Kaieteur News

‘GTU’s multi-year - Chief Education Officer says proposal must …as discussions between sides to continue next week start from 2024’

Four prison officers, two others freed of conspiracy to help “Smallie” escape

Man who left to clean girlfriend's $1M jewellery never returns, lands in court Govt. to spend $13M to do soil test for school

Govt. now updates oil and gas data

ThegovernmentofGuyanahas now updated its Petroleum Management Programme's Data Center, following a four-month delayinsomeinstances.

On Sunday, Kaieteur News reported that the gas data for instance was not updated since October 31, 2023. Similarly, data on daily oil production was not updated to the portal since December31,2023.

This website provides key updatesonthenumberofbarrelsof oil produced at the three operationalprojects-LizaOneand Liza Two, and Payara- operations intheStabroekBlock,aswellasthe daily reported amount of gas produced, gas injected, flared gas and gas used for fuel. It also gives an overview on the Brent Crude prices and the amount of water producedandinjected.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Natural Resources finally updated the website, following Kaieteur News' article.Eachofthe respective graphs on the website has now been updated with informationuptoJanuary2024and is now available to the public for scrutiny

These key production data are critical to stakeholders to keep the governmentandtheoperatorofthe Stabroek Block accountable. The portalhoweverhasbeenfacedwith frequent challenges when it comes to timely updates on production data.

It was previously reported that the Data Centre was not receiving timely updates on Exxon's flaring of gas in 2022, at a time when the company was experiencing mechanical difficulties with its equipment This had sparked serious concern among stakeholders, who questioned the reasonfordelayedupdates.

Kaieteur News was finally directed to the Petroleum Management website in 2022, amid pressure from transparency activists on the release of data relatingtooilproductionhere.

The failure by the Ministry of Natural Resources to however update the website defeats the purpose of the portal to keep Guyanese informed on the exploitation of the oil and gas resources It also brings the government's commitment to transparencyintoquestion.

2024

Oil production data on the Ministry's website has been updated.

LastNovember,VicePresident BharratJagdeoissuedadirectiveto the Ministry of Natural Resources to address the issues with the website. His call for action came after multiple reports by this newspaperaboutthepressingneed toensuretransparencyandreliable information sharing on the oil sector

The Ministry of Natural Resources has been under scrutiny for some time due to the recurring problems with the website, especially its data centre. It was reported at that time there was incompleteandfragmentedupload of oil production data for the months of August and September Notably, data for August 31 and

September 30 was conspicuously absent. In addition, the detailed breakdownofproduction,whichis typically included in monthly updates, was missing in the September release Clear and consistent data are essential for transparency advocates to assess thesituationaccuratelyandmaking informedjudgments.

Public servants can look forward to better salaries come 2027, President Irfaan Ali announced on Thursday while addressing officers at the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) Annual Officers' Conference held at the Officers' Mess Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Pres. Ali waiting on future oil revenues to pay public servants better President,

“Iwantassurethatbythe timewegetto2027,andthere is a misconception about the resource inflow, the magnitude of resource that willcometotherevenuebase of our country will really have the greater effect in 2027andonward,”Alisaid.

G u y a n a s t a n d s disadvantaged by the lopsided agreement signed

with U S oil giant ExxonMobilfortheStabroek Block.Withthelackofringfencing,thecountryislosing approximately US$4B annually Thecountry'sVicePresidentDr BharratJagdeo who is also the chief policymaker for the oil and gas sector at one of his weekly press conferences said that Guyana's current annual take from its oil resourcesisunderUS$2B.

He anticipates that by 2027 Guyana's revenue inflowfromtheoilsectorwill bearound“US$9B”.

Government intends to produce 1.2M barrels of oil per day by 2027. This will double the country's current

Manwholeftto cleangirlfriend's $1Mjewellerynever returns,landsincourt

Amanwhowasaccused of defrauding his girlfriend of her jewellery was on Friday remanded to prison by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly

The accused, Terry Abrahams made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court where the charge of fraudulent conversion was readtohim.

Hepleadednotguilty

The charge alleged that Abrahams, on February 25, 2024atPromenadeGardens, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, whilst being solely entrusted by Cobena Adridge with a quantity of jewellery amounting to $1,050,000, for the purpose of the items to be cleaned, repaired and returned, fraudulently converted the articlestohisownuse.

The court heard that Adridge and Abrahams are known to each other, they recently started a relationship. It was stated thatAbrahams toldAdridge that her jewellery needed to be cleaned while others needed to be repaired. In light of what he said, she (Adridge) handed over the jewellerytohim,forthemto be cleaned, repaired and returned.

However,itwasreported that Adridge made several attempts to contact Abrahams to no avail. As a result,shefiledareportwith the Guyana Police Force.

production thereby increasingitsrevenueinflow

Like President Ali, the Vice President has also been statingthatby2027,Guyana willbeinabetterpositionto improve the standard of living of all public servants.

At the Officers' Conference, theHeadofStatedidnotuse the word salaries but instead said, “a total welfare package.” He said, “…By then, I believe that our workers across this country,

our men and women in uniform, our teachers, our doctors,ournurseswillbein a position that will see Guyana as an attractive destination for deployment (employment) ” President Ali assured: “I am not all bothered about the path to getting there because we are doing everything in our budgetary framework to advanceonthatpath”.

EvenasthePresidentand Vice President have made it

clear that public servants' salaries will receive a boost from 2027, the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) are currently locked in negotiations about increased salaries and improved workingconditions.

Thenegotiationstemmed f r o m a f o u r- w e e k countrywide strike and protests by teachers demanding more from the government.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Four prison officers, two others freed of conspiracy to help “Smallie” escape

The six persons who were charged with conspiracy to assist death row inmate Mark Royden Williams called 'Smallie' to escape from the Mazaruni Prison in May 2023 were on Fridayfreedofthecharge.

Terry Abrahams hiding his face at the Georgetown a Magistrates' Court

Shortly after the report was filed, Abrahams was arrested.The woman's rings were recovered on him but therewasnoevidenceofthe otherjewelleryandhecould notgiveaccountforthem.

Theprosecutionstrongly objected to bail on the grounds that Abrahams committed a similar offence in 2007 Further, the prosecution told the court that Abrahams failed to provide the police with his correctaddress.

The accused refuted the claims made against him in court.

Notwithstanding, Magistrate Daly remanded Abrahams to prison. He is scheduledtoreturntoprison onApril12,2024.

The six persons, four of whom are prison officers, appeared at the Bartica Magistrates' Court before MagistrateChristalLambert.

The four prison officers, Alexander Hopkinson, Conroy Hoosanah, Omar Weatherspoon, and Oldfield Romulus were accused of being involved in the 'Smallie's escape from the heavily guarded prison. The other two accused are Frangeliz Jugandry Flores Perez of Alexander Street, Kitty(thefemalewhovisited the inmate just before his escape) and a businessman,

Rajmohan Autar called “Chico”.

Magistrate Lambert upheld the no case submission filed by the accused lawyers and dismissed the case against accused.

Attorney-at-law,Bernard Da Silva represented Alexander Hopkinson while Patrice Henry represented H o o s a n a h a n d Weatherspoon.Romuluswas represented by Attorney-atLaw Renea Marcus. It was

alleged that on May 19, 2023, the sextet conspired with each other and persons unknown to assist 'Smallie' in making good his escape. The renowned criminal escaped

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Cybercrime, recruiting and retaining police officers among challenges facing Police Force – Top Cop

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken on Thursday said that cybercrime, the recruitment and retention of officers are among the challenges facing the Guyana Police Force(GPF).

Hicken was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the GPF's AnnualOfficers'Conferenceheldatthe Police Officers' Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown. He said though the Force hastakenseveralstepstoaddresscrime, theTopCopsaid,“Withallofthis,letus not underestimate some of the challengesweface.”

He pointed to, “The complex issue ranging from persistent threat of drug traffickingtotheincreasingprevalence of cybercrimes and digital security amidst a resource constraint.”Hicken said the main cybercrime challenge

faced is the ever-increasing negative social media influence Other challengeshereferredtoareadaptingto the changing dynamics of society, addressing petty crimes, substance abuse, gender-based violence, mining related criminal activities, youth violence, transnational crime, illegal migration, porous borders, and mental healthrelatedcrimes.

However, the Top Cop noted that apart from the crime fighting challenges, the Force has internal challenges. “We have also confronted internal challenges including recruitment and retention issues, officers' wellness concern and greater diversity and inclusivity within our ranks,”Hickensaid.

To combat some of these challenges, Hicken spoke about

integrating technology in the Force's policingmethodology

Hicken said that this could be done “…Through the adaption of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and predictivetools.”

Meanwhile, President Mohamed IrfaanAliinresponsetotheTopCopdid not rule out the use of artificial intelligence but said that a regulatory framework must be put implemented before it is instituted.“We have to look at this together, all three branches of government I think must have conversation on AI (Artificial intelligence) and where AI is going becauseitwouldaffectthejudiciary,its already affecting the judiciary internationally, it would affect the executiveandofcourse,itwouldaffect thelegislation,”PresidentAlisaid.

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

America’s hypocrisy, America’s impotency

America’shypocrisiesontheterribledevastationsofthe Palestiniansareglaringandendless. America’simpotency relative to what is battering the Gazans is shocking in its pretense,itsunwillingnesstoholdbackthebrutalarmoftheIsraelis Palestinians are suffering, Palestinians are being mowed down, Palestinians are dying by the thousands, andAmerica sits on its hands Itdoeshavetheenergyandwillpower,though,toknow whentogetupandvetointheUNSecurityCouncilanything thatslowstherampagingIsraeliwarmachine. Americaisso shamelessthatevencallsforaceasefire,ahalttothekilling byIsraeli,areblockedintheUNbyitsrepresentatives.

But American hypocrisy still energizes it to airlift urgently needed food supplies to starving Palestinians. Perhaps, the intentistoprolongtheiragony,tofacilitatethe Israeli forces moving in for the kill and putting those wretched humanbeingsoutoftheirmisery Americanfoodisfeedinghungry Palestinians,whileAmericanarmaments(guns,tanks,warplanes, missiles) are killing them, blowing up their hospitals, and reducing their homes to rubble In any place, in any other conflict as one-sided as this one, America would be in the forefront quieting the situation, and bringing the battling parties to the table of conversation. In another theater of war,Americanswouldbeleadingthewaytoputanendto hostilities. Theconditioneristhatithastobepeoplewho don’t look like Palestinians, and people who did not associate with the culture cherished by the Palestinians. Frankly, the actions of America in the Israeli-Palestinian conflictdonotleavemuchroomforotherconclusions.

AmericahasheavyinfluencewiththeIsraelileadership,yet this superpower pretends to be helpless, besides issuing platitudesandhollowcomfortsthatinsultthesufferingsofthe Palestinians ThereisalsothecontinuingAmericanassaulton the intelligence of a watching world when it pretends that its handsaretied WhatisitthatisstayingthehandofAmerica?

What power is there that makes theAmerican President, and manyintheUSCongress,notcarethattheyareperceivedasreal frauds by most of the rest of the world? For sure, there is a double standard in operation in Gaza:America knows more thanmosthowthecivilianpopulationofGazaisunderhorrible bombardmentthatisvirtuallyuninterrupted.

