Guyana Times - Thursday, January 16, 2025

identified

tackle squatting crisis along Linden-Soesdyke Highway

Lusignan residents brave gunfire to capture armed suspects

...shotgun,

pistol recovered at scene

After an intense pursuit involving gunfire, residents of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) reportedly thwarted an apparent criminal operation in the early hours of January 15, 2025.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the community’s bravery led to the capture of two armed suspects, described as being in the process of committing a felony.

The residents and Police

recovered two of the suspects’ firearms at the scene, however, it was noted that their accomplices fled on two motorcycles.

The Police report revealed that the incident began at approximately 21:17h on January 14, when a 35-year-old contractor observed a suspicious white station wagon parked near his Annandale, ECD workshop. Sensing potential danger, he warned his workers and remained vigilant.

Moments later, three armed men exited the vehicle and approached the workshop. However, upon spotting the workers, the

suspects retreated and fled at high speed.

The following day, January 15, around 00:10h, the contractor noticed four men on two motorcycles circling the village. The men appeared to be armed, prompting the contractor to alert his neighbours.

Rallying together, the residents decided to pursue the suspects.

In the statement provided by the GPF, it was disclosed that “during the chase, one of the armed men fired at the contractor's vehicle, damaging its right front wheel”.

Undeterred, the villagers pressed on. In the ensuing chase, one of the suspects, who was a pillion rider, fell from one of the motorcy-

cles and was apprehended. Shortly after, the other pillion rider fell from the second motorcycle.

The remaining suspects fled the scene.

At approximately 00:19h, detectives along with the Anti-Crime Patrol and crime scene ranks, responded to the incident.

The residents recovered two firearms at the scene –a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22 Beretta pistol with a partially-defaced serial number. The firearms were examined, secured in firearm boxes, sealed, and lodged for analysis.

Also recovered at the scene were eight suspected 9mm spent shells.

One of the suspects, who

sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen during the pursuit, was treated by EMTs from the Melanie Fire Station and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital under Police guard. His condition is reported as serious.

The second suspect, identified as Shawn Jones, a 30-year-old vendor of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was taken into Police custody.

Gunshot residue tests were conducted on the hands of the suspects and the contractor.

This incident underscores the importance of community vigilance and swift action in the face of potential threats.

A firearm recovered at the scene

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, January 16 –03:45h-05:15h and Friday, January 17 – 03:45h-05:15h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, January 16 –06:10h-07:40h and Friday, January 17 – 06:40h-08:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunshine is expected throughout the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.79 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:03h and 18:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.61 metres.

Low Tide: 11:50h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.

3 new housing areas identified to tackle squatting crisis along Linden-Soesdyke Highway

...over 2000 lots to be allocated

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has unveiled plans to combat the increasing squatting problem along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway by developing three new housing areas to accommodate residents and improve living conditions. The President made the announcement on Wednesday during a community outreach in Silver Hill.

In his address, the Head of State noted that the Linden-Soesdyke Highway has become a growing hub for squatters, with more individuals moving to settle in the area.

This trend, Dr Ali, said

is expected to continue especially with the Government's commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity along the Highway. New roads will be constructed, linking the Highway to Heroes Highway, which will facilitate further development and increase the value of land in the region.

“We're seeing more and more squatting on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. More and more persons are moving to live in these areas and the new development, the new roads that we're going to build from the East Bank connecting all the way to the Heroes Highway, all of that is going to push more development and improve and increase the value of land on the LindenSoesdyke Highway. And of course, if you have reduced transportation time, then more and more persons will want to live on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway,” President Ali said.

To address this, the Housing Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, have identified three key areas along the Highway for large-scale housing development.

The initiative will create ,000 residential lots across

these areas, providing a structured environment for individuals and families who currently live in informal settlements.

President Ali explained

that Government’s goal is to transition these informal squatting areas into planned communities, offering residents access to essential services such as

water, electricity, and road infrastructure.

“We're trying to create about 2000 lots in those three areas so that we can have persons living in a cluster, in a settlement format, rather than squatting, so you can have access to all the facilities and have excellent service within those communities. We want to ensure that we build the conditions that will give your children a better future than you would have had. So, as we move forward, we will see greater investment as the population grows also in water distribution centres, in electricity, GPL,” the Head of State revealed.

In addition to residential developments, the Guyanese leader outlined medium-term plans to further improve the region’s infrastructure. Over the next three years, new transmission lines will connect Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) to the wider national network, further boosting economic growth and opportunities in the area.

Dr Ali also acknowledged the potential for expansion in commercial and industrial facilities along the Highway, promising to focus on the needs and priorities of local communities as the Government moves forward with its plans.

The Linden-Soesdyke Highway

President Dr Irfaan Ali during community outreach in Silver Hill

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Strengthening gun crime penalties

Gun-related crimes are a growing concern in Guyana, with the proliferation of illegal firearms fuelling violence and threatening security. The Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Legal Affairs Ministry, has since said that Government is taking decisive steps to address this issue by proposing increased penalties for individuals involved in gun-related offences. This initiative, championed by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, signals a critical shift in the country’s crime-fighting strategy, and holds the promise of significant benefits for Guyana.

The statistics presented by Minister Benn and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum underscore the urgency of this issue. In 2024 alone, over 180 firearms were seized, many originating from countries such as the United States, Brazil, and Venezuela. These weapons, which are neither manufactured nor assembled in Guyana, arrive through transnational networks linked to drug trafficking, money laundering, and other organized crimes. This influx of illegal firearms has contributed to a steady rise in gun-related crimes, posing a serious threat to public safety.

Benn’s remarks highlight the complexity of the problem. The availability of advanced technologies such as 3D printing has made the production of firearms easier and their tracking more challenging. Furthermore, the pervasive influence of transnational criminal organizations exacerbates the situation, necessitating a multifaceted approach to combat gun crimes effectively.

Increasing penalties for gun-related offences is a vital step in addressing this crisis. Stricter sanctions serve multiple purposes: Deterrence: harsh penalties act as a deterrent to potential offenders. Knowing that severe consequences await those who engage in gun-related crimes may discourage individuals from participating in such activities. Accountability: strengthened penalties ensure that those who commit these crimes are held accountable, signalling a zero-tolerance policy for gun-related violence. Disruption of Criminal Networks: by imposing severe consequences on offenders, law enforcement can disrupt the operations of criminal networks that rely on illegal firearms. Public Confidence: enhanced legal measures reassure citizens that the Government is committed to ensuring their safety, fostering greater trust in law enforcement agencies.

While increasing penalties is crucial, it must be part of a broader, holistic approach to tackle gun crime. Minister Benn’s emphasis on ramping up inspection exercises and strengthening law enforcement’s capacity to combat illegal firearm distribution is equally important. For instance, the introduction of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory represents a significant technological advancement in crime-solving capabilities.

International collaboration is essential in tackling transnational crime. Strengthening partnerships with countries where these weapons originate can help curb their illegal flow into Guyana. This could involve intelligence sharing, joint operations, and lobbying for stricter controls on arms exports.

The proposed measures to increase penalties for gunrelated crimes are expected to yield several benefits for Guyana: Reduction in Gun Crime: stricter penalties are likely to deter individuals from engaging in gun-related offences, leading to a decline in crime rates. Enhanced Public Safety: As gun crimes decrease, citizens would feel safer in their communities, fostering social and economic development. Strengthened Rule of Law: by demonstrating a firm stance against gun crime, the Government reinforces the importance of law and order in society. Economic Growth: reduced crime creates a more favourable environment for investment and tourism, boosting the economy.

Gun crime is a pervasive issue that demands a robust and comprehensive response. The Home Affairs Ministry’s initiative to increase penalties for gun-related offences, coupled with enhanced law enforcement efforts and community-focused interventions, is a step in the right direction. By taking a strong stance against gun crime, Guyana can not only enhance public safety, but also lay the foundation for a more secure future.

My endorsement of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Dear Editor,

This year, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will complete his first term in office, having served as the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana since August 2, 2020.

At the beginning of the President’s tenure, there were many skeptics, and I, too, had reservations about how our young leader would manage various domestic, regional, and global challenges. At home, I recognized that his most significant challenges would be uniting our people, stimulating growth in the non-oil sectors of the economy, addressing Venezuela’s aggression, and improving the country’s poor infrastructure.

Now, after five years at the helm, it is clear that President Ali and his government have successfully tackled these challenges, earning the admiration of many Guyanese. The economy has experienced record-breaking growth levels, positioning Guyana as a standout performer in the global financial landscape. We are now undeniably the fastest-growing economy in the world. Crucially, this growth has extended beyond the oil and gas sector, with the nonoil sector increasing by more than 40% during President Ali’s tenure.

When our territorial integrity and national sovereignty were threatened, President Ali and his government stood firm in defending our homeland. He has

remained resolute against the pressures coming from Venezuela, proving to be a steadfast defender of our nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Under his leadership, the transformation of the country’s physical and social infrastructure has been remarkable. Significant improvements, including thousands of kilometres of community roads, are underway. The Government has also demonstrated its capability to undertake large-scale public infrastructure projects such as the New Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Gasto-Energy project.

President Ali and his government have shown the political will to empower every Guyanese, regardless of race, political affiliation, or any other factor, as outlined in

our Constitution. The “One Guyana” initiative is not merely a promise; it is actively working to build a more cohesive nation.

All groups within our population are benefitting from increased access to the nation’s wealth. Whether in the construction sector or agriculture, we cannot overlook the surge in employment opportunities. There has been a notable effort toward fostering young entrepreneurs, enhancing sporting and cultural facilities, and providing seed capital for small businesses.

Under his stewardship, Guyana has taken the lead in transforming the Caribbean Agri-food systems. President Ali is spearheading efforts in the region to reduce food imports by 25% by 2025 while ensuring greater regional

food security.

Guyana continues to provide leadership and inspiration in addressing climate and energy security. The country’s environmental and ecosystem services are being monetized, with the proceeds directed toward national development.

The global respect for President Ali was highlighted in 2023 when the governments of India and Barbados conferred high honours on him: the Pravasi Bharatiya Saman Award and the Order of Freedom of Barbados Award respectively.

Given the construction of state-of-the-art schools and hospitals, the modernization of security services, significant investments in the hinterland, an aggressive housing programme, the opening of vast areas for non-traditional crops, and the expansion of our potable water supply system, it would be a disservice to halt or slow this progress.

The desire for progress is at the heart of President Ali’s government, and I refuse to stand in its way. I urge all Guyanese, regardless of race, political affiliation, or any other factor, to support President Ali and his government by giving them the mandate to serve our great country for another term.

For these reasons, I, James A Bond, endorse President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his government.

Sincerely, James A Bond

Pope Francis gestures prior to posing for a photo with Roller Circus members at the end of the weekly general audience, in Paul VI hall at the Vatican (Reuters)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and former PNCR Member of Parliament James Bond

Budget expectations AG elucidates, encourages and educates Guyanese

Dear Editor,

In the run-up to this Friday’s budget, this writer conducted, over the last several days, a snap ‘survey’ online (WhatsApp, conversations) and directly in interviews with several adults (from among varied demographics), querying their views and expectations of this year’s annual budget, and inviting comments to share with readers on what the Government should include as priority.

The general response from everyone is that they expect the budget to be populist and election- related, meaning government doling out a lot of goodies to entice voters to support the ruling party. It will be a budget ‘of freeness’. But many, including supporters of the Government, commented that the budget should not just be an election gimmick. It should be about the people, the country, and human development; not for party or election gains.

Each demographic, such as the lower class, middle class, business class, young, old, educated (tertiary), less educated (secondary schooling or less), etc., had its own priority, offering varying opinions and each seeking its own interests, with some common universal interests like aiding the unemployed and the poorer classes.

Before specific questions were posed, many respondents volunteered comments on what they wanted or would like to see: that the budget should increase the exemption limit on income tax, increase welfare payments to pensioners and others, fix the problem at NIS for those who have been denied eligibility in spite of making many contributions to the fund, decrease the percentage on corporate tax, reduce VAT and/or remove some “Vatable” items that are or have become necessities in a growing economy, and reduce excise tax on fuel.

Respondents expect most of the above.

Some respondents say the tax should be abolished altogether, since it is linked to massive corruption. Tax, it is argued, reduced takehome income, but it has not dawned on many that without tax, there can’t be many Government services.

And there is near unanimous support for favourable schemes for the underprivileged (the poorer class and lower income class, the disabled, mentally challenged, pensioners, NIS recipients, and others

of low fixed income, etc). It is felt that old age pension and NIS payments can’t meet the rising cost of living. It is noted that NIS has remained largely stagnant; NIS recipients don’t get a bonus, but pensioners and public service workers, police, and armed personnel receive a bonus.

There is also a call for sugar workers to get a bonus like other state employees.

