Guyana Times - Thursday, January 18, 2024 by Gytimes

Consistency, efficiency expected as regional Criminal Bench Books distributed locally Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5615

P14

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

President Ali, Canadian UN Representative discuss shared regional & multilateral priorities Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Nurse, 2 children homeless after P2 fire destroys home

6 Venezuelan P9 children rescued after canoe sinks in Cuyuni River Mechanic gets bail on illegal ammo charge P8

President Dr Irfaan Ali with Canada’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Robert Rae; and Canada's High Commissioner to Guyana Mark Berman at State House on Wednesday evening (Office of the President photo)

…as Guyana meets ABCEU countries for monthly UNSC briefing

Venezuelans are P largest group 10 of foreigners in Guyana's prisons

Police being equipped to eliminate US$100M O&G training handwritten statements – AG institute at Port See story on page 7

Persons urged to New “grippy” drug voluntarily surrender from Venezuela illegal guns, ammo & Colombia on …"put it in a bag and throw it into Police Station" – Home Affairs Minister local cops' radar Page 12

Page 9

Son kills mother after crashing car into her Page 9

P15

Mourant to open its doors soon Joint Services find 10-acre P13 ganja farm along Berbice River …destroy millions worth of marijuana

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Nurse, 2 children homeless after fire destroys home

The aftermath of the fire

nurse and her two children are homeless after a fire destroyed their home at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice on Sunday morning. The home was a wooden structure situated at Lot 257 Fourth Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The nurse, Jonnel Giddings who is attached to the Whim Health Centre,

Jonnel Giddings

explained that she had gone out on Saturday evening and had left her two children, aged one and six, with relatives. At about 01:00h, a friend showed her a video of her house on fire, and after making a phone call which confirmed that the house was indeed hers, she had rushed home. “When I reach, the house was already gutted, and the

Fire Service was here and other persons from the community,” she said. The building was owned by an overseas-based Guyanese, and Giddings had been a tenant therein for the past four years. She detailed that all her belongings and those of her children have been destroyed by the fire. “Everything that a home was supposed to have was

destroyed. Things like normal living room settee and so on; television, refrigerator… just everything that a home supposed to have was destroyed,” she explained. According to Giddings, before she left home on Saturday evening, she had powered off one of her fans. “And then I cut off (power to) the TV and walked out of the house. I did not take off the light, because I was going out. I did not cook on Saturday because I don’t cook on Saturdays,” the woman said in tears. Giddings, who also rears chickens, said she would usually go to the market to sell the birds on Saturdays. She estimates her losses at around $700,000, noting that she also had $90,000 at home at the time. Her aim, she said, is to get back on her feet, and she is reaching out to the public for help. She can be contacted on telephone number (592) 669-4752. (G4)

NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 18 – 23:00h-00:30h and Friday, January 19 – No retraction. The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, January 18 – 09:30h-11:00h and Friday, January 19 – 10:45h-12:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers are expected in the morning and early-afternoon hours followed by sunshine, with partly cloudy to clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 5.81 metres. High Tide: 09:58h and 22:33h reaching maximum heights of 2.39 metres and 2.28 metres. Low Tide: 16:01h reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre.

Pres Ali, Canadian UN Representative discuss shared regional & multilateral priorities …as Guyana meets ABCEU countries for monthly UNSC briefing

resident Dr Irfaan Ali met with Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Robert Rae, to discuss the North American nation’s enhanced role in the Caribbean Region. The Canadian official, who was on a one-day official visit to Guyana, met the Guyanese Head of State on Wednesday evening at State House in Georgetown. A post on the President’s social media page said, “Discussions focused on shared regional and multilateral priorities, including issues within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Canada’s enhanced role in the Region.” President Ali is the current Chairman of Caricom. Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman; Political Counsellor at the Canadian High Commission, Caroline Mireault, and Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma were also part of the meeting. Meanwhile, Ambassador Rae also met with Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla

President Dr Irfaan Ali with Canada’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to UN, Robert Rae at State House on Wednesday evening

and the European Union – for the monthly dialogue on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). During the engagement, Minister Todd noted Guyana's chairmanship

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Change %

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$77.96/barrel

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$317.52/ton $637.70/ton

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Canadian UN Permanent Representative Robert Rae participated in a ABCEU meeting hosted by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd in Georgetown

Barnett, on Wednesday at the Caricom Secretariat at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. According to the Secretariat, “The discussions were fruitful and focused on mutual interests.” The Canadian UN Ambassador was joined by Mireault for that engagement as well. From the Secretariat, Caricom Assistant Secretary General (Foreign and Community Relations) Elizabeth Solomon; Senior Project Officer (Foreign Policy and Community Relations) Jhonson Alexandre, and Chef de Cabinet in the Office of the Secretary General, Ambassador Janice Miller were also in attendance. As part of his one-day official visit to Guyana, Ambassador Rae also participated in a meeting hosted by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd on Wednesday. The meeting was held with the representatives of the ABCEU countries – America, Britain, Canada

of the Council in February 2024, and informed the officials of Guyana's Signature Event, which will be presided over by President Ali. According to the Foreign Ministry, the dialogue was intended to connect Georgetown with the respective capitals on UN Security Council-related matters. In addition to Ambassador Rae and High Commissioner Berman, other diplomats in attendance at that meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Adrienne Galanek; British High Commissioner (ag), Greg Quinn; and the European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Rene Van Nes.

In a statement on Tuesday ahead of Ambassador Rae’s visit, the High Commission of Canada in Georgetown said the UN Representative would engage with Guyana on shared regional and multilateral priorities; and will also be discussing the Canada-Caricom collaboration on Haiti and other regional issues, as a follow-up to the recent CanadaCaricom Summit, which was hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Canada reaffirms its commitment as a longstanding friend and partner to Guyana, and will continue to work with Guyana bilaterally and multilaterally on priority areas,” a release from the High Commission on Tuesday evening stated. Ambassador Rae is the former Premier of Ontario, and the former interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was elected 11 times to federal and provincial parliaments between 1978 and 2013. He stepped down as a Member of Parliament in 2013 in order to return to legal practice, to work with Indigenous communities, and to continue his work in education, governance, and human rights. Ambassador Rae is a Privy Councillor, a Companion of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of Ontario. He has numerous awards and honorary degrees from institutions in Canada and around the world, and has been Ambassador of Canada to the UN since 2020. (G8)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

Views

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

Keeping Guyana beautiful all the time

t is quite common during holiday seasons – including the upcoming Republic Day Mashramani celebrations – most householders will be expecting visitors and will plunge into a frenzy of cleaning and “fixing up” so as to make a good impression. They do this because even though they might have strayed from their ideal in their quotidian practice, they do, in fact, have that ideal buried somewhere inside of their minds or psyches. And as it is for individuals, so it is for the country – which, after all, is the collectivity of all of us. Over the past decade, nearing celebrations all stops are pulled out to spruce up our capital and other locales across the country. Who would deny that the improved surroundings, even in a small way, impart a spring to our steps and a straightening of our shoulders in the rest of the country. We are all Guyanese and barring some partisan posturing, this was a “Guyanese thing”. The question has to be asked, as it also can be posed at the individual level, why can’t we keep Guyana beautiful all the time? It is the conviction of this newspaper that it can be done, but it will take a reappraisal of how we view ourselves. Take Georgetown, for instance. It was not always the dump it very frankly has reverted back into. Not too long ago, at the time of our independence, it was known as the “Garden City” and was widely admired in the Caribbean as one of the prettier capitals. We’re the same people – well maybe the descendants of some of those people – and if the city and country could have been beautiful then, it certainly can be beautiful now. What has changed is that we are now willing to accept not only mediocrity in those running our city, but in them forcing us to live like animals in a sewer and garbage dump. This state of affairs has also spread into the countryside. No idyllic pastoral landscape any longer: garbage by the roadsides and bushes in the clogged drains are now the norm. The rot began during the collapse of the economy during the Burnham dictatorship and gradually, a beaten and broken people perhaps began accepting that they were not deserving of beauty and cleanliness. As we pointed out, the conditions were reversed when the central government intervened. But the responsibility for keeping our surroundings pristine and immaculate is the responsibility of the local and municipal bodies and ultimately, we the people. And we know we can do better. Who has not visited some foreign country and taken inordinate trouble to dump our candy wrappers into garbage cans, yet upon returning home, thrown such garbage onto the streets with impunity? And we rail about how “Third World” we are and pummel the Government. What we are proposing is that we as a people must start transforming Guyana at the level we are personally responsible for: our homes and our yards. We can then venture outside of our yards and perchance improve our drains and parapets? The next step is to insist that our local authorities take care of their responsibilities – but not before we take care of ours. We have imbibed an awful, anti-democratic habit that we look to Government – at whatever levels – to solve problems that we can handle on our own. Again, this was the consequence of the Burnhamite dispensation that proposed that the State was to be the alpha and omega of Guyanese life. We have to recover the conviction that all of us are deserving of living in dignity amidst beautiful surroundings. We have to recover the conviction also that we have a large role to play in achieving such a lifestyle. Why can’t we insist that the best village and best neighbourhood competitions be resuscitated? Let us start at the local level and work upwards. Let us begin to spruce up our once “Oh beautiful Guyana”.

As the Guyana Fire Service continues its nationwide campaign on fire prevention and safety, ranks have been educating citizens on the proper use of fire prevention equipment. In photo, ranks teaching persons in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) how to properly use the fire extinguisher (GFS photo)

What would MLK have thought? By Dr Raulston Nembhard

lthough not an official holiday in Jamaica, the celebration of Martin Luther King Day in the United States last Monday was an event which undoubtedly resonated with some Jamaicans. It presented the opportunity once again to not only remember the life and work of the legendary civil rights leader but to reflect on his legacy, especially within the context of the times in which we now live. One cannot help but wonder what he might have thought of the many things that we now take for granted, of the present difficulties that face the American nation, and the uncertain future that beckons. Had he lived he would have been 94 years this year. Reflecting on his life 56 years after his demise in 1968, it is very difficult to be precise about what he might have thought about a number of things. But there are some things that come readily to mind which I will reflect on in this piece. Specifically, being the intelligent and insightful person he was, one can be sure he would have welcomed the revolution in communication technology in the age of the internet. Like many of us he would have marvelled at how life has changed and the tremendous possibilities that people now have to relate to each other across the globe. But one can be sure that he would lament the darker precincts of the internet, especially the neg-

ative influence of social media on the young. As one who struggled and literally gave his life in service to human freedom, rights, and dignity, it is not difficult to see how pained he would be regarding America's lurch towards authoritarianism. He would have lamented former US President Donald Trump's incitement of a mob, which ultimately resulted in the breaching of the Capitol in a desperate attempt to obstruct the counting of the electoral college votes on January 6, 2021. Like many of us he would also have been deeply concerned about what is happening in the Republican Party. I believe he would be distressed that with a population of over 300 million people, a major political party that has ruled the country at different times could not find a candidate for president other than one who faces 91 counts of criminal indictment and an assortment of other legal civil challenges that speak directly to his character. That the country is faced with the possibility that a convicted felon may very well hold the post of president would be profoundly disturbing to him. Of all the flaws in the US Constitution, the founding fathers could not have envisaged a day when someone so morally compromised could be a leading candidate for a party in a presidential election. It must have crossed their minds, but they never imagined that it would become necessary for a constitutional authority to man-

date that a person who had committed serious crimes should not be allowed by the American people to hold authority over their lives. Yet here we are with that distinct possibility. If Trump is convicted and, worse, imprisoned for even one of the 91 counts against him, he can still be president. There is no provision in the constitution to bar him. The founding fathers counted on the sense of the American people to ensure that this did not happen. But now, it could. I believe this would be deeply troubling to Dr King.

One of Dr King's greatest dreams was the building of what he described as the 'Beloved Community'. Love and concern for the welfare of others was central to this project. He counted on the Church to be pivotal in this effort. But what do we find today? The Church has become one of the most important agents of division in the US, especially when the state of Christian evangelicalism is properly assessed. Dr King would have lamented the political divisions as he did when he was an activist for social change, but the rampant hypocrisy in the Church and the path that important elements of it are willing to take towards Christian nationalism would have weighed heavily on his heart. He would not be able to accept the extent to which political ideology has superseded and marginalised the efficacy of the gospel as good news and the ways in which pastors and ministers are

willing to sell their souls in fealty to an ideology that could do great harm not only to the country but put their own mission in jeopardy. Most importantly, he would have decried the creeping death of activism on behalf of the poor and oppressed. In the disparate, atomised environment created by the independence of social media, the prosperity gospel that undermines the humility of the Christian message of hope and the quiescence of large sections of the mainline churches in the face of rampant injustice in the society, there seems to be little room left for activism on behalf of those who are oppressed. Prophetic criticism is a dying art. Everyone does their own thing in their own little corner and calls this the will of God. What was once cardinal virtues espoused by the Church and fully supported by the work of the eighth century prophets — justice for the oppressed — no longer hold sway. At a time when it is needed most, advocacy on behalf of the poor no longer seems viable. It is every man for himself. I believe that Martin would have been profoundly disturbed by the blatant absence of prophetic self-criticism in the Church. (Jamaica Observer) (Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life's Storms; The Selfesteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

