Guyana Times - Sunday, February 11, 2024.pdf by Gytimes

GTI students benefit P23 from oil and gas training Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5639 guyanatimesgy.com

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Oil blocks’ auction

Most awardees submitted documents; Cabinet decision soon ... Exxon says engaging Govt on 2022 – VP Jagdeo auction, open to partaking in next See story on page 3

WHAT'S INSIDE:

7-y-o boy pinned as house collapses at Haslington P35

MoH, Police get 300 new evidence kits to combat sexual, gender-based violence P33

P34 GOGEC conducts oil & gas training for secondary school students

First Lady Arya Ali and a group of young people on Friday evening when her office collaborated with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to host “The Continuum: Connecting Cultures to the Creative Industry” – a networking forum for local creatives featuring international designer Kwaku Bediako

India sourced US$149M in crude oil from Guyana between 2021 & 2022

Page 9

Teachers’ strike

– as 2 countries hold talks on expanding oil & gas ties

Charity man nabbed ExxonMobil on hunt for with over $8M worth new wells that match of imported ganja Liza or Payara – Routledge Page 7

Page 34

Guyana now member of Int’l FIU Association

Page 9

P35 Labour Ministry will continue to hold strictly to what the law says – Min Hamilton

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, February 11 – 05:15h-06:30h and Monday, February 12 – 04:00h-05:30h. The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 11 – 05:20h-06:50h and Monday, February 12 – 06:00h-07:30h.

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 in the mid-morning hours. Clear to partly 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 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres. High Tide: 17:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.89 metres. Low Tide: 11:32h and 23:56h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metre and 0.35 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

01 03 06

08 09 26

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

03 07 10 18 23 LUCKY 3

Afternoon Draw

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 04 11 15 17 18 20

SUPER

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024

03 06 07 08 17 1

01 02 04 10 11

9 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

6 Evening Draw

5X 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

$340.38/ton

+1.39

London Sugar

$665.40/ton

-0.05

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2024.40 $2019.40 -9.90

$2025.40 $2037.60 -0.49%

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Oil blocks’ auction

Most awardees submitted documents; Cabinet decision soon – VP Jagdeo – Exxon says engaging Govt on 2022 auction; open to partaking in next

he Guyana Government has received the required documents from most of the awardees from last year’s oil blocks’ auction. This now paves the way for Cabinet to decide on whether to move forward with contracts, and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is optimistic that this decision would be made soon. Addressing a question from the media during his recent press conference, Jagdeo declined to put a definitive timeline on when this decision would be made, but said that only one company had outstanding information as of Thursday. “I don’t want to put a timer. I think most of (them), except one, have submitted the required info. (That) has been the report that came in today. I asked them about it, so maybe that will come to cabinet now, and we will now know, go or no go. That is to conclude the full agreement,” he explained. “But remember, the basics are: ‘Can you afford to pay the signing bonus?’ and, ‘Do you have a credible source from where the signing bonus is coming?’ Remember that question was raised, so it’s a credible source (we are looking for). You can’t say, ‘Well, I have two bags, and I want to bring them into the Government’. So, those are the key questions for us,” he disclosed. The Vice President acknowledged that some of the companies do not have enough technical capacity to operate the blocks themselves. According to him, this would most likely result in them having to bring in people to operate in these licensed blocks. “But because we’re getting the signing bonus, then we say, ‘You can bring in whoever you want, provided of course you stick with your plan’. And there’s an approved plan they have to stick with. And if they don’t meet the plan, there’s a massive fine of 50 per cent of the total plan. So that’s our two safeguards. The signing bonus, the approved plan and the fine, the potential fine of 50 per cent,” Jagdeo explained. Jagdeo reminded that there are basic requirements for acceptance by the Government, including the financial ability to pay the signing bonus. He also acknowledged that while some of the companies lack the technical capacity, they have the option of bringing in operators to explore for oil. Meanwhile, United States oil giant ExxonMobil has revealed that it remains open to possibly participating whenever there is a second bid round. According to Exxon Guyana President Alistair Routledge, the company remains in talks with the Government on the block they were awarded during the last auction. “The auction process, the 2022 auction, as you know, we participated. We bid on one of the blocks. We were awarded the S8 block. We are in an ongoing discussion with the Government and the Ministry on what needs to be finalised. What documents do they need for that to be crystallized?” Routledge detailed. “ One question that often comes up in those discussions is

The oil blocks that were up for grabs

the fiscal terms,” he said. “The Vice President has made it clear those are not up for debate. I would also like to make it clear that we have not, at any point, asked to modify the fiscals that were presented under the 2022 licensing round, but there are a whole lotta other documents and details and everything else that need to be worked on,” Routledge said. The bidding round which was launched in December 2022 closed off in September 2023 with six companies bidding on eight of the 14 blocks offshore that were up for grabs. In total, there were 14 offers made on those blocks: two deep-sea blocks and six shallow-area blocks. Among those awarded oil

blocks during the bid round was a Guyanese female-led company, Sispro Inc., which received a shallow block (S3) and a deep-water block (D2). Other shallow blocks were awarded to: Total Energies EP Guyana BV, in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia), which got Block S4; Liberty Petroleum Corporation of the US and Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited, which got Block S7; and International Group Investment Inc of Nigeria, which got two blocks – S5 and S10. Another shallow block, S8, was awarded to the Stabroek Block partners: ExxonMobil

Guyana Limited, Hess New Ventures Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited. The second deep-water block – D1 – was awarded to Delcorp Inc. Guyana, which comprises Watad Energy and Communications Limited and Arabian Drilling Company of Saudi Arabia. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had said in November that the six companies and groups had already indicated their readiness to start exploration work and cover the cost of the signing bonuses every new oil company must pay – US$10 million for shallow water and US$20 million for deep water. (G-3)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Entrepreneurship for Guyana

or us to gain the greatest benefits during the possible 30-year window that might be available to us due to our oil windfall, we will have to look beyond what we see around us and become innovative. Innovations are just ideas that no one ever thought about, until some entrepreneur came up with them. Potential profits are a signal to entrepreneurs. And entrepreneurs serve consumers. According to Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, the task of the entrepreneur is to imagine what the consumer wants, even though the consumer does not know it yet. We must encourage this thinking. The idea of entrepreneurship appears to have been derived from the French verb entreprendre, meaning “to undertake.” One of the first clear statements using the modern meaning comes from the 18th century economist J.B. Say: “An entrepreneur is an economic agent who unites all means of production — the land of one, the labour of another, and the capital of yet another, and thus produces a product. By selling the product in the market, he pays rent of land, wages to labour, interest on capital, and what remains is his profit. He shifts economic resources out of an area of lower and into an area of higher productivity and greater yield. But entrepreneurship is more than just buying low and selling high.” In a word, profits, not greed, should be the motivating factor for entrepreneurs. But this assumption began to wane that self-interested pursuits were the organizing force of a modern economy. Keynes pointed to this when he extolled the “tendency of big enterprise to socialize itself,” a phenomenon by which enlightened middle managers — guided by science, reason, and administrative esprit de corps — would at last supplant the animism of the Invisible Hand. If “the corporate system is to survive,” Adolf Berle and Gardiner Means wrote, in the conclusion to their seminal study of the modern American corporation, “the ‘control’ of the great corporation should develop into a purely neutral technocracy, balancing a variety of claims by various groups in the community, and assigning to each a portion of the income stream, based on public policy rather than private cupidity.” However, the revolt against socialized capitalism, and the re-evaluation of greed, took shape after the Second World War, led by efforts of the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, and, later on, the architects of Agency Theory. Against Keynes, Schumpeter presented a new vision of capitalism as “Creative Destruction.” The “relevant problem” for economists, he said, was not how capitalism “administers existing structures” (the purview of the middle manager) but “how it creates and destroys them,” an anarchic activity undertaken by Schumpeter’s hero, the entrepreneur. As an icon for capitalism, the pugnacious individualism of the entrepreneur was entirely at odds with the vision of managerial capitalism – and we have to understand this at this point of our development trajectory. According to Schumpeter, what drove an economy was headlong innovation, not careful administration. This was the hallmark of entrepreneurial activity, the courageous effort of an inspired mind, not the fruit of corporate collaboration. We have to encourage the persons who are willing to think outside of the box. An appeal to “private cupidity”, however, was not the only way of eliciting such inspiration, but it was certainly the most obvious. The followers of Agency Theory, who began filling the ranks of business schools and economics departments in the ‘60s and ‘70s, eschewed the common cause of managerial capitalism as an endorsement of soft socialism, an inducement to fuzzy thinking, and a recipe for corporate decay. Instead, they portrayed the company as a collection of self-serving individuals, whose interests could be aligned with those of shareholders only by appeals to Keynes’s semipathological propensity: the love of money. Thus, the rise of stock options, performance pay, and other compensatory strategies aimed to spark innovation in the executive suite. For the most part, the moral arguments called upon to support these recommendations took a familiar form. Greedy behaviour could be tolerated, even encouraged, but only if it eliminated worse offences: starvation, exposure, idiocy. This perspective pervades our times, whether we like it or not.

Founder of Nachle Designs, Hashim Ali, describing one of his designed pieces to First Lady Mrs Arya Ali at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where a networking forum for local creatives, featuring international designer Kwaku Bedaiko, was held

GTU looking bad with revelations of lack of accountability for audited accounts, and submission of reports for decades Dear Editor, The teachers’ strike might end up being a blessing in disguise, that can catapult us into massive school reforms, given the revelations coming out. I support collective bargaining to the hilt, and believe all agreements must be honoured. I believe all university graduates who are teachers should be able to own a duty-free car. Any society that can afford it should make sure that teachers’ pay and benefits, and all workers for that matter, should afford them to live in comfort and dignity. But I also believe in strong accountability for teachers, Ministries, parents and students. Revelations that the GTU has not submitted financial statements and audited statements for decades make them look very bad. How come all those teachers marching in the streets did not hold their union accountable? They think the Government should be accountable because

it’s three years since their agreement was signed. It’s almost three decades and the GTU has not been accountable and transparent for their stewardship with funds and reports. We await the GTU’s explanations. Under the rules, each union is required to submit a “general statement of the receipts, funds, effects and expenditure to the Registrar before the 1st May in every year, and shall show fully its assets and liabilities at the date…” Audited accounts must be submitted too. So, it’s kind of hypocritical to make the Government look bad by resorting to a strike, when the due process and protocols that have to be followed before strike action have not been followed. The strike action surprised me, because the Government just gave the teachers some good raises and benefits that others did not get. If you converted the $25,000 bonus to a percentage, that would

have made the salary increase larger than 6.5%. If you converted the in-range adjustments for graduate teachers, it sends up the percentage of increase even higher. Free scholarships are available to teachers to improve their qualifications. I think the union has erred in not acknowledging the good faith efforts of the Government, and discussions ongoing to address the remaining items in the agreement. More shocking is the VP’s revelation, that the absenteeism rate among teachers is almost 30%. I understand that the lateness of teachers and students is a big problem too. This is simply unacceptable, and parents and students should not be silent about this. If teachers are not present at school, there is probably little or no instruction going on. (In these modern times, some teachers still have students copying notes from the blackboard and textbooks, as if that is “teach-

ing.”). Guyana does not have a formal programme of “substitute teachers”, as in the USA. If teachers are absent and late so much, it affects the coverage of the curriculum, and therefore student performance at the NGSA and CSEC exams would suffer. Many factors contribute to high student achievement. However, “teacher quality” is the most highly correlated factor that leads to high student achievement. So, we need to be asking why 40% of our students do badly at the NGSA, and why do so many students not pass five or more subjects. As a nation, how do we move past this unacceptable student performance? How can we improve teacher accountability while we get the Government to do its part? It’s not a one-way street. Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall Civil Society Advocate

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Rehabilitative prison plan is good news for Guyana Dear Editor, This news concerning prison reform in Guyana is great indeed. The dailies state that “With the objective of promoting seamless reintegration into society, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) will embark on the training of inmates in a range of technical and vocational skills throughout the country.” This is a super move, and hopefully is just a start. This really should be ongoing. Let me state emphatically that prison houses are not really ‘scrap heaps.’ People need second chances, even if their initial plight is not fully understood. Editor, I firstly want to state that, all over the world, many nations are making positive changes, and instead of spending more and more to house the growing prison popu-

lation and to fund excessive rates of incarceration, governments are shifting towards a focus on supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. In fact, a study by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), shows that nearly half of all individuals released from federal prisons are rearrested within eight years of their release, and around half of those rearrested are sent back to jail. So, even repeated sentencing is not the panacea. The same study also found that individuals younger than 21, who are released from federal prison, are rearrested at the highest rates of any age group. Individuals who did not complete high school were rearrested at the highest rate: 60.4 per cent, while those who had a college degree were re-

arrested at a rate of 19.1 percent. While incarcerated young adults and school-aged children are more likely to be rearrested, they also have a lot to gain from educational opportunities while in prison. I mean, this makes a lot of sense. In summation, then, we know that the number of people behind bars, whether on remand or serving sentences, keeps increasing in most countries, and this trend seems interminable. As indicated already, this is placing an enormous financial burden on governments, and is at great cost to the social cohesion of societies. The bottom line is that a new and better approach is needed. Hence, in Guyana, “Over 1,500 inmates (stand) to benefit from skills training in 2024.”

