The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, December 11 –01:00h- 02:30h and Thursday, December 12 – 02:00h- 03:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, December 11 –12:50h- 14:20h and Thursday, December 12 – 13:40h- 15:10h.
servants to get 10% retroactive pay hike for 2024, 8% in 2025 – Ali …qualification allowances to start in 2025
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
n an eagerly-anticipated move, President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that public servants will benefit from a 10 per cent salary increase for 2024, retroactive to January of this year, as well as the impending start of the administration paying public servants allowances based on qualifications.
According to President Ali, who was at the time addressing the Police Force’s Christmas breakfast on Tuesday, public servants will not only receive a 10 per cent retroactive salary increase this year, but also an eight per cent increase for next year. A two-year agreement reflecting these increases was also signed with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on Monday.
“In that agreement, the public servants will benefit this year, retroactive from January, from a 10 per cent increase in salary. This 10 per cent increase in salary, which is retroactive from January 1, 2024, would amount to 35 per cent cumulative salary increase over the last four years. Further, we’ve been able to agree with the union that 2025 will also see an increase in the salary of public servants of eight per cent,” the Head of State said.
The President went even further, announcing that allowances will be made for persons with certain qualifications effective January 1, 2025. These include an allowance of $15,000 per month for public servants with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications.
“Holders of a master’s degree will receive an additional $22,000 monthly. And holders of a doctoral degree will receive an additional $32,000 monthly. This is in keeping with our commitment of incentivising education, training and development of our human capital.”
“Additionally, a $5000 annual increase in uniform
allowance for categories of health workers, as well as a $10,000 increase for public servants, resulting in an increase of as much as 77 per cent in this allowance,” President Ali explained.
Public servants on secondment will also receive a $35,000 monthly housing allowance, as well as increases in risk, motor car and travel allowances. There will also be an $8000 monthly station allowance for public servants in certain hinterland and riverine areas, a 300 per cent increase in this category of allowance.
“Risk allowance increases of 50 per cent, an increase in motor car and travel allowance and a 104 per cent increase in motor car and travel allowance. The granting of 100 duty-free concessions per annum, to the position of staff nurses and above, with priority given to persons with the longest years of service and those who have never benefit-
ted from a duty-free concession. This would ensure that the criteria of those granted the duty-free, also serve the time, so that there is an incentive for the retention of our nurses also,” he said.
Salary scales
When it comes to salary scales, President Ali explained the adjustments the Government will be making. These adjustments will result in a range of salary increases.
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Jet Global Services (Guyana) Inc’s announcement of chartered international flight operations marks an exciting era for Guyana. Beginning in July 2025, this venture will connect the nation to Europe, North America, and South America, reshaping the travel landscape and offering new opportunities for Guyanese citizens and visitors. Partnering with GullivAir of Bulgaria and Luna Jets of France, Jet Global Services is poised to enhance Guyana’s connectivity, drive economic growth, and establish the country as a hub for international travel.
For years, travelling to Europe has been a cumbersome process for many Guyanese, often requiring multiple layovers and additional expenses. With Jet Global Services’ direct flights from Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport to London – potentially via Barbados, Tobago, Antigua, or St Lucia – Guyanese travellers can look forward to a more seamless journey. This direct access is not only a matter of convenience but also a pathway to fostering deeper cultural, economic, and educational ties with Europe.
The partnership with GullivAir brings a fleet of modern Airbus A330-200 aircraft equipped to offer a superior travel experience. With 269 seats across business, premium, and economy classes, travellers can choose options that suit their budgets and preferences.
The introduction of direct flights to key destinations, including Toronto, New York, and Rio de Janeiro, further underscores the transformative potential of this initiative. These routes cater to Guyana’s growing expatriate communities, business travellers, and tourists seeking to explore the country’s unique offerings. Twice-weekly flights to Toronto, a hub for many Guyanese, will strengthen familial and cultural connections while providing a reliable travel option.
New York’s inclusion as a destination aligns with its status as a global business centre and a cultural melting pot. Rio de Janeiro adds a South American flavour to the itinerary, opening doors to vibrant tourism exchanges and fostering regional collaboration.
Jet Global Services’ venture comes at a time when Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry is attracting global attention. The demand for reliable and affordable international flights is at an all-time high. By facilitating easier access to global markets, the airline will support the growth of various sectors, including tourism, trade, and education.
Tourism in particular stands to gain immensely. Direct flights will make it easier for European and North American travellers to visit Guyana, renowned for its pristine rainforests, rich biodiversity, and vibrant cultural heritage. Increased tourist inflows will boost local businesses, from hotels and restaurants to tour operators, creating jobs and driving economic growth.
On the social front, the enhanced connectivity will enable families to stay closer despite geographical distances. Students pursuing education abroad will benefit from more accessible travel options, while businesses can expand their reach with greater ease.
This initiative is more than an airline launch; it’s a statement about Guyana’s ambitions on the global stage. By positioning the country as a nexus for travel between continents, Jet Global Services is helping to cement Guyana’s status as a rising star in international commerce and tourism.
The launch of Jet Global Services’ chartered flights is a game-changer for Guyana. It addresses long-standing travel challenges while opening up a world of opportunities for its citizens. Direct access to Europe and other key regions is not just about easier travel; it’s about expanding horizons, fostering connections, and enabling progress.
For Guyanese travellers, this development represents a chance to explore the world with newfound ease.
Dear Editor,
Through the astute leadership of a young and vibrant President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, at the helm of a budding nation grappling with the wealth of a resourceful land and resolute people, the PPP/C Government carefully crafted infrastructure which supports the United Nations’ universal aims and objectives of protecting people from crime, preventing corruption, and promoting human rights.
Guyana currently occupies the temporary 2-year seat at the UN Security Council, where its input is required to help maintain peace in the world. Sometimes a lot of what is spoken, written or gesticulated is often doubted, denied, denounced, deliberated, demonstrated, or discussed for acceptance or declension purposes.
A balanced mind leaves a window open for delayed consideration. Often, it is inferred, implied and intimated that the value of life becomes peacefully enjoyable only when there is the primary abode of sensitivity and reality with the secondary undertaking of intelligent lessons and wealthy experiences.
That is why the Constitution of Guyana incorporates the functions of an Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs; a Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and a Ministry of Social Security and Human Services. These institutions contribute towards a peaceful environment in Guyana; an environment devoid of inequality, racism and discrimination.
President Dr Irfaan Ali pledged, on International Day of Democracy 2021, to
“strengthen the ramparts which protect our fragile democracy: the rule of law, the independence of the Judiciary, freedom of expression, and constitutional rule.”
No matter how academically educated, or profoundly knowledgeable, or scientifically practical one may be perceived or profess to be, unless practised with a degree of commonsense, preached by mastering the language of simplicity and perfected by doctoring the route of humanity, the essence of the content constricts clarity, and may become complicated, cumbersome, or convoluted. No wonder a book should not be judged by its cover.
It is worth reflecting on what was said by the first US Secretary of State ever to visit Guyana. Mr Mike Pompeo, in September 2020, stated: “We know the Guyanese people cherish democracy; they cherish freedom; they value free, fair, and transparent elections just as Americans do; just as all people do. I was proud to publicly support the Guyanese people in their quest to have the results of the election respected. The results certainly took longer than any of us would have wished or hoped, but it was worth fighting for. It was worth fighting to honour the people’s sovereign decision. That’s indeed – (applause) –that’s indeed what democracy is all about. Congratulations, President Ali.”
Is it by accident, coincidence or design that three observations have been lined up in adjacent rows to form a hattrick of commemorative events? International Day against Corruption was celebrated on December 9th, the International Day for Human Rights was celebrated on December 10th, and
Gita Jayantie was celebrated on December 11th -- being the philosophical gift to guide gurus, grads, docents and other disciples.
Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips recently clarified the PPP/C government’s position when he acclaimed, “Our Government is prepared, and continues to work [through] the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, to ensure that we protect the human rights of all Guyanese; that we respect all the international organizations pertaining to the observance and promotion of human rights.”
It is of great significance and paramount importance to congratulate President Ali on receiving numerous international awards throughout the world, as a democratic leader who is not heralded as a dictator.
Since the infamous 2020 General and Regional Elections, Guyana and Guyanese have been saved from another era of undemocratic process, as birthed from the belly of dictatorship. The criminal elements, manifested by a corrupt gang of election riggers, attempted to once again deny Guyanese their human rights to elect a leader of their choice through the practice of fair means.
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon Bruce Golding, head of the OAS Electoral Observer Mission, in making his preliminary report to the OAS Council in May 2020, stated that he had “never seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election”.
Mr Golding was referring to the sanctimonious gangster who led a band of rebels with the aim of usurping power through the back door.
Guyana is now a bosom
friend to the Caribbean, and currently enjoys a special place which is close to CARICOM, since President Ali took over the mantle as leader of a nation once spurned as the second poorest in this hemisphere. Guyana is currently one of the leading nations in terms of economic stability, sustainability and security through the astute management of a PPP/C government. The time is right, ripe and relevant for the essence of the teaching from the Gita to be incorporated in the attitude, aptitude, and application of Guyanese way of life. The simple emphasis of understanding one’s duty in society, and fulfilling it without any attachment to its reward, is a ticket to curb crime, corruption, and human rights’ violations in this multilateral community.
President Ali said it well earlier this year at the UN Assembly, “The future we seek – a future where no one is left behind – demands courageous action. The UN must fulfill its role as a custodian of greater global peace; the foremost promoter of sustainable development; and an unflinching protector of human rights, human dignity and international law. And since the UN is all of us, this body of nations, this is a collective responsibility for us all. Let us not be found wanting. Let us act together for the advancement of peace, for the achievement of sustainable development and the preservation of human dignity now and for generations to come.” Guyana cannot fail the UN; the dignity of human rights must be maintained in this country.
Yours respectfully, Jai Lall
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, prominent political figures have been consistently promulgating distorted and contorted information targeted at me in regard to specific events of March, 2020. Amidst the frequent protests in front of the GECOM Headquarters, and through press conferences and other programmes aired via social media, there have been numerous calls for my resignation as well as that of the GECOM Chairman.
Hereafter, while I may refer to the Chairman, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, it is not my intention to speak on her behalf, since I believe she has adequately addressed relevant issues, including the call for a “clean voters’ list” and matters related to the allegations of “voter impersonation” at the Elections in March 2020.
