Govt processing licence application for Elon Musk-owned
CARIFESTA XV, a platform to build resilience through Region’s diverse cultures – Caricom Chair
Starlink satellite Internet
...PM says licence likely to be approved “as early as possible” Hammerhead project potentially has better reservoirs than Liza fields – Routledge
– as Field Development Plan expected to be submitted in 2025 GECOM awaits official date for E-Day to formally begin preparations – CEO
Workplace fatalities increased by 60% in
Labour Minister Speed radars serve as preventative measure for errant drivers – Traffic Chief
...as over 2800 transactions facilitated during current Claims & Objections period ...says 32 deaths recorded last year
High Court finds CAL pilots, NTHS staff responsible for 2016 collision Taxi driver, another arrested after passenger disposes of gun, ammo during Police operation Onderneeming residents decry deplorable state of main access road Thousands of Guyanese to be trained to work with Canadian mining company
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, January 8 – no retraction and Thursday, January 9 – 00:30h-02:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, January 8 –10:55h-12:25h and Thursday, January 9 – 12:05h-13:35h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Govt processing licence application for Elon Musk-owned Starlink satellite Internet
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Tesla and ‘X’ owner, Elon Musk, could soon have a licence to operate in Guyana, with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government outlining that the application is currently being processed.
During an end-of-year press conference on Monday, Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, who has oversight responsibility for the telecommunication sector, explained that the Government has held and is continuing to have discussions with the company.
“Starlink has an application on file and it's going through the process. We’ve had discussions with Starlink. The discussions are ongoing. And I envision it will reach to a point where the other 124 countries in the world where Starlink has contracts, we will reach to the point where we will have a licence.”
“In terms of a timeframe, I would say as early as possible. Because those discussions are ongoing. You may recall the President himself had a conversation with Mr Elon Musk. And I myself had conversations with senior executives of Starlink. And we’re moving towards licensing them in the shortest possible time,” Phillips also explained.
There had been discussions last year between President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and billionaire Tech mogul Elon Musk. During those talks, Musk expressed his intentions to invest in Guyana’s technological sector, as it provides a gateway to economic enhancement through digitisation and modernisation.
A post on the President’s FB page said that the “discussions focused on the advancement of Guyana’s economy, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, and the opportunities that exist in the respective sectors.”
Musk, according to Ali’s social media page, also congratulated the President on the impressive rate of progress and development in Guyana. “He said that his team will examine any potential opportunities.”
The PPP/C Government, after taking office on August 02, 2020, officially liberalised the telecommunications sector, and on October 05, 2020, the commencement orders were issued. In the wake of this move, the expectation had been that Guyana would see the entrance of new telecom operators
The Government is actively exploring numerous pathways to further devel-
op Guyana’s profitable and rapidly expanding tech sector while ensuring prosperity for Guyana’s economy.
Notable efforts include the plan for an e-school model and progress in developing an electronic patient management record system.
Last year in a monumental move to empower Guyanese youths with advanced Information Technology (IT) education and lucrative employment opportunities, Guyana launched its One Guyana Digital Initiative, a groundbreaking Nearshore Training Programme.
This initiative not only promises to revolutionise the nation’s digital landscape but also aims to bring significant economic growth by creating over 300,000 jobs in the tech sector, tailored specifically for Guyanese devel-
opers.
At the heart of this initiative lies the goal of providing 2000 Guyanese students with comprehensive IT training, equipping them with cutting-edge coding languages and skills essential for thriving in today’s digital economy free of cost.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is meanwhile also piloting an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in its internal systems. This will allow technology to be implemented into the local health system and is being financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). In September 2023, the Ministry of Health published requests for proposals from companies to develop an EHR.
EHRs contain a patient’s medical history, di-
agnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunisation dates, and test results. This will thus allow access to evidence-based tools that providers can use to make decisions about a patient’s care, improve patient safety and experience, and facilitate better patient referrals or transfers.
In his recent year-end press conference, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony announced that the implementation of phase one of the EHR system will begin at GPHC in early 2025.
Telemedicine is another innovative programme that is being pursued by the Government, which will use technology to deliver efficient and quality health services to those living in farflung villages, including the hinterland and riverine communities. (G-3)
Scene from the virtual meeting between President Dr Irfaan Ali and tech billionaire Elon Musk last year July
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707
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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
A costly crime against society
Electricity theft is not a victimless crime; it is a pervasive issue that undermines the efficiency of Guyana's energy sector, imposes financial burdens on law-abiding citizens, and hampers national development. While the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) mitigated power outages during the 2024 holiday season, the stark reality remains that the company lost a staggering 25 per cent of total electricity generated — half of which stemmed from commercial losses, including electricity theft. This problem demands urgent attention and collective action, as its repercussions extend far beyond the immediate financial losses to GPL. Electricity theft is more than just tapping into a power line illegally; it represents a breach of social trust and responsibility. Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, aptly described the reality as individuals bypassing meters, tapping into power lines directly, or sharing one legitimate meter among an entire community. These practices, while seemingly inconsequential to the perpetrators, have severe consequences for the nation.
The 12.5 percent commercial losses incurred by GPL translate into higher costs for legitimate consumers, as honest citizens bear the brunt of these losses through increased electricity rates as the company struggles to offset its financial shortfall. This vicious cycle perpetuates inequity, penalizing those who play by the rules while rewarding dishonest behaviour.
Moreover, electricity theft undermines the reliability of the power grid. Illegal connections overload transformers and other infrastructure, causing damage that leads to service disruptions. These outages affect homes, businesses, and essential services, creating a ripple effect of inconvenience and financial loss across communities. The Government, through the oversight of Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and the Public Works Ministry, has taken creditable steps to address the issue. Modernizing the energy infrastructure is a central strategy in this fight. Plans to invest US$750 million in 2025 to build and modernise the transmission system would help reduce line losses and improve monitoring capabilities. Similarly, the transition to a smart grid system is an essential move. By replacing outdated meters with modern, tamperproof ones, GPL can remotely monitor electricity usage and identify illegal connections in real time. This technological advancement would not only reduce electricity theft, but would also enhance GPL’s operational efficiency.
However, technological solutions alone are not enough. Effective inspection and enforcement mechanisms are equally critical. GPL must continue its efforts to conduct regular audits and inspections, particularly in areas with high rates of electricity theft. Those found guilty of stealing electricity should face appropriate legal consequences, sending a strong message that this crime would not be tolerated.
While Government initiatives and GPL’s modernisation efforts are vital, the fight against electricity theft cannot succeed without the active participation of society. Citizens must recognize that this is not merely an issue for the utility company to resolve; it is a shared responsibility. Communities should take pride in safeguarding their local energy resources. Reporting incidents of electricity theft, supporting legal electricity connections, and educating others about the consequences of such crimes are small but impactful steps individuals can take. Faith-based organizations, schools, and community groups can also play a role in spreading awareness and fostering a culture of accountability. In addition, GPL should enhance its public education campaigns to underscore the personal and societal costs of electricity theft. Many perpetrators may not fully comprehend the damage their actions cause, believing it to be a harmless act of survival. Electricity theft is not just an economic issue; it is a crime against Guyana’s development. As the country moves forward with its development goals, every citizen has a role to play in ensuring these goals are realized. The fight against electricity theft is a fight for fairness, and persons who know of persons stealing electricity should condemn this crime, not just in words, but through such actions as reporting electricity theft.
Would they prefer we had never
entered into contract with Exxon?
Dear Editor, In responding to my letter with regard to the Government seeking to renegotiate the Oil and Gas 2016 PSA Contract with ExxonMobil, Christopher Ram resorts to the lowest form of defence: by attacking the messenger while ignoring the message; arguing that I do not speak with an independent voice as a Public Relations Consultant to the President.
In fact, I was not asked, directed, or expected to express my view on this matter; and why, may I ask, is my defence of Government’s position any less valuable or legitimate than Ram’s representation of clients who pay him to represent them in or out of court? Further, I ask Ram to explain what my past political differences with Dr. and Mrs. Jagan have to do with the subject at hand, other than humbug on the part of Mr. Ram.
Christopher Ram has enthusiastically embraced the populist demand that the Government -- or, for that matter, any Government in office -- must force ExxonMobil, whether they like it or not, to renegotiate the Oil and Gas 2016 PSA Contract. Ram, of course, can do so, knowing that the consequences to the country of any Government following this course of action would not fall on his unelected shoulders.
Ram repeats ad nauseum that “the agreement itself provides for renegotiation, and Exxon cannot refuse to engage in good-faith discus-
sions”. Really? The Contract requires that both parties must agree to renegotiation. As I have said in my letter, it matters not that just about every Guyanese is in agreement that the Exxon Contract is, to use President Ali’s own words, “a bad deal”. Bad deal or not, the Exxon Contract was entered into by the Government of Guyana, and regardless of which political party was in government, the obligation to honour it remains with the Government of Guyana.
Nevertheless, Christopher Ram, would have Government force Exxon into arbitration, taking on a battery of Exxon’s well experienced lawyers in a court battle lasting over numerous years, with the risk of Exxon shutting down production in the interim, regardless of whether they are legally permitted to do so or not, and watch while a plethora of potential investors cancel their visit to Guyana and those that are here buy their tickets out of Guyana.
Christopher Ram is big on the losses Guyana suffers from failure to renegotiate the Contract, but seems in ignorance -- as Mr. Sanjeev Datadin points out in his letter on the subject -- that if Exxon is forced to renegotiate the Contract, the Government of Guyana “must pay directly to Exxon the full value by which their financial gain is reduced by the new contract”.
As Professor Dr. Stanley A.V. Paul so correctly points out in his letter in today’s
Stabroek News (7th January, 2025), coinciding with Ram’s, “the suggested course of aggressive renegotiations is a high-stakes gamble that could imperil Guyana’s economic stability, investor confidence and long-term growth trajectory”. He goes on to point out that “to suggest renegotiation without ExxonMobil’s willingness reduces the process to an exercise in coercion rather than dialogue. Negotiation by definition presupposes mutual interest. If ExxonMobil remains disinclined to revisit the existing terms, then any attempt to impose revisions would be seen not as negotiation, but as an act of unilateral economic aggression”.
Precisely, but this is where Mr. Ram, who, as I have said would bear no consequences, wants to take our Government and our country.
Another letter from a Mike Persaud, I don’t know him, also prefers to attack the messenger (me) rather than the message. He writes in sheer ignorance of the reality of the threat from Venezuela, which he calls “some sabre-rattling”.
Stabroek News has, in fact, published two Editorials pointing out the very real and present danger of Venezuela’s recent activities on our border, particularly the construction of a bridge that unlawfully connects Venezuela’s mainland to the territory of Guyana on Ankoko Island. This is a bridge that can carry military vehicles and light tanks.
Maduro’s unelected regime has built this bridge with obviously no good intention towards our country. By building this bridge, the Venezuelan Government is in complete violation of all of the international agreements it has signed on to with regard to refraining from any hostile action towards Guyana, both the ICJ and the Declaration of Argyle, but Persaud chooses to ignore this and describes as “nonsensical” the need for Guyana to rely upon its friends and allies to protect us and to ensure that we do nothing to undermine those friendships and alliances.
Surely, too, Persaud must know, since he presumes to express an opinion on the subject, that the reason the Maduro regime aggressively pursues its illegitimate claim to the Essequibo region is not because of the land, but the fact that the possession of it gives legitimate access to the oil offshore, which we are now developing with Exxon. I end by asking a simple question of all the protagonists for forcing renegotiation of the Oil and Gas Contract with Exxon regardless of the consequences: that, in spite of it being hugely advantageous to Exxon, would they prefer that we had never entered into any contract with Exxon, and the oil instead remained untouched, unexploited, entirely our own, under the ground and of no earthly use at all?
Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
Artistes performed with traditional floats during the "Blacks and Whites" Carnival Parade in Pasto, Colombia on January 6, 2025 (AFP)
Congratulations to Saraswati Vidya Niketan
Dear Editor, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Swami Aksharananda-ji on Saraswati Vidya Niketan being honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for 2025.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to your unwavering dedication to education and the promotion of Indian culture in Guyana.
As the founder and principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, your visionary leadership has transformed the educational landscape in Guyana.
Since its inception in 2002, the institution has not only achieved remarkable academic success, but has also played a pivotal role in deepening the cultural connections between India and Guyana. Your commitment to fostering discipline, character-building, and a holistic approach to education has empowered countless students to excel and embrace their cultural heritage. Your efforts have garnered international recognition, including commendation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi-ji during his visit to Saraswati Vidya Niketan on November 21, 2024. He lauded your work in strengthening the IndiaGuyana cultural connection, noting that Indian culture and traditions are thriving in Guyana due to
initiatives like yours.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians, and receiving this accolade reflects your exceptional contributions to the Indian diaspora and the global community.