There is a call for reduced duties on imported vehicles -remove duties on commonly used personal vehicles of higher cc and on equipment and vehicles for agriculture and industries. The poor complain they can’t eat the road. The farmers want more subsidies. Almost everyone complained about the high cost of living and building materials. There is a view among some that Government should eliminate compound taxes -- duties plus VAT – the compound taxes hurt the poor and small businesses the most. The taxes are passed on to consumers. The rich can afford the taxes, but not the lower income or the unemployed and the poor.

There is unanimity in views that salary can’t keep pace with rising cost of living, the poor (earning $80K or less monthly) could barely eke out a living; even a $100K could barely cut it.

Government has to find a way to subsidise cost of living for the poor (increase utility payments). It is suggested that Government should create some kind of health insurance policy so that people can choose their doctors or medical facility.

Also, almost everyone is of the view that Government should save (from oil revenues) in the Heritage Fund for the future. But they also want more grants, especially the middle and lower classes, that are similar to the $100K currently being distributed across the nation. Many note that Government must do better in its distribution of grants and other handouts that have been an administrative nightmare.

There is a contradiction - although the population wants to save for future use in the oil fund, the survey observed a preference for shortterm consumer spending over long- term objectives. People want to improve their lives now; they are not so much concerned about a longer-term vision or plan.

The population supports infrastructural works, but complains about its quality,

describing most road work as shoddy and outright poor, and claiming many roadways have been falling apart.

There is widespread dissatisfaction on the tax threshold. Everyone is of the view that it should be increased to assist the lower- and middle-income workers to have more disposable incomes. And the middle size and large businesses feel the percentage in tax they pay on profits should be reduced.

Businesses feel less tax would encourage business to inject more money into the economy; some business persons also argue for other incentives to encourage investment.

Many felt there should be an increase in NIS and pension payments, since wages and salaries for all categories of the public service have increased. It is noted that there was no increase in NIS across the board for a long while. Many NIS former workers who made contributions have not received their eligible benefits.

It is also argued that since old age pensioners are receiving a subsidy on water and electricity, this benefit should be extended to NIS pensioners as well. The population also wants lower PAYE deductions (increase the threshold) and more cash grants.

Overall, the population would like to see establishment of a mechanism, an independent agency, to crack down on corruption, especially acts committed by officials, with prosecutorial powers.

There is call for more developmental plans and community programmes; better community and health centres with enough staff, nurses, doctors, human development programmes like sports and culture, programmes to eliminate poverty, especially in rural areas and hinterland.

There is a suggestion for more jobs with regular, sustainable income. People want job security. Instead of the 10day unemployment relief job, make it a permanent job. It is noted that the unemployed can’t live off $40K a month. A family of four would need at least $100,000 to manage.

There is a recommendation that Government do more to address crime and improve security – hire more police officers for community policing and in business districts, and increase the pay of the police.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

Fix the building, there is no choice

Dear Editor, Dawn Cush has objections to the west wing being demolished and rebuilt despite written reports of the building being a hazard to the more than 350 children who occupy it daily.

Her objections seem to be for two reasons: 1. Queen’s College just celebrated its 180th anniversary, and should be allowed to come down from that high before there are disruptions; and 2: the students would be dis-

rupted.

Neither of those reasons present even a slightly good or sensible reason for children to be placed in harm’s way. In any construction that would last longer than two to three months, there will be disruptions. Were the building, or any part of it, to collapse, Cush, known to be loud, would most likely be the first on the scene, weeping and asking why it wasn’t fixed. This is simply a case of damned if you do and damned

if you don’t.

The parent body, at a well-attended meeting, understood the problem and made recommendations for the various solutions; and indeed, in some cases, were adamant that the children should not be allowed at all to go back into the building for any reason.

Fix the building; there is no choice.

Faithfully, Andrea Premnauth

Dear Editor, Guyana’s distinguished “Legal Brainbox” went to town on Guyana’s discoverer, “Mr. Conflict of Interest,” who determined that 33 is not the half of 65, and detected that he can be the distraught leader of a diseased party comprising of danger, dementia and derangement.

There are many “issues in the news” to diagnose, discuss and digest. But daily, Guyanese, more so, are dismayed with those wolves in sheep’s clothing who want to dominate the political scene with their diplomatic doldrum, depressed despondency, and distressed dejection. These daredevils want to devour Guyanese with their double standards, dressed in anything not dowdy and their dirty tongue dripping distastefully.

A dichotomy between cynicism and skepticism, some Guyanese are being tranquilized by the emperors with their new clothing as they parade in a charade of deceits, degradation and disgrace. In a transformative era, those knights in shining armour appear from the dusking of darkness to enter the dawning of light, saddled with an eye on the ball while the oil and gold rush remain the apple of the eye. Not deterred by the detriments of dishonesty, disloyalty nor disobedience, those sworn to the allegiance of the “Pot of Greed” are prepared to trample on human rights and human frailty.

In this formidable and modern E-age, where I-phones, emails and computers replace the ancient antiquity of land lines, letters and typewriters, technology has rapidly advanced with the IT phenomenon to incorporate the application of robotics to enhance data processing in its precise execution of recording, storing and retrieving information. This PPP/C Government has recognized, acknowledged and instituted STEM as the foundation to edify Guyanese and to insert this tool as a problem-solving skill. In the dissemination of information, Guyanese can no longer be fooled by con men who practise the art of deception.

That is why the Caribbean Court of Appeal (CCJ) refused to even listen to the absurd, asinine and apoplectic argument advanced by a former arrogant AG and engineered by an ambitious presidential candidate about what constitutes the simple half of 65. To put it mildly, the big, bad and bullish men and women of the PNCR, WPA, AFC and all the other nonentity one-person parties which comprised APNU/AFC, knew not the meaning of appearing silly in the academic world. Even a little “common entrance” student can answer the question without the aid of a calculator, but not the doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, teachers and yes, preachers, who want to rule this country.

Guyana is going to be the breadbasket of the Caribbean, not only for food, but for ed-

ucation also. Luckily, this is only possible through the instrumentality of a progressive PPP/C Government that is armed with foresight for vision; and not the Opposition, that is equipped with hindsight for stagnation. Without the luxury of the oil revenue, the PPP/C Government saved this country from the brink of death, and pulled her out of the jaws of bankruptcy. The records from the devasted 33 years of doom and gloom from the PNC administration speak volumes in comparison to the PPP/C 23 years of success from 1992 to 2015.

The Opposition will first have to win an election in order to gain governance, and then a fair comparison may be made for economic gains with the advent of the oil and gas industry. The world at large know that the PNC attempted to rig the last General and Regional Election in 2020, but not the leaders of PNC, AFC or the WPA. The others are unworthy of mentioning. They even tried to make the Russians a “scapegoat” to assert the usage of a computerized system when the manual work of the “finger” was more than acceptable! Yu hear lie?

The Ordinance of election rigging is the PNC’s birthright, an inherited “karma” from the Party’s conception, regurgitated and filtered as their “dharma.” This is their primary weapon to win the war and the battle. Ask the Ranger who went to the US to remind his comrades about Burnham’s mythology and methodology.

The PNC’s secondary alliance is the “race card.” The slang that cements “kit and kin” and “one looking like we” is the background for “war break” and the pursuance for “mo fyah, slo fyah.” Looks are

not deceiving, and when you have to “turn the gun” on the other side, that lessens the difficulty of the job. The PNC protect their party, people and principles with their dogmatic politics. There is no ambiguity, that is why the henchman hangs his mouth where the soup leaks. Inflammatory remarks made by the PNC politicians in West Coast Berbice in 2020 is food for thought, and leave much to be desired. When in doubt, hit out. This is the pragmatic way which the PNC default program subscribes to as its third avenue as a back door to the front. Violence has been associated with the PNC since their conception (mis?). The ugly days of the Wismar burning, the infamous Georgetown looting, the 80 days’ strike, the mauling and raping of girls and women in open daylight, the deaths of Kowsilla, Father Darke, Rodney and others, the draping of a bandit’s coffin with the Guyana flag and the plight of the late US President Carter, all these incidents lead to the uncomfortable road which is paved with the truth of inconvenience!

Those who are strangers to latrines can never understand the language of the man in the street. Their lifestyle alludes to insincerity, insecurity and inequity. They will tell you that they can see “eye to eye” with you. Yu hear lie? Thankfully, the Honorable AG spends invaluable time weekly, when possible, to elucidate Guyanese to “know right from wrong,” to encourage Guyanese to “do the right thing”, and to educate Guyanese to “know your rights,” and much more in his “Issues in the News.”

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Page Foundation

What is a set? Well, simply put, it's a collection. First, we specify a common property among "things" and then we gather up all the "things" that have this common property.

Set of clothes: For example, the items you wear: hat, shirt, jacket, pants, and so on.

Notation

There is a fairly simple notation for sets. We simply list each element (or "member") separated by a comma, and then put some curly brackets around the whole thing:

The curly brackets { } are sometimes called "set brackets" or "braces".

This is the notation for the two previous examples: {socks, shoes, watches, shirts, ...} {index, middle, ring, pinky}

Notice how the first example has the "..." (three dots together). The three dots ... are called an ellipsis, and mean "continue on".

So that means the first example continues on ... for infinity. (Just imagine there were an infinite variety of things you could wear)

What do pizza, milk shakes, and ice cream sundaes have in common, besides being delicious and loaded with calories? You might be surprised to learn that these foods, because they contain dairy products, cannot be eaten by many people around the world. Dairy products contain the sugar molecule lactose, and the majority of people on the planet slowly begin to lose the ability to digest lactose after the age of 2. In this human biology and health science fair project, you will investigate the activity of lactase, the enzyme responsible for the ability to digest lactose.

Objective

The objective is to explore the biochemical basis for lactose intolerance. You will add the enzyme lactase to solutions containing the milk sugar lactose, and then test for one of the reaction products, glucose, using glucose test strips.

I'm sure you could come up with at least a hundred. This is known as a set.

Or another example is types of fingers.

This set includes index, middle, ring, and pinky.

So it is just things grouped together with a certain property in common.

So:

The first set {socks, shoes, watches, shirts, ...} we call an infinite set; the second set {index, middle, ring, pinky} we call a finite set.

But sometimes the "..." can be used in the middle to save writing long lists:

Example: the set of letters: {a, b, c, ..., x, y, z} In this case it is a finite set (there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, right?) (mathsisfun.com)

by Kate Miller-Wilson

I looked for you by the front door, Under my bed, on the bathroom floor, Near the back stairs, in the drawer with my socks, Next to the table, and out in the sandbox. My mother is calling me, and I'm calling you, Where have you gone, my missing shoe?

Introduction

The inability to digest lactose leads to lactose intolerance, which is a very unpleasant reaction to the presence of lactose in the digestive system, characterised by cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.

Lactose is a key constituent of breast milk, so it is essential that babies are able to digest it, and they do. It accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the total calories provided by breast milk. Babies are able to digest lactose because they produce lactase. Lactase is an enzyme that is present in the baby's digestive tract. Enzymes are protein molecules that function as catalysts, which vastly speed up the rates of chemical reactions.

Lactase catalyses the breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactose as shown in Figure 1. Unlike lactose, glucose and galactose are readily absorbed by the small intestine.

For reasons that are not all that clear,

people stop producing lactase after about age 2. Once the production of lactase stops, drinking milk or eating milk products, such as cheese, can cause uncomfortable digestive problems. In people with low levels of the enzyme lactase, the lactose sugars in milk pass through the gastrointestinal tract undigested or are partially digested by enzymes produced by intestinal bacterial flora to yield short-chain fatty acids, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. These undigested lactose molecules and products of bacterial digestion result in the symptoms of lactose intolerance. (Adapted from David Whyte, PhD, Science Buddies)

BE CONTINUED

Figure 1. The enzyme lactase catalyses the breakdown of lactose into the smaller sugars, galactose and glucose

Crackdown on gold smuggling will intensify – Minister Bharrat

…applications for gold export licences to be reviewed this year

Urging persons with information on gold smuggling to come forward, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, has assured that the crackdown on gold smuggling would not only continue, but be intensified this year.

The issue of gold smuggling made waves in Guyana last year after the United States Treasury Department had announced sanctions against local gold exporter Mohamed’s Enterprise. During a press conference to recap 2024, Minister Bharrat, touting the successes achieved in tackling gold smuggling, also assured that ef-

GECOM

forts would be ramped up this year to address this issue, and encouraged anyone with information on gold smuggling to share it with the ministry.

“We’ve seen a few persons being held at the airport. At one point, I think they were taking out over 200,000 ounces of gold. So, we’ve intensified the operation, which is still ongoing. However, for obvious reasons, I would not go into too much details on the operation, but I can say to you the operation is ongoing, and it involves a number of agencies, including the Ministry of Natural Resources,” he declared.

“So that is an ongoing

process, and will continue and intensify. We’ve been getting information, and we act on the information as we get them. And we encourage any Guyanese and any person with information (to) share it with us,” the minister explained.

Bharrat assured that the Ministry takes any information received very seriously, and moreover, relies on this information to do investigations. The invitation to provide information was even extended to the media.