Mr Aubrey Norton, MP, Leader of the Opposition, in a press conference held on November 8, is quoted as saying: “Additionally, there is credible evidence that the Deputy CEO is a PPP plant that is carrying out the diktats of the PPP, and is compromised and unfit to be an employee at GECOM. It must be recalled that it was the said Aneal Giddings that disappeared with GECOM’s computer hard drive in 2020 in pursuance of the PPP agenda…He is a political partisan, and cannot be expected to be part of a free and fair elections process.”
Mr Norton, again on 5th December, in a video clip posted on the People’s National Congress Reform’s Facebook platform, highlighted: “The Chairman of the Commission has proven that she cannot be impartial… The Deputy CEO, who has responsibility for information technology, is compromised; and, in the 2020 election, he is known to have moved off with the hard drive of the computer in pursuance of the PPP agenda.”
At another press conference on 6th December, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, MP and Executive Member of the PNCR, stated: “A lot of things were also reported about Aneal
Giddings during that same period. I think there was some story about some flash-drive or some server…some technology thing. I am not too versed in technology…and Aneal Giddings ended up being now the Deputy CEO…A lot of things have been reported.”
He went on immediately after to say, “The question is: What has been proven? And the answer is: Absolutely nothing to date.” While feigning ignorance in the former statement, I do not believe that latter statement by Mr. Mahipaul was intended to defend me, especially since most of the utterances came from his leader; but it was, nevertheless, perfectly in order.
Editor, I will not burden you with the myriad of other snippets of disinformation that have found their way to the Guyanese people, both locally and in the diaspora, through prominent broadcasts of known characters and entities on this matter. Suffice it to say that I believe the time has come for me to provide the facts for the consumption of all who may be interested. Some of what is recorded herein was also tendered as evidence to the Commission of Inquiry into the Elections of 2nd March, 2020. Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act (Cap 1:03), prior to its amendment in 2022, and which applied to the General and Regional Elections of 2020, states as follows:
(1) The Chief Election Officer shall, after calculating the total number of valid votes of electors which have been cast for each list of candidates, on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished by returning officers under section 84 (11), ascertain the result of the election in accordance with sections 97 and 98.
(2) The Chief Election Officer shall prepare a report manually and in electronic form in terms of section 99 for the benefit of the Commission, which shall be the basis for the Commission to declare and publish the election results under section 99.
Presiding officers are responsible for the counting of votes after the close of poll on Election Day. This process culminates in the production of Statements of Poll (one for the General component and another for the Regional component). These SOPs are transmitted to their respective Returning Officers and a separate copy provided to the Chief Election Officer. The amendments made in 2022 now avail a copy of the SOP to the Chairman.
As the Information Technology Manager during the 2020 period, I was given the specific mandate of managing and executing the tabulation of Statements of Poll of the Chief Election Officer (herein referred to as the CEO’s tabulation). This process was parallel to that of each Returning Officer and is not a requirement in the legislation. Notwithstanding, and in order to comply with Section 96 (2), the CEO’s tabulation is a sort of check and balance to the work of Returning Officers, and delivers a complete boxby-box report in digital form to aid in expediency for transmission to the Commission.
On 5th March, 2020, many would recall the infamous bomb scare which caused the Guyana Police Force to request an immediate evacuation of the Ashmin’s Building. It is important to note that this building served several purposes:
i) the Office of the Returning Officer of Region #4; ii) the Media Centre (both located on the ground floor); iii) the Tabulation Centre (located on the 1st Floor); and
the Office of the Chief Election Officer (located on the 2nd floor).
The Commission also had a space to conduct their meetings.
On receiving guidance from Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Edgar Thomas, I instructed all staff under my supervision to evacuate the building and proceed to the assigned muster point. I, together with another technical staff, remained behind to secure SOPs and other documents which were in process, as well as to execute the backup protocols on the server, which had a significant amount of data already encoded therein.
During this time, the then Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers entered the facility and inquired whether the backup could be placed on removable media and handed over to her. This instruction was, in fact, a departure from best practice and standards outlined in our protocols, since such data is usually secured by IT personnel and deposited at a predetermined secure location. Nevertheless, I complied with this aberration.
Considering the extant threat, I instructed my staff to power down and disconnect the server so that it could be moved to a more secure location, especially since I had surrendered my only copy of the backup data. The server was transported by me out of the building, against the protests of DCEO Myers, and into the parking lot of the Ashmin’s complex, where I placed it in my vehicle and proceeded to the evacuation point, since there was no other secure area
in the building. Multiple attempts to communicate with then CEO Keith Lowenfield for guidance were futile.
At no point in time did I “disappear” with either the server or any component therefrom. It remained safely inside my locked vehicle until it was returned to the Tabulation Centre later during that same day, when the Guyana Fire Service completed their work.
To add a bit more to this, many days elapsed, and it was not until the 16th March 2020 that I received a signed internal memorandum from DCEO Myers (copied to the CEO) wherein I was instructed to “provide a cogent reason for actions observed at GECOM’s Command Centre for GRE 2020”. In her missive, she outlined what she considered to be “the unauthorised removal of the agency’s server”, and further stated that “…cited above could be considered a breach of the election procedures”, and I was given 48 hours to respond. I diligently complied, and in my response, (copied to both the CEO and Chairman), I detailed the account and my reasons for extracting the server from the Tabulation Centre. I also respectfully requested a copy of these “election procedures” which I allegedly had breached.
Editor, I received no return correspondence, no phone
call from either Ms. Myers, Mr. Lowenfield or Justice Singh. Nothing. The Commission met on numerous occasions afterwards, and to my knowledge, no discussion was held in regard to this issue. As a matter of fact, subsequent to Order 60 of 2020, the Commission, through the Chief Election Officer, appointed me to be the Tabulation Supervisor of the National Recount. This decision undoubtedly proved that the Commission found no issue with my actions cited above.
Lastly, I will completely disregard statements which paint me as a political operative. I have not done, nor will I ever do in the execution of my duties, anything that favours any political position in support of any political party or their agents. My duty is to the people of Guyana, in accordance with relevant law and Commission policy directives for which I have sworn an oath. It is my hope that, in an effort to allay any concerns of the electorate or stakeholders of the elections process, this letter provides some clarity into what actually transpired on March 5, 2020.
Sincerely, Aneal Giddings Deputy Chief Election Officer
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
Sometimes you want to find a figure’s area, or the number of units it would take to fill it. Those units are called square centimetres, metres, or kilometres in metric units or square inches, feet, yards or miles in customary units. Remember
Be careful! A square metre does not equal 100 square cm or a square foot, 12 square inches. A square metre equals 1 metre (100 cm) x 1 metre (100 cm) = 1m2 (10,000 cm) and a square foot = 144 inches.
To find the area of a triangle, multiply its length (also called its base) x its height x
Find the figure’s area.
Multiply 7 x 5 x = 17.5 square cm
1) What is the area of a square with 4m sides?
2) Which has a greater area, a 7-cm square or a rectangle with sides of 5 cm and 8 cm?
3) Which has a greater area, a 14-cm square or an equilateral triangle with sides of 8 cm?
Materials
Paper or card stock
Paper straws
Scotch tape and/or
decorative tape
Hot glue gun, glue
Scissors
Instructions
1.Cut two strips of card stock using the following dimensions: 1" x 7 1/2" and 1" x 5"
2.Tape each strip into a circle.
3.Cut paper straws to be approximately 5 1/2" long. If you do not have straws see the optional paper tube directions at the end.*
4.Glue the straws to the outside edge of the big circle. They should be placed at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. The fourth straw should be glued at the point where you taped the circle together.
5.Glue the other end of the straws onto the outer
To find the area of a rectangle or a square, multiply the length x the width. In a rectangle and a square, both lengths and both widths are the same, but use only one of each when you multiply. Area = 9 cm (length) x 20 cm (width) = 180 square cm
By Thomas hardy
4) A triangle has sides of 8 metres. What is its area?
5)A right triangle with sides measuring 4, 5, and 6 cm has what area?
6) What is the area of a rectangle with sides of 20 cm and 86 cm?
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
edge of the small circle. Be sure to align the taped starting point of this circle with the larger circle below to make sure your zoomer isn’t twisted!
6. Decorate it! If desired decorate your zoomer with washi tape or markers.
* Optional: If you don’t have straws, you can make paper tubes. Do not make paper tubes out of card stock, it is too difficult to bend. Make them out of paper only. Cut four strips using the following
dimensions: 2" x 7 1/2". Wrap each strip tightly around a pencil, then unfurl and cut out each individual tube. Roll one of the tube sections around a pencil again and tape to hold it together. Repeat to make four tubes total. Note: These are a bit heavier than straws so they do add some weight to the zoomer.
7.Fly them! Hold one of the straws near the back end and aim the zoomer up. Fly it as you would a paper airplane. (babbledabbledo.com)
An elder said as we sat in a flock By the embers in hearthside ease. We pictured the meek mild creatures where They dwelt in their strawy pen, Nor did it occur to one of us there To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave In these years! Yet, I feel, If someone said on Christmas Eve, “Come; see the oxen kneel,
“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb Our childhood used to know,” I should go with him in the gloom, Hoping it might be so.
In keeping with its efforts to allocate as many as 50,000 house lots by 2025, the Government had set itself the target of allocating more than 40,000 house lots by 2024-year end. It has been confirmed by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal that this target has already been reached.
This was revealed by Croal in an interview with the media on Monday, where he also revealed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is looking to secure new areas for housing development, including in Moleson Creek and close to New Amsterdam, in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).
“I did see a video of a complaint where persons paid for their land. But we have to understand too, because of the massive housing programme that we’re doing. We’ve already crossed the 40,000 allocations. That’s a lot of allocations to be done, if you take into context that from 2015 to 2020, you’re talking about 7534 or thereabouts, versus now in four years what we’ve completed, 40,000.”
“Think about the amount of land required to make this happen. So, the infrastructure will take time, because it's costly. I had to come back here for
For instance, public servants in Grades 1 to 6 with a minimum of four years of service will be moved to the midpoint of their current scale, resulting in salary increases of up to 13 per cent for some employees.
Meanwhile, those public servants with a minimum of eight years of service within Grades 1 to 6 will be moved to the maximum of their scale, leading to salary increases of up to 26 per cent.