But the same America now conveniently forgets how zealous it was in other arenas when a different kind of combatantswasimperiled. InRwandawhenblackpeople were killing black people in a most heinous massacre, America and the rest of the civilized Western world pretendednottoknow

AmericaandEuropewentabouttheirbusinesswithoutthe blinkofaneye For100gruesomedays,800,000Rwandans werechoppeddowninthemostbrutalmanner,andtheleaders ofmoderncivilizationwereasinhumaneandcoldbloodedin their distancing, as those who did the actual killings In the Balkans, however, it was a separate breed of humans that brought out the best inAmerica as it rushed to the rescue of embattled Bosnians and Croatians What the American indifference to the death of the Palestinian people highlights todayisthatold,tiredtruth. Whenitisdifferentfolksthatare beingpummeled,thentherearedifferentstrokespracticed.

PartofthesordidhistoryofAmericahasbeenslavery,as lived so odiously in the Confederate South. One kind of people wielding inhuman supremacy over another held in chains,flayedwithwhips,andterrorizedtowithinaninch oftheirlives. ItwasMartinLutherKing,Jr.,whosaidinthe heateddaysoftheCivilRightsmovementthattheracismin theAmerican South was palpable and in the open. But in theNorth,wheretherewerethosefightingforthecherished Americanidealoffreedomforall,theracismwassubtleand concealed. Itwaswhatmadeitmoredangeroustodefeat. We believe that this is what the Palestinians have to deal with,thehypocrisyofAmericainthisconflict. Pretended American impotency empowers the Israelis to inflict as much damage as possible, and the Palestinians to absorb whatdestroysthem.

Itseemsourveryelectoralmachineiscomplicit inthefacilitationofelectoralmal-practices

DEAREDITOR

, With effect from March 1, 2024 GECOM has produced an Official List of Electors.Thelistismadeup of 706,439 voters. As some of us have projected, with concern, the voters list will soon exceed the resident populationofGuyanawhich is approximated to be in the vicinity of 780,000 The school age population is estimated to be over 200,000.Henceourresident voting population should be approximately 580,000, which means the voters’list exceeds the resident voting population by no less than 126,439 How is this possible? This is possible because non-resident Guyanese are also included onthevoters’list.

Why is this of concern?

This is of concern because therecountoftheballotscast in the 2020 elections, resulted in thousands of claims of the existence of listed persons, who were purportedly out of the country, for whom votes were cast; also, the results were sufficiently close for malpractices,averagingfour perapollingstation,toaffect theoutcomeoftheelections. Only a small fraction of the thousands of alleged fraudulent votes was

subjected to verification by t h e I m m i g r a t i o n Department.

The Attorney General (AG) has since taken possessionofthedocuments in which thousands of the verifiable claims are documented. The AG has been patently silent, althoughheisinapositionto prove the APNU-AFC wrong by having the claims refuted through a tested verification process A process which positively verifiedthatoutof517cases which were sent for verification, 383, representing 741%, were verified as instances of personswhowereoutofthe country, although the GECOM documents recorded that they voted. This would not have been possible if the names of the non-residentvoterswerenot listed. GECOM is therefore challenged to fulfil its mandatebyensuringthatthe possibility of such fraudulentvotesbeingcastis reduced, if not eliminated. Yet, GECOM by a majority vote(thechairpersonandthe P P P n o m i n a t e d commissioners) joins the PPP‘s chorus that there are checks and balances to prevent such occurrences, although the evidence

clearlyshowsthattherewere such occurrences, thus proving that the checks and b a l a n c e s w e r e circumvented They also resort to the Court’s ruling that a Guyanese once registered cannot be removed from the voters’ list,unlesshedies.

Herein lies the connivance No effort is being made to rectify this proven and exploited flaw The Judge’s ruling is being usedasthebeginningandthe endofanyactionthatcanbe taken, meaning that no action can be, or is being taken. However, the Judge’s ruling does not address the fact that thousands of registered Guyanese die overseas every year, yet there is no mechanism to have their names removed fromthevoters’list.Thereis no mitigation of the instances of absent persons being voted for, particularly since such persons are undoubtedly numbered among the thousands of registered overseas voters, whowouldhavedied.

There are those in GECOM and the political circles,whoarecomplicitin not rectifying the flawed system, while probably participating in, or condoning, its exploitation.

This is evident in their objection, and resistance, to the implementation of electronic fingerprint identification at the place of poll. Such a system would not have names taken off of the voters’ list, hence complying with the Judge’s ruling, while, at the same time, preventing absentee voters and the deceased overseas voters, in particular, from being impersonated as evidently happened in 2020, while probably going undetected inpreviouselections.

My proposition on Tue, March5,2024thatGECOM addresses its mind to this obvious defect in its system fellondeafears,asGECOM merrily prepares for elections that are due, no laterthan2025.

Previous proposals to implement such a system were stymied by calls for feasible studies, for something that is widely practiced across the globe; and the inaction with regard to the conduct of feasibility studies.Itseemsthatourvery electoral machine is complicit in the facilitation ofelectoralmal-practices.

Yourstruly,

VincentAlexander

G E C O M Commissioner.

“Yes: reforms can ‘do something about election rigging.’’

DEAREDITOR

, The late eminent political theorist Samuel P Huntington stated that ‘Elections, open, free and fair, are the essence of democracy, the inescapable sine qua non. Governments produced by elections may be inefficient, corrupt, shortsighted, irresponsible, dominated by special interests, and incapable of adopting policies demanded bythepublicgood.

These qualities make such governments undesirable, but they do not make them undemocratic’ (FareedZakaria2007–“The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad” WW Norton). So,

Dr Randy Persaud, whatever you mean by ‘The wickedest act in democratic politics is election rigging:’ democracy is merely a method of decision making that does not necessarily result in good governance and at the level of the state neither can it necessarily be equatedwithmajorityrule.

Democratic governments maybeconsidered,asthePPP is in the view of half this country, most ‘undesirable’ Guyana is classified in the world’s best and most comprehensive index as an ‘electoral democracy- minus’ ie a democracy without the necessarypoliticalvirtuesand verging upon being an autocracy (V-Dem 2024 report) When a regime becomes ‘undesirable’ electionsriggingmightbethe leastofitsproblemsasaffected citizens may resort to arms with the loss of thousands of lives We are seeing this at present in Israel and saw this not so long ago in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Fiji, etc ‘Can constitutional reform do something about election rigging attempts?’ (KN: 06/03/2024)

Yes, Dr Persaud, by eliminatingthereasonforit. A good example of this is that once communism was no longer a threat, the West stoppedsupportingelections manipulations in Guyana, resulting in the so-called

‘return’ to democracy in 1992! Normally, political parties in all competitive systems seek advantage by cutting corners: this is a natural outcome of competitive environments

However, the PPP and PNC are in a different category: they are ethnic political parties that once in governmentinacompetitive democratic electoral system are expected and will give prioritytotheinterestoftheir group. When by way of migration, etc the PPP began to lose its natural ethnic majority that under the present winner-takes-all system allowed it to easily take government, it became involved in wholesale electionsrigging.Fouryears on and election petitions in relation to the 2020 general and regional elections are still before the courts. In a competitive democratic highly ethnically divided society such as Guyana, politicians are forced to secure group interest if they aretosurvive.

Super majorities (2/3, etc.),sharedgovernanceand otherrequirementswillforce cooperation by making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for regimes to prioritise their ethnic constituencies.

Please spare me the obfuscations about ‘gridlock’ and the need for strong opposition The formerwillbereducedasthe parties come to realise they must work together In any case, better gridlock than ethnic discrimination! Reformscanalsofocusupon having in place a useful parliamentary opposition, butifinbygonedaysthishad some resonance, the rise of unrefereed social media has madetheconcernoneoftoo much rather than too little opposition. I thought DR. Persaud would have been abletorecognizethatmyuse of the term ‘evil’was not an ‘addition’ but merely a synonym for the natural activities of ‘devils, bastards,demons!’

Dr HenryJeffrey

Agood friend – National Service Sergeant Rooplall Monar has transitioned Georgetown Mayor needs to get off the high horse of politics

DEAREDITOR

,

I recently read that my friend Rooplall Monar has transitioned I first met Monar in the Guyana National Service where we both worked in the Cultural Departmentforsometime.

He was brought into GNS by either Lt. Gora SinghorhismotherCaptain Rajkumari Singh (my bet wouldbeitwasRajkumari). Monarhadagood,sheltered life in the GNS. While all other staff members had to workasguardsatsometime, I can’t remember Monar everhavingtodoso.Further while all of us writers in the Cultural Department had to create material for use on stageorradio.Monarhadno such duty For sure he was always busy writing, but I cannotrecallanyofhiswork beingdoneforGNS.Thus,I concluded that Rajkumari brought him into National Servicesothathecouldhave a steady salary while doing that which loved most –writing.Later,whenImoved toworkasaseniorstaffwith a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l organization, I employed Rooplall and saddled him with the responsibility of familiarizing volunteers with the Hindu culture as practised by East Indians in Guyana.

Rooplall was a great favouritewiththevolunteers and his fellow staff and it was not unusual for staff members who might have heldclassminutesbeforehe beganhis,tostayawhileand listen to his sessions. I too would on many occasions make time to sit in on some ofhisdiscussions/lectures.I was impressed with his willingness to give his

honest opinion For example, he would always encouragevolunteerstostay away from Hindu marriage celebrations since it was his opinion that they almost alwaysendwithfights.

I found Monar to be a restless person, always seeking to do things differently, always dissatisfied with how he presentedinformationonhis previous interaction with volunteers and always testing out on me, new approaches he was considering to employ in an effort at enhance his presentations.

I thoroughly enjoyed his company and would willingly put aside what I wasdoingwheneverIheard hewastheretoseeme,even ifitmeantmehavingtowork late after he left to complete some pressing assignment. In a way, he was my stress reliever

I remember him telling me that he had given up his greencardorUScitizenship in exchange for a visa that wouldallowhimtotravelto the USA for quite a while (might have been a ten-year visa). He seemed to enjoy tellingme of thesurprise on the faces of the Embassy staff as they could not believe a Guyanese would make such a request. They were so impressed that they toldhimhecouldatanytime comeinandregainhisstatus ifhesowished.

As it is with Guyanese, sometimes our talks would turn to politics and it was Rooplallwho toldmeof the PPP’s tendency of paying people to write letters to the Editor critical of the PNC. He seemed to have been

close to the late President Janet Jagan and I got the impression that he was one ofthosewhowascontracted todothistypeofwork.

Rooplallusetosaytome that whenever I left the international organization, he will also leave. I left the organization in 2006 and havenodoubtthathediddo ashepromisedorhewasset aside for a serious indiscretion on his part that warranted immediate dismissal.Heappealedtome tohelphimkeephisjobandI was keen to do all I could. However, at the time of his indiscretion,Iwaspreparing to leave the organization. Thus,Iassumehisdeparture coincidedwithmyleaving.

Whether his departure fromtheorganizationwasas aresultofhisindiscretionor he left voluntarily on my departure as he had said he would, I cannot say Whatever the reason for his departure, I can say c o n f i d e n t l y, t h a t organization lost an excellent member of its CrossCulturestaff.

Sadly, I never saw or heard of Rooplall again Peaceful rest my comrade andfriend.

Yourstruly ClaudiusPrince.