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

Economic populism continues to infect many in Guyana Dear Editor Guyana’s Budget 2024 is primarily a renewal of the PPPC’s promise to uplift, move forward, and protect the well-being of the citizens and residents of this country. But Budget 2024 is also a renewal of the promise to manage this economy responsibly, that is to strike a careful balance between medium and long investments on the one hand, and budgetary commitments and specific measures to enhance the human security and human development. The path to long-term growth with enhanced livelihoods is to have the correct balance between investment and consumption. This is something the APNU, AFC, and many in the media and civil society do not understand. Rather than a carefully configured strategy of fostering economic growth and ensuring human security, opposition elements want the GoG to spend every dime on short-term consumption. More than that, they want to spend what we do not have. Most Guyanese are

aware that Venezuela has set a bad example in regional security and regional affairs. What they do not know is that Venezuela is also a poster child of economic disaster because they pursued the exact policies desired by the likes of Aubrey Norton, Annette Ferguson, Roysdale Forde, Sherod Duncan, and the two Lalls at Kaieteur. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world and had the highest standard of living in Latin America for several decades. All that came crashing down because of economic populism and the killing of democratic governance, qualities quite familiar to the APNU and AFC. The basic error of the Bolivarian Revolution is that it used oil resources to fund massive give aways at a time (post 2014) when oil prices were dropping rapidly. The hallmark of economic populism is to make promises to the poor that you will be their savior. You proceed to give away money you don’t have. Soon, you become politically beholden to that which is no longer

sustainable. You then sacrifice the productive side of the economy to keep up the funding for the promises you made. This is what Aubrey Norton, Annette Ferguson, Rosydale Forde, Sherod Duncan, and the two Lalls want from the budget. Their motto is to stop investing; start consuming. Many of you will recall that one of the APNUAFC’s top economists recommended giving every Guyanese US$ 1Million per person, a commitment that would make us bankrupt the next day. A Editorial on 1/17/2024 has peddled the idea that only 6% of the budget is dedicated to alleviating poverty and that healthcare and education have been neglected. I do not know which budget speech they listened to because education and health have been allocated more than $250 billion, close to a quarter of the budget. When you combine that with the allocations for housing, water, and public security, you have close to 40% of the overall budget. Thousands of jobs will

be created in these sectors, and there will be immediate and direct benefits across the social structure and in all regions. KN takes nominal (annual) increases to make its case, rather than look at the time-series data from say, 2015 to today. It is worth repeating for the benefit of APNU-AFC that Budget 2024 is deliberately constructed to balance medium- and longterm investments with more short-term commitments to protecting individuals and communities. In closing let me note that two pensioners living in the same home can count on a combined income of $72,000 monthly, and that is only their Old Age Pension. A person with a disability can now receive $43,000 monthly; and the minimum NIS monthly pay is now $43,000. For families, the $45,000 in Because We Care, plus the uniform allowance is real money. And two parents making $100,000 each will pay not one dime in taxes! On top of that, they can take a GOAL scholarship, get better qualified and increase their income. They

can also get a house lot or Young Professional Home which will give them immediate wealth. The list goes on and on, but do not expect the APNU-AFC to get it. Most of all Budget

2024 is delivering what was promised, and will pay for it in ways that are sustainable. Sincerely Dr Randy Persaud

Coalition must examine its own record on scholarships Dear Editor, The APNU+AFC Coalition's reaction to the Government's commendable achievement of providing over 2,000 scholarships, with ongoing efforts to surpass that number, reveals a deep-seated unease. It is from this point of view that its claim in regard to the 2024 budgetary allocation for GOAL going to someone close to the PPP/C Government must be viewed. Under the PPP/C administration, more than 21,000 Guyanese have benefited from scholarships through initiatives such as GOAL, with an additional 400+ individuals receiving scholarships via the Public Service Ministry. In contrast, the APNU+AFC Coalition's record on the issuance of scholarships is appalling. In examining the track record of the former Government, it becomes evident that

its scholarship distribution was marred by favouritism and nepotism. On December 14th, 2016, local media houses reported that several Ministers and other persons close to the coalition were given scholarship worth tens of millions of dollars. The list extended to include the children of Ministers and Government MPs. The stark contrast between the PPP/C's inclusive and merit-based scholarship initiatives and the PNC/APNU/AFC's questionable practices highlights the need for a transparent and equitable approach to educational opportunities in Guyana. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton should answer for the Coalition’s track record on scholarships during the 20152020 period. Sincerely, Brian Azore

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

(Sign on) Inspiration Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stay Woke Guy's Grocery Games BBC Travel Show Stop Suffering Divorce Court News Break Movie - Heart of a Champion (2023) Wheel of Fortune The Loud House S1 E2 The Tom and Jerry Show S4 E3 From the Pavilion Sydney to the Max S3 E17 Victorious S1 E1 The Young & The Restless CNN The Evening News Stop Suffering Stand-up Comedy Harry & Meghan E3 Grey's Anatomy S5 E5 Ballers S4 E3 Kim's Convenience S5 E12 Sign off

Step 1: Add the whole numbers: 2 + 7 = 9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

Step 2: Change the fractions with unlike denominators

Foundation

Power Up Maths

to fractions with a common denominator: 3𝑥𝑥2 6 = 6𝑥𝑥2 12

◄

Page

Now add the fractions: 6 + 12

7𝑥𝑥1 7 = 12𝑥𝑥1 12 7

Step 3: Add the fractions 12 + 12 = 12

Adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators

4:number If the numerator in the fraction total is greater than the common denominato There are two ways to do this. You could change each Step mixed to an improper and then 13 1 Power Up Maths Change to a mixed = 1 add add them. But an easier way to add mixed numbers is fraction. to add the wholeitnumber partsnumber: first and12then 12 Power Up Maths Adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators the fractions. 1 1 with unlike denominators Step 5: Add your two totals: 9 + 1 = 10 Adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators There are two ways to do this. You could change each mixed number to an improper fraction and then 12 12 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> There are two ways to do this. Youmixed couldnumbers changeiseach mixed number to an improper fraction and then add them. But an easier way to add to add the whole number parts first and then add ou could change each mixed number to an improper fraction andchange then each mixed number to an improper fraction and then There are twoway ways do this. Younumbers could add them. But an easier totoadd mixed is to add the whole number parts first and then add the the fractions. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> add mixed numbers is toadd addthem. the whole number parts first and then add But an easier way to add mixed numbers is to add the whole number parts first and then add fractions. Set in box the fractions. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Exercises:ADD Add Exercises: 3 7 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Set in box Example: Add 2 + 7 Example 6 12 1 1 7 Set in box3 1) 2 + Example: Add 2 6 + 7 12 2 3 Step 1: Add the whole numbers: 2 + 7 = 9 3 7 in face of Present Being-Buber

ADDING MIXED NUMBERS WITH UNLIKE DENOMINATORS

2+7=9 7

+ 12

Example: Add 2 6 + 7 12 Step 1: Add the whole numbers: 2+7=9

2) 9

3 7 Now add the fractions: 3 7 Step 1: Add the whole numbers: 2+7=9 + Now add the fractions: + 6 12 6 12 6

3 7 Now add the fractions: + 12 Step 2: Change the fractions with unlike6 denominators

Step 2: Change the fractions with unlike denominators

h unlike denominators Step 2: Change the fractions with unlike denominators to fractions with a common denominator: to fractions with a common denominator: on denominator: 3𝑥𝑥2 6to fractions with 7𝑥𝑥1a common 7 denominator: = = 6𝑥𝑥2 12 12𝑥𝑥1 12 3𝑥𝑥2 6 6 7 1 7 3𝑥𝑥2 7𝑥𝑥1 7 7𝑥𝑥1 = 12 = = =6 = 7 13 1 6𝑥𝑥2 12 12𝑥𝑥1 12 6𝑥𝑥2 12+ 12𝑥𝑥1 12 = Step 3: Add the fractions 12

Step 3: Add the fractions

by Wilson Harris

CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY

3) 6 + 3 4 14

12 4 3 6 7 13 Step 3: Add the fractions 12 + 12 = 6 12 7 13 Step 4: If the numerator in the total is greater than the common denominator, you have an improper 12 6 12 13 12 1 12 otal is greater than the common denominator, you have an improper fraction.Step Change to numerator a mixed number: = is 1 greater than the common denominator, you have an improper 4: If itthe in the total 12 12 13 1 13 1 umber: =1 fraction. Change it to a mixed number: =1 1 1 12 12 12 12 Step 5: Add your two totals: 9 + 1 12 = 10 12 13 1 5 6 1 1 1 1 1 12 = 10 12 Step 5: Add your two totals: 9 + 1 12 = 10 12 12 12 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10 7

7 13 = 12 2

4 7 +8 5 9

4) 4

+ 12

Step 4: If the numerator in the total is greater than the common denominator, you have an improper fraction. Change it to a mixed number:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Exercises: Add5: Add your two totals: 9 + 1 1 = 10 1 Step 12 12 1 Exercises: 1 Add 1) 2 2 + 3

MYSTICAL MUSTARD MAGIC

1 1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> n this fun 1) 27easy + magic science ex- floats. Keep testing packets until you 4 and

I 2) 9 +8 4

1 3) 6 3 +1) 3 2 4 14

periment, 5 we’re 9 going to make a mus7 and seemtard packet Exercises: act in4mystical 2) 9 +8 Add 5 using9 a little bit of ingly magical ways science and a whole1 lot of1fun. 3

14 2 3 Materials: 3 1 3) 6 + 3 Mustard or other packet 4 condiment 14 4

5) 3

small bowl 2) 93 5 +8 9 4 2-litre with cap 4) 4 12soda + 12bottle 6 water 4 3

4) 4 12 + 12 6 Instructions:

5 small bowl 6 Fill 1water. 5) 3the + 176 73 +with 3 to see if it 10 3) Test the mustard packet

5) 3

14 54 6 + 17 10 7

4 3 4) 4 + 12 12 6

5) 3

5 6 + 17 10 7

find one that floats. Place the mustard packet that floats into the two-litre bottle. Fill the bottle all the way to the rim with water and tightly secure the cap. The packet should be floating at the top of the bottle. Squeeze the bottle firmly with both hands. The packet should sink.

How it works:

There are tiny air bubbles in the packet of mustard. When you squeeze the bottle, the air pressure in the bottle increases. The increased air pres-

+ 17

sure compacts the air bubbles in the mustard packet and makes the packet more dense. This then causes the mustard packet to sink. When you release the bottle, the air pressure in the bottle lessens, causing the air bubbles in the packet to become less compacted and less dense which will allow the packet to float again.

Make this a science project:

Try different types of condiment packets. Try different sized and shaped bottles. Try adding salt to the water. Try different temperatures of water. (sciencefun.org)

So we must gloom like forms of doom where the gloom of church windows becomes a gaudy smile on a strumpet s face! Here is no room to speculate behind closed windows of doom. But outside on the fringe of uncertainty we turn gropingly to embrace. And this is not a poem of borrowed glory. It is only the isolated continuity deeply present, the parting gesture of cruel rebuff, dispensed with. We walked with memorable companions in the street but the last barrier of the empty individual was tragically erected and in anguish we are constrained to greet.

WORD SEARCH

7 Police being equipped to eliminate handwritten statements – AG NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…efforts underway to revise GPF Standing Orders

s part of efforts to modernise the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Government is equipping the law enforcement agency with the necessary tools to enhance its functions while also seeking to ensure officers take accountability for their actions. This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, while delivering remarks at the handing over of regional Criminal Bench Books to local stakeholders, including the Police Force, on Wednesday. AG Nandlall disclosed that Government was currently working with the Police Force to review and modernise its Standing Orders (SOs) – an initiative that will see Policemen and women being held more accountable for their actions when interacting with members of the public. He pointed out that lawyers, including State Counsels, were often admonished by the courts whenever they represented the Police Force in civil cases filed against the agency or officers regarding their conduct with the public. “I being your lawyer in those courts, and my representatives, we bear the brunt of those admonitions. As a result, we are working with the Police and the University of Guyana to review the Police Standing Orders to inject into it, greater accountability, greater responsibility and to

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

bring it in sync with the new realities of policing and new developments that are taking place in relation to the rights and freedoms of individuals. So, you will have a different regulatory framework even at the level of the Police Standing Orders,” Nandlall noted. Meanwhile, as part of these efforts to modernise policing in the country, Government, through the Support for Criminal Justice System (SCJS), has already been providing the necessary resources, infrastructure and capacity-building training to bolster the Force’s operations.

Eliminating handwritten statements

In addition to the training of cohorts of Special Prosecutors, millions of dollars are being spent to upgrade Police Stations into modern entities and build

new ones. As a matter of fact, AG Nandlall revealed that under the SCJS programme, the Police Force was equipped with several computers along with support services to transition from handwritten statements in courts. “We [need to] stop using handwritten statements in criminal proceedings. You [Magistrates] ought not to get a handwritten statement in a criminal trial anymore. And Magistrates must make objection [when this happens],” the Attorney General stressed. He pointed out that he had requested a list of items along with support services such as typists that are needed by the GPF to ensure that they eliminate the use of handwritten statements in court. “[But] still I got a report that they're using hand-

The Police Headquarters at Eve Leary

written statements in some cases. I wrote them again. And they gave me another list of computers, which we are now publicly procuring, which they said will address all their needs,” the Minister noted. These efforts, according to Nandlall, are demonstrative of Government’s commitment to transforming every aspect of the country. “This is 2024 and when we speak about transformation and transforming this country, we’re not speaking the words only. We are walking the walk and talking the talk. So, in this transformation, we can’t have handwritten statements anymore. We have passed that stage, we rebuilding all the Police Stations now into modern edifices,” he posited.