Additionally, public servants in Grades 7 to 8 with at least four years of service in their current scale will be eligible for an additional monthly amount equivalent to the nominal difference between the minimum and midpoint of Grade 6, provid-
ing increases of up to 11 per cent.
Nor are the disciplined forces left out, as they will also benefit from increases to housing and risk allowances. However, the Head of State urged the disciplined forces to foster trust in the public during the carrying out of their duties, just as they trust the Government to support them.
“As men and women in uniform, the people out there must be able to trust you. Trust you with their security, their lives and the safety of their communities and families. And so too, must you and the people out there, be able to trust your Government to do the right thing, uphold democracy
and the rule of law and implement the promises and commitments they make when they seek your votes. And this Government has demonstrated that we’ve not only earned your trust, but we’ve stayed committed to your trust and we’ve fulfilled all that we’ve promised.”
In addition to the GPSU, the Government was also able to reach an agreement with the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) for a historic three-year agreement that will deliver a 10 per cent salary increase in 2024, 8 per cent in 2025, and 9 per cent in 2026, mirroring the agreements signed with the GTU. (G3)
supplementary even a week and a half ago,” Croal said.
The Minister revealed that with no new areas left on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), the Government has been working on developing new areas on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) for allocation. According to Croal, the Government is committed to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place for these lands.
Minister Croal explained that a minimum of $250 billion has been spent to date on housing development. The search for new areas also continues in other areas like Region Six, where the Government is eyeing Moleson Creek and in the vicinity of New
Amsterdam.
“As a priority we’ve been trying to clear the arrears. That is, for 2019 and prior. Some regions, because of the land availability, I can move higher. For example, Region Three. We’ve been able to move beyond 2019. Region Four, where majority of the pending applicants are, you’ll realise that obviously we have a log and are working to clear that.”
“We’re working on other regions to get additional lands. For example, Region Six, we’re in Moleson Creek for a new area and I’m working for another one, somewhere close to New Amsterdam. So different regions may have a different timeline, but by large what we want is for the system to
work. And it has been,” the Minister also said.
The PPP/C Government is well on the way of achieving its target of 50,000 house lots by 2025.
Last month, the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) had issued a Request for Information (RFI) on consultants that could do geotechnical assessments of new areas earmarked for residential and commercial development.
Geotechnical investigations are done to assess the physical properties of soil before conducting construction work. This helps to determine whether said soil is sturdy enough to construct structures on, among other things. (G3)
Navin Stoll appeared before the Diamond/ Grove Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where he was charged with attempted murder following a brutal knife attack on his wife, Claurine Prescod-Stoll.
Magistrate Wanda Fortune presided over the case, remanding the 26-yearold truck driver to prison.
Stoll was represented by attorney Ganesh Hira but was not required to enter a plea.
The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, and went viral on social media. According to reports, Stoll’s wife, Claurine, a 24-yearold sales representative, had moved out of their home after enduring repeated abuse.
On the day of the attack, Navin reportedly lured her to meet him near a “Jamoon tree” in Kuru Kururu along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway under the pretence of picking up their three-yearold son.
Upon her arrival, an argument erupted, escalating into a horrific assault. Stoll
armed himself with a knife and stabbed Claurine approximately 15 times, ignoring the desperate screams of bystanders and their young child. The vicious attack was captured on video, sparking outrage and calls for justice across social media.
The footage showed Claurine collapsing on the roadside, her body covered in blood, while Stoll fled the scene in his motorcar, leaving her critically injured. Passersby rushed her to the Diamond Hospital, from where she was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
She underwent emergency surgery and remains hospitalised in a critical but stable condition.
Two days after evading authorities, Stoll was arrested during a police operation. Investigators have since gathered statements from Claurine, who recounted the harrowing ordeal, as well as witnesses.
The case will continue on January 10, 2025. (G9)
Aan’s car and later crashed it at Soesdyke, East Bank
Demerara (EBD). The incident unfolded around 19:30h when the suspect drove off in a black Honda Vezel, valued at $4.7 million, belonging to a 39-year-old housewife from Pearl, EBD.
According to reports, the woman had parked the vehicle at her unfenced property located on the western side of Pearl Public Road. She left the engine running while she went inside her house to collect an item. During this time, the suspect reportedly entered the car and sped off in a southerly direction along Pearl Public Road. Approximately 45 min-
utes later, the woman was informed by a friend that her car had been involved in an accident at Soesdyke. Rushing to the scene, she found her damaged vehicle and the suspect sitting in the driver’s seat.
Eyewitnesses said the man appeared to be intoxicated. Police were called to the scene, and the suspect was taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing. (G9)
You, dear readers, might be wondering why I return – time and again – to matters overseas. Now, even if our own “poems man and seer” Martin Carter hadn’t prophesied 50+years ago that we’re all involved and we’ll all be consumed, we have enough evidence from the last few years that he wasn’t just talking about INSIDE Guyana. We, literally and figuratively, ain’t no island!! So, as Bashar al- Assad flees to Russia with his Diana-like beautiful British wife, we need to think about exactly HOW we’ll be affected down here in ole Mudland.
Yesterday, your Eyewitness offered a teaser when he reminded that, back in 2007, US General (rtd) Wesley Clark had revealed the US military strategy following 9/11: “We’re going to take out 7 countries in 5 years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and finishing it off with Iran”. Well, as the old nursery rhyme lisped, “…and now there is ONE”Iran!! One by one, they were picked off by the Yanks, first in a “war on terror”, then a “war for democracy”, and now a combination of both??
So, for Iran, when it rains – as it has when its allies in Lebanon and Syria have fallen – it pours…and not by accident!! While sanctions have been slapped on them for years, and have severely affected their oil-based economy, look what has happened in just this year. Syria’s regional arch-enemy Israel – armed and funded by the Yanks – has practically extirpated its ally Hamas in Gaza through a genocidal campaign that now gives Israel the “lebensraum” – living space, as was ironically demanded by Hitler for the Germans!! – that Israel wanted since 1948. The Nakba of that year merely EXPELLED the Palestinians; this genocide wipes them out.
Assad’s Syria, Iran’s ally, had been pounded by Israeli attacks that destroyed their air defence systems, and Assad’s now gone. At the same time, Syria’s ally Hezbollah, over in Lebanon – which had given the Israelis a bruisin’ a decade ago, and was thought to be a formidable force – has been decapacitated through not only direct attacks, but through assassination of its leaders using superior technology like phone-bombs. The deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash earlier this year have, moreover, scuppered succession plans for Tehran. As such, Iran’s been weakened, and it’s felt that Trump might take a harder line than Biden did when he takes power next month!!
So how does this matter to us? For one, we’re now an oil-producing state, and should know that whatever affects Middle-East oil affects us!! And secondly, if Mad Maduro –with his 300-BILLION-barrel oil reserves – keeps on tweaking the Americans’ nose, he’s cruising for a bruising!
Which gonna drag us in!!
…to riggers
Four years ago, Reg 4 RO Clairmont Mingo did his thing to rig the March 2, General Elections with spreadsheets and bedsheets. It’s three years since he, GECOM CEO Lowenfield, Dep CEO Myers, together with former APNU+AFC Minister and PNC Chair Volda Lawrence, Coalition activist Carol SmithJoseph, and several GECOM Secretariat employees, were charged with trying to rig the elections by declaring a false account of votes for the said elections.
The case kept getting delayed over that time for all sorts of reasons – even though its resolution gotta be one of the most important items on the national agenda – especially when General Elections 2025 are nigh upon us!!
Eyewitness ain’t surprised now that we finally have a new magistrate, after the previous one called in sick for months. The defence wants the trial to begin all afresh – “de novo”!!
While time longer than twine, does the Opposition – with one leader being the defence attorney – want to postpone elections 2025?? Justice delayed…??
…to
plainspokenness
One of the delaying tactics used by the riggers – former GECOM CEO Lowenfield and his deputy Roxanne Myers – was to raise a “constitutional” objection to their charge. The Chief Justice (ag) didn’t mince words; she ruled they were “trying a ting”!!
The Government will be bringing an expert, the former head of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India, to Guyana to aid in the establishment of a forensic school in Guyana, as well as helping to operationalise the existing forensic lab.
President Dr Irfaan Ali revealed on Tuesday that an Indian expert is being brought to Guyana to help establish a forensic school. While addressing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Christmas breakfast on Tuesday. President Ali said that an agreement has been inked to bring a former head of India’s CBI.
“Today, we’re investing in a state of the art, world class police academy, that will be linked to some of the finest institutions internationally. An academy that will be training the best in the region.”
“We’ve just concluded an agreement to have not just an expert, the former head of the Criminal Bureau of Investigations, in India. The former head is to be leading our effort in the establishment of a forensic school and fully operationalise the forensic lab in Guyana, to serve all the region.”
According to the President, the PPP/C Government remains com-
mitted to supporting the GPF in building its capacity. According to the Head of State, both financial, infrastructure and human capital investments are needed.
“There are some key issues that we have to and must address. And those issues we will address with the right balance of resources. Because they can only be addressed if we have not only the financial investment, or the infrastructure investment, but the investment of our human capital to match the physical changes and what is required of the economy, to take us forward.”
The President also
spoke of the responsibility that lies on the shoulders of the police. As a matter of fact, President Ali recommended a merit system be
set up in the police force, to incentivise greater care for police facilities.
“What I want to ask you as officers now and I’ve
asked the commissioner, is to have a merit system to hold officers accountable to these facilities.
One hundred and forty-eight nurses have joined the health sector in Guyana and received their certification on Monday in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Of the group that graduated on Monday, 20 completed the midwifery programme, 31 completed the professional nursing programme, and the rest graduated from the nursing assistant programme at the New Amsterdam School of Nursing.
The Nursing Assistant Programme focused on foundational nursing skills, enabling graduates to provide essential care and support in diverse healthcare settings across Guyana while the professional nurses are now equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional nursing care which is a reflection of the comprehensive and rigorous training they have received.
The midwifery programme provided hands-on clinical training and theoretical knowledge to prepare the midwives for their pivotal roles in maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Meanwhile, a new batch of 13 student midwives, 127 professional nurses and 132 nursing assistants is currently ongoing.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony addressing the graduates reiterated that the health sector in Guyana is being transformed and this is being done not only with the construction of new buildings, the installation of new equipment and introducing new programmes, but also by providing training for more persons in the health sector.
