Guyana Times - Thursday, January 11, 2024

Pres Ali P17 to receive prestigious Global Africa Leadership award Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 5608

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

“Bring the evidence” – Teixeira on Opposition’s claims of …says anti-corruption corruption in Govt framework established See story on page 7

Opposition Leader strips Jermaine Figueira of parliamentary portfolio

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Cops urged to aggressively pursue P15 suspension of licences for reckless drivers

Appointments to vacant judicial posts will be made soon – Chancellor P13 assures

…“I am flabbergasted” – MP says, appeals decision to PNC executive …questions whether shaking Pres Ali's hand vexed Norton 2018 Fly Jamaica crash in Guyana

Passengers on board aircraft bound for Toronto reach CA$5M settlement P13

Prosperity FPSO transitions to background P12 flaring in 39 days …Exxon’s offshore projects now producing combined 550,000 bpd

Former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and President Dr Irfaan Ali in conversation as he looks at the map of Guyana at State House during a visit on Tuesday. He was in Guyana on a private visit. In a tweet on Wednesday, Pompeo said: “It was great to be back with friends in Guyana yesterday… Wonderful to be with President Ali and to see all he and his team are doing for the people.” (Office of the President photo)

Judiciary’s service delivery must “rise to the occasion” –…7-year Chancellor strategic plan launched on rising need for justice …more specialised courts to be added Page 11

Smuggled liquor, goods seized by CANU, GRA P16

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Opposition Leader strips Jermaine Figueira of parliamentary portfolio NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 11 – 04:00h-05:30h and Friday, January 12 – 04:00h-05:30h.

…“I am flabbergasted” – MP says, appeals decision to PNC executive Thursday, January 11 – 16:20h-17:50h and Friday, Janu- …questions whether shaking President Ali's hand vexed Norton

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

ary 12 – 05:00h-06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers are expected during the day, with light to thundery showers at night.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 16:35h reaching a maximum height of 2.72 metres.

Low Tide: 10:08h and 22:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.46 metre.

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Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton Opposition MP Jermaine Figueira shaking President Dr Irfaan Ali’s hand in Linden over the weekend

A

surprise decision by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to strip Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira of his portfolio for culture, youth and sports has left the MP baffled and questioning whether he is being victimised by the senior politician.

When contacted by Guyana Times on Wednesday, Figueira said that the decision took him by surprise and directed enquiries about the rationale behind the decision to the Opposition Leader himself. He made clear, however, that the matter was likely to be raised whenever the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress (PNC) met again.

“I’m flabbergasted by the leader’s decision and that’s where I would leave it for now. I’m still processing it.

I think this will be raised (at the next CEC meeting),” Figueira said, adding that his work as an MP and as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would, nevertheless, continue.

Figueira, meanwhile, penned a letter addressed to fellow members of the PNC executive in which he highlighted the issue and questioned the rationale behind the decision, which he was made aware of on Tuesday.

“Dear colleagues… on the advice of several senior party stalwarts I pen this letter to you all… I was shocked yesterday when I was informed by the Leader, at an MPs meeting that I would no longer hold any portfolio including that of culture, youth and sports, which I shadowed successfully for the past four budgets, and after I have been preparing for the upcoming presentations in a matter of days.”

According to Figueira, he was never consulted before the decision and the reasons that were reluctantly given, which he did not disclose in the letter, were “in my respectful view, most nonsensical and without merit”.

The MP pointed out that based on performance alone, the political work he has been doing in the communi-

ties, particularly in Linden where he hails from, made the decision to remove his portfolio responsibilities illogical.

In fact, he raised questions in the letter about which other MPs or arms of the PNC have been able to raise funding and help constituents the way he has and questioned the high-handedness of the decision.

Political work

In addition to his political work in the community – which he said Norton has in the past downplayed by referring to it as social work – Figueira pointed out his tireless efforts on behalf of his party. This is work that has at times seen him working with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, to bring assistance to his constituents.

“My interventions at the government level have brought relief to many. For

example, I would have engaged both Ministers of Public Works when the Region's budgetary allocations didn't cater for several roads to be done in some communities, for it to be done and it was,” Figueira pointed out.

According to Figueira, President Dr Irfaan Ali had publicly committed to addressing matters he had raised, including squatting.

He also made reference to the small contractors and the many families who he has interceded on behalf of, as their elected representative, to the Government of the day.

In fact, Figueira went on to question whether his willingness to work with the political other side, for the greater good of the people, is the reason he has been singled out by Norton. He emphasised that he has always been willing to work with the PPP/C Government, because it was the custodian of the people’s resources.

“I questioned if this decision/action of me being penalised/victimised is a result of my forthright attitude to speak my truth and being a free thinker and not a conformist. Or was it because I disagreed with the Leader and not the party's position of not shaking the President's hand policy in this modern era of political and diplomatic engagements. I shook the man's hand that was extended towards me. I did it because it’s the sensible and courteous thing to do.

“In the circumstances, I am appealing to the Central Executive Committee to review this decision, and if it is found to be unwarranted, to reverse it. Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others,” Figueira further said in his letter.

Meanwhile, efforts by this publication to contact Norton were futile.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

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

Opposition should start to lessen distrust

T

he Swedish-born philosopher and ethicist Sissela Bok wrote, “Trust is a social good, to be protected just as much as the air we breathe or the water we drink. When it is damaged, the community as a whole suffers; and when it is destroyed, societies falter and collapse.” In Guyana, while the PPP accepts there is a need for some more collaborative working relationship with the PNC to reduce our intractable conflict, it insists that some requisite amount of trust must first be present. If we accept as a working definition that trust is a "belief in, and willingness to act on the basis of, the words, actions, and decisions of another", then we posit that not only is trust missing between the PPP and the PNC, but that there exists a palpable, strong, and almost volcanic distrust.

The difference is important. No one would deny the benefits of trust in conflictual situations: trust between political opponents enhances cooperation, encouraging them to share information and even work together to resolve problems. This suggests heaven to most Guyanese. Distrust, on the other hand, is not merely the absence of trust, which may suggest a possible neutral, non-committal attitude, but the presence of the confident expectation that another individual's motives, intentions, and behaviours are sinister and harmful to one's own interests.

Distrust, rather than the absence of trust, has severe consequences for us. In interdependent relationships such as the one between the governing PPP and the Opposition PNC, this often entails a sense of fear and anticipation of discomfiture or danger. Distrust naturally prompts us to take steps that reduce our vulnerability in an attempt to protect our interests. Accordingly, the distrust of others is likely to evoke a competitive (as opposed to cooperative) orientation that stimulates and exacerbates conflict. Hence the state of undeclared war typifies the relationship between our two major parties, and reduces their mildest engagement to the hurling of vitriolic barbs.

The origin of their distrust is there for all of us to see.

Starting from the sixties, when the PNC split the nationalist movement, the record has since not improved appreciably.

This is even though, for years, the PPP of Dr Jagan offered “critical support” to the PNC that routinely rigged elections.

So, what is to be done? We have to begin reducing the distrust before we can ever begin to build trust. We concede right up front that this is not an easy task. Once in place, distrust forms a powerful frame on subsequent events in the relationship, such that even good-faith efforts by the offender to restore the relationship are met with skepticism and suspicion. The result is a "self-fulfilling prophecy", where every move the other person makes is interpreted as additional evidence that justifies an initial decision to distrust him/her.

One key insight in this area of trust and distrust is the distinction between functional and dysfunctional distrust.

Although distrust has generally been regarded as patently harmful, it should be acknowledged that there are potentially valuable benefits of some distrust. All of us have had experiences wherein we misjudged another as credible and trustworthy, only to be exploited. However, distrust can lead to adverse effects as well. As noted earlier, distrust is associated with a lack of cooperation, lower satisfaction and commitment, and possibly even retribution and actively hostile behaviour.

Distrust leads the parties to reduce their willingness to share information and engage in problem-solving in conflict situations -- an approach that usually bypasses integrative, value-creating opportunities. Distrust can also cause conflicts to escalate to the point of intractability, as positions harden and the parties become increasingly reluctant to yield concessions.

The negative emotions that emerge with distrust cause the trustor to vilify and demonise the other party.

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has stripped his member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira of his shadow Cabinet position.

Is it because of distrust, because Figueira is willing to work with Government for the development of his community?

Norton, and moreso the Opposition, should start by doing no less to lessen distrust.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips and High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr Amit Shivkumar Telang in discussion on areas of mutual interest during a courtesy visit on Wednesday at the Office of the Prime Minister on Camp Street, Georgetown.

The High Commissioner was accompanied by the First Secretary of the Commission, Mukesh Kaushik and Head of Chancery, Manoj Kumar (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Coalition has no track record to stand on Dear Editor, The issue of free education at the University of Guyana has been a hot topic in recent political discourse, with the APNU/AFC Coalition scrutinising the PPP/C Government's pace of work in delivering this promise.

However, closer examination reveals that the APNU/AFC Coalition lacks the moral authority to criticise the current administration. Three key points highlight the coalition's shortcomings in this regard: their failure to initiate free university education; a substantial increase in fees during their tenure; and a general absence of a credible track record in delivering benefits to the Guyanese people.

One of the glaring shortcomings of the APNU/AFC Coalition during its time in power was its failure to take substantive steps toward delivering free university education. The promise of accessible higher education is a fundamental pillar for the development of any nation, fostering an educated and skilled workforce. The coalition's inability to actualize this promise underscores its lack of commitment to the socio-economic advancement of Guyana.

By neglecting to address the financial barriers hindering students from pursuing higher education, the APNU/AFC Coalition demonstrates a significant

moral lapse in criticizing the current Government's efforts.

Compounding their failure to provide free university education, the APNU/ AFC Coalition exacerbated the financial burden on students by instituting a substantial 35% increase in fees at the University of Guyana. This decision directly contradicts the principles of affordability and inclusivity that are integral to fostering an environment conducive to learning and personal development.

By imposing such a significant financial strain on students, the Coalition further diminishes its moral standing to criticize the PPP/C Government's approach to free education.

Beyond the specific issue of free education, the APNU/ AFC Coalition's broader track record is marked by a lack of tangible accomplishments for the Guyanese people. Whether in the realms of healthcare, infrastructure, or social services, the Coalition's tenure did not witness notable improvements that would inspire confidence in their ability to address the pressing needs of the nation.

Without a credible track record of delivering positive outcomes for the citizens, the Coalition's criticisms of the PPP/C Government's pace of work ring hollow, and lack the moral authority necessary to sway public opinion.

Already, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme has awarded 21,442 scholarships to Guyanese in the ten administrative regions in less than two years; and 15,442 of those went to women. In addition, in 2023, another 400 Guyanese were provided Government of Guyana scholarships via the Ministry of Public Service. The APNU+AFC Coalition's critique of the PPP/C Government's efforts to deliver free education at the University of Guyana is

inherently flawed due to its own shortcomings during its time in power.

To engage in meaningful criticism, political actors must demonstrate a commitment to the principles they advocate, and the APNU/ AFC Coalition falls short on this front. As Guyana navigates its path towards educational inclusivity, a more constructive and principled dialogue is essential for the betterment of the nation.

Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

Delayed election fraud cases not only a travesty, but a tragedy Dear Editor, In recent days, the cry has been ramped up about the delayed elections fraud cases, in view of another elections cycle approaching.

This cry by citizens has been sounding for a long time.

While the mantra about separation of powers will sound, it is perceived that the authorities allowed this situation to take hold, and they must bear some responsibility for this embarrassing state of affairs.

The Special Prosecutor had requested, some time ago, for a special court

and magistrate(s) to be assigned, but nothing was done. This might be because the magistracy is depleted.

The several recusing by magistrates aided the delays, and must be seen in that light.

It is not only a travesty, but a tragedy that, after so many years, these cases are yet to have their day in court. The foot-dragging is palpable, and the nation will not forgive those seeking to trifle this mega-crime.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

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

Wilful and malicious A look into one distortion of facts of the retrograde policies of PNC Dear Editor, While browsing the Internet, I came upon this quote by famous fashion designer Nicola Formichetti, “The dark side of social media is that, within seconds, anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context. And it's very difficult not to get swept up in it all”.

We can survive the stream of selected expletives, which has become the trademark of some social media ‘presenters’, but it is a crying shame when a presenter wilfully, and with malice aforethought, distorts what is said in attempting to influence the listener or reader to act in a certain manner, hoping that he/she does not investigate the veracity of the statements.

But I dare say that, on many occasions, the distortion will not be questioned by a certain group, since it coincides with what is its agenda. This person in turn will ‘like’ and ‘share’ in order for the misinformation to spread to as many persons as possible.

In fact, these ‘presenters’ will actually persuade the receivers to do so. And as Nicola concluded, within seconds, “anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context”.

A few days ago, there was yet another typical example where the Vice President of Guyana made a statement in one of his press conferences with regards to the

abuse of social media, and this was speedily taken out of context and misrepresented by the usual suspects.