As per the reports. “In accordance with the Prison Service, the training of 1,500 inmates is in line with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government’s pledge to promote prison reform, allowing inmates to acquire essential income-generating skills, and enhancing their education while serving their sentences.” This kind of thinking and planning must be given free course, and commendations are for those who are the drivers behind it. According to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and as pointed out in his 2024 National Budget debate, “…the ambitious agenda (is) for inmate rehabilitation, underscoring the significance of equipping them with the necessary resources for a successful reintegration into

society.” His big proposal is that of “…constructing new vocational schools within the prison system, and proposing training programmes designed to equip prisoners with valuable skills that foster their successful reintegration into society.” On this note, I am glad that the Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, “stated that the decrease in recidivism in 2023 can be attributed to the enhanced rehabilitation programmes and improved support systems provided to inmates upon their release.” Editor, it is well established that there is huge success with programmes designed to prepare offenders to re-enter society; and these can include education, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, job training,

counselling, and mentoring. After all, as pointed out, “The period of imprisonment (must be used) to ensure, as far as possible, the reintegration of such persons into society upon release, so that they can lead a law-abiding and self-supporting life.” In Guyana, the Prison Service has always had the backing of such institutions as the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), and New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) “in delivering accredited technical training.” Since the country now has the means and political will to effect ‘blunting of recidivism,’ then the proposed plans must be embarked upon ASAP. Yours truly, HB Singh

Mohan Nandu was an outstanding singer Dear Editor, One of Guyana’s leading singers of a variety of Indian songs, Mohan Nandu, passed away on Thursday night at Mercy Hospital. He had taken ill at his home on Thursday, and was transported to Mercy Hospital by staff of SVN High School. He had been ailing for some time. He was 87. He was a national hero, at least for Indians in the field of music, and he received a national Medal of Service for his contributions in that area. Mohan ji was from Anna Catherina, and lived in the house where he was born all his life. He was a very simple, humble, down-to-earth man. He was very popular as a singer, especially in Demerara. Berbicians and Essequibians saw much less of him, and had to be contented with hearing him on the radio or listening to his cassettes. He had a golden voice, a replica of the great Mukesh of Mumbai. Mohan came from a family of singers. His father was an accomplished and popular taan singer and musician and his mother a religious woman; he also had a sister. Nandu began singing at an early age, and he has been singing classical songs and playing the harmonium since the 1940s entertaining audiences throughout the country. He sang at weddings, baraats, pujas, satsangs, Mandirs, Bhagwat’s or jags and Ramayans, and at concerts and on radio. He sang at several fundraisers including for the PPP. He also partook in Indian singing competi-

tions, winning many trophies in the Mukesh competition. He belted out unforgettable classical and religious hits and evergreen melodies. Everywhere, people yearned to hear him sing, and crowded his performances. Mandirs and halls reverberated with applause. He was very close to another iconic singer, Shri Gobin Ram. They made quite a team and entertained thousands in West Dem. Mohan’s singing icon from Bollywood was the legendary Mukesh, the playback singer for thousands of films. Singing and music were his first love, and he learned Hindi songs from Bollywood. Hindi films have always been an attraction and a mirror of almost every Indian Guyanese. They were embedded in the psyche of Indians. And they imitated the Hindi songs of the films. Nandu learned by seeing the films, imitating the songs, especially of Mukesh, who sang for dozens of actors, and practising them for perfection. And was he perfect? According to Bollywood singers who performed at concerts in Guyana, on listening to Nandu, they said he sang exactly like Mukesh. One of the professional Bollywood performers offered to take Nandu to sing in Bollywood. Hailing from the West Coast, he entertained crowds mostly in West Demerara, restricting Berbicians and Essequibians access to enjoy his musical talent. They only saw him perform in person at concerts on the Corentyne, West Berbice,

and Essequibo or when he accompanied popular Pandit Reepudaman Persaud at Ramayana discourses. He accompanied Pt Reepu to countless kathas all over the country. Mohan was very close to Pandit Reepu, whose Dharmic Sabha honoured him for lifelong contributions to Indian culture. It is noted that he was one of only a few artistes who did not migrate for opportunities to make a name overseas – quite a patriot. And for that, Guyanese are grateful. He was deserving of national honors Nandu worked as a cane cutter. When we last met, a few years back, he reminded me that Jagan promoted him to shovel man. Ain’t that something?! An iconic local singer moved from cane cutting to shovel man duties. A man who contributed over sixty years in Indian arts moved up in his job from cutting cane to digging dirt in the cane field. A great promotion! He never accumulated wealth and other materialistic possessions, and lived in hum-

ble surroundings in a very small house on stilts. As he was ailing over the last few years, he received no financial resources or support from the state. And while he was ill, no one from the state, no Minister or official from the Government or Ministry of Culture visited him. It was as if he didn’t exist. The state has been urban-centric. How can we expect the Indian art form to continue if the state pays no attention to icons like Mohan Nandu, who never declined to perform gratis at a PPP fundraiser? Who in the Government would promote the Indian art forms in the country and the diaspora? Friends and Swami Aksharananda provided for Mohan Nandu’s medicine, meals, house cleaning, and general upkeep. Some time ago, when legendary singer Bhaskar Sharma and I paid a visit to Nandu, he expressed gratitude to Swamiji for assisting him, and would not stop thanking us for the visit. Swami would visit him from time to time.

Nandu showered praise on Bhaskar and me for promoting Indian Guyanese culture in North America and for our contributions to the media. There were complaints that he was used for the benefit of others and then abandoned. He was a very strong PPPite. He expressed disappointment in the government and religious organizations he loyally served for decades for not assisting

him.

The inimitable ‘king of melody’ from West Demerara is gone. Guyanese in the diaspora in America remember him with deep sorrow. Although he has departed, he still lives with us in his many songs that are now available on YouTube and elsewhere. His departure is a loss to Indian arts. Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast & Loud 10:30 Cartoons 11:00 Prem’s Electrical Religious Program 11:30 Blippi Educational 12:00 Movie - American Girl: Corinne Tan (2023) 13:00 Movie - A Royal Recipe for Love (2023) 14:30 Movie - Grace Stirs Up Success (2015) 16:30 Payless Power Hour 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Explained 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S6 E3 20:00 Arrow S5 E19 21:00 Riverdale S5 E16 22:00 Movie - Dungeons & Dragons (2000) 00:00 Sign off

6 FEATURE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

efore we continue with the theme concerning puppy ailments, from the birth of the newborn until the pup is about 6-8 weeks old, please allow me to thank the staff of SUNDAY TIMES, who ensure that the Pet Care text is embellished with appropriate photographs that relate to the subject matter of the relevant week. Readers of the column, especially those who earnestly and enthusiastically collect the weekly advice on “Pet Care” in files and folders for future use and reference, have mentioned to me how gratified they are that the column’s optics encourage them not only with the desire to read the accompanying text, but also helps in the understanding of the thrust of the article. For example, a few weeks ago (“PET CARE” – January 21, 2024), the message associated with

PUPPY AILMENTS

the choices of keeping the dog in the house or the kennel was poignantly ensured by pictures that spoke a thousand words. On behalf of all those “Pet Care” fans, allow me to congratulate the staff of “Sunday Times” for enhancing the quality of the column with their choice of photographs.

Let us now continue with the ailments newborn puppies could exhibit

THE “SWIMMER” SYNDROME (aka: The Flat Puppy Syndrome)

I have chosen to deal with this ailment in newborn puppies primarily because, in the space of two weeks, two cases were presented in the clinic. The Flat Puppy Syndrome is

not very common, but occurs often enough for me to write about it. Under normal conditions, puppies begin to stand and wobble around (unsurely at first) when they are about two weeks of age. With each passing day, they become more active, and the gait becomes steadier. On some occasions, this sequence of events does not take place: The pup does not stand; the puppy’s hind legs remain sprawled (‘Flat puppy’), and the pup drags itself forward using the front legs. Sometimes, all the legs (front and hind) are sprawled away from the animal’s body. When I am confronted with such an abnormality, the first question I ask is whether the parents of the puppy are related. The reason for this question is simple: The ‘flat puppy’ can be the result of hereditary problems (products of incest). If both mother and father are carrying the genes (without themselves exhibit-

ing the condition), then it is highly likely that these genetic deficiencies would combine and be passed on to the offspring, resulting in the pup’s sprawled legs (both hind legs and front legs can be affected). Other factors can influence the development of ‘swimmer’ syndrome. Overweight puppies, whose legs cannot take the strain of the obesity, would have difficulty walking. The legs sprawl away from the body as they waddle forward (‘swimmer’). Slippery floors (tiled, highly polished), that do not allow a firm grip of the paws, would assist in development of the deformity, and otherwise predispose to the injury. It is for this reason that I always advocate that, as puppies learn to walk, they must be placed on surfaces that are

nizing to see a puppy crawling around on its belly. If several pups in the same litter are suffering from this ailment, it might be necessary to euthanize them all. Of course, this is a hard call to make. No owner wants to carry out such an act. However, you also do not wish to be the perpetuator of an agonizing defect. In terms of a real attempt to rectify the situation and rehabilitate the pups, one can assist them to stand and walk. This you must do several times daily (five times daily and more). If the pups are sleeping on their bellies, one should gently roll them over on their sides. In other words, you are trying to get them in the habit of sleeping on their sides. Some vets, myself included, have had some limited success in strapping the legs.

non-slippery and which provide good traction. Walking on lawns or on outdoor carpeting would help.

A hobble is made from tape placed elbow-to-elbow (front legs) and thigh-to-thigh (hind legs). If the ‘swimmer’ syndrome originated from a slip on a smooth floor (in other words, a non-genetic predisposition), then the taping of the legs could lead to a complete recovery. You should allow your vet to assist you with advice on how to proceed with the handling of this ailment. Next week, we shall discuss the problems associated with skin lesions in young puppies.