“If you were wondering why it is that we want to train so many people and why we are in such a hurry, it is because we want to expand the services and we want to make
sure that we have more people who would be there to work with our patients. So, this batch that is graduating, they are all going to get a job with the Ministry of Health and we are going to put them in different hospitals and make sure that they can help to deliver these services,” Anthony explained.
The Health Minister said if they are thinking of a career in medicine, it is one where they will be required to continue learning because every day there is something new in medicine.
“So, for those of you who are graduating as professional nurses, one of the things that we will be starting are specialised programmes in nursing because when we open the big fancy new New Amsterdam Hospital here we will need ICU (Intensive Care Unit) nurses. We will need cardiac nurses, and all the specialised services that we are offering will need specialist care and if we don’t train people, where are we going to get these specialists to offer the care?”
Already specialists nursing programmes are available for professional nurses in the capital city Georgetown. Anthony said he is hoping to be able to get some of the faculties to start similar programmes in New Amsterdam.
Anthony pointed out that a new nursing school is currently being constructed at the old New Amsterdam Hospital and the University of the West Indies will utilise the current New Amsterdam Nursing School to run University of the West Indie (UWI) nursing programmes. (G4)
The second power ship which was acquired to assist in supplying the continuously increasing demand for reliable power in the country, arrived in Guyana on Tuesday.
The arrival of this vessel comes after a contract signing last month between the Guyana power and Light Inc with the Joint Venture of Turkishbased Karpowership Global DMCC and Qatar-based UCC Energy International
LLC JV, to charter a second power ship with a total installed capacity of 75 megawatts (MW) for two years. In the first phase, the power ship will dispatch 60 MW to the grid in approximately six weeks followed by an additional 15 MW, once works are completed on an additional transmission line.
The contract requires GPL to pay the Joint Venture 8.52 US cents per Kilowatthour (kWh) as a monthly charter fee for the new pow-
er ship and a monthly operation and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kWh, based on electricity generated. Under the contract, GPL is also responsible for providing Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for the operation of the ship’s generators.
Guyana Times on Monday reported that the ship was expected to arrive at Port Georgetown this week. This was revealed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power
and Light Inc (GPL), Kesh Nandlall. Currently, 3.9 kilometres of transmission line is being constructed by a private contractor and according to Nandlall, work is on schedule.
“We are expecting to connect the ship before Christmas. We do not anticipate any difficulties so far.”
Nandlall stated that workers are operating around the clock in shifts to ensure the power ship begins supplying electricity to the national grid before Christmas.
On Sunday consumers in sections of Greater Georgetown experienced an 8-hour interruption in electricity supply as GPL conducted preparatory works for the arrival of a second power ship.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh on Saturday said that the demand for electricity from GPL has moved from almost 100 MW to almost 200 MW currently.
“There are new housing areas with hundreds of houses that are being brought onto the grid; we have new industrial and commercial investments in-
cluding things like hotels, factories, warehouses, processing plants, etc. all of whom are coming onto the grid and demanding electricity. This has resulted in the skyrocketing electricity demand,” he said.
The current peak demand is 187 MW, while the available capacity is 194 MW. This second power ship will add to the 36 MW of electricity already being produced by the first floating power plant that is in the Berbice River. Nandlall had previously told this publication that two generators with an aggregate capacity of 13 MW that are unavailable due to major overall will be back online by December 10 and 21. This he said will boost the generation capacity in the DBIS to 207 MW.
What if Irfaan Ali-led PPP gives in to the naysayers’ advice and ends the Exxon contract?
Right now, thousands of Guyanese are registering in a database that would be used to distribute the $100,000 cash grant for every Guyanese citizen 18 years and older. The same database will be utilised as a template for future cash grant distributions. Excepting for the “sour-grapes” naysayers, every Guyanese citizen is happy to receive their cash grants. Public servants and pensioners will have their cash grants fasttracked, and will receive their grants before the end of 2024. Subsequently, every Guyanese in Guyana will receive their $100,000 early in 2025.
What if?
What if there was no good or bad EXXON contract? What if the Irfaan Ali-led PPP, upon inheriting the EXXON contract, had given in to the naysayers and arbitrarily terminated the EXXON contract, incurring the wrath of the developed countries? What if the Irfaan Ali-led PPP government had given in to the naysayers’ demand to renegotiate the EXXON contract, causing EXXON to halt production? What if the Irfaan Ali-led PPP had left the oil in the ground? Would the Government have been able to distribute $100,000 to more than 600,000 Guyanese citizens? Could Government have afforded the more-than-$60B that this cash grant programme would cost?
What if the Irfaan Ali-led Government had refuted the sanctity of the EXXON contract negotiated and signed by its predecessor and Guyana had become a pariah state? Look at the brutal reality faced by our sisters and brothers in Venezuela. Look at refugees from Venezuela scrambling and struggling to survive in other people’s lands, humiliating themselves just to eat and survive. Their struggles are our answer to the “what if” question.
For Guyanese who get sucked in by the recklessness of the naysayers’ constant noise, this is what they have to ask themselves: What if there was no oil money?
For those who want to renegotiate the contract, their reality is that Guyana would have had to reduce the 2024 budget by more than $600B, and even more in subsequent budgets. If the Government had accepted the naysayers’ demand that we do the “responsible” thing and leave the oil in the ground because of environmental impacts of fossil fuel, then where would we have found money to provide periodic cash grants? In this scenario, the “what if” question is our brutal reality.
We all genuinely believe we got a bad deal; and who is responsible for the one-sided deal? But one-sided bad deal or not, Guyana is still benefitting enormously. Maybe we could have benefitted more with a better deal, but renegotiating would mean we would have to wait for many years, while the oil stays in the ground with no guarantee we would ever benefit.
In that situation, cash grants like the present $100,000 per citizen 18 years and older would not have been possible. The cash grant for every child, which would reach a minimum of $50,000 for every one of the 200,000 children in school, would not have been possible, because it requires more than $10B in 2025. We did distribute $10,000 per child in 2014, but we would have been hard pressed to increase it by much with the non-oil financing.
Each pensioner would receive at least $41,000 per month in 2025. With there being more than 75,000 pensioners, it would require a budget allocation of about $37B in 2025. Imagine what would have happened without oil. For sure, we could not have afforded $41,000 per month for 2025, with the possibility of a bonus 13th month for the year.
Just yesterday, the President announced a 10% salary increase retroactive to January 2024. In addition, salary increases would be 8% for 2025, and adjustments would be made for some public servants to move up the band. These increases would be adding billions to the national budget; but what if there was no oil money? While the naysayers preach their self-righteous mumbo-jumbo, public servants have seen their salaries increased by 60 to 75% since 2021. What if the naysayers had had their way? What would the public servant salaries have been?
In the first half of 2025, six new regional hospitals, at a cost of US$180M, will be commissioned with 450 modern beds, 50 ICU beds, 18 NICU beds, 18 new operating theatres, six new CT scanners, and modern equipment in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
By the end of 2025, a modern, First World paediatric and maternal hospital, built at a cost of US$161M, with MRI, an open-heart surgery suite, radiotherapy equipment, modern operating theatre, and critical care department, will be commissioned at Ogle. By the end of 2025, a modern, new, First World, five-storey hospital would be built at a cost of US$160M in New Amsterdam; and five new, modern, two-storey hospitals each costing US$150M would be in the advanced stage of construction at Moruka, Bartica, Kamarang, Kato and Lethem. Construction work will start for a new West Demerara Hospital; transformation of the Linden Hospital will begin; construction of a new cancer hospital will begin; and the biggest health project in the history of CARICOM, costing more than US$500M, will begin at GPHC. What if we did not have oil money?
A new, high-span bridge over the Demerara River will be commissioned in 2025. Construction of a new, high-span bridge will begin over the Berbice River in 2025/ 2026. Construction of a new bridge will begin over the Corentyne River. The Highway to Lethem will be completed in 2025/2026. A new airport and stadium will be completed in 2025 in Palmyra, Region 6. By the end of 2025, there will be no mud roads in Guyana. More than 50,000 new homes, compared to 2020, and more than 25 new schools would have been constructed. And imagine, electricity costs would be reduced by 50%.
The fastest-growing economy -- with a modern landscape, including new hotels across Guyana -- is the talk of the world. What if? What if there was no oil money because the naysayers had their way?
Atraffic enforcement operation conducted along the Kitty Seawalls between the Kitty Roundabout and Camp Road, Georgetown resulted in 82 violations and multiple vehicle impoundments.
The exercise took place between 23:20h on Sunday and 01:30h on Monday, 2024, and was led by W/ Superintendent Daniels
and Deputy Superintendent Fredericks, along with a team of police officers.
The operation focused on addressing traffic infractions such as the use of coloured lights, heavily tinted motor vehicles, and other violations. Among the offences recorded were breaches of the conditions of provisional driver’s licences, failures to produce driver’s
A30-year-old construction worker from ‘BB’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), has been remanded to prison after being charged with possession of 863 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Daniel Browne was arrested on Friday, by ranks from the Farm/Herstelling Police Station. The charge, brought under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, Chapter 10:10, was officially laid against him on Tuesday.
Browne appeared before Magistrate Wonda Fortune at the Diamond Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read. He pleaded not guilty but was nonetheless denied bail.
The defendant has been remanded to prison and the case will continue on January 20, 2025. (G9)
licences, unlicensed driving, and breaches of insurance requirements. Cases of non-compliance with prescribed fitness standards were particularly notable, with 16 violations documented.
Additionally, several motorcyclists were found in breach of safety regulations, with 14 failing to wear safety helmets and three carrying pillion riders without helmets. Seven vehicles were cited for illegal front tints, while two were found
plates. The operation also uncovered one unlicensed motor vehicle.
In total, five individuals were arrested during the operation. Police revoked the fitness certifications of 20 vehicles and impounded 19, comprising 17 motorcycles and two motorcars.
The police have emphasised that these operations are part of a broader effort to improve road safety and enforce traffic laws. Motorists are urged to comply with regulations to avoid
without front identification marks, one without rear identification marks, and 20 with obscured number
penalties as similar enforcement exercises are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) stood out among the 43 exhibitors at the recent Human Rights and AntiCorruption Expo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), highlighting the critical issue of child abuse in Guyana’s hinterland communities and its commitment to ending the scourge.