“Sometimes it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, I know this,’ or, ‘I know that’, or, ‘I see this or that’; but if you don’t send it to us, then we can’t act on the information. It’s the same with policing. If people don’t share information (with the) police, they can’t do their work effectively. Even the media, if you have information and you want to share it with us privately, share it with us. I can assure you we will act on the information, because we’ve been acting on every piece of information we’ve been receiving over the last few years that forms whatever illegal activity there is within this sector.”

When it comes to licensing new gold exporters, Bharrat noted that only six were licensed last year, but that another round of licensing would be conduct-

ed sometime this year. He also took the opportunity to urge gold miners to sell their gold only to approved dealers or the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), reminding of the concessions available for them.

“For example, we have a programme where once you meet a certain target, there are duty free concessions on vehicles that will be used in the mining operation. Recently, the President has given further incentives, that if miners declare a certain amount and they have one dredge and excavator, then we can give conces-

reminds persons who were 14-17 years old during 2019 registration to apply

As Guyana gears up to host its General and Regional Elections, citizens who were 14 to 17 years of age during the 2019 registration exercise have been reminded to apply for registration if they have not done so yet.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) revealed that several queries were received regarding the registration status of persons who were under 18 years of age by the qualifying date that was used for registration during the 2019 house-to-house registration exercise, and who were registered during that exercise.

GECOM has said, “In this regard, notwithstanding we had made public announcements via the media on this matter, we consider it to be of crucial importance for GECOM to remind that the applications for registration by all eligible persons who were under 18 years of age old during the 2019 house-to-house registration exercise were not processed on the basis of a policy decision that was taken by the Commission.”

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is advising persons who were between 14 and 17 years old during the 2019 house-to-house exercise to get registered now. Moreover, GECOM reminded that, in August 2019, Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne

George, in her decision in the case of Christopher Ram’s challenge to the legality of house-to-house registration, ruled that while the exercise was not unconstitutional or unlawful, the removal of names from the National Register of Registrants’ Database (NRRDB) using any method other than what is provided for by the Constitution and the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08, would be illegal.

In a move to abide by the decision of the court, the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, decided that the house-to-house registration exercise be immediately terminated. Consequently, only the registration transactions for persons who were first-time registrants, and who met the requirements to be registered as electors at that time, were considered for processing of their applications.

sions on parts coming in for that excavator or dredge,” he disclosed.

“We have those incentives now, once miners sell to the Guyana Gold Board. However, as I mentioned, there are also dealers. Last year, there were only six licensed dealers. This year, we’re in the process of renewing or accepting new applications,” the minister added.

Last year, Guyana recorded a sizeable increase in gold production, with Minister Bharrat also revealing that gold brought in total earnings of US$989.9 million in 2024 – an increase of over US$180 million. In addition to the earnings from gold, 434,000 ounces of gold were also declared.

In keeping with Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act, it is illegal for any person to sell any gold to a goldsmith or jeweller, or for a goldsmith or jeweller to

purchase any gold from any person/entity other than the Guyana Gold Board.

In June of last year, two US citizens and one Guyanese were intercepted with US$560,000 worth of raw gold at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri. They were subsequently charged with the offence of exporting gold without a licence, in contravention of Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, and contrary to section 23 (a) of the said Act. These persons were placed on bail totalling $600,000, and were also charged under Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) law. Further, in the sanctions against the Mohameds family and their associated businesses, the United States had alleged that some 10,000 kilograms of gold were smuggled out of this country between 2019 and 2023. (G3)

3 new housing areas identified...

“All of these developments, no doubt, will bring new opportunities for you, will create new opportunities for your families. We also see expansion in commercial, industrial facilities along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. So, we want this year to focus on the things within your communities that are a priority to you and what we have found as we move through the country is that many of the residents are saying, yes, we can feel the impact of the Government,” Dr Ali added.

The development project along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway is part of the Government's broader strategy to enhance the region's infrastructure, reduce squatting, and create a sustainable future for all residents.

Aside from these housing

and infrastructural developments, the Government is focusing on significant investments in the agriculture sector. Dr Ali announced that close to $800 million will be allocated to the development of a new food hub in Yarrowkabra, aimed at helping farmers add value to their produce, improve pricing, and create new markets. The hub will serve as a vital resource for farmers to bring their products, benefiting the entire agricultural community along the Highway. Moreover, a $25 million dairy project is set to be launched, with the goal of producing milk and dairy products for the Caribbean market. The project will enhance local dairy production and expand the agricultural industry's reach within the region.

(G1)

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

The Guyana Gold Board

High Court hears Opposition challenge to GECOM’s voter registration process

…AG defends GECOM’s decision, cites constitutional precedents

Acting Chief Justice

Roxane George on Wednesday heard arguments in a case where a Peoples National Congress member challenged the Guyana Election’s Commission’s (GECOM) interpretation and application of Section 64B of the National Registration Act (NRA).

The challenged by the Opposition is to determine whether GECOM’s interpretation and application of Section 64B of the National Registration Act (NRA) comply with constitutional requirements and safeguard the integrity of the National Register of Registrants (NRR).

Peoples National Congress member Carol Smith-Joseph, represented by Attorneys Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt, had filed a Fixed Date Application challenging GECOM’s current verification process.

Following Wednesday’s proceedings, the court established a timeline for the submission of affidavits and le-

gal arguments.Submissions from Smith-Joseph’s legal team are due by February 14, while the respondents, including GECOM and the Attorney General, are expected to submit by February 20. The next clarification hearing is scheduled for March 17.

Outside the courtroom, Attorney Dexter Todd articulated his client’s concerns:

“Prior to the amendment, in the registration process, there has always been connecting when it comes to the verification of an address. There has always been connecting the registrant to the address. With the amendment, what you have is that Section 64B only speaks to ‘address claimed.’ So, what the registration officers have been doing is verifying the address, but they have not been connecting the registrant to the address.”

Claiming that this practice could compromise the electoral process, Todd said, “That has presented a serious, serious problem.

Because it is from the register that the extractions are made. If you do not verify the information going into the register, you are going to have a problem…Some people have never seen the registrants. They don’t know [them]. They are totally unconnected,” he said.

Constitutional precedence

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, however, strongly defended GECOM’s actions and the amendments to the National Registration Act, citing constitutional precedence.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “Residency used to be a requirement under the 1966 Constitution and the 1970 Constitution. In the 1980 Constitution, it was removed. So, you could have been, or you can be, living anywhere in the United States, in the United Kingdom, and you have a fixed address at any one of those locations outside of Guyana, but that fact doesn’t disqualify you from voting at an election in Guyana because the supreme law of our country… doesn’t meet that requirement.”

He added: “Every law that is passed must be consistent with the Constitution, or that law will be inconsistent or would be unconstitutional to the extent of that inconsistency. This case is re-arguing that position all over again.”

This case echoes the landmark 2019 decision in Christopher Ram vs. Attorney General et al,

where Chief Justice Roxane George ruled that residency is not a prerequisite for voter registration in Guyana. The case arose from a challenge to the scrapping of the database created under house-tohouse registration. The Chief Justice upheld arguments that the 1980 Constitution removed residency as a qualification for voter registration, allowing citizens living overseas to remain on the electoral list.

That ruling was essential in clarifying voter registration laws, particularly as they relate to non-resident Guyanese. It was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2020, with both courts affirming that the Constitution supersedes any conflicting statutory provisions.

Attorney General Nandlall referenced this ruling to reporters after Wednesday’s hearing, stating: “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any law or practice inconsistent with it is void to the extent of the inconsistency. This was affirmed in 2019, and remains the governing principle.”

The current case hinges on the interpretation of Section 64B of the National Registration Act, as amended. According to Todd, the amendments have introduced ambiguities by focusing on the “verification of address claimed” rather than establishing a clear connection between the registrant and their claimed address.

He argued, “What the registration officers have been doing is verifying the address but failing to connect the registrant to that address. This lack of connection undermines the accuracy of the NRR, and could lead to voters being registered in constituencies where they do not belong. Local and regional elections depend on accurate geographical data, and this process must reflect that.”

Nandlall countered that the amendments do not alter the fundamental principles of voter registration, but address inconsistencies between the National Registration Act and the Constitution.

“It was drafted when the previous Constitutions were in force. So, if you adjust that Constitution now, you are supposed to adjust the law to ensure that the law is in sync with the Constitution. That was never done”.

Getting ready…

…to gyrate

Being Guyanese, your Eyewitness likes his “sport” –which ain’t nothing about games, save “playin’ de fool”!! – as much as the next fellow. Mebbe more?

So, when he heard from the Minister of Culture about the theme and activities planned for our Mashramani, you can’t blame him for his nose flaring in excitement!! The theme’s gonna be “Expressing our Culture and Creativity as One Guyana” – and we all know how creative we Guyanese can be when it comes to expressing our culture!!

For instance, there’s been all sorts of criticisms about our road culture, with one former Rep of the ole Mother country saying we wasted their two centuries of carrying the “white man’s burden” in trying to civilize us. But does he realize that – just like we malingered when we were supposed to be working as “slaves”, as an act of rebellion – it’s the same with us resisting conformity to THEIR RULES when we’re driving on the road!! Why should we follow them?? Aren’t we creative? We certainly are!! And that’s why we make up our own rules now that all of us have motorcycles and cars!!

For instance, in these roundabouts we’re getting on the new highways, rather than following those squiggly lines on the ground, we Guyanese simply close our eyes and hurl our vehicles into the curve, expecting our momentum to carry us towards where we’re headed!! Which could very well be the hereafter, no??

Anyhow, back to Mashramani, or “Mash”, for short, to show our creativity!! - which is what we celebrate on Feb 23, rather than “Republic Day” – when we took off our trainer boots and let go of the Queen of England!! And that’s also part of our CREATIVITY, innit??!! Other countries celebrate becoming a republic and joining the comity of nations by holding military parades (India) or firing fireworks and lustily singing patriotic songs (the US) etc – but we do Mash!! You can tell a lot about a country by looking at how they celebrate their freedom!!

Our Minister announced that from February 14 to 24, our Mash would be launched with “exciting events, including the Calypso, Soca, Dancehall, Chutney Monarchs, Splashramani, Masharama, Republic Flag Raising, the Costume and Float Parade, and the Panorama Steel Band Competition”!! Now, can you understand your Eyewitness’s flared nostrils – and racing pulse?? Now that we’ve overthrown – well, passed a law to legally remove! – the English Monarch, we’re gonna have FOUR locals!! Compensation??

Your Eyewitness is most excited about the Dancehall Monarch, where he expects things to get real “Stink and Dutty”!! Cause that’s another of our creative expressions, wherein we subvert the Brits’ pushing “stiff upper lip” ballroom whirls as “culture”!!

Ha!!

…to rumble??

This demand that the Government renegotiate the Exxon contract for better terms, on its surface, shouldn’t be controversial, should it?? Who doesn’t want more money?? Even Musk – our first TRILLIONAIRE – keeps on pushing for more profits!! But neither the two major parties – representing 95% of our electorate – wanna renegotiate! What’s up?? Didn’t we put them there to do what’s best for us?? Could it be that keeping the status quo on the contract is “good for us”??

Your Eyewitness is reminded of a historical incident wherein Henry II was trenchantly criticised by his friend Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. All Henry wanted was for priests to be under the civil – not church – law. Even after he compromised, Becket refused to act under the law. Henry muttered, “Will no one get rid of this meddlesome priest?”, and was overheard by some courtiers – who proceeded to kill Becket!!

The lesson?? If you insist on putting yourself outside the law, it ain’t inappropriate if you’re dealt with outside the law.

…for new QC??

So, QC western wing is to be demolished and rebuilt. Ah…what a toll the passage of time takes!! Twas a time when it was the largest auditorium in the country…but now we got the Cultural Centre!!

Attorney General Anil Nandlall Attorney Dexter Todd

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC

Deadly rampage in Mahaicony as 2 die after drug addict goes berserk

Police are probing a deadly knife attack that occurred in Mahaicony, ECD on Wednesday January 15, and left Frederick Williams and Roger Erwin Pierre, known as ‘Pants’, dead.

Roger Erwin Pierre was a 43-year-old labourer who resided at Lot 11 Airy Hall Middle Walk in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. He was shot and killed by police after he stabbed two persons earlier on Wednesday.

Reportedly a drug addict of unsound mind, Pierre stabbed and injured 63-year-old Laldat Tooknauth, a resident of Huntley, Mahaicony, at approximately 09:30h. Rushed to the Mahaicony Hospital in critical condition, Tooknauth was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

At about 10:30h, police received reports of Pierre, armed with a knife, causing panic at Novar School Dam. Ranks from the Mahaicony Police Station responded, and spotted Pierre on Dundee Public Road. Pierre resisted their attempts to disarm him, advancing on the ranks aggressively. He was shot in the left foot, but

continued to ignore police commands as he walked towards Airy Hall.