TREATMENT

Once one has established that we are dealing with a genetic problem, and the condition is not likely to be treatable, the decision should be to euthanize the puppy. We should not allow this genetic deficiency to perpetuate itself from litter to litter. The animal would hardly ever recover fully, and it is quite ago-

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil on hunt for new wells that match Liza or Payara – Routledge – says discovery must be capable of anchoring next project

n light of the success of the Liza Phase One and Two and Payara projects, all of which, combined, are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day, oil giant ExxonMobil is on the hunt for discoveries that can match these exploits. During a recent press conference, President of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Alistair Routledge, spoke of the company’s planned exploration programme for this year, and the seven wells it intends to drill. He also spoke of the planned ‘anchor hunting’ to seek out the next big resource in the Stabroek block. “On exploration, and I would add appraisal in there too; because the exploration is trying to find the new reservoirs, but then we also have to go through an appraisal process to ensure that we understand those reservoirs” he explained. “So, I would say we’re focused on two primary areas this year,” he said. “One is what we term anchor-hunting: Looking for those additional plays that we haven’t necessarily discovered yet, but (which) may provide a new anchor for a major development. You know, like a Liza; like a Payara,” Routledge informed the media. According to Routledge, such prospective wells include Trumpetfish and the Redmouth. He noted that while the company has already discovered a good number of resources, those resources are distributed among different reservoirs. “So, we have a very ac-

EEPGL President, Alistair Routledge

tive exploration and appraisal programme…trying to ensure that we fill in some gaps on where the resource is, and hopefully get some dynamic data on the reservoirs, to understand how productive. Are those reservoirs as good as, say, the Liza reservoir? Will the fluids flow at the sort of volumes we need? How many wells are needed? So, all that sort of appraisal and exploration going on to really assess the resource,” Routledge explained. With US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, Guyana began producing oil on December 20, 2019 in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest. EEPGL, Exxon’s local subsidiary, holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a

30 per cent interest; and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest. However, Hess Corporation has agreed to merge with Chevron, and this transaction is expected to be closed in the first half of this year. ExxonMobil currently has three floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore. The current production figures will be further buttressed by the Yellowtail and Uaru developments, which are already underway and are each anticipated to contribute 250,000 barrels of oil following their respective startups. An application for the sixth development, the Whiptail Project, has been submitted by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL)

The Stabroek block

and its co-venturers. This project is currently under review by Government, and once approved, will see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027. In addition to at least six projects offshore Guyana that Exxon anticipates would be online by 2027, it is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs operating by 2030. Production has already started on

three projects, with the Liza Destiny and Unity and the Prosperity FPSO vessels in operation. The third project – the Payara development –targets an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana. Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be Exxon’s fourth

development in Guyana’s waters, has an anticipated start-up of 2025. The Uaru oil development, which will be the fifth one for the company offshore Guyana, is targeting between 38 and 63 development wells, including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells. Exxon had previously also made known that it anticipates the first oil from the Uaru development by late 2026 or early 2027. (G-7)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Delivering justice Y

…for women

our Eyewitness takes this matter of violence against females very seriously. It’s long past the time to be pussyfooting around the issue. From the newspapers, it’s clear that no category of female is sacrosanct - rich, poor, black, white, (and every combination and permutation of in-between shades) etc. What this signals, of course, is that the problem ain’t just a result of idiosyncratic males, but a systemic problem in males as a category. And a systemic problem needs a systemic solution; and then we can hone in on the outliers that’ll always crop up. Now, this problem has been here with us from as far back as we can tell - probably back to the Cave Man days. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Even when they were “hunting and gathering”, the men, being bigger, had an advantage over women, and it’s inconceivable they wouldn’t have taken advantage of that disparity. And it’s been that way ever since…to a point where women would’ve seen it as “just the way things are”. But, in the last hundred years, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we? There’s been a gradual acceptance that all human beings are intrinsically equal - and should be treated equally. The fact that some might be bigger, smarter or taller shouldn’t - in and of itself - be used to treat anyone as punching bags. And then we invented “the state” supposed to make and enforce laws to ensure equality of treatment for all. Problem was, the laws themselves were skewed against women - not surprisingly, since they were made generally by men! It was a long grind for women to join that exclusive club, in which there’s been some progress. But to return to the question posed earlier, the answer is, “No, we still have quite a way to go as far as women being treated equally is concerned!” So, the struggle continues; and continue it must, because, you see, dear reader, unless women are treated equally everywhere, no one will be treated equally anywhere… whether you’re male, LGBT, coloured, or whatever. And we arrive at the specific instances in which the rule will be tested, one of them having presented itself in what used to be the bastion of male privilege, the Legislature, where the laws of the state are actually made. There’s been claim by female MPs from both sides of the House that male MPs verbally assault them. Parliament, however, has its own rules - overseen by the Speaker - for dealing with such matters. We just gotta ensure that the Speaker is with the programme. …for the State There’s a constant hue and cry by the Opposition PNC that the PPP Government cleaned house too arbitrarily when they got back into office in 2020. They unlawfully fired Government employees, and did so in a raciallydirected manner. Now, in a country like Guyana, which has always been tethering on the edge of ethnic/racial conflict, those are very serious charges. And must be dealt with just as seriously. But because of that long history, there are, fortunately, a host of institutions in place to deal with such accusations. For Public Servants, there’s the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. And how about the Ombudsman? Or the ERC? The first stop for most, however, are the courts, and recourse to these has already been taken. Ironically, however, because many of the persons fired have generally been taken to the courts by the Government ON SPECIFIC charges, some eyebrows have been raised. Aren’t the courts the arbiter of the laws - and will decide whether the Government violated any of those laws? Why haven’t charges been filed? …in cricket Your Eyewitness just learnt that Shamar Joseph landed a US$ contract with the Lucknow Super Giants!! He’s replacing English player Mark Wood. Shamar’s time with our Amazon Warriors should serve him well!! Go, Shamar…you deserve all that’s been coming your way!! 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

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

India sourced US$149M in crude oil from Guyana between 2021 & 2022 – as 2 countries hold talks on expanding oil & gas ties

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat (left) and India’s Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri

ven as India and Guyana continue to explore ways in which they can increase their trade ties in areas that include oil and gas, it has emerged that India sourced as much as US$149 million in crude oil from Guyana between 2021 and 2022. This growth in hydrocarbon trade between the two countries was described as an all-time high by India’s Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri. In a social media statement following talks a few days ago with Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who was present in India for

the India Energy Week in Quitol, Goa, Puri noted that they discussed ways in which they could further expand and cement ties between the two countries. “In a very productive discussion with HE Vickram Bharrat, Minister for Natural Resources, Guyana, we discussed how India will be the demand centre for oil in the coming decades accounting for about 25 per cent of global energy demand growth between 2020-2040, presenting significant opportunities for collaboration between India and Guyana,” the Indian Minister said. “Hydrocarbon trade between our countries witnessed a phenomenal growth in 2021-22 reaching an all-

time high of USD 149 million with the start of crude oil sourcing from Guyana by Indian refiners. We discussed ways to build on this to further expand and cement our ties to cover other aspects of the energy sector, including power plants, infrastructure and capacity building,” he added. India is already expected to partner with Guyana in critical areas in the oil and gas sector, including refining crude oil, as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian Government approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations last month. According to a statement from the Indian

Indian company HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL) has previously purchased crude from Guyana

Bureau of Information, the Indian Cabinet approved the signing of an MoU between the Indian Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources, which will last for five years. This MoU would see India sourcing crude from Guyana, an arrangement that it had previously utilised such as in 2021 when HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture between State-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Indian steel tycoon LN Mittal, bought Guyana’s crude. It was also announced in January last year that India, where President Dr Irfaan Ali had led a delegation of Guyanese earlier that month, had made an initial proposal on the direct long-term pur-

chase of crude. At the time, it had been announced that Guyana was examining the proposal at a technical level. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi approved the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. Another area the MoU covers is cooperation with Guyana for crude oil refining. Additionally, it will create opportunities for Indian companies to explore and produce oil in Guyana and for collaboration on natural gas. At the governmental level, the MoU allows for capacity building, strengthening bilateral trade, collaborating

to develop oil and gas-related regulations and cooperation on renewable and clean energy, including biofuels and solar energy. Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. The oil-rich Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest. (G3)

Guyana now member of Int’l FIU Association

uyana is now a member of the Egmont Group, an international association comprising Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) from around the world that, among other things, facilitates intelligence exchange and cooperation on money laundering. This was revealed in a statement from the Attorney General Chambers and Legal Affairs Ministry on Saturday. “On February 1, 2024, Guyana’s Financial Intelligence Unit’s application for membership of the Egmont Group or International Association of Financial Intelligence Units was granted at the organisation’s recent meeting in Malta,” the missive stated. In addition to Guyana, the FIUs of Oman, Kenya, and Timor-Leste were also inducted into the association. Consequently, the Egmont Group now has 174 countries that can cooperate via a secure web portal to exchange intelligence on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) matters. There has been talk of Guyana joining the group for years, but the application

Director of Guyana’s Financial Intelligence Unit Matthew Langevine with the FIU Directors of other CFATF members in Malta, where Guyana was accepted into the Egmont Group

to join the organisation was only submitted in 2023. At the Egmont Group’s recent meeting in Malta, Guyana was represented by the Director of the local Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Matthew Langevine. Guyana's application was sponsored by the FIUs of Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands and was supported by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Since taking office in 2020, the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has made significant progress in its anti-corruption efforts. To this end, it has implemented robust measures to strengthen its anti-corruption framework including improving its AML/CFT architecture. A delegation from the FIUs of Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands visited Guyana in April of last year, during which they were updated on the various pieces of legislation currently in draft

to strengthen and update Guyana’s AML/CFT regime and to meet the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) international standards. These include key amendments to the principal AML/ CFT Act, a Bill to create an omnibus agency as a supervisory authority for unsupervised entities, and the Real Estate Bill that was passed last August, to provide the regulatory framework for real estate agents and developers. In September 2023,

Guyana underwent an onsite evaluation and examination of its financial sector by CFATF. A critical element of Guyana’s fourth round of mutual evaluation was the enactment of the Real Estate Bill. The draft Real Estate Agents & Brokers Bill was prepared in consultation with the various stakeholders in the local real estate industry and was published for public feedback, before its passage in the National Assembly in August. Another initiative aimed

at addressing the gaps in Guyana’s financial sector in accordance with the AML/ CFT stipulations was the establishment of a Compliance Commission, that will supervise the operations of agencies and/or sectors in the country that do not have a direct regulatory body. The Compliance Commission Bill 2023 was also passed. Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had disclosed during his 2024 Budget debate presentation last month that the CFATF review was successful. The Government’s anti-money laundering strategies are laid out in its five-year plan, which was released by the Attorney General’s Chambers last year. According to the strategy, laws and regulations will be developed and revised during that time in line with international standards. While there are existing AML/CFT laws, more can be done to strengthen or clarify the legislative framework, to better aid Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to carry out their duties. The deadline given to complete the updates and revisions to this legal framework is the fourth quarter of 2025.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Being hyphenated in One Guyana