Last year, Government injected some $28.6 billion into the Police Force towards addressing infrastructural deficiencies and enhancing the Force’s capacity as well as the delivery of continuous training opportunities. Of that amount, $2.9 billion was expended on infrastructural expansion and upgrades on Police Stations across the country. These works are expected to be completed this year. On Monday, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, in presentation of the $1.146 trillion 2024 budget, announced that some $5.4 billion is earmarked this year to advance the GPF’s infrastructure works. Chief among these is the construction of the state-of-the art 12-storey Brickdam Police

Station. Another $1 billion is earmarked in 2024 to expand the Force’s land and water fleet with the purchase of additional vehicles, boats, and engines, while a further $2 billion is to advance and expand the use of the integrated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system under the Safe Country Initiative to enhance surveillance and deter potential criminal activities. This year will also see efforts to improve the investigative and forensic capabilities of ranks by conducting training, both locally and regionally, for which $250 million has been budgeted. In total, the GPF received a $30.3 billion allocation in Budget 2024. (G8)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mechanic gets bail on illegal ammo charge

on Fletchman, a mechanic and father of two, who has been accused of illegal possession of ammunition, has been placed on bail in the amount of $100,000 by Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that on January 13, at Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, the 46-yearold Fletchman was found in possession of 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition and one round of.233 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Represented by a lawyer, Fletchman has refuted the charge. The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) had released a statement to the media detailing that, on the day in question, an operation was carried out in Wortmanville, Georgetown by CANU ranks acting on information received. During that operation, a search conducted on Fletchman, of

Starting… Y Ron Fletchman

Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, had led to the discovery of several types of ammunition. According to the Police prosecutor in presenting the evidence in court, the defendant had responded in the negative when asked by CANU ranks whether he had a gun licence. As a result, he was arrested, and taken along with the ammo to CANU Headquarters. Thereafter, he was handed over to the Guyana Police

Force (GPF). The Police prosecutor had objected to Fletchman being released on bail because of the gravity and frequency of the offence, and because there was no exceptional circumstance that satisfied the provisions of the Firearms Act to release him on bail. Fletchman’s lawyer

had, however, informed the court that the ammunition was not found on his client; rather, it was found on a table at the residence his client was visiting. Fletchman has been granted bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial. He will appear in court again on February 21. (G1)

…politics over?

our Eyewitness has noticed that, once again, we have “Constitutional Reform” on the agenda. There’s a lot of people who believe that whatever ails our body politic will be solved by “constitutional reform”. At least they say they do, but your Eyewitness has his doubts about whether they have any idea about what that means. “Constitutional Reform” has become an incantation trotted out whenever some sh*t hits the fan – especially in the political realm. Now, let’s break this thing down, shall we?? And start from first principles about this political “cure all”. One authority states: “A constitution is the rule book for a state. It sets out the fundamental principles by which the state is governed. It describes the main institutions of the state, and defines the relationship between these institutions (for example, between the executive, legislature and judiciary). It places limits on the exercise of power, and sets out the rights and duties of citizens.” Now, let’s go back to some hoary past, but start from when we got independence from the Brits and they gave us a constitution. Burnham’s PNC government -- installed by the Brits and the Yanks -– soon decided that we not only needed “constitutional change” – but a whole new constitution!! But it’s useful to look at how Burnham governed under the rules that were handed down by the Brits. One of the main institutions was the Guyana Elections Commission, which ran the elections that decided who’d govern the state. And what Burnham did with the Elections Commission exposes the unrealism of those who run around crying “Constitutional Change!! Constitutional Change!!”. Burnham not only bought out the Chairman of the Commission, but changed the rules for compiling the electoral list. He introduced the National Register of Registrants – so his people who staffed this new institution could sign up underage youngsters from his constituency to vote him in!! He also introduced “overseas voting”, which was manipulated. As Burnham used to say with a selfsatisfied smirk, “There are many ways to kill a cat”!! And before he died, he showed that there were all sorts of ways to gain power – with a constitution!! So, what’s the point?? Simply that you can have all the rules you want to run the country - and compile them in a book of ten thousand pages - but if the folks running the institutions created ain’t got no moral commitment to do the right thing, then it all falls apart!! So, sure, we can change the constitution once again – Burnham created his new one in 1980, and this was “reformed” in 2000, and yet we now hear about “inclusive government”. Which in Guyana is a code for losing politicians to get a piece of the action!! …another quagmire?? If you think, dear reader, that what’s going on in the Mid-East ain’t something we should worry about, then - at a very mundane level - remember how the price of your bread went up after Russia invaded Ukraine!! Hit you where it hurts, didn’t it?? Well, the American and Brits’ attack on the Houthis of Yemen is gonna have consequences that’ll hurt the entire world. At a minimum, even if the conflict doesn’t spread wider, the battle-hardened Houthis, who’ve taken a pounding with similar bombardments from the Saudis for a decade, ain’t gonna fold up and return gently into the desert!! No siree Bob!! This is gonna be a repetition of Afghanistan - where the Houthis have the advantage in owning and knowing the terrain, and the willingness to sacrifice their lives with their much less sophisticated weapons to take on - and take out - the West. Once again, we’re seeing folks who are driven by beliefs that’ll motivate them to fight by any means necessary. Remember 9/11 and the box-cutters? …the Budget debate In a week, the debates on the TRILLION-DOLLAR Budget 2024 begins. The basic function of the debate, of course, is for the Opposition to show the nation they have better ideas than the Govt. Not to “throw talk”!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6 Venezuelan children rescued Son kills mother after after canoe sinks in Cuyuni River crashing car into her

File photo: Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni, Region Seven

ix children attending the Eteringbang Primary School were rescued on Tuesday after the canoe in which they were travelling sank in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), at about 16:45h, as they were returning home to San Martin in Venezuela after attending school.

Police have said the children were returning to the Venezuelan border when their canoe took in water and sank in the vicinity of Eteringbang Landing. However, public-spirited persons went to their assistance, and were able to rescue all of them. The children: two sixyear-old females, two eight-

year-old females, one nineyear-old female and one 11-year-old male, were taken to the Eteringbang Health Centre, where they were examined by Dr Raj Sooragpaul in the presence of their parents. Police have said these children were all in good health, “but were evidently traumatised.”

New “grippy” drug from Venezuela & Colombia on local cops’ radar

ocal law enforcement authorities are on the lookout for the circulation of a fairly new illegal drug on the market. It is known as “grippy”, and it has its origins from two Spanish-speaking nations in South America. This is according to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who explained that this drug is

said to be a potent form of marijuana. The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has been working aggressively with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to clamp down on the importation and use of this and other illegal substances. Recently, two arrests were made, in which 273lbs of this drug were seized,

along with a boat and an engine, from those who were allegedly transporting the illicit substance. Meanwhile, authorities continue to clamp down on traditional types of drugs, including synthetics such as ecstasy. “We are worried about the school system where there are rave-type parties where people are using (synthetic drugs)…those are things we are working on,” Benn told a press conference on Wednesday. Reports indicate that in 2023, some 1,425 kilograms of cannabis were seized, while 131 acres of cannabis fields were destroyed. Additionally, a total of 138 persons were charged and placed before the court last year for illegal possession of narcotics, including cocaine.

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is currently searching for a 38-year-old man of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who fatally struck his mother with a car at their home. This mother has been identified as Ena Seecharran of Lot 8 Saywah, Cane Grove, ECD. Reports are that this incident, which occurred at approximately 16:40h on Tuesday, involved motorcar HD 1726, driven by the son of this 63-year-old woman. According to the suspect’s father, husband of the deceased, the car was parked on the bridge in front of his yard facing south. He said Seecharran, who had been a housewife, was standing in the yard behind the locked gate at the time when the son started the vehicle and

drove forward, crashing through the gate and colliding with Seecharran, who was standing directly in front of the vehicle behind the gate. He detailed that the woman fell to the ground, and the left side wheels of the car ran over her while the vehicle came to a standstill on a concrete wall in the yard. This resulted in the woman sustaining injuries

to her body. Police have said that the woman was then picked up by her husband and placed into a motor car which transported her to the Mahaicony Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. “It remains unclear whether the act was deliberate on the part of the driver,” Police said on Wednesday. Investigations are ongoing.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelans are largest group of foreigners in Guyana’s prisons H

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Wednesday revealed that Venezuelan migrants comprise the largest group of migrant prisoners in Guyana’s prison system. As it stands, a total of 2,240 males and over 60 females are currently incarcerated in prisons across the country. And of that number, some 23 Venezuelan nationals are serving time for crimes committed, ranging from the possession of illegal firearms to ammunition and narcotics, as well as murder, among other crimes. During the end-of-year press conference of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, Benn said Venezuelans are the largest growing inmate population in Guyana when it comes to foreigners. “Momentarily…perhaps as a result too of the influx we’ve had, that they have been the fastest growing section currently in the prison populations in terms of foreign nationals,” the minister said. He also said the Guyana

Police Force (GPF) will continue to work cohesively with the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Avoiding recidivism

Benn said work will continue to train and reintegrate inmates into society when they have served their sentences. “We have said our approach is different. We don’t want prisoners beaten, we want them to be more engaged in their own self-development, self-improvement and rehabilitation. We want them to eat better, we want them to have more family visits…,” Benn has said. He mentioned a shift in Government’s approach to the prison system this year. The focus now is on avoiding physical punishment for prisoners, and encouraging their active participation in self-development, self-improvement, and rehabilitation. With approximately 28,000 Venezuelan migrants currently residing in Guyana, the minister recognized their primary motivation for com-

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

ing to the country as securing employment to provide a better life for their families.

Avoiding incarceration

While praising the 17 per cent reduction in overall serious crimes in 2023, the minister emphasised the need for collaboration of Ministries to address specific incidents reflecting broader issues of crime, violence, and security. He mentioned that there will be a shift in the approach to the prison system this year. The focus now, the minister said, is on avoiding

physical punishment for prisoners; rather, their active participation in self-development, self-improvement, and rehabilitation will be encouraged. Among other initiatives

planned for the prison system for 2024 are: providing better nutrition; facilitating more family visits; constructing educational facilities for regular and vocational education; and addressing the issue of prisoners sleeping on the ground at the Lusignan Prison. Efforts are ongoing to enhance safe housing for prisoners, with two more modules planned, Benn said as he reiterated that a new prison is under construction at Lusignan specifically for female inmates. The minister also recommitment to improving conditions at the New Amsterdam Prisons. The Mazaruni Prison is nearing completion of overdue modules, expected to finish in the first quarter of

2024. Changes in incarceration procedures are also anticipated at Timehri, Benn added, saying that there has been a significant shift involving mandating that 50 per cent of prisoners’ food be grown by them, promoting self-sustainability. The Prison Service has also initiated a fresh start programme in which suitable prisoners will be provided with resources to start a small business upon release, with the aim being to reduce recidivism. Minister Benn has acknowledged the considerable work ahead, but has expressed determination to make substantial improvements in the prison system this year. (G9)

Revised Laws of Guyana, updated law reports almost ready

his year will be a significant year for the administration of justice, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has predicted. Nandlall has said the PPP/C Government is committed to investing in the Judiciary in order to ensure the effective administration of justice. There will be some extremely significant laws passed in 2024, he recently said at the commencement of the 2024 Law Year and the launch of the Judiciary’s first-ever Strategic Plan. And because the Government’s legislative agenda is so vast, Nandlall just briefly discussed those that he believed would fundamentally affect the way justice is administered. For example, he said that, by the first quarter of this year, the revision and consolidation of the Laws of Guyana from 2012 to December 31, 2022 will be finished. “It ought to have been concluded on or before the 31st of December 2023, but because of the volume of work, the contractor has asked for an extension. That extension has been granted, and hopefully, long before the conclusion of the first quarter of 2024, we will be launching both soft copies and hard copies of the revised laws of Guyana,” the Attorney General has said. He had previously said the nation’s laws must be accurate, complete, and upto-date in order to reflect the changing legal environment. He had noted that by doing this, the national goal of updating and modernising Guyana’s legislative framework would be realised.

The revision exercise is being conducted through a collaborative effort of the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project, and is being executed by the Regional Revision Centre in Anguilla. The law reports from 2007 to 2020 are already a work in progress, he said. “That also was supposed to have been delivered by the end of December; but, again, we added over 200 additional cases from the time the contract was awarded. We had to make variations to the contract to accommodate the large influx, belatedly done, of cases that would be reported. I have been assured that before the first quarters of 2024, those law reports will be ready for launch.” He said that as these programmes are meant to be self-financing, support from the Bar in particular, as well

as from other interested organisations, would be necessary. In order to achieve this, he said, Ronald BurchSmith, President of the Bar Association, had given him the assurance that the law reports would be sold. Nandlall continued, “I initially ordered 750,000 hard copies of each report. I have since cut that down drastically, and we are now at 250,000. So, the reports are there, and we are hoping that they will be purchased. The money will go back into an account that will be used for the next phase of the exercise; that is, 2020 and beyond.” Court rulings on significant cases are recorded in a nation’s legal reports. In order to provide a precedent for similar cases in the future, these cases are documented and stored in volumes. Volume-based compilation of these cases guarantees accessibility and promotes uniformity and convenience of the legal procedure. (G1)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CCJ mourns passing of “eminent jurist” Justice Wit …judge greatly enriched administration of justice in region – Caricom

Late retired CCJ Judge Justice Jacob Wit

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is mourning the loss of one of its retired Judges, Justice Jacob Wit, a native of the Netherlands. The CCJ advised of his passing on Tuesday via a media release. He was 71. He was a member of the inaugural CCJ Bench in 2005, and he diligently served until his retirement in December 2023. Justice Wit most recently presided over one of Guyana’s election petition cases and an itinerant session of the regional court conducted here in June 2023. Justice Wit was “an eminent jurist with wide legal expertise in private law, commercial and admiralty law, insurance, bankruptcy, and insolvency, company law and intellectual property, criminal law, military law, administrative law, constitutional law, and international human rights law,” according to a statement released by the CCJ on Tuesday. The CCJ remarked of Justice Wit, “[He] was a polyglot, with fluency in several languages, and will be remembered for his wit inside and outside of the courtroom. Recently, Justice Wit was the 2020 recipient of the Nederlandse Juristen Vereniging Award because of his long and effective contributions to forging and maintaining public trust in the judiciary in a turbulent environment.” CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders commented, “It is a sad day for the Court. Justice Wit and I worked together since 2005 when we formed part of the inaugural Bench of the Court. He was the lone Civil Law Judge on the current CCJ Bench with rich experience in military law, administrative law, constitutional law, and international human rights law.”

“His involvement with the CCJ Academy for Law and his role in coordinating the Academy’s most recent Biennial Conference and Regional Town Hall focusing on crime, paired with his passion for regional 134 criminal justice reform are recognised and deeply appreciated. I will certainly miss him and his contributions to the Court and the Region,” said Justice Anderson. The statement said that Justice Wit was also fondly regarded and highly respected by his peers on the Bench, the Court, and the entire Region, and that his judgments and rich contribution to the work of the CCJ Academy for Law will endure. The CCJ will convene a Special Sitting and open a condolence book to recognise the late Judge’s contribution. It has extended its sincerest condolences to his family.