During this time, he escalated his aggression by throwing glass bottles and white sand at the ranks and residents, and later armed himself with a steel rod from a construction site.

He attacked Lambert Nunes, a 69-year-old resident of Airy Hall, and wounded him in his left hand. A group of residents, including 68-yearold Frederick Williams, attempted to restrain Pierre as he moved further into Airy Hall, and in the ensuing struggle, Pierre retrieved his knife and attacked Williams, stabbing him multiple times in the head and body.

In response, two police ranks discharged rounds at Pierre, fatally wounding him; and he and Williams were rushed to Mahaicony Hospital. Williams succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment, but Pierre was pronounced dead on arrival.

Examinations of the bodies revealed gunshot wounds on both men, while Williams also bore multiple stab injuries. Their

remains are currently at Bailey/Michael Funeral Parlour.

Police have collected statements from witnesses, and are canvassing the area for surveillance footage. The investigation, including a review of the ranks’ actions, is being handled by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

2 SWAT officers nabbed with ganja

Two police officers attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit have been arrested on Tuesday at about 23:15h after being found in possession of 748.4 grams of cannabis.

A party of police ranks, led by an inspector from the Special Branch, acting on intelligence received, intercepted Toyota Axio motor car PAJ 2421 at the intersection of Camp and New Market Streets in Georgetown; and

during a search of the vehicle, discovered in the back seat a black travelling bag that contained a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. Additional items found included plastic wraps, a black digital scale, and a bag sealer.

At the time, the vehicle was being driven by Lance Corporal Kevin Thompson, while Lance Corporal Dwayne Perry occupied the front passenger seat. Both men are active members of the SWAT unit.

According to a report released by the Guyana Police

Force (GPF), the SWAT officers were immediately informed of the offence and cautioned. Both remained silent, and were arrested and escorted to the Narcotics Branch for further processing. The suspected narcotic

was weighed and confirmed to be 748.4 grams.

The vehicle, reportedly rented from Elite Auto Rentals, is owned by Diana Persaud of North Road, Lacytown.

Further investigations revealed that the car had been rented by Stacy Hodge, a 40-year-old businesswoman of Providence, East Bank Demerara. She is the reputed wife of Kevin Thompson.

GPF has indicated that Hodge, when contacted and interviewed, told investigators she rented the vehicle

after an accident had left her red Lexus vehicle, PAJ 4770, in need of repairs.

She said she had last used the car on January 10, 2025, before handing the keys to Thompson, who had requested a vehicle for personal use.

Searches were conducted at the homes of both officers, but no additional evidence was found. The vehicle is currently lodged at the Alberttown Police Station. Both men remain under close arrest as investigations continue into the incident.

Roger Erwin Pierre, also known as "pants", throwing sand at the Police

Items uncovered during the search

Lance Corporal Kevin Thompson

Local companies eager for finish of Gas-to-Energy Project to start value-added production – Bharrat …says numerous requests received,

including BOSAI for

The Government has received many requests and expressions of interest from local companies which are eagerly anticipating the start-up of the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project so they can begin manufacturing and value-added production, made possible by cheaper electricity.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat disclosed the following information as he highlighted China-based Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc (BMGG), a major player in the local bauxite mining industry.

Operating out of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), BOSAI has been operating in Guyana since 2007; and according to Bharrat, the company is exploring the opportunity to set up an alumina plant.

“The Gas-to-Energy Project is on stream. You would have seen only last week we were on site, and we would have signed that agreement for the loan with the US EXIM Bank, making sure the project is financed and it will be completed as promised, bringing the benefits that will be derived from it. That is: the reduction in electricity costs, reliability, and ensuring we can be competitive, especially in the manufacturing and industrial sector,” Minister Bharrat has said.

“Already, there are requests from many companies locally to be engaged and to move towards value-added. I can tell you, for example, BOSAI. We’re engaging them in looking at the possibility of an alumina plant, provided they can provide cheaper electricity in excess of what will be available,” Bharrat explained.

According to the minister, these companies fuel hope that Guyana’s value-added production would

increase dramatically once the Gas-to-Energy Project comes on stream during the course of 2025, and electricity prices are cut.

“So, already, we’re seeing signs and indications that these companies are willing to further invest in value- added, once cheaper electricity is available,” the Minister told media operatives.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has only recently affirmed that plans for an alumina plant are still under consideration as Government explores options tied to the second GtE Project. These options include potential collaboration with Suriname to jointly develop the bauxite deposit that exists between the two countries.

During his year-end press conference, President Ali, in addressing questions about the Government’s plans for an alumina plant, had emphasized that the GtE initiative would play a crucial role in making the alumina plant a viable endeavour. He explained that an alumina plant is one of the possibilities Government is mulling to

go along with the gas-powered industrial hub that would be a critical component of Phase Two of the GtE Project.

Minister Bharrat had previously indicated that investors were eyeing the Tarakuli bauxite deposit near Orealla in Region Six. He had stated that Tarakuli is one of the largest bauxite deposits remaining in Guyana, and that it is of high quality and is untouched. This, he had said, was another reason why the country should establish an alumina plant.

Meanwhile, a US$527 million loan agreement has been signed between the Guyana Government and the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank last week to finance the GtE Project. This signing was followed by a tour of the construction site.

Key accomplishments of the GtE Project include completion of soil stabilization works. GtE Project Lead, Winston Brassington, had only in September disclosed that more than 1.65 million cubic metres (m3) of sand, along with over 160,000 m3 of loam and

alumina plant

25,000 m3 of crusher run had been purchased for the soil stabilisation exercise on the 100-acre Wales project site.

A joint venture formed by United States-based companies Lindsayca and CH4 was, in November 2022, awarded the US$759 million contract to build the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant and a Natural Gas

Liquids (NGL) facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) – key components of the GtE Project.

Initially, the GtE Project was scheduled to be completed by 2024 year-end, but following setbacks in handing over some components, including site preparation works, LNDCH4 was given an extension to this year to deliver the power plant.

However, the contrac-

tor wants more than the three-month extension that the Government has granted, along with the financial claim – both of which were rejected by the state, hence the move to the dispute resolution process.

Government has already made it clear that if LNDCH4 does not deliver power by the end of April, that company would face liquidated damages.

BOSAI’s operations in Guyana

The GtE project site during the recent tour

Home Affairs Minister hints at stronger penalties for gun-related crimes

…new $86M Scanning Electron Microscope unveiled

As part of its crime-fighting strategy, the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently having consultations with the Legal Affairs Ministry on increasing the penalties for persons who commit gun-related crimes in the country.

Plans to increase the penalties for gun-related crimes was highlighted by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Wednesday, during the unveiling of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.

Highlighting that gun crimes are steadily increasing, aided by transnational organised activities, the minister said, “I keep saying that we don’t make a bicycle spoke yet in Guyana. We don’t make guns. Now they

are 3D printed on computers. The guns are coming from the North and from Europe too, and other places where they make those things; and it’s a great difficulty that we are having in relation to dealing with rising crime, which is driven by transnational issues: the drugs, the money laundering.”

Minister Benn revealed that as part of efforts to tackle this issue, the Home Affairs Ministry would be moving to increase legal sanctions for gun-related crimes.

“We want to advise persons who are involved and are committing crimes, some of them repeatedly; they are not always being caught when they commit some of these crimes. (We want them to know) that we will get to them…and there is an inten-

tion to raise the legal sanctions in relation to gun crimes and some other crimes. This is one of the discussions we are having with the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Attorney General and at the level of the Cabinet, to get on top of the situation where we see the reckless use of guns,” Benn declared.

An $86 million Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has been installed at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL); and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Andre Ally, has noted that, with the use of the new tech, law enforcement officials would now be able to better manage GSR (Gunshot Residue) cases.

“It’s critical, now especially, for us to properly iden-

tify, properly investigate, and properly identify evidence and confirm evidence that firearms were used at certain crime scenes,(thereby) bolstering the capacity to detect gunshot residue,” Ally noted, as he added that backlogged cases would also be cleared from the system.

“It has come in a very timely manner, because the lab, we now have a little bit of a buildup of GSR samples, and we will work to ensure that we clear all backlogs and prioritize cases as they come in,” Ally declared.

An SEM – a scanning electron microscope - is a scientific instrument that uses a beam of electrons to create images of a sample’s surface. SEMs are used in many fields, including materials science, forensics, and phar-

Attempted murder conviction

maceuticals. Scanning electron microscopy is a highly versatile technique used to obtain high-resolution images and detailed surface information of samples. The resolution of SEM instruments can range from one nanometre up to several nanometres.

This new machine is capable of operating 24/7, and has the capacity to analyze 19 samples at a time. Some 5 persons would be trained to operate the new equipment.

As the Government of Guyana works assiduously to improve the investigative capabilities of the Guyana Police Force, stakeholders are gearing up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) of India to import forensic

experts.

Established in 2009 as the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), and later elevated to the NFSU with the status of an Institution of National Importance, it is the world’s first and only university dedicated to forensic sciences, behavioural sciences, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and allied disciplines.

It was established by the Government of India through the Act of 2020 (32 of 2020) with the objective of fulfilling the acute shortage against the increasing demand for forensic experts in the country and around the world.

NFSU is recognized worldwide as a leader in the field of research and education in forensic sciences and allied sciences.

Man freed after Appeal Court slashes jailtime

Samuel Infias Shaw, also known as ‘Taliban’ and ‘Arno,’ who had been convicted in 2016 of attempting to murder Bajai Ramdass, known as ‘Bruck Back,’ during a violent altercation that occurred on January 16, 2012 at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, has been released from prison after the Court of Appeal reduced his 17-year sentence to “time served.”

The decision, delivered by Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards on Wednesday, came after Shaw’s appeal had successfully challenged the severity of his sentence, citing discrepancies in sentencing practices and highlighting mitigating factors such as a favourable probation report and his lack of prior convictions.

“In the circumstances, we allow the appeal against sentence. The conviction of the appellant stands, but the appeal against sentence is allowed, and the sentence of the appellant is thereby reduced to the time that would have been served in custody,” Justice Cummings-

Edwards declared in delivering the decision.

Recap Shaw and his co-accused, Ramsammy Angeshallam, known as ‘Babs,’ had been found guilty of attacking Ramdass during a dispute over a plantain farm. Ramdass had testified that he and Shaw had entered into a business agreement to plant plantains together. However, the partnership collapsed when Shaw allegedly refused to pay him, prompting him to initiate le-

gal proceedings.

Ramdass had visited the disputed farm on January 16, 2012, and was ambushed by Shaw and Angeshallam.

Witnesses testified that Shaw, armed with a shotgun, had fired at Ramdass, hitting him in the back; and Angeshallam, wielding a bicycle tube, had tried to drag Ramdass towards Shaw, who had allegedly threatened to mutilate him.

Despite being severely injured, Ramdass had managed to defend himself with a cutlass, with which he had wounded Angeshallam before feigning death to avoid further harm.

Shaw had then reportedly fired a second shot at Ramdass’s face, and the injuries he had sustained had left Ramdass paralyzed from the waist down and blind in one eye.

Arrested and charged with attempted murder, Shaw and Angeshallam had both denied the allegations at their trial, claiming in unsworn statements that the victim’s brother - Jagdeo, known as ‘Spraga,’ – had

been theperpetrator of the crime.

However, a 12-member jury at the Berbice Criminal Assizes had, in 2016, rejected their defense after deliberating for over two hours, and had found Shaw and Angeshallam guilty as charged Justice Franklyn Holder had sentenced Shaw to 17 years in prison, while Angeshallam had been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Discrepancy in sentencing had become a key issue

in Shaw’s appeal, and he had argued that his sentence was excessive and failed to take into account mitigating factors. His legal team, led by Attorney Nigel Hughes, contended that the trial judge did not adequately consider his clean record and the favourable probation report which painted him in a positive light.

The state was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecution (DPP),Natasha Backer.

The Court of Appeal, in agreeing with the defence team’s submissions, stated, “The trial judge here had a starting point of 22 years, but considered that, because of a favourable probation report, he deducted five years before arriving at the sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment.”

The Appellate Court found that the starting point should have been 12 years, given the circumstances of the case. Additionally, the court highlighted inconsistencies in sentencing, noting that Angeshallam, who had been convicted on the same

facts, had received a lighter sentence of 12 years. The court emphasized that sentencing must be proportionate and consistent.

“The probation report of the appellant was an extremely favourable report, and we believe that more should have been deducted from (the original sentence),” Justice Cummings-Edwards remarked.

The court ultimately reduced Shaw’s sentence to time served, leading to his immediate release.

The term “time served” refers to the period a person has already spent in custody while awaiting trial, sentencing, or during the appeal process. In Shaw’s case, he had been incarcerated for over a decade, including the time spent in pretrial detention and after his conviction. By reducing his sentence to time served, the Court of Appeal determined that Shaw’s time behind bars was sufficient punishment for the crime.