I read a lengthy article which sought to attribute credibility to an interview with Mark Benschop, who totally distorted what the Vice President said on 28th December, 2023. This ‘social activist’ took pieces from what the VP said and spun it to give his own devilish twist. He failed to address the entire statement, and quoted out of context.

The VP made it pellucid, in no uncertain terms, that he totally promotes free speech, free media, and a free society, but he condemns those who seek to divide the Guyanese people along ethnic lines and take away people’s freedom.

According to him, these are “non-negotiables”, and people must be held responsible for what they post. And if they are certain about the ‘facts’, then they should be unafraid about being sued or ensuing legal actions, since they can defend themselves in a court of law.

He added that social media users should not ‘fabricate things about people, destroying lives and families… trying to extort them using information that they may have gleaned from third party sources, or when they just try to destroy this country or break the laws’, since they will now be held legally accountable.

Those who are upset

need to understand that the VP was simply echoing the intention and content of the Cybercrime Act 2018, which was passed by the Coalition Government.

I request that those who seek to distort what the VP said listen to that press conference and read the 2018 Act, specifically Sections 18 and 19, which speak in detail about offences against the State and using the electronic media to coerce, harass, intimidate, humiliate, etc. a person. The fine is hefty, and the jail term is five years, if convicted.

It would seem that the so-called activists and others want to legalise a crime which is a crime in Guyana and in any part of the world, but these so-called activists should not be allowed to sit overseas and create mayhem and destruction to people’s lives. The AG, Honorable Nandlall, summed this up accurately and unambiguously when he stated in his insightful and judicious programme ‘Issues in the News’ that people like Burke should not be allowed to be in New York and ‘violate the laws of the world’. This is what some overseas-based Guyanese believe, supported by their counterparts in Guyana.

The AG, in his programme on January 2nd, went on to give a free legal lesson to some lawyers who cannot discern between a summons and a warrant, and the difference between

the jurisdiction of the courts with relation to summary and indictable offences.

He presented, in his trademark persuasive and effective style, arguments to debunk the notion that a summons cannot be served abroad. In addition, the VP’s statement is in line with the Cybercrime Act, and perfectly echoes the justice that people deserve when lies are fabricated against them which can potentially destroy their lives and livelihoods, and the AG effectively provided the legal basis through which relief can be sought.

A person cannot simply go on social media and spew whatever lies and distortions please him/her with complete impunity. That person must be held accountable, and our legal system provides for that, and is not deficient in any way.

It is time that social media users living abroad and in Guyana be held accountable for their false and malicious utterances against those living in Guyana.

These people should ensure that what they are presenting to the people is the truth.

We must be cognizant of Sir Winston Churchill’s statement, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”. Such is the speed of irreparable damage which can be done via social media.

gripped the nation.

Without acknowledging these factors, his criticisms of the current Government's handling of the economy remain incomplete and lack the necessary depth.

Second, during the APNU/AFC Coalition's tenure, Guyanese citizens experienced a series of hardship measures – including the imposition of 200 taxes and fees on everything, from agricultural land rentals to VAT on water and electricity – all of which had profound effects on their daily lives.

From increased taxes to austerity measures, the economic policies implemented by the Granger Administration placed a significant burden on the population. Mr Granger needs to address how these measures impacted the socio-economic landscape, contributing to the challenges that many Guyanese face today, in-

cluding the rising cost of essential goods like food.

Thirdly, the five months of political tension following the 2019 elections created a climate of uncertainty, and the protracted political impasse undoubtedly had repercussions on the economy, as investors and businesses hesitated to commit to a nation engulfed in uncertainty. By not addressing the role of his administration in this period of political turmoil, Mr. Granger's critique of the PPP/C Government's economic policies lacks a comprehensive perspective.

For a former head of state to critique the policies of the current government, accountability for one's actions and policies is paramount. It is not sufficient to solely attribute current challenges to the PPP/C Government without acknowledging the role played by the previous administration. This accountability is

ing. This backward mentality has left us battling with the sustainability of what exists, while renewing our plans for an affordable and reliable power source for the future.

No Government will succeed if it continues to plan for the here-and-now with no futuristic planning to move the country into an enlightened tomorrow, and the area of power generation is crucial to any discussion where development of one's country is concerned.

With this in mind, we see the visionless move by the PNC when they struck down the Amaila Falls HE Project. That move was the embodiment of that administration's reversal of any plans to move this country forward, and this could not continue. This is one factor why they lost the election. With no vision, or the lack thereof, we were on a downward spiral. Amaila represents progress, it is power generation in a renewable way into the future.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Granger has political responsibility, moral obligation to account for his Govt’s failures Dear Editor, Former President David Granger resurfaced this week to complain that the high cost of food is hurting Guyanese, and the entire situation is to be blamed on the PPP/C Government.

Editor, with all due respect, unless and until Mr. Granger accounts for the hardship measures he imposed on Guyanese from 2015 to 2020, as well as the five months of undue tension Guyanese suffered following the March 2020 elections, his criticisms will continue to ring hollow.

First, a comprehensive examination of his tenure from 2015 to 2020 reveals a stark contrast between rhetoric and action. To engage in meaningful discourse on the challenges facing Guyanese, Mr. Granger must account for the hardship measures imposed during his administration, and the five months of political tension that

Dear Editor, The retrograde governance policies of the PNC stinks to the high heavens. Theirs is a politics I would call "tenement yard politics"; with no vision or futuristic approach, their backwardness is shown at every turn.

A pertinent factor I would like us to focus our attention on is power generation. Power generation and energy use have increased fourfold since the modern era. Newer businesses have gone up, which require more energy consumption by the local industrial community. Even domestic usage has tripled, so to speak, as more and more households are going up. Guyana is in an upward trajectory, which logically means that the present energy generation is outdated and has to be increased.

What the previous administration did was what I again refer to as tenement yard politics -- continue the patchwork of the old diesel-powered systems to generate power in a period when local consumption gobbled up all that there is, with a vacuum remain-

not merely a matter of political responsibility, but also a moral obligation to the citizens who endured the consequences of past policies.

To foster a more informed and constructive dialogue on the rising cost of food, Mr. Granger must offer a more nuanced and holistic perspective. This includes recognizing the broader economic context shaped by his administration's policies and actions. Without such acknowledgment, his criticisms risk being perceived as politically motivated, rather than rooted in a genuine concern for the wellbeing of Guyanese citizens.

Until Mr. Granger addresses these aspects, his criticisms may continue to lack the depth and authenticity needed for meaningful discourse on the nation's economic trajectory.

Sincerely, Attiya Baksh

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

FACTOR TREES

A factor tree (also known as a number tree) is a diagram that is used to find all the factors of a number. Starting with the number at the top of the tree, it then lists the various factors (numbers that divide equally into the number with no remainder) as ‘branches’.

When each factor has been reduced to a prime number, the branches end and the tree is complete.

Factor trees are highly useful teaching tools because they re- deciphering if a number is a present factors in a graphic way. This can make the concept square number (a number easier to understand for learners who might struggle to visu- that has been multiplied by itself once) or a cube numalise Maths topics. ber (a number that has been multiplied by itself twice).

What are factor trees used for?

Factor trees have a number of important uses in Mathematics. For example, we can use them for: identifying factor pairs (two numbers that multiply together to make up another number); finding prime factors (factors that are prime numbers); finding the highest common factor of two or more numbers; finding the lowest common multiple of two or more numbers;

Factor trees are ideal for investigating the properties of numbers and helping us to understand some important mathematical concepts and rules. For example, say we’re investigating a number that has more than one factor pair. If we create several factor trees to investigate each factor pair, our factor trees will show us that the prime factors of the original number are always the same, no matter which factor pair we choose.

Exercises

Complete the factor trees below

By Elly Niland

Tune your ears class Clean your eyes or else You’ll only see curdled clouds.

Bright, brown children, sprouting. Filtering, refining.

She tuned the music of the mind, lit the sparks, stimulated Senses to fantasy. Conjured up scenes, Captured them, hammered home with zest, Whilst the imagination rose on vast unfurled wings That time like rainbow after rain, like sun In the wet season of school days I miss now.

Once solid lessons have the quality of dreams

LIQUID SANDWICH In this fun and easy density science experiment, we’re going to use density to create a liquid sandwich.

Materials: Two tablespoons oil Two tablespoons water Two tablespoons honey Narrow jar

Instructions: Add equal amounts of the water, oil, and honey to the jar.

The honey, oil, and water will separate into liquid layers that resemble a stack of items on a sandwich.

How it works: This is a really simple and easy

experiment used to illustrate density. The items have different densities so they stack on top of one another to form a liquid sandwich.

Make this a science project: Try different liquids. Try warming some of the liquids. Try adding salt to the experiment. (sciencefun.org)

Words which were so sweet no one wanted to swallow.

That time long ago Miss King reared English language; She enabled us to inhale exciting new words, allusions.

Apt associations.

Words clung to pregnant minds And the urchins like flowers, swelled.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Bring the evidence”– Teixeira on Opposition’s claims of corruption in Govt …says anti-corruption framework established

Parliamentary Affairs Governance Minister Teixeira

and Gail

P

arliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira is calling on all those who claim that there is widespread corruption in the Government to do the work and present the evidence to support their allegations.

She made this remark on Wednesday during her Ministry’s closing press conference for 2023, where she was asked to respond to the Opposition’s corruption accusations.

Both the People’s National Congress (PNC)led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have levelled allegations of corrupt acts in the Government.

However, Minister Teixeira underscored the importance of having evidence to support such claims.

“I can shout corruption as much as I want, but I must have evidence. I must have proof… So, one has to recognise your responsibility as a citizen, if you feel that there is wrongdoings going on, to do your work and to get it into the right forums. Not just shout from the rooftops to get it in the media, because when you do that all it is doing is cre-

ating an impression which may or may not be right.

And maybe that's the intention in the first place…” “[But] facts, facts, facts.

It is important to have facts and so, whoever is crying – whether the Opposition or anybody else – get your facts lined up and go to the correct bodies to bring your cases,” the Minister contended.

According to Teixeira, there are a host of constitutional bodies that have been set up to deal with such matters and complaints.

These include the Public Procurement Commission (PPC); the Auditor General Office; the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and even the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In fact, she reminded that while the People’s Progressive Party was in Opposition, it used the very framework that is currently in place to bring certain corrupt acts of the then Government to the fore.

One such matter, she highlighted, was the controversial sole-sourcing of a consultancy contract for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Back in 2018, a contract was awarded to Dutch company LievenseCSO for a feasibility study into the new bridge. A probe conducted by the PPC, upon request of the PPP through Teixeira, had flagged then Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the $148 million contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the Procurement Board as the law says should be done.

“I documented what I had found. So, I just didn’t just go and say there is corruption… The PPC said the Minister and Cabinet acted

able to bring their cases forward. You don’t win every case, there were cases that we brought with the PPC that got shut down… So, you have to recognise that constitutional bodies will make their recommendations based upon their laws, their constitution and what they think is best. You may not always agree with it and one can also always, as a citizen, go to the court; that Opposition Norton

Leader

unlawfully in awarding an unsolicited tender which the Cabinet had no authority to do under the Constitution and the Procurement Act,” Teixeira reminded.

She went on to note too that after no further action was taken based on that PPC’s findings, she went to the Police and filed a case through the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) – the arm of the GPF which deals with white-collar crime.

However, the matter was not dealt with by SOCU until 2020.

Patterson and the former Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) General Manager Rawlston Adams were eventually jointly charged and placed before the court in January 2021 for conspiracy to defraud. That matter is still pending in the court.

“The process of calling for corruption is not one that is just shouting from the rooftops, it's work…

And so, I can say very, very clearly, as a member of the Opposition, I use that same framework that exists today in 2020 that has not changed between 2020 to now…

“So, if anybody feels that there is corruption and anybody has a scintilla of evidence, they should use the mechanisms that are avail-

Opposition Leader strips Jermaine...

Handshakes

Norton’s well-known stance of not shaking President Ali’s hands, despite handshakes being a common show of courtesy even among political opponents around the world, has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism.

Back in 2022 when Figueira was photographed shaking President Ali’s hand during one of his cabinet outreaches, Norton had publicly denied reports that

Figueira was threatened afterwards. He had been adamant that his MP’s are free to do as they wish, within the broad confines of the party’s policies.

Over the weekend, Figueira was photographed shaking President Ali’s hand in Linden at the contract signing for the construction of the new four-lane Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge would “create immense opportunities” for residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).

Aubrey

FROM PAGE 3

Meanwhile, it is understood that Opposition MP Nima Flue-Bess, a relative newcomer to parliamentary politics, will be assuming the Figueira’s portfolio responsibility for culture, youth and sport, ahead of the January 15 budget day.