“Legal eagle”

The Guyana Judiciary said in a statement on Wednesday that it was saddened to hear of Justice Wit’s passing, and that throughout his 18 years on the nation’s highest court, he had contributed significantly to the change of the Region’s legal system. According to the Judiciary, his civil law background saw the delivery of many leading judgments, elucidating Guyana’s Roman-Dutch land law system. “Justice Wit brought to the bench a particularly astute legal insight, grounded as he was in the civil law system. His Honour was engaged in many training initiatives of the CCJ Academy for Law and the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO),” the statement said. The Judiciary said

Justice Wit presented widely on many legal issues in the Caribbean, had a passion for criminal law, and was deeply committed to the reform of the criminal justice system. The Judiciary remarked of Justice Wit, “He has left an indelible mark in the annals of Caribbean courts, particularly those territories for which the Caribbean Court of Justice is their apex court.” It added, “He was a legal eagle who worked tirelessly to protect the rights of individuals.” “We acknowledge his sterling contribution to the jurisprudence of Guyana and the wider Caribbean. The Judiciary of Guyana has been honoured to have had Justice Wit preside in Guyana at two itinerant sittings of the CCJ.” Justice Wit last presided here in June 2023, and during that time, he presented a well-received public lecture on criminal justice reform. Apart from his legal acumen, Justice Wit lived his name – with a warm, witty, engaging personality, the Judiciary noted, the statement noted. “His passing is a deep loss which has left a void in the legal community. He will be dearly missed. The Judiciary of Guyana extends its deepest condolences to his widow, other family members and loved ones, the President, Judges, and staff of the Caribbean Court of Justice. May his cherished memory provide comfort, strength, and peace to all at this difficult time.”

Served with distinction, passion

In a statement on the passing of Justice Wit, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) said: “The Caribbean Community has learned, with deep sadness, of the passing of His Honour Justice Jacob Wit, esteemed Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Justice Wit served the Community and the wider legal profession in our Region with distinction and passion for 18 years, before retiring from the CCJ in December 2023. “His breadth of knowledge and experience in military, constitutional, and international human rights law greatly enriched the administration of justice in the Region. The Community recognises his invaluable legacy of promoting best practices in Caribbean jurisprudence, particularly through his involvement with the CCJ Academy for Law. “Caricom extends heartfelt condolences to his family, the legal fraternity, and all who mourn his loss. May his soul rest in peace.”

“It is a sad day for the Court. Justice Wit and I worked together since 2005 when we formed part of the inaugural Bench of the Court. He was the lone Civil Law Judge on the current CCJ Bench with rich experience in military law, administrative law, constitutional law, and international human rights law” – CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders About Justice Wit

Justice Wit studied law from 1971 to 1977 at the Vrije Universiteit (Free University) of Amsterdam, from which he took the degree of Meester in de Rechten (Master of Laws) with honours. After completing his military service (1976-1978) as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Dutch Navy, he was admitted in March 1978 as a Judicial Trainee at the Studiecentrum Rechtspleging (Training and Study Centre for the Judiciary) in Zutphen, the Netherlands, where he remained enrolled until 1984. During this period, he held the posts of Griffier (Law Clerk) in the Rotterdam District Court, Rotterdam, (1978-1980) and plaatsvervangend Officier van Justitie (Deputy Prosecutor) at the Amsterdam District Court (1980-1982) and

worked as an advocaat (attorney-at-law) with the Law Firm of Van Doorne & Sjollema in Rotterdam (1982-1984). Justice Wit was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as Deputy Judge of the Rotterdam District Court in January 1984, Judge of the Rotterdam District Court in March 1985, and Judge of the Joint Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba on October 1, 1986. This Court consists of several Courts of First Instance (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the socalled BES islands) and a Court of Appeal. Between 1986 and 2005, Justice Wit presided over or sat in the Court of Appeal, but mainly presided in the Courts of First Instance. Over this period, he had acquired significant expertise in vari-

ous posts within the Joint Court of Justice system: Coordinating Judge, Court of First Instance, Curaçao (1993-1996); Coordinator Judge of Instruction, Netherlands Antilles (19941997); Coordinating Judge for the Dutch Windward Islands of Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba (1997-2001); and from 2001 to 2005 as Senior Judge and Acting President of the Court. He took the Oath of Office as a Judge of the CCJ at The President’s House, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on June 1, 2005. In November 2010, Justice Wit was appointed and sworn in as the President of the Constitutional Court of Sint Maarten, a part-time function. He also served as a Ranking Member of the CCJ Academy for Law, and was the lone Civil Law Judge on the CCJ Bench. (G1)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to tap into Diaspora skills to fill labour gaps …over 400 remigrant applications processed in 2023

he Government has successfully processed more than 400 remigrant applications last year, which Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh says is a sign of the Administration’s accomplishment to ensure Guyanese in the Diaspora are meaningfully involved in the country’s development. “This signifies a 9.8 per cent increase over 2022. To further put this into context, the number of people who applied for remigrant status in 2023 were 68 per cent higher than the figure for 2019,” he revealed. The Finance Minister was at the time delivering his presentation of the 2024 national budget on Monday. According to him, the Government has been able to accomplish its promise of

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

ensuring that the Diaspora can be engaged in the country’s national development. “This has been achieved through an improved remigrant scheme and regular dissemination of information to the Diaspora population while facilitating a

range of interests and addressing concerns related to Guyana,” he noted. Further, Dr Singh disclosed that more than 15,000 passports were renewed for members of the Diaspora, with in excess of 2000 second-generation Guyanese

registering for the first time for their Guyanese passport. “…a clear signal of a heightened level of interest and engagement,” he expressed. The Finance Minister reminded that last year, there were several outreaches to Diaspora locations, coupled with webinars, conferences and other programmes that provided key information and updates to Guyanese. Meanwhile, recognising the labour challenges affecting the country, the Finance Minister said the Government intended to turn to the Diaspora for help. “In 2024, Government will focus on the integration of Diaspora skills to fill the labour gaps in the country where appropriate, and to provide guidance on new op-

portunities arising in all the sectors that might be of interest to the Diaspora,” he emphasised. In fact, he assured that the Government would continue to monitor the labour market dynamics in

the economy to ensure that “we are proactive in our interventions to ensuring that the labour supply does not hinder our competitiveness and remains responsive to our ever-expanding development needs”.

Persons urged to voluntarily surrender illegal guns, ammo …"put it in a bag and throw it into Police Station" – Home Affairs Minister

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the escalating issue of gun crimes in Guyana. Despite a 17 per cent decrease in serious crimes and a remarkable 60 per cent clear-up rate in 2023, illegal firearms and related crimes are on the rise. Minister Benn, addressing the media at an endof-year press conference, made a bold call for individuals in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender them to the nearest Police Station. With no am-

nesty programme in place, he urged those with illicit weapons to discreetly discard them either at Police Stations or in easily accessible locations for law enforcement to retrieve. "The situation about gun crimes and holding illegal guns, we are not going to do any amnesty," stated Benn firmly. "If you have an illegal gun, pass by the Police Station, put it in a bag, and throw it in the yard." While acknowledging the 149 illegal firearms seized in 2023, Minister Benn revealed a concern-

ing trend. Investigations suggest that these illegal firearms are not locally sourced but are imported. The Home Affairs Minister emphasised the Government's strong stance against the possession of illegal firearms, associating them with drug and criminal activities. He announced ongoing efforts with international partners to amend legislation, proposing stricter penalties for those found carrying illegal firearms.

No bail, regional issue

Expressing disdain for

Firearms and magazines found in a barrel after it was shipped to Guyana in November 2023

bail granted to individuals with illegal guns, Benn stated, "I don't know how people get bail for having an illegal gun...They shouldn't be given bail." In a broader regional context, Benn referred to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley's announcement in July 2023 about guns infiltrating the Caribbean and Caricom countries, contributing to a surge in gun crimes. Benn stressed the need for Guyana to align with Caricom strategies to combat criminal activities. Only last week when Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere at the United States Department of Defence, Daniel P Erikson met with Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, the issue of gun trafficking in the Region was discussed.

During that meeting, Dr Barnett shared Caricom’s glaring concern for the prevalence of firearm trafficking into the Region – an issue which the United States (US) Government has signalled its support to eradicate. Speaking with the media on Tuesday last following these talks, Erikson highlighted the underlying link to transnational criminal activities and violence. As a result, arms trafficking has been identified as one area which will see robust action, through the deployment of prosecutorial resources and other critical assets. “We recognise that this is a big concern throughout the Caribbean because it is tied to transnational criminal organisations and certainly tied to the overall drugs and narcotics trade that exists in the Region,

and criminal violence. “The US Government is focused on addressing this challenge as a law enforcement issue, including providing additional prosecutorial assets to investigate cases of illegal firearms trafficking in the Caribbean,” said the senior US Department of Defence official. In a 2023 joint report between Small Arms Survey and Caricom IMPACS titled: The Caribbean Firearms Study, it was found that the Caribbean Region suffers from some of the world’s highest rates of violent deaths, at almost three times the global average, as well as one of the world’s highest rates of violent deaths among women. Firearms are used in more than half of all homicides, with this proportion reaching 90 per cent in some countries.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Joint Services find 10-acre ganja farm along Berbice River …destroy millions’ worth of marijuana

The farm that was found by ranks of the Joint Services

Joint Services operation conducted by the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard on Wednesday has resulted in the destruction of millions of dollars’ worth of marijuana in a Berbice riverine community. Police reported that the operation took place at De Veldt Village, Upper Berbice River, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice),

where three makeshift camps and a quantity of farming tools were seen on a marijuana farm. According to the Police, some 20 acres of land, with approximately 50,000 cannabis sativa plants ranging in height from three inches to six feet, and about 500 pounds of dried cannabis sativa in one of the camps at the location, have all been destroyed by fire. The street value of the

marijuana destroyed is estimated at $255,362,567. A similar operation on Thursday last had led to the discovery of over $3.2 billion worth of ganja in another Berbice riverine community. Police have said that what were discovered were some 10 acres of land which contained 6,000 cannabis sativa plants ranging in height from three inches to six feet, and about 8000 pounds of dried cannabis sa-

tiva in a house at Gaetroy, Upper Berbice River. According to the Police, two makeshift camps, a wooden house and a quantity of farming tools were also discovered. Police have said the value of the cannabis sativa is estimated at $3,267,897,900. No one was arrested, but all of the plants, along with the makeshift camps and the wooden house, were destroyed. (G4)

Farmer shot during hunting trip P

olice are investigating the circumstances which have led to a farmer being shot during a hunting trip. Injured is 35-year-old Jeroam Tony of Phillipai Village, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Reports are that the shooting occurred on Sunday. According to Police, a 35-year-old farmer, also of Phillipai Village, is the licensed holder of a 20-gauge shotgun; and on Sunday, at about 14:00h, he and Tony had left together to go hunting. During the hunting trip, the licensed firearm holder observed a group of wild hogs and discharged several shots in their direction. However, a ricocheting pellet hit Tony to his upper left chest, causing him to be injured. According to Police, Tony went home and applied homemade reme-

the Phillipai Health Post, where he was examined by a Health Worker and was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The farmer showing the area where the pellet had entered his body

dies to the wound, but on Tuesday he continued feeling pain in the area where

he had been hit by the pellet, and he started to vomit blood. As such, he visited

Police said Tony left Phillipai en route to GPHC via private chartered aircraft on Tuesday at about 16:00h. Meanwhile, the

licensed firearm holder was escorted to Kamarang Police Station by the village Toshao. An investigation is in progress.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Consistency, efficiency expected as regional Criminal Bench Books distributed locally

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall handing over the Criminal Bench Books to Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

takeholders in the local judiciary and law enforcement agencies have been equipped with a new law book series that will ensure, there is more efficiency and expediency in the courtrooms. Funded by the Canadian Government under the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project, the

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in collaboration with the University of West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus compiled the Criminal Bench Books for Magistrates and Parish Court Judges in the Caribbean Region. The three-volume manual is intended to guide Magistrates, Prosecutors and Defence Counsel in criminal proceedings in

the Magistrates’ Courts and to some extent Judges in the High Court in the Commonwealth Caribbean. It is a compilation of rules and procedures, case laws, and policies from judicial officers across the Region. On Wednesday, copies of this law book series were presented to key stakeholders and users of the criminal justice system including: the Upper Judiciary; the Magistracy; the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the Office of the Police Legal Advisor; the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU); the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU); the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The handing-over was done by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, who said the book series was a manual to provide guidance both in court and for case law research. He underscored the importance of the Bench Books in ensuring efficiency and timeliness during court proceedings. “It is my view that if the Prosecutors, the Magistrates and the defence counsel are singing from the same proverbial hymn book, how can

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack receiving a copy of the Bench Book series from AG Anil Nandlall

you get the song wrong. One of the greatest characteristics of a proper justice system is one that applies the law consistently and uniformly. How better way to achieve these principles and crucial objectives when you have a singu-

doing to enhance the administration of justice. “So, this book, I believe, will provide tremendous assistance in understanding and applying the law and obviously, will bring resultant badly-needed speed in

Bench Books, permission was received for Guyana to replicate copies and distribute to key stakeholders locally. This exercise was done under the Support for Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Project, funded by the Inter-

A copy of the Criminal Bench Book series was presented to the Guyana Police Force

lar manual from which everyone is seeking guidance?” “It will bring coincidence of the mind and understanding at the far greater rate than if the Prosecutor is reading from one book, the defence is reading from another book and the Magistrate reading from a third book. You will have a discord about in the arguments, and great time and effort will have to now be expended in finding commonality in the three sources from which the law is being drawn in a singular case. That clash is removed and replaced by a common symptom with the utilisation of a common source of guidance, and that is what the book presents,” the Minister explained. The Attorney General described the book as “a complete code” since it details laws and procedures in every step, chronologically, of the legal criminal process from arrest to conviction. He added that it was a timely addition to the work that the Guyana Government has done and is

the criminal justice system,” Nandlall posited. In addition to speeding up court proceedings, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack said the Bench Books would also address backlogs in the courtrooms. “So, we will have timely disposal of cases, a reduction in the backlog and [they will also] prevent us from building or backlogging… because when we clear up a backlog and we look back at it, another backlog has been created… And it will bring consistency in the decisions and in the hearings throughout Guyana, whether it’s a court in Demerara, a court in Berbice, or a court in Essequibo,” AliHack stated. The DPP also cautioned stakeholders to ensure when they use the books that they use and cite Guyana’s laws since the books contain legislation from across the Region. While the Government through the AG’s Chamber received limited copies of the