This ruling allowed Shaw to be released immediately. (G9)

The new $86 million Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn being enlightened about the technology by experts

Freed: Samuel Infias Shaw

Bajai Ramdass, known as "Bruck Back"

Banks DIH records $10.5B post-tax earnings, paid $6B in taxes for 2024

…overall revenue increased by 11%

With $10.5 billion in profit after tax, Banks DIH has reported a successful 2024; and according to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Clifford Reis, the profits that were recorded reflect an increase of 17.7 per cent.

According to Reis in his Chairman’s Report, profit before tax was $16.9 billion, an increase of $2.4 billion compared to the $14.5 billion that was recorded in

2023. This means that more than $6 billion was paid in taxes in 2024.

The company also explained in its report that it had $71.6 billion in its reserves after paying out dividends. The company noted that it paid $10.5 billion profit attributable to shareholders, to retained earnings.

“Our revenue growth has exceeded expectations, with a remarkable increase of 11 per cent and a net profit increase of 17.7 per cent compared to the last year. This achievement is a testament to our commitment, dedication, and the strategic initiatives we implemented in 2024.

“Upon the commencement of the operations of Banks DIH Holdings Inc. on July 19, 2024, the revenue for Banks DIH Limited for the period October 1, 2023 to July 18, 2024 was $39 billion, while the revenue for Banks DIH Limited for the period July 19, 2024 to September 30, 2024 was $9.7 billion.”

This, according to the company, resulted in overall revenue of $48.8 billion,

compared to the $44 billion that was recorded in 2023.

According to Banks DIH, this is an increase in revenue of $4.7 billion, or 11 per cent.

Meanwhile, some of the company’s achievements for 2024 were highlighted, such as the fact that they successfully launched a number of new products. These include the XM aged 25-year-old Caribbean finest rum, classic beer, Minute Maid fruit cooler and King’s Danish pastry.

Additionally, Banks DIH concluded a multiyear agreement with the General Workers Union. It had been revealed in October by Finance Director of Banks DIH Limited, Deonarain Seepaul, that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Banks DIH Limited and the General Workers’ Union (GWU) at the Labour Ministry in Georgetown.

According to Seepaul, the agreement was a significant milestone and underscored the company’s commitment to job security, medical ben-

Prison officer jailed for 3 years for trafficking ganja at Mazaruni Prison

A21-year-old prison officer has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to narcotics possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Joel Johnson, an officer stationed at the Mazaruni Prison, appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, and was eventually sentenced to jail for the illegal possession of 804 grams of cannabis.

Johnson, who resides at Section ‘C’ Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara, was arrested on January 14 after being subjected to a routine search upon his return to duty at the Mazaruni Prison. The search, which took place at the Mazaruni

Checkpoint/ Scanning Area, revealed a suspicious green haversack containing eight Irish

and two

es.

efits, life insurance, and retirement benefits.

Additionally, he had highlighted that the negotiations were concluded swiftly, resulting in a 25 per cent wage increase and enhanced benefits over three years.

He had also taken the opportunity to emphasize the importance of sustainability for shareholders, employees, suppliers, and customers. GWU President Norris Witter had meanwhile emphasized the smooth and non-adversarial nature of the negotiations, which were completed in five days over 30 working hours.

Banks DIH had also

ventured into the automative industry, commissioning its subsidiary, Banks Automotive and Services Incorporated (BASI), during which it unveiled its US$13 million six-storey parking facility situated at Plantation Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The facility, which measures 208,000 square feet, will now allow 350 of the company’s employees to park freely and comfortably. It will also house the automotive dealership on the ground floor, while the sixth floor is earmarked for a fine-dining restaurant.

The company is the official dealer for UniCarriers

forklift trucks, Daikin Air Conditioning Units, SWM vehicles, Shineray vans and buses, Sportrak tyres, and Keeway motorcycles in Guyana. It had also been announced that the company was in talks with General Motors on potential collaboration.

General Motors is an American multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is primarily known for owning and manufacturing four automobile brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick. (G3)

Inside these items, the prison officer was found to be carrying leaves, seeds, and stems that tested positive for cannabis.

Following the discovery, Johnson was arrested by fellow prison officers, and the police were called to the scene. The drugs, totalling 804 grams, were handed over to ranks from the Bartica Police Station.

When he appeared before the court, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act Chapter 10:10; and Magistrate Mohamed sentenced him to three years in prison and fined him $30,000.

Spring soap boxes

Colgate toothpaste box

Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis

Jailed: Joel Johnson

The drugs that were found hidden in the prison officer’s possession

Fix today for a better tomorrow – Pres Ali encourages citizens to resolve issues

In a community outreach held on Wednesday at Timehri Red Ground, President Dr. Irfaan Ali delivered a powerful and urgent message, in which he urged citizens to take immediate action to resolve issues, and stressed that addressing problems today would alleviate the burdens faced by future generations.

His words reflected the Government’s unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous Guyana.

“Don’t postpone an opportunity today as a problem for the next generation or for your children. If together we can work on an opportunity today to resolve your issues —whether it’s squatting — let us work together so that your children don’t inherit that burden. That is my philosophy,” President Ali declared as he called on every citizen to contribute to solving today’s problems.

those who come after us,” he emphasized as he reinforced the importance of collective action.

The President’s comprehensive initiative seeks to enhance local security with practical measures like street lighting, the installation of CCTV cameras, and the upgrading of community infrastructure. These initiatives are designed not only to make communities safer, but also to improve the overall environment.

“All of this adds to the value of life, the quality of life, and even the value of your homes,” President Ali explained as he underscored the broader impact of such improvements.

educational opportunities. Access to essential services like water would also be prioritized, with a focus on ensuring sustainable solutions for all. The President reaffirmed his commitment to working with local entities to complete small projects and resolve service delivery gaps.

Over the past six weeks, President Ali has visited communities across the country, consistently focusing on how best to invest in, and empower, local areas. According to the head of state, these engagements highlight his vision of a unified, cooperative Guyana, wherein communities join forces to find solutions that enhance quality of life and contribute to national progress.

“This year, we want to focus heavily on community investment — how we can

help the NDCs with resources so they can be more involved, better equipped, and more empowered… In this ‘One Guyana’ concept, it’s about how we work together to support each other, build stronger communities, and leave a greater country for

In addition to security, President Ali outlined his commitment to addressing the diverse needs of communities — whether it’s the development of recreational facilities, building community markets, or expanding

Demonstrating his proactive approach, President Ali also announced a plan to urgently address the rehabilitation of a local community centre. “We have to fix this, and fix it very quickly,” he asserted as he instructed Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, to spearhead a task force with the Men on Mission team to ensure swift action and progress.

President Ali’s outreaches focus on community empowerment and sustainable development, which remain central to his vision of a united, prosperous Guyana. (G1)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Guyana-Suriname gas collaboration

Reserves among technical issues being ironed out – Bharrat

Talks at a technical level continue on Guyana and Suriname’s potential collaboration for gas development, with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat revealing that that ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS), Joslyn McKenzie, is among senior officials who are leading discussions on the matter with Suriname.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Minister Bharrat provided an update on the potential collaboration between Guyana and Suriname regarding gas development. He noted that technical matters, including details about gas reserves, are currently under review.

Since both countries are part of the Guiana Shield, it is envisioned that there are vast gas reserves between both countries, and there is scope for collaboration to explore for, exploit, and max-

imize the value of this gas.

“PS is our point person at the Ministry. It’s more technical now. We’ve been sharing information with Suriname. Suriname has been sharing information with us. Basically, the two groups have been meeting virtually at a technical level, sharing information,” the minister detailed.

“You would know that they’re the ones sharing information and doing technical work, but decisions will have to be made at the policy level. We haven’t reached that stage yet, where the technical team is in a position to prepare reports and submit it for policy direction,” the minister clarified. However, a potential challenge has arisen, as Suriname’s elections are scheduled for May 2025. According to Bharrat, the election period in Suriname is likely to cause a slowdown

in progress on the GuyanaSuriname gas collaboration.

“But at the same time, I don’t want to preempt, but you know Suriname is going into an election soon. Their election is in May, so they’ve already started campaigning. So, I’m not sure how far we’ll go with it from then; but from our end, we’re willing to continue the talks. From our end, PS McKenzie, he’s the focal person,” the minister detailed.

“The meeting that we had with the Vice President, myself and the reps from Suriname, Minister Ramdin and others, we’ve identified the PS, Bobby and the others to work with him, and they’ve been doing that. Constant engagement, sharing of information, but we haven’t reached the stage where there’s a report for policy decision,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, one of the matters being examined in the discussions is the reserves of gas held by both countries. While Guyana is estimated to have 17 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, Suriname’s reserves are estimated at around 12 trillion cubic feet.

“We’ve been looking at the reserves. That’s one. We’ve been looking at the reserves on both sides. That is a big part of the conversation. Because if we don’t know the reserves, then we

can’t move forward. That’s the first thing: sharing of information on the reserves and looking at other technical cooperation too,” Bharrat detailed.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has consistently touted a regional energy corridor as Guyana moves to monetize its gas resources, which will be an independent project from the model Gas-toEnergy (GtE) initiative that is currently under construction at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The GtE project comprises a Natural Gas

Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt power plant utilizing the rich natural gas from the Liza Fields in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

United States energy firm Fulcrum LNG Inc was selected to work in a tripartite arrangement with the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil to develop a potential gas project. President Ali, back in June 2024, had touted several projects that are being considered for this gas monetization plan, including a shore base facility, an addi-

tional power plant, and a potential joint alumina plant facility between Guyana and Suriname. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies and its partner, APA Corporation, had reached a US$10 billion deal for Suriname’s first oil development offshore in Block 58, which will see its first oil by 2028. Based on the oil contract, Suriname’s state oil company Staatsolie will have a 20 per cent stake in the operation, and the country would benefit from a 6.2 per cent royalty payment. (G3)

BritCham signs biodiversity conservation pact with Iwokrama Centre

The Iwokrama Centre (IIC) and the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham) on Wednesday signed a pact to promote and support conservation and sustainable forest management in Guyana.

At the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) of Iwokrama, Dane Gobin, welcomed the collaboration between the two entities.

“The Centre warmly welcomes this partnership with BritCham, as it is testimony to the good intentions of the chamber’s membership in Guyana to operate in accordance with environmen-

tal best practices. This news is timely, and comes a few months after the Centre announced that King Charles III has renewed the Royal Patronage of Iwokrama”, he said.

The MoU would allow IIC and Britcham to collaborate and promote, through Iwokrama, projects and activities related to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS): including, but not limited to, sustainable rainforest management and coastal and marine ecosystems, and action on climate change.

The partnership is keen to develop and implement joint initiatives, which can include collaboration on social and biological assessments, education and awareness, livelihoods initiatives, research, sustainable forest management, and fundraising.

Chairman of BritCham Guyana, Faizal Khan, has said the MoU reaffirms his organization’s commitment towards preserving Guyana’s unique biodiversity.

“BritCham Guyana is proud to partner with Iwokrama Conservation through this MoU, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and responsible business.This partnership aligns with our mission to balance economic growth with the preservation of

Guyana’s unique biodiversity. Inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, Britain’s Head of State and Patron of Iwokrama. We are dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and environmental stewardship across our network.”

Also present was British High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E Jane Miller, who noted, “The UK has had a very long relationship with Iwokrama, and is delighted by this partnership. The British High Commission remains committed to working with Guyana to preserve this country’s stunning nature and biodiversity. This MOU between BritCham and Iwokrama is another testament to this commitment.”

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) is an autonomous, non-profit institution established by Guyana and the Commonwealth.

Through the dedication of approximately 360,000 hectares (nearly one million acres) of intact tropical rain forest by the Government and People of Guyana to the International Community, Iwokrama aims to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used for ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international communities.

The responsibility for management, conservation and sustainable devel-

opment of this forest area (the Iwokrama Forest) was entrusted to the Iwokrama International Centre through the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development Act, Act No 7 of 1996, and an Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth signed in November 1995.

The Iwokrama Centre is, as an autonomous corporate body, governed by an International Board of Trustees.

Six percent (approximately 22,000 hectares) of the Iwokrama Forest is legally owned by Fair View Village through Amerindian Land Title, obtained in July 2006.

The Guiana Shield

Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources Ministry, Joslyn McKenzie

BritCham Chairman Faizal Khan and Iwokrama CEO Dane Gobin, along with British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, at the signing ceremony

Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (IIC)

Bishops’ High School to get $129M library block, other improved facilities

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday met with the Board and PTA of The Bishop’s High School to announce the construction of a modern library block valued at $129 million.

This transformative project represents a significant step toward enhancing the academic and practical learning environment for students.

The new library block, which will be constructed by Apex Engineering over a nine-month period, is designed to serve as a state-ofthe-art resource hub, providing students with access to modern facilities and fostering a culture of academic excellence.

A mobilisation fee of $19.3 million has already been allocated, signalling the Ministry of Education’s commitment to timely and efficient execution.