Reports also indicate that former Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who had hitherto shadowed the Ministry of Agriculture, will also now be shadowing the Home Affairs Ministry. (G3)

is your right to do that,” the Minister noted.

Nevertheless, Teixeira pointed out that the Guyana Government was committed to transparency and accountability and has put an anti-corruption framework in place. This includes the establishment of a National Coordinating Committee (NCC) as part of the InterAmerican Convention Against Corruption and the

United Nations Convention Against Corruption – both of which Guyana has signed onto.

The NCC, which is headed by Teixeira, comprises 17 state agencies that look at anti-corruption methodologies, laws and international best practices as well as recommendations by the conventions to strengthen Guyana’s anti-corruption framework. (G8)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Garbage bin thief jailed for 9 months A

man has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, while his alleged accomplice has been released on $30,000 bail, for stealing a skip bin (garbage bin) that belongs to Cevon's Waste Management and is worth $68,400.

When 38-yearold Anthony Wong and 40-year-old Basdeo Omadatt, aka Zakire Alikhan, appeared on Monday before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse in that Georgetown magistrate’s court, Wong was answering a charge of simple larceny while Omadatt was answering a charge of receiving an item known to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.

In presenting the facts

Basdeo Omadatt (left) and Anthony Wong

to the court, the Police prosecutor detailed that at approximately 14:30h on January 4, 2024, an employee of Roraima

Airways in Bel Air Park, Georgetown went to dispose of something, but did not notice the bin.

A recognisable male

was seen removing the bin on surveillance footage, and as a result, a report was made to the Police, and this led to the arrest of Omadatt, who told the Police that Wong had given him the bin. The Police thus detained Wong, based on the information they had received. Wong, the prosecutor said, admitted to stealing the bin, which was later recovered and lodged at the Police station.

Both Wong and Omadatt pleaded guilty to their respective charges, but Magistrate Nurse only accepted Wong’s guilty plea. After taking into account Wong’s early guilty plea, Magistrate Nurse determined that a ninemonth prison sentence was appropriate for the crime.

After pleading guilty, Omadatt offered an explanation to the court. He said he is a waste management worker, and that the bin was given to him.

“If I did know the bin was stolen, I would have never do anything with it,” he declared.

In light of the explanation, the magistrate changed Omadatt’s guilty plea to not guilty, and bail was granted him in the sum of $30,000 pending the hearing of his trial.

Magistrate Nurse has warned Omadatt that the sentence for him will be more severe if he is convicted. He has to return to court on February 5 for statements and fixture of trial date. (G1)

New politics…

I

…in new year?

f it’s a new year – which it certainly is – we shouldn’t be surprised that calls for a “new politics” have started to be sounded. After all, if the sun rises every morning in the east, we shouldn’t be surprised when it does the same tomorrow!! Excepting that, in our case, the calls aren’t really new. It’s the same old demand – yes, demand or else!! - for “executive shared governance”!

The claimed rationale is that “the winner takes all system” = where the party or coalition of parties winning elections form the Executive, hasn’t worked.

Now, one of the things your Eyewitness has learnt over the years is you gotta look at these sorta claims in context: like where are these calls coming from? After all, in almost every democracy, where the people get the opportunity to choose their government, the executive is formed by the winning party – and we don’t hear no complaints!! Each party has a chance to go to the electorate; show them their programme and credibility, and hope they get enough votes to garner a majority!!

Simple, innit?

Save that, in our case, we had a “loser takes all” government for 28 years under the PNC - which blatantly rigged elections using all sorts of crookishness - and to hell with what the people wanted!! Now, we might say that was the past, and we should leave it in the past. But the very people who’re now calling for Executive Shared Government sat mute when the PNC – under the fig leaf of APNU – tried to rig the elections just three years ago!!

In fact, they were part and parcel of the APNU apparatus, giving cover to the PNC when they tried to rig again. This means they got skin in the game – so they ain’t exactly unbiased.

Now, it may sound reasonable to say that all the parties winning seats should be at the table in a country that has so many different groups. But the proponents never spell out exactly how things would change if this were to be put into practice. Wouldn’t the parties that were voted in on their own platforms insist on pushing their agenda? So, wouldn’t the party with the majority of seats at the table still get their way?? Exactly how would the losing parties have a say?? Or are the Executive power sharers also saying that decisions gotta be unanimous??

But we know where THAT would lead us, don’t we?

We presently have a rule that the top two judicial officers gotta be selected unanimously by the Govt and the Opposition. That’s Executive Shared Governance on this issue, innit?? So how has it worked??

See what your Eyewitness means by “context”? …old tricks From the rhetoric being deployed to demand “Shared Executive Governance”, your Eyewitness pointed out above the “or else” aspect. And that’s why these calls will never be heeded by the PPP, after winning elections.

When they lost in 2015 - even though they claimed there was some hanky-panky done by the PNC - they didn’t come out into the streets with any “or else” demands.

They accepted their role as the Opposition, but were creative enough to pull the rug out from under the PNC with their constitutionally mandated “No Confidence Motion”!!

But the Opposition only knows brute force and ignorance when it comes to power. Right now, they’re focusing on how much the PPP’s doling out from oil revenues. But they should know it’s human nature that the more folks get, the more they want – and they’ll always be convinced that they ain’t getting enough. And your Eyewitness ain’t talking about riling up Opposition supporters and further dividing the country.

Why not target “PPP supporters”??

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

…old contradiction The Essequibo border was demarcated in 1899 after Venezuela invoked the Monroe Doctrine and challenged the US to confront Britain. Now Mad Maduro’s complaining bitterly that the US is invoking the same doctrine to stymie his land grabbing agenda!!

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

9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 1,200 acres of millet being cultivated at Tacama …ahead of upcoming corn and soya May/June crops

A

s much as 1,300 acres of millet are currently under cultivation at the Tacama Mega Farm on the Berbice river in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), ahead of plans for the May/ June season this year to plant huge corn and soya crops at the location.

On Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is now the Chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom),

shared on his social media page that 1,300 acres of millet are currently being cultivated at Tacama. The cultivation of millet is an important part of the Government’s plan to achieve food security and slash the Caricom food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Since the millet was planted late last year, it is expected that harvesting would occur well within the first quarter

of 2024.

Speaking to this publication, David Fernandes, Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm, explained why millet, and not corn and soya, was planted at this time.

“Now, it takes about 60 days to harvest it. Because it’s a short crop, it doesn’t need much rain; that’s why we couldn’t plant soya bean, we had to plant something

The millet farm at Tacama

a little more resilient, that didn’t need as much water,” he said.

“Remember, we ended up with this El Nino situation, where we had probably the driest Christmas in a long time. So, we’re trying to enhance the soil, and at the same time harvest it and use it in the feed as a substitute for either corn or rice,” Fernandes further explained.

While neither corn nor soya could be planted late last year, Fernandes assured that corn and soya will eventually be planted. And further, he explained that there are in-

India is a global leader in the production of millets, and Guyana and India have committed to collaborate on millet production. The South Asian state is expected to provide technical support and guidance during production.

Millets are a highly varied group of small seeds and cereal crops. They are a powerhouse of nutrients: rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibres. Based on the required environmental conditions for millet germination, Guyana is considered an ideal zone for the growth and development of the seed.

and soya bean industry, with a commitment of over $1.2 billion to infrastructural development in the Tacama area.

In 2022, the Government improved access to the area by constructing 40 kilometres of road, with the remaining seven kilometres scheduled to be completed this year.

Additionally, the Government invested in a drying and storage facility for corn and soya bean, the first such facility in the country.

It has previously been reported that plans are afoot to start cultivating corn and

Tacama Savannah soya bean investor David Fernandes (left) with President Dr Irfaan Ali during a previous tour of the farm

tentions for the current crop of millet when it is harvested.

“We will harvest the grain when it is ready and use it in stockfeed. We’re using it as a ground cover, as a fertilizer bank to stop soil erosion.

Because remember, we would have a lot of land prepared for the big crop we’re planting in May/June of this year,” he explained.

The year 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations General Assembly.

President Ali had announced last year that, with technical assistance from India, Guyana would be conducting test trials of millet in at least three regions.

Importantly, millet production would open up additional avenues for economic advancement, providing a new market for export.

Corn and soya bean are also relatively new crops for Guyana, with cultivation having started only in 2021.

President Ali has already announced that, in another three years, the industry will see over US$40 million in investments that will help catapult the country into self-sufficiency and aid in realising the Region’s objective of reducing its food import bill by 25% by 2025.

The Government has played a crucial role in supporting the growth of the corn

soya bean in Moco Moco Village, North Rupununi.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also been assessing the capacity in other regions, with the aim of taking the project there in the future.

Guyana has aspirations of being a net exporter of corn and soya by 2025. In the feed industry, Guyana imports close to US$30 million in products annually.

The soya bean is being cultivated by a consortium that includes Guyana Stockfeed Limited, Edun Farms and Bounty Farm Limited. Other investors are Royal Chicken, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture. (G3)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Judiciary’s service delivery must “rise to the occasion” – Chancellor on rising need for justice …7-year strategic plan launched …more specialised courts to be added

By Feona Morrison

T

he Judiciary must adapt to meet the growing demands for justice, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, has said on Tuesday. She made this remark while addressing the opening of the Law Year 2024 and the launch of the Supreme Court of Judicature’s Strategic Plan 2024-2031.

She said the Judiciary is constantly aware of the work that has to be done, and does not take its responsibilities lightly.

“The public whom we serve must be given the best.

We live in a dynamic environment, in a country that is rapidly expanding.”

Justice CummingsEdwards added. “If you look around, you will see investments, you will see expansion, you will see an economic boom, you will see transformation in all spheres of life. What you wouldn’t see, unless we tell you, is that the demand for justice is growing. Our service delivery must therefore rise to the occasion,” she emphasised.

She has urged the public to read, scrutinize, and study the judiciary’s Strategic Plan. She pointed out that the Judiciary’s team is pursuing service excellence by investing in technology, management systems, and human resources in order to keep up with the demands for justice.

She said Guyana has had eight magisterial districts since the establishment of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in 1951. The JSC is a constitutional body tasked with managing matters per-

“If you look around, you will see investments, you will see expansion, you will see an economic boom, you will see transformation in all spheres of life. What you wouldn’t see, unless we tell you, is that the demand for justice is growing…Our service delivery must, therefore, rise to the occasion” – Justice Cummings-Edwards taining to the appointment, discipline, removal, and promotion of judicial officers.

Increase in judicial officers

“Since 1951, Guyana has grown so much that there is the need to expand not only these districts, but the services that we offer in these districts, to better serve the people of Guyana. And in this regard, the [JSC] has increased the complement of magistrates to discharge the business of the courts, and for the expeditious disposal [of matters] and to relieve congestion in the courts,” she detailed.

“So, we now welcome the post of Deputy Chief Magistrate, four additional positions of Principal Magistrate, with one Principal Magistrate being in each district. Georgetown will be having two Principal Magistrates, four additional positions of Senior Magistrate, and 10 additional positions of Magistrate,” she detailed. “(There will be) two additional positions of Commissioner of Title. A Commissioner of Title will be placed in Berbice shortly, and one also will be placed in Essequibo,” she further detailed.

The Chancellor also said the composition of the clerical and administrative staff

of the Magistracy has been increased.

New magisterial district and courts’ expansion

“We have also started work on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor, which falls under the Georgetown Magisterial District, to create a separate magisterial district for the East Bank.

It will soon enjoy its own boundaries and its own jurisdiction. We are working with the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission and other stakeholders, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Guyana Police Force, to demarcate the areas that will comprise this new district, and to have the survey and necessary plans drawn. Upon completion, this will be gazetted and published,” the Chancellor disclosed.

Although other plans exist, this year’s focus will be on the Magistrates’ Courts, which the Chancellor referred to as the “engine room of our justice system.” She pointed out that over 90 percent of all criminal cases are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Courts.

“You would have noticed us turning sod last year for the construction of a number of Magistrates’ Courts

around Guyana. In Anna Regina particularly, on the Essequibo Coast; in Timehri and Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara, I am happy to report that the Central Government has provided the necessary funding for the construction and furnishing of these courts,” she said.

She said that construction of Magistrates’ Courts has commenced at Mahaicony and Cove and John, both on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). They are expected to be completed this year.

Magistrates’ Courts are also slated to be completed this year at Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Mahdia, she said, adding that their openings are slated for the end of the first quarter.

Moreover, she disclosed that the physical expansion of the Court of Appeal of Guyana will be completed shortly, in order to accommodate the increased number of Judges.

The Bill to increase the number of Justices of Appeal to at least nine was passed last April in the National Assembly.

“Our building has been a small one, with just one courtroom. With the extension, we have an additional courtroom, nine chambers for Judges,

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

court registries, vault, and other amenities. So, we will be having two courts now for the hearing of appeals, instead of one. And we propose to have civil and criminal matters being heard simultaneously,” she disclosed.