Ambassador from the Rights of the Child Commission, Attiya Griffith, revealed that over the years, there have been numerous cases of child abuse affecting children in the hinterland regions. Griffith made these remarks during the expo, where the Rights of the Child Commission had one of the featured booths.
“What we’ve noticed over the years is that many children are being employed, particularly in the hinterland areas of Guyana. What we do is speak to community leaders to address and resolve these issues,” Griffith stated.
According to Griffith, the Commission has been making several efforts to reduce child abuse rates within the hinterland communities.
“The Rights of the Child Commission follows the
54 Articles of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, and we aim to promote children’s rights and equality in Guyana,” she explained.
She also highlighted another concerning trend in which the commission has been dealing with: “Most of the cases we deal with involve a wide range of domestic and sexual abuse, and some cases even involve children who have been murdered. I remember one case where a student’s siblings would leave him on the trail on his way to school, and the teachers wouldn’t account for him. We had to resolve that issue.”
The Commission showcased several key pieces of
legislation, including the Sexual Offences Act, the Status of Children Act, and a complaints mechanism to share with the public.
Meanwhile, Outreach Coordinator, Jessica Hussein from the ED YOU FM booth highlighted the radio station’s efforts to educate people in the hinterland by setting up radio stations in those communities.
“We don’t usually get into the hinterland, so from the public’s perspective, having a radio station is incredibly valuable. A simple radio means a lot to them. We are currently working on a radio distribution project, and hopefully by next year, we can have a radio preschool in the hinterland region,”
Hussein said.
Richard Budhu, of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), part of the Ministry of Natural Resources, also addressed the importance of public awareness. At the event, he emphasised the need for the public to be well-informed about the country’s natural resources.
“The people of Guyana must understand the bene-
fits of the extractive industries and natural resources.
People don’t always realise that these resources belong to us—the people of the country, not anyone else. We have to decide how we use them,” Budhu stated.
He further emphasised the importance of transparency and public involvement in combating corruption.
“Corruption doesn’t start with the people—it starts
at the top. But it also starts with us, the civilians, at the bottom. We need your help to stop it, so we ask the public to get involved,” he urged. In his commitment to transparency, Budhu added that the Ministry of Natural Resources is working to reduce potential corruption and encouraged the public to engage with the Ministry through their website. “We’re advising people to visit our website, GYEITI, to learn more. This initiative is relatively new for the country, and even though we’ve been here since 2017, very few Guyanese know about it,” he explained.
“We at the Ministry of Natural Resources are trying to address this issue. We need people to visit our website, read the reports, and make sure everything is in order. Remember, the resources belong to the people, not just the Government,” he concluded
The year’s two-day exhibition is being held in observance of International AntiCorruption Day and features some 43 exhibitors.
However, the Prime Minister explained that corruption poses a significant threat to the ideology of democracy, as such he noted that the Government is committed to developing policies and frameworks aimed at bolstering the anti-corruption landscape in Guyana. (G2)
Because when you’re stationed as an officer in charge, you’re also responsible for the assets of that facility. And you should take pride for the assets in that facility. And part of performance evaluation must be how we upkeep those facilities,” President Ali added.
Only recently, the Government announced a partnership with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) of India. This partnership is aimed at training and equipping officers with advanced investigative techniques, forensic science, cyber-security, and forensic psychology. The
partnership was formalised during a meeting between President Ali and key representatives from NFSU and the Indian Government.
The delegation included Dean of the School of Behavioral Forensics at NFSU, Professor Asha Srivastava; Dr Vishal Parmar of NFSU, and High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken and Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Colonel Sheldon Howell also attended the meeting.
Through this collaboration, GPF officers will under-
go training in cutting-edge techniques across forensic science, cyber-security, and forensic psychology—fields increasingly important for modern law enforcement.
Additionally, Guyana’s Police Academy will serve as the hub for delivering these training programmes, and opportunities will be extended to regional police services, fostering greater collaboration within the Caribbean.
Another significant aspect of this partnership is the operationalisation and management of Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL). (G3)
Jet Global Services (Guyana) Inc, a Guyanese-incorporated company, on Tuesday announced the launch of its chartered international flight operations, connecting Guyana to Europe, North America, and South America, starting in July 2025.
In partnership with GullivAir, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Luna Jets in Paris, France, Jet Global Services is set to redefine air travel in Guyana. GullivAir’s state-of-the-art Airbus A330-200 aircraft, featuring 269 seats across business, premium,
and economy classes, promises a travel experience defined by comfort and elegance. Each traveller will be allowed two 23-kilogram check-in suitcases and eight kilograms of hand luggage, with additional capacity for cargo, catering to both leisure and business needs.
GullivAir is in the final stages of receiving all the requisite approvals from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, which is anticipated to be within weeks. Flights will be to and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, facilitating direct, non-stop flights to
key international destinations, including: Georgetown - London, United Kingdom (UK) (Negotiating transit with Barbados, Tobago, Antigua, St Lucia), Georgetown to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Georgetown to Toronto, Canada (Twice a week) and Georgetown to New York, USA
Jet Global Services and its partners are fully committed to meeting this demand, connecting Guyana with the world while propelling Guyana’s economy forward. Passengers can anticipate unparalleled travel benefits that redefine air travel. Our dedication to exceptional customer service guarantees every journey is comfortable and enjoyable.
Key features include Multiple Class Options: Tailored business, premium, and economy classes designed for every traveller’s unique needs. Exceptional In-Flight Experience: Indulge in high-quality meals, a variety of entertainment options, and a courteous, attentive service team dedicated to your satisfaction. Seamless Connectivity: Effortlessly book flights and access comprehensive customer support via our user-friendly website, mobile app, and dedicated call centre available on WhatsApp.
Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the shooting of a top UnitedHealth executive, briefly struggled with officers and angrily shouted while being escorted into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, as a clearer picture of his motives began to emerge a day after his arrest ended a massive manhunt.
Mangione, 26, turned toward a group of reporters and yelled in part, “...completely out of touch and an
insult to the intelligence of the American people!” before deputies pushed him away. It was not clear to what he was referring.
At the court hearing, his defence lawyer told a judge that Mangione would oppose extradition to New York, where he is charged with murder and other crimes. That decision could delay the process by weeks but is unlikely to block his eventual transfer; for now, Mangione will remain in jail in Pennsylvania, where
he faces gun and forgery charges.
His attorney, Tom Dickey, said at a news conference that Mangione planned to plead not guilty to the charges.
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance arm, one of the largest health insurers in the US, was shot dead on the morning of December 4 outside a hotel in Manhattan in what Police said was a targeted attack, sparking a manhunt that led to
Law enforcement officials in Suriname have launched a manhunt for Roy Daniels, also known as “Doerga,” who is accused of shooting Winston Stolk, the owner of Club Emergency in Rainville, Paramaribo-North, early Sunday morning. According to the Surinamese news outlet Waterkant, the Anonymous Information Reporting Centre (MIA) has reported that the suspect may have fled to Guyana.
back. The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle, leaving the victim critically injured.
Mangione’s arrest.
More clues about his possible motivation were coming to light on Tuesday.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
The shooting occurred during an altercation captured on video. The footage shows Daniels arguing with Stolk at the club’s entrance. The argument escalated, with Daniels allegedly threatening the victim before pulling out a handgun. Despite a bystander’s attempt to intervene, Daniels fired multiple shots at Stolk, hitting him in the chest and
Waterkant news reported that several informants in Suriname’s Nickerie district, which borders Guyana, have tipped off MIA, suggesting Daniels may have crossed into Guyana. In response, a regional MIA RED alert has been issued, and a photo of the suspect has been widely circulated. The Surinamese police are working with Guyanese authorities through judicial channels to locate and apprehend Daniels. Local investigators are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in his capture.
Stolk was rushed to the emergency room in critical condition following the shooting.
Brazilian President
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was recovering in an Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday, doctors said, after being rushed to a São Paulo hospital for emergency surgery to drain a bleed on his brain linked to a fall in October.
The 79-year-old Lula was in stable condition and speaking and eating normally after the successful operation at Sirio-Libanes Hospital, doctors said at a press conference.
The bleeding that Lula experienced occurred between his brain and meningeal membrane, said the doctors, who ruled out any injury to the brain or neurological complications.
Lula, who was in surgery for about two hours, is expected to remain in intensive care for 48 hours and return to the capital Brasilia early next week “if everything goes well,” his doctor, Roberto Kalil Filho, told reporters.
The emergency surgery added to health concerns about the aging president,
a standard bearer of the Latin American left who is halfway through his third non-consecutive term.
Weak results for his Workers Party in this year’s municipal elections underscored the lack of a clear leftist successor if he chooses not to run for re-election in 2026.
Lula has curtailed travel in recent months while doctors monitored his recovery from trauma to the back of his head when he fell at his home in late October, re-
quiring stitches.
He complained of a worsening headache during talks with congressional leaders on Monday evening in Brasilia, and was taken to a local hospital for exams, presidential spokesperson Paulo Pimenta said in a radio interview.
An MRI scan detected an intracranial haemorrhage, and Lula was flown soon after to São Paulo for the surgery, according to a medical note released by the government. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Afederal congressman was assassinated late on Monday in Mexico’s Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, the latest killing in an outbreak of political violence in the country.
The Veracruz attorney general’s office confirmed the death of Benito Aguas, a member of the leftist Government’s ruling coalition in the 500-member Lower House of Congress, in a post on social media.
Another man identified as Agustin Linares was also found dead at the scene, according to the attorney general’s office, adding that an investigation into the suspected murders was ongoing.
Local media reported
that Aguas was shot multiple times in the mountainous municipality of Zongolica in central Veracruz and died later from his wounds.
“We trust that the relevant investigations will be carried out so that justice prevails,” Lower House leader Ricardo Monreal wrote in a post on social media.
Aguas was a member of Mexico’s Green Party, part of the ruling coalition led by the Morena Party of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October.
Sheinbaum said she had instructed security officials to work with Veracruz’s governor to ensure justice in the case.
“We are very sorry about
what happened,” she told a press conference.
Mexico has suffered a wave of violence with hundreds killed in intra-cartel warfare in western Sinaloa state, and frequent episodes of violence elsewhere in the country where gangs fight over lucrative smuggling routes and other criminal rackets.