Your life's work stands as an inspiring example of how dedication and vision can bridge cultures and uplift communities.
Once again, congratulations on this well-deserved honour. May your journey continue to inspire and illuminate the path for many others in the years to come.
With deepest respect, Surindra Diaram
Agriculture is transforming Linden
Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana has been working hard to create opportunities for all its citizens, regardless of where they live. One of the best examples of this is in Linden, where investments in agriculture are changing lives.
Linden, the town in Region Ten, has faced challenges like high unemployment and a high cost of living; and to address those issues, the Government has focused on agriculture, a sector with huge potential to create jobs and provide affordable food.
In recent discussions, leaders, having emphasized the importance of helping people grow their own food through backyard gardens and small-scale farming, are providing seeds, fertilizers, and modern farming tools to make this happen. This helps families save money on
groceries, and creates opportunities for residents to earn a living from the land.
Why agriculture?
Government’s focus on agriculture isn’t random; it’s part of a bigger plan to ensure the country doesn’t rely too heavily on the oil and gas industry. By developing farming, they’re spreading wealth and opportunities across Guyana.
This approach is about more than just money; it’s about giving people the tools they need to succeed. In Linden, that means involving residents in planning and decision-making, so that these projects address their real needs.
Investing in agriculture in Linden shows how Government works to build a better future for everyone. It’s not just about fixing problems today; it’s about creating a foundation for long-
Old Age Pension books for 2025
Dear Editor,
There are quite a few old age pensioners who have each not yet received their 2025 pension book. Those that I know of were with the same group at the G3 tarmac in Diamond, East Bank Demerara on December 12th and 13th, when I received my book. They were told that their books were not yet available, and a contact number was taken from these pensioners.
Today is January 7th, and those pensioners have
allegedly received no word from anywhere in regard to when they would be granted their books. Could the Human Services Ministry, responsible for this debacle, please clarify the present status of these delayed books for the waiting pensioners? Please let them know when and where they would uplift their books.
Yours truly, pensioner
(Name and address withheld)
Schools in Region Ten closed for repairs set to open next week
Dear Editor,
Having served in Parliament for the last 4 years, by now Mr Devin Sears must know that responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of schools in Region Ten -- and indeed, all regions across Guyana -falls strictly to the Regional Democratic Council. If he doesn’t know that, he should offer his resignation from the National Assembly forthwith.
The Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 is chaired by A Partnership for
National Unity’s Regional Executive Mr Deron Adams, and is controlled by the APNU/AFC, who have 15 members sitting on the Regional Council.
Devin Sears’s question about why schools in Linden could not be opened should be directed to that goodly body. Some have even speculated whether the Local Government arm of Region 10 deliberately caused this, so individuals like Sears could use it to create an issue. We should never polit-
icize our children’s education. Whatever can be done to make sure children are in classes being taught is what should be done. The Ministry of Education has been advised that all closed schools in Region Ten are set to open next week, following the completion of works to ensure that there is a conducive learning environment for all our students.
Kindest regards, Public Relations Department
Guygas welcomes probe by CCAC
Dear Editor, Guygas extends best wishes for a complete recovery to the families affected by the recent spate of cooking gas (LPG) accidents.
LPG is a highly flammable substance that requires the highest standards of production, handling, and use.
term growth and success. With these efforts, Linden is becoming a symbol of what’s possible when everyone is included in the country’s development. By focusing on agriculture, Government is empowering communities, reducing inequality, and ensuring that progress reaches every corner of Guyana.
Sincerely, Henry
Harris
Guygas is proud of its unblemished safety record, founded on the highest industry standards. Inclusive are the quality of our cylinders and fittings. Guygas sells only DOT and ISOcertified cylinders, and CE-approved (Europe) regulators from a Danish company. The same company supplies us with packaged and approved hoses and clamps.
Media reports on January 6 and 7, of the most recent incident involving our competitor’s gas cylinders, quote a relative as saying that the competitor blamed a faulty regulator (head) supplied by Guygas. Although our regulators are compatible with our competitor’s cylinders, and vice versa, Guygas strongly rejects the assertion regarding our product’s
quality, and stands by our quality assurance through the manufacturer’s certification, insurance, and warranty. Attached are supporting documentation. Guygas welcomes the probe by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC).
Respectfully, Siri Persaud Director, Guygas Inc
Circle Graphs or Pie Charts
A circle graph compares parts of a whole to a whole. They are also called pie charts because each looks like a pie that has been sliced up. When you read a pie chart, it does not always matter how big the whole is, because you are comparing parts to each other and the whole. However, sometimes you can calculate a whole exactly.
Which kind of bank note did Patricia save the most?
Step 1: Find the biggest segment of the pie chart.
Step 2: Read the label for that segment. Patricia saved more $20 bills than any other kind of bank note.
Types of pie charts
Patricia saved a total of 98 bank notes. How many of them were $20 bills?
Step 1: Look at the whole circle. You may not be able to tell exactly how big each part is. However, you can estimate. The $20 bills segment accounts for roughly one half of the circle.
Step 2: Multiply ½ x 98 = 49. There are 49 $20 bills.
Calculate the value of the $20 bills segment: $20 x 49 = $980.
Electrolyte Challenge: Orange Juice v sports drink
Prepare your circuit as shown:
Connect the black alligator clip to the multimeter’s black probe. Connect the red alligator clip to the multimeter’s red probe. Connect the snap connector to the 9 V battery. Connect the other end of the red alligator clip to the battery’s red wire.
By RoBeRt FRost
CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY
Sometimes he came with arms outspread Like wings, revolving in the scene Upon his longer axis, and With no small dignity of mien.
Faster or slower as he chanced, Sitting or standing as he chose, According as he feared to risk His neck, or thought to spare his clothes, He never let the lantern drop.
And some exclaimed who saw afar The figures he described with it, ”I wonder what those signals are
Brown makes at such an hour of night! He’s celebrating something strange.
Part 2
Connect the green alligator clip to the battery’s black wire. Important: do not let the free ends of the black and green alligator clips touch. This can blow the fuse in your multimeter. Connect your conductance sensor to the black and green alligator clips. You can use twist ties to bundle up your wires and help keep your circuit neat.
Note that this is an open circuit because of the gap between the wires wrapped around the (non-conducting) straw. You will use the electrolytes in the solutions to close the circuit. The amount of current that flows is proportional to the electrolyte concentration.
Setting up your test solutions
Clean the eight small bowls with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and dry them right away with a clean dry cloth or paper towel. If you want to be extra careful, rinse the bowls with distilled water before drying. Put masking tape on all eight bowls. Label four bowls with the following labels: Distilled Water, Tap Water, Sports Drink, and Orange Juice. Label one bowl Tap Water Rinse.
I wonder if he’s sold his farm, Or been made Master of the Grange. ” He reeled, he lurched, he bobbed, he checked; He fell and made the lantern rattle (But saved the light from going out. ) So half-way down he fought the battle Incredulous of his own bad luck. And then becoming reconciled To everything, he gave it up And came down like a coasting child.
“Well—I—be—” that was all he said, As standing in the river road, He looked back up the slippery slope (Two miles it was) to his abode.
Sometimes as an authority On motor-cars, I’m asked if I Should say our stock was petered out, And this is my sincere reply: Yankees are what they always were.
Don’t think Brown ever gave up hope Of getting home again because He couldn’t climb that slippery slope;
TO BE CONTINUED
Workplace fatalities increased by 60% in 2024 – Labour Minister
...says 32 deaths recorded last year …over 650 workplaces deemed
In 2024, Guyana wit-
nessed a hike in workplace fatalities when compared to previous years with the Labour Ministry reporting that 32 persons would have lost their lives at their places of employment.
These concerning stats were disclosed on Friday during the Labour Ministry’s end-of-year press conference where it was stated that one of the main issues that the Ministry has been working aggressively to combat over the years is workplace fatalities.
In 2020, the Ministry re-
corded 32 workplace deaths followed by 27 in 2021, 21 in 2022 and 20 in 2023.
During the press briefing, subject Minister Joseph Hamilton revealed that despite the Ministry's efforts to curb the situation, there had been an increase in workplace fatalities for 2024, with 32 cases being recorded. This figure represents an overall increase of 60 per cent when compared to data collected in 2023.
“One of the things we are concerned about is. This year, again, workplace deaths we are concerned about.
high-risk
Regrettably, with all that we have done in 2024. 32 persons lost their lives in workplaces. Primarily in mining and construction. That is where most of the deaths are happening.”
In a bid to reduce workplace accidents and fatalities, the Ministry created its Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSH). The Minister highlighted that this department performed exceptionally well in 2024 with over 1300 workplace inspections being executed.
“So, we have had our Occupational Safety and Health Month and Day many lectures have been delivered across the country on safety and health… We have had several collaborations with key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. So, we have had 1,381 inspections who are completely in both high and low-risk workplaces”.
“Of these numbers, 673 were high-risk workplaces. The number also represents a 68 per cent achievement over the high-risk inspections.”
Moreover, as Guyana emerges as a key player in the global oil and gas market, the Minister revealed that through investments
made by the Ministry, the OSH department now has the capacity to conduct inspections on drill ships and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.
“So a couple of things we have done, workplace inspections, inspection visits to FPSOs and drill ships. That is a very new thing that has happened. So if we go back in time when we found oil in 2015 we started production in 2019 under the previous Government, and nothing was done regarding this matter.’
Hamilton added that, to date, several specialists have been trained. “Today we can boast that we have nearly a dozen officers trained who can do inspections on the FPSOs and the drill ships. Not just forestage offices, but labour offices also because they do visitations together.”
In 2024 the Ministry conducted a total of nine inspections offshore, as it relates to non-fatal accidents a total of 144 cases were investigated. According to information received from the Ministry’s OSH department, the majority of these accidents occurred in the agriculture sector.
Moreover, the Minister revealed that there has been a decline in the total amount of non-fatal accidents being recorded.
“It should be noted also that there was a five per cent decline in the number of non-fatal accidents whilst, as I have indicated, the concern about the increase of deaths at workplaces.”
Meanwhile, In June of 2024 Following a surge in workplace accidents, the Labour Ministry had ramped up its inspection efforts to ensure compliance with occupational safety regulations. A
two-day inspection outreach was conducted at multiple construction sites.
The inspection team scrutinised the construction sites to ensure compliance with the OSH Act, Chapter 99:06. They checked for the implementation of safety mechanisms, the provision of hygienic restroom facilities, and other essential OSH practices. Additionally, the team engaged directly with construction workers, guiding proper safety protocols, accident prevention, fall protection, and the importance of reporting workplace hazards.
Management at the inspected sites received a detailed list of recommendations aimed at improving safety standards and was given a one-month grace period to rectify any identified breaches in accordance with the OSH Act. (Kelroy Williams)
Hammerhead project potentially has better reservoirs than Liza fields – Routledge
– as Field Development Plan expected to be submitted in 2025
President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL)
Alistair Routledge has rated the Hammerhead project, the seventh oil development earmarked for the Stabroek block, as a strong market prospect with the potential to produce even better-quality oil than the Liza fields.
During a recent appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast, Routledge noted that while the American Petroleum Institute (API) rating for the Hammerhead crude was measured at between 20 and 25, the reservoirs are potentially better than Liza One and Two developments.
“The Hammerhead project has good reservoirs, if not better quality than Liza. The resource though is a slightly heavier crude. That’s measured around the 20-25 API gravity. And so, we’ve taken more time to appraise and understand the mobility of the resource and reservoir. And also going out and looking at the crude assay, as we call it,” he said.
“How does the crude break down, when you look at running it through a re-
finery? What sort of products do you get out of the crude? And through the combination of sub-surface work and the concept work of what facilities might we need, also the marketing, we’ve concluded this is a strongly viable project and so that’s why we’re advancing it.
According to the oil executive, they have already done their analysis before concluding the crude’s strong marketability, noting that the project can pay for itself when revenues from the market are factored in.
Routledge also reflected how at one point Hammerhead had been re-
garded as challenging due to the hurdles it would have posed to extract the resource. Now, the project has progressed to the point where the company will be submitting its Field Development Plan (FDP) this year for the project.
“Hammerhead was in many ways considered to be one of the more challenging resources in the block, until just the last year or so. And we were able to conclude several key studies. And we were able to bring in the concept for development.”
“In 2024, we commenced the environmental permitting process for Hammerhead. And we anticipate in 2025, to submit the Field Development Plan, work closely with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Government on the approval process.”
