resulting in a fire at the Ilsky refinery. The Afipsky refinery, also in Krasnodar Krai, which borders Crimea on the Black Sea and Azov Sea coast, was the other facility in the attack. Russia has been exporting more crude in February than planned under an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) deal, following a combination of drone attacks and technical outages at its refineries. "Proof still needs to be provided that Russia is able to cut oil exports sufficiently even without weather-related constraints," Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank, said on Friday in reference to the country's OPEC+ cut quota. On Thursday, the US Treasury Department sanctioned another three entities based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one tanker registered by Liberia for violating a cap placed on the price of Russian oil by a coalition of Western nations. (Reuters)

sraeli forces geared up on Friday for a ground assault on Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people displaced by violence further north were trapped in desperate conditions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the military had been told to come up with a plan to evacuate civilians, but aid agencies warned that a military offensive in such a densely-populated area could end up killing large numbers of innocent people. "There is a sense of growing anxiety, growing panic in Rafah, because, basically, people have no idea where to go," said Philippe Lazzarini, the Head of the United Nations Palestinian agency UNRWA. US President Joe Biden

said on Thursday Israel's response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants was "over the top", and Washington said it would not support any military operation mounted in Rafah without due consideration for civilians. More than a million people driven southwards by four months of Israeli bombing of Gaza are packed into Rafah and surrounding areas on the coastal enclave's border with Egypt, which has reinforced the frontier, fearing an exodus. Netanyahu's office said four Hamas battalions were in Rafah and Israel could not achieve its goal of eliminating the Islamist militants while they remained there. Civilians should be evacuated from the combat zone, it said. The United Nations

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 8, 2024 (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa photo)

said Palestinian civilians in Rafah, needed to be protected, but there should not be any forced mass displacement, which it said went against international law. The Palestinian

Presidency said what it described as Netanyahu's plans for a military escalation in Rafah aimed to displace the Palestinian people from their land. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin tells Tucker Carlson Russia has no interest in attacking Poland or Latvia

ussian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview that aired on Thursday that Russia will fight for its interests "to the end", but has no interest in expanding its war in Ukraine to other countries such as Poland and Latvia. In his first interview with an American Journalist since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Putin said Western leaders had come to realise

it was impossible to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and were wondering what to do next. "We are ready for this dialogue," he said. Putin also said he believed it was possible to reach an agreement to free US Journalist Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, who has been detained in Russia for nearly a year and is awaiting trial on spying charges. Putin made the comments in a more-than-two-

hour interview with conservative talk-show host Tucker Carlson that was conducted in Moscow on Tuesday and aired on tuckercarlson.com. Putin spoke in Russian and his remarks were dubbed into English. He began with lengthy remarks about Russia's relations with Ukraine, Poland

Democrats rally around Biden as report raises age concerns

Pakistan elections: Imran Khan, Nawaz D Sharif both claim wins

ormer Pakistani Prime Ministers and bitter rivals Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan on Friday both declared victory in elections marred by delayed results and militant attacks, throwing the country into further political turmoil. Sharif's party won the most seats by a single party in Thursday's election, but supporters of imprisoned Khan, who ran as independents instead of as a single bloc after his party was barred from the polls, won the most seats overall. Sharif said his party would talk to other groups to form a coalition government as it had failed to win a clear majority on its own. Sharif's announcement came after more than three-quarters of the 265 seats had declared results, more than 24 hours after

polling ended on Thursday when 28 persons were killed in militant attacks. Analysts had predicted there may be no clear winner, adding to the woes of a country struggling to recover from an economic crisis while it grapples with rising militancy in a deeply-polarised political environment. The results showed independents, most of them backed by Khan, had won the most seats – 98 of the 245 counted by 1830 GMT. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 69 while the Pakistan People's Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, got 51. The rest were won by small parties and other independents. (Excerpt from Reuters)