Politicians have frequently been targeted, with dozens killed ahead of last June’s general election.
The murder of a mayor in Mexico’s southern Guerrero state days after he took office in October sparked outrage and doubts over Sheinbaum’s security policies. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Reported cases of dengue in the Americas nearly tripled to a record high of over 12.6 million this year, including 21,000 severe cases and over 7700 deaths, the Pan American Health Organisation said on Tuesday.
This year’s outbreak of dengue, the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide, is the biggest since records began in 1980, according to the PAHO, which urged stronger mitigation efforts.
The deadly viral illness has hit Brazil, Argentina,
Colombia, and Mexico especially hard, with the four Latin American nations accounting for 90 per cent of cases and 88 per cent of deaths, according to a PAHO statement.
Children are at elevated risk of contracting dengue and suffering its more severe consequences.
In Guatemala, children represent 70 per cent of dengue-related deaths, while those under age 15 make up more than a third of severe cases in Mexico, Costa Rica and Paraguay, PAHO data shows.
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez said on Tuesday he was convinced he would return from Spain to his country in time to be sworn in as President on January 10.
“You don’t go to war with fear, which is why I’m convinced I will somehow travel to Venezuela to take over,” Gonzalez told an event in Madrid, where he has been living in exile since September 8.
Gonzalez has an open arrest warrant against him for alleged conspiracy and other crimes, after President Nicolás Maduro said the Opposition was trying to topple him in a coup.
The Opposition insist
Gonzalez was the real winner of a July election awarded to Maduro.
Gonzalez’s vice-presidential pick, Maria Corina Machado, who remains at
an undisclosed location in Venezuela, took part in the event through a video link, saying: “Tremendously challenging and dangerous times lie ahead”. (Reuters)
At least 229 persons detained in Nicaragua for political reasons have suffered various forms of torture and other “crimes against humanity” at the hands of the Government over the past seven years, a human rights NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) said on Tuesday.
The Nicaragua Never Again Human Rights Collective said in a report that it had documented the torture of 183 men and 46 women out of some 2000 persons arrested in connection to 2018 anti-Government protests.
Nicaraguan Vice President and government spokesperson Rosario Murillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ortega’s government in the past has ignored reports from NGOs, as well as from the United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS), saying they
are part of an international campaign against it.
The NGO, which is based in neighbouring Costa Rica, said at least 178 of those who testified reported suffering abuse such as beatings, beatings with weapons, rape, death threats and threats or aggression against family members.
It said it identified over
40 forms of torture through the testimonies, including 159 cases of beatings, 22 of asphyxiation or strangulation, 17 cases of electric shocks, 21 burns with plastic or iron, and 18 fingernail or tooth removals. At least 117 persons were deprived of medical attention and 85 kept in isolation for over two weeks, it said.(Excerpt from Reuters)
PThe organisation, the Americas arm of the UN’s World Health Organisation, notes that climate events across the region have favoured mosquito proliferation, while also citing accumulated water and poor waste management as factors that boost breeding of the insects that carry and spread dengue.
Some four billion people, or around half the world’s population, live in areas with a risk of contracting dengue, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (Reuters)
rogressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has blamed (Tobago House of Assembly) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for the failure of the Tobago autonomy bill in the Parliament.
During debate on the pieces of legislation on December 9, the House of Representatives passed the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021 by a vote of 2010, but failed to pass the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill did not get the special three-fourths majority for passage, as 21 overnment members voted for the bill and 16 Opposition
members voted against. The bill required at least 31 of the 41 members to vote in favour.
At a news conference after the sitting, Augustine claimed there was absolutely “no will nor intent” by the Government to pass the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.
He revealed he had sent the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader a list of proposed amendments to the bills minutes before the sitting. Augustine claimed his legal team had worked throughout the weekend preparing the document containing the amendments. Meanwhile, Augustine described Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley as a “house
slave,” as he accused him of ignoring the needs of Tobago’s people. Augustine made these comments after the Tobago Self-Government Bill failed in Parliament.
Earlier in the day, Augustine had called for more consultation, stating that the bills do not meet the needs of Tobago and its people.
In response to Augustine’s WhatsApp request just minutes before the sitting to propose amendments, however, Prime Minister Rowley told the House that Augustine’s attempt to stall the process was “preposterous”.
(Excerpts from Trinidad Newsday and Trinidad Guardian)
Syria’s new interim leader announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker Prime Minister with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad three days ago.
il prices rose on Tuesday as markets looked to rising demand in China, the world’s largest buyer, and possible tight supply in Europe this coming winter and away from the overthrow of Syria’s President.
Brent crude futures settled at US$72.19 a barrel, up five cents or 0.07 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at US$68.59 a barrel, up 22 cents or 0.32 per cent. Both benchmarks had risen more than one per cent on Monday.
Support came from reports that China will adopt “appropriately loose” monetary policy in 2025 as Beijing tries to spur economic growth. This would be the first easing of its stance in 14 years, though details remain thin.
Chinese crude imports also grew annually for the first time in seven months, jumping in November from the year-earlier period.
The increase, however, “was more a function of stockpiling than demand improvement”, said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.
“The economy will only be stimulated by improving consumer sentiment and spending, by a rise in domestic aggregate demand echoed in a healthy increase in consumer inflation,” he added.
Speculation about winter demand was also a factor, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group.
“Hedge funds are starting to buy on tightness of supply in European markets this winter,” Flynn said.
In Syria, rebels were working to form a government and restore order after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, with the country’s banks and oil sector set to resume work on Tuesday.
“The tensions in the Middle East seem contained, which led market participants to price for potentially low risks of a wider regional spillover leading to significant oil supply disruption,” IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said.
While Syria itself is not a major oil producer, it is strategically located and has had strong ties with Russia and Iran.
Oil prices could receive a boost if the US Federal Reserve comes through with an expected quarter-percentage-point cut to interest rates at the end of its December 17-18 meeting. That could juice oil demand in the world’s biggest economy, though traders are waiting to see if this week’s inflation data derails the cut. (Reuters)
This was a remarkable day for Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu holds the record as its longest-serving Prime Minister. Now he has become the country’s first serving leader to take to the witness stand as a defendant in a criminal case. Moreover, he did so amid ongoing war in Gaza and as Israel carries out attacks in Syria during a tumultuous week for the region.
Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, first opened the defence argument, portraying the corruption trial as biased and his client as the victim of a political witch-hunt.
Prosecutors, he said, “weren’t investigating a crime, they were pursuing a man”.
Netanyahu then sought to downplay the significance of the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, and stress his political legacy. He strongly denies any wrongdoing.
“I have been waiting for eight years for this moment to tell the truth,” the veteran leader told the court in Tel Aviv.
“But I am also a Prime Minister… I am leading the country through a seven-front war, and I think the two can be done in parallel.”
(Excerpt from BBC News)
In a brief address on state television, Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria who previously ran an administration in a pocket of the northwest controlled by rebels, said he would lead the interim authority until March 1.
“Today we held a cabinet meeting that included a team from the Salvation Government that was working in Idlib and its vicinity, and the Government of the ousted regime,” he said.
“The meeting was under the headline of transferring the files and institutions to caretake the Government.” Bashir ran the rebel-led Salvation Government be-
fore the 12-day lightning rebel offensive swept into Damascus.
Behind him were two flags – the green, black and white flag flown by oppo-
nents of Assad throughout the civil war, and a white flag with the Islamic oath of faith in black writing, typically flown in Syria by Sunni Islamist fighters.
In the Syrian capital, banks reopened for the first time since Assad’s overthrow. Shops also opened again, traffic returned to the roads, cleaners were out sweeping the streets and there were fewer armed men about. Two sources close to the rebels said their command had ordered fighters to withdraw from cities, and for Police and internal security forces affiliated with the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS) to deploy there. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Thousands have been ordered to evacuate near the city of Malibu in the US state of California after a fast-moving wildfire broke out and burned hundreds of acres – including several homes.
The blaze has been dubbed the Franklin Fire by authorities, who say it started in Malibu Canyon at about 22:50 local time on Monday (06:50 GMT).
A mandatory evacuation order is in place for a wide swathe of Malibu. No injuries have been reported, but the blaze has destroyed multiple houses.
It is not yet clear what
caused the fire, but the region has been under a redflag warning, meaning conditions are ripe for extreme fires.
Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who gathered to protest against gender-based violence and femicide.
Protesters blew whistles and chanted “stop killing women” as they marched in the capital, Nairobi, on Tuesday, and Police repeatedly dispersed the crowds. The rally gathered pace as hundreds of women marched towards parliament, with many chanting, “shame on you” and “teach your sons”.
At least three persons were arrested, the Reuters news agency reported.
The protests in Nairobi were peaceful and it was
not immediately clear why the Police intervened. There was no immediate comment from the Police.
Protests also took place in the cities of Mombasa and Lodwar, according to videos posted on social media.
Among those arrested in Nairobi was Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International Kenya.
Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya released a joint statement condemning the Police actions, saying it sent a “chilling message” to peaceful protesters. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Malibu itself is a small, upmarket city west of Los Angeles that is popular with celebrities. Homes owned by stars including Lady Gaga,
Beyonce and Jay Z were reportedly among those in the evacuation zone. More than 2700 acres of land have so far been burned, according to the latest update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Photos showed the aftermath of the blaze’s path, with burned out cars and buses as well as the charred remains of homes.
Schools in the area have closed, roads are shut, and power has been cut in the area to prevent worsening the blaze. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Beijing for two days of talks with Chinese leaders, Russian news agencies reported late on Tuesday.
The visit by Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s powerful Security Council, is part of a deepening relationship between Moscow and Beijing. Both sides have pledged to intensify a “no limits” partnership proclaimed in February 2022 just ahead of Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov visited Beijing in October, with both sides saying his meetings focused on “sub-
stantive” defence and military talks to bolster ties. Medvedev, a former Russian President, has taken on the role of one of Moscow’s most vociferous hawks in defence of Moscow’s Ukraine operation.
Last month, he warned the United States to take seriously Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s lowering of Moscow’s threshold in its military doctrine in view of Ukraine’s deployment of Western missiles to strike targets within Russian territory.