DEAREDITOR, Mayor Alfred Mentore needs to get off the political platform of partisan politics and into the realm of good governance, as he oversees the affairs of the city The peace and prosperity of Georgetown should be his primary focus and not in other avenues for which he

has no authority But, from all appearances he is still stuck in the silly politics of PNC and PPPand not in the business of addressing the realissuesofthecity Fortoo long this has been the problemplaguingthecapital cityanditsmanagement.

Mentore is in the moribund position of

politics and the grand obsession of control, The PNC’s idea of “control” of the city and it being a stomping ground for the partyhasconsumedhim,so, in the latest imbroglio of who owns - or to use The PNC’s terminology controls -ThomasLands,ishismain

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The MOAis providing essential support to young farmers

DEAREDITOR,

Recently,theMinisterof Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, along with his team,visitedvariouslocations in Berbice to engage with residentsandfarmers Thisis not a new occurrence, as the minister has been actively visiting since taking office Overthepastthreeyears,there hasbeenanoticeableincrease in the number of young individualseagertoparticipate intheagriculturalsector

Duringameetingheldin Sandvoort Village, West Canje Berbice, several young farmers expressed their admiration for the ministerandhisteam,asthey have been a source of inspiration for them to pursue agriculture. It was

particularly encouraging to witnessMinisterMustapha’s promptofferofsupport While criticismisinevitable,itwould be unjust to claim that the government is not prioritizing theinvolvement of youths in agriculture. The minister’s objective is crystal clear - to transform Guyana into the “breadbasketoftheregion.” He emphasized that the government will continue to enhancethelivelihoodsofits citizens.Ifirmlybelievethat by equipping individuals withthenecessaryskillsand

providing opportunities to those who are willing to seize them, this vision will undoubtedly become a reality Thereisawell-known saying,“Giveamanafishand youfeedhimforaday Teacha mantofishandyoufeedhimfor alifetime” This is precisely whatthecurrentgovernment isdoing,leavingituptousto decide whether we want immediatesustenance or the abilitytosustainourselvesin thelongrun.

Yourssincerely,

MalisaHarry

As famine stalks enclave, aid workarounds criticised as a distraction from Israel’s blocking of aid through land routes

Aljazeera - Five people were killed and several injured after a parachute landing a humanitarian airdrop failed to open, bringing a pallet crashing downintoacrowdofpeople waiting for food north of

Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp.

The government media officeinGazaconfirmedthe casualties after the incident occurred on Friday, lambasting the “useless” airdrops as “flashy

propaganda rather than a humanitarian service” and calling for food to be allowed through land crossings.

“We previously warned itposesathreattothelivesof citizensintheGazaStripand

Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Rafah [File: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]

this is what happened today when the parcels fell on the citizens’heads,” it said in a statement.

Reporting from Rafah, AlJazeera’sHaniMahmoud said that people are experiencing “a tragedy” in thenorthofGaza.

“Not only are they confronted with the lack of food and medical supplies, butastheywaitforpackages of food, they are either targeted by the Israeli military or killed by a nonfunctional parachute,” Mahmoudsaid.

The deaths occurred as famine stalked the enclave, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting last month that at leasthalfamillion,oronein four people in Gaza, face famine. It highlighted the problem of getting desperately needed humanitarian relief into Gaza amid Israeli restrictions. UNRWA, the largest UN agency in Gaza, says Israeli authorities have not allowed it to deliver supplies to the north of the stripsinceJanuary23.

The World Food Programme, which had paused deliveries in Gaza

because of security concerns, said the military forceditsfirstconvoytothe north in two weeks to turn back on Tuesday In response, a number of countries – including the United States, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – have conducted airdrops, which have been criticised by aid agencies as a costly and ineffective way of delivering food and medicalsupplies.

OnWednesday,theWFP said that the controversial method should be considered “a last resort”.

By way of contrast, it said that the week’s airdrops had only delivered six tonnes of food,whileafailed14-truck convoy would have brought 200tonnesoffoodtopeople.

On Friday, Juliette

To u m a , U N RWA’s communications director toldAlJazeera,“Thereisan easier and cheaper way to bring in much-needed supplies into the Gaza Strip… That is via the road including sending more trucks from Israel into the GazaStrip.“Whenthereisa politicalwillthereisaway,” she said, adding that, so far, desperately needed supplies have not been cleared fast

enough and “there needs to be much more” going into the strip. Friday’s disaster struck only a day after US President Joe Biden announced a complicated workaround to build a temporary pier off Gaza’s coast to deliver aid, a move criticised as an attempt to divert attention from the looming famine and Israel’s consistent blocking of assistancetotheenclave.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that the United Kingdom would be participating in the project, but said it would “take time tobuild”.

While welcoming the d e v e l o p m e n t , h e nevertheless urged Israel to openitsownportofAshdod inthemeantime.

“We need to make a difference right now,” he said.Meanwhile,amaritime corridor delivering aid from Cyprus to the besieged enclave–acollaborationofa number of partners, including European countries, the US, and the UAE – could be established as soon as this weekend, according to European Commission President UrsulavonderLeyen.

Georgetown Mayor needs to get...

Frompage05 concern.Heisnotconcerned with the dilapidated, putrid state of the capital city, and as such, he has absolved himself of the affairs of the city His actions are a representation of the decadent party to which he belongs, they are cocooned in a web of negatives and underdevelopment.

At the present moment, his preoccupation is to own

and control those lands in The Kingston Waterfront; this is done against repeated warnings from The Guyana LandsandSurveysRegistry, that those lands are the property of The State. But the narrow myopic politics of The PNC has so blinded Mentore’s eyes that he cannot see nor think clearly, he would rather waste huge sums of money into a frivolousandvexatiouscase against The Government,

instead of having money wisely spent improving the lives of the citizens of Georgetown.

When you have small minds at the helm, tells you why things go wrong and development cannot take place.

But Guyana will still move forward regardless of these obstacles that stand in ourway

Respectfullysubmitted

Govt. and fast tracking of mining activities

The Government of Guyana seems to be on a natural resource high, looking to fast track exploration and production of mining activities in various sectors.

With little to no expertise in monitoring, this administration is allowing foreigners to rob this nation as the Guyanese proverb says “in broad daylight”. On the one hand, gold declarations are steadily decreasing while ExxonMobil is racing to produce more and more oil.

Instead of addressing these critical issues of monitoring the production of this country's natural resources, which will not be here for generations to come, the elected officials are dancing to the tunes of the foreigners and continue to sign away the nation's wealth.

When will the administration fast track monitoring to ensure this country gets its rightful share?

GRA to train more oil auditors

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be training more auditors for its Petroleum Unit, established to conduct audits of oil companiesoperatinglocally Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia in an invited comment explained that the taxbodywillnotbeimposing conditions that mandate the trained individuals to serve followingthetraining.

The head of the tax agencyhadpreviouslyraised concerns,duringameetingof the Public Accounts

Committee (PAC), that the trainedpersonnelwerebeing stolen by the oil and gas companies.

To address this issue, it was suggested that specific requirements be outlined in thecontractualarrangements to ensure the trained personnel serve for a period before leaving the public sector. Statia, however, outlined that the GRA will notbeforcingthetraineesto remain on the job He explained, “As I intimated before, Guyanese should be

patriotic and serve their country Personsheldagainst theirwill,willnotperformat theiroptimal.”

To this end, he clarified, “The intention is to train many persons in the discipline, and pay them well, so, even if we lose 50 percent to the private sector, andtheyremaininGuyanait willbeworthit.”

The GRA, in an advertisementthisweek,said the unprecedented growth of thePetroleumSectorandthe resultantexpansionoftheOil

and Gas Tax roll

places added responsibility on the Revenue Authority to ensure that the demands of the Oil and Gas Sector and its taxpayers are adequately met. It said to optimize revenue generation fromthissectorandimprove taxpayer compliance; it is importantfortheAuthorityto efficaciously administer taxes, conduct risk-based audits,educatetaxpayersand institute other risk-based compliancemeasures.

- Statia

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Godfrey Statia

Therefore, the Authority is in the process of identifying and developing a cadre of professionals to execute these functions

“Thisventureseekstoco-opt talented individuals into a pool, which will be trained through partnerships with U n i v e r s i t i e s , t h e InternationalMonetaryFund (IMF) and GRA's Technical Staff.

To this end, applications areinvitedfrompersonswho are desirous of joining the GRA's Cost Recovery and Petroleum Revenue Departments,” the GRA explained.

Notably, a Competency Assessment will be administered, with successful applicants being identified for placement within the Petroleum Cost

Recovery Department or the Petroleum Revenue Department Interested personsmusthavecompleted or be actively pursuing the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), the CPA, COPAS, Bachelor's Degree in Accountancy or any other accounting/auditing qualification with a minimum of two (2) years' e x p e r i e n c e i n accounting/auditing.The GRAnotedthatpersonswho possess qualifications in the OilandGasfieldwillalsobe considered.

Last year when the Commissioner General revealedthattheagencywas losing its trained personnel

hesaidthatthegapislikelyto befilledinafewyears'time. At that time, the department had31onrollbut65persons wererequiredforthejob.

In the meantime, the Commissioner General said GRA has been conducting “selective audits” with the tax body concentrating its efforts on clawing back the largestreturn.

In addition to that, he said, “We have to use external accountants to do the cost recovery audit and weworkalongwiththemand we utilize their analysis and their findings to guide us in our examination and review of the accounts that would have been submitted by the oilandgasplayers.”

Irfaan Ali must ‘manners’ Jagdeo

Evenbeforetheelections of 2020, Bharrat Jagdeo could not restrain himself. He announced publicly that he was going to be part of any incoming PPP/C government.

He took it upon himself toannouncethiseventhough it is the President of the country, not the General SecretaryofthePPPthathas to determine who would constitute his government.

But that was the temerity of the man. Jagdeo, no doubt, made this announcement to

provide comfort to the powerful economic class that has co-opted the PPP and the government He wanted to assure them that hewouldbetherewithinthe government and as such, theyhadnothingtofear Hehasnowtakenitupon himself to discuss government business at a party’spressconference.Itis difficult to distinguish when he speaks as General Secretary or as Vice President. So cloudy is the present situation that the

state-owned National Communications Network (NCN)istelecastinglivehis weeklypressconferences.It isstrangethatheisattunedto every misdeed of the APNU+AFC but does not recognize the partisanship beingdemonstratedbyNCN by its weekly broadcasts on radio and television of the PPPCpressconferences.

At last Thursday’s press conference, Jagdeo publicly canned a proposed sand pit project which media reports suggested involved a

Four prison officers, two others freed...

Frompage3 fromtheMazaruniPrisonwiththeassistance ofheavilyarmedmeninaspeedboat.

ThePrisonServicehadsaidthat‘Smallie’ wasreturningtotheSibleyHallprisononan ATV and was in shackles after receiving a visitfromafemale,whentheescortingranks cameundergunfire.

Itwasreportedthattheranksdismounted theirATVandreturnedfireattheassailants.

Oneoftheoccupantsoftheboatcameto shore and continued to discharge several

rounds at the prison officers. ‘Smallie’ though chained to the feet still managed to run towards the riverbank and jumped into theriver

The gunmen assisted him into the speedboat and it sped off upstream past the ItaballiLanding.Dayslater‘Smallie’andhis accomplices were shot dead during a Joint Servicesoperation.