and other countries. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones attacked two oil refineries in southern Russia's Krasnodar region on Friday, causing a large fire at the Ilsky refinery during operations conducted by the SBU security service, a Ukrainian source told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

emocrats are defending President Joe Biden after a report on his handling of classified documents raised concerns about his age and mental fitness. Biden will not be charged for keeping classified documents, but the report cast him as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory". Vice President Kamala Harris slammed the description as "gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate". She also alleged the Prosecutor was "clearly politically motivated". Robert Hur, a Donald Trump appointee who has previously clerked for two well-known conservative Judges, was appointed to lead the Biden classified document probe last year. His selection by US Attorney General Merrick Garland that January came as the Justice Department faced criticism from Republicans over a separate

special counsel appointment to investigate Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of top secret files. But Hur's publicly-released report included a letter from the White House asking that the comments about the president's memory be revised "in a manner that is within the bounds of your expertise and remit". Harris, who has previously served as a Prosecutor, echoed that criticism at a news conference on Friday. "The way that the president's demeanour in that report was characterised could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated," she said. "When it comes to the role and responsibility of a prosecutor in a situation like that, we should expect there would be a higher level of integrity." Democratic allies on Capitol Hill also told the BBC they believed Hur's remarks went beyond the scope of the investigation. (Excerpt from BBC News)

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2024

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DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Proposals will come with underlying baggage. Don't jump into something without reading the fine print and adjusting what doesn't work for you. Don't let anger overrule common sense.

(March 21-April 19) Streamline your objective before you begin. Cater to your needs and take on what's feasible. Doing less and doing it well will have the most significant impact and reward.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

You'll be confused about what others want you to do and where you prefer to put your time and energy. Engage in learning and follow through with your plans.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Soak up information, be attentive, patient and insightful, and implement changes that encourage you to focus on positive outcomes. Something you learn will impact your feelings about certain obligations. Think before you act. You'll tend to overdo it if you don't have a wellthought-out plan. Simplify your life, lower your overhead and make an effort to improve your life.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Participate in something that excites you. Changing location or learning something new will help you realize what's important and whom you care about most. Romance is favored.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Be innovative, make suggestions and engage in changes that reduce stress and improve your life. Don't wait to see what others do; take charge, put in the time and take what belongs to you.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

You'll have the stamina and money to finish what you start. Introduce changes at home that feed your imagination, allowing you to be creative. Express how you feel.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Hang on to your cash. Someone will be eager to scam you or to talk you into something you don't need. Focus on health and fitness. Kind gestures will make a difference.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Improve your surroundings. Put a budget together before you start a project, and put your energy making your dream a reality. Romance is on the rise.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- COCKADES

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Avoid no-win situations. Work on fulfilling your dreams. Don't let anyone fluster you when doing what makes you happy will also help you recognize the steps you must take to reach your goals.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Remain centered and push forward. Your insight will help you deal with what's happening. Balance, integrity, compassion and love will save the day. Romance is favored.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Lakers' winning streak ended by Nuggets J

amal Murray shined as the Los Angeles Lakers' three-game winning streak was halted by the Denver Nuggets, who won 114-106 at Crypto.com Arena. Denver beat Los Angeles for the seventh game in a row, having swept them in the Western Conference finals last season on the way to their NBA championship success. Anthony Davis scored 32 points and LeBron James added 25 for the Lakers but D’Angelo Russell was out injured after the team opted not to make any moves at the trade deadline. Russell’s replacement Max Christie also suffered an injury shorty before halftime as the Lakers dropped to 2726, while the Nuggets (36-16) have now won three straight games, and eight of their last 10. Nikola Jokic just missed a triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, while Murray scored 29 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 27. The Nuggets led by 15 at one stage in the second half but the game was level again at 104-104 entering the final

The Nuggets defeated the Lakers' 114-106

two minutes. A 10-0 Denver run proved decisive, ending the Lakers' best winning streak since they lifted the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. "They made shots and executed," said LeBron. "The ball always ends up in Jamal Murray's hands. "We tied the game and twice they hit big 3s, so they made more plays offensively than us and were able to win the game. "Very good teams have an

ability to run plays late in the game that they haven't run all game and have certain packages they can go to where they can get a really good shot. "But it makes it even more dynamic when you have a point guard and center as great as [Murray and Jokic], it definitely helps the play calls when you have those two!" For LeBron, who also had nine rebounds and seven assists, he was able to focus on the game despite speculation

around the trade deadline and a big day which saw the emotional unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s statue.