The West was wrong, he said, to believe that Russia would “never cross a certain line”. (Reuters)
Listen and assess situations carefully. Learn all you can, verify what you discover, revise your goals and plot out a plan to stay in control. Attend events that interest you and expand your circle of friends.
Emotional situations will escalate fast. Protect your relationships from outside influences that put pressure on you or your loved ones. Channel your energy wisely.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities, but not all will be in your best interest. Consider what’s important and how to get the most for your money, time and skills.
Take the high road and utilize your skills to separate yourself. A display of compassion can cost you if you don’t get your facts straight before standing up for someone else. Avoid risky situations.
Refrain from getting tangled up in the bustle that the festive season inevitably fosters. Take a moment to breathe deeply, rethink your strategy and organize your day accordingly.
Situations will escalate quickly if someone close to you overreacts, overspends or indulges. Establish boundaries and set a good example through your actions. The best way to impress someone is with charm.
Traveling, attending get-togethers or fixing up your space will stimulate your mind and encourage positive personal change. Someone from your past will impact how you raise your profile or boost your lifestyle.
Be fair and honest and live up to your promises to avoid upsetting someone you love or depend on for help. Rely on your imagination to use what’s available to brighten your surroundings.
Dismiss anyone interfering in your affairs or limiting what you can do or say. Keep on top of what’s trending, but refuse to buy into an idea or plan benefiting someone else more than you.
Intelligence and charm will help you march forward with less interference. A secretive approach to domestic change will help you achieve your objective. Avoid participating in events that pose health risks.
Dodge a bullet and avoid situations that promote emotional mayhem. Set your sights on changes you can implement that make your life more convenient. Keeping the peace will encourage others to pitch in and help.
Verify all information that you receive today. Investigate your options and consider how to use your skills to do something that you feel is more exciting or lucrative.
The Bartica Community Centre was a veritable hive of table tennis activity when the Region 7 edition of the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited-Guyana Table Tennis AssociationMinistry of Education National Schools Teams and Singles Table Tennis Championships got underway on Monday 9th December 2024.
The championships, forming the catalyst for integrating the sport into the fabric of regional organizations and coordinating same with a view to building and developing capacity, are also aimed at incubating the development of talent in this particular sport regionally and nationally.
Moreover, being part of the Ministry of Education’s priority programmes, these championships offer athletes opportunities to become regional and national champions while inculcating in them skills learned that would last a lifetime, among other benefits.
Following on the heels of the successful Region 3 edi-
The National Gymnasium is anticipated to come alive on December 28 with the staging of a highly anticipated boxing card that promises an electrifying night of action.
Headlining
tion of the Championships, the event saw over thirty (30) student-athlete Table Tennis players from Bartica Secondary, Three Mile Secondary, St John the Baptist Primary, St Anthony’s Primary, Two Miles Primary and Potato Primary gracing the halls of the Bartica Community Centre auditorium to compete for regional and school honours.
A unique feature of the Region 7 edition was the mixture of winners in the various categories emerging from the seven (7) competing schools, and a younger nucleus of players who competed for regional success in the 13-years-and-under boys’ and girls’ singles, alongside the 15-years-and- under boys’ and girls’ singles.
ITTF-certified coaches Candacy McKenzie and Timothy Cornelius, President of the Bartica Steering Committee, provided great coordination to the championships. On hand also to lend support were the teachers who came to supervise and support the students, and Mrs. Celeste La Rose, Region Seven
Education Officer, Department of Education, who also provided great support to make the championships a success.
Mr Ian Chung, Senior Officer, Community Investment, CNOOC, and Huang Zhao, Projects Manager at CNOOC, were on hand to declare open the championships and wish the student athletes well.
Mr Chung, in delivering brief remarks to the students, indicated that CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, as a key oil and gas industry player, was very happy to support and provide opportunities to develop the talents and capacities of young Guyanese, “testimony to our investment in this first of a kind national schools table tennis championships which is being played nationwide.”
He charged the student athletes to be disciplined in their thoughts and in their ways of life, to emulate good role models and be good role models, to study hard and work hard as the basis for being successful in life.
“It is great to see you are
undertaking playing a sport. Play to the best of your abilities, and have fun. The capacity is within each one of you to be the best you can be. Play in the spirit of good sportsmanship, respect, and with determination in representing your school, continue to practise hard, and good luck to you all. You are all winners. CNOOC and our partners are happy to support you,” he offered.
The Region 7 Edition of the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, Guyana Table Tennis Association, and Ministry of Education National Schools Table Tennis Championships is a ground-breaking initiative sponsored by energy oil and gas giant CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.
Results of the Region 7 Edition of CNOOC Petroleum
Guyana Limited Guyana Table Tennis Association and Ministry of Education Nationwide Schools Table Tennis Championships were as follows:
Girls 13 years-and-under:
Ulani Nurse of St Anthony’s Primary emerged as champion. Victoria Innis of St Anthony’s Primary placed second. Cateleya Deeges of St John the Baptist Primary and Ariel James of St John the Baptist Primary were joint third-place winners.
Boys 13 years-and-under:
Samany Harrison of St John the Baptist Primary emerged winner. Zellon Williams of Two miles
Primary placed second; and Tyries Sue-Kam-Ling of St John the Baptist Primary and Damali Skilkie of St Anthony’s Primary were joint third-place winners.
Girls 15 years-and-under:
Rossanna Patterson (L) of Bartica Secondary emerged winner over her Bartica teammate, and Samantha Garraway placed second in the round robin finals.
Boys 15 years-and-under: Aiden Sheriff of Three Miles Secondary emerged champion. Selwyn Johnson of Bartica Secondary emerged as runner-up, and Simon Fiedtkou of Bartica Secondary placed third.
Dominic Vincente is making his debut appearance in the AmeriCup international 3x3 basketball competition, while Nikkoloi Smith will be making his second appearance in the tournament, but they are both looking to gain qualification for Guyana in the main draw of the tournament, which commences in Puerto Rico on December 12th.
The last time Vincente and Smith paired up in a 3X3 tournament was in last July, when they rose above the competition to win the Guyana Basketball Federation’s (GBF’s) 3x3 Championship. They were accompanied by Travis Belgrave and Jude Corlette on that occasion.
ning streak in a bantamweight bout against Colombia’s Randy Ramirez. The clash serves as a critical tune-up for Dharry, who is on the brink of a world title shot in 2025.
Keevin ‘Lightning’ Allicock, one of the brightest talents in local boxing, takes center stage in the co-main event. Known for his speed and precision, Allicock will face Dexter Wray in a battle
In other professional matchups, Dillon Charles squares off against Anson Green, while Kevin Isaacs will trade punches with Julian Clarke.
The card, co-promoted by Dharry in collaboration with the Guyana Boxing Board, would also feature four amateur fights, setting
the stage for the professional bouts.
Bell time is set for 19:00hrs, and tickets are priced at $4000 for floor seats and $3000 for the stands. Boxing enthusiasts can expect an action-packed evening that celebrates both rising stars and seasoned contenders in the sport.
On the eve of their departure from the Land of Many Waters, <<Guyana Times Sport>> spoke with Vincente and Smith, who expounded on the fast style of play needed in the 3x3 format, as they emphasized that decision–making is their key focus in terms of improvement in this tournament.
Vincente said, “So, the key aspect that I’m looking to improve on is leadership, whether it be on the court with teammates or making sure that everything is done as we want it to (be done). And off the court, in terms of training and so forth, that’s one of the key areas that I want to improve on —leadership on and off the court.
“And the second area that I’m looking to improve on is decision-making. Decisionmaking, knowing how 3x3 is very fast-paced, pushes you to think quickly. So even though the game is sped up, you can now think things through better and see how best you can come up with a win. So, it’s going to help (if I master) those two areas for me,” Vincente divulged.
“Some of the key aspects that I’m looking forward to improving on when it comes to my game is making good decisions. My decision making, and being consistent on both ends of the court, because 3x3 basketball is fast-paced. So, it could go both ways, it could go anyway. So, it’s all about making the right decision on both ends of the court, and I think it’s going to be key to our team, you know, pushing to make the qualifiers and getting into the major.” Vincente and Smith have lauded the international exposure as a basis to improve their skills mentally and physically, given the playing field being among consistent 3x3 international players. Vincente said, “It’s going to be a big impact, because now I can use that experience to help not just me, but people around me. To help improve their skills mentally and physically, because who we normally play (against) is at one level, and to be exposed to another level of basketball, it’s going to have a great impact not just for me, but for my teammates as well.”
“Because I will impart some of the knowledge that I learned when that happens, I think it will have a major impact getting to compete against players who get to play 3x3 on a regular (basis); who are more seasoned; who are exposed to this competition daily. It kind of gives you a measuring stick to see where you’re skilled at, where your skill is, and see where you need to improve on. I think it’s going to be a major impact getting to play 3x3 at the international level, and see which area of my game I need to improve on more when coming back, going back into training,” Smith said.
Team Guyana at these championships comprises Travis Belgrave, Harold Adams, Dominic Vincente and Nikkoloi Smith. They will come up against the Cayman Islands, Aruba, and Haiti in Group A. To secure a spot in the main draw, Guyana must finish atop their group, potentially setting up matchups against tournament heavyweights Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. (Omar McKenzie)
Defending champions of the KFC Goodwill International Football series, Clarendon College out of Jamaica, are in for a luxurious stay in Guyana as they carry out their title defence next week, owing to the Royal International Hotel joining the tournament’s corporate sponsorship lineup.
The Hotel’s support of the competition’s fifth installment was solidified on Tuesday afternoon at its Mandela Avenue location, where Manager Zheng Sai Li presented the sponsorship package to the Petra Organisation in a simple ceremony.
and D.C Caesar Fox in one group. And we have Clarendon College, Speyside High, Dolphin Secondary and Annai in one group. The tournament will kick off at 13:30hrs at the Queen’s College Ground, pitting the defending champions Clarendon College against Annai; then, at 15:30hrs, Speyside High School versus Dolphin.
In expressing appreciation for this new spon sor, Petra’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca speak ing on the value of this Hotel’s support, said, “Royal International Hotel, join ing us for the first time as part sponsor for this tourna ment, not only will they be contributing to the running of the tournament, but at least it helps us to provide a platform for these young sters to compete at the high est level.”
Mendonca added, “So,
on behalf of myself and Dr. Cole, we would like to extend our thanks to the Royal International Hotel.”