ith another stab at constitutional reform in the offing, we remember that the goal is facilitating a more harmonious society from its historically plural origins. While some claim labelling us a “culturally plural society” is merely descriptive, and does not suggest a mechanism of change, its theorist, MG Smith, disagreed. Ravi Dev He pointed out that the several cultural segments were invariably ‘differentially incorporated’ into the power relations of their societies, and this fact, in and of itself, initiated conflict and change. Political scientists, economists, and, most relevantly, politicians who pontificate on our national policies have ignored MG’s insight to our peril. As citizens of polities that promised equality (via the state), our lived experiences inevitably determine how we feel about the attainment (or not) of that egalitarian promise. Our experiences are filtered through our cultural lenses, and it should not be surprising that if our several cultural groups are differentially incorporated into the power structure, political consciousness would cleave along cultural (read ethnic) lines. But the “power structure” is not only political, since the latter is shaped by culture. After decades of focusing on an economistic notion of equality, the need also for cultural equality, immanent in “cultural citizenship”, remains unappreciated. There are some who posit that if we had (or have) economic equality among the various ethnic groups, our troubles would be over. Unfortunately, our own history has proven we are not homo economicus, but more like homo culturalicus. Each of our ethnic groups has an economic elite, but these elites have never made common cause. One indicia of MG’s ‘power relations’ calculus is which group gets to define what is the “national culture” – to which all groups have to genuflect. And it is the differential incorporation of the various cultural groups into this equation that our announced policies on “multiculturalism” have to address. “Multiculturalism” demands that society presents a full range of prospects, membership, and respect to all its members – regardless of cultural and religious differences – while also creatively accommodating them in a fashion that is both morally persuasive and practically effective for the majority of society.” The “Ministry of Culture” should be renamed “Ministry of Multiculturalism”. The name itself – “Culture” – suggests pushing a singular, monolithic, “tap-root” culture (here Creole Culture”) as a stalking horse for assimilation. We can adopt Glissant’s “rhizome” metaphor, wherein the society has multiple roots but one foliage. “One Guyana” can be that foliage, that emanates out of a motto of “Unity in Diversity through Equality in Diversity”. Operationally, one definition of ‘multiculturalism’ suggests that it is “a systematic and comprehensive response to cultural and ethnic diversity with educational, linguistic, economic, and social components and specific institutional mechanisms”. This suggests areas in which we may initially pursue equality. We must stress that we certainly are not proposing any ‘separatist ideal’ in which each group lives in hermetically sealed enclaves. We are suggesting that the ‘equal treatment in culture’ imperative if implemented and becomes real, would eliminate the barriers of hauteur and exclusion that set off their inevitable reactions of resistance from, say, Indian and Amerindian Guyanese to the “national” creole culture. We believe that when we deal with each other as equals, cross-cultural fertilization would be inevitable. The state should merely facilitate the different cultural expressions of self-defined groups, and focus on promoting a feeling of “Guyaneseness” among our people through the conscious construction of a democratic state – the creation of conditions in which we are all treated as one equally by the state. Equality of opportunity; human rights, encouragement of diversities, due process; justice and fair play and the rule of law may seem dry compared to the warmth of the blood ties of “nation”, but they can engender the unity of the public purpose and the recognition of individual worth, where we can be proud of our common citizenship. While they have not articulated it as such, it appears that this is what the Government’s “One Guyana” policy aspires to achieve. For Guyana, then, our ethnicities would be defined outside our “Guyaneseness”, and to be African-Guyanese or Indian-Guyanese would not be contradictory in any sense. The first part of our identity would be specific, while the latter would be universalistic. The “national” would now be a space which ethnically imagined communities can live and share. To be Guyanese would be to share moral precepts – norms, values and attitudes – rather than shared cultural experience and practice. Thus “good Guyanese” would be loyal to our country, and strive to practise its secular universalistic values. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

n a world filled with voices dictating paths, Divine Alana Ross stands tall, and she is urging everyone to “listen to the inner voice within”. At 20 years old, Divine embodies the essence of determination, ambition, and versatility as she weaves her journey through academia, entrepreneurship, and sports. Currently a final-year International Relations student at the University of Guyana, she aspires to become an attorney-at-Law. However, her journey is far from conventional. “Listen to the voice inside of you, and not the voices around you,” she emphasised while reflecting on how cricket played a pivotal role in com-

The young entrepreneur, cricketer and aspiring lawyer, Divine Alana Ross

Customized keyrings

ial spirit led to the establishment of Alpha Zest Empire.

Customized cups done at Alpha Zest Empire

pleting her secondary education. Divine’s entrepreneur-

Starting as a sports gear store, it evolved into a dynamic business offering personalized

items such as t-shirts, cups, and plaques. Her resilience and resourcefulness shine through, especially considering the initial absence of funding. “I knew that knowledge is priceless,” says Divine in recounting her participation in programmes such as AWE and WINN. These experiences have fuelled the formation of Alpha Zest, proving her with such determination and applied knowledge that financial constraints couldn’t limit her dreams. “With no job and no money, I was able to start this business with the support of a few persons. I dedicated my

Customized t-shirt offered by the young entrepreneur

time and efforts to the growth and formation of this business. Although I had wished, some way or the other, I had received some sort of funding, I knew that knowledge is priceless, and if applied correctly, then wonders will happen. Therefore, having no access to funding opportunities wasn’t going to put limitations on my dreams. I under-

stood that this is my life, my dream and my reality, and it is my responsibility to make it happen.” Based in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Alpha Zest Empire not only

sells quality products, but also symbolizes Divine’s unwavering commitment to her community. With pick-up locations in Georgetown and convenient delivery options, she ensures her brand reaches far and wide. Balancing a full-time job, rigorous studies, cricket, and managing her business, Ross acknowledges the challenges; yet, her connection to Samuel Medas’s song ‘Balance’ reflects the depth of her struggle and determination. “Many nights I cried…I had many sleepless nights,” she admits, but her vision propelled her forward. With Valentine’s Day approaching, Ross is gearing up to launch a new venture, offering personalized printing at affordable prices. These can be done on cards, t-shirts, cups and other items associated with Valentine’s Day. Her commitment to providing quality products and services remains unwavering, and she expresses heartfelt gratitude to those who support Alpha Zest Empire.

14 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Continuous training for Police officers needed to navigate evolving challenges – Min Benn

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn with Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has highlighted the importance of continuous training for Police officers in stressing the need to equip them with the requisite skills and knowledge to navigate evolving challenges. At the Officers Training Centre at Camp Road in Georgetown on Saturday, Minister Benn, with Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus, engaged Training Instructors of the Police Academy. However, Benn extended the discussion to encompass the broader vision of national development, emphasizing the pivotal role law enforcement plays in shaping Guyana’s future. He lauded efforts to modernize facilities and implement strategic plans

He emphasised the importance of meticulous attention to detail, streamlined processes, and effective resource management to ensure smooth functioning of the academy. Further, Brutus advocated for a pragmatic shift in the training curriculum towards a more hands-on approach. He emphasized the value of practical experience and real-life scenarios in shaping recruits into proficient law enforcement officers who are capable of effectively tackling challenges in the field. Commissioner Hicken echoed the sentiments expressed by Brutus, and particularly emphasised the paramount importance of discipline in moulding the character and professionalism of law enforcement personnel. He underscored the necessity of maintaining a robust disciplinary frame-

A scene from the event

within the Police Force, and highlighted the imperative of continuous training and education to ensure officers remain adept at addressing dynamic threats. The focus of the meeting was to delineate roles and responsibilities aimed at elevating the professionalism and efficacy of the Police Academy. Addressing the gathering, Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus underscored the indispensable role of efficient administrative structures in bolstering the operational efficiency of the Police Academy.

work within the academy in order to uphold standards of excellence. As the meeting concluded, the collective commitment of Minister Benn, Commissioner Hicken and Deputy Commissioner Brutus reverberated throughout the room. Their shared vision for a professional and successful Police Academy underscored the imperative of effective mentorship and education among instructors in order to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the Guyana Police Force.

NEWS

Regional ferry service to boost Guyana’s fruits & vegetables’ exports

he regional ferry service announced by the Governments of Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, which is expected to come on stream soon, will boost the exports of fruits and vegetables from Guyana, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. During a community meeting in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Mustapha assured residents of the grand exportation of fruits and vegetables through the regional ferry service. Details surrounding the regional ferry service are still being ironed out, but the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet has approved the use of that country’s Galleons Passage vessel to operate the ferry service. Mustapha referred to the aggressive plan underway to cultivate a large quantity of onions for export via the ferry service, and, more so, to be consumed by locals. “Last month we harvested the trial, and it was very promising; we had close to 15

Agricultural Minister Zulfikar Mustapha addressing residents of Region Three

tons per hectare. If we could cultivate 200 tons of onions per hectare, then we can satisfy the local demands and still have to export” he stated. This particular way of cultivating onions, set out by the Agriculture Ministry, is one which the authorities are striving to continue, so that money currently being used to import onions can be diverted to other projects. Meanwhile, as onions are being cultivated, plans are afoot to make Region One (Barima-Waini) “the spice region” of Guyana. Huge quantities of ginger, turmeric, nut-

meg and black pepper are also set for cultivation. Currently, some one million pounds of ginger is being grown. “We have produced millions of pounds of ginger. We want to make Region One the spice region…we have started the production of ginger, turmeric, nutmeg and black pepper; all those spices are coming out of Region One,” Minister Mustapha has said. Significant increase in the production of spices in 2023 was due to Government’s intervention in providing materials to farmers in Regions One and Three.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Draft masterplan for Silica City to be ready by mid-2024 – Min Rodrigues T

he draft masterplan to be used in the development of Silica City - one of the Government’s climate change mitigation strategies – should be ready by mid-2024. This is according to the Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, during an episode of Guyana Dialogue in which she further disclosed that the Government is channelling the expertise of other countries into en-

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues

suring the success of this project. “We want to do this properly, and we want to deploy the use of experts and people who have done this in other countries around the world. So, we’re using their expertise to design Silica City, so that it can achieve all of the objectives that we would like to achieve…They have about six months to get back to us on a draft; so, I think about mid this year, we should have a draft of this masterWorks ongoing at Silica City

plan,” Rodrigues detailed. To this end, several investments have been made to develop road linkages to accommodate this project. “Silica City is intended to be a modern sustainable city. This is a result of climate change, rising sea levels, and us looking to move to higher ground. We are building a highway from Mandela Avenue to Eccles, Eccles to Diamond, and then this highway will go all the way to Timehri, and will give people access to the Linden-Soesdyke Highway,” she further detailed. Silica City is currently being developed in Kuru Kururu, along the Soesdyke- Linden Highway. Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the University of Miami to develop, for the project, a master plan which entails a comprehensive map out covering the entire 12,000acre area earmarked for this project. In February 2023, a $2.1 billion contract was inked to develop Silica City. It is envisioned that, over the next two decades, this new city along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway would grow to hold more than 12,500 households. Silica City will initially cater to just over 3000 households in the first five years, but 3800 acres of land have been earmarked for the city, and designs for the first phase of the project are in the pipeline. An initial 400 Young professional homes will be constructed. It has previously been reported that the Housing Ministry has already begun shortlisting persons for these homes. The city will be a smart one, powered by renewable energy and developed in accordance with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Goal 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Silica City is a development the PPP/C Government had initiated talks on prior to leaving office in 2015, but which was never continued under the

succeeding A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government. In his first year in office, in 2020, President Dr Irfaan Ali revealed that Government had begun discussions on Silica City as a secondary city. But even as the authorities push ahead with Phase One of Silica City, which also includes the development of apartment buildings, malls, condominiums, restaurants, and other amenities, the Government has been encouraging investors to fund the mega project. Back in September 2022, it was disclosed that the Government was in talks with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the development of the Innovation Village within Silica City. Also, that same month, Saudi Arabianbased Dar Consultants had made a presentation on the village at State House in Georgetown, during which company officials explained what the Innovation Village concept within Silica City would accomplish. For one, it will connect start-ups and business incubators to established companies, maximising their opportunities. According to the group, the Innovation Village would be a geographic area located within Silica City, where digital and innovative leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators and accelerators. It will be physically compact, transit-accessible, technically-wired, and will offer a mixed use of housing, office and retail spaces. Meanwhile, in November 2022, a South Korean company – Yeachon Architect and Urban Planners – also pitched, via video presentation, a seven-year plan for the development of Silica City. According to their proposals, the city will be carbon-free, and will be completed with housing, energy, transportation, healthcare, education and recreational facilities. Mention was made of smart farms, a hypermarket, and a commercial centre.