This year, she said, will see the construction of Magistrates’ Courts at Providence, EBD and at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD). The expansion of the housing drive and new roadways has seen communities being developed along these areas, the Chancellor pointed out. She continued by saying, “We are duty bound to bring justice closer to the people.”

In addition to the citizens’ legal needs and the obligation to uphold the rule of law and

offer access to justice, more specialised courts will be added to the Magistracy.

“We intend this year to develop a Mental Health Court.

We will have Magistrates sitting full-time to do the Coroner’s Inquest, because there has been a huge backlog. Specialised domestic violence and family violence courts will also be in all the magisterial districts. We will extend our Drug Treatment Court to other districts,” Justice Cummings-Edwards revealed.

Staff training

She said that because the legal system is always changing, and necessitates that we be lifelong learners, court staff will continue to receive continuous training this year.

“Everyone will be trained: Magistrates, Judges, clerical and support staff, administrative and IT [information technology],” she promised.

“Cybercrime, human trafficking, artificial intelligence (AI), court technology, family and domestic violence, climate change and environmental law are a few of the topics to be covered in the training and further training, she disclosed.

The responsibility for creating training materials falls with the Judicial Education Institute. (G1)

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prosperity FPSO transitions to background flaring in 39 days …Exxon’s offshore projects now producing combined 550,000 bpd

T

he Prosperity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is producing oil in ExxonMobil’s third project offshore Guyana, has been able to transition to background flaring within 39 days of its start-up, and this is ahead of schedule.

When oil giant ExxonMobil was granted its environmental permit for the Payara project, a 60-day target had been outlined to transition to background flaring. It has turned out that Exxon has since been able to achieve background flaring on this project within just 39 days of its November 14 start-up, well within that 60-day target.

Background flaring is flaring within the legally allowed limit, which is less than one million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

In a statement on Wednesday, Exxon explained that the Payara project has been able to eliminate routine flaring by using gas to power the Prosperity FPSO vessel. The rest of the gas is being reinjected into the reservoir to improve oil recovery and reduce emissions, the company has explained.

“This accomplishment

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge

marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to efficient and environmentally responsible offshore operations.

Like the Liza projects, the Payara project design eliminates routine flaring by using produced gas to power the FPSO and reinjecting the rest of the gas into the reservoir to improve oil recovery, thereby reducing emissions,” the company explained.

The statement also quoted ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge, who said that lessons learned from previous projects were used to accelerate the transition in Payara, even as he reinforced the company’s com-

mitment to continue providing operational excellence.

“Delivering ahead of expectation underscores the value of the lessons learned from our previous projects, which we applied meticulously to Payara’s start-up.

We are committed to delivering results that build on our track record of operational excellence,” Routledge said.

Currently, the combined Payara and Liza Phase One and Two projects are producing over 550,000 barrels of oil per day. Additionally, these projects are expected to reach over 600,000 barrels per day later this year, with the Payara project itself expected to reach 220,000 barrels in the first quarter of 2024.

The Prosperity FPSO

Since 2021, Guyana has received billions of dollars in flaring fines from Exxon following changes to their permit. That year, Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had modified the Environmental Permit for the Liza-1 Development Project to include, among other things, a fee of US$30 per tonne of excess carbon emissions that is flared.

This fee was subsequently increased to US$45 per tonne.

Flaring is a process which sees excess gas being burnt, releasing harmful chemicals into the air.

While start-up flaring is permitted under the permit, transitioning to background flaring is limited to a 60-day window.

In Guyana, flaring has been a contentious issue.

Last year, the High Court had cause to dismiss a case brought by three citizens in which they claimed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke the law when it decided to change

the environmental permit issued for the Liza 1 Petroleum Development Project in relation to flaring.

In responding to the claims, the EPA had maintained that its decision to modify the permit was made because the unmodified Liza 1 permit had only prohibited routine flaring. Recognizing this gap, the EPA said, it decided to modify the permit in order to clearly set out the conditions that would govern flaring that was not routine.

Consequently, the Chief Justice made the following conclusions: That the EPA’s act of issuing the modified environmental permit had not breached the Environmental Protection Act and the Regulations, nor had it been proven that the issuance of the said permit gave rise to, or has given rise to, an additional adverse effect on the environment. That there is nothing in the law that prevents the issuance of a modified environmental permit;

and that in this case, nothing on the facts rendered the issuance of the modified permit unlawful.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), 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.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana, including the Whiptail project, will be online by 2027.

Production has already started on the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects, as well as the third development, Payara. Yellowtail and Uaru, Exxon’s fourth and fifth developments, have already received governmental approval.(G3)

13 Appointments to vacant judicial posts will be made soon – Chancellor assures NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

I

nterviews for vacant positions in the Judiciary and Magistracy have begun at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), according to Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards.

The JSC had released job postings for the open positions at the end of last year. It is the constitutional body tasked with managing matters pertaining to the appointment, discipline, removal, and promotion of judicial officers. The Chancellor sits as Chairman of the Commission.

Speaking recently on the recruitment process, Justice Cummings-Edwards said, “We are pleased to say that, after advertisements, the next step has been interviews. Interviews have been conducted. Interviews are for the position of Magistrates.

Interviews are going on again this month, and you will soon see appointments to various positions.”

For the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Courts in each of the three counties and the Court of Appeal, the JSC is looking to appoint Puisne

Judges, Commissioners of Title (Land Court Judges), and a Deputy Registrar for the High Court in Berbice.

The Commission is also looking to appoint Magistrates for the various Magisterial Districts.

After a six-year hiatus, the members of the JSC took their oaths of office before President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on July 14, 2023. Besides the Chancellor, the other appointed members are: Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh; and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Justice Beasraj Singh Roy. Each member of the JSC will hold office for three years.

The Chancellor expressed that the judiciary is “deeply grateful” to President Ali for reconvening this very important Commission to help the court in the discharge of its functions.

Since the reformation of the JSC, Justice CummingsEdwards said, its members have been tackling the backlog in cases and staff mat-

President Dr Irfaan Ali is flanked by Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira; and Members of the Judicial Service Commission

ters.

“It is obvious that after an absence of the Commission, there would have been lots of outstanding work. The members have been working assiduously to build the secretariat and to create positions for the better functioning of the judiciary,” she explained.

A Puisne Judge shall hold office until he/she attains 65 years, and the ba-

sic salary for this position is $1,425,065 monthly, along with allowance. A Land Court Judge holds office until he/she reaches 55, and is paid $1,167,923 monthly, together with allowances.

A Magistrate shall hold office until he/she attains the age of 55. Salary and benefits include a total basic salary of $880,885 per month plus allowances. The Deputy

Registrar will remain in office until the age of 55. The position’s total base pay is $754,284 a month, and also includes allowances.

Persons appointed will be required to serve a probationary period of at least six months. On satisfactory completion of the period of probation, the appointee will be confirmed.

Reports state that an ad-

ditional advertisement will be made for Appeal Court Judges, of which there are now just three in office, despite the law providing for nine.

Given the small number of judicial officers and the growing workload, there had been rising calls for the JSC to be established prior to its official appointment.

This Commission is responsible for advising the President on the appointment of Judges, with the exception of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice. The JSC’s powers also include the power to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the following offices: Commissioner of Title, Magistrate, Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds and Deputy Registrar of Deeds, and to such offices connected with the courts or for appointment to which legal qualifications are required as may be prescribed by Parliament.

(G1)

2018 Fly Jamaica crash in Guyana

Passengers on board aircraft bound for Toronto reach CA$5M settlement

File photo: The aircraft at CJIA after the crash

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assengers onboard a flight to Toronto that crashed in Guyana in 2018 have agreed to a $5 million settlement after filing a class-action lawsuit against the airline and airplane manufacturer.

Last month, the parties reached a settlement of $5.55 million to be awarded to 84 class-action members, made up of passengers and their families. The settlement sum must still

be approved before it can be disbursed to members.

The hearing for approval is scheduled for Wednesday at Toronto’s Superior Court of Justice. If the sum is approved, individual class-action members can expect to receive $8,000 to $225,000 each, depending on the severity of harm they suffered.

Fly Jamaica Flight OJ256 crashed on Nov. 9, 2018 with 120 passengers

and eight crew members onboard.

Heading for Toronto from Timehri, Guyana, it departed just after 1 a.m.

Those onboard claim it left about 40 minutes late after the crew identified an issue with the aircraft’s front door.

Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, court documents say the pilot informed passengers that the aircraft was returning to

Guyana due to a “hydraulic problem.” According to one passenger affidavit, “nothing further” was communicated regarding the issue and they were not informed of any sort of emergency.

As it attempted to land at the Timehri airport, “the aircraft skidded violently past the end of the runway, through a perimeter fence, and over a sand berm, ripping off its right-hand main landing gear and its righthand engine,” the affidavit reads.

“The passenger cabin went dark and ceiling panels came loose falling on several passengers along with other debris, injuring them,” the document reads.

The passengers, many of whom were crying and screaming, reported a “chaotic” evacuation from the

plane, which at that point had begun to fill with dark smoke, according to the lawsuit.

Many of the 120 people on board suffered injuries and one passenger, an 86-year-old woman, died in the week following the crash.

After disembarking, the passenger claimed it took nearly three hours for medical aid to arrive, during which they were forced to wait on the tarmac in the dark. It wasn’t until eight hours after the crash that they were able to speak to an airline representative and given access to the airport restaurant, the lawsuit claims.

Fly Jamaica Airways ceased operations in 2021 after declaring bankruptcy.

CTV News Toronto reached

out to legal representation for the former airline, along with Boeing, for further comment but did not receive a response from either by publication.

In an affidavit sworn to the court, one passenger said the crash has significantly impacted his quality of life.

“I continue to suffer from neck pain, shoulder pain, right foot pain, lower back pain, PTSD, anxiety, and depression,” he wrote. “My stress and anxiety have impacted my relationship with [my family], as well as my ability to fly or travel.”

Within a few weeks of the crash, two class-action lawsuits were filed against Fly Jamaica, Boeing, and an unidentified aircraft mechanic on behalf of four passengers from the Toronto area. The lawsuits eventually proceeded as a single action. The lawsuit alleged the parties were liable for negligence, that the aircraft was in disrepair when it took off, and that the crew had failed to anticipate and properly declare an emergency. (ctvnews.ca)

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana facing 9 human rights complaints before int’l bodies …many petitions are misrepresentations – Govt …asks IACHR to withdraw Chinese Landing petition

File photo: Chinese Landing

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here are currently nine human rights complaints filed by local organisations against the Guyana Government to international bodies – Government views these as the confidence of these local entities in the reporting system rather than a human rights violation.

Between 1999 and 2015, only four petitions were filed against Guyana at the various international agencies such the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an arm of the Organisation of American States (OAS). On the other hand, none was filed from 2015 to 2020.

During her Ministry’s year-in-review press briefing for 2023 on Wednesday, Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister

Teixeira explained that these nine petitions filed were reflective of the confidence the society has in the complaint mechanisms in place.

“From 2020 to date, we’ve had nine petitions submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the UN CERD by various NGOs (NonGovernment Organisations) in Guyana. I take this as a reflection of the confidence of those organisations to feel that they can have a complaints mechanism that they report to and our obligation as a Member State is to respond and to present our case to those bodies,” she posited.

Of the complaints made against the Guyana Government in the past three years, one is stemming from an issue dating back to 2012 while the other eight have more recent origins.

Misrepresentations While she expects more complaints to be filed by local organisations going forward, the Minister outlined that many of these petitions have misrepresented the facts in the country.

“From a social conscience point of view that if one makes a complaint on your country, you should at least be factual… We found that of the cases being brought, they are not based on facts. They are a misrepresentation and we have to prove that is not so. So, we can’t just say that an organisation has not factually reported. We have to be able to show that they have not,” she noted.

According to the Governance Minister, ensuring that the facts are properly presented is the main priority of the Government in responding to these petitions filed.

“But also in terms of making sure that we present our cases as best as we can. It doesn’t mean that we will win, but it does relate to the importance that we must respond and respond the best way we can with factual information, with evidence, with videos, with recordings, with photographs – hard data to show that what we are saying is correct,” she posited.

Chinese Landing

One such complaint in which the Minister said the facts were misrepresented is the Chinese Landing matter, where the Region One (Barima-Waini) Indigenous community filed a petition for human rights violation over mining rights.

This issue stemmed from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) granting a mining permit, sometime in the 1990s, to a miner/company to operate within the boundaries of the village’s titled land.

However, the Indigenous community had been up in arms over this approval, which they said did not have the consent of the Village Council.

But when the GGMC had taken steps to issue a Cease Work Order (CWO) to the miner/company, the case was taken to the High Court, which had ruled in favour of the miner/company. The High Court decision was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal. However, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – Guyana’s highest court – reversed this in 2017.