It is unclear the role that businessman, RajmohanAutarcalled‘Chico’playedinthe prisoner’sescape.

DEM BOYS SEH

Words are getting in de way!

When yuh dealing with dePeePeePeeyuhdoesgat to weigh yuh words like gold and carve out yuh phrases with an anvil. Precisionandclarityarede nameofdegame.

Yuhgattobecarefulin not using “discussing” and “negotiating”assynonyms. “Discussing” is not “negotiating”.

“Discussing” is when yuh sit around a table, sipping your overpriced coffee, pretending to listen toeachotherwhilesecretly checkingyuhphonesfuhde latest memes. It’s like a high-stakes game of verbal ping pong, where de only winner is the one who can nod convincingly without actually committing to

anything.

On the other hand, “negotiating” is where every word is carefully chosen to manipulate the situation in your favor. Think of it as a diplomatic tug-of-war, where the goal isn’t to find a solution, but rather to see who can outmaneuver the other withoutgettingcaughtupin logicandreason But de truth of de matteristhatdetwowords gat a difference “Discussions” refer to the act of engaging in conversationordialogue.It typically involves exchanging ideas, opinions,andinformation.

On the other hand, “negotiating” is a gerund

f o r m o f d e v e r b “negotiate.” It refers to de actofbargaining,haggling, or reaching an agreement throughcompromise.

So,while“discussions” focus on de exchange of ideas and information, “negotiating” specifically emphasizes de process of reaching an agreement or settlement through communication and compromise.

Sodenexttimeyuhfind yourself at the bargaining table, remember: it’s not enough to discuss the matters included in de proposal; yuh must negotiate with clarity and precision if yuh truly wish tosealthedeal.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

partnership with two senior police officers. The matter could have been better handled without having to bring the names of the two senior officers into the publicdomain.

There was also no need for Jagdeo to make any announcement.Ithascaused public embarrassment to the personsinvolved.

The President should reverse the decision that Jagdeotookandremindhim that he is only exercising oversight over the oil and gas, the environment and finance.Hehasnoauthority to make any such decision and, even if it is a government decision, he should not be the one communicating this to the public.

Jagdeo has offered some bizarre explanations for what he says is the government’s decision in relation to sand pits. The present announcement, by Jagdeo, that the government hasputaholdonallsandpits along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is at odds with whathesaidsixmonthsago. Thenhesaidthatthecountry needs all the sand it has because there is a huge demand that has pushed up the price of sand He announced then that the government has had to intervene by opening a sand pit and may have to do

several more Given the sustained high demand for sand,itishardtounderstand why the government would wanttorunasandpitproject that would supply the country with much needed sand. Well, as usual Jagdeo had an answer But it was highlyunusual.

He said that there is a situation on the SoeksdykeLindenhighwaywithpeople occupyinglandswithoutany documentation But the massive squatting taking placealongthathighwaydid not prevent the government from allowing sand pit operations or even opening its own sand pit. So why now? Jagdeo also provided the answer to that question. Andfromthatanswer,itcan be deduced that the government does not want sand pit operations near to the site where it is building its playground of the superrich, known as Silica City The bourgeois class thatcontrolsthePPPandthe government wants greater ‘privacy’ It wants its members to live away from the general population to distinguish itself from the ordinarymasses.

And the development of Silica City fits into this narrative. What is going to emerge there will be the Monaco of Guyana, where Prado2-styledmansionswill mushroom.

The President needs to intervene and manners Jagdeo He needs to immediately reverse this announcement made by the PPP/C General Secretary since the proper thing to do would be for the subject Minister or the President to do so, if indeed the governmenthasmadesucha decision.

But the President needs toalsolethisVicePresident knowthatwhenhespeaksas General Secretary of the PPP, he should stay clear of making announcements on behalfofgovernment.

This is just one of the reasons why there needs to beareturntothedayswhen weekly Cabinet press briefingswerehostedbythe Head of the Presidential Secretariat,apositionthatis yet to be filled by the Irfaan Ali administration No wonderJagdeogiveshimself somuchliberties!

(Theviewsexpressedin this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsandbeliefsofthis newspaper and its affiliates.)

Ruleoflawandincitementtohostility–thinkofonekindonly

Onoccasion,Ireadsome of the contributions in the lettercolumns. Iwouldhurry past the known characters, aka the unreconstructed partisans; they are not conducive to tranquility of the spirit There was, however, a gem of an epistle from Mr Frank DeAbreu, and an offering from H. Singh that stirred. In Mr Dabreu's writing, there was tucked away in its folds that striking construction, which many the world over, including Guyana, embrace: the“ruleoflaw”.

It has a comforting, inspiringringtoit:theruleof law.Regrettably, we cannot talk about the rule of law, when one national leader comes across as the epitome of what is thuggish. Cross path,anditcouldbecurtains.

Messwiththebully,nowone ofthemastersoftherealm,at one risk. Where is the application,reachandpower, of the rule of law, when another national leader gets away with the equivalent of verbal murder whenever he speaks, whenever cornered?

Aregular citizen does a half

oraquarterofwhatspewsout of leaders, and the police would be summoned, handcuffs come out, charges readied. Offensive. Breach of the peace. Menacing to society In normal circumstances, I would call ontheHon.AttorneyGeneral to take a stand. But Guyana is not a normal place, and I think that the Attorney General has conditioned himself to be somewhat tolerant of what goes on, especially when the sources are considered. We cannot talk, whisper, even stutter about the rule of law in Guyana, when the PPP Government's cabinet is populatedasitis. Inthemost searing and revealing s u m m a t i o n : t h o s e masquerading as lawmakers are among the worst of protected lawbreakers Crimes against objecting citizens found objectionable. Crimes against frank truths. Crimes against democracy and clean governance Checkonwhoareamongthe leading property owners around. Source of funds, anybody? No president, no

formerpresident,noaspiring president should ever have such lawbreakers as their bosom companions. But theydo,sowhatdoesthatsay abouttheythemselves?

It is why numerous Guyanese make their own laws on the roads, perfect their own repugnant standardsofcommunication, overflowwithaggressionand hostility Theylearnfromthe best,thosewhoareatthetop. In Guyana, the rule of law means that those with power (or the reckless) can runover thelaw,maketheirownrules, and ruin the environment at will.

On H. Singh's part, the emphasiswasonDr Bharrat Jagdeo'schargetohispeople to swamp the channels of social media, and stuff the PPP's messages and positions-the peculiar truths oftheformerpresident-down the throats of those standing intheway Itwouldbethose Guyanese with their contrasting, clashing, views andposturesthatcollidewith the mantras of the PPP When what Dr Jagdeo had pushed his people towards

came to my attention, I believed his call hardened to this: confront them, corner them, and condemn them in the strongest and sharpest terms. Those are my words, my thinking, and my interpretation. They still standtoday

When a leader with the stature of the former president-a luminous figure totheblind,deaf,anddumbcouldenergizeandgalvanize hisfundamentaliststoinvade cyberspace and suffocate dissenting views, I consider that to be rank incitement? What is that if not the delivery of outright hostility in the most brazen forms againstcitizenswhosevoices mustnotbeheard? Truthbe told, many voices, in the world of social media platforms include both PPP and PNC voices. But when the objective is to snuff out dissenting positions, to muzzle different opinions, thenthatisnotdemocracyin action.

It is tyranny travelling fromtoeholdtostranglehold. If any other citizen were to spread what the former

president instilled in his loyalists, then the first charge would be incitementtohostility I believe that the second could very justifiably encircle racial hostility The PPPbrigadeoffanaticsisnot instigated and unleashed to go after the likeminded They are unchained and commanded to go after political opponents, real and imagined. Where does this logically take things in this country,ifnottothegrimness and ugliness of racial hostility, given that political opponents are of a different ethnicity? This is my position, what I think of the incitementsituation.

Worsestill,aknownPNC supporter,whohappenstobe African Guyanese, articulates a criticism, and PPP watchers and defenders are muted. But, if that same public contribution is made byanIndian(selectanysuch undesirable), then the intensityofemotion,passion, and reaction is unmatched in itsbreadthanddepth. There are two objectives to what I interpret to be reverse racial

hostility, in that it is directed at one from the same tribe. First, it is to intimidate and cow into quiet the offender, the racial renegade and betrayer

The second is no less sinister: it is to send a messagetootherIndianswho may be harboring ideas to speak out, actually say something about what is going on in this now shattered democracy, this bartered natural resources patrimony.

Inmythinking,theruleof law is dead. Meantime, incitementtohostilityisalive andspreadingitswingsdaily I invite citizens to check for themselvesthearchitects,the authors,andthesponsors.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and itsaffiliates.)

Lands and Surveys produces transport claiming ownership of property allotted for construction of Qatari Hotel – Mayor

The Guyana lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) has produced a transporttoproveownership oftheprimelandslocatedon Carifesta Avenue and Thomas Lands that have been earmarked for the construction of a US$300million five star hotelbyQatariInvestors.

There has been a tug of war over the ownership of thelandswhicharetobesold to the Qatari investors for G$2B, according to the Guyana Office for Investment(GOINVEST).

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) hasasserteditsownershipof the land stating that it has in its possession a transport. TheMayorandCityCouncil has made it clear that the property was gifted to the City of Georgetown for recreational purposes by former plantation owners in 1887. The said land was

says document suspicious

being used by the National InsuranceScheme(NIS).

Speaking at the A Partnership For National Unity, Alliance For Change City (APNU/AFC) press conference on Thursday, City Mayor Alfred Mentore responded to the claims madetheGLSC.

Mentore described the GLSC's attempt to clarify and assert ownership of the lands as being marred by misgivings.

“By their own they have admittedthattheyfindthe… plan, which is a very important plan of the 1887 transport; they have also indicatedthatthatplanisnot at the lands and surveys and maybe it is at the deeds registry.”

Mentore noted that the plan is very important in identifying the borders and

boundaries of the properties located on CarifestaAvenue andThomasLands.

“So whatever they are trying to do is not bringing enough clarity to the situation To get to the bottomofthisissue,weneed those plans…” the Mayor said.

Mayor Mentore stressed too that the lands were distributed long before GLSCwasestablished.

“They are saying now thattheydon'tknowforsure that Council has ever leased landsintheCarifestaAvenue and they have been the ones leasing lands but I know for sure the lands were gifted to the Council by the Hoggs familyin1887andthelands were under the council There are records to show that plots were leased on Carifesta Avenue by the

Council,”theMayoradded. Mentore also refuted claimsbytheGLSCthatthe transport he produced on behalf of the council is flawed.

“Naturally,theyarelying there is a direct connection betweenmyselfandamedia

group. I supplied all three copies of the transport the front, the middle page and last page to that group,” he said.

Mentore continued: “There was also disclosure ofthecouncilandthemedia butthey[GLSC]wouldwant to suggest that only the last page of the transport was provided.”

Mentore said that the matter will be a subject on the Council's agenda at its next statutory meeting scheduledforMonday.

TheGLSCinastatement issued on Wednesday said that it holds Transport Number235of1863(Deeds Registry Number) 30 of 1863 (Department of Lands and Mines Number) for two plots of land at Plantation Thomas called out as Lot NumberOnecontaining240 ½acresandLotnumbertwo containing 5 acres, these are saidtobeshownonaPlanby

C Chalmers, Crown SurveyordatedJune1863.