"I went through my regular game-day routine and focused on the job at hand," he said. "I knew coming in coming off a 12-day, six-game road trip is difficult on us, but once you get on the floor you have to lock in on an assignment. That’s all that matters. "Our whole year so far has been about health. We haven't got to the point yet [where everyone is available]." A busy schedule continues for Los Angeles as it hosts New Orleans on Friday, while Denver is at Sacramento next. Davis echoed LeBron in citing health as the Lakers’ key issue, but still felt they could have won the contest. "This is our team, who we are going to have," he said after the trade deadline passed. "Like I said, until we get guys

healthy, we kind of have to get back into our groove. "But this was a very, very winnable game and down the stretch kind of hurt us." Nuggets coach Michael Malone was glad to see his team hold their nerve in the final moments. He said: "What I saw in that stretch was poise on offense and executing. "Give them [the Lakers] credit, they had all the momentum and they were attacking us, so to outscore that team 10-2 in the last few minutes, that means you’re defending at a high level and you’re rebounding." Denver has the same record as the Minnesota Timberwolves at the top of the Western Conference, with Los Angeles in the No. 9 position. (Sportsmax)

Premier League facing threat of legal action from club over rules

Kohli to miss at least 2 more Tests of England series – reports I ndia batter Virat Kohli has emerged as a major doubt for the remainder of their Test series against England. Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests citing personal reasons and several Indian media outlets are reporting his absence will extend into at least the next two matches in Rajkot and Ranchi this month. While there has been no official confirmation about the speculation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Kohli could also be unavailable for next month’s fifth and final Test in Dharamshala. With almost 9,000 Test runs and 29 centuries banked, Kohli, who averages 56.38 on home soil against England, has been a big miss in India’s middle-order in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. Shreyas Iyer has failed to pass 35 in his four innings but could be given a stay of execution if Kohli, the former India captain, continues to sit out. It has also been reported India are giving serious consideration to resting Jasprit

Manchester City and Newcastle United both have sponsors linked to their owners

Virat Kohli is unlikely for the next two Tests against England

Bumrah when the series, currently level at 1-1, resumes in Rajkot next week in a further boost to the tourists’ hopes. Bumrah was in electrifying form in Vizag with a match haul of nine wickets for 91 runs, helping him become the first India paceman to go top of the International Cricket Council’s Test bowling rankings. Despite a 10-day gap between the end of the second and start of the third Tests,

India are said to be mindful of Bumrah’s workload after returning from back surgery last year. The 30-year-old has bowled 57.5 overs in the series so far and could be kept fresh for the fourth and fifth Tests. Ahead of naming their squad for the third Test later this week, India must decide whether all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and batter KL Rahul are ready to return from injury. (Sportsmax)

he Premier League is facing the threat of legal action from a club over amended rules around commercial deals. On Friday, rules regarding associated party transactions (ATPs) were tightened, aimed at clubs signing sponsorship deals with companies linked to their owners. ATPs can inflate revenue streams and allow more room for spending. League officials have not named the club but informed all 20 of the threat at a shareholders' meeting in London. The legal threat surrounds whether the Premier League's rules are compatible with competition law. BBC Sport has been told the threat remains even though a vote on the proposed rule changes, following an earlier review, gained enough support to be passed after it had been rejected in