Chinese Landing through lobbying bodies subsequently moved internationally to seek human rights intervention.

Consequently, the IACHR in July 2023 issued Resolution 41/2023, through which it granted precautionary measures in favour of members of the Indigenous Carib community of Chinese Landing, who it said are currently at “serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights”.

According to Minister Teixeira on Wednesday, the Guyana Government

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

has since requested a withdrawal of those precautionary measures, but has yet to get a response from the Commission.

“We wrote a letter in December, asking for a response to the issues we raised regarding Chinese Landing, because what we did, we asked for a withdrawal of the precautionary measures as they’re not based on fact and it’s a misrepresentation. So, we asked, formally, to the IACHR to withdraw the petition against Guyana… We have not received a response as yet,” Teixeira stated.

Long time

The IACHR, according to the Governance Minister, had indicated that these matters take a “long time” especially since the body has over 8000 matters filed from 30 odd countries and is operating with limited staff.

In fact, Teixeira pointed out that in relation to another matter before the IACHR, Government had responded in June 2022 and only received a response from the Commission in December 2023. Guyana was given one month to respond and this was done.

She went on to say that Government was yet to heard back from the IACHR on those complaints that responses were given for since 2021. Similar delays, she added, are being faced with regard to petitions before the UN agencies.

Nevertheless, the Governance Minister outlined that they have responded to all nine petitions filed against the country.

However, she noted that the process to respond to these complaints is a tedious one that is being done with limited staff at her Ministry, where there is a core team of five senior members.

On this note, she urged

local organisations to make use of the domestic complaints mechanisms before moving to the international bodies. Among the local bodies available for redress are the various rights commissions, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), and the Service Commissions – Police, Public and Judicial.

She also mentioned the bodies that are not part of the constitutional arrangements such as the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), which is frequently being used by aggrieved members of the public.

“I would hope that the NGOs here would use more the domestic remedies that are available, that they would use the service commissions, the human rights commissions… to bring issues to those bodies,” she stated.

According to Teixeira, Guyana is one of a few countries in the region with the framework to allow redress locally. In the same breath, however, she underscored the need to look at strengthening these domestic bodies in terms of training and capacity building to more effectively deal with complaints.

“There are avenues available to Guyanese, which in some cases are not used as much as I think they should be unlike the Police Complaints Authority, which people use a lot,” the Minister stated.

In addition to the Chinese Landing matter, which was filed by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA), other local bodies that have filed complaints against the Guyana Government are the Guyana Press Association (GPA); the International Decade for People of African Descent-Guyana (IDPADG) and the United Kingdom Forest Producers. (G8)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cops urged to aggressively pursue suspension of licences for reckless drivers

T

he Guyana Police Force is urging its ranks to utilise powers under the law to embark on an aggressive campaign aimed at suspending the licences of drivers of motor vehicles who continue to operate recklessly on the country’s roadways.

This was disclosed by the Force’s Public Relations Officer for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Leon

Licensing (Amendment) Bill to toughen up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them. Among other things, the legislative changes make causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter. The penalty for driving while over the legally allowed limit of alcohol in the blood system has been changed from a

Ferrier, during the televised programme ‘Road Safety and You’.

Ferrier revealed that despite the frequent execution of road-block exercises, the Guyana Police Force is still seeing an increase in speeding, specifically along newly commissioned road networks, highway intersections, and roundabouts. He therefore believes that keeping the licences of errant drivers within Police custody in conjunction with other procedures would aid in promoting safe driving on Guyana’s roadways.

“The Police Force got to be rigid in their campaigns.

They ought to be more aggressive in terms of enforcement…I am agreeing with Sergeant Payne when he said, ‘Take away the licences, pull you off the road and ground you, and those who are found guilty and sentenced must be attending counselling and road safety school or classes’,” Leon Ferrier stated.

Amendments were made to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act as well as the Intoxicating Liquor

$7500 fine to now $200,000, and the sentence from 12 months to 24 months. The penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle has been increased from $30,000 to $60,000 fine and 12 months’ imprisonment to now $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.

A 12-month suspension of licence for persons convicted of DUI offences has also been provided for. Drunk drivers can also face permanent revocation of their licences.

Ferrier, who applauds the efforts Government has been making to update and amend legislation to suit the modern world, called for these penalties to be better enforced. He, additionally, noted that this must be a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and legal institutions.

“This must be a collaborative effort that involves the Judiciary system; the Ministry of Home Affairs, which the Guyana Police Force falls under;

and Guyana National Road Safety Council…I want to emphasize likewise, yes, the fines must be there to hinder arrogant drivers, cause (them to be unable to bear it). Bear in mind, sir - I want to say this finally - that to the gravity of the carelessness, motor manslaughter can be deemed a felony; it’s a crime,” Ferrier stated.

Road fatalities Within the past 72 hours, five persons have died on the roadways. On Monday morning, a couple died and several others were hospitalised after a motor car and a minibus collided at Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Dead are 51-year-old Sarah Wilson of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and her husband Rawle McKenzie.

Reports are that at 05:25h, firefighters and first responders were deployed to the scene in front of the Ruimveldt Police Station, Georgetown. The accident involved two vehicles, a blue Toyota Hiace RZ minibus, BHH 8451, and a Honda Vezel, PAD 2018.

The first vehicle was owned and driven by McKenzie, while the other was owned by Ryan Seecharran of Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara and driven by 29-year-old Pream Seecharran.

Wilson, at the time of the accident, was a passenger in the front seat of the minibus involved in the crash. Other occupants included 31-year-old Javon Bowen of Samatta Point; 58-year-old Lennox Clementson of Guyhoc Gardens; and 56-year-old Jones McKenzie of Grove Housing Scheme.

Investigations revealed that the motor car was proceeding south on the eastern lane of the Ruimveldt Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed. While in the vicinity of ‘Top Point Store’, the driver tried to negotiate a slight bend when the left side front of the vehicle came in contact

with a pile of sand situated on the eastern side of the road, thus causing the vehicle to become uncontrollable and collide with a bridge.

This caused the motor car to flip several times onto the western carriageway before colliding with the front portion of the minibus, which was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the Ruimveldt Public Road. As

same roadway and a motor car was proceeding behind the motor lorry. The car attempted to overtake the lorry, and in the process ended up in the path of the motorcyclist. The resultant collision caused the motorcyclist to further collide with the truck.

Bipta was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other accident, at

Power and Light (GPL), who is also a member of the Cops and Faith Network and is a resident of Lot C, Section A, Alness Village, Corentyne. Motorcycle CM 2728 was owned and driven by Mohamed.

In a release, the Police said the car was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of the Courtland Public Road when, the driver alleges, the motorcycle, which was proceed-

a result, the drivers of both vehicles and the minibus passengers all received injuries to their bodies.

Meanwhile, on Monday evening, three persons lost their lives in two separate accidents in Berbice.

Dead are Ricardo Bipta of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice; Javid Mohammed of Fyrish, Corentyne, and Harrynarine Chattergoon of Toronto, Canada.

On Monday evening, a three-vehicle collision that occurred at Number Nine Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) claimed the life of 25-year-old Bipta of Bath Settlement.

Police in Region Five said Bipta was riding a motorcycle proceeding west on the Number Nine roadway while a truck was proceeding east along the

Courtland on the Corentyne Highway, resulted in the deaths of 35-year-old Mohammed, a barber of Fyrish, Corentyne, and 32-year-old Chattergoon of Toronto, Canada.

Mohammed was the rider of a motorcycle and Chattergoon was the pillion rider. They were reportedly travelling at a fast rate when they ended up in the path of a motor car, resulting in a head-on collision.

Chattergoon, originally from the Corentyne, had returned home three weeks ago, and was expected to return to Canada on Friday. He was staying at Mohammed’s residence.

According to the Police, the crash occurred at about 22:30h and involved motor car PAC 3786, owned and driven by a 47-yearold engineer of the Guyana

ing in the opposite direction at a fast rate of speed, drove into his path and the vehicles collided head-on.

At the time of the crash, neither the motorcyclist nor pillion rider was wearing a helmet, and both sustained severe injuries.

Mohammed was picked up in an unconscious condition and Chattergoon in a conscious condition by the Police, and taken to Port Mourant Public Hospital, where Mohammed was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police said Chattergoon, who received medical attention for trauma to the head and internal bleeding, was self-discharged and went to a private hospital in Berbice for further treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fire destroys Timehri supermarket also affected by the fire.

“Radiated heat from the building of origin caused a quantity of polyvinyl chloride ceiling, a wooden panel door, three sash windows, and some paint work all on the first floor to be destroyed,” the Fire Service said on Wednesday.

Fire prevention officials are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

A

n early-morning fire of unknown origin destroyed a Track 'K' Hyde Park, Timehri supermarket on Wednesday.

Reports are that the fire started about 04:28h.

The scene of the fire on Wednesday

According to the Guyana Fire Service, two water tenders, along with 10 firefighters, from the Timehri Fire Station were dispatched to the scene.

The two-storey wooden

and concrete building, owned

by Rabindra Kalnarine, was completely destroyed.

A two-storey house at the same address, which is also owned by Kalnarine and occupied by his family, was

Car driver busted with $3.5M worth of ganja T he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday seized $3.5 million worth of marijuana following the interception of a motor car at George Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

Inside the motor car, CANU ranks found several bags containing bulky parcels suspected to be the illicit substance.

The suspected narcotic was transported to CANU’s Headquarters, where it tested positive for cannabis, weighing approximately 11.66kg (almost 25.7 lbs).

The driver of the motor car is in custody assisting with the investigations.

The 11.66kg of ganja that was found by CANU

Smuggled liquor, goods seized by CANU, GRA A

joint operation executed by officers of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) resulted in the seizure of a quantity of smuggled items, including alcohol.

The operation was conducted on Tuesday at Number 65 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), during which a vessel was searched.

During this search, several cases of uncustomed alcohol were discovered, a statement from CANU said.

Other contraband items were found, the statement further revealed; however, the nature of these smuggled goods was not disclosed.

The smuggled items were taken to a GRA location for processing as investigations continue.

“CANU continues to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to prevent the trafficking of narcotics and the smuggling of contraband goods,” CANU added in the statement.

Some of the items that were smuggled

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pres Ali to receive prestigious Global Africa Leadership award T he Africa Prosperity Network (APN), headquartered in Ghana, has announced its decision to honour Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, with the prestigious Global Africa Leadership Award later this month.

In a letter dated January 9, APN’s Executive Chairman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko emphasised the award’s significance, particularly in light of Guyana’s remarkable achievement as the world’s fastest-growing economy and its commitment to principles of equity and probity.

& Business Executives Dialogue, set for Saturday, January 27.

This dialogue will bring together leaders from various regions of the African Union (AU) to explore the crucial topic of adding value to African products in the region and beyond.

Distinguished ceremony in Accra, Ghana

The grand ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 26, coinciding with the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards and Presidential Gala Dinner, hosted by the President of Ghana in Accra.

This event is part of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024, a platform dedicated to discussions on Africa’s prosperity and growth.

Keynote address opportunity

In addition to receiving the Global Africa Leadership Award,

Acknowledging transformational leadership

President Dr Irfaan Ali

President Ali has been invited to deliver the keynote address at the Presidential

President Ali’s selection for this prestigious award stems from his transformative leadership since assuming office in 2020.

Notably, his commitment to building a united and inclusive “One

APN’s Executive Chairman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko

Guyana” in a multiracial society has garnered com-

mendation from APN and its partners.

Furthermore, his adept handling of the recent border tensions between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela played a pivotal role in earning this accolade.

Chairman OtchereDarko underscored this by stating, “The award is also in recognition of the strong and principled leadership you have shown during this period of heightened … [tensions] between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region.” (Caribbean National Weekly)

Several indigenous communities to get land titles this year …efforts to clear backlog ongoing – Minister

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

T

he Government will continue to support the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project and this year the Amerindian Affairs Ministry will be pursuing 22 extensions and three first-time titles.

Additionally, in 2024, the Ministry will conduct 39 demarcations in Indigenous communities.

The exercise, which will be executed during the first half of 2024, aims to help the Ministry clear its substantial backlog in the approval and distribution of Amerindian land titles.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, Minister Pauline Sukhai during her Ministry’s end-of-year press

conference.

Sukhai explained to media operatives that clearing the backlog would allow the Ministry to process and approve more new land titles.

This is significant because Guyana has a 10 per cent Indigenous population who have 16.4 per cent of the land mass based on the current census data. But the process of new land titling has been a slow one.

“In the last three years we have moved to re-establishing a functioning unit that is taking seriously the titling of lands for Amerindians and last year we titled six…. and 25,677 Amerindian residents across our country are land secure…an application comes in, but it’s not necessarily that we just sign off on it. We have to go down to the ground and we have to hold consultations with various stakeholders, national institutions, commissions and we have to compile a report with findings and recommendations that will be examined at a technical level,” Sukhai explained.