American Development Bank (IDB). According to IDB Country Representative in Guyana, Lorena Solorzano Salazar, the Bench Books are an invaluable amalgamation of the relevant principles and procedures in the criminal justice system in Guyana. She said they were essential for Judges and Magistrates to ensure they were providing the most recent legal developments and also implementing best practices across the country in accordance with the Caribbean. “These resources provide a comprehensive guide to the law and procedures in criminal cases. The effort in the past to put together these publications will fill the void and help us to achieve more consistency, predictability and transparency in submissions,” the IDB official said. It was noted that the regional Criminal Bench Books complemented the work being done under the SCJS initiative in Guyana. (G8)

NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$100M O&G training institute at Port Mourant to open its doors soon …to be headed by former Pro-Chancellor of UWI By Andrew Carmicheal

batch of students has already commenced learning under the country’s first-ever oil and gas training institute; but the physical facility, situated in Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), will open its doors in a matter of weeks. Thereafter, it will see the occupancy of these individuals, who are already meaningfully employed in the petroleum industry. This is the first phase of a US$100M project, which will see a campus that will cater for the oil and gas sector and the hospitality industry, and provide training in the construction industry. Most of the technical parts of the facility have already been installed, and the contractor is currently putting the final touches to the building; which is expected to be a leading facility churning out top-ofthe-line workers to meet the requirements of the country’s rapidly expanding oil and gas industry. Former Pro-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Clement Sankat, a Guyanese, will head the Guyana Technical Training College as its director. Commonly referred to as the National Oil and

Former Pro-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Clement Sankat

Gas Training Institute, the facility is situated at Port Mourant, Corentyne, and has been constructed to the tune of some US$100 million under a partnership between the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil. In an exclusive interview with this publication on Wednesday, Professor Sankat explained that the first set of students have technically already commenced their courses, but are doing so at another location in the region. The Port Mourant facility is slated to open its doors in a matter of weeks, at which time the students will be transferred. Professor Sankat explained that the first batch of 25 persons already had training in the oil and gas

sector in Canada, and were selected from 400 applicants. “Some from the Technical Institute in Georgetown and New Amsterdam, and I am very proud to say many from GuySuCo Training Collage at Port Mourant and a few from the University of Guyana. So, they come from a cross-section of prior trained students, and they come from all over Guyana, including some from the remote areas,” he pointed out. These students will only be required to be at the Port Mourant facility for six months, since they would have already undergone an 18-month training programme which was funded by ExxonMobil. It is the expectation

that, next year, the facility will be fully opened – in a campus-like format – to accept even more students to undergo training in all aspects of the oil and gas industry. “And these are students who already had prior training in Canada under the same programme,” he explained. According to Professor Sankat, the programme being developed by ExxonMobil is one in which students would be recruited and undergo studies in Canada preparatory to technical training. “These students have done that, and now they are coming to this entity here, which is called the facility simulator (FACTOR), where they would be spending six

months on essentially a factory – a simulator that represents the ships out there; the FPSOs. So, the students will be getting hands-on training on the equipment they are going to face on those production ships,” the Director further explained. He added that the training programme at this state-of-the-art, first-of-itskind college in Guyana will be akin to courses offered in the developed world, including hands-on experience in the mechanical technology that is used on ships in the oil and gas industry. The courses will also cover experiences in the electrical technology used by those vessels. “They are going to get hands-on experience on the implementation and the controls that they are going to face on the ships, because what we have here is exactly a replica of that,” he explained. Professor Sankat point-

ed out that Government is trying to ensure that certification is internationally recognised and accredited. “Our President is insisting that these students have certification that is globally recognized, globally accredited, and hopefully with certification from another institution – what we call dual certification. So, it is really First World education that we are going to provide here; nothing less than quality First World education in an area that is new to Guyana,” he clarified. Initially, the college would need about four instructors, and according to Professor Sankat, they will all be industry experts. At full capacity, the institute can intake about 150 students at any given time. Meanwhile, outside of oil and gas, the facility is expected to offer skills training for other industries, such as the construction sector.

Digicel lands new submarine fibre-optic cable

rime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips was on site for the landing of Digicel Guyana’s newest submarine fibre-optic cable

at the Marriott beachfront in Kingston, Georgetown. The Prime Minister was joined by Digicel Guyana’s leadership team, which included

Chief Executive Officer Deonarine Gopaul; Chief Technical Officer Marine Technology, Alasdair Wilkie; Engineering Director at GAEAQUATIC

LTD, George Kritikos; and other technical experts. The high-speed cable represents a major boost to the company’s local connectivity capacity.

16 NEWS $97.6B to be pumped into agriculture; sector grew by 7% in 2023 THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has announced that Government plans to pump $97.6B into agriculture in

2024. The sector performed exceedingly well in 2023, and recorded a growth of seven percent after the sum of $60.4 billion was spent therein for its stimulation and invigoration. The performance is attributed to increases across all sub-sectors; namely, other crops,

rice-growing, livestock, fishing, sugar-growing, and forestry. In delivering his budget presentation on Monday, the Finance Minister noted that huge investments would be made in the subsectors of sugar, rice, other crops, corn and soya, coconut, citrus, and spices; as well as agro-processing, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture. In giving a breakdown of the Government’s plans

for the agriculture sector in 2024, the Finance Minister said Guyana is slated to target premium markets for sugar, while $1.3 billion will

be expended by the GRDB to support increased production and productivity in the rice industry. He also pointed out that 2.6 billion has been allocated to promote the development of the other crops subsector, and a further $1.5 billion has been budgeted for livestock development,

while $1.2 billion has been allocated for fisheries and aquaculture development initiatives in 2024. A further $100 million is budgeted for interventions which will see an increased production of citrus and spices. “In 2023, to support the production of citrus and spices, the Government distributed over 51,000kg of planting materials for spices and 133,000 plantlets for citrus. Additionally, we invested in improving

preneurs and communities. “In 2024, the Government will continue to accelerate coconut production by investing in 39,000 high-yielding seed nuts, targeting 500 additional farmers. Additionally, we will continue to pursue the conversion of coconut waste into value-added products,” the Finance Minister said

Government will continue to invest in the improvement of the quality and quantity of seed paddy available to the rice farmers, and provide enhanced best practices in the cultivation of paddy. “We will continue to research and develop high-yielding varieties with good milling and cook-

the livestock sector through the provision of concessions for large-scale livestock farming, improvement of the breeding stock, enhancement of the preparation and storage of meat for the market, establishment of modern abattoir facilities, incentivising investments in dairy plants and dairy processing facilities,” he added.

in explaining how the sums with be spent to further develop the coconut industry. “In 2023, GuySuCo expanded its storage capacity to 3,500 tonnes at the ISO-certified Blairmont Packaging Plant in anticipation of the commencement of production of new lines of packaged sugar, includ-

ing qualities, and varieties that are both salt-tolerant and resistant to major rice diseases. The G14-10 high-yielding variety will be evaluated in farmers’ fields in 2024,” he pointed out. Government is again aiming to improve its services to the poultry industry, and Singh said this

Over $600 million is being spent to support the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors, and the Finance Minister pointed out that these sub-sector continue to play a major role in Guyana’s economy. “It is a significant contributor to the food security objectives of our country,

ing sugar sticks, which are slated to target premium markets. Also, works commenced on the construction of the new Albion Packaging Plant,” he divulged. Meanwhile, rice production moved from 610,595 metric tons in 2022 to

will be done through decentralised support facilities and production zones, and the establishment of a modular duck processing facility. Livestock production is also seeing a boom; and in 2024, there will be devel-

and a vital part of our culture. Government will continue to offer its unwavering support to our fisherfolk through a multi-faceted approach to expand growth and productivity within the sector,” he added. The 2024 National

653,706 metric tons in 2023, which represents a 7 percent increase. Speaking about rice, Minister Singh said that in 2024, the

oped 60 five-acre plots for pastures to enhance sheep production. “The Government promised to revive and expand

Budget was presented under the theme, ‘Staying the Course: Building Prosperity for All’ to the tune of $1.146 trillion. (G4)

the processing capacity at Hosororo, Parika, and Port Kaituma, slated to be completed in 2024. “In 2024, we will distrib-

ute over 58,000kg of planting materials for spices, and 250,000 plantlets for citrus. Moreover, we will be introducing, for the first time, the distribution of planting materials for spices such as nutmeg, black pepper, and cinnamon,” he disclosed. Meanwhile, $527.4 million is budgeted to assist

with the development of ago-processing. “In 2024, there will be the establishment of 60 new Guyana Shop Corners throughout the country,” he disclosed. He pointed out that Government’s objective is to support development of the agro-processing industry, including value-chain development and market expansion for produce and products, while creating opportunities for sustainable livelihood for small entre-

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

Regional

Prosecutor probing TV studio Panama Canal toll revenue shrinking this attack in Ecuador killed fiscal year due to drought

Prosecutor investigating an attack on a TV studio in Ecuador last week has been killed, officials say. César Suárez was shot dead in the port city of Guayaquil, Guayas province on Wednesday, the Attorney General said. It is not clear whether Suarez’s death is linked to his investigation into the TV station attack. During the dramatic incident last week, masked men burst into public TV channel TC’s studio during a live broadcast and threatened them at gunpoint. Pictures that were broadcast live on air showed Journalist Jose Luis Calderon pleading with the gunmen, while station staff were forced to sit or lie on the studio floor. One cameraman was shot in the leg, while another’s arm was broken during the attack, TC’s Deputy

César Suárez was specialised in investigating organised crime

Director of News said. Local media reports that Suárez was shot while driving near his office. Unverified footage on social media also shows a vehicle with bullet holes in the window. In an interview with newspaper El Universo one day before his death, Suárez said he had not been given Police protection despite interrogating the 13 persons arrested following the TV station attack.

His killing is the latest in a surge of violent incidents across Ecuador, which has seen the escape of two gang leaders from prison, hundreds of prison guards taken hostage and explosions in several cities. In response, President Daniel Noboa declared a 60day state of emergency and ordered the military to “neutralise” 22 armed groups that he redefined as terrorist organisations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil will need to resettle those hit by climate disasters, Minister says

razil will need to relocate citizens in areas that have been hit repeatedly by storms and other disasters supercharged by climate change, the country’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva told Reuters in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. Climate change globally is expected to make certain areas unliveable and drive the migration of hundreds of millions or billions of people by 2050 as they flee from rising sea levels, aridity, floods ,and other disasters. Brazil already needs to start planning to move some of its citizens from vulnerable areas, Silva said, speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. “In certain situations we will need to relocate the population,” she said. She pointed to areas of the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, where

People ride a horse during flooding caused by heavy rains in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, November 20, 2023 (Reuters/Diego Vara file photo)

floods have hit repeatedly in the past year and killed dozens. “In Rio Grande do Sul, we have families that were affected by floods three times in one year. There’s no point in rebuilding your house in the same place, or rebuilding that business,” Silva noted. Silva said that the Government is working to

declare climate emergencies in more than 1000 municipalities in the country in order to free up funding to help these areas to adapt to climate change. “(Brazil) is a developing country, it doesn’t have the resources to carry out a structured process of adaptation overnight. These are highly expensive, onerous investments.” (Reuters)

he Panama Canal’s toll revenues have dipped by about US$100 million per month since last October, the canal’s administrator said on Wednesday, adding that if the trend continued reduced income from tolls could total some US$700 million by around April. The falling revenue stems from drought condi-

the majority of the goods seized were knock-off Crocs; however, items mimicking brands such as Gucci, Adidas and LV were also seized. “This morning at 133A Barrett Street we had discussions with some of the rights holders and owners of the specific brands and we did some work up and it led us here where we found a large quantity of counterfeit Crocs. We found other items here like Gucci, Adidas and LV, but 95 per

cent are Crocs. So we are here enforcing that breach,” DSP Barrett said. “This morning based on our investigation I anticipate the volume of goods here to be about $100 million. It is a big money business and these merchants continue to deceive the public because when you look at some of the Crocs here they have the label Crocs on them, but the sticker can be easily removed by the heat, it is not good quality and they

the continued trend of falling toll revenue in coming months as “possible”, in comments to reporters at a press conference. He added that the waterway expects to nonetheless meet targets set out in its budget for income for the fiscal year, in part due to a recent toll increase that have come into effect. (Reuters)

Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei barred from entry into US

ormer Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei is barred from entering the US over allegations of “his? involvement in significant corruption”, the State Department said on Wednesday. Giammattei was replaced on Monday by anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo as leader of Central American’s most populous nation. “The State Department has credible information indicating? that Giammattei? accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of his? public functions during his?tenure? as President of ?Guatemala,? actions that undermined the rule of law and Government transparency,” State Department

Guatemala’s President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla (Reuters/Brendan McDermid file photo)

spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Reuters was not able to immediately reach Giammattei for comment. Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala’s President in

the early hours of Monday after a chaotic inauguration that was delayed for hours by a last-ditch attempt by Congress opponents to weaken his authority. (Reuters)

Industrial Court mourns CCJ Judge’s passing

he Industrial Court is mourning the passing of retired Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge Jacob Wit. The Netherlands-born Judge retired from the bench late last year and