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Efforts to block financing for Gas-to-Energy project will not succeed – VP Jagdeo – reiterates that project will be built

ice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is unmoved by attempts to block financing for the model Gas-to-Energy project, and has reiterated that the project will be built. Last April, Guyana applied for a US$646 million loan from the US EXIM Bank to finance the Gas-to-Energy project, which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD). This would utilise natural gas from the country’s offshore operations in the Stabroek Block. That loan is still being processed by the US-based financial institution, and according to Jagdeo, it is moving forward. “The Gas-to-Energy project will be built. It is a commitment we made, and despite every attempt…to kill this project, it’s not going to succeed,” Jagdeo told reporters at his weekly press briefing on Thursday. Last month, on behalf of Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and Vanda Radzik, international lawyer Melinda Janki wrote this US Bank, urging it to withhold funding for the project. In her letter, the lawyer informed President and Chair of the US EXIM Bank Board of Directors, Reta Jo Lewis, of a ruling by the Guyana High Court that the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant the permit to Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) – ExxonMobil’s local affiliate – for the project was “contrary to law and was improper.” However, Jagdeo’s position is that actions to block this financing would not succeed. Other than the good

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

economics of such a project, he also pointed to the Government’s strong relations with the Bank. “We have great relations with the US Exim Bank. We have had bipartisan support on this loan. Do you think a few loonies or others who have been trying to block this project, you think the people who assessed this project are as stupid as they are? They’re not! They come down here, the project’s economics is the greatest,” he declared. “As far I see, the loan is moving forward. We have a great technical working relationship with the EXIM Bank.” In a letter dated February 7, 2024, GCCI President Kester Hutson further indicated to the US Bank President that the Guyanese business sector fully supports the GtE project, which he described as a “watershed initiative” for the country and its people. According to Hutson, funding from the US Exim Bank would significantly contribute to Guyana’s energy transition, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and promote sustainable practices. Hutson was quoted as saying, “This project is anticipated to reduce electricity cost by approximately 50

Police discover gun under shack at Covent Garden sea dam

The gun that was found under the shack

n illegal firearm has been found by a team of Police ranks, acting on intelligence received, under a ‘shack’ at the Covent Garden sea dam, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday at about 14:00h. At time of the discovery, no one was occupying the shack.

Police have said that ranks found the .32 Revolver (serial number not legible) without ammunition, concealed in a yellow rag under the shack, and have lodged same at the Providence Police Station. Investigations are in progress.

per cent – a material change in the cost of electricity for Guyanese citizens and enterprises alike. The GCCI sees this project as having immense potential to drive economic growth, enhance energy security, and promote sustainable development in the Western Hemisphere.” The GCCI has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation of certain attempts by a small minority of individuals to discredit the GtE project and discourage the EXIM Bank from providing financial support for this landmark project. “The GCCI is especially disheartened to see the vilification of a project that holds significant potential benefits for our nation and its citizens.

Equipment at the Gas-to-Energy Project site

We are appalled at missives penned requesting that the loan to fund the initiative be blocked”, the body has said. Jagdeo had previously disclosed that Government can use bridge financing to get the Gas-to-Energy project underway until the EXIM Bank loan comes onstream. The Government has set aside a whopping $80 billion in Budget 2024 to advance the Gas-to-Energy project and its associated infrastructure, including transmission and distribution upgrades to offtake the power.

Thus far, the marine offloading facility has been completed, and 26 kilometres (km) of onshore pipeline have been installed. Once completed, the project would allow Guyanese to benefit from 50 per cent reduced costs in electricity. The scope of Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil. It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline

offshore that would run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara. In last year’s national budget, the project received a $43.3 billion allocation, in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into start-up of this transformational project. (G-12)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTI students benefit from oil and gas training S

everal students of the Government Technical Institute (GTI) recently participated in three days of training in regard to cold work asset maintenance and repair solutions, which has provided them with the skills needed to service assets for the oil and gas sector. Facilitated by Global Assets Integrity and Maintenance Management Services (GAIMMS) Guyana and French company Coldpad, the training represented the first in a series of knowledge-transfer exercises aimed at empowering the young Guyanese workforce and GTI students with specialized skills, products and services that GAIMMS provides to the energy, manufacturing and engineering sectors. Consistent with this exercise, the GTI students were engaged in virtual and in-person training sessions on safety tools Allmet products and equipment that conform to ATEX guidelines, which are certified safe to use in Ex gas zones 1 and 2 (dust zones 21 and 22) without a hot work permit. Throughout the sessions,

Some of the students and trainers during the initiative

the participants were engaged in insightful discussions, hands-on exercises, and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at enhancing their skills and expertise. Skills obtained include maintaining, repairing, and optimizing assets for various organizations, while ensuring seamless operations with environmentally-friendly technolo-

gies. In an interview with Guyana Times, Business Development Director of GAIMMS, Derek Cardinez, related that all the students who participated in the workshop are now certified cold work solutions operators. This, he explained, allows them to offer to the oil and gas industry a range of services that mini-

mise downtime and prioritise efficiency, safety, and environmentally responsible work. “Integration of technology and advanced solutions is less labour-intensive, giving them the ability to progress in terms of their education and training as well as the ability to have hands-on experience in operations. My role in terms of business development is bring-

ing this to the forefront of major business operations that are coming to Guyana, letting them be aware of the advanced technological solutions that we are bringing to the forefront of solutions,” Cardinez detailed. Further, to continue along the trajectory established, GAIMMS will be signing with the Government Technical Institute (GTI) a Memorandum of Understanding that would allow for more persons from the institute to be certified and gain the experience needed to operate in the development of the oil and gas sector. “What we hope (would) transpire is continued training and growth; (continued) growing (of) a relationship with GTI, as well as integration of these students into the world of work, as well as involving them and giving them experience in terms of sustainable solutions,” Cardinez has said. Testimonies Several students enrolled in the GTI Mechanical Engineering Technician diploma course have lauded the training. “I must say I enjoyed this course. I must say GAIMMS’

and Coldpad’s presentation was very professional and quite informative… They’ve showed me things I didn’t even know was possible, such as instead of welding or anything to do with heat, they have alternative methods which are more renewable for the environment, more eco-friendly, and in essence more efficient,” Alex Pooran has said. Ann Marie Anthony explained, “I study Mechanical Engineering, and we have mock exams coming up, and times like now we need a reminder of why you’re in the field. And I feel like GAIMMS and Cold Pods did that for me; they remind me why I love the mechanical field, because my first day at the training was so amazing to see firsthand what these companies do daily.” Aviskar Persaud shared that the training has inspired him to seek employment with GAIMMA. “From what I saw during the three days, there are a lot of innovative and new technologies that I’m not familiar with, and this really inspired me to pursue a job with this company, offshore or onshore, whatever the case maybe,” Persaud explained.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

32 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fire that ravaged 4 homes at Ruimveldt squatting area was maliciously set – GFS confirms

The homes that were destroyed by the fire

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has confirmed that the fire which destroyed four homes in the Container City

dispatched to Lot 5 West 1/2 Y Squatting Area, Container City, Georgetown. Upon arriving, firefighters realised that the

and their occupants include the building where the fire started – a one-flat wooden and concrete structure owned by a man of unsound

squatting area in Ruimveldt was maliciously set. The GFS stated that it received a distress call at approximately 11:12h and a water tender and crew were

blaze had engulfed multiple structures thus resulting in extensive damage and displacement of families residing in the area. The affected buildings

mind identified as Paul. Another building was owned by Jane Boston and was occupied by Troy Mickelson, Anastasia Mickelson, Richanna

Boston, Wickland Ceces, Devon Caesar, and Alanna Havery. The third building was owned by Beverly Smith and occupied by Michael Smith Jr, Rawl Williams, and Ryan

and Briella Greene. Upon realising the magnitude of the fire, additional resources from the Central and Eccles Fire Stations were deployed. The firefighters worked diligently with

Williams while the fourth building was owned by Caro Morgan Sr, and occupied by Carl Morgan, Towanna Morgan, Carl Morgan Jr,

three jets, utilising an open water source to combat the flames and prevent further spread. “Preliminary investiga-

tions revealed that the fire was maliciously set. The suspect, reportedly of unsound mind, was apprehended at the scene by the Police,” authorities reported. While residents recounted chaotic scenes of salvaging belongings amid the devastation, individuals like Jane Boston, a senior member of the City Constabulary, expressed profound grief over the loss, emphasising the need for community support and vigilance in preventing such incidents. Tiffany Morgan and others shared similar tales of loss and despair, recounting the harrowing moment they returned to find their homes destroyed. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, the impact of the Ruimveldt fire left a trail of destruction for the affected families. Meanwhile, the suspected arsonist remains in Police custody awaiting legal proceedings.

33 MoH, Police get 300 new evidence kits to combat sexual, gender-based violence T NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Ministry of Health (MoH) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be able to tackle sexual and gender-based violence cases proactively after a quantity of sexual assault evidence collection kits was handed over on Saturday. The 300 kits, valued at $3.7 million, were part of the Justice Education Society project funded by Global Affairs Canada, titled "Strengthening Justice for Women, Girls, and Indigenous People" in Guyana. It is expected that with these kits, both the Ministry and the Police Force will be able to combat sexual and gender-based violence in Guyana, with a focus on Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica). Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and the Commander of Regional Division 4C, Khali Pareshram received the donation. Expressing gratitude to the Canadian High Commission for its steadfast contribution to the health sector, Minister Anthony highlighted that efforts were being made to train healthcare workers, especially those in emergency rooms, to conduct proper sexual assault evidence collection. He also

disclosed that forensic testing capacity in health facilities was being developed. "When cases do occur and they (persons affected by sexual violence) come to our institutions, we must have adequately-trained medical professionals to take the evidence in a format that can be acceptable in the court of law. On the side of the MoH, we certainly would work with our professionals to make sure that they are properly trained, especially those in our emergency rooms,” he stated. Meanwhile, the Head of Development Cooperation Guyana at the Canadian

High Commission, Adam Loyer stated that the Canadian Government was committed to addressing the high rates of sexual and gender-based violence in Guyana. Further, he added that with the donated kits, the health professionals will support the Police Force in responding to sexual and gender-based violence. The relatively-high incidence of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse in Guyana has prompted further action by the Government, with a consultant now being sought to research the contributing factors behind

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, along with Commander of Regional Division 4C, Khali Pareshram; Head of Development Cooperation Guyana at the Canadian High Commission, Adam Loyer, and other officials during the handing over

these behaviours. Under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme which seeks to address institutional issues affecting the country’s criminal justice system, a consultant was tasked last year with researching the socioeconomic breakdown of the contributing factors behind the high rate of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse for the 2013-2022 period. Data from Guyana’s First National Survey on

Gender-Based Violence, released in 2019, showed that one in every two women in the country has or will experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in their lifetime. The survey revealed that more than 55 per cent of all women experienced at least one form of violence. Acknowledging that domestic violence continues to be a major social problem, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has said that the country’s Domestic Violence Act 1996 would be

completely overhauled to tackle this social ill. Proposed amendments to the Act include the need to expand the definitions of domestic violence, including more comprehensive definitions of economic, emotional, and psychological violence; inclusion of batterer intervention programmes and counselling as remedies; and updating the penalties for breach of protection orders. The Sexual Offences Act 2010 is expected to undergo a similar overhaul.