The six villages that received title last year are Four Miles, Region One (Barima-Waini); Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Capoey Extension, Mashabo Extension, Akawini, and Wakapao in Region Two

(Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Amerindian Land Titling process, being facilitated by the Amerindian Act of 2006, was scheduled to commence in 2013 and end in 2016 under the auspices of the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Development Fund, with funding of $2.2 billion (US$10.7 million) provided from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). However, the project was extended from 2016 to 2018 and subsequently from 2019 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2024.

The project seeks to enable Amerindians to secure their lands and natural resources with a view towards sustainable social and economic development.

2023 achievements

Further, during the press conference, Minister Sukhai announces that the Ministry has expended its full budget sum on the development of the Amerindian people.

She explained that owing to this, Government has achieved all promises listed under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) manifesto for the Amerindian Affairs Ministry within the past three years.

“Within the parameters of our responsibility and

our budget, I believe that we have significantly made quite a lot of interventions that have today seen the village economy and village development and peoples’ livelihood and welfare being more visible,” the Amerindian Affairs Minister explained.

Some of the interventions include an increase in the presidential grants for Indigenous communities, which allow them to establish numerous targeted projects.

Small villages are now receiving one million dollars instead of $450,000 while bigger villages that were receiving close to $1.2 million are now receiving a minimum of $2 million or more.

Additionally, the

Ministry has since resumed the Youth Entrepreneurial and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), now commonly known as the Community Service Officers (CSO) Programme.

Under this programme, the youths have sought training which has since enabled them to take up meaningful roles in their

communities, to aid in their development.

Moreover, on the topic of community support, Sukhai revealed that a total of 250 Indigenous communities received satellites and other forms of relief, such as boats and engines, tractors, and benefited from the construction of shade houses, and training opportunities.

18

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Ecuador’s President Protest at Chile's lithium salt flats snarls roads to SQM, Albemarle says country is at war with drug gangs A

A meeting with the diplomatic corps, led by Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa and Chancellor Gabriela Sommerfeld, is held following a wave of violence around the nation, in Quito, Ecuador, January 10, 2024 (Cancilleria Ecuador via Facebook/Handout via Reuters)

E

cuadorean President Daniel Noboa said on Wednesday his country was "at war" with drug gangs who are holding prison guards hostage, amid a dramatic surge in violence that saw gunmen briefly take over a TV live broadcast and explosions in multiple cities.

Noboa on Tuesday named 22 gangs as terrorist organisations, making them official military targets. The President took power in November pledging to tackle a growing security problem caused by a rise in drug-trafficking gangs transporting cocaine through Ecuador.

"We are at war and we

cannot cede in the face of these terrorist groups," Noboa told radio station Canela Radio on Wednesday.

He estimated that some 20,000 crime gang members are active in Ecuador.

Streets in the capital Quito and port city of Guayaquil were quieter than usual on Wednesday, with many businesses closed or working remotely and schools shuttered.

The hostage-takings of more than 130 prison guards and staff, which began in the early hours of Monday, and the apparent escape of Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias from prison over the weekend spurred

Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency.

He hardened the decree on Tuesday after a series of explosions around the country and the takeover of the TC television station by balaclava-clad gunmen live on air.

Every effort is being made to rescue the prison hostages, Noboa said.

Some 329 persons, mostly members of gangs like Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and Los Tiguerones have been arrested since the state of emergency began, armed forces commander Jaime Vela said at a press conference on Wednesday evening.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina, IMF reach deal to salvage debt programme, unlock key funds

A

rgentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finalised the details of an agreement over the country's embattled US$44 billion loan programme, unlocking a more-than-expected US$4.7 billion, the Fund said on Wednesday.

"Understandings were reached on a strengthened set of policies to restore macroeconomic stability and bring the current programme back on track," the IMF said in a statement.

Argentina, battling annual inflation heading toward 200 per cent and net foreign currency reserves in negative

Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo

territory, needed to revamp its huge IMF deal after the previous Government missed various economic targets linked to the programme.

The new Government of libertarian President Javier Milei had been locked in

talks with IMF officials in Buenos Aires since late last week, aiming to unlock the seventh review of the programme and new funds for debt repayments.

The agreement announced on Wednesday will be brought forward for approval by the IMF's Executive Board "in the coming weeks", the lender said.

Speaking after the deal's announcement, Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo said the agreement did not represent a new deal, but that the IMF expressed openness to a new debt programme and more funding.

(Reuters)

protest by several hundred people in northern Chile on Wednesday blocked access to the Atacama salt flat, the world's largest lithium deposit, where domestic producer SQM and US firm Albemarle extract the metal.

The demonstration, led by local Indigenous groups after an agreement was signed last month between SQM and State-run copper firm Codelco, was affecting SQM operations, said a source with knowledge of the matter.

SQM did not immediately comment.

Albemarle in a state-

ment said its operations "continue as usual", and that it was focused on employee safety.

The protest underscores a serious challenge to a plan by Chile, the number two lithium producer, to impose more State control over the metal needed for batteries used to power the world's growing electric vehicle fleet.

Yermin Basques, head of the Indigenous Toconao community, said local groups were blocking public roads that lead to mining operations in the south of the salt flat, preventing workers, supplies and lithium from entering or leaving.

Basques said Indigenous communities were sidelined in the negotiation between SQM and Codelco, which strengthens State control of lithium in line with the plan announced

by President Gabriel Boric in April.

"For us, there's no conversation. For us, it's just imposed," Basques said in an interview.

About 500 protesters were blocking six different spots on public roads in the south of the salt flat, he said, and were demanding Boric include them in talks between SQM and the Government. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Sandals Executive Chairman inspires future hospitality leaders at FIU Conference

A

dam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, joined a diverse group of hospitality professionals at Florida International University (FIU) where he delivered the keynote address to some 400 students as well as faculty and industry stakeholders during the 29th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Stewart, the head of the only super brand to have ever originated from the Caribbean, captivated the audience as he shared perspectives on hospitality leadership, Sandals’ journey in reframing luxury all-inclusive travel and the exciting future of Caribbean tourism.

The Executive Chairman’s address also explored themes of empowerment through the Sandals Corporate University, the impact of the Sandals Foundation across the Region and also touched on the value of vision and ideas of courage in the face of risk.

“My job every day is that we want to share the best of the four corners of the Caribbean with the world.

Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart (right) and Dr Michael Cheng, Dean at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University

We’ve not only elevated the all-inclusive concept, but also debunked myths about the potential of our Region. The all-inclusive segment, spearheaded by us, is thriving and transforming the leisure industry.”

He further elaborated on how the industry is contributing to the growth and transformation of people and the Caribbean, “It is important to highlight that while we have

the capability to innovate the all-inclusive experience and enhance the tourism industry with an exceptional product, our primary focus remains on making a genuine community impact. This commitment to people goes beyond business, this aligns with the core values of Sandals and Beaches.

We don’t just build resorts; we are creating change….”

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

T&T family lawyers: Check gun owners accused of domestic violence

A

ll firearm user's licence (FUL) holders against whom domestic violence allegations have been made should be investigated, the Trinidad and Tobago Family Law Association (TTFLA) has recommended.

The Association made the recommendation in a state-

ment on January 10.

The Association is led by a committee comprising Senior Counsel LesleyAnn Lucky-Samaroo, Law Association President Lynette Seebaran-Suite and five other Attorneys.

“The TTFLA strongly recommends that all persons against whom allegations of

domestic violence are made ought to be investigated to determine if they have a licensed firearm or any firearm in their possession," they said, and if so, the gun should be surrendered immediately as a precondition to applying for bail.

The Association referred to the recent killing of a

woman and her mother, allegedly by the former domestic partner of one of the women.

It also recommended that any member of the protective services against whom domestic violence allegations have been made, when appearing in court, should have their superior officer

present at the hearing, and the court to direct that they should be prohibited from access to firearms at their workplaces.

“While the TTFLA accepts that judicial officers before whom domestic violence matters are heard have some training, it is recommended that all Justices of

the Peace who are permitted to grant bail before afforded special training to deal with persons accused under the Domestic Violence Act under the auspices of the Office of the Attorney General and in which training the TTFLA would be prepared to assist.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

19

Around The World

Despair in Gaza as fighting intensifies OILNEWS OIL NEWS despite Israel promise to scale back war

Oil prices fall 1% after surprise US storage build

O

il prices fell nearly a dollar a barrel on Wednesday after a surprise jump in US crude stockpiles raised worries about demand in the largest oil market.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 87 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to US$71.37 a barrel. Global benchmark Brent crude oil futures settled 79 cents, or on per cent, to US$76.80 a barrel.

Prices had gained more than one per cent early in the session, but reversed course after the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a surprise build in crude oil stockpiles and larger-than-expected jumps in storage of gasoline and distillate "Today's EIA report highlights investor concerns of slowing demand growth," said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at US Bank Asset Management.

US crude inventories rose by 1.3 million barrels in the week ended January 5 to 432.4 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 700,000-barrel drop. Gasoline stocks rose by eight million barrels while distillate stocks jumped by 6.5 million barrels, the EIA reported.

"Part of the explanation is weaker crude and refined product exports resulting in higher US builds, so that is something to watch in my view, how foreign demand evolves," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Europe's weak economic outlook added to oil demand concerns. The eurozone may have been in recession last quarter and prospects remain weak, European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said on Wednesday.

Limiting some losses, investors remained worried about potential oil supply disruptions in the Middle East during the Israel-Hamas war.

The White House said attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants in the Red Sea were "escalatory" and the US will consult with its partners about next steps if they continue.

"Today's market reaction indicate traders are actively balancing the potential impact of growing geopolitical risk and slowing economic growth on commodity prices," said Thomas Wash, market strategist at Missouri-based Confluence Investment Management. (Reuters)

I

sraeli strikes in southern and central Gaza intensified on Wednesday despite a pledge by Israel that it would pull out some troops and shift to a more targeted campaign, and pleading from its ally Washington to reduce civilian casualties.

In the latest sign of the three-month-old war spreading, US and British warships in the Red Sea fended off the biggest attack yet from Yemen's Houthi movement, which says it is acting to support Gaza. Washington and London said they shot down 21 drones and missiles aimed at shipping lanes. No one was hurt.

Israel had said this week it was planning to begin drawing down troops,

at least from the northern part of Gaza, after weeks of US pressure to scale down its operations and shift to what Washington says should be a more targeted campaign.

But the fighting appears to be as intense as ever, especially in the southern and central areas where Israeli forces launched ground advances last month.

The World Health Organisation cancelled a planned medical aid mission to Gaza due to security concerns, the sixth such cancellation in two weeks.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said four of its staffers were killed when their ambulance was hit by an Israeli strike on the main road near Deir al-Balah, in the central

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, January 10, 2024 (Reuters/Mohammed Al-Masri photo)

Gaza Strip. Two passengers in the ambulance were wounded and later died.

Israel has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza since launching its campaign to eradicate

the Hamas militant group that runs the enclave, after Hamas fighters killed 1200 Israelis and captured 240 hostages in a rampage on October 7. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SEC approves bitcoin ETFs in watershed for crypto market

T

he US securities regulator on Wednesday approved the first U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) to track bitcoin, its Chair Gary Gensler said, in a watershed for the world's largest cryptocurrency and the broader crypto industry.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 applications, including from BlackRock, Ark Investments/21Shares), Fidelity, Invesco and VanEck, among others, according to a notice on its website. Some products are

expected to begin trading as early as today, kicking off a fierce competition for mar-

ket share.

The products – a decade in the making – are a

game-changer for bitcoin, offering institutional and retail investors exposure to the world's largest cryptocurrency without directly holding it, and a major boost for a crypto industry beset by a string of scandals.

Standard Chartered analysts this week said the ETFs could draw US$50 billion to US$100 billion this year alone, potentially driving the price of bitcoin as high as US$100,000. Other analysts have said inflows will be closer to US$55 billion over five years.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US, UK forces repel Somalia conflict: UN helicopter largest attack by and passengers seized by al-Shabab Houthis in Red Sea

U

S and British naval forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday towards the southern Red Sea, the United States said, with Britain hinting at further measures to protect international shipping lanes.

British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said it was the largest attack in the area by the militants to date as the threemonth-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza spills over into other parts of the Middle East.

"This is an unsustainable situation," Shapps told reporters, adding "watch this space" with regard to further possible action by Britain and its international partners.

"This cannot continue

and cannot be allowed to continue."

US Central Command said no injuries nor damage were reported, adding that this was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November 19.

Later in the day, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the Iranian-backed militants fired a large number of ballistic and naval missiles and drones at a US ship that was "providing support" to Israel.