Exxon, through its local subsidiary, is the operator of the Stabroek Block and holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds
the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The Liza Phases One and Two and Payara projects, all of which combined are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), account for the three Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore.
Exxon is also undertaking the Yellowtail project (where ongoing installation
activities are expected to be concluded in September) in the oil-rich Stabroek block.
It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, production will climb to 810,000 bpd. Exxon has already received approvals for and is advancing preparatory works on, its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail.
The Whiptail project would see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million
barrels of oil per day by 2027. In addition to at least these six projects offshore Guyana, which Exxon anticipates would be online by 2027, Exxon is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs operational by 2030. The Hammerhead project, ExxonMobil’s seventh development in Guyana’s waters, will feature up to 30 wells. It is targeting a 2029 start-up, according to documents submitted to the (EPA). (Jarrly Bryan)
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton during the press conference on Tuesday
EMGL President Alistair Routledge
The Stabroek Block
Speed radars serve as preventative measure for errant drivers – Traffic Chief
– says signs allow drivers to adjust speed
Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent of Police, Mahendra Singh, stated that newly installed speed radars along several highways across the country serve as a preventative measure for errant drivers. These radars were installed as part of a collaboration between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and will be connected to an advanced cloud infrastructure.
These signs are designed to monitor the speed of vehicles and more so, to generate data to implement strategies aimed at reducing speeding and improving road safety across the country.
With these signs be-
ing deployed countrywide, this project underscores the Government’s commitment to leveraging technology and data-driven solutions to create safer roads and smarter traffic management systems.
However, in a telephone interview with Guyana Times, the Traffic Chief stated, “It’s more of a preventative measure—not an opportunity to capture a photograph of a speeding vehicle. It is to inform you, the driver, that the rate at which you are travelling is above the permissible speed limit for the specific area.”
Singh also provided a hypothetical example of how the signs could aid drivers.
“This is a prevention methodology that helps motorists in real time. For in-
stance, if you are unfamiliar with a specific area or simply going with the flow of traffic on a clear road, you might unknowingly accelerate beyond the speed limit. These signs immediately alert you thus allowing you to adjust your speed accordingly.”
According to Singh, this is just the pilot phase of the initiative but it is unclear if the second phase of the system will involve linking the radar signs to cameras to issue tickets to drivers who are caught speeding.
This initiative represents
a significant step forward in Guyana’s efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic violations through technology.
Back in December, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that as part of a clampdown on speeding, the Government will soon move to publicise speed advisories and erect digital boards to indicate the speed of drivers along major roadways.
He noted, too, that additional body cameras are being procured for traffic ranks while urging better usage of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to clamp down on errant drivers.
It was reported that as of December 1, 2024, 99 people would have lost their lives in fatal accidents when compared to 148 in 2023.
In addition, 263 serious accidents, 366 minor accidents, and 1039 damage accidents were recorded thus far for 2024 bringing the total number to 1767 compared to 2491 last year.
As part of a stepped-up effort to reduce traffic violations, the force has issued around 60,000 tickets this year, totalling an astounding $400 million in traffic fines.
Earlier in the year, the Government had already made amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill to toughen up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them. Among other things, the legislative changes make causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The penalty for driving while over the legally allowed limit of alcohol in the blood system has been changed from a $7500 fine to now $200,000, and the sentence from 12 months to 24 months. The penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle has been increased from $30,000 to $60,000 fine and 12 months’ imprisonment to now $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders. (Misheal Henry)
Surprise…
…on Bouterse
Your Eyewitness must say he was quite dumbfounded when he read the tributes of the Guyanese delegation to the funeral of ex-Surinamese dictator Desi Bouterse.
Your Eyewitness is quite aware that we Guyanese – as good colonial subjects – imbibed the British stiff upper lip tradition expressed in Latin, “De mortuis nil, nisi bonnum –of the dead, speak only the good”. But jeez, our delegates were so over the top!! “One of the Caribbean’s great souls”, crooned ex-president Donald Ramotar!! Doesn’t say much about the Caribbean of Loverture and Cuffy, does it??!!
Criticising Western nations’ support for Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza and Ukraine’s stance against Russia, Ramotar declared, “It is those same morally bankrupt and decadent politicians that have persecuted Comrade Bouterse. Those are the same ones that persecuted and accused him of all types of things.”
Now, whatever else Bouterse might’ve achieved, can the Guyanese politicos who offered those peans to his glory forget he was CONVICTED by a Surinamese Court of ordering the 1982 round up, torture and murder of FIFTEEN civil society critics - including lawyers, journalists, and a university professor - of his 1980 “Sergeants’ coup”, that led to a seven-year military dictatorship??
The former dictator had conceded “political responsibility”, but had insisted that since he wasn’t present for the killings - known as the “December murders - he shouldn’t be prosecuted.” He had unsuccessfully tried to push through an amnesty law after being elected in 2010. Then, in 2016, he had ordered Suriname’s Attorney General to halt legal proceedings for alleged “national security” reasons. A court rejected that.
All of us know that there’s no morality in international politics, where nations cold-bloodedly pursue their interests; but, surely, we gotta draw the line somewhere when it comes to political leaders murdering their own citizens for merely expressing their opinions.
To say - as the Guyanese ex-president did - that Bouterse was for the ordinary working people, and then use this as an excuse for canonising him as a national hero is really too much.
Would he say the same about Forbes Burnham, whom a Commission of Inquiry concluded was responsible for the assassination of Walter Rodney?? Burnham was also for “the little man”, wasn’t he?? And he wasn’t actually at Bent and George Streets when Gregory Smith detonated that bomb which blew away Rodney’s face, was he??
Most interestingly, Joseph Harmon - who had been a major in the GDF then - said Burnham had picked him to discuss an “international issue” with Bouterse - the Suriname military dictator!! “From that day onwards, we have had long meetings,” reminisced Harmon fondly.
After a 2004 MOU signed between Bouterse’s party and the PNC, according to Wikileaks, Bouterse’s son took weapons into Buxton!!
…on Exxon’s reach??
Your Eyewitness is surprised at the continued war of attrition being waged by a recalcitrant minority to force the Government to “force” Exxon to the “renegotiation table”!! Yet, these are the same people who snicker at Cheddi Jagan’s “naivete” in denouncing the Americans as “imperialists” who were sucking out our wealth and enriching themselves. Now, your Eyewitness has emphasized that, with changed circumstances, the reactions of countries may also change. For example, by 1990, Gorbachev’s Glasnost had made Cheddi acceptable to the Yanks – cause their interests weren’t threatened no mo’.
But ideological affinity ain’t the only interest, and in fact mightn’t even be the most important one to the Yanks. American business was, is, and will always be numero unoaround which all others revolve. So, do these “negotiators” think Exxon does not influence its government when it comes to protecting its interests in an age where energy security trumps all?? Remember Tillerton??
And please…we’re no Canada, or even Newfoundland, when it comes to breaking the sanctity of contracts!!
…confession?
In explaining its stubborn efforts to forge a coalition of opposition parties to contest the 2025 General Elections, the remnants of Rodney’s party admitted their motivation: “WPA realistically cannot win an election on its own”!! You think ever?
Speed radar
Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
EPA will spearhead efforts to mitigate pollution from power ships – PM
– reports on potential pollution will be reviewed, once completed
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be spearheading the Government’s mitigation efforts in the event of any air and other forms of environmental pollution that may be caused by the two power ships currently supplying power to the national grid.
This was explained by Prime Minister, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is currently utilising two power ships, one at Everton in Berbice and one along the Demerara River, to supply the grid with power. An important question, however, is potential air pollution, with the EPA recently indicating that it is monitoring the ship’s emissions.
When asked about safeguards during his endof-year press conference on Monday, the Prime Minister, under whose purview energy falls, stated that this responsibility would rest with the EPA. However, Phillips noted
that their team would review the EPA’s reports once compiled to assess the extent, if any, of the pollution.
“The EPA has said that they will be doing works in terms of evaluating what form of pollution and the extent of pollution in terms of the power ship. The EPA, as you know, is one of the agencies that work for the Government and that is their work. We will have the reports at the end of the EPA’s work.”
Last week, EPA head Kemraj Parsaram told this publication that the agency would work along with the ship owners in reviewing the air emissions. He had also indicated that no significant problems were detected thus far in the initial stages of analysis.
According to Parsram, the evaluation of the power ship’s emitted gasses is part of their authorisation process while emphasising that the necessary measures are being implemented to ensure that emission levels remain insignificant.
“We are assessing the
emissions as part of the authorisation process, making sure the safeguards are in place. We recognise the urgency, importance, and national interest of this project and we are working with the ship owners and the Government to ensure that emission levels do not pose significant risks to nearby residents,” Parsram had stated.
However, if any challenges arise concerning emissions, the agency has committed to promptly notifying the public. “If any hazards are detected, we will address them immediately, but so far, we have not encountered any issues,” he assured.
In addition to air emissions, there are also concerns about gases being released into the water, which could pose other environmental risks.
The second power ship is the product of a Joint Venture between Turkishbased Karpowership Global DMCC and Qatar-based UCC Energy International and is being chartered to operate in Guyana for two
Taxi driver, another arrested after passenger disposes of gun, ammo during police operation
The police have arrested two persons and are looking for a third following the discovery of a 9MM Pistol and several matching rounds of ammunition during an operation at D Field Sophia, Greater, Georgetown on Sunday evening.
Based on information received, on the day in question at about 23:20h, Police ranks were on Mobile patrol in ‘D’ Field Sophia, when they intercepted a white Senta motor vehicle bearing registration number HD 3450. At the time of the interception, there were three male occupants in the vehicle.
As the vehicle came to a stop, the ranks requested to search the vehicle to which they all agreed. As such, the occupants were instructed to exit the vehicle and as they complied, one of them started to run away from the scene. In retaliation, a rank gave chase during which he observed the man disposing of an object he had pulled from his waist after which he escaped.
The object was retrieved and upon examination, it was confirmed to be a 9MM pistol with its serial number filed off. As such, the two other occupants, Kevin Felix,46, a taxi driver from Lamaha Park, Georgetown and 22-year-old Toussant
Benjamin, a construction worker of ‘B’ Field Sophia were taken into custody.
A search was carried out on their persons and the car but nothing of evidential value was found.
The duo was escorted to the Turkeyen Police Station where they were interrogated during which Felix related that on the night in question, he was working taxi when he received a call on his cellular phone from a male who asked for him to be picked up at Third Street Cummings Lodge.
On his arrival at the pickup point, two men entered the vehicle – one being the brother of one of his frequent passengers from ‘A’ Field Sophia, and Benjamin. They requested to be tak-
en to ‘A’ Field Sophia and it was while on their journey there, they were intercepted by the police.
The driver denied having any knowledge that the escapee had a firearm in his possession. The area was combed for the suspect but to no avail.
The firearm was taken to the CID Headquarters, Eve Leary where it was fumed for latent fingerprints. The magazine was ejected from the firearm and it contained seven rounds of matching ammunition.
The firearm, along with its magazine was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary for further processing, including fingerprint analysis.
years.
The second power ship has been injecting an additional 60 megawatts (MW) of electricity into the national grid. In the first phase, the power ship will dispatch 60 MW to the grid in approximately six weeks followed by an additional 15MW.
The contract requires GPL to pay the Joint
Venture 8.52 US cents per Kilowatt-hour (kWh) as a monthly charter fee for the new power ship. It also requires 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. The addition of the second power ship helped boost GPL’s generation capacity to over 245MW, ensuring reliable electricity during the holiday season and beyond. The first power ship had been deployed to Guyana in May of last year and is currently stationed at Everton in the Berbice River.
The second power ship
The firearm that was found by police in Sophia
Onderneeming residents decry deplorable state of main access road
Residents of Onderneeming Sand Pit in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are decrying the deplorable condition of the main access road and called on the authorities to intervene and ensure that the contractor responsible for roadworks fulfils the obligations of the awarded contract.
Presently, the work is halted due to the inclement weather. According to the residents, the road has become nearly impassable, creating significant inconvenience and delays in their daily lives.
A frustrated resident described the difficulties of nav-
igating the road, emphasising the impact on daily life. “It’s nearly impossible to get to where you’re going on time. If I have to be somewhere for 9, I have to leave by at least 7-something,” she explained.
She further highlighted that public transportation operators are reluctant to traverse the road due to the damages caused to their vehicles.
“Vehicles don’t want to work on the road in that con-
dition. They keep complaining about the road damaging their vehicle. And we as residents, we don’t have a choice because we don’t have our own transportation.”
The villagers also expressed dissatisfaction with the approach taken by the contractor as they pointed out that both roads leading to the nearby community of Red Village are now in terrible condition due to ongoing
work.
