Guyana Times - Sunday, March 17, 2024.pdf

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Schoonord-to-Crane Highway President Ali orders contractors be charged liquidated damages over delays

The contractors working on the $11.8 billion four-lane highway project from Schoonord to Crane in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are expected to pay liquidated damages over the delayed completion of the road.

During a recent inspection of the ongoing works, President Dr Irfaan Ali was informed that the works are about 90 to 95 per cent completed at the two sections – Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, and Crane, West Coast Demerara.

The Head of State cautioned the Project Engineer from the Housing and Water Ministry, Thakur Persaud, that delinquency would not be tolerated and that there would be no further extensions for the completion of the highway.

“You’re not going past

During Saturday’s site visit, the Guyanese Leader told the project engineer to ensure that liquidated damages are sought from the

This corridor is one of the major transformative projects being undertaken in Region Three and will be connected, at Schoonord, to

April for this, y’all know that, right?” President Ali indicated on Saturday.

In September 2022, some $11.8 billion in contracts were signed for the construction of the Schoonordto- Crane four-lane highway – a project that is part of a much larger initiative to establish a secondary road link to Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The works included two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, and road signage and markings. The project was awarded to eight contractors – VR Construction Inc, Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc, L-Heureuse Construction and Services Inc, GuyAmerica Construction Inc, AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc, and JS Guyana Inc.

All contractors were required to finish their respective projects by October 25, 2023. However, after massive delays, they were given an extension.

contractors over the extension given.

“That’s the contractor’s obligation [for extensions] …Y’all gotta make sure you charge for liquidated damages. There is no excuse. So, from day one as soon as [the contract] expires, I want liquidated damages,” the President declared.

The Head of State underscored the need for the timely completion of the project and encouraged contractors to make use of the favourable weather conditions. As such, he instructed that the contractors work 24 hours daily to ensure the timely completion of the project.

“You got to work 24 hours every day. In the bid, they were expected to work 24 hours… So, you gotta get them on the ground,” the Head of State directed.

This four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane will be a modern road with features that will allow for easy and free flow of traffic at both ends.

the new bridge across the Demerara River that is also currently under construction. With the highway to be eventually extended all the way to Parika, it will open up new lands for housing and commercial developments in the region as well.

In Budget 2024, Government earmarked $9 billion to advance works on the Schoonord-to-Crane highway.

President Ali’s site visit on Saturday comes on the

heels of him also recently inspecting ongoing works at two major road projects in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) – the Ogle-toEccles Four-lane Highway and the Diamond-to-Buzz Bee Dam expansion.

On Thursday, the Head of State visited the works on the bypass road that will link the East Coast Demerara corridor from Ogle to the East Bank Demerara corridor at Eccles. He expressed satisfaction at the progress of the construction, noting that these works were moving ahead of schedule.

“This is one of the two projects we have ahead of time, we hope to complete it by November,” the President said.

The four-lane road is being built from the intersection of the Ogle Airstrip Road and the Rupert Craig Highway on the East Coast of Demerara, heading towards Haags Bosch in Eccles, on the East Bank of Demerara.

In June of 2022, the Government inked a $21.2 billion (US$106.4 million) contract with an Indian company – Ashoka Buildcon Limited – to begin the first phase of the highly-anticipated road network.

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Resilience and Security

Addressing UG’s “Institute of Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future” (IHRSSF) last week, President Irfan Ali announced that his government would develop a “National Defence Institute” (NDI) at the University - as it seeks to become the premier security institution in the region.

The IHRSSF had received the 2023 prestigious Perry Centre for Hemispheric Defense Studies Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education. What the president’s announcement and the award highlight is that the notion of “resilience” is one that includes not only people, but their institutions. We should note that NATO and the European Union (EU) have recently introduced “resilience” at the core of their strategies, especially after facing hybrid threats that demand cooperation of the state, its institutions, the society, and citizens.

One expert defined ‘resilience’ as “the capacity of an actor – be it state, nation, society, company, city, or human community of any kind – to survive and to recover from the turbulences coming from the day-to-day life.” From this perspective, the geopolitical capability of a state, nation, or community can possibly be quantified with a very balanced combination of indicators that represent and aggregate a sum of qualities that mirror the capability of a country. This must go beyond the usual evaluations of power, military power, economic resources and political leadership that all arise from the same family of thinking about the perspectives of resilience.