The award for construction of the school’s library was awarded through a public bidding process conducted in accordance with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, and in compliance with the Public Procurement

Act.

In addition to the library, the school would benefit from a series of other critical infrastructure improvements.

These include the repair and upgrade of Biology Labs 1 and 2, Physics Labs 1 and 2, the Agricultural Science Room, the Preparation Room, and the Chemistry Lab. To further support hands-on learning, a manufacturing space will be created for Agricultural Science students, allowing them to develop practical skills aligned with their curriculum.

The repositioning of the canteen and the Home Economics Room is also part of the school’s upgrade plan. These changes aim to optimize space usage and enhance the functionality of key facilities, ensuring that students can benefit from a more efficient and comfortable environment.

These upcoming initiatives build upon recently completed works at the school, which include the construction of a new annex, electrical rehabilitation of an older wing, upgrades to the auditorium, extensive repairs to the roof, and

rehabilitation of the Home Economics Department and carpentry throughout the building.

Over $71 million was spent on maintenance projects at The Bishop’s High School in 2024, covering electrical works, plumbing, roof repairs, and general building upgrades. These investments highlight the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining high standards across the education sector.

During her meeting with the Board and PTA, Manickchand emphasized the importance of involving parents in discussions about the school’s future. She noted that their input and support are vital to the success of these initiatives.

Parents expressed gratitude for the construction of the library block, alongside the repositioning and enhancement of various facilities, which underscore the Ministry of Education’s dedication to advancing the quality of education. These projects are part of a broader vision to create learning environments in which students can thrive academically and personally, preparing them for a bright future.

Over 25,000 Guyanese employed as investors grow in forestry sector

Guyana’s forestry sector has attracted several new investors and has expanded to employ more than 25,000 Guyanese over the past few years, due to the outstanding performance of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat shared these sentiments on Tuesday as he lauded his ministry’s achievements during a press conference at the GFC’s Head Office on Water Street, Georgetown.

Bharrat explained that as a result of the added investors and spike in both direct and indirect employment, the sector’s production was hiked to 20,000 cubic metres in 2024, and a total of 12 lumber yards and 25 new sawmills were opened across the country last year. This indicates the significant strides made by investors to boost the forestry sector while providing employment opportunities to persons within various communities.

“It shows clearly that the confidence has been renewed in Guyanese, investors and stakeholders to invest in the forestry sector,” the minister is quoted in a DPI report as saying.

There has also been an increase in the number of furniture factories, while several companies have invested in kiln drying process of wood. This process leads to better quality of wood products and, by extension, enhances the qual-

ity of the products being exported as well.

Bharrat, the DPI report stated, revealed that the GFC is tasked with looking at the forest economy and how alternative economic opportunities can be created in forest communities, apart from harvesting trees. He further explained that this would tie into the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) that focuses on keeping the deforestation rate at a minimum.

“We probably have the lowest deforestation rates in

the world, even lower than our target set in the LCDS. Moving towards value-added and finding alternative economic opportunities in forested communities will significantly go towards reducing deforestation even further,” the minister has said.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had previously proposed honey production as an additional economic opportunity within the forestry industry, and the CFC is also looking at the possibility of bamboo cultivation.

Construction worker remanded for robbery under arms

Marlon Rodrigues was remanded to prison on Wednesday after appearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty in her Georgetown court to answer a charge of robbery under arms.

This 23-year-old construction worker, of 1A Perry Street in Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, is accused of robbing Rupnarine Kurpaul of a cell phone valued at $34,000 on January 13, 2025, while armed with a knife.

The court heard that on the day in question, Kurpaul was approached by Rodrigues on Commerce Street, Georgetown at around 17:00h. Rodrigues allegedly threatened Kurpaul with a knife and stole his phone. A commotion ensued, and public-spirited citizens chased Rodrigues. He was later spotted and apprehended by a police officer who was on duty. Both the stolen phone and the weapon used in the robbery were recovered, and Rodrigues was later taken into custody.

Objecting to bail by citing

Remanded: Marlon Rodrigues

the seriousness of the offence and the penalties associated with the charge, the prosecution further stated that, while at the police station, Kurpaul positively identified Rodrigues and the stolen cellular phone.

Appearing unrepresented by legal counsel, Rodrigues pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was remanded to prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 5, 2025, for further proceedings.

Education Minister Priya Manikchand meeting with members of the Board and PTA of the Bishops’ High School

GWI commissions $7.3M solar power plant for Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) on Wednesday commissioned a $7.3M solar power plant for the Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant. Installation of the 300kW Grid-Tie Solar photovoltaic system (solar PV) at Port Mourant, which has a capacity of 6.9 million litres per day), would initially benefit 18 villages from Miss Phoebe to Nigg on the Corentyne, covering 3.2km. The plant currently serves a customer base of over 4,500 households and approximately 16,000 residents.

Prime Minister Brigadier (R’td) Mark Phillips, speaking at the commissioning ceremony, said the project should result in a reduction in disruption of water supply.

“Today, with this project, we are ensuring water security for over 16,000 residents. In 2024, we have invested in increasing the power capacity by 124 megawatts,” he declared.

He noted that since the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) took office in 2022, the administration has invested in more that 45 per-

cent of renewable energy into the system. Over the next five years, according to the Prime Minister, the focus will be on renewable energy.

“I am told that that this solar farm here at Port Mourant is just the first of such farms that will be interested with the GWI water treatment facilities across Guyana,” PM Philips said.

Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister Colin Croal explained that the solar farm at Port Mourant was a first for GWI.

Amerindian Affairs Minister says ALT a success story

…after Amerindian Land

Titling

project was stalled under previous Govt

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, has described the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project as a success story for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, with eight additional land titles having been granted to villages in 2024.

Speaking during a recent press conference at that ministry’s headquarters, Minister Sukhai said the PPP/C government had to revitalize the land titling process after it was stalled under the former administration.

According to a DPI release, certificates of title were granted to Karasabai in Region Nine and Arrau in Region Seven. Six absolute grants were issued to Hotoquai, Hobodai, and Red Hill in Region One, Akiwini in Region Two and Moco Moco and Sawariwau in Region Nine.

A total of seven demarcations were conducted by the ministry, demonstrating the accelerated approach to advancing the land tenure project, and some 21 land titles were granted to Amerindian villages in four years.

The release noted that

the ALT project is a transformative initiative that empowers Amerindian communities to secure official recognition and legal ownership of their lands and natural resources.

By facilitating titling and demarcation, the project enhances land tenure security and expands the communities’ asset base, supporting long-term planning for sustainable development and well-being.

With secure land tenure, Amerindian commu-

nities can leverage their land’s value to attract additional funding and resources. The Amerindian Act (2006) mandates that Amerindian titled lands be demarcated by the State. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs allocates funds for demarcation costs through its annual capital budget under the Amerindian Development Fund. Some $800 million was allocated for this purpose in 2024, the DPI reported.

“The commissioning of this facility signals another step forward in our Government’s commitment to improving the provision of safe, clean, and reliable water across the nation, while at the same time being mindful of the effects of climate change and taking action to reduce our carbon footprint by using solar energy,” he stated.

Minister Croal noted that the project aims to tackle two very critical global challenges that the world is facing – climate change and sustainable water management.

“Access to potable water is not merely a basic necessity; it is a fundamental right and an essential

pillar for national development. By incorporating renewable energy through this 300-kilowatt PV system, we are not only significantly reducing the plant’s operational costs, but also contributing to Guyana’s broader commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy,” he said. This, he pointed out, aligns with Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

“This project also underscores our Government’s dedication to ensuring that no region is left behind. We are working diligently to expand water infrastructure across the length and breadth of our country, ad-

dressing the needs of both urban and rural communities. As we invest in renewable technologies like solar power, we are taking decisive steps toward a future where sustainable development is not a concept but a reality,” Minister Croal said.

Funding for the project was made possible through assistance of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) with grants from the European Union under the EU-GCCA+ Programme, and was implemented by CARIFORUM with support from the Department of Environment and Clinmate Change and the Office of the President. (G4)

GNBS urges importers, manufacturers to get registered to avoid delays

Head of Corporate Communications of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Lloyd David, is urging importers, manufacturers and dealers to get registered with the GNBS, as it is a legal requirement and must be renewed annually at the beginning of the year.

“If you’re importing any of the products monitored by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, which include electrical appliances, tyres, PVC pipes, garments, and footwear, you are required to register with

the GNBS as an importer or a manufacturer of those products,” David has said.

According to a DPI report, David also noted that dealers of products such as cellular phones, furniture, electrical fittings and equipment are also required to register with the GNBS.

“There is a difference. If you are an importer, you register as an importer; if you are a dealer, you are required to have a permit… and you must register with the GNBS for 2025,” David has said.

Emphasising the impor-

tance of registering with the GNBS to avoid potential disruptions, David explained,

“If an importer or dealer is not registered with the GNBS, then they will not be allowed to import their products into the country, or be able to see the products on the local markets.”

It is crucial to note that registration must be completed before products can be examined and released. Application forms for registration are available on the GNBS website www. gnbsgy.org.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai (DPI photo)

Head of Corporate Communications of the GNBS, Lloyd David

The $7.3M solar power plant for the Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant

Regional

Cuba begins releasing prisoners following Biden announcements

Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners jailed following anti-government protests in 2021, making good on a deal agreed with the Biden Administration this week.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Tuesday removed Cuba from a blacklist of nations that sponsor terrorism and rolled back a raft of sanctions implemented by Donald Trump during his first presidency that have contributed to the communist-run island's worst economic crisis in decades.

Hours after the US announcement, Cuban President Miguel DiazCanel said Cuba would "gradually" release 553 prisoners from its jails following talks with the Vatican.

In La Guinera, one of Havana's poorest outlying neighbourhoods and a hotspot for protests in 2021, Dariel Cruz Garcia walked alongside his mother on Wednesday morning, embracing neighbours and old friends.

Cruz Garcia, 23, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sedition following the protests. The sentence, which had since been reduced, has not been waived or commuted, he said, but officers Tuesday evening told him he could serve the remainder of his sentence from home.

"There was tremendous intrigue at the jail yesterday," he told Reuters after arriving back at his family house in La Guinera. "Everyone was talking about it and then they came to find me last night."

"I escaped from hell to be with my family. I'll behave myself so I can move on."

Cruz Garcia said several other prisoners who had been arrested following the 2021 protests and had been held with him had also been released.

Maricela Sosa, Vice

President of Cuba's highest court, said on Wednesday morning that those liberated would be monitored for good behaviour and could again be jailed should they violate terms of their parole.

"This is neither an amnesty nor a pardon," Sosa said on State-run television.

In the July 2021 protests – the biggest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution – thousands took to the streets in towns and cities across the island, many protesting shortages of food, medicine and electricity as COVID-19 cases soared.

Rights groups say at least 1000 persons were arrested after the demonstrations.

Cuba says those jailed committed crimes ranging from arson to vandalism and sedition.

Nervous anticipation

Human rights watchdogs said at least 15 prisoners had been released from jails as of mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

In La Guinera, anxious family members paced in dooryards and huddled in small groups, many discussing the release announcement.

Cruz Garcia's mother expressed relief over her son's release, but began to cry as she listed neighbours whose status remained uncertain.

"They're desperate, all waiting with tremendous anxiety for a call from their children," she said.

Reuters spoke with four other family members in La Guinera still awaiting news of their loved ones, all detained following the 2021 protests.

Emilio Roman, 53, said he has three sons in jail, convicted of sedition and other crimes after shouting for freedom during the protests.

"These kids haven't done enough to deserve those long sentences," he said tearfully. "It's an abuse what the Government has done."

Biden's actions – should they endure a review by incoming President-elect Trump and the US Congress – would mark the most significant detente in US-Cuba relations since the Obama era.

Trump, a harsh Cuba critic who designated the island a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021, has yet to personally comment on this week's developments.

But Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for Secretary of State, said on Wednesday during his confirmation hearing that the measures were not set in stone.

"Nothing that was agreed to is irreversible or binding on the new administration," he said. (Reuters)

Venezuela inflation was 48% year-onyear in 2024, Maduro tells lawmakers

Venezuela inflation was 48 per cent annually in 2024, the lowest in 12 years, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told lawmakers in an annual address to the national assembly and other officials on Wednesday, just days after he was inaugurated for a third term.

Maduro, whose nearly 12 years in office have been marked by deep economic and social crisis and mass migration, was sworn in for a third term on Friday, despite a six-month-long election dispute and international calls for him to stand aside.

The government has em-

ployed orthodox methods to try to tamp down inflation, which has reached triple digits in recent years, with some success. Inflation was 189.8 per cent in 2023, according to the central bank. Maduro said this month that the economy grew nine per cent last year. (Reuters)

J’can Justice Minister advises MPs to refuse divulging spouses’, children’s salaries to Integrity Commission

Jamaican Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says he has advised Members of Parliament (MPs) not to divulge the salaries of their spouses or children to the Integrity Commission (IC) during the course of its investigations.