“Long the road supposed to do. Is only now they getting it done, and even though they getting the road done, there is hardly a way for vehicles to pass,” another resident stated.
To make matters worse, the heavy rains have compounded the situation, leaving sections of the ungraded road submerged and nearly unusable. “Now that rain
CARIFESTA XV,
falling, it’s even worse because the road is not graded, and the road getting flooded all things,” the resident added.
The residents are appealing for immediate action to alleviate the challenges they are facing. They are also calling on authorities to monitor the progress of the work and ensure that it is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
a platform to
build resilience through Region’s diverse cultures – Caricom Chair
–
invites Community to be part of event from August 22-31
Just days into her tenure as Chair of CARICOM, Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley believes that CARIFESTA XV will be an ideal platform for the Region to build resilience through a celebration of the Community’s rich, diverse cultures.
The Prime Minister shared this in her New Year Statement as she invited the Region to the festival of arts to be hosted in Barbados between August 22 and 31, 2025.
“I’m inviting you, God willing, to create, to participate and simply to come. I speak to each and every one of us as Caribbean people, not just as
the Prime Minister’s Office and Division of Culture (Barbados).
In December 2024, an in-person meeting was held
members of CARICOM, but every one of the Caribbean people… come,” Motely stated while emphasising that the festival will be an occasion to “celebrate all that is good and is possible for our Caribbean civilisation, as we do what we do best in the expression of our Festival of Arts - CARIFESTA.”
“As we would say in Barbados, “miss this and blame yourself”. Food and fashion, music and dance, art, craft, sculpture and good old Caribbean talk from philosophy to attitudes, from religion to development. Let us use this as an opportunity to build resilience in our Region spiritually and psychologically. Let us gather and feed our souls and nurture our spirit as Caribbean people,” the Prime Minister urged.
Planning for CARIFESTA XV is already in motion, with virtual meetings convened in September and November 2024 with the CARICOM Secretariat and officials from
with stakeholders in Barbados. In attendance were Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager (Culture), CARICOM
Cultural Foundation.
The theme, regional launch of the festival, the Host Country Agreement, the establishment of the host country management committee and regional technical support team were critical aspects of the discussion. The festival’s logistics, programme details and the marketing and communication approaches also formed part of the agenda.
“Our priorities are the visibility of the festival, ensuring that our artists realise benefits from participating and that Caribbean people and international visitors have all the requisite information to enjoy the various aspects of the events,” Dr Hilary Brown stated. She reiterated the
Secretariat; Michelle Maynard, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture (Barbados); and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secretariat’s support for the planning and ex-
The deplorable access road at Onderneeming Sandpit
Chairman of Caricom, Prime Minister Mia Mottley
(Barbados) and the National
CARICOM
ecution of CARIFESTA XV. The last CARIFESTA was held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019.
GECOM awaits official date for E-Day to formally begin preparations – CEO
...as over 2800 transactions facilitated during current Claims & Objections period
By Trichell SoBerS
As the 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana looms, formal preparations remain on hold, with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) awaiting an announcement on a date from President Dr Irfaan Ali.
In an interview with the Guyana Times on Tuesday, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the elections body, Vishnu Persaud confirmed that GECOM is unable to initiate its official preparations for the elections until the President announces the official date for the hosting of the General and Regional elections.
While the commission has expressed confidence in its ability to conduct the elections within the constitutional timeline, it has yet to receive the formal mandate to proceed with the necessary groundwork.
Persaud emphasised the importance of an exact election date, which he explained is crucial for devising a comprehensive and effective operational strategy. Without this key piece of information, GECOM cannot fully mobilise its resources or begin the intricate planning needed to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“We will be unable to really kick into formal preparations for elections until an election date has been called by the President, because if we're going to have a war plan, a war plan must have an objective date”.
“But what we have done, as you would have seen being advertised in your newspaper, we have started what we term preliminary preparations, which does not necessarily require the naming of a date for elections because it's something that we have to do,” the CEO added.
Despite the lack of a formal timeline, GECOM has initiated preliminary activities, focusing on recruitment and training. Notably, advertisements have been published to attract applicants, but the Commission has not yet begun shortlisting candidates or scheduling training sessions.
Meanwhile, when asked about critical preparations, such as the introduction of
cameras at polling stations and the use of biometrics, Persaud revealed that these issues remain unresolved.
Further, he explained that on the matter of biometric technology, discussions within the Commission remain inconclusive.
“As it relates to cameras at polling stations and biometrics a proposal for the introduction of cameras at polling stations has not been discussed by the Commission. So, there is nothing that I can report on that. In terms of the discussions on the issue of biometrics, the Commission engaged in discussions”.
“Those discussions are inconclusive, but the Commission went into recess and should have met today. But for reasons beyond me, the meeting was called off for lack of a quorum,” he shared.
The main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) have been pushing for the implementation of biometrics, and have reiterated their preparedness to support the necessary stages to arrive at an outcome, including enacting constitutional and statutory changes, if necessary.
On the other hand, the General Secretary of the ruling PPP, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, had rejected these proposals, contending that the PPP would never support proposals that hinder the process, and would not fall for the traps being set by the Opposition to delay the holding of elections in 2025.
In response to concerns about outstanding issues potentially delaying election preparations, the
GECOM’s CEO reassured the public that no critical obstacles exist.
“I don't see that anything is outstanding that is critical to the preparation for our conduct of elections as the CEO, based on what the laws permit me to do, in so far as preparation for the conduct of elections is concerned,” Persaud added.
Claims
In addition, as the Claims and Objections period continues, over 1700 citizens have already applied for their names to be included in the revised voters list.
The preliminary list of electors was published on December 24 and as a consequence, GECOM is currently conducting Claims and Objections.
During the period of January 2 to January 15, 2025, claims for persons to be included on the list are facilitated.
The qualifying date for electors to be 18 years old, is December 31, 2024. This means that persons who have reached the age of 18 years and older as of December 31, 2024, and are Guyanese citizens by birth, descent or naturalisation or citizens from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, are eligible to vote in this year’s General and Regional elections.
In a separate interview with this publication, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, disclosed that to date, over 1,700 persons have applied to be included in the revised list of electors.
Further, she explained that during the Claims and Objections period, persons can also make objections to the preliminary voters list. The deadline for objections is January 22, 2025.
Objections typically allow persons the opportunity to contest the inclusion of the names of any deceased individuals on the preliminary list.
Ward, nevertheless explained that in addition to new registrants, GECOM has received 334 applications for transfer, 128 requests for changes and corrections to personal details, and 749 applications for replacement Identification cards.
during this claims and objections period. Our offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:00h to 18:00h. And Saturday and Sunday from 10:00h to 14:00h. So, during this claims and objections period, we have those extended working hours to ensure that persons are afforded that opportunity, to ensure that they get their registration transactions done. And so, one, they're included on the official list of electors” the PRO shared.
Claims and Objections period concludes, the commission will move toward publishing the revised list of electors, which will reflect all updates made during this period.
She also disclosed that 92 individuals also applied for photo retakes, and only one formal objection has been registered so far.
“We have 29 offices countrywide and so the exercise is happening at all of our registration offices across the country. And today, the process has been smooth. There are no hiccups in the exercise”.
“I must say that we have extended work, you know,
GECOM has appointed January 25, 2025, as the day by which all forms of claims, objections, applications and decisions will be sent by the registration officers to the Commissioner of Registration.
The CEO, Vishnu Persaud will then begin hearing and determining appeals the very next day. Additionally, any changes to the preliminary list will be made by February 2, 2025.
Meanwhile, Ward explained that once the
“When the Claims and Objections exercise closes, as you know, the preliminary list is published right now. We will move into a revised list of electors, and then we will publish that official list of electors. So, there is a process involved. So, when we publish the revised list of electors, all the transactions that were done during this period should be reflected there. We give people the opportunity to scrutinise to ensure that the CD updates and all of that, and then we move towards producing that official list of electors,” she added.
For those unable to visit registration offices in person, GECOM has introduced an online query tool on its website, allowing citizens to check their registration information remotely.
Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud
GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward
Top Cop urges East Bank police officers to maintain integrity, professionalism
In a determined effort to ensure the Guyana Police Force (GPF) operates with professionalism and integrity in 2025, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and his Executive Leadership Team (ELT) met with officers and ranks of Regional Division 4(B), East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday.
The meeting, held at the Police Officers Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown was part of a series of planned
engagements aimed at addressing challenges, fostering unity, and setting the tone for effective policing across Guyana.
Commissioner Hicken used the opportunity to stress the importance of
building trust and ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens.
The meeting came on the heels of an earlier session with officers and ranks of Regional Division 4(A) (Georgetown) that
diately addressed the issues raised, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the ranks and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to perform their duties effectively.
Deputy Commissioners
crime prevention and maintaining the integrity of the Force, reminding ranks to adhere to Standing Orders and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Commissioner highlighted that the meeting aligns with the Force’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, which emphasises: improving infrastructure, operations, personnel development, and strengthening community partnerships. These initiatives, he explained, are crucial for
same morning, where the Commissioner issued a stern warning to traffic and patrol ranks to stop targeting road users without body cameras.
The same warning was reiterated to the ranks of Division 4(B). This proactive approach was not limited to directives from the top. The meeting allowed ranks to share challenges hampering their policing efforts in Division 4(B).
Commissioner Hicken and his leadership team imme-
Ravindradat Budhram (Administration), Errol Watts (Operations), and Wendell Blanhum (Law Enforcement) echoed the Commissioner’s sentiments, encouraging ranks to work collaboratively and remain professional at all times.
Commissioner Hicken closed the meeting by reiterating the need for better police-community relationships, which he said are essential for effective law enforcement and national progress.
Scenes from the meeting on Monday
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
Granger should do the decent thing and publicly concede PPP won elections 2020
This is a public challenge to David Granger: to do the decent thing and congratulate the winner of Elections 2020, President Irfaan Ali and the PPP. It is better late than never to do the right thing.
This challenge follows Granger’s recent denial that he ever claimed victory soon after the General Elections of March 2, 2020. While we are at it, here is another challenge: publicly urge the PNC to release their copies of SOPs for Elections 2020.
The constitutionally mandated timeline for election is December 2025. It appears that elections are likely in November 2025. So, as 2025 takes shape, let us buckle up; the so-called silly season is here.
Even as the country gears up for Elections 2025, the Opposition has never conceded defeat in Elections 2020. They continue to insist the President is illegitimate, and that the Government is illegitimate. Not only did they lose Elections 2020 while being an incumbent; they also lost the Local Government Elections of 2022 resoundingly, with the PPP winning almost 70% of the seats, making enormous in-roads in Opposition strongholds. With President Irfaan Ali and VP Bharrat Jagdeo being the most popular politicians in Guyana and CARICOM, the Opposition continues to live in fantasy land, thinking that the average Guyanese believe that they did not lose elections 2020, that the average Guyanese subscribe to their ridiculous claims, including that thousands of dead people came out from the graves or from the air and voted for the PPP.
On the evening of March 2, 2020, asked if he was pleased with the election process during the day, Granger robustly praised GECOM and expressed his pride with how smooth election day was. At the time, he must have been confident that the “rigging” plan was working. It was only after it became obvious to APNU/AFC, by early morning of March 3, that they had lost Elections 2020 that they began to change the storyline. Once it became obvious that their plan to change the numbers on the SOPs from Region 4 would not work, as it did in the 2015 elections, they came up with the “ghosts” narrative, in which they claimed dead people voted.
When David Granger came out from hibernation a couple of weeks ago, he decided the most important thing to do was denying he ever declared victory during the shameful period following Elections 2020 on March 2, 2020. He felt compelled to issue the denial after a witness in the “low life” libel case involving Cathy Hughes and VP Bharrat Jagdeo asserted that former President Granger had made the claim. Indeed, when I heard Granger speaking to his supporters at the Lamaha Railway Embankment, where the Opposition had set up a camp, ostensibly a victory camp, I heard a “victory” speech. He thanked them and told them how hard he and APNU/AFC worked, covering all the regions. Clearly, he was not thanking them for just voting for him and APNU/AFC, he was thanking them for “victory”.
The news clippings of the day provide clear evidence.
If not “victory”, what was he thanking his supporters for? Usually, the winning side thanks people for voting for them, and commits to “goodies” such as delivering better living for people in the following term in office. Usually, the losing side thanks people for their votes, and promises that they would work assiduously to hold Government accountable and to win back government in the next election.
Granger promised, during his short “victory” address, that the next five years would see Guyanese getting the things they need; that their lives would improve tremendously. Did he mean to tell the people that, now that President Irfaan Ali would steward the nation, they would be better off?