According to GLSC, the transport was passed by the AttorneysforPhillipCharles Cavan, Neville Lubbock, Henry Mc Chelery and William Renuie of London for$1000.

“ Not Quintin Hogg who was born in 1945 and would have only been about 18 years old,” Lands and Surveyssaidinitsstatement.

According to the Commission, Plantation Thomas was initially very large and included Albertown and Queenstown which were later divided by theTownCouncil.

The Lands Commission said the transport is annotated to say that Lot Numbertwowastransported by government to Quintin Hogg by Tr No 52 of 1886. Thisconsistsof5acresonly Itmeansthereforethatthe

(Continuedonpage13)

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LEGAL NOTICE 1

Applicant in person: Meena

Dularie Glen nee Ghianchan

Address: Lot 362 Good Fortune Squatting Area East Coast Demerara.

Tele#: 592-697-8919/6379446

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-1644

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION.

JANUARY, 2024 ENTERED THE 17TH DAY

OE JANUARY, 2024

UPON READING the Form IPetition for Divorce and Other Matrimonial Cause filed herein on the 9" day of November, 2023 on the part of MEENA DULARIE GLEN nee GHIANCHAN, the above named Petitioner AND the Affi’vit in Support of Petition sworn to and filed herein on the 9" day of November, 2023. AND UPON there being no appearance for or by the Petitioner. IT IS ORDERED that the Directions Hearing date be and is hereby

extended to Wednesday the 27th day of March, 2024 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445. AND IT IS

FURTHER ORDERED that if the Petitioner is still not in a position to proceed on the next Directions Hearing date then this Petition shall be dismissed.

BY THE COURT

LEGAL NOTICE 2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF GUYANA COMMERCIAL JURISDICTION

2023- HC- DEM- CIV- SOC284 BETWEEN:

1.PRADEEP RAMOUTAR

2. ALEXIS ANDREA PIO

Applicants/Claimants -and--

Road Golden Grove East Bank Demerara, Guyana

TAKE NOTICE that a Fixed Date Application was filed on the 9"November, 2023 in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana at Georgetown, Demerara by PRADEEP RAMOUTAR and ALEXIS ANDREA PIO in which the Applicants claim for:

a. Damages for breach of contract in excess of $4,000,000 (four million dollars).

b. Special damages in the sum of$2,040,000 (two million and forty thousand dollars).

c. Special damages in the sum of $4,000,000 (four million dollars) for employing a new contractor for the completion of the house.

d. Exemplary and or aggravated damages in excess of $1,000,000 ( one million dollars).

e. Interest pursuant to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Chapter 6:02.

f. Any other relief that the court deems fit in the circumstances.

g. Costs.

UPON APPLICATION in person or by letter to Mr. Donavon Rangiah Attorneyat-Law for the Applicant whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 156 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, copies of the Fixed Date Application, filed herein, will be Delivered or sent to you.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you fail to file such affidavit and or if you fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding your absence.

FOR REGISTRAR

Dated this15 day of February, 2024

Filing Attorney: Ms. MICHELLE MATTHIAS

GUY ANA LEGAL AID

CLINIC 185 Charlotte & King Streets “Maraj Building” Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9246/ 225923 legalaid@networksgy.com2024HC-DEM-CIV-FD-166 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD166 BETWEEN: (BARKER)

ODESSA FINE nee SMITH PetitionerApplicant Respondent-VS-(BARKER)

CARL ANTHONY TO:

CARLANTHONYBARKER

Last Known Address was at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke, Linden Highway. TAKE

NOTICE that on the 2nd day of February, 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by ODESSA FINE BARKER nee SMITH the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an

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FAMILY DIVISION

Petition No. FD-1644

Between:-(GLEN) MEENA DULARIE nee GHIANCHAN

Petitioner –V(GLEN) TITUS JOHN Respondent BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE DAMONE

YOUNGE

(Via Zoom)

DATED THE 9TH DAY OF

RK CONCRETE GUYANA

INC., a Company incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Guyana with its registered office located at Unit 5, 116 North East Public Road, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, Guyana

Respondent/Defendant Notice

TO: RK Concrete Guyana Inc Unit 5, 116 North East Public

AND TAKE NOTICE if you desire to defend this action you must forthwith within 35 days after the second and final publication of this notice, prepare an Affidavit in Defence in Form 10C prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, serve it on the applicant’s attorney-at-law, to Mr. Donavon Rangiah whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 156 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, and file it with proof of service at the Registry at Georgetown, Demerara, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your attorney-at-law must appear at the hearing.

Order made on the 8th day of February, 2024, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana Kaieteur Newspaper, a daily newspaper, printed, published and circulated in Guyana. AND FURTHER

TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Divisionof the High Court at Georgetown Demerara

Where you will be issued

Haiti’s rebel leader declares victory

PORT AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Leader of the socalled peaceful “revolution”, Guy Philippe, is calling for unity among all Haitians after declaring that the move to oust the “illegitimate and blood-thirsty government” of Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry has been successful.

“To all those who have been illegally and unjustly arrested and detained because

LEGAL NOTICE 3

with a certified copy of the petition together with related document’s

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, y an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on , Wednesday the 24TH day of April, 2024 at 10:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice DamoneYounge via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445IN

DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the registry is closed.

Dated the 13th day of February,2024

they demand change in their country; to all those who have been injured and hospitalised as a result of the actions of the blood-thirsty government, which unleashed its assassins with a mission to massacre, to kill…, I ask you to hold on,” Philippe said in a statement.

According to the statement, a copy of which has been obtained by the HaitianCaribbean News Network (HCNN), a partner of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Philippe, who led the 2004 coup d’etat against then president Jean Bertrand Aristide, said justice will be done.

“The henchmen, the assassins, responsible for all the crimes and abuses, will pay! When the time comes, they will pay,” he insisted, saying that there are efforts to prevent the complete removal of the Henry Government from office.

“The system panicked, it received a hard blow, but it is changing strategy.

We must also change our strategy. We must monitor them. The system wants to resurrect, it wants to regenerate, but we will not allow that to happen. We will remain vigilant. We will watch them,” he said in the statement.

But the government in a statement on Thursday said it would extend a state of emergency in its Ouest Department, the seat of the capital city, for another month as it seeks to regain control of the troubled French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

A declaration published in the official Gazette said the state of emergency would extend until April 3, with a nightly curfew until March 11 and that this was in order to “re-establish order and take appropriate measures to retake control of the situation”.

The authorities had first announced the state of emergency and curfew on Sunday evening as fighting escalated and the criminal gangs allowed for thousands of inmates to be freed from two of the main prisons here.

Prime Minister Henry remains stranded in Puerto Rico after having travelled first to Guyana to attend the Caricom summit and then Kenya where he signed an agreement allowing for the UN Security Council sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.

Caricom on Wednesday said it has not been “able to reach any form of consensus” regarding the situation in Haiti despite working on the issue over the past three

days.

“Despite many, many meetings we have not yet been able to reach any form of consensus between theGovernment and respective stakeholders in the Opposition, the private sector, civil society and religious organisations, Caricom Chairman and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali said in a video statement.

Meanwhile, the United States has denied reports that it is moving to “push” Henry into resigning.

“We are definitely not pushing the prime minister to resign; that is not what we’re doing.

But we have underscored that now is the time to finalise a political accord to help set Haiti on a path to a better future and that is something that we’ve been working on for some time,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

“We’ve been working on that with the Caricom, so that is nothing new. We’ve had those conversations and also the Haitian partners on the path to restoring democratic order in Haiti through free and fair elections, inclusive governance, and power sharing. This will give the people an opportunity to democratically elect their prime minister,” she added.

Philippe, 56, who served time in a US federal prison between 2017 and 2023, said the removal of the present regime under Henry, who came to power following the July 2021 assassination of President Jovennel Moise,” is the only way to guarantee that we will have access to the fairer and more egalitarian Haiti that we demand.

“We must send a clear message, nationally and internationally, to tell them that we are tired.

The break is over, the disorder is over!” said Philippe, who was a presidential candidate in the 2006 Haitian general election, receiving nearly four per cent of the votes.

“It is high time that those who have really worked are rewarded. It should not be the other way around! All Haitians must be able to taste the sweetness of the country.

Lands and Surveys produces transport claiming...

From page 11 remaining 240.5 acres is still held by the Government.

GLSC said that the M&CC never mentioned that Mr. Hogg transferred those 5 acres to it. “In fact, we are not too bothered about who it went to because there is no endorsement on Hogg’s Transport of him transferring it further.

The GLSC also has a Copy of the Advertisement in the Official Gazette of August 1st 1863 whereby the transport was advertised for passing as required.”

Further, the Lands Commission said that the M&CC released a copy of the last page of the said transport, claiming that the land at Carifesta Avenue belongs to the Council. The GLSC posited, “Those with knowledge of the subject would understand that one needs to read the first two pages to determine where and how much land is referred to.”

The Commission added that “it also examined the actual transport that has been

in its possession for some time now and the back page seems to match transport 337 of 1886. The GLSC has used this transport many times as a reference whenever the Commission deals with Surveys and Land Transactions in Plantation Thomas.”

“The Council however, did not refer to the contents of the transport, herein where the mischief is being perpetuated...,”the GLSC said in its release.

Meanwhile, Mentore has written President Irfaan Ali on the subject of the sale of prime Carifesta Avenue lands.

Mayor Mentore told Kaieteur News on Tuesday that the letter was sent to the President on Monday and that the Head of State has seven days to respond failing which the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will determine whether moving to the court is the best way to resolve the matter.

The Mayor said that the letter informs the President about the Council’s concerns as well as reservations about

the sale of the lands located on Carifesta Avenue and Thomas Lands.

Mentore had circulated a transport that purports to show Council’s ownership of the prime waterfront property to the over 30 councilors present at the last Council meeting. He said that the Council was kept in the dark as it relates to the plan even though it holds a transport to the property.

“Nothing was provided to us on this issue. So, I see the fence is being done, and the sod has been turned, and a whole host of other things. The project document has to start with the Council.

“We must have one rule for everyone.

There must be one rule for the citizens of this city, and there must be one rule for central government, and there will be one rule for investors, who want to invest in Guyana. We must not break the rules or bend it to suit anyone,” Mentore explained.

Caribbean Governors endorse IDB ‘One Caribbean’ program

The Caribbean

Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDBGroup)hasendorsedthe “One Caribbean” program.

T h e p r o g r a m i s a comprehensive framework designed to support enhancing living standards across the Caribbean region.

The program focuses on four pillars: climate adaptation, disasterriskmanagementand resilience; citizen security; private sector engagement; and food security, as well as two cross-cutting areas, strengtheninginstitutionsand facilitating digital transformation.

The signing of this endorsement statement took placeduringtheIDBandIDB Invest Annual Meetings in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The signatories includes Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President of Guyana; Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs of The Bahamas and Leader of Government Business in the Senate; Kermechend Raghoebarsing, Minister of Finance and Planning of

Suriname; Pennelope Beckles,MinisterofPlanning andDevelopmentofTrinidad and Tobago; and Christopher Coye,MinisterofStateinthe MinistryofFinanceofBelize.