In a televised speech, Saree did not say when the Houthi strike had occurred or what damage, if any, the vessel had suffered, but that the operation was a "preliminary response" to a previous US attack that killed 10 Houthi fighters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T

he Somali armed Islamist group alShabab has seized a United Nations helicopter, along with about eight persons, both passengers and crew, local sources have told the BBC. The helicopter landed in territory held by the group in central Somalia.

The UN's mission in Somalia (Unsom) confirmed an "aviation incident" involving a UNcontracted helicopter conducting a medical evacuation.

It did not mention alShabab, but said "response efforts are under way".

A UN memo on the incident seen by AFP news agency says the helicopter crash-landed about 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of Dhusamareb and no UN staff were on board. The personnel were

Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for almost two decades

third-party contractors, the report said.

The nationalities of those on board have not been specified, nor the exact number involved.

Al-Shabab controls large parts of southern

and central Somalia.

The group is affiliated to al-Qaeda and has waged a brutal insurgency for nearly 20 years.

The seizure of the helicopter was confirmed to the BBC by Galmudug re-

gion Security Minister Mohamed Abdi Adan.

Several foreigners and two locals were on the helicopter, Somali military official Major Hassan Ali told Reuters news agency.

"It was also carrying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galgudud region," he was quoted as saying.

The helicopter was heading to Wisil town near the frontlines of an offensive against al-Shabab by government forces when it landed.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) posted on social media on Wednesday night that the aircraft was "not a WFP or UN Humanitarian Air Service craft and no WFP personnel were aboard".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Keep your records and documents in order. Don't expect things to run smoothly and be ready to counter any negativity that comes your way. Don't let someone unjustly blame you.

(March 21-April 19) Put your money, personal papers and possessions in a safe place. Be a good listener and a helpful associate, but don't take the blame for someone else's shortcomings.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Take a long, hard look at the past, present and future. Refuse to let emotions taint your perspective. Look at the fine print to verify plans, promises and the accuracy of information.

(May 21-June 20) Seeing is believing. Show what you have to offer, and you'll receive interest and helpful suggestions. Let your imagination guide you, and you'll figure out how to fine-tune your plan.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Work the room. Stick to the truth, and you'll avoid wasting time on damage control. Listen to and compliment others more often. Build trust and valuable friendships.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Be open to suggestions, but verify information before incorporating it into your plans. An opportunity to learn something new or to make connections through travel or networking will arise.

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

Don't count on anyone or anything.

Make your way forward using experience and skills. Lean toward simple decisions that enhance what you are trying to do and keep you within budget.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Follow through with your plans, regardless of what others do or say. Avoid joint ventures or giving up your goals for someone else's dream. Pay attention to what's happening around you.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Listen, dissect what you hear and walk away from dubious or unhelpful situations. A practical approach will guard against financial loss and help you maintain your reputation.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Take time to rearrange your space to ensure maximum efficiency. Be creative but not extravagant, and make every move count. Set an example for others and offer support, encouragement and a smile.

Keep your eye on subscriptions, needed updates and institutional matters. Don't leave someone else in charge when money or reputation is at stake.

Talk to experts.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Contracts, financial ventures and better money management will lead to a stable future. Your insight and willingness to handle matters yourself will prove valuable.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

21

BCB/Dr Amarnauth Dukhi 50 over U15 tournament…

RHT Farfan and Mendes Ltd remains unbeaten …Matthew Pereira hits 2nd century

R

ose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15 team remains on course to win another Berbice Cricket Board title as it continues its unbeaten run in the 2024 Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi Under-15 tournament.

The team has, to date, won all of its five matches in the preliminary rounds. It first defeated Upper Corentyne, then Whim, then easily got past archrivals Albion, then Kildonan, then Kennard Memorial. Its final match before the quarterfinal round is against Port Mourant.

The Rose Hall Town Area H ground is currently undergoing rehabilitation work on its outfield, and this team was forced to play all of its matches away from home. In-form opening batsman Matthew Periera, nephew of former national and 19 captain Shaun Pereira, scored his 2nd century of the tournament when he struck 116 versus Kildonan, following his unbeaten 101 against Upper Corentyne.

Akash Sookhlall and Munesh Rampersaud also struck half centuries, while Komalchan Ramnarace, Akash Sookhlall Leon Reddy and Rafael McKenzie all enjoyed success with the ball.

Sohil Mohammed

At the Port Mourant ground, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes defeated Albion by 6 wickets. Albion batted first and was bowled out for 84 in 30 overs. Tamesh Seenauth and Farhan Bali, each with 16, were the top-scorers. Off spinner Akash Sookhlall took 3 for 26 from 8 overs, Komalchan Ramnarace took 4 for 27 from 8 overs, and Dinesh Singh took 2 for 7 from 6 overs.

In reply Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes reached 85 for 4 in 22.1 overs, with Sohil Mohammed finishing on 25 not out while Matthew Pereira scored 20 and Munesh Rampersaud scored 15. Left arm spinner R. Singh took

Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes U15 team

2 for 9 for Albion in a losing cause.

At the Kildonan ground on Thursday, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes defeated the home team by 248 runs.

RHT amassed 290 for 2 from 45 overs after the match was reduced due to a late start.

Matthew Pereira struck 9 delightful boundaries in his 116,

Sabonis records triple-double in Kings' win D

omantas Sabonis notched his ninth triple-double of the season, with 37 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 131110 win over the lowly Detroit Pistons.

Sabonis shot 16 of 21 from the field, made his only 3-point attempt, and was 4 of 4 from the free throw line. He moves within two triple-doubles of Denver’s Nikola Jokic for the league lead.

Keegan Murray scored 32 points on 13-of-17 shooting and De’Aaron Fox added 26 for the Kings, winners of five of seven.

Bojan Bogdanovic led Detroit with 26 points as the Pistons dropped their fifth in a row since ending their NBArecord 28-game losing streak.

Sacramento trailed by 20 points in the first quarter, led by 15 in the second, were tied in the third, and then pulled away with a 9-0 run in the fourth.

Anunoby helps Knicks stay hot

OG Anunoby scored 23 points and Julius Randle added 20 with eight assists and seven rebounds as the New York Knicks won their fifth

Rafael McKenzie took 3 for 8. Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes in response raced to 64 for 2 off 5.3 overs, with national player Sohil Mohammed top scoring with an even 50.

Rafael McKenzie with 6 and Balraj Narine with 2 were the unbeaten batsmen at the crease when victory was

Domantas Sabonis

in a row, 112-84 over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Anunoby scored 16 points in the first quarter to help the Knicks open a 19-point lead.

He shot 6 of 7 from the floor – 4 of 5 from 3-point range – and might have approached his season high of 29 points, but the starters played sparingly in the second half.

New York is unbeaten since acquiring Anunoby from Toronto on Dec. 30.

Quentin Grimes had 17 points and Miles McBride had 16 as the Knicks moved a half-game ahead of Miami, Orlando, Indiana and Cleveland for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Davis shines in Lakers’ win

Anthony Davis scored 20

of his season-high 41 points in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors 132-131.

Davis was 13 of 17 from the field and 13 of 14 from the free throw line, while adding 11 rebounds and six assists.

He made all eight free throw attempts in the final minute as the Lakers held on despite late 3-pointers by Toronto’s Dennis Schröder and Gary Trent Jr. LeBron James had 22 points and 12 assists to help the Lakers win their second straight after a four-game skid.

Scottie Barnes scored 26 points, and RJ Barrett added 23 with 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who had won three of four. (Sportsmax)

while Munesh Rampersaud struck 50 and Akash Sookhlall was unbeaten on 54.

Kildonan, in reply, was bundle out for 42 in 15 overs, as national under-13 pacer Rafael McKenzie took 2 for 13, Leon Reddy took 3 for 13, and skipper Komalchan Ramnarace took 5 for 8.

Batting first at the

Kennard Memorial ground, the home team was bowled out for 60 in 15 overs, as the Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes bowlers continued their good work. Only Devon Hart with 11 reached double figures.

Komalchan Ramnarace claimed 3 for 6, Akash Sookhlall took 3 for 15, and

Matthew Pereira

achieved.

Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Limited is the only unbeaten team in Zone C of the Dr Amarnauth Dukhi countywide tournament. This team, along with Albion, is expected to reach the quarterfinals from the Zone.

Warner expected to play Windies T20Is over ILT20

A

ustralia's Chairman of Selectors George Bailey expects David Warner will be available to play in three T20Is against West Indies in February, despite the series clashing with the ILT20 tournament, where he is contracted to captain Dubai Capitals.

Warner has retired from Test and ODI cricket for Australia, but is committed to playing in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and US during June.

Warner is planning to play in the ILT20 which begins on January 19, just after the home and away portion of the BBL has concluded, with his side Sydney Thunder set to miss finals which avoids a schedule clash. The tournament runs until February 17, but the three T20Is against West Indies start on February 9 and finish on February 13.

It was thought that Warner would miss those matches in order to play in the entire ILT20 despite still holding a Cricket Australia contract, and that he would return for the following series against New Zealand in New Zealand that starts on February 21.

Bailey said Warner is set to be selected for the West Indies series, and will be expected to play. "He'll be part of those T20 matches at the back end of the summer and in New Zealand as well," he said.

Bailey confirmed that CA contracted players, which Warner will be until the end of June, are expected to play for Australia when selected, and won't be granted NOCs to play in other leagues at the same time.

"I think that's the same with all our Australian contracted players. If they're going to be selected in a squad, then they're available," Bailey said. "If they're not, then it depends on

what sort of domestic cricket responsibilities they have. So, I think [Warner] had flagged that as potentially one of the reasons why he has made the decision to retire from one-day cricket, but we're still really excited about what he can provide for that T20 team, and hoping he can add one more major trophy to his cabinet."

Bailey and CA's head of national teams, Ben Oliver, are charged with making decisions on which players are granted NOCs, and have been consistent in their policy of treating each individual case differently.

Australian T20I-only players who are not centrally contracted, like Matthew Wade and Tim David, have been allowed to miss international series in recent times to fulfill franchise contracts that they would potentially lose if they played international cricket. The exceptions were made because they would not receive the same remuneration, except for match fees from CA.David has previously skipped an opportunity to play T20Is for Australia in 2022 in order to play in the PSL, while Wade was initially rested from Australia's T20I series in South Africa last year so he could play a full season in the Hundred, although he was flown in at the last minute as cover after Glenn Maxwell was injured.

Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis were both cleared to go to the ILT20 last year despite being CA-contracted players, but they were only set to miss a small number of domestic List A games for their state sides while they were away.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said last month that Australia's selectors had to be more flexible with their players, given the schedule was so cramped. (ESPNCricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

Horse racing action continues on January 28 at Rising Sun – horse-racing creating employment for an increasing population T

he second horse race meet for 2024 is set for Sunday January 28 at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC). It is a seven-race card which will be promoted by RSTC promoter Fazal Habibulla.

According to organizers, the new racing season should have an average of one race day each month. This has been fasttracked as there is now two race days in the month of January. Therefore, the amount of race days could increase.

The outspoken 'Uncle Faz' reported, "All the promoters are focusing on satisfying the request of owners of Guyana-bred horses.

Fazal Habibulla

Horse-racing action will continue on January 28

They are the mainstay of the industry. We have some

challenges coming, as word is out that rules and regu-

BCB/Faizal Jafferally T/20 Tournament…

Cotton Tree CC claims championship with one-wicket win

lations to govern the sport should become law soon. We are trying our best to get everybody on the same page for this transition."

Uncle Faz continued, "The organizers of horse racing got together and announced a 12-day racing programme this year. It

could probably have more race days, if the weather permits. We have an increasing racing population. More horses have been bought, and will be entering the country this month or very early next month. This is a very big boost for the industry, as it creates more employment.

"The clamour by owners to increase purses for Guyana-bred horses has been answered by as much as 50%. My race card caters for very competitive racing.

Former CWI selectors Browne, Browne, Baptiste yet to be fully paid

… further legal action being pursued

N

ational U15 player Arif Khan held his nerves in check to lead his team to victory in the 2023 Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/ Faizal Jafferally T/20 tournament played at the Cotton Tree ground. Requiring four runs from the last ball of the innings with the last pair at the crease, a confident Khan struck Sheldon Ramsay over midwicket for a huge six, to spark wild celebrations by his team mates.

The victory cements Cotton Tree’s rise to the top of second division cricket in West Berbice, after they recently won the BCB/Jumbo Jet $1M dollar tournament.

The two teams met with the sponsor, former Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall, before the start of play in the presence of BCB Vice-President David Black and Competitions Chairman Leslie Solomon.

Achievers CC won the toss and decided to take first strike in hot and sunny conditions.

They lost Sheldon Ramsay for naught in the second over, when he was caught off the bowling of Pooran Persaud and the score was 4 for 1.