New maternal, child centre to boost health care for pregnant women

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday commissioned the first maternal and child health district centre in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini). During the commissioning ceremony, Dr Anthony disclosed that an adequate amount of waiting rooms were constructed at the facility to facilitate mothers’ access to the hospital, ensuring safer births and reducing complications. This, he noted, is part of efforts to ensure maternal mortality rates in the sub-region remain low and pregnant women receive proper care, especially when in labour. “We want the services to be equal across the country, and that’s what we’re

The Health Minister unveiling the plaque to officially open the Moruca Maternal and Child Health District Office

ing at if people stay in the villages and they have to travel when they get into labour to come to the facil-

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and officials conducting a site visit for Moruca hospital

working towards… Among the things we were look-

ity, that can create a problem, because, very often in the past, people might give

birth along the way and it might not be in the best environment,” Dr Anthony noted. The facility is currently staffed by individuals residing in the Moruca sub-region, and has already been equipped to fulfil its purpose. Meanwhile, engineers from the Health Ministry have already commenced work on the design of a modern hospital that is expected to be constructed in Moruca. While in the sub-region, Dr Anthony and other officials from the Health Ministry visited the site of the hospital – 10 acres of land that was provided to the Government by the Moruca Village Council.

The Moruca Maternal and Child Health District Office

Upon the completion of the design process, the next step will involve commencing the tendering process for the hospital’s construction. The project is expected to be completed within 24 to 36 months after the contract is awarded, so that the populace of the sub-region may reap the benefits. The state-of-the-art medical facility will feature inpatient beds, surgical theatres, an outpatient facility with several different clinics, and an accident and emergency unit that will work on a 24-hour basis. According to Dr Anthony, the completed hospital will bring conve-

nience and improved services to the local population among other advantages. “Very soon, the days when you had to travel out and go to Suddie hospital or go somewhere else, those days are going to be finished once we build the new hospital. This is the kind of improvement that we want to bring in your community…that’s the objective to make sure that accessibility to healthcare is closer to you,” the Health Minister stated. Dr Anthony added that the Moruca hospital would also include modern equipment such as a CT scanner, as the Government contin-

ues to work towards improving healthcare accessibility. “You will have a 24hour modern lab, you will have imaging which we will be able to do. So, we will be able to do things like ultrasound, x-rays and there’s another special type of imaging that right now is not available to anybody in this region, because we don’t have the equipment in the region, and that’s called a CT scan…This new hospital will have a CT scan machine, and all the tests that we’ll be doing here will, of course, be free of cost,” Dr Anthony said.

34 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GOGEC conducts oil & gas Coffee germplasm from Costa Rica to revive industry training for secondary school students T

The students and officials at the training

he Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), through a collaborative effort with GTT, recently conducted an oil and gas training seminar for several secondary school students The training was held at the GOGEC’s Training Centre and saw students from Diamond, Friendship and Cummings Lodge Secondary Schools attending. During the training, a presentation was done by a team from AA Maritime and Offshore Training

Institute Guyana. These include Executive Director Asif Hamid, Marine Navigation Officer Nareshwar Sankar, and Marine Engineering Officer Asif Khan. The students were taught about the various courses offered by the institute; the definition of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel and its types; the roles of a marine navigation officer and marine engineering officer as well as the various practical training methods that are utilized along with their

pros and cons. In addition, Joel Bhagwandin, Financial Analyst and Director of GOGEC, lectured on the economic overview of the oil and gas sector. The students were also encouraged to pursue their dreams and to challenge themselves as they are the future of Guyana. This is real local content for the future. The seminar was well received by the students as they interacted well with the respective presenters. At the end of the seminar, they were presented with certificates of attendance.

he resuscitation of the coffee industry for Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) will soon be realised as coffee germplasm is set to arrive from Costa Rica. During a visit to the region, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha shared that farmers would be supplied with the necessary planting materials to redevelop the industry there. “We are also looking to have other permanent crops grown that were cultivated here in the past. Very shortly we’ll start the reintroduction of cocoa and coffee in the Pomeroon. You know this area used to produce a lot of coffee. The germplasm will be coming from Costa Rica, soon so that we can begin to distribute planting materials to farmers in the Pomeroon. Our technical officers and specialists will also work along with you to develop your plots so that we can resuscitate coffee production,” the Minister added. Back in August 2022, the Government announced plans to restart coffee cultivation in the Pomeroon, Region Two area. Agriculture Minister Mustapha explained that the goal was to supply the local coffee market within three years. Mustapha also said that the Ministry was actively working to make all the planting materials for the permanent crops free of cost to farm-

ers in the Pomeroon. Furthermore, he said that farmers are also benefiting from a series of works to improve their drainage and irrigation, specifically through the “bed and drain”, and block drainage programmes. Coconut Meanwhile, coconut farmers residing in the Pomeroon region will soon benefit from planting materials from the Ministry to boost coconut production. The Minister told those in attendance that the Government has been making a lot of investments in the region to resuscitate the productive sectors. With coconut being the third most lucrative crop in Guyana, 100 farmers from the Pomeroon will soon receive Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts to expand their cultivation. “A lot of farmers who have plantations have older trees that are not producing the

number of coconuts they used to. This is why, as Minister of Agriculture, I’ve decided to implement a programme whereby 100 coconut farmers from the Pomeroon will receive about 7000 high-yielding Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts to cultivate. As you know, this variety produces a sweeter and higher volume of coconut water and bears after about three years. This will be a game-changer,” he explained. Minister Mustapha said that this variety was very productive and would enable both farmers and agro-processors to satisfy the increasing local demand for coconut and coconut-related products, as well as tap into lucrative foreign markets. He also said that the global value for coconut water was expected to exceed US $11 billion and that the Government was making the resources available to ensure Guyana benefits from that industry.

Charity man nabbed with over $8M worth of imported ganja in car

gents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday intercepted a motor car at Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) with a large quantity of “creepy” – a foreign cannabis. Based on reports received, at the time of the interception, the driver was the lone occupant. Nevertheless, a search was conducted on the motor car during which 40 brick-like

Charged: Romario Stoll

The narcotics found at the home of the suspect

The “creepy” found in the car

parcels with cannabis were found wrapped in brown scotch tape. Following the interception, a search was conducted on the home of the driver at Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast which led to the discovery of 20 similar parcels. As such, Romario Stoll, the driver, was arrest-

ed and taken to CANU’s Headquarters where the narcotic found in the motor vehicle was tested positive for “creepy”. It was weighed and amounted to 23.4 kilograms with a street value of $8.4 million. Investigations into the other discovery are ongoing.

Stoll was charged and appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to the offence of trafficking in narcotics. He was remanded to prison and was scheduled to make his next court appearance on March 1, 2024.

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teachers’ strike

Labour Ministry will continue to hold strictly to what the law says – Min Hamilton I

n light of the ongoing industrial action called by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has reiterated that the Ministry’s position remains the same on the foundation that the two sides are still in discussions. This was the sentiment of the Minister during a televised interview on Friday evening in response to the protest orchestrated by the GTU in front of the Labour Ministry. “The intervention you are asking for us to do…We are not at that stage yet, because the parties are still locked in conversation,” he noted. The strike, he emphasised, might have started where teachers indeed were venting their grievances, but it has since shifted purely into a political activity. “You would see that maximum politicians and political types imposed themselves on this protest or this picketing exercise… So far, everything that they have displayed suggests that this strike is not about the negotiation between them and the Ministry of Education. So now, I suspect that they are seeking to have the Ministry of Labour enter into this conversation to mediate…As far as we know, the other party has indicated and will continue to indicate that we are still in discussions,” Hamilton stated.

He reiterated that more than 60 per cent of the legal demands have been met. Added to that, he stated, “Some of them are thorny issues that we have to work through procedurally, and otherwise. I suspect that the strike will take a different turn on Monday… where the focus will now be, in my view, the Ministry of Labour.” The Minister further added that an employer was not obliged to pay an employee who does not report for duty without a legitimate rationale. “People are attempting to treat this controversy differently to other activities in the labour arena. This is an employer and a representative for an employee like any other strike. I want people to understand that… The law is for everyone,” the Minister posited. The procedure, he added, as it relates to labour laws and relations has not changed and will not change. He opined that it could not change to satisfy one sector of the population. For two decades, the GTU has not submitted its financial statements, as mandated by law, to the Deeds and Commercial Registries. For context, Minister Hamilton explained, “The law talks about that; any trade union that fails to submit their audited financial statements to the Registrar of Trade Unions can be struck off of the books.” Furthermore, he empha-

Teachers at the picket line on Friday sised that teachers should question whether or not the GTU was negotiating on their behalf or for itself.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

Meanwhile, after one week of industrial action, the GTU stated the exercise would continue in the new week. Over the past few days, teachers have as-

7-year-old boy pinned as house collapses at Haslington "The house fell flat to the ground and pinned my seven-year-old son underneath, but I thank God for his life. He is now receiving medical care at GPHC under the supervision of Dr Kissoon." The Wilson family is now seeking the public’s assistance following the incident.

The injured child

seven-year-old boy sustained injuries after his family's home collapsed in Haslington Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Friday. The incident reportedly occurred around 11:35h, causing the child to suffer injuries to the back of his head and neck. Melissa Faye Wilson, the child's mother, shared the

news on her Facebook page, explaining that they were renting the house at the time. While details on how the house collapsed were not divulged, the woman was effusive with gratitude to God and for the quick response of rescuers, who helped to free the child. He was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.

sembled at various points to protest for better wages and salaries and, more importantly, better working con-

ditions. GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald on Friday told striking teachers, “I want you to understand teachers that we are the moulders of the nation, we are the agents of change and we will change this situation. This is not about us only; this is about the teachers in training college and those who will come after us. And this change is also about our children,” McDonald said. Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday also weighed in on the strike and asked that teachers exercise patience amid their protest action for better pay. He has assured that the Government was work-

ing on creating a welfare package that is incomparable to those of other countries in the Caribbean. Ali stated that there was no need to down tools, as teachers and other Public Servants were pushing at “open doors”. In due time, he assured, they would be compensated adequately. He said that while it may seem as though Guyana was an oil-rich country, the real growth was yet to come. “I explained to the teachers and Public Servants that we are going to work incrementally 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 will 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.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Sunrisers demolish DSG to claim back-to-back SA20 titles M

arco Jansen led the line with an outstanding five-wicket haul, as Sunrisers Eastern Cape crushed Durban's Super Giants by 89 runs to claim back-to-back SA20 titles in a formidable team performance at Newlands. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sunrisers put a hefty total of 204 for 3 on the board, thanks to a forceful batting display built around two distinct partnerships - 90 from 52 balls between Jordan Hermann and Tom Abell, and then an unbroken 98 from 55 balls between Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs, who top-scored with

56 not out from 30 balls. By contrast, Durban's innings never got any traction. After travelling down from Johannesburg in the morning following Friday's Qualifier victory over Joburg Super Kings, their batters were caught cold in a feisty powerplay performance, led by Dan Worrall's attacking seam and swing, and capped by Jansen's towering leftarm angles. Their innings was rocked by the early loss of Quinton de Kock, who drove flat-footedly at Worrall and inside-edged onto his stumps for 3. He might have had two in two had Jansen not spilled JJ Smuts at slip first-

ball, but Jansen made immediate amends, inducing Smuts into a chipped drive to mid-off from his second delivery, before Bhanuka Rajapaksa flapped a loose clip to the same fielder, Patrick Kruger, for a thirdball duck. At 7 for 3, the contest was already as good as over, and though Wiaan Mulder did his best to reboot Durban's innings in a 56-run stand with a near-strokeless Matthew Breetzke, Jansen would once again be the man to strike for Sunrisers, this time in the field. Few other players could have reached Mulder's swing for the ropes off Simon Harmer at the