IDB President Ilan Goldfajn signedasawitnessofhonor IDBPresidentGoldfajnin his address said, “Today's signing is another important step in our over half-acenturylongrelationshipwith the Caribbean and its people. In 2023, we started a discussion about shared challenges and the need to create a regional program to addresstheseissues.

'One Caribbean' is proof that we at the IDB Group are committed to partnering with the region in their efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth with an emphasis on high-impact initiatives It is the first initiative under the group's newinstitutionalstrategy.”

Moreover, by 2030 the “One Caribbean” program is expected to successfully support the region in increasing access to resilient infrastructure, promoting safer communities, enhancing private sector engagementandproductivity, andimprovingfood

(Continuedonpage19)

Man granted $10,000 bail for allegedly assaulting woman

A man who is accused of unlawfully and maliciously assaulting a woman was granted $10, 000 bail when he appeared at the G e o r g e t o w n Magistrates' Court on Friday

The accused, Troy Whitey, made his first court appearance before

Police destroy $159M worth of cannabis at Ebini Backdam

Police on Thursday destroyed $159M worth of cannabis on four farms measuring5.5acresatEbini Backdam,BerbiceRiver In a press release, the police said that the cannabis was discovered during an eradication exercise and noted the street value as $159,932,960.

“The first farm was approximately two acres in size.Ithadonehundredand sixtybedsandeachbedhad forty plants, ranging from onetofourfeetinheight.A totalof6,400plants,withan averageweightof7,040Kg and a street value of $1,084,160 were found on thisfarm,”thepressrelease said.

SeniorMagistrateLeronDaly, where the assault charge was readtohim.

Whitey pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on March 6, 2024 at Lot 172 Black 'F', North Sophia, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted the virtualcomplainant.

Whitey is scheduled to returnonApril26,2024.

Thesecondfarmhadthe same size as the first with, “5,000plants,rangingfrom one to four feet, with an averageweightof5,000Kg and with a street value of $847,000 There was a makeshift camp made of woodenpostsandblackand white plastic, which had a quantity of kitchen utensils and groceries. There was a black and white plastic on thegroundwhichcontained 45.359Kgofdriedcannabis andanotherplasticinabarn which had 27.217 Kg of dried cannabis, a total of

72.575 Kg with a street valueof$65,317,500.”

Thethirdfarmmeasured oneacreandhadathousand plants ranging from one to five feet and an average weight of 2,200kg. This farm has a street value of $338,800.

Police said that, “There was a makeshift camp which had groceries and kitchen utensils, also a quantity of fertilizer bags and one large garbage bag containing 76.204 Kg of dried cannabis. There was also another set of dried cannabis in a barn nearby That set of cannabis weighed 15.422 Kg with a total of 91.626 Kg and a s t r e e t v a l u e o f $82,463,400.”

Police destroy $159M worth of cannabis at Ebini Backdam

“The fourth farm was halfanacreinsizewithfive hundred plants, ranging from one to three feet, with anaverageweightof550Kg and a street value of $84,700 There was a makeshift camp with kitchen utensils and groceries, as well as two fertilizer bags which contained 10 886 Kg of dried cannabis with a street

value of $9,797,400,” the policesaid.

The farms were photographed and then destroyedbyfire.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News understands that the tallest plants were taken to the Mackenzie Police Station where they were sealed,markedandlodged. No arrests have been made.

Mother and son murdered

at Saxacalli

Amother and her son were on F r i d a y reportedly murdered at Saxacalli, an area located on the West Bank of the EssequiboRiverandsome25 milesawayfromParika.

Dead are Elizabeth and DavidGomes.

Detailsaresketchyatthis time but relatives reportedly learnt of the tragedy from a chilling phone call made by David'ssix-year-oldson.

According to one of the

relatives David, his son and mother, had traveled to Saxaclliforathree-daytrip.

It quickly turned into tragedy when the six-yearold called the boat captain that dropped them there and pleaded for help while reporting that his father and grandmother were badly choppedandbleeding.

Nothing else was heard until relatives managed to sendsomeonetothelocation tocheckontheduo.

When the individual

arrived David and Elisabeth werefoundchoppedtodeath and the six-year-old boy hidingunderthebed.

It is believed that the double murder took place between 16:00h and 21:00 h onFriday

Kaieteur News was able to confirm with police that rankswerealertedandsentto thearea.

The bodies have since been removed and taken to BarticaRegionSeven.

traveling to Bartica today to identifythebodiestoday

Meanwhile, Kaieteur news understands that the deceased are relatives of former NICIL CEO and the Head of Guyana's Gas to

Energy Task Force, Winston Brassington.

Additionally, reports are that two persons were involved in the brutal killing oftheGomes.

It is believed that David

andhismothermetoneofthe suspects on their Saxacalli propertyandhadevenshared amealwithhim.

Somefearthatoneofthe perpetratorsrecentlyescaped fromtheMazaruniPrison.

-ChiefEducation Officersays

‘GTU’s multi-year proposal must start from 2024’ …as discussions between sides to continue next week

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain is maintaining that the Ministry of Education's position on the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) multi-year agreement has notchangedaddingthat“any multi-year agreement must startfromtheyear2024,not retroactively.”

Hussain in a statement issued on Thursday night following media reports denied that the Ministry has agreedtotheGTU'sproposal fortheperiod2019-2023.He said the articles “convey the false impression that the Government of Guyana has agreedthereshallbeamultiyear agreement, 2019-2023. Thisisamatterproposedby the Union that will be discussed.”

Kaieteur News reported that, the Government of Guyanaissettoexamineand deliberate on the proposed multi-year agreement for hike in salaries for teachers as the long-awaited negotiations commenced on Thursday

The multi-year proposal coversaperiodoffiveyears, 2019 to 2023. The Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU)'s President,Dr.MarkLyteled a 13-member delegation to the negotiations with the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain and his team at the Ministry's boardroomonThursday

Minutes signed by attendees from both the Ministry of Education and the GTU on the discussions said that “the salary matters included in the multi-year proposal 2019-2023” and discussions on the 2 percent difference in salary from 2017 and 2018, clothing allowance and the Whitley Council being paid every

Saddam Hussain

threeyears,aretotakeplace on Tuesday March 12, 2024 at09:30h.

Notwithstanding the Ministry of Education's proposal that the agreement should cover only 2024, the GTU has insisted that negotiations must be dated 2019.

General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta McDonald told Kaieteur News that the Union is now even more optimisticthattheirproposal willbelookedat.

“The Government will be meeting and discussing our proposal of the multiyearagreementstartingfrom 2019-2023. The Union had proposeda25percentsalary increase in 2019 and a 20 percent increase for 20202023.

What they were proposing is way different from what we have. There have been single digits and ours were a double-digit figure, ” the Union representativesaid.

McDonald explained that the financial matters have been given priority in the discussions. “Financial matterisatthetopofthelist to be looked at…we will meet again on Tuesday. We

look forward to a fruitful engagement when we resume,”shesaid.

Meanwhile,theMinistry of Education in a statement said that it met with representatives of the GTU in the Ministry's boardroom on Thursday to continue discussions on relevant matters of interest to both parties.

According to the Ministry of Education, its teamwasrepresentedbythe ChiefEducationOfficer,Mr Saddam Hussain, Deputy Chief Education OfficerAHED, Mr Marti DeSouza, Deputy Chief Education Officer-Admin,Ms.Tiffany Harvey, the Ministry's Human Resource Manager, Ms. Jacqueline Simon, and Mr Kerwin Jacobs, Senior Education Officer The GuyanaTeachers'Unionwas represented by GTU President Dr Mark Lyte, GTUGeneralSecretary,Ms. Coretta McDonald, Ms Mariska Williams, Mr Julian Cambridge, Mr Heathcliff Peters, Ms SumantaAlleyne,Mr Collis Nicholson, Ms Donnette D ' A n d r a d e , M r RabindranauthBoodramand Mr.ColinBynoe,alongwith

Officials of the GTU and the Ministry of Education during discussions at Ministry's Boardroom on Thursday. Thursday

three General Council members,Mr DeorajNauth, Mr Sergio Joseph, and Ms. VanessaKissoon.

During the meeting, the Ministry said the GTU and theMoEidentified27issues to be tabled for discussion. Following this, the two

teamsagreedontheorderin which the matters will be addressed.

The first issue tabled for d i s c u s s i o n i s t h e establishment of a Terms of Reference for the meetings. After deliberations, it was agreedthattherewillnotbea

signed Terms of Reference, however,bothpartiesagreed that at the end of each meeting,tworepresentatives ofeachnegotiationteamand two witnesses will sign the minutes.

The next meeting is scheduledforTuesday

Caribbean Governors endorse IDB ‘One Caribbean’...

Frompage15 availability, access, use, and stability The initiative will facilitate greater impact and the increased flow of resources for the Caribbean with the support of the IDB Group.

IDBinastatementunderscoredthatasa trusted partner and the largest development finance institution in the Caribbean region,

the Group is well poised to offer countries comprehensive solutions tailored to their specificneeds.

Notably,itwasstatedthattheIDBGroup will deploy all its windows to address interdependent underlying challenges, provide mechanisms to increase innovative financing, and boost collaboration with partnersthatworkintheregion.

GBTI GCC Ladies shine at Big Apple Indoor Hockey Tournament

The GBTI GCC ladies visited the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over the last weekend to participate in the prestigious Big Apple Indoor Tournament 2024. This was their third ever participation in the tournament, which is the most subscribed in the Americas. The tournament features open men’s, open women’s and female collegeate divisions.

The GBTI GCC ladies were places in Pool-B, alongside the Chicago FHC, Thirsty Turtles (a team comprising of former USA nationals and current College coaches), Canada Nextgen and Old Dominion University White.

With the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall being under construction, the ladies were lim-

ited to training in confined spaces rather than a full pitch and knew that getting adjusted in their first match would be critical.

The opening match for the Guyanese ladies saw them enjoy greater chances than the opposition but still struggling a bit to get used to the floor and spacing. GCC had a boost of confidence when midfielder Sarah Klautky put them up by one goal in the crucial minute before the halftime whistle. The teams would trade goals in the second half but it was the second goal for GCC by Aliyah Gordon, and the final of the match by Abosaide Cadogan that saw GCC edge Chicago to a 3-2 victory.

The GBTI ladies were

scheduled to face the Pool favourites, Thirsty Turtles, the very next morning. While the name appeared disarming, the Turtles pressured GCC from the opening whistle. The Guyanese however had a solid defensive plan which worked to perfection. GCC would earn a penalty stroke through a brilliant counter-attacking run by Aliyah Gordon but the resulting shot was wide leaving the match with a scoreless first half. Eight minutes into the second half, Riley Donnely would punish GCC by converting a penalty stroke for the Turtles, giving them a one goal lead. Strikers Abosaide Cadogan and Aliyah Gordon however would come through to save their club, each using the su-

perior pace against the hastily retreating Turtles to score a double in the second half. GCC emerged victorious by 2 – 1.

Canada Nextgen, a team made up of junior Canadian players was next up for GCC.