Mendonca also took the opportunity to reveal the tournament’s fixtures, which will see the defending champions starting their title defense on Sunday, December 16.
The Petra Co-Director disclosed, “We start on Sunday, and we have two groups: St. Benedict’s College, Chase’s Academy, Henry N. Hassankhan Community School,
Abrilliant innings of 81 not out from West Indies all- rounder Kevin Sinclair spearheaded a dominant performance by the strong Rose Hall NAMILCO Thunderbolt First Division team in the second round of the Berbice Cricket Board/Ivan Madray 20/20 tournament.
The Clinton Pestanoled team easily defeated arch- rivals Port Mourant by nine wickets at the Area H Ground to advance to the semifinals of the tournament, where they would clash with Upper Corentyne at the same venue.
The match was reduced to fifteen overs per side after preparation moisture resulted in a one-hour late start.
Port Mourant reached 117 for nine, with only national player Rampertab Ramnauth offering any resistance with a superb innings of 76, which included five boundaries and six sixes. Salim Khan, with 11, was the only other player to have reached double figures against the defending champions. Off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud, with 2 for 14, and former national player Eon Hooper, with 2 for 17, were the best bowlers
for Rose Hall Town; while Jermey Sandia and Clinton Pestano each took one wicket, for 12 and 8 respectively.
Rose Hall NAMILCO
Thunderbolt Flour, in reply, raced to victory in just nine overs, as Kevin Sinclair struck nine huge sixes and four boundaries in his 81 not out from just 27 balls.
Fellow national player Junior Sinclair was the only batsman to be dismissed, for 21, which included two sixes and two boundaries. Kelvon Anderson was seven not out when victory was achieved.
Left-arm spinner Joshua Harrichand was the only Port Mourant bowler to taste success, returning figures of 1 for 25 from two overs.
Rose Hall Town have already declared their team to play Upper Corentyne on Saturday in the semi-finals at the Area H Ground. They are: Clinton Pestano, Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Jonathan Rampersaud, Eon Hooper, Matthew Pottaya, Sylus Tyndall, Keon Sinclair, Jermey Sandia, Keith Simpson, Romesh Bharrat, Simon Gaffoor, Simeon Bharrat, Tameshwar Deochand, Raffel McKenzie and Leon Reddi.
“Further in the evening, over at the Ministry of Education Ground, we have Chase’s Academy coming up against Henry N. Hassankhan Community School and St. Benedict’s versus D.C. Caesar Fox Secondary. We take a break on Monday, and the tournament continues on Tuesday
and Wednesday. The first and second from each group will then proceed to the semifinals, slated for Friday,” Mendonca informed.
Aside from title sponsors KFC, Ansa McAl’s Lucozade and MVP Sports are
nals on Sunday, December 22nd.
Another of the longtime corporate sponsors of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation M.S, year-end football extravaganza has re-established their tangible support, like many other partners have done.
The latest to come on board is Guyana’s leading eatery, Maggie’s Snackette, located at 224 New Market Street, Georgetown, which offers a wide selection of quality pastries, sandwiches, cakes, fruit juices, and daily lunch specials.
Manager of this prestigious eatery, Pearson Burch-Smith, in brief remarks as he handed over the entity’s cheque to CoDirector of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, expressed delight at being able to see the return of year-end football.
“Your organisation is renowned the world over for this kind of activity at the end of the year; which clubs, players, fans and the corporate community looked forward to. We are more
than happy to see it making a welcome return, even though it’s another format of the sport. We are also happy to see that more players would be involved than ever before, with 64 male teams and 6 female teams participating. This speaks volumes, (and) you can count on our continued support.”
Major conveyed to Mr Burch-Smith and to Maggie’s Snackette the gratitude of his colleague Kashif Muhammad and that of his organisation for readily agreeing to continue a longstanding partnership.
Meanwhile, the competition entered its fourth night last evening at the National Gymnasium, where five more teams were knocked out as the action heightened. To date, a total of 21 teams have advanced to the next round.
Among them are Bent Street ‘B’, Festival City, Albouystown ‘A’, Stabroek Ballers, Sparta Boss, Unstoppable, Alexander Village, Team Family, North East, Back Circle ‘A’, Stabroek Ballers ‘B’, Show
Stoppers, Spaniard, Buxton, Espanyol, Bent Street ‘A’. Action will continue tomorrow evening at the same venue with six matches. Albouystown Ballers face Game Changer from 19:30hrs, DJ7 oppose Touches from 20:15hrs, Sophia ‘A’ engage Paradise Invaders from 21:00hrs, California Square match skills with Ballers from Ithaca at 21:45hrs, Pouderoyen Brothers battle Victoria Eagles at 22:30hrs, and the main event of the night features Team Cruel and Two Friends from 23:15hrs.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
West Indies coast-
ed to a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in St Kitts to claim the three-match ODI series. It was West Indies’ first ODI series win against Bangladesh in ten years. They had won the last four ODI series between the two sides too.
West Indies had, on Sunday, broken Bangladesh’s 11-match winning streak against them in the first ODI with Jayden Seales’s career-best figures of 4 for 22 lead the home side’s bowling efforts, as they bowled out the visitors for 227 in 45.5 overs.
Brandon King then struck a rapid 82 to accelerate the West Indies chase, as they completed the win in 36.5 overs. Captain Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford, who struck 113 in the first game, were the unbeaten batters who completed the game.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, have won just one of their last six ODI series, while West Indies have turned around their fortunes in the format. They have now won consecutive ODI series after beating England last month. They had lost ODI series against Australia and Sri Lanka earlier in the year.
Seales gave West Indies the foundation for this win. He dealt three early blows before Gudakesh Motie’s solid 2 for 36 kept Bangladesh
Hasan. It is a new record for the eighth wicket for Bangladesh. Mahmudullah’s 62 was also his third consecutive fifty in ODIs.
Before Seales took his wickets, Bangladesh had gotten off to a rapid start when Tanzid struck debutant Marquino Mindley for two fours and as many sixes in the first three overs. Seales broke through soon, getting Soumya Sarkar caught at mid-on for two.
Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz then followed Soumya in the first powerplay, both falling to Seales. Litton plodded along for four
fell to a catch at long-off for 24.
partnership in the 44th over when he caught Tanzim off
Lewis struck Mehidy for a huge hit down the ground in the 14th over, before getting dropped next ball, when Soumya couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance. Lewis was on 29 at the time.
After King reached his half-century off 52 balls in the 16th over, Lewis slammed Mehidy for his third six shortly afterwards. His fourth was a bit of a revenge against Rana, who had struck him in the unmentionables during the 20th over.
of the light towers on the pitch could be a reason for King missing that ball, but he walked off quietly after adding 66 runs for the second wicket with Carty. King struck eight fours and three sixes in his 76-ball stay.
Carty fell soon after King, slicing a catch to Rana off Afif Hossain, after making 45 off 47 balls. Rutherford and Hope blazed Rishad for a four and a six respectively in his eighth over.
Rutherford played out the final rites of the series when he disdainfully swung Shoriful Islam over squareleg for two sixes in the 37th over to complete the win.
(ESPNCricinfo)
Jaker Ali and Rishad
then followed quickly, and cheaply. Motie trapped Jaker lbw for three, before Rishad became Mindley’s first ODI wicket, falling for
West Indies were making it look like a cakewalk as they reduced Bangladesh to 115 for seven at this stage. Mahmudullah, who had struck one six till that point, had to trust Tanzim, who previously had a first-class fifty to his name. Tanzim looked determined as he struck two fours before launching Motie for his first six over long-on. Mahmudullah had struck two sixes till that point. The pair then hammered Greaves for a six and a four in consecutive overs, before repeating the same dose a few overs later on the same
Roston Chase ended the
his own bowling. It was a fine effort from the young cricketer, hitting six boundaries in his 62-ball stay. Mahmudullah followed Tanzim back to the pavilion in the next over, bizarrely hitting Seales’s wide delivery down deep point’s throat. His 62 came off 92 balls, including two fours and four sixes. It is only the second time in his career that Mahmudullah scored three fifties in a row in ODIs.
The pair completed their second century opening partnership this year. King has been involved in West Indies’ last five century opening stands. This one ended when Lewis, still reeling from that Rana blow, gave Rishad a caught-andbowled after making 49 off 62 balls. The wicket didn’t seem to lift Bangladesh, who promptly conceded five runs in overthrows. Litton conceded four byes also. Keacy Carty took advantage of their errors, hitting five boundaries while King slammed three sixes in a short spell.
He launched Rishad twice, apart from lifting Tanzim down the ground, and on to the roof of the pavilion building.
King fell to a Rana yorker in the 29th over. The long shadow of one
Bangladesh (50 ovs maximum)
Batting R
Tanzid Hasan c Chase b Greaves 46
Soumya Sarkar c Motie b Seales 2
Litton Das † c Lewis b Seales 4
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c) b Seales 1
Afif Hossain c Rutherford b Motie 24
Mahmudullah c Motie b Seales 62
Jaker Ali lbw b Motie 3
Rishad Hossain c Chase b Mindley 0
Tanzim Hasan Sakib c & b Chase 45
Shoriful Islam c Motie b Shepherd 15
Nahid Rana not out 4
Extras (b 5, lb 7, w 9) 21
Total 45.5 Ov RR: 4.95) 227
Fall of wickets: 1-26
(Soumya Sarkar, 3.1 ov), 2-41
(Litton Das, 7.6 ov), 3-54
When the home side replied to Bangladesh’s 227, King got off to a strong start with five boundaries in the first seven overs, hitting the ball well square on both sides of the pitch.
He moved to 26 while Lewis languished on six off 23 balls. Finally, in the ninth over, Lewis struck Tanzim for three boundaries, including a flat six over long-leg.
(Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9.5 ov), 4-64
(Tanzid Hasan, 10.5 ov), 5-100
(Afif Hossain, 18.5 ov), 6-104
(Jaker Ali, 20.6 ov), 7-115
(Rishad Hossain, 25.3 ov), 8-207
(Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 43.1 ov), 9-209
(Mahmudullah, 44.1 ov), 10-227
(Shoriful Islam, 45.5 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Marquino Mindley 7-1-45-1
Jayden Seales 9-1-22-4
Romario Shepherd 8.5-1-50-1