November. The changes will be introduced to the Premier League handbook in a matter of weeks but one contentious element around personal liability to directors has been removed. It is understood the vote was not unanimous. Sources have pointed to that disagreement, plus ongoing charges against Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City and behindthe-scenes complaints about the new Premier League TV deal, as evidence of fractured relationships within the Premier League and discontent with chief executive Richard Masters. "Following a full review of the existing associated party transactions rules and fair market value assessment protocols, clubs agreed to a series of amendments to further enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the system," said a

Premier League statement. Meanwhile, the Premier League is still not in a position to put a funding package to the English Football League (EFL). Funding of around £900m has been agreed but issues over where the money should come from and stipulations around cost controls in the Championship have stalled completion of the deal, much to the frustration of EFL clubs. However, sources have said there is now momentum behind the discussions and pointed to a good-natured gathering of some Premier League and EFL clubs on Wednesday as evidence of the scope for agreement. Clubs were also told there would be no pre-season Summer Series in 2024 because of a combination of time constraints, the European Championship and Copa America. (BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

West Indies Championships…

Windwards Volcanoes complete dominant 9-wicket win over Jamaica Scorpions …Barbados Pride 8 wickets away from victory

he Windward Islands Volcanoes needed only three days to complete a nine-wicket victory over the Jamaica Scorpions in their 2024 West Indies Championship opening round fixture at Sabina Park in Kingston. The Scorpions started Friday (day three) 76-4 off 18 overs, trailing by 106 runs with Nkrumah Bonner and Gordon Bryan at the crease on 36 and one, respectively. Eleven overs into the day’s play, Bonner was trapped in front by Shamar Springer for 45 to leave the Scorpions 109-5, needing a further 73 runs to make the Windwards bat again. New batsman Abhijai Mansingh joined Bryan at the crease, and the pair looked to be safely guiding the Scorpions into the lunch break without any further damage. However, this proved not to be the case as Mansingh was caught brilliantly at short mid-wicket by Sunil Ambris off the bowling of Shadrack Descarte for 11 to leave the hosts 131-6 off 47 overs at lunch. The first over after lunch saw Bryan’s resistance finally ended by Kenneth Dember for 31, with the score on 133. Peat Salmon and Romaine Morris then did their best to get the scoring rate up, but their part-

Shamar Springer facing a delivery from Peat Salmon

nership ended when Salmon went back to a full delivery off Dember and was bowled for 15. Despite the fall off wickets around him, Morris maintained his positive play, eventually bringing up a maiden First-Class fifty. He was eventually the last man dismissed for 68 off 76 balls including seven fours and two sixes as the Scorpions were dismissed for 234 in 73.4 overs, leaving the Volcanoes needing just 53 for victory. Darius Martin finished with 4-85 from 16 overs while Shamar Springer and Kenneth Dember took 2-30 from 16.4 overs and 2-53 from 22 overs, respectively. The Volcanoes then needed only 16 overs to reach 55-1 and secure the win. Jeremy Solozano ended 29* while Johann Jeremiah

made 22*. Full Scores: Jamaica Scorpions 159 all out off 41 overs (Romaine Morris 35, Peat Salmon 26, Ryan John 5-43, Shamar Springer 3-53) & 234 all out off 73.4 overs (Romaine Morris 68, Nkrumah Bonner 45, Gordon Bryan 31, Darius Martin 4-85, Shamar Springer 2-30, Kenneth Dember 2-53) Windward Islands Volcanoes 341 all out 105.2 overs (Johann Jeremiah 80, Shamar Springer 71, Ryan John 57, Sunil Ambris 45, Gordon Bryan 4-64, Peat Salmon 3-78, Marquino Mindley 2-60) & 55-1 off 16 overs (Jeremy Solozano 29*, Johann Jeremiah 22*)