For sure, a resilient country is not necessarily a powerful one, yet the geopolitical capability can provide us with numerous useful indicators for measuring resilience. For instance, NATO considers that for national resilience, there are seven basic requirements or conditions that must be addressed: 1) ensuring governance continuity, especially for critical governmental services; 2) constant and sustainable energy supply at affordable prices; 3) the ability to confront and cope efficiently with the uncontrolled migration of citizens; 4) constant water and food resources for the population; 5) the ability to manage high level casualty crises; 6)functional and resilient communication systems at all times; and 7) ensuring resilient transportation systems.

The EU also crafted a strategic document, the Strategic Compass, defining resilience (European Union 2022). It is also a combination of the security approach and crisis approach to resilience. The themes involve focusing on climate change, disasters, and civil emergencies. The EU, however, is also looking into the economic resilience, discussing supply chains, transport routes, freedom of navigation, supplies security. Societal resilience is focused on informational warfare and democracy, insisting on securing access to credible information, and independent media tackling manipulation and foreign interference at an informational space level. Additionally, there is the resilience of democratic processes and that of the society facing disruptive technologies used by the strategic competitors of the EU or by third-party states. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these strategies of resilience have come to the fore with a vengeance: there is the disruption of energy supplies; supply chains for wheat etc; transport routes via the Black Sea; and the distortion of information coming out of the battle field.

If we look at a possible project of resilience, let us say vis-a-vis Venezuela, relevant characteristics have to include democracy and freedoms versus authoritarianism and closed, dictatorial regimes. They are related to the strength and depth of national identity; the degree of revisionism, measured at the level of international actors; and the global relevance and influence of one’s system of values and ideology. We cannot ignore the fact that the regional hegemon – the US – use institutionalisation of democracy as the major criterion for its approval.

One authoritative study has proposed seven fundamental societal characteristics, all of them part of societal resilience, even though they are not easily quantified. The work in this field that lies ahead of us are: national ambition; shared opportunities and competitive access for all citizens; a common and coherent national identity; an active state; efficient social institutions; a major interest for learning and adaptation; and a high degree of diversity and pluralism in the society.

Rotary Club of Garden City must be commended for friendship bench

Dear Editor, The Caribbean Voice is thrilled that the Friendship Bench concept for mental health is finally introduced in Guyana. The Rotary Club of Garden City (Georgetown) must be commended for taking the lead in bring to Guyana a concept for which The Caribbean Voice has been lobbying for years.

Launched in 2007 in Zimbabwe, by psychiatrist Dixon Chibanda in the township of Mbare after the suicide of a patient, Erica, the focus of the Friendship Bench concept is on developing a community-based approach to therapy that leverages the power, compassion and accessibility of grandmothers. It was developed over a twenty-year period from community research, and today has been replicated around the world.

In an interview with the McKinsey Health Institute in 2022, Chibanda explained the origins of the concept, “I think the real tragedy about Erica’s loss was that she knew she needed help; her parents knew she needed help; but they did not have the $15 bus fare to come [from their remote village] to the hospital where I worked, some 200 miles away, for a fol-

low-up. And I was hit hard by the realization that I had taken for granted that people who needed my services could find me at the hospital. That was really the beginning of a soul-searching journey to find my place in the world as a psychiatrist, but also as a human being. I realized I had to take psychiatry out of the hospital into the community”.

He also detailed how the concept works, “The Friendship Bench — in really simple terms — is a brief psychological therapy, or talk therapy, that is delivered predominantly by community grandmothers who are trained in the very basics of cognitive behavioural therapy. After that training, which normally takes a month, they are allocated a wooden park bench in their communities. Our team then facilitates referrals to those benches through social media, primary healthcare facilities, schools, and police stations. The grandmothers then screen everyone who is referred to them using a locally validated screening tool. Selected cases go on to receive this structured therapy on the bench, and after two to four sessions, they are invited to join a support group within the community, where they begin

to collectively problem solve around common challenges.

“Friendship Bench starts off as a one-on-one therapy between a grandmother and a client, then goes on to a peer support system that can go on and on.”

Now that this concept has touched the shores of Guyana, it must be replicated in all communities. Benches can be built by local businesses and various other organizations within each community, and located in appropriate surroundings to foster the comfort, the trust, and open exchange necessary. As well, various organizations can build and be responsible for one or more benches, and community leaders and others can reach out to those in the diaspora to sponsor benches.