Counterfeit goods valued at approximately J$100M seized in downtown Kingston

aw enforcement officials from the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (CTOC) seized approximately J$100 million of counterfeit goods at a business establishment on Barry Street in downtown Kingston on Wednesday. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Victor Barrett in charge of Intellectual Property Rights at CTOC,

tions that have forced the canal’s managers to impose shipping restrictions on the more-than-one-century-old waterway, a key global trade route linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The canal’s fiscal year begins in October, and runs through September. Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez described

are selling them at the same price as the real Crocs,” the Deputy Superintendent told Observer Online. He added however that with emerging technology and people making transactions using crypto currency it has become more difficult to investigate incidents of counterfeiting. He stressed that while this was a global problem, Police in Jamaica are equipped to handle the emerging trend. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

the CCJ announced his passing earlier this week. In a release on Wednesday, the Industrial Court said Justice Wit was an esteemed presence in the legal community, and his passing was a great loss for the Caribbean Region. “In September of 2023, we had the pleasure of Justice Wit’s company at our special sitting for the opening of the 2023-2024 law term. This was not the first time that Justice Wit had been at the Industrial Court,” the release said. In 2015, it continued, he led a team of trainee judges from the Dutch Caribbean on a courtesy visit where they were able to learn more about our operations and interact with several Industrial Court Judges. “The President, Judges, Registrar and staff of the Industrial Court extend their deepest condo-

lences to his colleagues at the Caribbean Court of Justice, his loved ones and all those who mourn his passing. We pray that his soul will find eternal rest,” the release said. Caricom has also noted the Judge’s passing. A release from the Caricom Secretariat, based in Georgetown, Guyana said, it learnt “with deep sadness,” of Wit’s death. Justice Wit served the Community and the wider legal profession in the Region, the release said, with distinction and passion for 18 years, before retiring from the CCJ in December. “His breadth of knowledge and experience in military, constitutional and international human rights law greatly enriched the administration of justice in the region,” Caricom said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Around The World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Producers bet on Norway’s Arctic to find more natural gas

il and gas companies operating offshore Norway have set their sights on exploring for natural gas in the Arctic Barents Sea, eager to unlock new supply in light of the strong European demand for non-Russian gas. Over the next three years, some of the largest firms operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) are set to ramp up their exploration efforts in the Barents Sea, executives at Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi told Reuters after the latest Norwegian licence awards were announced this week. On Tuesday, the Norwegian Energy Ministry offered 62 new production licences in the latest licensing round for the most mature areas of the shelf. The number of awarded licences was the highest in five years and compared to just 47 licences awarded last year. Eight of those licences are in the Barents Sea, where companies are preparing to explore for more natural gas. Commenting on the licence awards, Norway’s Energy Minister Terje Aasland said, “Last year, I specifically encouraged companies to explore opportunities in the Barents Sea. This year we are offering more than double the number of production licences in this region compared to last year’s round.” “This shows that several companies have responded positively to the call, and that they are conscious of their social responsibilities. Proving more gas resources is important for profitability, by increasing the export capacity from this region.” Equinor, which was awarded a large number of licences as an operator and a partner, said, via Jez Averty, senior vice president for subsurface (the Norwegian continental shelf), “We now focus on exploration to uncover the potential for gas in the Barents Sea, working closely with Vår Energi and Aker BP to explore as much as possible with good rig utilisation.” Aker BP’s chief executive, Karl Johnny Hersvik, told Reuters that it would take about seven years to bring any new gas discoveries to the market. Vår Energi, for its part, is working to “unlock the hydrocarbon potential in the western Barents Sea”, CEO Nick Walker told Reuters. Oil and gas companies plan to boost exploration activity and spending offshore Norway this year as Western Europe’s top oil and gas producer looks to maintain production and raise exports to the rest of Europe. (Oilprice.com)

Israel presses southern Gaza assault, Jordan decries damage to hospital

srael pressed its assault on Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sending tanks westwards while Jordan decried shelling that badly damaged its field hospital in the city. The Jordanian army said it held Israel responsible for a “flagrant breach of international law” in damage to the facility. Israel’s military denied striking or damaging the hospital, saying it opened fire after encountering a “terrorist cell” next to the hospital. In a statement, Israel’s military said it coordinated the presence of troops in the area in advance with authorities, and added medics were instructed to go to safer area. It said it could not identify the source of gunfire that injured a medical worker and the hospital remained “fully functioning”. People in and around another hospital, Nasser, fled

as tanks approached the district overnight following an Israeli army statement that it had come under fire from the area. Palestinian health officials said seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes that damaged homes near the hospital, one of only a third of Gaza’s hospitals still partially operational. Farther south from the hospital in nearby Rafah, Palestinian health official said 16 people were killed when an Israeli missile hit a house in the city just before midnight on Wednesday. Several other people were wounded, they said, expecting the number of fatalities to increase. Israeli Government spokesperson Eylon Levy said extra field hospitals were expected to be up and running in the coming days. “These have, of course, been necessitated by Hamas’

A Palestinian walks at the site of an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2024 (Reuters/ Ibraheem Abu Mustafa photo)

strategic militarisation of Gaza’s existing hospitals,” he said, adding this showed that Hamas militants were the

EU rearms Ukraine as calls mount for higher defence spending

US relists Houthis as A terrorists in response to Red Sea attacks

he US Government on Wednesday returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups in the latest attempt by Washington to stem attacks on international shipping. Officials said the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT) designation, which hits the Iran-aligned group with harsh sanctions, was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the Houthis have used to attack or hijack ships in vital Red Sea shipping lanes. “This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions,” White House National Security Advisor Jake

Sullivan said in a statement. “If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation,” Sullivan said. President Joe Biden’s Administration also issued “carve outs” aimed at avoiding an impact on Yemen’s population, which relies on food imports and humanitarian aid, and pledged to conduct outreach to groups, including aid agencies, before the designation comes into effect in 30 days. The Houthis’ campaign has disrupted global commerce, stoked fears of inflation, and deepened concern that fallout from the IsraelHamas war could destabilise the Middle East. (Excerpt from Reuters)

s roughly US$137 billion in military and financial aid to Ukraine remained stalled in Washington and Brussels, individual European allies began to make bilateral pledges worth billions to ensure that Ukraine would remain capable of resisting Russia this year. That resistance remained in place during the past week, with ground troops holding a 1000-kilometre (621-mile) line against Russian assaults in what their commander called an “active defence”, and Ukraine’s Air Force seizing an opportunity to destroy one of only a handful of Russian reconnaissance planes. Ukraine destroyed the Beriev A-50 on Monday somewhere over the Sea of Azov, killing all of its crew, its Commander in Chief said. An Ilyushin-22 command aircraft was also effectively destroyed, though it managed

Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has been under house arrest since the attack last November

Nigeria for medical reasons. The order stipulates that he must not stay there for more than three months and that he must appear before a Sierra Leonean magistrate’s court on March 6. During last year’s attack, gunmen broke into a military

armoury and several prisons in capital city Freetown, freeing almost 2000 inmates. The Government described it as an attempted coup and earlier this month, Koroma was charged alongside 12 other suspects. Anonymous sources

from the United Nations and Ecowas, a bloc of West African countries, told the BBC that Ecowas had brokered a deal for Koroma to go into exile in Nigeria if the charges were dropped. The BBC also saw a letter saying Koroma had agreed to the deal, which would see him continue to enjoy the perks of a former President even while he was in Nigeria. However, Sierra Leone Foreign Minster Timothy Kabba previously told the BBC the Government did not support the proposal, which he described as a “unilateral proposition” by the President of the Ecowas Commission. (Excerpt from BBC News)

to land. Ukraine’s southern command said the A-50 was one of only three operational such aircraft and helped direct missile attacks. Russia had fired 40 drones and missiles into Ukraine two days earlier. Ukrainian defenders shot down eight missiles and said they disabled another 20 or so with electronic jamming. As if to prove missile capability after the downing of the A-50, Russia attacked again on Wednesday, wounding 17 persons in central Kharkiv. Events in the air were perhaps the most kinetic in a week of static front lines. Ukrainian commander of ground forces Oleksandr Syrskiy said his troops were on “active defence” as Russia pressed for full control of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and the reconquest of Kharkiv and Kherson. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Bank CEOs huddled in private in Davos worry about competition, economy – sources

Former President can leave Sierra B Leone amid Nigeria exile rumours former Sierra Leonean President has been granted permission to travel abroad on medical grounds despite facing treason charges. The High Court ruling comes amid speculation that Ernest Bai Koroma has agreed to go into exile in Nigeria if charges against him were dropped. He was accused of treason and other offences over a failed coup last November, in which some 20 persons died. Koroma, who ruled between 2007 and 2018, denies these allegations. A court order seen by the BBC on Wednesday shows Koroma is allowed to travel to

ones breaching international law. Hamas denies using hospitals for cover. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ank Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) meeting in private at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday aired concerns about the competitive risks from fintech firms and private lenders, and complained about onerous regulations, a source familiar with the matter said. At the meeting in Davos, attended by dozens of CEOs including JPMorgan Chase & Co’s Jamie Dimon, executives also discussed a challenging global economic picture, with shifting interest rate policies and rising debt, another person with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters. Bank leaders were observed going into the meeting by Reuters. Before the meeting, at least one banking CEO told Reuters they see geopolitical risks potentially derailing interest rate cuts. The private session

was led by Barclays CEO CS Venkatakrishnan and Manulife CEO Roy Gori, according to a copy of the agenda seen by Reuters. The topics included navigating risk against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, macroeconomic uncertainty, and technological disruption. The pushback on regulation comes after Wall Street banks this week urged the US Federal Reserve to completely overhaul a draft rule hiking bank capital, seeking to water down the “Basel Endgame” proposal that bankers say will hurt the economy. Bank failures in the United States and Europe in March reignited a debate about the risks lenders can pose to the financial system, even if capital buffers among tightly-regulated lenders helped stem contagion fears. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Get active, take care of yourself and strive to finish what you start. Updating your image will encourage you to get out and showcase what you have to offer. Personal gain is apparent, if you work hard. Make your move. You've got more going for you than you realize. Secondguessing yourself will lead to regret. Follow your instincts and go after your dreams. Joint ventures will disappoint you. Patience is necessary to avoid letting someone take advantage of you. Set boundaries to protect yourself from those trying to mislead you or damage your reputation. Focus on truth.

(May 21-June 20) Your contacts will help you reach your objective. Be brave and make your voice heard. Take the initiative to build your brand and do things your way. Your dedication will inspire others.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Deviating from your plan because someone wants you to go big or go home will lead to disaster. Concentrate on what you know and do best, and launch your plans with finesse.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Stay out of harm's way when it comes to relationships, and seek out things that will improve your life. Communication will lead to opportunity and prosperity.

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

Stay focused on doing your best. Don't let someone push you into projects that don't interest you. Pay attention to detail where finances and contracts are concerned.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Pay attention to detail. An emotional incident will lead to an opportunity to make a positive change. It's OK to do things differently and say no to something that benefits others more than you. Confusion will surface due to misleading gestures. The best way to stabilize a situation is to be direct. Protect yourself from illness or injury. Focus on self-improvement.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Don't hesitate. Act and make things happen. Embrace new beginnings and bask in what life offers. Use your imagination and take pleasure in breaking new ground. Make your ideas a reality.

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(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Reach out to people with something to offer. Be willing to adjust to meet your demands, and you'll discover a comfortable path. Following through with your plans will encourage new opportunities.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take control and head in a promising direction. Get involved in campaigns you believe in, and share your concerns and suggestions with well-connected people.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

New York venue to host T20 Tucber Park Cricket Club World Cup matches unveiled congratulates Joseph on Test debut …34,000-seat Nassau County International

ucber Park Cricket Club (TPCC) has congratulated Shamar Joseph on making his Test debut for the West Indies in the First Test match versus Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Joseph, who hails from Baracara, Canje Creek, Berbice, has made a rapid rise to the pinnacle of cricket after only one First-Class season. He made his FirstClass debut during the 2023 West Indies Championship, and claimed a 5-wicket haul against Windward Islands Volcanoes in just his second match. He made his T20 debut last year for the Guyana Amazon Warriors team in the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) as a replacement for the injured Keemo Paul. In November, Joseph toured South Africa with the West Indies ‘A’ team, and ended the tour as the leading wicket-taker for West Indies ‘A’ (12). This performance,

and his extreme pace, ensured he continued his rapid rise in cricket, which has now been capped off with his Test debut; when, just over 12 months ago, he was a security officer in Berbice. Joseph joins current West Indies white ball all-rounder Romario Shepherd as the second player from TPCC to be named in a West Indies male team. The New Amsterdam-based club also produced three female West Indies cricketers in former players Candacy Atkins (Test and ODI), Tremayne Smartt (ODI and T20I) a n d

Subrina Munroe (ODI a n d T20I). Joseph is also the second male cricketer from the New Amsterdam area to play Test cricket, after Clayton Lambert. The Executive, members and players of TPCC wish

Cricket Stadium set to host India-Pakistan clash

Shamar Joseph in action during the West Indies vs Australia Test

Shamar Joseph much success as he now begins his journey as an international player.

onstruction of a new modular stadium, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, a first of its kind for cricket, is underway, and is expected to be completed within a mere three months. The 34,000-seat stadium is scheduled to host eight matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, including the high-profile fixture between India and Pakistan on 9 June. The stadium will feature an array of seating options, including premium and general admission, VIP and hospitality suites, as well as a unique party deck and cabanas. Sustainability is at the forefront of this project. The grandstands, previously used for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, are being repurposed for the T20 World Cup venue. The design team behind this ambitious project is “Populous”, who are renowned for creat-

Jokic hails ‘historic’ Embiid after MVP tussle

ikola Jokic lauded Joel Embiid’s “historic” form after the reigning NBA MVP came out on top in Tuesday’s matchup between the two superstars. Embiid finished with 41 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists, scoring 10 consecutive points in a crucial fourth-quarter run as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Denver Nuggets 126-121. Jokic, the reigning NBA Finals MVP and two-time league MVP, scored 24 points and had 19 rebounds and three assists. Embiid was unable to extend his 16-game streak of having at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, though only Wilt Chamberlain has had a longer such run in NBA history. “He’s a really good player,” Jokic said of Embiid. “He’s playing historic right now. He’s averaging 30-something points every night, and that’s extremely hard to do, especially every night. But, I mean, I’m not playing against him; I’m playing against Philadelphia. It was a good matchup.” Embiid returned the compliment Jokic’s way by saying: “Both of us, we just want to play basketball and win some games. He deserves the title of best player. Until

Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic

you knock him off, he’s the Finals MVP. Until someone else takes that away, then you can claim that.” Not that Embiid is lacking in self-confidence. “But then again, I also believe in myself,” he added with a smile. “I’ll keep it at that. I’ve just got to get there. I don’t think I care what people decide who’s the best. I know I want to be the best, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to be the best,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve got to be able to win as a team. You’ve got to do the best job possible to make sure that

you put yourself and the team in the best position possible to win. And it seems like if you want to be the best, you’ve got to find a way to win. So, that’s my goal,” Embiid added. The Sixers have won their last three games. They sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 26-13 record, behind the Milwaukee Bucks (28-12) and the Boston Celtics (31-9). “I said it at the beginning of the season. Y’all keep talking about Boston, Milwaukee. That’s fine. They might be better than us, they might be more talented than us, but I still believe we’ve

got a chance. We just need a little bit of luck,” Embiid said. “Like I always say, we’ve got to be perfect. We’ve got to be in sync together. We’ve got to play with each other. It’s been working pretty well this year.” Embiid’s teammate Tobias Harris, who added 24 points to the Sixers’ tally, added: “It was a big game for us; playing the defending champs, we wanted to see where we were at. We’ve just got to stay at it, and keep working.” Asked about playing alongside Embiid and against Jokic, Harris said: “Both of those guys are just stellar basketball players. The way they handle their business on a court, there’s a reason why [the Nuggets] won a Championship last year, and Joel’s put in tremendous work all year.” The Nuggets have been inconsistent. After going on a six-game winning streak in December, they have since lost four of their nine outings. Coach Michael Malone did not seem overly concerned about Tuesday’s defeat. “This was a game that went down to the wire,” he said. “We came up short. Joel [Embiid] is a hell of a talent.” (Sportsmax)

ing some of the most iconic stadia worldwide, including the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. In New York, they are the architect of record for both the New York Yankees and New York Mets. “We are excited to be unveiling the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice has said. “It is an incredibly important milestone in the lead-up to the biggest ICC event ever, with work commencing on the stadium which will be able to accommodate 34,000 cricket fans. We are partnering with world-class suppliers to deliver the modular stadium to ensure that players and fans can enjoy an unforgettable experience across the eight matches in New York in June this year.” The stadium will not only cater to cricket enthusiasts, but also promises a world-class experience for all guests. It will feature a dedicated fan zone, a variety of food and beverage outlets, and state-of-the-art media and broadcast areas. The wicket, a drop-in square similar to those used at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, is currently being curated in Florida. It will be transported to New York in early May. The venue, 30 miles east of Manhattan, will have good transport and parking facilities, with three train stations also available in the vicinity. Fans will have their opportunity to be a part of history by attending a festival of cricket and seeing the world’s best

players in action, with eight T20 World Cup matches hosted at the venue, beginning with the clash between Sri Lanka and South Africa on 3 June.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA from 1 – 29 June 2024. The event will be the largest in the tournament’s history, with 20 international teams playing 55 matches across nine cities. It is the first time USA will host matches at a T20 World Cup, with 16 First Round matches split between Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (New York), Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium (Dallas) and Broward County Stadium (Lauderhill). West Indies, who hosted the event in 2010, will hold matches at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Antigua and Barbuda), Kensington Oval (Barbados), Guyana National Stadium (Guyana), Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (Saint Lucia), Arnos Vale (Saint Vincent and The Grenadines) and Brian Lara Cricket Academy (Trinidad and Tobago). Cricket West Indies are the official hosts of the event, with an entity, T20 World Cup Inc., established to administer local delivery within the USA while working in partnership with Major L e a g u e Cricket to support the growth of the sport in the USA.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Afghanistan vs India 2024: T20I Series, Game 3 of 3…

India win epic contest after two Super Overs against Afghanistan R

ohit Sharma became the first Indian batter to score five T20I hundreds when he took India from 22 for 4 to 212 for 4 through India’s highest partnership in T20Is with Rinku Singh. It was not enough, however; he had to come out again to hit two sixes in the first Super Over, and then seemingly retired himself out to get a better runner at the non-striker’s end. It was still not enough; he had to - and was allowed to - come back again and hit a six in the second Super Over. By this time, the valiant Afghans had run out of gas, and hit two short-of-alength legbreaks straight to long-off to end a dramatic night still without an international win against India: despite their highest score when chasing; despite stunning batting from Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi; and despite a great start with the ball in regulation time. Don’t let them tell you it was just a dead rubber of a bilateral series. Things happened that you don’t often see. Nabi and Gurbaz Rahman ran overthrows off the body on the last ball of the first Super Over, leaving Virat Kohli incensed and clapping in Nabi’s face. Minutes later, with two required off the last ball, Rohit, the non-striker, walked off to allow Rinku Singh to take up the running duties. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s bottom edge went only as far as the keeper, and the second tie necessitated another Super Over. Within one ball, Rohit was ready to bat again, which -- under point 22 of Appendix F of the playing conditions -- should have been allowed only if Rohit had earlier retired with an injury or illness, or “any other unavoidable cause”. India were now batting first, so, one ball later, Rohit smoked Fareed Ahmad, India’s tormentor with the new ball in regulation time, for a six and a four. If Rohit did indeed get away with one there, he would probably think he was owed one, after a clearly high full toss earlier wasn’t called a no-ball; or after the umpire kept him waiting on zero, following his two ducks earlier, by calling leg-byes when he had hit the leather off a ball on a leg glance. The match, though, twisted more, as Fareed got Rinku out on review and then Rohit ran himself out in trying to steal a bye. Avesh Khan, who had gone for 55 in the main match, and Ravi Bishnoi, who had conceded 38, then warmed

India players posing with the trophy after beating Afghanistan 3-0

up by throwing one ball at each other. When India saw two right-hand batters come out, they went to Bishnoi’s legspin, and Bishnoi didn’t repeat the earlier mistake of bowling too quickly. He kept it slow and back of a length. Nabi and Gurbaz just couldn’t impart enough power in their attempts to hit sixes. Nabi especially had batted like a dream during his brief stay in the main match. He hit three sixes in the 16 balls he faced to give a fledgling chase the kickstart it needed. In overs 15 and 16, he scored 34 runs as the spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Bishnoi went

Karim Janat, who had conceded 36 in the last over, got out immediately. The Afghan worm was still higher than India’s, but they needed 44 off 14. That’s how brutal the last few overs with the ball had been for Afghanistan. That was when Naib found pace on the ball, and nearly ran away with the match with some sensational hits. The last of his sixes brought it down to five required off the last two. Mukesh Kumar, who bowled straight yorkers successfully in the first Super Over, kept going for wide ones in this over, but got away with two hitta-

even that game was no match for the 58 India took in the last two overs.

What followed might tempt some to use it as vindication for the convention-

Gulbadin Naib’s unbeaten 55 took the contest to the Super Over stage

Rohit Sharma notched up his fifth T20I hundred in Bengaluru

flatter and quicker when under the pump. Washington Sundar then did the opposite. He bowled slow and away from the batter’s reach. It is like going against every natural instinct when you are under fire. He reaped rewards for it when he bowled the 17th over without a boundary, and also had Nabi caught at deep cover.

ble balls in the end. A weak throw from Rinku allowed Naib to come back for the second run, to level the scores. Not that the straight yorker is the only unequivocal option. Afghanistan bowlers tried a few of those, and went for 103 in the last five overs, the highest in a T20I outside one Nepal vs Mongolia match. However,

As it turned out, India needed every last one of those runs after the start they had had. On a pitch that started off tacky, Fareed and Azmatullah Omarzai made full use of the variable pace and movement out of the surface. Amid frequent miscues, India’s intent remained aggressive. Jaiswal skied towards deep midwicket in trying to go over long-on, and Kohli and Sanju Samson bagged golden ducks in trying to attack short-of-a-length balls. Omarzai got the better of Shivam Dube with three inswingers followed by one that nipped away. After the new-ball bowlers had bowled through the powerplay, legspinner Qais Ahmad extracted grip and turn from the same surface. He even extracted an lbw decision against Rinku, but, on review, UltraEdge recorded a faint inside edge that naked eye missed even on slow-motion replays. Had Rinku not got it overturned, it would have left India at 49 for 5 in the ninth over.

al method of a slow start: Rohit reached a run a ball in the 12th over, and then there was explosive acceleration - 93 off the last 35 balls he faced - but it wasn’t like Rohit had dropped anchor. He tried all kinds of shots, including five reverse

sweeps, which is four more than he has ever tried in a T20 innings. His first reverse-swept six in T20 cricket took him to 40 off 36, the first time his runs outnumbered the balls faced. Once he found that six, Rohit broke free. He began taking liberties, starting out by targeting the debutant Mohammad Saleem. He just began to shuffle to off to target the leg side. If the ball happened to be in the slot, he went over midwicket or down the ground; if not, he manipulated the field. It was vintage Rohit, with a little help from his friend Rinku. Rohit dominated the first part of the slog overs, managing to nudge good balls into gaps for fours, and monstering errors in length. And once your good balls are nurdled for fours, those errors tend to increase. Rinku ended the innings with three consecutive sixes to give Rohit’s innings just the impetus it needed, but little would Rohit have known that he would need to play two more pretty special knocks in the night just to win this match. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD India (20 ovs maximum) BATTING R Yashasvi Jaiswal c Mohammad Nabi b Fareed Ahmad 4 Rohit Sharma (c) not out 121 Virat Kohli c Ibrahim Zadran b Fareed Ahmad 0 Shivam Dube c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Azmatullah Omarzai 1 Sanju Samson † c Mohammad Nabi b Fareed Ahmad 0 Rinku Singh not out 69 Extras (lb 9, nb 2, w 6) 17 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.60) 212/4 Did not bat: Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2.3 ov), 2-18 (Virat Kohli, 2.4 ov), 3-21 (Shivam Dube, 3.6 ov), 4-22 (Sanju Samson, 4.3 ov) • BOWLING Fareed Ahmad Azmatullah Omarzai Qais Ahmad Mohammad Saleem Sharafuddin Ashraf Karim Janat

O-M-R-W 4-0-20-3 4-0-33-1 4-0-28-0 3-0-43-0 2-0-25-0 3-0-54-0

Afghanistan (T: 213 runs from 20 ovs) BATTING R Rahmanullah Gurbaz † c Washington Sundar b Kuldeep Yadav 50 Ibrahim Zadran (c) st †Samson b Washington Sundar 50 Gulbadin Naib not out 55 Azmatullah Omarzai c Ravi Bishnoi b Washington Sundar 0 Mohammad Nabi c Avesh Khan b Washington Sundar 34 Karim Janat run out (†Samson) 2 Najibullah Zadran c Kohli b Avesh Khan 5 Sharafuddin Ashraf not out 5 Extras (b 1, w 10) 11 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.60) 212/6 Did not bat: Fareed Ahmad, Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 10.6 ov), 2-107 (Ibrahim Zadran, 12.3 ov), 3-107 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 12.4 ov), 4-163 (Mohammad Nabi, 16.2 ov), 5-167 (Karim Janat, 17.1 ov), 6-182 (Najibullah Zadran, 18.2 ov) • BOWLING Mukesh Kumar Avesh Khan Ravi Bishnoi Washington Sundar Shivam Dube Kuldeep Yadav

O-M-R-W 4-0-44-0 4-0-55-1 4-0-38-0 3-0-18-3 2-0-25-0 3-0-31-1

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

‘Most elaborate’ ground enhancement project continues in 2024 G

round enhancement described as “the most elaborate project the country has ever embarked on” in 2023 is expected to continue this year, according to Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. at his recent year-end press conference, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The minister revealed that even grounds in the hinterland have benefitted from enhancement. “I want to move into our ground enhancement programme, because this has been the most elaborate ground enhancement programme the country has ever embarked on. We have done upgrades, and supported the upgrades for over 250 grounds across the country. 100 hinterland communities received $1M to support their upgrades,” Ramson Jr informed. He added, “And it will be continued support, so that they will get their upgrades in a

phased way. Those have started already; and, in Georgetown, for the first time, we’re doing all of the grounds. So, 31 grounds are being done in Georgetown. Some of those grounds have never ever seen clearing.” According to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh in his Budget 2024 presentation, some $1.2B was plugged into ground enhancement last year. Ramson shared why this project has been given such investment and attention. “This is the largest scale of investments that we’ve ever

done for community grounds. It’s the area that I’ve paid a lot of attention to, because when I came in here in 2020, it was the worst state of condition that community grounds have ever been in. And community grounds are the lifeblood of any community, a safe space for young people to play. They do a lot of training, which many people don’t know about,” he detailed. “A lot of that stuff happens there, and that’s why the investment is so large-scale; and you expect to have a lot of that

happening this year,” he further stated. In providing another reason for the project’s necessity, the Sport Minister alleged that it was one that was neglected by the previous APNU/AFC Administration. He contended, “When I examined the record, the previous administration underfunded the ground enhancement programme. Compared to the 2011-2014 period, the APNU/ AFC administration cut the ground enhancement programme by over 50%. So, when

St Lucia Kings to enhance programme BCB names sub-committees of local High-Performance Centre for 2024/25 term

St. Lucia Kings Head Coach Daren Sammy

o assist the strength and conditioning of the players contracted to the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre, the Saint Lucia Kings have made a sizeable donation of equipment, inclusive of medicine balls, massage tables, stretch bands, cricket balls, pads, and wicket keeping gear. The donation, made on Thursday, January 11, came because of the establishment of a relationship between the Kings and the Saint Lucia High Performance Centre. This relationship, Saint Lucia Sports Minister Kenson Casimir has said, came about following numerous phone calls and meetings involving the various parties, including himself, Daren Sammy, and the current president of the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, Wayne Auguste. “This is because of the conversations and the meetings, the Zoom meetings with Daren and the Kings. You will not see the background, but we've had meetings via Zoom…there’s a commitment towards putting Saint Lucia up on the map in an even bigger way,” Casimir has stated. Through this programme, the Saint Lucia Kings will be working with the HighPerformance Centre towards improving the skill sets of players, coaches, and other cricket personnel relevant to the further development of the

game in Saint Lucia. Additionally, a coach of the Saint Lucia High Performance Centre is expected to spend at least four weeks under-studying and working with the franchise coaching staff in India, while two of their India-based franchise coaches are expected to travel to Saint Lucia to work with the High-Performance Centre’s cohort of players and staff. Addressing the players following handing over of the equipment on Thursday, January 11, Daren Sammy, Saint Lucia Kings and Cricket West Indies white ball coach, spoke to the players on their cricket life and their responsibilities. He told the players they should always be motivated in turning up to train every day on time. He said, “You guys shouldn't be not motivated to come out and stand up and do something that you love every single day.” Sammy emphasized that through their cricketing careers, the players have an opportunity to change their lives. Using himself as an example of how cricket has impacted his life, Sammy said: “That's what you guys have, an opportunity to change the lives of your families, whatever motive it is, by coming in and putting in an honest day’s work and having the desire and the mental fortitude to go out and be the best.” The Saint Lucia Kings’ relationship with the Saint Lucia High Performance Centre is also expected to benefit the grassroots programme in Saint Lucia, as revealed by Sports Minister Casimir when he said: “The Kings have gone a step further, and they are investing in the grassroots programme for the schools in Saint Lucia; and so we'll see a similar programme - more in depth, an elite programme for the best of the best in our schools - being funded, being promoted, being assisted by the Saint Lucia Kings in sports development. And anybody who has done sports management will tell you sports development is key.”