Clearly, he thanked them for giving the PNC-led APNU/AFC “victory”, and the reward would be better lives for them.
Granger told the crowd what the new term had in store for them. In thanking them, he spoke of lifting mothers; of public servants earning more; and of all Guyanese living lives of dignity. At all times, Granger spoke of “we”, (meaning he as President and the APNU/AFC as Government) delivering better lives.
While “spin” is a well-practised skill among politicians, both in Government and Opposition, “spin” is not license to lie, misrepresent, misinform, and obfuscate. There was no “spin” in Granger’s remarks to his supporters that day. The operatives had concocted a victory story for their supporters, who had begun to celebrate long before Granger had arrived. When he arrived and thanked them, he was thanking them for the “victory”. When he promised better lives over the next five years, he was not “spinning” the results of Elections 2020; he was asserting “victory”.
In fact, on several occasions soon after Election Day, it is well-known, the military and other Government officials were mobilized to swear-in David Granger as President.
Granger’s denial is an insult to the intelligence of the Guyanese people. Even among his own supporters today, people are finding it incredulous that Granger insults them by denying he ever claimed victory. For years now, some PNC and APNU supporters have lived under the illusion that they had won the elections, and were cheated. They got the false impression from what they were told by their leaders. One contributory factor was Granger’s “thank you” speech.
No matter how much spinning is done, Granger’s address to the PNC supporters that evening was a “victory” speech.
This kind of insult is like when he told young people not to wait for the Government to create jobs; they could create their own, such as selling dog food and plantain chips.
Now that he wants us all to believe him, that he never claimed victory for Elections 2020, is Granger willing to admit they lost Election 2020? Is he willing to admit Irfaan Ali and the PPP won Elections 2020 free and fair?
Thousands of Guyanese to be trained to work with Canadian mining company
The Labour Ministry, in collaboration with Canadian company G-Mining Ventures (GMIN), is poised to train thousands of Guyanese persons to take up several positions at one of the largest gold mines in Guyana, located in the Oko West area of the CuyuniMazaruni community of Region Seven.
This was revealed by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Tuesday, when he highlighted that, later in the month, the Labour Ministry would, through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), launch a new programme in collaboration with G-Mining Ventures (GMIN) worth US$1.5B. This would see some 1500 Guyanese being trained for the developmental phase.
“We are asked by G-Mining, which is a Canadian company that has bought out gold fields, Reunion rather. So, G-Mining has bought out Reunion Gold Mines. It's about to establish one of the largest gold mines in Guyana. So, at our facility in Bartica, we will train all the staff that will work at this mining site. I think 1,500 in the first instance. That is for the preparation and development of the mine,” Minister Hamilton disclosed.
According to the minister, the programme is scheduled to start at some time next week, and the focus would be on creating opportunities particularly for residents within the region.
Moreover, Hamilton revealed that after the developmental phase of the project, the BIT would be tasked with training all of the personnel who would work at the site.
“And then, after the development of the mine, I think (in) 2027 or 2026, we will continue to train all the people who will work in this mine, relative to equipment operators, relevant fabricators, electricians, and so forth,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the new US$1.5 billion gold project has a projected mine life of 13 years, and is expected to re-energize Guyana’s mining sector with the production of 350,000 ounces of gold annually.
The project, which would come on stream in
2027, is situated some 95 kilometres southwest of Georgetown and measures approximately 44 square kilometres. In October 2023, the Natural Resources Ministry announced the discovery of gold in Oko West, hinting that the area has the potential for a large-scale gold-producing mine.
Country Manager of G-Mining Ventures, Bjorn Jueue, last November stated that the Oko West project represents a significant milestone in Guyana’s natural resources’ development, and that its operation would alleviate challenges faced in recent years.
Minister Hamilton had, at that time, indicated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been inked between the
Guyana Government and G- Mining Ventures to provide locals with the skills needed to support the Oko West project. While the level of training had not been disclosed, Hamilton
had indicated that sessions would be administered at the Labour Ministry’s Industrial Training Centre in Bartica, given that most of the beneficiaries would emerge from Region Seven.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton
Reunion Gold’s Oko West project site
BIT trained over 12,000 since 2020 – Hamilton
– 1,490 trained in 2024
The Labour Ministry on Tuesday reported that some 12,000 persons have been trained through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) since 2020 to date thus signalling an investment of over $169 million by the Government of Guyana.
Of this total, 1,490 persons were trained in 2024. This achievement was highlighted by Subject Minister Joseph Hamilton during his Ministry’s end-of-year press briefing. According to Hamilton, the majority of those trained have been women.
“Importantly, since 2020, we have trained 12,765 persons across the country 5,077 males and 7,688 females.” He further noted that a significant number of women are now venturing into traditionally male-dominated fields.
“An important aspect of these statistics is the fact that we have been able to encourage hundreds of women to participate in what we call hard-skills programmes. Across the country, we have seen women joining training areas they were excluded from for decades,” Hamilton explained.
The Minister also emphasised efforts to challenge
societal perceptions regarding gender roles in employment following the realisation that out of the total population trained 60 per cent are women.
“In some instances, based on men’s thought processes about what is ‘man’s work’ and what is ‘woman’s work,’ we are changing that. Our data shows that 60 per cent of those trained over the last four years are women,” Hamilton said.
These women have been trained in areas such as air conditioning technology, auto electrical work, electrical installation, and equip-
ment operation. In 2024, the Ministry also partnered with both local and international organisations to enhance training programmes.
In addition, Hamilton announced an upcoming initiative, beginning January 13, 2025, which will be funded by the World Bank and supervised by the United Energy Agency.
This programme will be executed by the BIT and aims to train 20 women— two from each region—to become specialists in solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology.
“Essentially, these wom-
COVID-19 cases still being recorded in Guyana – Health Minister confirms
Some four years after the COVID-19 Pandemic shook the world including Guyana, some cases are still being recorded among the Guyanese population, according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
While he did not disclose any statistics in relation to the total number of cases recorded in 2024, the Minister highlighted that the cases recorded were not significant but noted that most persons do not present themselves to be tested even though they experience the symptoms.
“For covid cases, we didn’t record many, not because they aren’t covid cases, so they are still people who would get covid because the virus is still circulating. They are different mutations of the virus but unfortunately, a lot of people don’t come in to be tested, so if they don’t come to be tested then we wouldn’t be able to say how many cases we have.”
COVID-19 first appeared on a small scale in November
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
2019 with the first large cluster appearing in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Guyana recorded its first COVID-19 case in March 2020 - that of a 52-year-old woman who had travelled from New York. The woman died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) while receiving treatment.
Just three days later, three additional positive cases were detected.
Meanwhile, in October 2022, an analysis of Guyana’s coronavirus numbers showed that 31,329 persons contracted the virus for the year.
It was reported that January 2022 saw the highest spike, at 19,900 cases. By February, the number dropped to 2570 cases. The following months showed 379 in March; 267 in April; 1686 in May; 2715 in June; 2456 in July; 1032 in August; 287 in September and 37 for October thus far.
As of March 2023, the country had recorded a total of 73,114 Covid cases with over 1000 deaths.
Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhea, pains, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement.
en will be trained to become trainers themselves. This programme, which will last two years, is at a higher level than previous ones and is fully funded by the World Bank,” Hamilton stated.
He noted that this initiative builds on a previous programme, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which trained 75 women
from regions 7 and 9 in solar PV technology.
Meanwhile, Hamilton also revealed a new collaboration with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to benefit youths in at-risk situations.
“We are partnering with the USAID – Y-RIE (Youth Resilience, Inclusion, and Empowerment) programme
to train 90 youths in atrisk situations. Thirty will be from the Albouystown/ Charlestown area, 30 from the Sophia area, and 30 from New Amsterdam,” the Minister announced.
These efforts demonstrate the Government’s commitment to providing diverse and inclusive training opportunities across Guyana.
Health Centre for Kitty
In a significant move to enhance healthcare services in Georgetown, particularly for residents residing in Kitty and Campbellville, a state-ofthe-art health centre to the tune of $831 million is expected to be completed in 12 months.
This was according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), Robbie Rambarran who added that the construction will commence in February and will be erected adjacent to the existing Campbellville Health Centre.
Rambarran explained that the decision to merge the two health centres came after it was determined that the Kitty Health Centre no longer met the necessary standards for delivering effective healthcare.
As a result, the new facility will be modernized with advanced equipment and expanded services to meet the needs of the community.
“The Kitty Health Centre, which is in our purview… is a house that we are renting. It's really not conducive for healthcare delivery… So, the intention is to merge Camarville and Kitty Health Centre. This will be a two-story building”.
“It's going to have X-ray,
ultrasound, ECG. It will have what we call an asthma bay for asthma patients,” the CEO explained.
The two-story building will offer a wide range of medical services, including general outpatient clinics, dressings, maternal and child health services, preand post-natal care, family planning, and clinics for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
In preparation for the construction, the current health centre in Campbellville will temporarily relocate to a nearby building. Rambarran expects this move to take approximately one month, allowing demolition to begin shortly thereafter.
"The worst thing when you’re not feeling well is to go into a place that does not look well," he remarked, echoing sentiments shared by President Irfaan Ali during a recent meeting with healthcare professionals.
Rambarran emphasised that the new health centre is expected to serve as a vital hub for medical care, offering much-needed services to residents while reducing the strain on GPHC.
“There are a lot of those patients that come to Georgetown Hospital. So, we are hoping we can take off a bit of the load from the hospital and all the other services that currently exist,” he added.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran
High Court finds CAL pilots, NTHS staff responsible for 2016 collision
The High Court of Guyana has ruled that the pilots of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and the ground handling staff are responsible for the collision between CAL and Fly Jamaica on November 29, 2016, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The judgment, handed down by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on January 7, 2025, assigns blame to CAL’s pilots and staff of the New Timehri Handling Services Inc (NTHS) for their negligence in causing the collision.
gued that NTHS, responsible for ground handling and marshalling services, failed to guide the CAL aircraft safely.
Justice SewnarineBeharry determined that CAL’s pilots ignored ATC’s instructions to use Taxiways Charlie and Alpha to access their parking position and instead opted for Taxiways Charlie and Bravo. This deviation led to the collision.
“The admitted evidence is that if the 2nd and 3rd Defendants had followed Air Traffic Control instructions, the 1st Defendant’s aircraft would not have col-
The incident occurred when a CAL Boeing 737800 aircraft while taxiing on the international apron, collided with the stationary Fly Jamaica Boeing 767319ER parked at Position Three. The Fly Jamaica aircraft sustained extensive damage to its elevators, tail cone, and auxiliary power unit, rendering it inoperable.
The Claimant, Fly Jamaica Airways Ltd, alleged that CAL’s pilots, Gordon Seemungal and Dirk Thomas, failed to adhere to air traffic control (ATC) instructions and violated established protocols prohibiting large aircraft from taxiing behind a parked Boeing 767.
The Claimant also ar-
lided with the parked 767 aircraft,” the judge stated.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that CAL’s pilots were aware of airside directives, issued since 2009, that explicitly prohibited large aircraft from taxiing behind a parked Boeing 767. Despite this, the pilots disregarded these directives.
Justice SewnarineBeharry emphasised, “The 2nd and 3rd Defendants owed a duty of care not only to the 1st Defendant and its passengers but other operators at CJIA to follow the local regulations and airside directives and to obey the instructions of the ATC to avoid accidents like that in the case at Bar.”
The court also found the
ground handlers liable for failing to exercise reasonable care. Video evidence demonstrated that the Wingwalker issued a stop order only four seconds before the collision, an interval too short to prevent the accident.
“In appreciating the risk of collision only four seconds before it occurred, it can be concluded that the Wingwalker and by extension, the 4th Defendant was careless and breached the duty of care owed to the Claimant and 1st Defendant,” Justice Sewnarine-Beharry remarked.
CAL attempted to share liability with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and CJIA management, alleging negligence in taxiway design and failure to provide proper warnings. However, the court rejected these claims, finding no evidence to support them.
“ATC instructed the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants to access the international apron via Taxiways Alpha Charlie. Had the agents of the 1st Defendant followed this instruction, they would have safely navigated their way to their assigned parking spot and avoided the path of the Claimant’s 767 aircraft and the collision,” the judge ruled.
Additionally, the court noted that “the responsibility to lead aircraft upon exiting the runway and entering the apron safely to its assigned parking position and to warn aircraft operators of an impending collision rested squarely on the shoulders of the servants and or agents of the 4th Defendant.”