The Gyanese team started the match with a young selection as a result, with all five field starters being national under21 players. After her opening goal in the 9th minute, Cadogan would chalk up a hat-trick by the 26th minute through two field goals and a penalty corner. Gordon would get into the act next with a double in the second half while Sarah Klautky added a single to round out GCC’s six goals. While Canada Nextgen fought bravely, they were outclassed by their Guyanese opponents and only managed a single goal

against the run of play through Imke Arndt, leaving the final score at 6-1 for GCC. GCC experienced a spate of bad luck in their final pool match as a defensive error in the circle led to an opening goal for ODU White in the 10th minute. GCC would score shortly after through Aliyah Gordon but the umpire indicated that the whistle had gone just prior to the ball crossing the line, to award a penalty stroke for GCC. GCC captain Gabriella Xavier rocketed her penalty stroke off the right goalpost to fall short of evening the score. The prolific Abosaide Cadogan however would draw the game even in the 15th minute taking the game to a 1-1 first half score. With several chances wasted in the second half, ODU White would secure a penalty corner on the final

buzzer and score their winning goal with no time remaining. GCC received their first loss of the tournament but earned their first semi-final berth. The team’s previous highest placing was 7th in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

GCC would play their final match in the semi-final against the National Under 21 team of Australia. While the Guyanese had a few chances to score in the early minutes of the game, the Australians proved too much to handle. GCC found themselves behind by 2 goals to nil at the half and made every effort to recover the deficit in the second half.

Saturday March 09, 2024

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

This is an excellent day for you, Aries. The farther you extend your emotions, the more prosperous you will be. Don't be afraid of new things. More than likely.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

It may seem like people aren't taking things as seriously as you'd like them to, Taurus. If so, take it as a hint that perhaps you're the one who needs to lighten up.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Don't turn down any opportunities today, Gemini, even if they seem like dead-ends at first. One could be your lucky break. Realize that success doesn't always have a big neon sign pointing you in the right direction.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

It's time to put your plans in motion, Cancer. There's a very expansive energy urging you to reach out and make valuable connections with others.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Go for the gold, Leo. Don't settle for less. There's an expansive energy on your side urging you on to prosperity in every aspect of your life. Take control of the situation and act on your emotions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

The more you vacillate, the more valuable time and energy you waste, Virgo. Take a decisive stance and be confident about your choice. Give it everything you've got.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Arguments could quickly turn into declarations of war today. Things could get blown out of proportion if they aren't handled with care, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Your life is taking off in many different directions, Scorpio. Everything seems to be expanding at once. It may be difficult to get a solid grip on any one thing.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

This is a great day for you, Sagittarius. There's a terrific feeling of expansion in the air. This is one of those times in which a small germ of an idea can grow into something big right before your eyes.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You may feel like someone caught in a tornado, Capricorn. Things are whirling around you and everything seems out of control. Don't get stressed out.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

It's time to take charge, Aquarius. There's fuel for your fire, and the scope of your influence is virtually unlimited. Don't hold back in any way. Confidently attack every project knowing that things will work out in your favor.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Don't concern yourself with getting more. Concentrate on what you already have, Pisces. Work with whatever resonates within you. You instinctively know what does and doesn't work.

The team’s attacking efforts however left them vulnerable in defense and they succumbed to the pressure of an Australian team that was too good to overcome. GCC eventually lost the semifinal by 10-1, with their lone goal once again by Abosaide Cadogan.

Cadogan ended the tournament as the sixth highest goalscorer. With the placement between 3rd and 4th determined by goal difference, GBTI GCC finished in 4th place, their highest placement ever in the tournament.

Coach Philip Fernandes was high in praise for his charges indicating that he was proud of their performance. Fernandes said that the team had greater depth in quality this year than previous ones as he could freely substitute players without concern for the quality of play dropped off on the court. The team had three les substitutes than their opposition and so most matches were very physically challenging, which meant it was even more important to have constant rotation of the players.

India ends Day 2 in commanding...

From page 33 ninth wicket to deny England in the final hour of play.

At stumps, Yadav was unbeaten on 27, while Bumrah scored 19 not out, rounding up India’s day in the mountains.

India has an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. It won the second test in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs, the third test in Rajkot by 434 runs and the fourth test in Ranchi by five wickets to capture the series.

England won the first test in Hyderabad by 28 runs.

Stumps India 473 for 8 (Gill 110, Rohit 103, Padikkal 65, Sarfaraz 56, Bashir 4-170, Hartley 2-126) lead England 218 by 255 runs.

Lack of football venues, a crisis in Guyana – Forde

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, asserts that thelimitedaccesstofootball pitches in Guyana has reached a crisis level, underscoring the pressing need for enhanced infrastructureforthesport.

“It is nothing short of a crisis,” Forde said at a press conference hosted at the GFF’s Secretariat on Thursday

“There are very few decent spaces that young men and women can play football without the risk of injuries across the country and you don’t have to look too far to know that’s true,” Fordeadded.

The GFF’s National Training Centre at Providenceremainstheonly football facility in Region four used for matches in the GFF Elite League, while sub-associations have made use of grounds such as the Number 5 ground,

Georgetown Football Club (GFC), the Golden Grove Ground, and the Buxton CommunityCentreGround.

Forde lamented, “It troublesusdearly;ofcourse we’redoingwhatwecanbut we don’t have the means to do that on a national scale. Wewillworkontheprojects that we’ve secured funding fromthegoverningbodyfor. But it is a crisis.” Drawing attention to Linden, Forde highlighted the challenges faced by the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) in finding suitable facilities, with only the Wisburg Secondary School ground available.“Whenyoulookat Linden at the moment they havetwo-thirdsofafootball pitchinaschoolyardtoplay every level of football, so that is indicative of where we are and it’s an unfortunate reality,” Forde noted. TheNationalBudget 2024 has allocated G$4.6 billion for sports

Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde

communities.

C u r r e n t l y , 3 2 community grounds in Georgetown are undergoing upgrades, according to MinisterRamson.

D e s p i t e t h e government’s substantial investment in upgrading grounds across the country, football still struggles to secure suitable facilities for hostingmatches.

The Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s senior men’s national team, played only one game in their Nations League campaign in Guyana, with other matches held in St Kitts and Nevis andAntiguaandBarbuda.

deemed suitable for internationalfootball.

The GFF had expressed concern over the facility’s state, which has led to hosting some of the Golden Jaguars’ home matches in other countries, including their previous game against Montserrat, played in Barbados.

“I would have preferred toplayonanotherground,in anothercountry,andgiveup our home advantage for a good pitch for players to playon.Wemustthinkabout facilities,” a visibly upset Shabazz said in the aftermathoftheteam’swin.

development,with$1billion earmarked for the continuation of ground enhancements.

Minister Charles Ramson described the Ground Enhancement project as “the most

extensive initiative the c o u n t r y h a s e v e r undertaken ”Ramson’s Ministry has overseen upgrades to over 250 grounds nationwide, with $1M allocated to support upgrades in 100 hinterland

6th Annual South American Undiscovered Martial Arts Championship officially launched

- With over 150 Martial Artists expected to participate on March 31

The 6th Edition of the Guyana South American Undiscovered Martial Arts Championship is slated for March 31 at the National Gymnasium This came, following an official launching held yesterday at the National Sports Commission (NSC) Conference Room located onMiddleStreet.Theevents issettobringingtogethertop talents from Suriname, Trinidad, and host Guyana withover150skilledmartial artists geared to participate atthisyear’sevent.

The championship is designed to foster camaraderie and unity among the athletes The eventwillalsoshowcasethe diverse martial arts disciplines prevalent in the region Athletes from Suriname, Trinidad, and Guyana will compete in a spirit of friendly competition, highlighting therichculturalheritageand shared passion for martial arts that binds these nations together

The competition will featurearangeofmartialarts disciplines,includingEmpty Hand Kata, Weapon Kata, Sparring, Team Kata, Team

Sparring, Tae-kwan-do Tuls andmore.Thisdiversitynot only reflects the variety of martial arts practiced in South America but also provides a platform for athletes to showcase their uniqueskillsandtechniques.

The winners will not onlyearnpersonalaccolades butwillalsocontributetothe pride and honour of their respectivecountries.

Meanwhile, organiser of the event, Roland Eudoxie hinted that this year’s competition is expected to supersede previous competitions, saying, “Beyond the competitive aspect, the South American

Martial Arts Championship aims to foster cultural exchangeandunderstanding among participants and spectators alike. The event provides an opportunity for martial artists to learn from eachother,sharetechniques, and strengthen the bonds that unite these neighboring nations. The championship will see atleast 150 participants this year with a local contingent of 84 athletes.”

As the countdown to the championship begins, excitement is building acrosstheregion.TheSouth American Martial Arts Championship is not only a

diversity, and shared passion.

Theeventishostedbythe Korean International Martial ArtsGuyanaandsupportedby prominent entities like, Guyana Breweries (Smalta), Starbucks, Hand in Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Companies, Team Mohamed, Gupta Group, Guyana Beverage Inc , TechDev I T Solutions, QuickPro Printing, Guyana Tourism Authority, Digicel, NSC and IBIS Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazzwasforthrightinhis assessment of the football pitch at the National Track and Field Centre, where Guyana clashed with The Bahamas, securing a 3-2 victory Shabazz was dismayed by the deplorable condition of the pitch, the only facility in Guyana

“This was a horrible pitch,” Shabazz exclaimed, adding “and I think it solely affected the way we wanted to play And the job of the playeristoplay

Thejobofthecoachisto trytocreateateamthatcould win and do the best, whose job it is for us to have a proper facility to play,” Shabazzsaid.

Hazlewoodtakes5-31,Australia...

Frompage32 five-wicket bag in tests included the wickets of Williamson,Latham,Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Henry, whose wicket wasthelasttofallinonlythe 46thover Mitchell Starc took the wickets of Will Young (14), Glenn Phillips (2) and Scott Kuggeleijn for a first ball duck. With Phillips’wicket, Starc surpassed Dennis Lillee’s career tally of 356 test wickets, a significant Australianmilestone.

Australia captain Pat Cummins sent in New Zealand on a greenish pitch after winning the toss yesterday At the end of the first hour he might have questioned his decision: New Zealand was 35-0 and Latham especially was lookingcomfortable.

Cummins had tried his three frontline seamers and even thrown the ball to spinner Nathan Lyon in the first 12 overs. There didn’t seem to have the life he had expected in the pitch at HagleyOval.

But after the first hour, the pitch seemed to offer more and Hazlewood particularlyknewhowtoget the best from it. He bowled onagoodlengthorfulleron that middle and off line and causedtheballtoseamaway

after angling in and forcing thebatterstoplay

It was a formula that accounted for most of the NewZealandtopandmiddle order OfthefirsteightNew Zealand wickets to fall, seven fell to catches behind the wicket Wicketkeeper AlexCareytookfivecatches in the innings, three off Hazlewood.

Hazelwood compelled thebattertoplaywithhisline throughtheairandwhenthe batter was committed the trapwassprung.

But batters should have beenabletotaketheriskand leave the good length ball which, on a first day pitch, was inevitably bouncing abovestumpheight.

Fullerdeliveriescouldn’t be left and Hazlewood produced a superb fuller delivery to Williamson which angled in and struck him on the back pad after beating the inside edge Williamson reviewed but despairingly

Hehadwalkedbeforethe replay on the big screen showed the decision would notbeoverturned.

Just over an hour earlier Williamson had walked to the crease on the fall of Young’s wicket with New Zealand 47-0 to a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.