Nichel Fraser and Leon Andrews added 31 in four overs, before Fraser was dismissed by Roshan Gaffur for 11. Andrew batted well to top score with a brilliant 66 off 51 balls, which included two fours and six massive sixes. The other batsmen to be dismissed were Agende Rogers (36), Andrew Dutchin (01), Titus Webster (00), Odel Miller (00), Darius Nedd (03) and Samuel (00). Saul (1 not out) and Nedd were at the crease when the allotted 20 overs were used up, with

Needing to score seven in the final over, being bowled

by Ramsay, the result was cemented off the final ball with a six by Khan.

Bowling well for Achievers were Leon Andrews with 3 for 22 from 4 overs, and Andrew Dutchin with 2 for 16. Arif Khan and Waqar Hassain

MP Faizal Jafferally handing over the trophy to Cotton Tree Captain Roshan Gaffur

for the home team.

Needing to score 141 from 20 overs to lift another BCB second division title, Cotton Tree lost the experienced Nick Ramsaroop, brilliantly caught off the bowling of Andrew Dutchin for 01, when the score was at 23 for 1 in the third over. Rashad Gaffur and Pooran Persaud then took the score to 79 without any problem, before Gaffur threw his wicket away in swinging across the line to Dennis Webster. He was bowled for a top score of 31, which included three fours and a six.

Cotton tree then suffered a slump as they fell to 106 for 6 in the 17th over. Brothers Roshan and Nashad Gaffur then added a quick 29 in two overs before Roshan was run out for 12, and then Nichel Fraser bowled Nashad for 19 off consecutive balls in the 19th over.

were named “men of the finals” while the runner-up and champion received trophies and cash prizes.

BCB President Dr Cecil Beharry and former president Hilbert Foster both congratulated the teams on playing a final of the highest standard.

Foster announced that he had given in to a passionate plea from his successor for him to continue serving Berbice cricket in an advisory position for the next two years.

Sponsor Faizal Jafferally stated that he was pleased that Foster had agreed to continue serving Berbice cricket, and as such he was delighted to renew his sponsorship of the tournament for another year, along with the Jafferally MP Trust Fund.

The member of Parliament also handed a bag of gear to the winner.

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The winning Cotton Tree Team

Achievers reaching a total of 140 for 9. Bowling for Cotton Tree, veteran left arm spinner Waqar Hussain took 4 for 28 from four overs. Arif Khan took 1 for 27, Pooran Persaud took 1 for 19, Roshan Gaffur took 1 for 25, and Nashad Gaffur took 1 for 40. They were the successful bowlers

The feature event will be an 1,100-metre E & Lower event. The card also caters for Guyana-bred threeyear-olds and Guyana-bred horses in the lower class.

“This race day is a preview of what is to come on Mashramani Day, on 25th February also at Rising Sun. Come out and support an industry that caters for employment of over 1,000 people direct and indirect," Habibulla urged.

The opening day of the 2024 season was held on New Year's Day with a seven-race card.

Courtney Browne (left) and Eldine Baptiste

aving moved to settle their legal dispute with former selectors Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste, Cricket West Indies (CWI) is yet to fulfil its payment obligations to both men, and as such, could be headed back to court.

This latest development was revealed by cricket commentator and broadcaster Andrew Mason, who, during his recent Mason and Guest show, disclosed that Browne, Baptiste and their lawyers are back in the industrial courts of Antigua and Barbuda, hoping to enforce an order against CWI. The two former West Indies players received letters of termination on April 10, 2019, shortly after Ricky Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow won the Cricket West Indies presidential elections in March that year. The termination letters made reference to a task force that was being established to review the selection system.

The task force that was chaired by Shallow – now the CWI president – was expected to make recommendations.

Notwithstanding that the task force had not yet met, CWI fired the selectors ahead of any recommendations that would have come from the task force. The matter has been before the courts for the past four years, with CWI now seemingly backtracking on its decision to settle and pay all legal costs and 15

months’ payment of the contract to Browne and Baptiste.

Top lawyer Anthony Astaphan, who is working on behalf of Browne and Baptiste, gave the latest on the situation.

“No, the matter with Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptist has not been fully settled. There were negotiations between the parties, attended by counsel, not me; Mr. West appeared on behalf of Mr. Browne and Mr. Baptiste. I couldn't make it, and I think the President of Cricket West Indies was either present or participated, and an agreement was arrived at to pay Eldine and Courtney a specific sum,” Astaphan, who was Mason’s guest, shared.

“That agreement on the sums was crystallized into a consent order or an order of the industrial court. Some sums were in fact paid, but the full amount was not paid, as a result of which correspondence was sent over to Cricket West Indies.

“I don't believe there was a response, or at least a constructive response. So, Mr. West is in the process now of registering the order of the industrial court in the High Court for the purpose of having to enforce the order against Cricket West Indies by whatever means he may think the most expedient, including executing on the assets of Cricket West Indies,” he added. (Sportsmax)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

23

Monedderlust Coach discusses team’s win over Slingerz FC

T

he Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground was treated to an exhilarating matchup on Sunday night, when Berbice Football Association’s (BFA) Monedderlust Football Club needled West Demerara Football Association’s (WDFA) Slingerz FC to pull off a stunning win in the Elite League Promotional Playoff final.

The highly-talked-about 1-0 win for Monedderlust came as a shock to some, as Slingerz went into the tournament as favourites. However, for the Berbice-based team, their confidence lay in crafting the perfect plan to counter their opponents and seeking a year-old revenge, as told by Coach Jamal Johnson.

“Me and the guys, we’ve been planning this for a long time. We’re here at the finals, we went out there with a team

Monedderlust Coach Jamal Johnson plan, we know how Slingerz does play, so we had everything prepared,” he said.

“Everything was according to plan, the guys did very well, and it was a great game,” the Monedderlust Coach related to this publication.

Overcome by emotions, Johnson added, “Right now I’m kind of speechless. I just

Monedderlust FC celebrating their win

want to celebrate with my guys, but it was a big win.

Slingerz beat we 2-0 early last year, so this was a rematch that we waiting for like a year now. So, is a lick that they due for.”

Without giving away too

much, Johnson went on to detail aspects of the plan his team had for Slingerz.

“The key was basically to shut down the play very fast; don’t give them enough chance to build up no kind of possession of the football. And

Football community realizes young goalie’s Christmas wish

O

n Christmas Day 2023, Guyana Times Sport shared the inspiring story of young Clive ‘Edu’ Jacobs, an 11-year-old goalkeeper who one day hopes to man the nets for Guyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars.

Edu got a foretaste of what that success could be like after winning the Petra-organised Under-11 Schools’ Football competition with his school team St. Pius Primary, although

Academic Foundation Principal Henry Chase, Junior Forrester, Dwaine Moses and others, Edu was presented with all the items he wished for, in addition to several accessories for his new bicycle, like a helmet, lights and lock, etc.

On each occasion, the Grade Six student was all smiles, and overflowed with gratitude to those who assisted.

“I feel glad! Glad!

Glad!” the beaming youngster shared with this pub-

Clive ‘Edu’ Jacobs (C) being presented with a brand-new bicycle and accessories by Dwaine Moses (L) and Junior Forrester

once we break down the play, we got good runners (who) could able to move forward on the wing and have a quick counter. So, everything went according to plan.”

Having previously competed in the Elite League and being relegated after the 2016/2017 season, Johnson, who told Guyana Times Sport about the team’s eagerness to re-enter the league weeks ago, described it as their redemption.

“Yes! This will be redemption! In the initial stage of the draw, we met before, and I told you the type of confidence that Monedderlust would be coming into this tournament with; and here you see the results, right? Me and the guys, we went preparing, there was no slack time. I mean, after now I could catch some rest, but we went really hard at training, preparing for this moment,” the proud Coach said.

He went on to add, “The guys deserve to be champions at this level; because, individually, all the guys get great personal skills, they just need somebody to guide them,

which I did. I was there, guide them, render the little assistance that they would need to better themselves.”

Turning his attention to the upcoming Sixth Season of the Elite League, Johnson revealed that planning for the opposition would also be important for the journey ahead.

“For the League competition coming up in February, we will be doing some special preparation for this League; because I know the teams in the League, and I will be planning ahead for these teams.”

He further explained, “Planning happens at every stage, you just don’t plan now and relax and thing.

You keep planning at every stage. Planning is the key to a smooth process. So, we always plan, me and the guys, we pinpoint key persons who we want to take out in which game to slow the opponent approach. So, that was exactly some of the things that happen tonight.”

The Elite League will reportedly begin in February 2024. For now, focus will shift to the Slingerz FC vs Victoria Kings FC eliminator match on Sunday, January 14, from 19:30hrs; that will determine the 10th team in the upcoming season.

Also on Sunday, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women’s Team will take on the Potaro Strikers Women from 17:00hrs, in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s League Division 1 tournament. Both games will be contested at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

(Jemima Holmes)

Three half-centuries for West Indies as Australia warm-up begins

W

est Indies' batting frailties were exposed after stumbling against an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide. One week out from the first Test against Australia, the tourists' batters made several starts, but all failed to go on with it on a dry Karen Rolton wicket.

Made up entirely of players without a Big Bash

Clive ‘Edu’ Jacobs displaying his new goalkeeping gloves

they had missed out in the final in 2022. That win left Edu even hungrier for success, but he lacked the tools that would help him perfect his craft.

The youngster told this medium that his Christmas wish-list included a pair of goalkeeping gloves, a pair of football cleats, and a bicycle that he would use to ride to training, instead of the usual walk he makes from East Ruimveldt to Tucville in the afternoons.

After hearing Edu’s moving story, several members of the local football fraternity banded together to ensure the youngster gets the necessary tools to continue pursuing his dreams. With advocacy and contributions from the likes of Chase’s

lication after receiving the final piece, a bicycle, on Sunday last.

Quizzed about what the items can do for his budding football career, Edu shared, “Like this gon get me far! Make me go far!”

Additionally, Edu, who has his heart set on attending Chase’s Academic Foundation for their vibrant football programme, has been given a charge by the headmaster as he prepares to sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in a few months’ time.

As such, the youngster related that he would be doing his best to balance the books and the ball in order to secure a scholarship at the Georgetown institution. (Jemima Holmes)

Kavem Hodge raising his bat League contract, the CA XI attack did not feature any players with Test experience for the three-day match;

yet West Australian Liam Haskett took 3 for 57, while rising New South Wales talent Jack Nisbet finished with 2 for 50 and Victorian spinner Doug Warren claimed 2 for 47. Between them, these three bowlers have played a total of nine first-class matches.

There were some positive signs for West Indies, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite showing fight with his 52, after impressing in Australia last summer. Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves also did their hopes of a Test debut no harm, scoring 52 and 62 respectively.

But there were also concerns for the tourists. Toporder batters Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanaze were both bounced out in dismissals that will no doubt catch the attention of Australia's quicks.

Equally worrying was Brathwaite's dismissal. He was caught trying to paddle-sweep Warren in a half-hearted shot that capped a collapse of 3 for 3.

Another collapse of 4 for 8 came late in the day, around the second new ball, after Hodge and Greaves had got the tourists to 223 for 4.

There are genuine concerns over the form of the once-proud team from the Caribbean, who are headed into the two-Test series. They

Kraigg Braithwaite notched a half-century will field at least three debutants in next Wednesday's first Test in Adelaide, with seven uncapped players in their 15-man squad.

Former captain Jason Holder opted out of the tour before it began, in order to play in the ILT20, while all-

rounder Kyle Mayers is playing in the IPL-backed SA20 for Durban.

West Indies were beaten convincingly in two Tests in Australia last summer, with only five players from that tour returning.

(ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD West Indians 1st Innings BATTING R Kraigg Brathwaite (c) c Wyllie b Warren 52 Tagenarine Chanderpaul c †Matthias b Hope 17 Kirk McKenzie c Conway b Nisbet 23 Alick Athanaze c †Matthias b Haskett 0 Kavem Hodge b Warren 52 Justin Greaves b Haskett 65 Joshua Da Silva † c Scott b Nisbet 4 Alzarri Joseph c Handscomb b Haskett 0 Kevin Sinclair not out 12 Gudakesh Motie not out 8 Extras (b 4, lb 4, nb 3, w 7) 18 TOTAL 90 Ov (RR: 2.78)251/8 Yet to bat: Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, Akeem Jordan, Tevin

Imlach, Zachary McCaskie Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 20.6 ov), 2-100 (Kirk McKenzie, 37.5 ov), 3-103 (Alick Athanaze, 40.2 ov), 4-103 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 41.3 ov), 5-223 (Kavem Hodge, 79.2 ov), 6-227 (Justin Greaves, 80.5 ov), 7-231 (Alzarri Joseph, 84.1 ov), 8-231 (Joshua Da Silva, 85.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Harry Conway 15-6-27-0 Jack Nisbet 18-6-50-2 Liam Haskett 18-5-57-3 Liam Scott 11-5-27-0 Bradley Hope 7-3-25-1 Doug Warren 20-5-47-2 Tim Ward 1-0-10-0

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

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