CAL argued that Fly Jamaica lacked the legal standing to bring the claim, asserting that the airline was a mere lessee of the damaged aircraft. The court rejected this contention, stating, “The Claimant has the requisite locus standi to prosecute the claim against
persons alleged to have been negligent in causing the collision.”
Justice SewnarineBeharry further noted that under the lease agreement, Fly Jamaica assumed responsibility for maintaining the aircraft and bore the “risk of loss or damage.” Therefore, the airline had a direct interest in pursuing damages. The court ordered an assessment of the damages and costs.
The judge also dismissed crossclaims filed by NTHS and the GCAA for want of prosecution.
The legal team representing CAL was led by attorney Nigel Hughes, while attorney N. Ramkarran appeared on behalf of NTHS
Incorporated. Attorneys Devindra Kissoon and Natasha Vieira represented the GCAA, and
UG Registry staff receives award at American Model United Nations Conference
Andrew Thom attached to the Registry Department at the University of Guyana (UG) recently received the prestigious Outstanding Justice Award in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the American Model United Nations (AMUN) Conference held recently in Chicago, Illinois.
Thom also represented Guyana and received the Best Diplomatic Stance Award at the Best Diplomats Conference held in London, United Kingdom (UK), from September 27 to 30, 2024.
The AMUN Secretariat conveyed the exciting news to Andrew recently and indicated that he will receive his certificate in the coming days. Last year’s AMUN Conference was held at the Sheraton Grande Chicago in Illinois.
The AMUN is a non-profit educational organisation founded in 1989 to provide students with the highest quality, most professionally run simulation of the United Nations (UN). The organisation strives to combine educational quality with highly realistic simulations of the UN to give students an unparalleled Model UN learning experience.
Thom represented UG at the AMUN Conference, which saw over 600 students from educational institutions around the world participating. He performed the role of a Justice in the ICJ, where he took on the challenging task of addressing global disputes through legal reasoning and diplomacy. “Delivering a wellthought-out opinion that balanced justice with fairness was a proud moment for me,” Andrew recalls.
At the Best Diplomats Conference in London, the area of focus was centred on fairness and inclusivity in technological advancement. “I worked on drafting resolutions and finding common ground among representa-
tives with different views,” he explains. His efforts paid off, earning him the Best Diplomatic Stance Award at this event.
The Guyanese scholar noted that he saw it as an honour to represent UG at these high-level events, adding that UG students are able to shine anywhere in the world. “It’s not just about personal accomplishments; it’s about representing our university and country on the global stage,” he says with much pride.
He served as Acting Vice President and Treasurer of the University of Guyana International Affairs Association (UGIAA) for the academic year 2023/2024. There, he gained experience in leadership, and teamwork, and engaged with global issues.
“My time with UGIAA helped me develop the skills and confidence I needed to step onto international platforms,” he says. According to Andrew, these awards are “a reminder of how far I’ve come and what’s possible with determination.”
“I grew up in a small village in Berbice, where com-
munity and resilience were key values. Those early lessons taught me to see challenges as opportunities and inspired my dream of working in diplomacy and governance,” he shared.
Currently, Thom is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Management at UG and an Associate Degree in Psychology and Legal Systems at Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science, India. With this unique combination, he aims to bridge the gap between leadership, legal expertise, and a profound understanding of human behaviour to drive impactful change within communities.
“I want to use my experiences to inspire others, especially young people from underrepresented communities,” he stated.
His journey is already serving as an inspiration to his peers. From a small village in Berbice to international conferences, Thom’s journey is a testament to the power of hard work, community, and a commitment to making the world a better place.
Senior Counsel Robin Stoby acted as the representative for the CJIA. (LaWanda McAllister)
The cone of this Fly Jamaica plane was left on the ground after the collision
The damaged part of the Fly Jamaica aircraft on the ground
The two aircraft after the collision
Andrew Thom
Regional Gang violence killed more than 5600 in Haiti in 2024 – UN
More than 5600 persons were killed and thousands more injured or kidnapped in 2024 due to soaring levels of gang violence in Haiti, the United Nations said.
In a statement released on Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the “absolute horrors” faced by the population of the Caribbean country noting rights abuses and corruption are also rife.
Armed gangs maintain control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince following an outbreak of violence last year. At the same time, the Police are also accused of perpetrating violence against gang suspects, as the ongoing conflict serves to make worse the political instability that has plagued the island nation for decades.
“These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected,” Volker said.
The UN statement noted that at least 207 persons were killed in early December in a massacre orchestrated by the leader of the powerful Wharf Jeremie gang in the Cite Soleil area
of the capital.
Moreover, the UN Human Rights Office also documented at least 315 lynchings of gang members and people allegedly associated with gangs, on some occasions reportedly facilitated by Haitian Police Officers, and 281 cases of alleged summary executions involving specialised Police units in 2024.
“It has long been clear that impunity for human rights violations and abuses, as well as corruption, remain prevalent in Haiti,” Turk said.
Last November, the UN ordered the evacuation of its staff from Haiti’s capital due to clashes between armed gangs, the Police and civilians armed with machetes.
However, the UN highlighted that it is “not leaving Haiti”, but only “adapting its operations” by moving its staff to safer parts of the country and others working remotely.
Turk called for the National Police Force to hold accountable officers reportedly involved in rights abuses with international help.
“Restoring the rule of law must be a priority,” Turk said, calling for the Kenyan-led UN mission tasked with quelling
the violence to be granted “the logistical and financial support it requires to successfully implement its mandate”.
A 430-strong UN-backed security mission comprised mostly of Kenyan Police, was sent last June to support Haiti’s understaffed police department. But violence has continued to grow.
Turk said the full implementation of UN Security Council-mandated sanctions and an arms embargo must be used.
“Weapons flowing into Haiti often end up in the hands of the criminal gangs, with tragic results: thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, essential infrastructure and services, such as schools and hospitals, disrupted and destroyed,” he said.
The Haitian Government, backed by the US and by other Caribbean nations, has also been calling for the UN Security Council to authorise a fullscale peacekeeping operation.
But Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council, have opposed the move, insisting that efforts to stop the gang violence should instead be focused on strengthening the Haitian Police. (Al Jazeera)
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Gonzalez's son-in-law kidnapped, he says
The son-in-law of Venezuelan Opposition Leader Edmundo
by
men on Tuesday morning and is
wrote on X. Political party Primero Justicia, an Opposition party of which Gonzalez is not a member, condemned the kidnapping "by officials of (President)
Nicolás Maduro's regime," without giving evidence. Venezuela's Ministry of Information did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reuters)
Ecuador's Noboa names acting President so he can campaign
cuadorean
EPresident Daniel Noboa said in a decree on Tuesday that interim vice-president Cynthia Natalie Gellibert will serve as acting President from Thursday to Sunday so he can participate in campaigning for his re-election.
A debate about who would act as President if Noboa were to take time out for the campaign has made waves in the country amid a long-running spat between him and elected Vice President Veronica Abad.
Gellibert was named interim vice president on Saturday, replacing a previously-named interim.
"It is necessary, to guarantee the principles of transparency, equity and judicial security, and also to comply with adequate use of public resources, in a voluntary way, to separate and differentiate the periods when the president of the republic exercises his functions and the times when he is absent temporarily from the post to conduct campaign activities," the decree said.
Abad, who has also been serving as Ecuador's
Ambassador to Israel, was suspended from her post by the Labour Ministry in November. The Ministry accused her of committing a serious disciplinary offence by not complying with an order to travel to Turkey due to security concerns during the conflict in Gaza.
A court then overturned the suspension in December and the same day Noboa ordered Abad to go to Turkey to act as temporary counsellor at the country's Embassy there.
Noboa named an interim Vice President last week, saying the measure would be in place until Abad arrives in Turkey.
Over the weekend Abad said she had every right to assume the presidency on Sunday, when the election campaign officially began, and called on the military to back her, but the armed forces said in a statement they would uphold the Constitution.
Noboa, elected in 2023 to finish his predecessor's term, says his policies have reduced violence in the country, which saw a sharp uptick in crime after the COVID-19 pandemic. But some Ecuadoreans and rights groups have decried what they say are military overreach and rights violations. The election is February 9. (Reuters)
Venezuela's Maduro says 2 US citizens arrested among group of 'mercenaries'
Two US citizens have been arrested in Venezuela, part of group of what President Nicolás Maduro described on Tuesday as seven "mercenaries", the embattled leader said in remarks broadcast by State television.
Maduro, who said the detained US citizens were "very high level", did not provide further details or evidence of the arrests.
"Just today we've captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States," said Maduro, who is set to take office for a third term on Friday following last July's contested election that the Opposition says it won in a landslide.
Maduro said the group of detainees also includes two Colombians and three Ukrainians.
Last month, Venezuela's Government released dozens of prisoners including 10 Americans after months of negotiations between Caracas and Washington, while the US released a close ally of the President, Colombian businessman Alex Saab. (Reuters)
A woman with two children carries their belongings as residents of the Lower Delmas flee their homes due to gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti [Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters file photo]
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa in Quito, Ecuador, January 6, 2025 (Reuters/Karen Toro photo)
Gonzalez was kidnapped
masked
still missing, Gonzalez
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro looks on during a meeting of leaders of the member states of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America and the Treaty of Commerce and Promotion (ALBA-TCP), in Caracas, Venezuela, December 14, 2024 (Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria photo)
Around the World
Oil prices settle up on possible supply disruption, hopes for China demand
Hamas stands by demand for end to Gaza war under hostage deal, as Trump deadline nears
Hamas stood by its demand on Tuesday that Israel fully end its assault on Gaza under any deal to release hostages, and said US Presidentelect Donald Trump was rash to say there would be "hell to pay" unless they go free by his January 20 inauguration.
Oil prices settled higher on Tuesday, driven by concerns over limited supply from Russia and Iran because of Western sanctions and expected higher Chinese demand.
Brent crude futures settled at US$77.05 a barrel, up 75 cents, or 0.98 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at US$74.25 a barrel, up 69 cents, or 0.94 per cent.
Traders were looking to the Chinese stimulus plans to drive growth as supplies are tight following the Christmas and New Year's holidays, said Forex market analyst Razan Hilal.
"While the market is currently range-bound, it is recording gains on the back of improved demand expectations fuelled by holiday traffic and China’s economic pledges," Hilal said in a morning note. "However, the primary trend remains bearish."
Some market participants have apparently started to price in small supply disruption risks on Iranian crude exports to China, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
Concern over sanctions tightening supply has translated into increased demand for Middle Eastern oil, reflected in a rise in Saudi Arabia's February oil prices to Asia, the first such increase in three months.
On Monday in China, Shandong Port Group issued a notice banning US-sanctioned oil vessels from its network of ports, three traders said, potentially restricting blacklisted vessels from major energy terminals on China's east coast.
Shandong Port Group oversees large ports on China's east coast, including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.
Meanwhile, cold weather in the US and Europe boosted heating oil demand, though oil price gains were capped by global economic data.
Eurozone inflation accelerated in December, an expected blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank.
"Higher inflation in Germany raised suggestions the ECB may not be able to cut rates as fast as hoped across the eurozone," said Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty.
Technical indicators for oil futures are now in overbought territory and sellers are keen to step in again to take advantage of the strength, tempering additional price advances, said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of research at Onyx Capital Group.
Market participants await more economic data, including the US December non-farm payrolls report on Friday.
"We have a very tight physical market and see demand exceeding supply," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. "That should lead to more drop downs of inventories around the globe." (Reuters)
Officials from the Islamist group and Israel have been holding talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in the most intensive effort for months to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
The outgoing US Administration has called for a final push for a deal before Joe Biden leaves office, and many in the region now view Trump's inauguration as an unofficial deadline.
But with the clock ticking,
both sides accuse the other of blocking a deal by adhering to conditions that torpedoed all previous peace efforts for more than a year.
Hamas says it will free its remaining hostages only if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. Israel says it will not end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free.
"Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages," the director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Eden Bar Tal, told a briefing with reporters, saying Israel was fully committed to reaching a deal.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan, who held a news conference in Algiers, said Israel was to blame for undermining all efforts to reach a deal.
While he said he would not give details about the latest round of negotiations, he reiterated the Hamas conditions of "a complete end to the aggression and a full withdrawal from lands the occupation invaded".
Commenting on Trump's threat that there would be "hell to pay" unless all hostages were freed before the inauguration, Hamdan said: "I think the US President must make more disciplined and diplomatic statements".
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Rescue efforts underway after earthquake in Tibet kills more than 120
More than 400 persons trapped by a strong earthquake that struck the foothills of the Himalayas on Tuesday have been rescued, Chinese authorities said, while over 30,000 residents have been relocated, as rescuers continue the search for survivors.