Guyana TEAM ONE maintains second position after 6 rounds

Team One of the Guyana Chess Federation(GCF) maintains their second position after six rounds of play in the CARICOM

Classic Chess Team Tournamentbeingheldatthe Ramada Georgetown PrincessHotel. The team comprising CM Taffin Khan, FM Anthony Drayton, Jessica Callender, and Shaz Rahim won against the Bahamas in roundfivewithmatchpoints 2.5-1.5. Khan defeated his

Bahamanian counterpart Avian Pride, Drayton defeated Joseph Ferguson, whileShazRahimdrewwith Chika Pride. Callender was unable to secure a win againstPolinaKarelina.

Inroundsix,theGuyana Team One drew with the Barbados team with match points2-2.

Taffin Khan defeated Emar Edwards while Drayton defeated veteran Barbadian Phillip Corbin. Jessica Callender and Shazeeda Rahim were

unabletosecurewinsagainst Katrina Blackman and HannahWilson.

In Taffin Khan’s encounter with Emar Edwards of Barbados, the G u y a n e s e p l a y e r successfully weakened his opponent after he captured Edwards’ valuable Rook The Barbadian’s doubled pawns also restricted his chances during the struggle, and Khan secured a passed pawn to convert into a powerfulqueen. Edwards gave up the

fight after 47 moves.On the Guyana Team Two side, the match points against Suriname were 0.5-3.5 in roundfive.

The young Guyanese team comprising of Keron Sandiford, Kyle Couchman, Sasha Shariff and Aditi Joshi, fought valiantly to secure wins against the neighboringSurinameteam, butonlyAditiJoshigaineda halfpointwithherdrawwith MayleeTjongTjinJoe.

In round six against the Bahamas,theteammanaged

CWI CG United Women’s Super50 Cup Round 3… Knight, Gordon help Barbados survive scare from dangerous Guyana - Defending Champs beat Guyanese by 4 wickets

Opener Kycia

Knight stroked an unbeaten half-century, while Allison Gordon and Keila Elliott shared 7 wickets as Barbados handed Guyana their first defeat, by 4wickets during yesterday’s exciting battle at the St. Paul’s Sports Complex Ground,St.Kitts.

Batting first, Guyana were held together by their Skipper Shemaine Campbell, who made personal amends having missed out on a halfcentury or more in the last game; guiding her side with a gritty 53 off 84 with 3 fours.

Pacer Cherry-Ann Fraser contend continued to show her ability with the bat, finishing as the next best scorer with 24 while ShabikaGajnabi(10)

was the only other batsman toreachdoubledigits,taking Guyanato128alloutin37.1 overs.

Medium-pacer Gordon was the star of the show for Barbados, bagging an impressive 4-19 which set the tone for Guyana’s restriction Shefoundhelpfromleg-

spinner Elliott snatched 329, while another seamer in Shamilla Connell finished with 2-26 as the Bajan bowlers endured a successfulouting.

The champs had a tough chase on their hands despite the small target, nevertheless finishing on 129-6 in 41 2 overs The in-form Knight followed up her 90-odd in the last game, with an unbeaten 69 (7x4 1x6), which not only provided stability throughout the innings but helped her teamgetacrossthelineafter the Guyanese bowlers ran throughtheBarbadosbatting order

Sibling Kyshona Knight anchored the middle-order with 32, as the duo did the heavy lifting to get their side

homedespitehiccups

Guyana bowled well yet again and almost pulled off their third straightwinthankstotheir incredible lot of slow bowlers, but we’re unable to remove Knight who inevitably won the match fortheBajans.

Niya Latchman (2-19), Plaffiana Millington (110), Ashmini Munisar (132) and seamer Sheneta Grimmond (1-21), put on a spirited performance as they almost successfully defendedtheirlowtotal.

Nextup:Round4March

Monday11-

Jamaica vs. Windward Islands at the St. Paul’s SportingComplex

Guyana vs. Trinidad & TobagoDivasattheConaree CricketCentre

Barbados vs. Leeward IslandsatWarnerPark

to gain 1.5 match points against the Bahamas’ 2.5 points. Bahamanian Avian Pride used his Queen and Knight to execute a successful attack against Guyanese Keron Sandiford. The well-coordinated queen and knight team gained material and exposed Sandiford’s vulnerable King toadditionalthreats.

The Guyanese player resignedafter41moves.

Kyle Couchman was pairedwithJosephFerguson of the Bahamas. Ferguson

was unable to avoid the loss ofmaterialandaweakening position.

The young Guyanese player infiltrated his opponent’s camp, to further seizematerial,leadingtothe Bahamian’s defeat. Aditi Joshi drew with her Round Sixopponent,ChikaPrideof theBahamas.

Gamesarelive-streamed onhttps://guyanachess.gy/ca ricom2024/caricom-2024live-games/ and will conclude on March 9th, 2024.

Hazlewood takes 5-31, Australia is in control of 2nd cricket test against New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH, NewZealand(AP) Josh Hazlewood took 5-31 as Australia bowled out New Zealandfor162onthefirst day of the second cricket t e s t y e s t e r d a y , overshadowing the 100th test appearances of Kane Williamson and Tim Southee Williamson made 17 in the course of an accelerating collapse of the NewZealandbattingorderin whichTomLatham’s38was the highest score Southee made 26 in a 55-run partnership for the ninth wicketwithMattHenry(29) whichwasthehighestofthe innings By stumps, Australiawas124-4andthe deficit had been reduced to 38. Marnus Labuschagne hadplayedhiswayoutofa slumpandwas45notoutat t h e c l o s e a n d nightwatchman Nathan Lyonwas1. Australiahadbeen32-2 after Ben Sears dismissed Steve Smith (11) with his

thirdballintestcricketand Usman Khawaja was bowled by Henry Labuschagneputon49with first test century-maker Cameron Green who was outfor25inthelasthour.

Henry dismissed Travis Head (21) when Australia was 107-4 and finished the day with 3-39 But Labuschagne’s fighting innings ensured Australia finishedthedayontop.

“What we pride ourselves on is how we go about our work and obviously it wasn’t ideal with the bat,” Henry said. “But we knew how we to operate out here with the ball to put Australia under pressure.“Butthere’salong way to go and it’s going to be a big first session tomorrow” Hazlewood’s inexorable line and length, just on off stump and ducking away, was too much for the New Zealand toporder His12th (Continuedonpage31)

Nexgen Golf Celebrates Women’s Day with Free Golf Offer Mar 8-10th

Nexgen Golf salutes the accomplishmen

tsofallwomenasWomen’s Dayiscelebratedworldwide but wanted to especially celebrate women in sport in Guyana with a three day event which teed off yesterday

“With Golf now one of thetopplayedsportsinthe country and more than 60% of our new players being female, we are offering one hour of Free Golf to all female players from March 8-10th,” said GGA Vice President Monnaf Arjune “Our executive team felt it was importantthatwerecognize the tremendous potential of

women in sport.”Golf has made huge strides in Guyana over the past three years since the GGA was formed along with the Nexgen Golf Academy, Guyana’s only training facility

The lighted ground provides equipment, balls and coaching for players of alllevelsatanominalcost.

Recently, the Westside Golf Course which gained internationalrecognitionin Golf Architecture Magazineforitsinnovative design by Guyanese-born Aleem Hussain, was openedinVreed-en-hoop.

Strongpartnershipsand affiliations with the Ministry of Education,

Ministry of Tourism’s Guyana Tourism Authority a n d t h e L P G A Foundation/USGA Girls Site have led to thousands of women gaining access to thesportinGuyana.

Dominance at the CSEC level with Golf as a PE elective has led to hundreds of students making top grades and paving the way for young w o m e n t o a c c e s s scholarships in top universitiesworldwide.

Women can simply showupattheNexgenGolf Academy on Woolford Avenue from 4-8 pm and mention this article to receive their Free Golf Offer

GFF/KFC Elite resumes tonight with double header

Th e G u y a n a F o o t b a l l Federation(GFF) Elite League resumes tonight at the National Training Centre, featuring a double-header

Slingerz FC aims to maintain their undefeated status against Santos in the second match at 9:00 pm, while the opening game from 6:00 pm will see Den Amstel take on Fruta Conquerors.

Former Elite League champions Slingerz FC currently sit second on the table with six points from two matches, trailing only Western Tigers by a fourgoaldifference.

They’ve scored 11 goals in two matches, securing victories over Monedderlust (7–0) and Fruta Conquerors (4–1), with Coach Alex Thomas looking to extend their winning streak against winlessSantosFCtonight.

Santos FC enters tonight’s clash after consecutive losses to the Guyana Defence Force (1–2) and Den Amstel FC (0–1).

Darron Niles will face his former club for the first time since joining Slingerz FC, where he has had a s t r o n g s t a r t w i t h Vergenoegen-based club, scoring three goals in two matches, including a brace againstFrutaConquerors.

Meanwhile, DenAmstel aims to secure their second win of the Elite League against struggling Fruta Conquerors. After a 2–0 loss to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in their season opener, the West Demerara club bounced back with a 1–0

India ends Day 2 in commanding position against England in fifth test

DHARAMSHALA, India(AP)—Centuriesfrom Rohit Sharma and Shubman G i l l h e a d l i n e d a commandingbattingdisplay from India yesterday as it gained complete control of thefifthtestagainstEngland onthesecondday

Gill top scored with 110 runs while Sharma added 103astheduopavedtheway forIndia’sfirstinnings’total of473-8in120overs.

DevduttPadikkalmadea half century on his debut as he contributed 65 runs. SarfarazKhanalsoscored56 runs as India took a 255-run leadoverEngland’s218.

India reached 264-1 at lunch with Sharma and Gill completingtheircenturiesin the morning session, after the hosts were 135-1 overnight.

Sharma reached his 13th test hundred off 154 balls, equaling Sunil Gavaskar’s record of four hundreds against England – the most byanIndianopener

Gill, at the other end, hit six sixes as he reached his fourth test hundred off 137 balls.

James Anderson bowled

Gill in the very next over as India was suddenly down to 279-3. Gill hit 12 fours and five sixes in all, putting on 171runswithSharmaforthe secondwicket.

victory over Santos in their recentfixture.

FrutaConquerors,witha young team, have faced recurrent defeats in the league, a challenge coach Sampson Gilbert attributes to the team’s ongoing cohesion efforts (Rawle Toney)

Post lunch, the duo was able to add only 11 runs whenEnglandstrucktwice.

Ben Stokes (1-17) bowled for the first time since his knee surgery and castledSharmawithhisfirst delivery Overall, Sharma faced 162 balls and hit 13 foursaswellasthreesixes.

It brought young guns Padikkal and Khan together, and they added 97 runs for thefourthwicket.

Khan played another fluent knock as he scored a thirdhalf-centuryinasmany tests,reaching50offonly55 balls, as India was 376-3 at tea.

Afterthebreak,Padikkal reachedhis50off83ballsin hismaidentestouting.Hehit

a flurry of boundaries to get going–10foursandasixin allbeforehewasbowledoff ShoaibBashir

In between, Khan was outfirstballaftertea,caught at slip off Bashir The off spinner also accounted for Dhruv Jurel (15), who was caughtatlongon.

Tom Hartley trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw for 15 a n d t h e n b o w l e d Ravichandran Ashwin for a five-ball duck as India lost fourwicketsfor25runs.

Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah then added 45runsfortheunbeaten