Pride on cusp of victory

Barbados Pride followed up their batting performance with a decent all-

6th Edition of Mashramani Street Football set for February 18

round bowling effort, as they tightened their grip on the West Indies Championship contest against Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners at Chedwin Park, in Jamaica. The Marooners closed Friday (day three) on 96-2 in their second innings, still 63 runs behind with eight wickets intact, as they were forced to follow-on after their first innings folded at 185. Shamarh Brooks, on 44, and Shatrughan Rambaran, on 15, will resume batting today, the final day. Resuming on their overnight score of 10-1 in response to Pride’s massive total, the Marooners struggled to contend with the bowling of Jomel Warrican, Akeem Jordan and Chaim Holder, as their first innings crumbled early in the day. Captain Jonathan Carter with a patient 131-ball 59, and Shaqkere Parris with a 108-ball 44, were the only batsmen to offer minimal resistance, with Demario Richards (28) the next best score. Warrican grabbed 4-29

Jomel Warrican took 4-29 in the Marooners first innings

in 22.3 overs, while Holder and Jordan had 3-71 and 2-30 respectively. Still 159 runs at that point, the Marooners would have hoped for a more compact batting display on the second occasion. But those hopes were dampened when Jordan and Holder again combined to remove the opening pair of Parris (five) and Kirstan Kallicharan (24) respectively. However, Brooks and Rambaran remained composed to not only limit the damage, but also offer the

JFF cleared to proceed with election after Supreme Court ruling

he National Park will be filled with exhilarating football as the Sixth Edition of the Mashramani Street Football Championship is set to kick off on Sunday, February 18, in what is expected to be a jampacked tournament. The Tournament despite being for one day only will feature 16 teams in a knockout contest; with Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Bent Street, Stabroek ballers, Team Cruel, Five-O, Family, North East La Penitence being among the teams to participate. At the launch ceremony, Organiser of the Tournament, Edison Jefford stressed on the emphasis that is being placed on punctuality. “We would like to be on time and I'm stressing time throughout with teams, we have met with them, we’ve issued their invitations formally and one of the things that we have identified is that once you are not there when your game is blown;

Michael Ricketts and Raymond Anderson

T Tournament organiser Edison Jefford (third from left) representatives of sponsors

a walkover will be immediately issued,” Jefford said. Also speaking at the launch ceremony were representatives from the sponsors as they detailed the importance of their contribution towards this tournament. The winner of the tournament will receive bragging rights for years while taking home $1 million

with

in prize monies. Second, third, and fourth place will receive $250,000, $150,000, and $100,000 respectively. This tournament would not be possible without sponsorship from Enet, MVP Sports, Fireside Grill and Chill, Fireside Suites, Grill, D’Grill and Kings, Cévon’s Waste Management, Star Rentals, and many more.

Marooners another glimmer of hope of possibly seeing out the final day for a draw. Elsewhere at Conaree Cricket Centre, in St Kitts, no play was again possible for a second straight day between Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and reigning champions Guyana Harpy Eagles. This was due to a waterlogged field following heavy rains on Thursday. Scores: Barbados Pride 344-8 dec (72.2 overs); Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners 185 & 96-2 (37 overs)

he Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is now in the process of setting a new election date, after the Supreme Court denied an application for the continuation of the temporary injunction, which initially barred the proceedings. It is understood that the application was denied on the basis that the applicants, Patricia Garel and Beach Soccer Jamaica, did not establish that they are an affiliate or member of the JFF. As a result, the court ruled that there is no serious issue to be tried by the court. "This has been the position of the JFF, and we are pleased that the way is now cleared for us to set the new election date, which will be determined by the Board,"

the JFF said in a statement on Friday. The initial January 14 election date set by the JFF was thrown out the window when Garel filed the application in the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel the JFF to allow Beach Soccer to participate in the election of officers as the entity representing beach football in Jamaica. Garel, in the application which was filed this week, contends that in 2022 the respondent, JFF, promulgated a new constitution and article 12 stipulates that Beach Soccer Jamaica is one of the affiliates under pillar 3 of the constitution. By virtue of that promulgation under article 12, Beach Soccer became a member of

the JFF and was so treated. Subsequent to the promulgation of the constitution, Garel said recognition was given to Beach Soccer when the respondent invited Beach Soccer to send three representatives to the congress on September 24 last year, which is reflected in the minutes of the JFF. The injunction was granted but expired today. Incumbent Michael Ricketts, who has been at the helm since 2017, is being challenged by vice-president Raymond Anderson for the presidency. (Sportsmax)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