Mahendra Algu

Balram Samaroo

nder the leadership of new president Dr. Cecil Beharry, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) met recently to name several sub-committees to assist in the management of Berbice cricket over the course of the next two years. Dr. Beharry, on December 17, defeated Albert Smith 1813 to replace Hilbert Foster as BCB President. Foster has stepped down after successfully completing three terms of two years each. The others elected to office are: Vice Presidents David Black, Qualis Winter and Junior Blair; Secretary Mahendra Algu; Treasurer Rovin Bahadur; Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman; Assistant Treasurer Davindra Ramdihal. Seven appointed executives were chosen to serve; they are Floyed Benjamin, Narine Deonarine, Gregory Crandon, Angela Haniff, Karran Ramsammy, Micheal Newland, and Tekha Pooran. Veteran cricket administrator Egbert Edward has been appointed Marketing Manager, and would head the Marketing Committee that includes Junior Blair, Mahendra Algu, David Black and Hilbert Foster. The BCB Secretary would serve as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the BCB, and would be administrator of its popular facebook page. Chairman of the last Competitions Committee, Leslie Soloman, who spearheaded the hosting of 35 competitions in 2023, has been reappointed, with Balram Samaroo as his deputy. Other members of the expanded committee are Ameer Rahaman, David Black, Mentis, Narine Deonarine, Egbert Edwards, Winston Smith, Angela Haniff, Gregory Crandon, Trymanine Smartt and Hilbert Foster. Treasurer Rovin Bahadur heads the Finance

Dr. Cecil Beharry

Committee, with Davindra Ramdihol, Nutan Sawh, Ameer Rahahman, Qualis Winter, Dr. Cecil Beharry and Mahendar Algu being members. Senior Police Officer Micheal Newland heads the Disciplinary Committee, which consists of Vicky Samaroo, Joel Dilchand, Samad Baksh and Sadiek Ismael. Vice Presidents Junior Blair, David Black and Qualis Winter would be in charge of cricket development, administration and finance respectively. At the special request of the executives, former president Hilbert Foster has agreed to head the Special Events Committee. Other members of the Committee are Balram Samaroo, Rovin Bahadur, Carol Nurse, Angela Haniff, Mahendra Algu, Davindra Ramdihol and Floyd Benjamin. Chairman of the last Junior Selection Committee, Balram Samaroo, has been reappointed to the post after executives hailed his performance over the last few years in that position. Other junior selectors appointed are Ryan Kissoonlall as Vice Chairman, Krishna Rickey Amoi, Darmesh Seenarine, Leslie Solomon, Gregory Crandon, Roshan Guffor and Bashir Baksh. Veteran selector Leslie Solomon heads the Senior Selection Committee, replacing Albert Smith. He is joined by Balram Samaroo (Vice Chairman), Winston Smith, Junior Blair, Philbert Wilburg, Heerilall Bridgelall and Julian Moore. The executives have also appointed Ameer Rahaman and Ryan Kissoonlall as respective manager and coach of the Berbice team for the upcoming Inter-County Under-15 tournament. The BCB elected executives would shortly meet with members of the different committees.

we were spending over $300M a year, they were spending, on average, just over $100M. “In fact, in 2018, they spent only $30M on community grounds. So, the result is, because of the underinvestment, there’s a backlog of development that we have to take care of. That’s why there’s so much effort, so much attention required, as well as the investment,” Ramson added. With another billion dollars set to go ground enhancements’ way in 2024, Ramson gave details of the project and work that can be expected from the budgetary allocation. “We’re doing it in a phased way, where the first two phases deal

with things like the clearing of the ground, the landfilling, the levelling, rolling and the fencing and the access points. So, things like culverts, bridges et cetera. So, you could use the field when we’re finished,” Ramson revealed. “And then the next phase coming out of this budget will be things like the facilities: like washrooms, pavilions, stands, et cetera. Those are the kinds of investments that we’ll be making now; but if you don’t get the ground level and user-friendly, people are not going to go on there. Then, if you don’t fence it, depending on the location too, in most instances the ground is going to be destroyed again.” The Minister concluded, “So, that is the first two phases that we’re looking at, which is just about the accessibility and the ground itself. And then, in 2024, we’ll be using a portion of our budget towards this. You’ll see a lot of community type of work being done in 2024, coming out from our capital investment programme.” Over 250 grounds have already benefitted under the project.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

WI Tour to Australia 2024: Test 1 of 2…

SHAMAR JOSEPH MAKES HIS MARK

– after Cummins, Hazlewood take early honours

hamar Joseph enjoyed a memorable opening day in Test cricket as West Indies just about kept themselves in touch with Australia at Adelaide Oval, after Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins had all but dismantled their first innings. After hitting 36 from No. 11 in a final-wicket stand of 55 to lift the visitors from 133 for 9, Shamar Joseph became the 23rd player to strike with his first ball in Test cricket when he had new opener Steven Smith caught in the slips. In his first innings as opener, Smith had played a couple of strong pulls before becoming a little part of cricket history. But Shamar Joseph’s day wasn’t done yet. He added Marnus Labuschagne, top-edging a hook to long leg, to his tally, and was a crowd favourite by the end of play. Things

Joseph’s first over. Khawaja and Cameron Green, recalled at No. 4, managed to see out the closing half an hour of the day. Australia remained in control, having kept West Indies to an under-par total after putting them in to bat, but it was not the sort of dominant position that appeared likely midway through the afternoon when Hazlewood sliced through the middle order, including taking his 250th Test wicket. There had been concerns over the nature of the contest given the disparity in experience and skill between the teams: Australia had 700 Test caps in their XI compared to 246 in West Indies’, of which two players, Kraigg Brathwaite and Roach, held 168. Left-hander Kirk McKenzie, playing his second Test, had offered some encouragement for

Hazlewood, as West Indies lost 6 for 35; and eyes were quickly turning to Smith in his new opening role. However, there was unex-

were excellent with the ball, and Hazlewood was to the fore. His first wicket of the day, when Alick Athanaze shouldered arms and lost off stump, was

Shamar Joseph receiving his maiden international cap from Ian Bishop

Josh Hazlewood picked up his 250th Test wicket

Kirk McKenzie brought up a maiden Test fifty

might have been even better for West Indies had wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva not dropped Usman Khawaja on 3 in Alzarri

the inexperienced visiting team with a well-constructed maiden fifty, but he was among the afternoon-session slide against

pected resistance from the final-wicket pair, who saw out an extended session. Shamar Joseph, a 24-year-old who had just five first-class matches under his belt, was given a tough welcome to Test cricket when he was cracked on the helmet by Mitchell Starc, but he took on the quicks, including mowing Hazlewood for six over the leg side. It was the second time in consecutive Tests that Australia had conceded a final-wicket stand over 50. For the most part, Australia

his 250th, and meant all four of Australia’s frontline quicks had hit that mark - the first such instance in history of a quartet playing together with that tally. Cummins, meanwhile, added four more wickets to his recent prolific form. He removed both West Indies’ openers, Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, after going against convention by bowling first on a well-grassed surface - just the second captain since 1992 to send a side in at Adelaide Oval, which this year

was hosting a day Test rather than a pink-ball encounter. On a cool, overcast morning, Australia applied early pressure against an almost static opening pair, whose early boundaries were an edge over the slips and another past the stumps, and the quicks strung together five maidens in a row. Chanderpaul’s attempts at a rare attacking stroke in Cummins’s opening over gave Australia their first breakthrough when Green leapt high in the gully to add to his list of outstanding takes in that position. A reminder of another skill he brings to the team. Two overs later, Cummins completed a working over of Brathwaite when he straightened one off the seam to take off stump, the delivery after a rare misdirection of an attempting

significant misjudgment when Hazlewood brought one back from around the wicket. There was encouraging progress made after lunch, as McKenzie and debutant Kavem Hodge forged a promising stand for the fourth wicket, led by McKenzie, who grew in confidence. Green was in action straight after the break, meaning six bowlers had been used within 30 overs and he nudged the speed gun over 140kph. It was the returning Hazlewood who broke the back of the innings. Hodge was drawn into a drive with Green snaffling another sharp chance at gully, McKenzie edged a rising delivery behind shortly after bringing up his half-century, and another debutant, Justin Greaves, drove carelessly to mid-off.

GBA praises $4.6B allocation for Sport in Budget

he Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has expressed its appreciation for Sport’s improved Budgetary allocation of $4.6B in the recently presented 2024 National Budget. The Association shared the following sentiments: “The Guyana Badminton Association hails the 2024 Budget under the theme “Staying the Course: Building Prosperity for all” as transformative for Guyanese and a timely boost to the Sports sector. The historic budget of $1.146 trillion demonstrates the current administration’s dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all Guyanese citizens. The Guyana Badminton Association is particularly happy with the $4.6 billion that has been set aside for sports, and the elimination of VAT on sporting goods. This is a positive development for sports in Guyana, because it relieves parents’ and sports clubs’ financial burdens related to purchasing essential equipment, inter alia. “The emphasis on enhancing and expanding athletic fa-

Shamar Joseph celebrating after dismissing Steven Smith with his first ball in Test cricket

inswinger had produced a wild four byes down the leg side. Athanaze and McKenzie steadied the innings for a period that included an early spell for Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh being used ahead of Green. Both left-handers played some pleasing drives, but Athanaze was left to rue a

Hometown hero Travis Head took an excellent catch at deep square leg from Da Silva’s top-edged pull as the collapse gathered what appeared unstoppable momentum, only for West Indies to suggest they may yet be able to have a say in how this game plays out. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD cilities as well as funding for the sports academy will help to improve the state of sports in Guyana. “Additionally, it shows that the administration recognizes the value of sports in promoting physical fitness and public health, both of which can eventually lower healthcare expenditures. Sports also encourage social inclusion and community involvement, as well as pride in and unity within the country. “The GBA has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the development of badminton in Guyana. We achieved

great heights in 2023 by competing in several local and international events, winning three silver medals at the T&T International and a medal at Junior Carebaco. “Additionally, numerous players from the Nursery Badminton Academy competed fiercely in both local and international tournaments, contributing to the association’s amazing results. “The Guyana Badminton Association also wants to emphasize the solid relationship it has built with the National Sports Commission, and by extension the Ministry of

Culture, Youth and Sport. This cordial relationship has assisted the GBA in accomplishing its objectives, and has made it possible for our Executives to work with greater ease and assurance. “The GBA would like to convey its sincere gratitude to hhe Honorable Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, the Director of Sports and the National Sports Commission for their ongoing support and commitment as we continue to promote stronger partnerships in 2024.”

West Indies 1st Innings BATTING R Kraigg Brathwaite (c) b Cummins 13 Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Green b Cummins 6 Kirk McKenzie c †Carey b Hazlewood 50 Alick Athanaze b Hazlewood 13 Kavem Hodge c Green b Hazlewood 12 Justin Greaves c Labuschagne b Hazlewood 5 Joshua Da Silva † c Head b Cummins 6 Alzarri Joseph c Smith b Cummins 14 Gudakesh Motie c Lyon b Starc 1 Kemar Roach not out 17 Shamar Joseph lbw b Lyon 36 Extras (b 12, lb 1, w 2) 15 TOTAL 62.1 Ov (RR: 3.02) 188 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 9.4 ov), 2-27 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 13.5 ov), 3-52 (Alick Athanaze, 23.3 ov), 4-98 (Kavem Hodge, 37.1 ov), 5-107 (Kirk McKenzie, 39.3 ov), 6-108 (Justin Greaves, 41.2 ov), 7-132 (Joshua Da Silva, 46.5 ov), 8-133 (Gudakesh Motie, 47.6 ov), 9-133 (Alzarri Joseph, 48.2 ov), 10-188 (Shamar Joseph, 62.1 ov) •

BOWLING Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Pat Cummins Nathan Lyon Mitchell Marsh Cameron Green

O-M-R-W 12-5-37-1 15-6-44-4 17-5-41-4 12.1-2-36-1 2-1-5-0 4-1-12-0

Australia 1st Innings BATTING R Steven Smith c Greaves b S Joseph 12 Usman Khawaja not out 30 Marnus Labuschagne c Motie b S Joseph 10 Cameron Green not out 6 Extras (nb 1) 1 TOTAL 21 Ov (RR: 2.80)59/2 Yet to bat: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey †, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Steven Smith, 8.1 ov), 2-45 (Marnus Labuschagne, 14.5 ov) • BOWLING Kemar Roach Alzarri Joseph Shamar Joseph Gudakesh Motie

O-M-R-W 7-2-21-0 7-0-19-0 6-1-18-2 1-0-1-0

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

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

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SHAMAR JOSEPH MAKES HIS MARK

ground enhancement project continues in 2024 Pg 22

St Lucia Kings to enhance programme of local High-Performance Centre

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