‘Madrid is in awe’

Injured Bellingham helps Madrid thump Girona

ude Bellingham scored twice before going off injured as leaders Real Madrid thumped title challengers Girona to go five points clear in La Liga. A sensational longrange drive from Vinicius Jr gave Madrid an early lead at the Bernabeu. Bellingham then scored his first of the game from a sublime Vinicius pass, before converting his 20th of the season after half-time. Rodrygo made it 4-0, before Joselu struck the post with a late penalty. Bellingham has now scored more La Liga goals for Real Madrid than any other midfielder in a single season this century; but the England international's night ended on a sour note, as he was forced off with an ankle injury. He fell to the ground after colliding with Pablo Torre and was treated on the pitch for several minutes before gingerly getting to his feet. Determined to continue, the 20-year-old struck his second of the game after Paulo Gazzaniga had saved Vinicius's initial effort, but he was too hurt to carry on, and was replaced by Brahim Diaz moments later. He was pictured on the Madrid bench with an ice pack strapped to his foot, but manager Carlo Ancelotti says the injury is nothing more than a sprained ankle, and he is "hopeful" Bellingham will recover in time for Tuesday's trip to RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Jude Bellingham (left) has scored more La Liga goals for Real Madrid in a single season than any other midfielder this century

“They are in awe of Jude” Bellingham has exceeded all expectations since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in an £88m deal last summer. In November, he became the first player to score 14 goals in his first 15 appearances for the club in a 3-0 victory at Cadiz, surpassing the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano and Pruden Sanchez. He is also the first Madrid player to score in each of his first four Champions League appearances for the club, and remains La Liga's top-scorer this season with 16 goals. He had found the net only once since the turn of the year, but Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague feels the former Birmingham player has blossomed into a "complete midfielder" at the Bernabeu, attributing Bellingham's lack of goals to a change in position. "They are in awe of Jude in Madrid," Balague said. "He is, perhaps with [Antoine] Griezmann, the

best player in La Liga at the moment. [His recent lack of goals] is partly down to the fact that he's asked to be more involved in both offensive and defensive work - and a little bit deeper. But [he is] in the top seven in goals scored, actions finished, and in defensive stats [like] recovering the ball. He's been outstanding." Vinicius, who registered his 12th goal of the season against Girona, was just as effusive in his praise of his team-mate, telling Real Madrid TV: "Jude is a star. He scores a lot of goals, and I hope he can keep going. Jude has been the best this season. We're doing things well, and we're happy because we're a family." The victory extends Madrid's unbeaten La Liga run to 18 matches - their longest stretch without defeat since 2021. Girona, meanwhile, remain in an excellent position in the top four, despite slipping to just their second league defeat of an outstanding campaign. (BBC Sport)

Sunrisers lifting the trophy after retaining their title

end of the tenth over, but he stretched over the boundary with his arms at full extension, to send Mulder on his way for 38. One ball later, Breetkze's static knock of 18 from 27 balls ended as he lost his off stump to Ottniel Baartman, and in the same over, Baartman ended any faint hopes of Durban miracle. Heinrich Klaasen has been the outstanding ball-striker of the tournament, in rushing along to 447 runs at an extraordinary strike-rate of 207.90, but this time he lasted a solitary delivery, as Baartman landed his inswinger and extracted the on-field lbw from Stephen Harris, with the ball shown to be clipping leg. The end came in a rush. Jansen returned for his third over and plucked off Keshav Maharaj's off stump, then ended any remaining resistance with two wickets from his final three balls. Junior Dala flicked him off his pads for a token six before picking out Harmer at long-on one ball later, before another off-stump heat-seeker dealt with Reece Topley to cue the celebrations. Durban's display arguably went awry from the very first over of the match. They deviated from the plans that had proven so effective against Joburg Super Kings in the Qualifier, handing an opening over to the left-arm spinner Smuts that was milked for nine chanceless runs - two more than Sunrisers would concede in claiming their first three wickets. It set the tone for a passive display with the ball, even after Topley had struck with his fourth delivery in the second over, a plumb lbw against Dawid Malan (6). That brought Abell to the middle, and though he would finish with the Player-

of-the-Match award, he led a charmed life for the first 14 balls of his innings. He was dropped on 6 in Topley's second over then survived a potentially innings-turning moment from his very next ball, as Maharaj scooped up a low chance at mid-off, but signalled to the umpires that he was unsure if it had carried. That doubt potentially informed the subsequent TV referral, despite the replays suggesting that his fingers had been under the ball. Abell's innings kicked up a gear as he turned to his favoured scoop shot, with a four and a six from consecutive Mulder deliveries, and with gaps suddenly appearing in the field, he rushed through to a 30-ball fifty with seven fours and two sixes inside the 10th over, with Sunrisers' 100 coming up in

the same over. Durban hit back in style, however, with Maharaj bagging both set batters in the space of four balls. Hermann holed out to Klaasen at longon for 42 from 27 balls, before Abell was beaten in flight on the slog-sweep to be bowled for 55 from 34. That brought Stubbs and Markram together in the 11th over, with a bit of a rebuild required at 106 for 3. Each man picked off an early boundary, but it was Stubbs who was the first to step up the tempo with back-to-back fours to end Dwayne Pretorius's second over. After that it was over to Stubbs's long levers, with three sixes in eight balls powering the total past 200. In the end, it would prove to be more than enough. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Eastern Cape (20 ovs maximum) Jordan Hermann c Klaasen b Maharaj 42 Dawid Malan lbw b Topley 6 Tom Abell b Maharaj 55 Aiden Markram (c) not out 42 Tristan Stubbs † not out 56 Extras (lb 2, w 1) 3 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.20) 204/3 Did not bat: Patrick Kruger, Marco Jansen, Liam Dawson, Simon Harmer, Daniel Worrall, Ottniel Baartman Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Dawid Malan, 1.4 ov), 2-105 (Jordan Hermann, 10.2 ov), 3-106 (Tom Abell, 10.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W JJ Smuts 2-0-13-0 Reece Topley 3-0-32-1 Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-39-0 Wiaan Mulder 1-0-14-0 Keshav Maharaj 4-0-33-2 Junior Dala 4-0-48-0 Dwaine Pretorius 2-0-23-0 Durban's Super Giants (T: 205 runs from 20 ovs) Quinton de Kock † b Worrall Matthew Breetzke b Baartman JJ Smuts c Kruger

3 18

b Jansen 1 Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Kruger b Jansen 0 Wiaan Mulder c Jansen b Harmer 38 Heinrich Klaasen lbw b Baartman 0 Dwaine Pretorius c Kruger b Worrall 28 Keshav Maharaj (c) b Jansen 5 Junior Dala c Harmer b Jansen 15 Naveen-ul-Haq not out 3 Reece Topley b Jansen 0 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL 17 Ov (RR: 6.76) 115 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Quinton de Kock, 2.2 ov), 2-7 (JJ Smuts, 3.1 ov), 3-7 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 3.4 ov), 4-63 (Wiaan Mulder, 9.6 ov), 5-63 (Matthew Breetzke, 10.1 ov), 6-69 (Heinrich Klaasen, 10.5 ov), 7-84 (Keshav Maharaj, 13.1 ov), 8-100 (Dwaine Pretorius, 14.6 ov), 9-115 (Junior Dala, 16.4 ov), 10115 (Reece Topley, 16.6 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Daniel Worrall 4-0-15-2 Aiden Markram 1-0-4-0 Marco Jansen 4-0-30-5 Liam Dawson 3-0-30-0 Simon Harmer 2-0-18-1 Ottniel Baartman 3-0-17-2

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Holder grabs five as Barbados Pride registers comfortable win over CCC

…GHE match abandoned

arbados Pride opened their West Indies Championship account in a dazzling manner as they wrapped up a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in a lopsided contest at Chedwin Park in Jamaica on Saturday. Despite a well-played 72 by Shamarh Brooks and 47 from Demario Richards, the Marooners, resuming their second innings at 962, crumbled for 193, as they again failed to contend with Holder, who took 5-69, and Warrican, who took 3-16, to end with match figures of 8-140 and 7-45 respectively. Requiring a mere 34 for victory, Zachary McCaskie, unbeaten on 28, and Shayne Moseley, unbeaten on seven, easily surpassed the target in just under five overs. The win, which came

inside four days – after the first day was lost to a wet outfield, caused by a ruptured water main – was also spurred by Kevin Wickham’s 139 and Jonathan Drakes’s 84, which laid the foundation for the massive target. It was well defended by the bowlers. Brooks and Shatrughan Rambaran resumed the Marooners’ second innings on 44 and 15 respectively, with the latter adding only eight to his overnight score before being bowled by Chaim Holder. Captain Jonathan Carter’s stay in the middle was short-lived, as he was removed by Chemar Holder for one. However, Brooks and Richards formed a tidy fifth-wicket partnership that briefly threatened to make things interesting, as they kept the Pride bowlers at bay with solid defensive

Holder ended with match figures of 8-140

strokes, while also pouncing on the loose deliveries to erase the deficit and gift Marooners a slender lead. When Chaim Holder accounted for both, they had hoped that the remaining batsmen would add to the tally and possibly give their

bowlers something to work with in the Pride’s second turn at batting. But it was not to be, as Chaim Holder completed his second First Class five-wicket haul when he had Romario Greaves (two) trapped in front, while Warrican snared the last three wickets. Though they lost captain Kraigg Brathwaite for nought three balls into the innings, the Pride were never in any danger, and McCaskie quickly wrapped things up with five boundaries in his 14-ball 28, while Moseley held the other end. Meanwhile, the contest between Trinidad

and Tobago Red Force and reigning champions Guyana Harpy Eagles was abandoned after no play was again possible for a third straight day at Conaree Cricket Centre, in St Kitts. Scores: Barbados Pride 344-8 dec & 35-1; Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners 185 & 193 Scores: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 215 for four (Jason Mohammed 100 not out, Tion Webster 50, Amir Jangoo 27, Vikash Mohan 20 not out; Ronsford Beaton 2-39, Veerasammy Permaul 2-42) vs Guyana Harpy Eagles.

“We can compete with anyone right now” – Eve backs Soca Warriors for another competitive campaign

Haiti, Canada to battle H for U-17 World Cup berth …As US, Mexico to decide Championship honours

aribbean side Haiti will do battle against Canada to decide Concacaf’s other representative at this year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup as the curtains come down on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship in Mexico on Sunday. The United States and Mexico have secured their sixth and seventh World Cup berths by virtue of contrasting 7-1 and 2-1 semi-final victories over Haiti and Canada respectively. The powerhouse teams will again lock horns in Sunday’s final to crown the winners of the championship. United States, Mexico, and winner of the thirdplace game between Haiti and Canada will join host Dominican Republic as Concacaf’s representatives at the 16-team Under-17 Women’s World Cup later this year. This will be the first time Dominican Republic host a FIFA World Cup, and their first participation at this age level.

United States 7-1 Haiti

The day started with defending champions United States again demonstrating their class as they overpowered Haiti in a lopsided affair. After applying early pressure and were denied on two occasions by the left upright, as well as good excellent glove work by Haiti’s Kimberly Prince, United States inevitably broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through Mya Townes, who finished off a pass from

Kimmie Ascanio scored a late hat-trick against Haiti

Melanie Barcenas. Kennedy Fuller then applied the finishing touch to an Alexandra Pfeiffer cross in the 40th to put United States 2-0 up at the break. Fuller then scored her eighth goal of the tournament in the 47th with a smooth right-footed stroke into net, before Pfeiffer added her name to the scoresheet in the 59th, when she hauled in a long ball from Katie Scott. Though up against it at 0-4 down, Haiti battled bravely and eventually pulled one back through striker Lourdjina Etienne, who converted her seventh goal of the tournament from the penalty spot in the 80th. However, United States were far from done, and Kimmie Ascanio’s hat-trick in a six-minute span ensured the North Americans ended strongly. Her first came in the 83rd from dead centre of the 18-yard box, and the second came two minutes later with an assist from Scott. Ascanio completed the hat-trick in the 88th when she pounced on a rebound off

the post and calmly tucked away a left-footed shot to cap the win.