West Indies lose by 11 runs to Australia in T20 run-fest at Bellerive I

n a nail-biting series-opener at Bellerive Oval, Australia emerged victorious by 11 runs against a full-strength West Indies in the first T20 International, despite a valiant effort from the Caribbean side. The match, which saw Australia post an equal-record T20I score in Hobart, featured standout performances from David Warner, Tim David, and legspinner Adam Zampa. Australia, batting first, set the tone for an exhilarating encounter with Warner smashing a blistering half-century in his 100th T20I, scoring 70 off 36 deliveries. Tim David's explosive 17-ball 37 further fueled Australia's innings, propelling them to a formidable total of 213 for 7. Andre Russell took two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the final over of the Australian innings to finish with 3-42. Alzarri Joseph took 2-46. Chasing 214 for victory, West Indies displayed early promise with openers Brandon King (53) and Johnson Charles (42) forming a dynamic partnership. King, in particular, played a stellar innings, reaching a half-century off 36 deliveries. However, legspinner Adam Zampa's brilliant

SCOREBOARD

Adam Zampa and Mitch Marsh celebrate a wicket

performance in the middle overs proved crucial for Australia as they successfully defended their total. Zampa, with figures of 3-26, outfoxed the aggressive West Indies batsmen, preventing them from achieving the challenging target. Despite a late onslaught from Jason Holder, who scored an unbeaten 34, West Indies ultimately fell short, finishing at 202 for 8. The match served as a platform for auditions and milestones, with Josh Inglis getting an opportunity to partner Warner as the opening batsman. In

Brandon King made 53 off 37

his 16th T20I, Inglis showcased his 360-degree range, contributing 39 off 25 balls. While Warner starred in

his milestone 100th T20I, reaching the elite company of players with 100 internationals in each format,

Australia (20 ovs maximum) David Warner c †Pooran b Joseph 70 Josh Inglis c Powell b Holder 39 Mitchell Marsh (c) c †Pooran b Joseph 16 Glenn Maxwell c King b Shepherd 10 Marcus Stoinis c Joseph b Russell 9 Tim David not out 37 Matthew Wade †c sub (RL Chase) b Russell 21 Sean Abbott b Russell 0 Adam Zampa not out 4 Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 4) 7 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.65) 213/7 Did not bat: Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Josh Inglis, 7.6 ov), 2-129 (Mitchell Marsh, 12.1 ov), 3-135 (David Warner, 12.3 ov), 4-146 (Marcus Stoinis, 13.5 ov), 5-159 (Glenn Maxwell, 15.5 ov), 6-209 (Matthew Wade, 19.4 ov), 7-209 (Sean Abbott, 19.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Akeal Hosein 4-0-42-0 Jason Holde 3-0-37-1 Alzarri Joseph 4-0-46-2 Andre Russell 4-0-42-3 Romario Shepherd 4-0-38-1 Rovman Powell 1-0-6-0

West Indies (T: 214 runs from 20 ovs) Brandon King c Abbott b Stoinis 53 Johnson Charlesc Warner b Zampa 42 Nicholas Pooran †c Abbott b Zampa 18 Shai Hope c Abbott b Stoinis 16 Andre Russell b Zampa 1 Sherfane Rutherford c sub (AM Hardie) b Abbott 7 Romario Shepherd c Marsh b Behrendorff 2 Jason Holder not out 34 Akeal Hosein not out 7 Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 5) 8 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.10) 202/8 Did not bat: Alzarri Joseph Fall of wickets: 1-89 (Johnson Charles, 8.3 ov), 2-100 (Brandon King, 10.4 ov), 3-115 (Rovman Powell, 11.6 ov), 4-141 (Shai Hope, 14.5 ov), 5-142 (Andre Russell, 15.1 ov), 6-149 (Nicholas Pooran, 15.4 ov), 7-158 (Sherfane Rutherford, 16.2 ov), 8-163 (Romario Shepherd, 17.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jason Behrendorff 3-0-38-1 Josh Hazlewood 4-0-44-0 Glenn Maxwell 2-0-31-1 Sean Abbott 4-0-41-1 Adam Zampa 4-0-26-3 Marcus Stoinis 3-0-20-2