The magnitude 6.8 quake's epicentre was in China's Tibet region, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the world's highest moun-
tain. Tremors also shook buildings in neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and India.
An initial survey showed 3609 homes had been destroyed in the Shigatse region of Tibet, home to 800,000 people, Chinese State media reported late on Tuesday, citing local officials, while more than 500 people and 106 ambulances had been dispatched to help the injured.
At least 126 people were known to have been
Trump will not rule
out
force to take Panama Canal, Greenland
S President-elect
UDonald Trump refused on Tuesday to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland, part of a broader expansionist agenda he has promoted since winning the November 5 election.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, also floated the idea of turning Canada into a US state, said he would demand far higher defence spending from NATO allies and promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Still two weeks away from taking office, Trump has begun outlining an aggressive foreign policy with little regard to diplomatic considerations or the concerns of US allies.
Asked at a press conference at his Florida resort
whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security."
Trump criticised American spending on Canadian goods and military support for Canada, saying the US derives no benefits from doing so, and called the border between the two countries an "artificially drawn line".
He suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to purchase Greenland, which he said is vital to US national security. Shortly before Trump's comments, his son Don Jr arrived in Greenland for a private visit. (Excerpt from Reuters)
killed and 188 injured on the Tibetan side, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported. No deaths have been reported in Nepal or elsewhere.
Temperatures in the region dropped to as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, adding to the misery of those left homeless.
Tents, food rations, electrical generators and
Jean-Marie
Le
other supplies had reached the site by late on Tuesday, and all sections of road damaged by the temblor had been reopened, CCTV added.
Beijing, which administers Tibet as an autonomous region within China, rejects criticism from rights groups and exiles who accuse it of trampling on the religious and cultural rights of the Tibetan people. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Pen, founder of France's postwar far right, dies aged 96
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France's far-right National Front party who tapped into blue-collar anger over immigration and globalisation and revelled in minimising the Holocaust, died on Tuesday aged 96. His death was confirmed by his daughter Marine Le Pen's political party, National Rally (Rassemblement National).
Jean-Marie Le Pen spent his life fighting – as a soldier in France's colonial wars, as a founder in 1972 of the National Front, for which he contested five presidential elections, or in feuds with his daughters and ex-wife, often conducted publicly.
Controversy was Le Pen's constant companion: his multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred and condoning war crimes dogged the National Front.
Commenting on Le Pen's death, President Emmanuel Macron said: "A historic fig-
ure of the far right, he played a role in the public life of our country for nearly seventy years, which is now a matter for history to judge."
Le Pen helped reset the parameters of French politics in a career spanning 40 years that, harnessing discontent over immigration and job security, in some ways heralded Donald Trump's rise to the White House.
He reached a presidential election run-off in 2002 but lost by a landslide to Jacques Chirac. Voters backed a mainstream conservative rather than bring the far right to power for the first time since Nazi collaborators ruled in the 1940s.
Le Pen was the scourge of the European Union, which he saw as a supranational project usurping the powers of nation states, tapping the kind of resentment felt by many Britons who later voted to leave the EU. (Excerpt from Reuters)
A woman walking past posters of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 16, 2024 (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov photo)
Let your imagination carry you forward. Put any anger you harbor behind you. The insight you gain through observation will help you fine-tune a plan. Be precise in all things.
Reflect on your beliefs, exchange words with those who feed off your input and push to establish a change that will make life easier. Do your best to stand out.
Watch what others do, as it will tell you much. Too much of anything will lead to difficulties. Tread carefully when involved in joint projects or delegating responsibilities.
You’ll devise a winning combination when creating a team to build your dreams. Invest time, money and skills in a worthwhile project, and you’ll reap the rewards.
Change may attract you, but you won’t like the results if you don’t prepare for it properly. Don’t let shortcuts tempt you when planning and detail are your ticket to success.
Temptation will mislead you. Consider what’s essential and tie up any loose ends that might get in your way. Rewrite your script to include your desired ending, and watch what unfolds.
Establish what you can do to free up cash or eliminate debt. Dealing with issues that are causing financial stress will allow you to put your time and effort where they’re needed most.
You’ll be drawn to people and organizations offering a different perspective. Networking and educational pursuits will confirm you are on the right track. Embrace what excites you most.
Keep a low profile until you figure out what you want to pursue. Refuse to let doubt take the lead. Confidence, research and comprehension will be required for success.
Notice how your words affect others while painting a positive picture. Approaching life with equality in mind will help you relate to those from all walks of life. Be a symbol of hope.
Ensure no one is left out. Paint a broad picture that everyone can relate to. Your kindness and desire to maintain peace will make it easy for others to relate to you.
Put your energy front and center for all to see. The more attention you pay to getting your plans up and running, the easier it will be to get the help you need.
ARCHIE
Australian Big Bash League…
WILL SHOWS THE WAY
…All-round Will Sutherland keeps Renegades alive
Skipper Will Sutherland dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck, before producing a brilliant knock under pressure alongside Tom Rogers to lift Melbourne Renegades over Perth Scorchers in a nerve-jangling match at Optus Stadium.
Chasing 148, Renegades were in disarray at 10 for 4, before Sutherland came to his side's rescue with 70 off 45 balls. He combined with Rogers in a remarkable 92run partnership to inch Renegades closer to victory, before falling with 12 runs needed and seven balls left to set up a grandstand finish.
After the first ball of the final over by quick Matt Kelly was caught off a waisthigh no ball, Rogers clubbed a six off the second ball, and sealed Renegades' stunning win with a boundary off the fourth ball. He finished on 49 not out off 31 balls.
A see-saw match had started with Scorchers struggling at 114 for 8, before Ashton Agar, battling the flu along with a red-hot Renegades attack, provided a late flurry with an unbeaten 51 from 30 balls.
It was an important win for Renegades, who join
Scorchers with 3-4 records. But the win came at a cost, with batter Jonathan Wells suffering a hamstring injury while fielding.
Heroics after top-order collapse
With opener Josh Brown injured, Renegades had to reshape their batting order,
SCOREBOARD
Perth Scorchers (20 ovs maximum)
Aaron Hardie c Sandhu
b Rogers 34
Finn Allen †c †Seifert
b Sutherland 19 Mitchell Marsh lbw
b Sutherland 0 Cooper Connolly
b Rogers 0 Ashton Turner (c)
b Richardson 8 Nick Hobson c †Seifert
b Zampa 12
Ashton Agar not out 51
Jhye Richardson st †Seifert
b Zampa 11
Matthew Kelly
b Zampa 0
Jason Behrendorff not out 5
Extras (lb 3, w 4) 7
Total 20 Ov (RR: 7.35) 147/8
Did not bat: Lance Morris
Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Finn Allen, 2.4 ov), 2-25 (Mitchell Marsh, 2.5 ov), 3-30 (Cooper Connolly, 3.3 ov), 4-46 (Ashton Turner, 6.5 ov), 5-67 (Nick Hobson, 10.3 ov), 6-86 (Aaron Hardie, 14.1 ov),
7-114 (Jhye Richardson, 16.5 ov), 8-114 (Matthew Kelly, 16.6 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Tom Rogers 4-0-39-2
Gurinder Sandhu 3-0-22-0 Will Sutherland 4-0-22-2
Kane Richardson
Jacob Bethell
4-0-28-1
1-0-6-0
Adam Zampa 4-0-27-3
Melbourne Renegades (T: 148 runs from 20 ovs)
Tim Seifert † c sub (AJ Tye)
b Behrendorff 0 Marcus Harris c †Allen
b Morris 21
Jake Fraser-McGurk c †Allen
b Behrendorff 0 Jacob Bethell c sub (AJ Tye)
b Richardson 2 Laurie Evans c †Allen
b Morris 0 Will Sutherland (c) c Behrendorff b Richardson 70 Tom Rogers not out 49 Gurinder Sandhu not out 0
Extras (b 2, lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 8
Total 19.4 Ov (RR: 7.62) 150/6 Did not bat: Jonathan Wells, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tim Seifert, 0.4 ov), 2-0 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 0.5 ov), 3-9 (Jacob Bethell, 3.6 ov), 4-10 (Laurie Evans, 4.3 ov), 5-44 (Marcus Harris, 9.3 ov), 6-136 (Will Sutherland, 18.5 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Jason Behrendorff 4-1-22-2 Jhye Richardson 4-0-28-2 Lance Morris 4-0-21-2
Matthew Kelly 3.4-0-38-0 Ashton Agar 3-0-25-0 Cooper Connolly 1-0-12-0
and in-form Tim Seifert was promoted, but succumbed to left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff in the first over.
Having struggled since the Pakistan white-ball series, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Harris, almost batting in red-ball cricket mode, were forced to grind it out.
Harris fell just before drinks, but Sutherland had found his rhythm, and took a liking to the older ball. He found a willing partner in Rogers, who was also adventurous, to spark a remarkable revival.
Sutherland had a reprieve on 40, when substitute fielder Andrew Tye dropped a chance on the deep midwicket boundary. He rolled to his half-century off 31 balls, and looked set to get them home. However, he wasn't there at the end, but Rogers stepped up at the death.
Rampant pace attack falls off After Agar's momentum-shifting knock, Scorchers felt rejuvenated and safe in the knowledge that they have defended similar scores over the years.
Behrendorff has often ignited those famous wins, and he did so again with a blistering opening spell. He was well backed by Jhye Richardson, fresh from being part of Australia's Test squad, and Lance Morris, with both speedsters bowling
was moved down a spot, but it did not do the trick, because he fell in ugly fashion for a golden duck. He tried to slice a short delivery from Behrendorff, but could only edge behind, where Finn Allen took a sharp catch high to his right with the gloves.
Jacob Bethell, and Laurie Evans who became a Scorchers cult hero last season, also couldn't handle the pressure, and Renegades only just passed the lowest-ever score in a powerplay. Sutherland and Marcus
bowling too short, but quickly adjusted and superbly attacked the stumps, with the ball moving off the seam. Sutherland also targeted a full length as Renegades swarmed all over Scorchers'
local paper's back page. A pumped-up Marsh skipped to the crease, and was probably glad that he did not have to face tormentor Jasprit Bumrah. Sutherland, however, exe-
top-order. Returning from injury, quick Kane Richardson bowled well in the middle overs, and so did legspinner Adam Zampa, who removed Nick Hobson with a brilliant googly, but mostly used subtle variations to good effect.
Renegades almost submitted a near flawless bowling performance, before a tardy effort at the death almost proved fatal.
The late spark
well over 140kph.
But Scorchers' quicks were rattled by Sutherland, and they struggled for the second straight game at the death overs, as their finals’ hopes took a hit. Kelly was the quick targeted by Renegades, and he struggled to deliver in the final over.
Superb bowling until the death
After electing to bowl, Renegades’ attack looked set for a tough time, with the inform opener Allen going berserk early. Rogers erred by
Marsh's first BBL game in three years forced a reshuffle of Scorchers' batting order. Aaron Hardie was elevated to open, taking the place of Marsh, who had tweaked his abdomen in a match against Sydney Thunder.
After brief fireworks from Allen, Marsh arrived in the third over to thunderous ovation from the crowd of 31,795. There had been much anticipation over the hometown hero's return, with the picture of Marsh being splashed all over the
cuted an inswinging delivery that would have earned Bumrah's nod of approval, as he trapped Marsh plumb lbw.
Marsh didn't bother to review, even after a brief consult with Hardie.
Scorchers were further in ruins when Cooper Connolly, the BBL's leading run-scorer, fell for a second ball duck, while skipper Ashton Turner was unable to rescue them on this occasion.
After a delayed start to the season due to a quad strain, Hardie has struggled as a specialist batter, and his woes continued. Mistimed shots left him frustrated, before he fell on the first ball of the power surge, after a thick outside edge flew straight to short third.
Scorchers were in big trouble before Agar, returning from back spasms, produced clean hitting marked by several huge blows down the ground. (ESPNCricinfo)
Ashton Agar's 51* off 30 balls lifted the hosts to 147, from 67 for 5
Tom Rogers and Will Sutherland added 92 for the sixth wicket
Will Sutherland kept the hits coming
Adam Zampa took 3 for 27
Victory Valley Royals hand Jets an 8-point defeat
– As Kings get walkover win over winless Black Caimans
The Retrieve Hard Court was filled with basketball action after a long drought of basketball action as Kings and Victory Valley Royals found themselves in the winner’s circle on Sunday in the Guyana Basketball Federation’s One Guyana League on Saturday at the National Gymnasium.