He also wants limits to be placed on the IC in terms of what it can and cannot investigate.

Chuck made the admission on Tuesday

during a brief meeting of Parliament’s Integrity Commission Oversight Committee. He regards such information as the personal business of spouses or children.

According to Chuck, some MPs have asked him if it is right for the IC to be requesting information regarding the salaries of their spouse and children.

“Why is the Integrity Commission asking mem-

bers to indicate the salaries of their spouse or sometimes of their children? I don’t know if this is something that is appropriate, because I have advised the relevant members, let them know your spouse is not prepared to divulge their salary,” he said, adding that by doing so the MPs are not able to share the information.

The legislation, which is under review, speaks to the issue Chuck finds offensive.

Section 40 (1) of the Integrity Commission Act states “A statutory declaration shall include such particulars as are known to the declarant of the income, assets and liabilities of the spouse and children, where applicable, of the declarant.”

Meanwhile, Chuck again took issue with the fact that, nearly two years on, the IC is yet to indicate which six parliamentarians were under probe for illicit enrichment. That number rose to eight when two more were mentioned last year in the IC’s annual report. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

T&T CoP defends officers’ commitment, says their doors are always open to public

Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Erla HarewoodChristopher is strongly defending her officers’ commitment and readiness to serve the public following claims by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that cops are hiding in stations from criminals.

In a media release, Harewood-Christopher reassured citizens that the doors of the Police Stations are “always open”.

Dr Rowley made the remarks during his opening address on a motion to extend the State of Emergency (SoE) for an additional three months in the Lower House on Monday. He lamented that crime had become so rampant in some areas that officers were overwhelmed by the danger posed by criminals.

“Police Officers whose job it is to protect us and to secure us, in some districts at night are so afraid of criminals that they close the police station door, turn off the lights, and be inside there, hoping the criminals don’t come,” he said.

Addressing concerns raised by Dr Rowley, Harewood-Christopher acknowledged the challenging environment law enforcement officers face, but stressed that their dedication to duty is unwavering. “I wish to reassure the public of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s dedication and unwavering commitment to performing its policing functions.”

The Top Cop assured the national community that “the men and women of the TTPS are trained, dedicated, and resolute in their mission to protect and serve every citizen, even in the face of imminent danger”. They have demonstrated this in the past, she said, and are committed to maintaining that standard of performance. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Dariel Cruz, 23, who has just been released from jail, walks down the road towards his family house in La Guinera neighbourhood, Havana, Cuba, January 15, 2025 (Reuters/David Sherwood photo)

Jamaican Justice Minister Delroy Chuck

Trinidad and Tobago Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher

Around the World

Oil rallies, settles at multimonth high on US crude draw, Russia

OIsrael, Hamas reach ceasefire deal to end 15 months of war in Gaza

Hsanctions

il prices rose more than two per cent on Wednesday, supported by a large draw in US crude stockpiles and potential supply disruptions caused by new US sanctions on Russia, while a Gaza ceasefire deal limited gains.

Brent crude futures settled US$2.11, or 2.64 per cent, higher at US$82.03 a barrel, the highest since August 2024. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up US$2.54, or 3.28 per cent, at $80.04 a barrel, the highest since July.

In post-settlement trade, Brent rose to the highest since July and WTI gained more than US$3 a barrel.

US crude oil inventories fell last week to their lowest since 2022, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported, as exports rose and imports fell. Gasoline and distillate inventories rose more than expected.

"The crude oil draw was largely on import-export dynamics," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. "The exports are hard to believe," he added, pointing to the fact that many were booked before the sanctions announcement.

The latest round of US sanctions on Russian oil could disrupt Russian oil supply and distribution significantly, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report.

Jitters over sanctions seem to be supporting prices, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Tankers carrying Russian crude seem to be struggling offloading their cargoes around the world, potentially driving some shortterm tightness," he added.

Limiting the gains, Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to an official.

Concerns over supply disruption eased with the IsraelHamas ceasefire deal reached, Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group, said. Investors remained focused on signs of a strengthening economy and oil demand, he added.

The dollar index slipped on Wednesday after US data showed consumer prices rose slightly above expectations in December, heightening expectations for more interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

A weaker dollar usually supports oil prices and lower interest rates can boost economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) expects global oil demand to rise by 1.43 million barrels per day in 2026, maintaining a similar growth rate to 2025, the producer group said. (Reuters)

US

TikTok users scramble, despair as Bytedance waves the white flag

Disappointment, denial and confusion flooded US TikTok on Wednesday upon hearing the news that Chinese owner ByteDance planned to shut off the app for its 170 million US users by Sunday, seemingly throwing in the towel on efforts to keep the popular video-sharing platform going.

Users who have amassed followings and careers on the app hoped for months that TikTok would find a way to avoid a US ban passed into law in 2023. But resignation and anger have begun to set in, with January 19 just a few days away.

"TikTok signalling that white flag is very discouraging and very sad," said Joonsuk Shin, 28, a research manager and content creator based in New York.

Some users called for a boycott of apps like Instagram and Facebook,

owned by Meta Platforms, and X, owned by Elon Musk, which are expected to pull in advertisers who used TikTok frequently.

"We all need to delete our Facebook, X and Instagram accounts that same day," one user said.

ByteDance was given until January 19 to sell the U.S. assets of TikTok or face a US ban, following lawmakers' concerns that the app poses national security risks because China could compel the company to share the data of its US users. TikTok has denied that it has or ever would share US user data.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have sought to delay the law's implementation, which they say violates the US Constitution's First Amendment protection against Government abridgment of free speech. (Excerpt from Reuters)

amas and Israel reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that mediators said would take effect on Sunday and include a release of hostages held there during 15 months of bloodshed that devastated the Palestinian enclave and inflamed the Middle East.

The complex phased accord outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands have been killed. Hostages taken by militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

At a news conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday. Negotiators are working with Israel and Hamas on steps implementing the deal, he said.

"This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity," US President Joe Biden said in Washington.

Despite the breakthrough, residents said Israeli airstrikes continued on Wednesday evening in Gaza, where more than 46,000 persons have been killed in the conflict, according to local health authorities. Strikes on Gaza City

and northern Gaza killed at least 32 persons, medics said.

A Palestinian official close to the talks said mediators were trying to get both sides to stop hostilities before the truce starts on Sunday.

Palestinians responded to news of the deal by celebrating in the streets of Gaza, where they have faced severe shortages of food, water, shelter and fuel. In Khan Younis, throngs clogged the streets amid the sounds of horns as they cheered, waved Palestinian flags and danced.

"I am happy. Yes, I am crying, but those are tears of joy," said Ghada, a displaced mother of five.

In Tel Aviv, families of Israeli hostages and their friends rejoiced at the news, saying in a statement they felt "overwhelming joy and relief (about) the agreement to bring our loved ones home".

Israel's acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country's security cabinet and government, with votes slated for today, an Israeli official said.

The accord was expected to win approval despite opposition from some hardliners in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition Government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who repeated his condemnation of the agreement on Wednesday.

Netanyahu called Biden and US President-elect Donald Trump to thank them and said he would visit Washington soon, his office said.

In a social media statement announcing the ceasefire, Hamas called the pact "an achievement for our people" and "a turning point".

If successful, the ceasefire will halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza and displaced most of the tiny enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million.

That in turn could defuse tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has stoked conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between

arch regional foes Israel and Iran.

Phase one of the deal entails the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including all women, children and men over 50. Two American hostages, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, were among those to be released in the first phase, a source said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed the agreement in a post on X as did leaders and officials from Turkey, Britain, the United Nations, Jordan, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

On his Truth Social media site, Trump said the deal would not have happened if he had not won the US election in November. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Los Angeles wildfires rage as strong winds put millions on alert

Firefighters on Wednesday confronted persistently strong and dry winds fuelling two giant wildfires that have terrified Los Angeles for eight days, testing the resolve of a city upended by the worst disaster in its history.

Officials urged residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice with peak wind gusts forecast to last through this afternoon.

Some 6.5 million people remained under a critical fire threat, after the fires consumed an area nearly the size of Washington, DC, resulting in at least 25 deaths so far, authorities said.

"We want to reiterate the particularly dangerous situation today. Get ready now and be prepared to leave," County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told a press conference on Wednesday.

Although anticipated winds of up to 112 kilometres per hour (70 mph) had yet to materialise, firefighters reported winds of 48 to 64 kph (30 to 40 mph) combined with low humidity in a

region that has failed to receive any appreciable rain in nine months.

The fires have damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures, and forced as

many as 200,000 people from their homes. Some 82,400 people were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings as of Wednesday, County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

A man waves Palestinian flags as Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, January 15, 2025 (Reuters/Ramadan Abed photo)

Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, leaving smouldering ash and rubble. Many homes only have a chimney stack left standing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Firefighters work during the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, California, US, January 8, 2025 (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni photo)

Tidy up, clear a passage that leads to what you want to do next and get started. An energetic approach to life will help you stay in shape and take better care of yourself and what and who you value.

Curb your emotions and concentrate on what you must achieve. The more focused you are, the less criticism and interference you'll encounter. Be blunt and stick close to home and the people you love.

Don't push your luck with people in the know; if you mislead or promise the impossible, you'll face the consequences. A tempting offer will be a trap that you should avoid.

Concentrate on getting ahead. Communication and following through with your promises will put you in command. Reward yourself; it will give you the boost you need to outperform the competition.

Money and emotions will lead to unnecessary purchases. If you need a place to reflect, take a walk in the woods. Returning to nature will improve your perspective and encourage a happier lifestyle.

The response you receive from others will tell you what to consider doing next. Simplicity and a tight budget will help ease stress and offer freedom to do something you enjoy.

Listen and learn. Put a call out to experts; it will spark your imagination and help you personalize the information you gather to fine-tune what you want to pursue.

Don't bank on someone else changing to suit your needs. Size up a partnership situation and take care of what matters to you most.

Look for opportunities and partnerships, and study the most efficient and budget-friendly ways to follow through with your plans. Avoid negative people and put your best foot forward.

Make a point to talk to experts, expand your mind and discover what's available to you. A job offer or promotion is within reach if you take the initiative, send out resumes or pick up additional skills.

Observation will help you avoid a mistake. You may crave change, but sit tight if the timing is off. Spend more time rearranging or clearing your space to suit your needs.

You can be receptive without going overboard. An offer that isn't applicable to your situation has no value. Choose what makes the most sense and offers you something of value.

ARCHIE

Mandhana and Rawal's tons fire India to record win

On a record-shattering day in Rajkot, India’s women registered their biggest win in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. They beat Ireland by 304 runs in the third and final match of the series, thus completing the whitewash. Their previous biggest win was also against Ireland, in 2017, when they had beaten them by 249 runs in Potchefstroom.

Batting first, India piled up 435 for 5, their highest ODI total, going past the 370 for 5 they made in the previous game. Overall, this was the fourth-highest total in women's ODIs.

Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana led the way by smashing the fastest ODI hundred by an India batter. She reached the mark in 70 balls, breaking

India batters have a higher individual score in the format: Deepti Sharma (188) and Harmanpreet (171*).

Mandhana and Rawal added 233 for the first wicket, the third-highest opening stand for India in ODIs. The floodgates had opened as early as the third over when Rawal hit Orla Prendergast for three fours. By the end of the sixth over, she had moved to 29 off 25 with the help of six fours.

Mandhana did not have much strike till then. She even got a life in the seventh over when wicketkeeper

Christina Coulter Reilly, standing up to Arlene Kelly, failed to grab an outside edge. Mandhana was on 12 off 13 at that point, but took over the aggressor's role after that, hitting Kelly for two fours in that over. In the seamer's next over, Mandhana hit her for two sixes and a four.

Mandhana and Rawal brought up India's hundred in the 13th over. This was their fourth century stand in just six innings they have opened together.

Soon after that, Mandhana reached her fifty, off just 39 balls. Rawal fol-

lowed suit; hers coming off 52 balls. It was her fourth 50-plus score in six ODIs. Mandhana was now batting on a different plane. It felt more like a free-wheeling centre-wicket practice than a contest as she tried to dispatch as many balls to the boundary as possible. Ireland's wayward bowling and poor ground fielding helped her further. Such was her dominance that she left Rawal well be-

Harmanpreet

Kaur's record by 17 balls. In her 135 off 80 balls, Mandhana hit 12 fours and seven sixes. Her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, reached her maiden ODI hundred in 100 balls and went on to compile 154 off 129. Only two

hind. When she brought up her hundred, off 70 balls, Rawal was only on 72 off 69.

Mandhana was dismissed when she failed to clear short fine leg against Prendergast. But there was no respite for Ireland as Richa Ghosh, promoted to number three, took over the baton and scored 59 off 42. She and Rawal added 104 in 12 overs.