West Indies' big-hitters, including King and Charles, went for broke in their pursuit of victory. Australia's left-arm quick, Jason Behrendorff, faced early challenges in the windy conditions but managed to claim a late

wicket, finishing with figures of 1 for 38 off 3 overs. The pivotal moment in the match came in the 16th over when Zampa's brilliance dismissed Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, tilting the scales in Australia's favor.(Sportsmax)

“It’s personal for me” – McKinnon as U20 Qualifiers loom

ny day now, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is likely to disclose the squad that will represent Guyana at the CONCACAF U20 Championships later this month. Earlier this month, the team hosted a trial and training camp, from which the final squad will be picked. Quizzed about the team’s preparation, as compared to the likes of Trinidad and Jamaica whose teams have competed in international friendlies against each other, Head Coach Kayode McKinnon thinks the junior Jags have done their best considering their circumstances. “We would like to have a lot of things done in an ideal situation, but like I mentioned, we want to play the hands that we’re being dealt to the best of our ability. You know, another person might have a better hand, but if they don’t play their hand well, but if we focus on the hand that we’re being dealt and we play it as we should; then we see at the end,” the U20 Head Coach shared. McKinnon added, “But we want to be as positive [as we can], and we want to immerse ourselves in what we are going to deal with and that is our focus.” On whether or not the team can progress out of the Qualifiers, McKinnon

National U20 Head Coach Kayode McKinnon

believes that it is a possibility. “I look at it as this, we’re in a war and we don’t get to decide if we live and die, we make the decision that we want to live and that is the message. That we’re in a war and our life is depending on it and sometimes, when you’re desperate, things come out of you that you don’t know that you have in you; that’s all that matters,” McKinnon explained. “And if we take care of that, then the result will take care of itself,” he opined. The former Golden Jaguars international when discussing what is on the line, divulged that the undertaking to lead the team was “personal” for him.

McKinnon boldly stated, “It’s personal for me. I love this country, I grew up here, I played here and sometimes we feel like we’re not as good for many different reasons, but we talked to the boys this morning about the definition of the Jaguar. That is our culture right there, that is who we are as a people. “So, for me, I know our people and I know what we’re capable of, and I really want our players to look past all the distractions and if we could align ourselves with what that Jaguar means, we go against all odds, we take risks. “And that is what, as a staff, we’re bringing to this. The honesty, the genuineness of understanding how potent our people are and

Snippets from the National U20 trials/ training camp

how success can change the entire nation. It’s really personal. My heart is in what I’m doing,” the former national footballer further stated. Looking past questions about possible omissions and how those participating in the trial were accommodated, McKinnon made

a call for support of the U20 Squad. “I think a lot of people on the ground would’ve done their work with the situation we’re in, I keep mentioning it’s not the most ideal, but I want us, I want Guyana to come together in this moment with no distractions, and I want the

people to understand that this is their team.” McKinnon went on to state, “We should respect their opinions but it’s a time for alignment, it’s a time for coming together. So, whatever opinions are there, it is respected. However we came up with this; this is our situation and if all of us come together and drive that, then let’s criticise at the end. Let’s get the right feedback at the end, but now, it’s Guyana.” Guyana is in Group B of the qualifiers alongside El Salvador, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname and Turks and Caicos. They will compete in Antigua from February 23 to March 2, for a spot in the Championships later this year.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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