Mexico 2-1 Canada

Things were not as straightforward for Mexico, as they required an extra-time goal from Vanessa Aguilar to edge Canada in a lively encounter. Mexico struck first, courtesy of a 25th-minute right-footed strike from Carla Montes Frias from just outside the area, and the contest remained evenly poised from there, as Canada responded strongly through Annabelle Chukwu, but were denied by Mexico’s goalkeeper Camila Vazquez, who came up big with back-to-back saves in the 74th. However, there was nothing Vazquez could do in the 75th when Chukwu unleashed a right-footed shot that bettered the custodian at her near post, to send the game into extra-time. Mexico eventually found the winner in 101st minute when Aguilar followed up her initial blocked shot with a fine finish from an angle. (Sportsmax)

aving watched his team rise against the odds to secure famous victory over United States in last year’s Nations League quarterfinals, Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s Head coach Angus Eve believes there is no task too difficult for the Soca Warriors to handle. So, while he gears up for another challenging and demanding campaign, Eve is confident in the depth of his player pool, which he expects to showcase their competitiveness and possibly rewrite the history books. Much like it was against United States, when the Soca Warriors came away 2-1 winners, Eve knows their CONMEBOL Copa America playoff contest against Canada will be tough, but he remains optimistic about his team’s ability to overcome the stiff competition on March 23, and qualify for the prestigious Copa America tournament. “Like the US team, the Canada team is built up the same, (with) a lot of Europeanbased players. Some of the players (are) playing in the MLS (Major League Soccer), some playing back home, but most of the players are playing in Europe and they are playing with good teams,” Eve assessed. “But we think we can go in there; we think we can compete with anyone right now and we want to show that. We want to show that confidence that we could go out on the park and compete with anyone,” he added. Eve incorporated new players into his training squad for a recently-concluded four-day camp, which could be a move to bring a fresh dynamic to their gameplay. Still, he believes that with the right application, the team will compete strongly against Canada and, by extension, in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, which promises to be

Soca Warriors Head Coach Angus Eve

both demanding and exciting. “We just have to be tactically aware. A coach can only give instructions. When the players go out there, they have to have the mindset to play the position, to play the role that the coaches give them to the best of their ability because, a coach could never tell a player what to do for every second of every minute of a game,” he reasoned. The Soca Warriors will have two practice games against Jamaica early next month, ahead of the Copa America qualifier against Canada. The Reggae Boyz trip to Trinidad follows the Soca Warriors tour of Jamaica last year for two friendly matches. “They promised to return that favour to us, so these two games are supposed to be in early March. We will use those games as the final two warm-up games going into the CONMEBOL playoff match and when that happens, then we will pick that final squad,” Eve declared. He also welcomed the fact that two players –Reon Moore of Defence Force and Real Gill of Club Sando – have been signed to play overseas in the Canadian Premier League and United Soccer League respectively. This, the tactician believes, is another step in the right direction to not only assist in the players’ preparations for the challenges ahead,

but more importantly, for football in the twin island republic. “It shows that the work that we are doing (is good) and people are identifying players again, because we (once) had the same set of players getting contracts all the time. This is a new batch of players who are getting contracts, and I could tell you, when people see them playing with the national team, that is how they get that sort of exposure,” Eve shared. “It shows that people are watching us again and watching our players and that augurs well for the country and for the team on a whole,” he ended.

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Joseph joins Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2024

…ECB extracts Mark Wood

est Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph has joined Lucknow Super Giants as replacement for England quick Mark Wood. He will join Super Giants for INR 3 crore, an IPL statement on Saturday said. ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB pulled Wood, a centrally contracted player, out of IPL 2024 to manage his workload with the T20 World Cup scheduled in June and England hosting West Indies and Sri Lanka for Tests in the home summer. Recently, the ECB had prevented Jofra Archer from being a part of the IPL 2024 auction as it manages his comeback from injury leading up to the T20 World Cup. Super Giants had signed Wood in the auction before the 2022 season for INR 7.50 crore. He, however, missed that season because of an elbow injury. In IPL 2023, Wood played four matches

Shamar Joseph will head to the Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2024

and picked up 11 wickets at an average of 11.82. Joseph made his West Indies debut in the drawn series against Australia, dismissing Steven Smith with his first ball in Test cricket in a game West Indies lost in Adelaide. He then became a worldwide phenomenon when he took

a seven-wicket haul in the final innings despite an injured foot to give West Indies a dramatic eightrun win at the Gabba in the second Test. It was West Indies’ first Test win in Australia since 1997. Joseph had been signed by Dubai Capitals for the ongoing ILT20 season be-

Lady Jags in camp for February 17 high-stakes match

mar Khan, Head Coach of Guyana’s senior women’s national team the Lady Jags, is confident he has selected a spirited and youthful 23-member squad for the February 17 must-win CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup Preliminary clash against the Dominican Republic, to be played in the United States. The high-stakes elimination showdown will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium in Los Angeles. A victory would propel the Lady Jags to the group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup. “We have a young team. It’s a great team to work with, a lot of enthusiastic ladies who give everything,” Khan shared in an interview on February 10. Adjustments have been made to the lineup that achieved a commanding 5-0 victory against Dominica in the CONCACAF Women’s Road to Gold Cup last November. Khan has introduced a new player, midfielder Hope Windebank, and brought back four players as part of his strategy for the upcoming elimination match. The returning players are defenders Sydney Cummings and Heike Clarke, along with forwards Jenea Knight and Lakeisha Pearson. Goalkeepers: Chante’ Sandiford, Raven EdwardsDowdall and Aneesa O’Brien Defenders: Anya Tribune, Anika Sproxton, Kristen Bettencourt, Rylee Traicoff, Sydney Cummings and Heike Clarke Midfielders: Stefanie Kouzas, Brianne Desa, Jalade Trim, Hope Windebank, Hannah Baptiste, Sandra Johnson and Samantha

The Lady Jags will take on the Dominican Republic on Saturday, February 17

Banfield Forwards: Otesha Charles, Shanice Alfred, Annalisa Vincent, Jenea Knight, Lakeisha Pearson, Neema Liverpool and Dylana Makarowski. Khan explained that the Lady Jags have maintained their fitness over the past few weeks through a virtual fitness plan, in preparation for the five-day encampment set to start on Monday, February 11 in Los Angeles. In the upcoming week, training will focus on refining and honing every aspect of their game, from “attacking, defending, transitions, set pieces, strength (and) conditioning,” according to the head coach. “The main thing is to get a good team on the pitch. Good team building. I think the biggest aim for success will be getting a team that’s prepared; know what they have to do in every part of the game: when we have the ball, when we don’t have the ball. Those are the key elements.” The task would not be straightforward against the Dominican Republic, a team known for robust defence. The upcoming match will be

a formidable challenge, as the opponents are equally resolute in their determination to progress to the next round. The Group Stage will, between February 20 and 28, feature twelves (12) national teams across several venues Dignity Health Sports Park, Snapdragon Stadium, and Shell Energy Stadium - all located in the United States. After the round-robin phase, group winners, runners-up, and the two most successful third-place finishers would secure spots in the quarterfinals. Subsequently, the semifinals and the final are set to take place at the Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10 respectively. Khan added that advancing to the group stage would be a “real boost to this team to keep going”, and an excellent promotion for women’s football in Guyana. GFF President Wayne Forde has said the chosen squad possesses the skills to overcome the Dominican Republic, and has urged all Guyanese, at home and abroad, to unite in support of the team.

fore West Indies’ tour of Australia, but was subsequently ruled out because of the toe injury he suffered in the Brisbane Test when a Mitchell Starc yorker struck him. But his performance in Australia has since landed him a deal with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, which starts on February 17. While Joseph has played just two T20 games in his professional career, and doesn’t have a wicket to show yet, West Indies white-ball coach Daren Sammy has indicated that Joseph could find a berth in the T20 World Cup squad, saying the fast bowler has “created a good headache”

for the selectors. Apart from Joseph, the Super Giants’ fast-bowling line-up has Naveen-ulHaq, Mohsin Khan, David Willey, Shivam Mavi, Yash Thakur and Yudhvir Singh. They also have allrounders Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers and India’s Under-19 World Cupper Arshin Kulkarni, who can give them quite a few overs. Though just two seasons old in the IPL, Super Giants have been one of the best performing teams, making the playoffs and finishing third both in 2022 and 2023. IPL 2024 will run from March 23rd to May 29th. (ESPNCricinfo)

Khan, Callender leading Chess Grand Prix 2 tournament

andidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan is leading the Open category of the Grand Prix Two chess tournament, while reigning National Women’s Champion Jessica Callender is leading the female side after 4 rounds of competition ended on Sunday, February 4th 2024 at the National Stadium. With 25 players in the Open and 14 in the Female categories, the tournament, sponsored by International Import and Supplies Inc., delivered riveting gameplay and strategic brilliance, setting the stage for the remaining rounds of the eight-round competition this weekend. The tournament witnessed some competitive form from National Open champion Taffin Khan, currently on a hot streak of

Jessica Callender in action

ing strong with 3 points each are junior player Kyle Couchman and newly minted senior Ethan Lee. Junior player Kyle Couchman prevailed with an upset victory over his senior counterpart Ronuel

Loris Nathoo and Kishan Puran in action

four points after 4 games. Khan is one of the few local players who have earned the Candidate Master title. Junior player Sachin Pitamber, in close pursuit with 3.5 points, battled to a draw in his second round with veteran player Loris Nathoo. Neither of these two players was able to make significant inroads to exploit each other’s position, and the two opponents agreed to a draw after less than 30 moves. Standing in third position with 3 points is FM Anthony Drayton, whose only defeat came at the hands of Taffin Khan. Drayton holds the FIDE Master Title. Also hold-

Greenidge in their Round 2 match. Couchman began a series of Queen manoeuvres, assisted by a few pawns, to attack and entrap Greenidge’s King. Greenidge was unable to save his monarch from checkmate and resigned, giving his much younger opponent the inevitable win. An eventful battle ensued between experienced opponents Loris Nathoo and Ronuel Greenidge in Round 3, after both ‘castled’ their King on opposite sides of the board. That paved the way for a wild confrontation between the two, as they both became fixated on invading each other’s territory with their forces. Greenidge

claimed the win after he managed to weaken and overwhelm his opponent. The Women’s Category was simply a display of exceptional talent, represented by fourteen contenders vying for supremacy. Notably present are Jessica Callender in the lead with 3.5 points, Aditi Joshi, who recently won the Under-14 Girls title and is playing at an advanced level, is holding on to her number two spot. Junior player Ciel Clement is in third position, with Sasha Shariff in the number four spot. Shazeeda Rahim is quickly moving up the rankings after a late start in the tournament. The Grand Prix is supported by tournament sponsor International Import & Supplies, which provides quality products and superior and sustainable construction services, and is committed to the welfare of society and community assistance and development. The Guyana Chess Federation is proud to be associated with them, and applauds their efforts and ideals. As the competition intensifies, anticipation mounts for the final rounds scheduled for this weekend at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Stay updated on tournament details and player statistics by following us on Facebook, and visiting our website at guyanachess.gy.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

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

Pg 39

Lucknow Super leading Chess Grand Giants for IPL 2024

Prix 2 tournament

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