Rawal opened up after her hundred and raked in 54 off the next 29 balls she faced. This innings

took her ODI run tally to 444 – no batter has scored more in her first six innings. By then, there was more interest in if India could reach 400. They got there with four overs to spare, and then got some more. With Renuka Singh rested, Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare opened the bowling for India. Both picked up a wicket each with the new ball, but also conceded 15 extras in the first seven overs. India's fielding was also as poor as their counterparts, with Mandhana dropping a skier from Sarah Forbes off Deepti at extra cover.

Forbes and Prendergast made India pay for their mistakes and took the side to 85 for 2 after 14 overs.

Tanuja Kanwar broke the 64-run stand by dismissing Prendergast. The batter tried to steer her towards deep third, but failed to connect and was bowled. It was Kanwar's first wicket in ODIs. Three overs later, Forbes was run out going for a quick single.

Ireland capitulated after that. From 100 for 3, they were all out for 131. Deepti was the most successful bowler for India, with figures of 3 for 27. Kanwar chipped in with 2 for 31 and two batters were run out. (ESPNcricinfo)

Pratika Rawal brought up her maiden international hundred

Smriti Mandhana started sedately, but soon got the runs flowing

CWI launches high-performance initiatives to accelerate player, coach development

Cricket West Indies (CWI) started 2025 with three groundbreaking highperformance programmes aimed at elevating the standard of West Indies cricket across all levels. The initiatives brought together international expertise and regional talent in an unprecedented effort to strengthen both playing and coaching capabilities.

The first two initiatives focus on advanced batting techniques against spin bowling and enhancing spin bowling capabilities with a focus on wrist spin. The specialised High-Performance Batting Spin and Spin Bowling Camp began on January 11 and runs until January 17. It features 30 of the Region's

most promising players.

Under the guidance of Chennai Super Kings Academy Head Coach Sriram Krishnamurthi and spin bowling coach Amar Rashid, the six-day intensive programmes aim to refine participants’ skills. For players like Matthew Nandu (Guyana); Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica), and Kevin Wickham (Barbados), this camp builds on their experience at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in India last December, where they trained alongside four other West Indies players.

The third initiative is a Coaching Symposium, held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from January 13 to 15. The symposium aimed to enhance the

skillsets of regional franchise coaches while broadening their knowledge to support franchise and international players' development.

The symposium's key objectives included bringing clarity to coaches on the requirements for developing and managing players at the franchise level to meet the West Indies brand. It also aimed at empowering and enabling a collaborative learning community among coaches to achieve world-class outcomes.

The symposium featured newly-appointed West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy as one of six presenters over the three days. Coaches from the Chennai Super Kings

Batters Spin Bowlers

Kevlon Anderson

Jewel Andrew (U19)

Ackeem Auguste

Teddy Bishop

John Campbell

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Rivaldo Clarke

Joshua Dorne (U19)

Justin Jaggasar

Jordan Johnson

Kirk McKenzie

Matthew Nandu

Carlon Bowen-Tuckett

Kevin Wickham

Academy joined CWI Coaching Development Consultant James Davidson in delivering sessions.

In attendance were 11 franchise coaches and two from the Combined Campuses and Colleges team.

The symposium provided a platform for knowledge exchange and emphasised creating a pathway for coaching excellence in the Region.

CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe praised the three initiatives, stating:

“These parallel programmes represent a

Ryan Bandoo

Navin Bidaisee

Joshua Bishop

Yannic Cariah

Bryan Charles

Darel Cyrus

Mavendra Dindyal

Chaim Holder

Vitel Lawes (U19s)

Avinash Mahabirsingh

Abhijai Mansingh

Michael McKenzie (U19)

Zishan Motara

strategic investment in West Indies cricket's future. By bringing together international expertise with our regional talent, we are developing skills and building a sustainable cricket ecosystem. The combination of specialised player development through our High-Performance Camp and the elevation of coaching standards through the symposium creates a powerful framework for success. Particularly exciting for us is the way we have connected our recent initiatives, like the Chennai Super Kings Academy experience, with these

new programmes to create continuous development pathways. This comprehensive approach ensures we're developing both our current and next generation of cricket professionals in alignment with modern cricket demands.” Cricket West Indies remains committed to a comprehensive approach to player and coaching development, ensuring the Region’s cricket remains competitive and aligned with modern cricket demands. Eleven coaches from the six franchises attended the symposium, along with two coaches from the Combined Campuses and Colleges team.

GFF Referee Dept recognises top performances at Referee Awards Ceremony …FIFA

Tbadges issued

he Guyana Football Federation’s Referee Department

celebrated a year of stellar performances and achievements in football officiating during its Annual Referee Awards Ceremony, recently held at the Marriott Hotel.

The event was held as an opportunity to honour the achievements of referees who have contributed significantly to the development of football across the

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Special Awards. Shavin Greene was honoured with the Dianne Ferreira-James Award as Referee of the Year 2024. Brandon Cyrus received the Dianne FerreiraJames Award for Assistant Referee of the Year 2024, while Micah Erskine and Safiya Goulding were named Most Improved Referee of 2024 and Most Improved Assistant Referee of 2024, respectively. Special recognition was made of Kleon Lindey for his decade of service as a FIFA Assistant Referee, underscoring his immense contributions to the sport.

Adding to the night’s significance was the presentation of FIFA Badges to several distinguished referees. Shavin Greene was officially recognised as a FIFA Referee, while Kleon Lindey, Denisha Isaacs, Clenton Daniel and Brandon Cyrus were awarded FIFA Assistant Referee badges. Meanwhile, Colin Abel received his FIFA FUTSAL Referee badge, marking another milestone in Guyana’s growing presence in global football officiating. Natasha Lewis was also presented with an award for being the Referee Instructor of the Year.

look forward to even greater accomplishments in 2025.”

One of the most notable achievements he said, was the expansion of the referee pool through a recruitment drive that brought in 12 new officials, including four women, from Region Four.

This effort demonstrated the department’s commitment

During the ceremony, the GFF Head of Referees, Lenval Peart, reflected on the progress made in 2024 and the dedication of the awardees. “Our referees are the backbone of football, ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game. This year we’re going to be focusing on expanding our referee recruitment drive to all regions in Guyana. In addition, we will be placing more emphasis on referee recruitment for futsal.”

He added, “Last year was definitely a year to be proud of. From expanding our referee pool to introducing Guyana’s first female referee course, we are proud to be setting new standards in the Region. Tonight, we celebrate their contributions, and we

Another key accomplishment was Natasha Lewis’s participation in the FIFA MA Instructor Course held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She joined an elite group of instructors from across the Region, gaining invaluable experience and showcasing Guyana’s growing prominence in football officiating. This opportunity was a testament to both her personal dedication and the Federation’s efforts to create pathways for local referees to excel at an international level.

women to take on leadership roles in the sport.

In August, the FIFA MA Referee Course brought further recognition to the Federation’s efforts. From this programme, two individuals – a referee and an instructor – were selected to attend the FIFA Referee Academy in 2025. This achievement highlighted the quality of training offered by the Federation and the growing reputation of Guyanese referees on the global stage. Additionally, Brandon Cyrus and Safia Golding represented Guyana at the CFU U-14 Boys’ Challenge Series, officiating at key matches, including the semi-finals and the finals. Their performances were lauded as exemplary and a reflection of the Federation’s commitment to developing world-class referees.

During his address, the GFF Third Vice President commended the referees for their dedication to upholding fairness and integrity on the field. Reflecting on the history of the awards ceremony, he acknowledged its importance as a longstanding tradition and expressed his pride in its revival.

“Referees are the unsung heroes of football,” he remarked. “Your commitment to ensuring that the game is played fairly and with integrity is invaluable.”

The introduction of Guyana’s first-ever female referee course was a groundbreaking milestone for the Referee Department in 2024. The initiative, which was only the second of its kind in the Caribbean, was recognised by CONCACAF as a model for what referee development programmes should strive to achieve. The course underscored the department’s focus on increasing gender diversity within football officiating and empowering

Looking ahead to 2025, the Referee Department outlined ambitious plans to expand recruitment efforts into underserved regions and to enhance training opportunities for both referees and instructors. These initiatives are expected to address gaps in referee availability across the country and strengthen the overall quality of officiating.

Plans also include hosting additional FIFA courses to provide local referees with opportunities to further their skills and gain international exposure.

GHE 4-Day preparations…

Sinclair, Alimohamed light up GNS in 2nd practice match

Junior Sinclair and Ronaldo Alimohamed had a field day with the bowlers on Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) when the second practice match for the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) bowled off.

Nial Smith’s XI won the toss and opted to bat first

129 off 139 deliveries. Ronaldo Alimohamed prob ably mistook the 3-Day en counter for a T20 game, striking at 205.08, as he built a frustrating 179-run partnership with Sinclair.

Alimohamed got to 121 off 59 balls, encompass ing 10 fours and 11 six es before becoming Zeynul Ramsammy’s first victim

TTFA President Edwards welcomes friendly series against Jamaica …as Gold Cup prelims near

Tmammoth score in 83.5 overs, leaving justfore close of play for Savory’s XI to begin their Ramsammy had the most wickets for Savory’s XI in the team’s disastrousmance, -

Thaddeus Lovell (2-73 from 12 overs) and Isai Thorne (242 from 6 overs) all claimed two scalps each for Savory’s XI.

Smith’s XI managed to get in four overs with the ball before close of play, which saw their opponents getting to 19-0. Raymon Perez (10) and Brandon Jaikarran (4) will resume Day 2 today unbeaten. Savory’s XI currently trail by 453 runs.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles are preparing for the West Indies Regional 4-Day Championship which will bowl off at venues around the Caribbean on Wednesday, January 29. Guyana will play the first three rounds at home at the Providence venue with their first opponents being the Barbados Pride.

rinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President Kieron Edwards has warmly welcomed the upcoming two-match friendly series against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, as it will provide a much-needed test for both teams in preparation for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims in March.

The matches are scheduled for February 6 and February 9, with the first taking place at the Montego Bay Sports Complex at 8:30pm/20:30h (TT time) and the second at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston at 9:00pm/21:30h (TT time).

“These matches are crucial for our preparations as we look ahead to the Gold Cup preliminaries in March,” Edwards said.

“They will give our Head Coach, Dwight Yorke, an invaluable opportunity to assess a broader pool of players and fine-tune our preparations for the challenges ahead,” he added.

strategise for the upcoming Gold Cup preliminaries. Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors will face Cuba in a two-legged series, while Jamaica are set to cross swords with St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The friendlies, organised outside the FIFA window, provide an opportunity for both nations to evaluate their squads and

“No void” in GHE team in absence of senior players

The West Indies 4-Day Championship will bowl off on Wednesday, January 29 and as defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) embark on round one of the competition, there will be lots for the selectors to consider, as the team miss out on the services of a few of their more experienced players – at least for the first round owing to the West Indies v Pakistan Test series.

2024’s championship-winning captain, Tevin Imlach alongside spinners Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair will only be a few of the faces missing from the GHE set-up.

However, this is not much of a concern for Head Coach Ryan Hercules, who is confident that they will be able to fill those spots in the team.

Hercules divulged, “There’s a few guys whose name will be up,

so I say to them ‘when you get the opportunity, make the best of it’. Yes, there’s guys that’s going to be away, going to be for all the teams as well. So, we just make the best of what we have, let them come into the franchise, play good crick et, whoever get the opportunity to be a part of the team while those senior guys away. So it’s simply just being here, understanding the brand of cricket we play as a fran chise, and making the best use of the opportunity.”

Further, Hercules is of the opin ion that there will be no void left in the team due to the trio’s and other big stars’ absence.

“Obviously, senior guys miss ing from the team, yes, it’s a big loss. Nevertheless, we have guys that we’ve been working with over the past few months to take up these roles. If these guys get called up for West Indies duty, someone needs to step up and take that

part,” the Head Coach explained. He went on to emphasise, “So,

Soca Warriors Head Coach Yorke is expected to announce the squad for the friendlies later this month.

“We extend our gratitude to the Jamaica Football Federation for hosting us and providing this opportunity for both nations to compete, prepare, and grow together,” he stated.

The long-standing rivalry between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica adds further intrigue to the friendlies.

“We know how popular the Trinidad and Tobago-Jamaica rivalry is at all levels, and we expect these two matches to serve their purpose as it relates to overall preparations,” Edwards noted.

“At the TTFA, we remain committed to creating opportunities for our teams to be well-prepared for international competitions. These games reflect our ongoing efforts to entinues to progress and thrive on the global

well in the group,” Hercules said in response to inquiries regarding

West Indies Championship, followed by Combined Campuses and Colleges in round two. Both matches will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will take on Barbados Pride in the first round of the

GHE Head Coach Ryan Hercules

Ronaldo Alimohamed also took a liking to Savory XI’s bowling

Zeynul Ramsammy picked up three wickets

The Soca Warriors will take on the Reggae Boyz in two friendlies