The first game resulted in a walkover for the Kings against Black Caimans, resulting in a 20–point victory which would now see Black Caimans, after three games, yet to put points on the table and improve their chances of advancing to the next round.
ing 18 points while the Jets were limited to 12 points, with the Royals’ lead extending to 11 points with a score of 48-37.
Victory Valley Royals in the fourth and final quarter of the game handed Black Mambas their first taste of defeat with an eight-point victory, 64-56, as the offensive attack of Yannick Tappin with 16 points and Orlon Glasgow with 18
points led the way.
The “One Guyana” tournament commenced with 27 teams in the Harpy Eagle and Jaguar Conferences, and with a projected 56 to 63 games to be played.
The teams are expected to play teams from their conference twice, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs. The number one-ranked team plays the fourth-ranked team, and the
number two team plays the third-ranked team. Winners of the playoff games would then advance to their Conference finals, where the winners of the best two of three games would advance to the National Finals. The tournament-winning team would receive $1 million along with trophies, while the runner-up team would receive $500,000 plus trophies.
“You can only improve against better opposition”
With both teams getting their first taste of gametime in the league, Victory Valley asserted themselves as the number one team in Linden with a 10-point lead from a scoreline of 22-11. They dominated the Jets from the jump.
The Jets managed to put up a fight in the second quarter, as they outscored the Royals in scoring 11 points while the Royals were only able to convert 8
points, but the lead was still in favour of the Royals with the score reading 30-25.
Coming back from the half, the Royals again pounced on the Jets’ defense, as they dominated the third quarter by bucket-
FL Sport supports Polly’s Nursery School
FL Sport has extended its support to Polly’s Nursery School in North Ruimveldt, following a request from that institution. As part of its commitment to community engagement through the “One Guyana” T10 Tapeball tournament, FL Sport has donated a television to enhance the educational experience for students.
Head Mistress Velda Marks, in expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the FL Sport family for their generosity, highlighting that the newly acquired television would be a valuable teaching resource across all classes.
Reflecting on the school’s motto, "Learning together while we work and play", John Ramsingh of FL Sport commented, “The ‘One Guyana’ T10 Tapeball is our flagship event, uniting people through the spirit of fun and cricket. We believe in giving back to the community whenever possible.”
Ramsingh also mentioned an ongoing partnership that has fostered a suc-
cessful tape ball tournament for primary schools, suggesting that in a few years, some of Polly’s students might find themselves balancing academics and cricket in one of the FL Sports’ tournaments.
“This is about securing
the future,” he noted.
When asked what fans can anticipate on the field for 2025, Ramsingh revealed that planning is actively underway, but he promised fans and players an exciting lineup of tournaments ahead.
‘NEW SERIES, NEW...
“The positive that stands out is that we’ve been very effective as a bowling unit, bowling out opposition teams in a number of different ways. Jaden back to full fitness; Shamar Joseph making his debut in 2024; Alzarri Joseph; Kemar Roach has been a standout in terms of his leadership on and off the field; and we’ve had Motie and Warrican being very consistent when given the opportunity to spin,” Coley detailed.
“There’ve been instances where we’ve had significant partnerships from a batting perspective, but they haven’t been really consistent and put ourselves in a position to have match- winning totals. From that standpoint, I think
FROM PAGE 23
the standout has been the fact that we’ve been able to keep ourselves in Test matches on our bowling and what the young bowlers have done,” he further noted.
“It is time, going forward in 2025, that the batters now, having been given certain opportunities to test their skills, that they continue to learn and then now start to translate those into performances,” he declared.
The first Test between West Indies and Pakistan would be played in Multan from Friday January 17 to Tuesday January 21, while the second match begins on Saturday January 25 and ends on Wednesday January 29.
Two-tier WTC system would
signal the
end of West Indies cricket
– Sir Clive Lloyd believes
Legendary former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd believes that plans to make Test cricket a two-tier system would signal the end of one of the world’s most iconic sports teams, the West Indies.
Under the proposals to split the international game’s 12 full member nations into two groups -- to be discussed by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and representatives from Australia, India and England later this month -- the West Indies side, which has produced cricketers like Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara, would be celebrating their 100th anniversary as a Test team in 2028, as part of the B-tier of the game's longest format.
First reported by Australian newspaper The Age, consideration is being given to revamping the nineteam WTC into one of two divisions, a 7-5 reworking starting in the summer of 2027.
Lloyd, who believes this move would mean disbanding the West Indies team eventually, is arguing that any drop in revenue may encourage the bigger islands to go it alone.
“You can imagine them talking about dismantling the West Indies teams and playing as their own (islands),” Lloyd has said.
Lloyd, 80, captained West Indies when they went 27 Test matches unbeaten in the 1980s, culminat-
ing in a then record winning streak of 11 in 1984, with six victories against Australia sandwiching five against England. Things are much different now for the regional side, who are languishing at eighth place in the Test rankings, and at the bottom of the WTC.
“We were the cash cows for a lot of people over the years,” Lloyd has said. “We worked hard for what we achieved, and only had five million people. India have got a billion and a quarter; Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, they all have more people, but look at what we achieved. We have a great history, and now you’re going to tell us (that), because of a monetary situation, this is how it’s going to be,” Lloyd added.
This is not the first time the two-tier Test system has been proposed, but the ‘big three’ of England, Australia and India are now more than ever keen to maximize television revenue.
December’s Boxing Day Test between Australia and India attracted a record aggregate attendance of over 373,000.
Playing each other twice every three years, instead of twice every four from 2027, when the next cycle of rights begins, would result in revenue spikes from gate receipts, TV and sponsorship.
Unfortunately, it would leave the Windies and the
other have-nots playing loss-making fixtures.
“We wouldn’t be able to produce the type of cricket we have produced over the years,” Lloyd has said. “You can only improve against better opposition. The better system would be to give all teams the same amount of money so they can improve,” he added. (Sportsmax)
Yonnick Tappin was one of the top performers for Victory Valley Royals
John Ramsingh of FL Sport, standing alongside the Head Mistress of Polly’s Nursey School, Velda Marks (right), and teacher Annalesa Hinds on Tuesday at the school
Sir Clive Lloyd has shared his opinion on the proposed two-tier system for Test cricket
Malachi Austin is by now a household name in Guyana, especially to those in-tune with athletics. This position is only expected to get better over the next few years, as the 17-yearold national 400M champion takes up a full scholarship at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the USA.
Fully resolved to seize all opportunities to make all his track and field dreams come true, Austin recently told Guyana Times Sport about his initial visit to LSU, and of his appreciation for hard work paying off.
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to go to LSU. I’m so happy that my hard work day in, day out: coming to the gym, going in the track with Coach Julian, everybody
and them having my back every day, telling me that this will be a dream that will come true someday, and to see it happen now is great,” he disclosed.
“My visit, I was very elated to be there. Great facilities, great recovery stations, like the medical stations are great, the indoor track, everything. I’m so happy to go there,” he declared. “Feels very exciting! I actually got a chance to meet Mondo, Vernon and couple other athletes, and I felt welcomed. I had a talk with Vernon actually, and it was great,” Austin detailed about his LSU experience thus far.
The 17-year-old has shared with Guyana Times Sport some of his goals which he hopes the knowl-
edge garnered at LSU can help him achieve. The first of those goals is to qualify for this year’s World Athletics Championships in September.
Austin has thus expressed, “I hope to achieve a lot. I hope to get a gold in the NCAA Championships, not only for my first year, but all four years. I also hope to go to the Olympics under the LSU name, and to run for Guyana; and I also would like to go to CARIFTA and defend my title.”
Delved deeper into how he intends to begin his journey on the big stage, the athlete has said, “So, I’m expecting to go to the Olympics in 2028. That’s my main goal. This year is World Championships, I’ve expressed to them that I want to go there; so, that’s my first goal. If I make that, you know, put in a little bit more work, see where my faults are at, and for sure I’ll get to the 2028 Olympics.”
LSU is an institution acclaimed the world over for having produced the Women’s 100M and Men’s Pole Vault World champions, Sha’carri Richardson and Mondo Duplantis. Austin discussed the pressure of heading to such a university, especially with young Guyanese athletes now looking up to him.
2025 West Indies Championships…
Barbados Pride name provisional squad ahead of final phase of preparation
The Barbados Cricket Association on Tuesday released a provisional 25-man Barbados Pride squad that would enter the final phase of preparation for the start of the 2025 West Indies Championship season.
This squad, which excludes West Indies players currently on overseas assignments, would play a pair of three-day practice matches at Queen’s Park in St. Michael from January 13-15 and from January 2023.
The Pride open their 2025 West Indies Championship campaign against the Guyana Harpy Eagles at Providence in Guyana.
Full Pride Squad: Kadeem Alleyne, Leniko Boucher, Shian Brathwaite, Shaquille Cumberbatch, Giovonte
Barbados Pride have named a 25-member provisional squad
DePeiza, Jonathan Drakes, Matthew Forde, Keon Harding, Chaim Holder, Chemar Holder, Jamar Ifill, Matthew Jones, Akeem Jordan, Javed Leacock, Jair McAllister, Zachary
McCaskie, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Demetrious Richards, Nathan Sealy, Ramon Simmonds, Kemar Smith, Tevyn Walcott, Kevin Wickham, Rashawn Worrell.
“There’s a bit of pressure, but I don’t let it get to me. I try to stay focused, try to stay motived and get the work done,” he explained.
Austin further elucidated, “To be the one that is doing all of this right now, especially at my age as a junior, it’s a bit of pressure. Because I know there’s a lot of young athletes in Guyana right now looking up to me and saying, ‘Yeah, I want to be like Malachi Austin’, but my advice to them is: stay focused, stay humble, always stay hungry; trust the process,
‘NEW
your coaches; pray to God, and things will work out just fine.”
The Guyanese athlete has not forgotten his academics, expressing confidence that he would be able to balance it with track.
“I know to myself it’s going to be a bit hard. I’m going to have to make a lot of sacrifices, just as I’ve made them for CXC. But I’m prepared, I’m ready for whatever it is to come. I have my family backing me, coaches backing me, everyone in Guyana backing me; so, I know I’ll do great,”
SERIES, NEW
he confidently shared. Aside from being the Guyana and CARIFTA 400M champion, Austin is also the holder of a silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games, and is also a crucial part of the 4x400M team that broke the Games record in 2023.
Outside of his family, Austin highlighted the likes of Coaches Julian Edmonds and Timothy and senior athlete Akeem Stewart as individuals who have provided guidance on his journey thus far.
OPPORTUNITIES’
– Coley on Pakistan tour
As the 2023-2025 cycle of the World Test Championships comes to a close, West Indies and Pakistan will play their final Tests against each other in a West Indies’ twomatch tour of Pakistan.
On one hand, West Indies are coming off a 1-1 series draw against Bangladesh, while Pakistan are fresh off a 2-0 series loss to WTC finalists South Africa. With a chance for some redemption on the line, West Indies Head Coach Andre Coley spoke of returning to the Asian country after some years, while detailing the West Indies’ preparation there.
“New series and new opportunity. As you mentioned, we haven’t played a Test match in Pakistan for a few years, and so we’re all looking forward to the challenges it will pose. Yes, it’s slightly cooler than what we would’ve been accustomed to in the Caribbean, but we’re prepared for that,” Coley shared during an interview.
He added, “We’re not going in our prep with any
expectations. When we go there, we’ll assess the conditions. So, cool idea of having some prep time ahead of the Test series. You know, sometimes you could go into a series, into conditions that (are) a bit different than what you’re used to at home. But we’re going to make sure, when we get to the ground, we’re going to assess what the conditions are, and then we prepare. Based on what we expect in Multan, we will then continue to shape our preparation around that,” he disclosed.
Asked whether or not his team would be looking to make history, since West Indies last defeated Pakistan in a Test series back in 2017, Coley responded in the negative, giving preference to just seizing opportunities.
“Creating history, there’s always an opportunity. Once you play a series or a match, there’s an opportunity in itself. Focus shouldn’t be around creating history; it’s around using the learning from 2024 and that consistency that we’ve been searching for over the
last 12 months. Being more consistent around how we want to play, the brand of cricket that we want to play, use this as an opportunity to be better and do it in conditions that in some instances can be different,” he explained.
“So, for us, it’s about us preparing, whether it’s a pace or spin-friendly track, that we are equally prepared to give a good account of ourselves here,” he related.
Reflecting on the year 2024, Coley opined that the team’s performances were dependent on the bowlers. As such, he expressed hope that the batsmen would come to the party for 2025.
West Indies Test Head Coach Andre Coley
A look at West Indies’ arrival in Pakistan earlier this week
Purple and gold would be constant colours for Malachi Austin over the next four years
Malachi Austin is the reigning CARIFTA U20 and Guyana national 400M Champion