As well, local artists can decorate the benches with appropriate art work, and flowering plants can also be planted or placed in the vicinity to create a soothing ambience and make the process a truly community one.

In his interview, Chibanda noted that “grandmothers working on Friendship Benches were a lot more resilient and less likely to have PTSD [post-traumatic stress dis-

order] and other common mental disorders. When you go deeper in the research, the common thread or response from the grandmothers is that it gives them a sense of purpose.”

And Caribbean people know very well the powerfully constructive roles that grandparents play in extended families.

While the Rotary Club of Garden City (Georgetown) did not indicate how their designated mental health bench would operate, we hope that it would be along the lines outlined by Dr. Chibanda above. Thus, there is need for nationwide training to man or woman the benches, (grandmothers, community volunteers, NGOs, faith-based and community-based organizations, educators, and possibly grandfathers also), for a structured system to ensure referrals and to monitor and support the process. Perhaps the lay counsellor and community health worker training offered through the Ministry of Health and the community advocates training offered by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security can also now embrace talk therapy.

Sincerely,

TVET set to change

Dear Editor,

It is no trivial matter that the “People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is partnering with key stakeholders to ensure TVET skills reach our young people and general workforce.” This is something that must be made much of, and I appeal to the public to ‘latch on,’ since the commitment from the Government is to facilitate, for free, “those who have the technical aptitude, with the provision of the same level of counsel and facilities that are enjoyed by those inclined towards being purely academic”.

What we all need to realise is that technical and vocational education training, or TVET as we are wont to say, is trending, and with good reasons.

First, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is crucial for development of the world’s economy. It is especially important for developing countries such as Guyana, so that they can prepare

for the skills demand of the 21st century. In fact, TVET has gained popularity, and is considered a driving force for sustainable development, as it focuses on work-based learning and promotes self-employment, and thus contributes to the development of nations. So vital is TVET that it plays a key role in the United Nations’ educational goals.

Let me add that one of the key benefits of TVET is its ability to help fill the skills gap in the current job market. As we all know, a skills gap is a mismatch between the skills that employers need and the skills that job seekers have. This, of course, can result in a lack of qualified candidates for certain jobs, and can lead to problems for businesses that are unable to find the talent they need to grow and thrive.

Right now, the TVET drive is on, and according to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, “…this commitment is shared by the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) Technical

and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme, which was conceptualised to develop the local workforce and build human capacity through the enhancement of education to promote sustainable economic diversification in Guyana”.

Behind this governmental push is Exxon’s President Alistair Routledge, who lauded the TVET programme at the Centre, deeming it “a project with a great purpose.” He rightly noted that “The long-term project must be to revolutionise education and learning in this country; we must ensure that the children who have the aptitudes to be technical are given the same counsel and guidance and facilities at an early age.”

Routledge is a key figure with the country’s vision herein, as “…the US$100 million upskilling programme (runs for) a ten-year period of investment made by the Stabroek Block co-venturers: ExxonMobil Guyana

Did the union collapse its own case?

Dear Editor,

Following the continuing imbroglio in the GTU pay increase matter, it has to be wondered whether the GTU aided in the collapse of its own position, and by extension case?

A multi-year proposal was submitted up to, and including, 2023. The Government made salary increases (the process used to do this was deemed controversial) for 2021, 2022 and 2023 (there was no increase in 2020, it seems) in various percentage amounts across the public sector, including for teachers. Those increases were accepted each year by teachers, and by extension the union, even though the union was aware that its multi-year proposal remained unaddressed/ unconcluded.

Was there a caveat by the GTU which stated that the increases, while accepted, were partial increases for the respective years, pending salary negotiations, as outlined in the multi-year proposal? In the absence of such an understanding, the salary increases should not have been accepted, and the yearly increases should have been held in abeyance, (escrow account) pending negotiations and final agreement.

The increases paid were accepted as full and final increases by both teachers and union for the years under consideration in the multi-year proposal. On what basis can they now be renegotiated?

How can there be two salary adjustments in a year, when one adjustment

Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (C-TVET), and LearnCorp International.”

Editor, I am behind this kind of thinking and investment. Maybe it is time some technical/practical training be introduced into our high school programme. I know that in Ontario, Canada students will soon have to

landscape

take a technology or trade credit in order to graduate. The plan is that, beginning in September 2024, students entering Grade 9 will be required to take a course of “technological education credit”, a move the Doug Ford government says will help guide them toward careers in a skilled workforce.

What I like is the gathering momentum and continuity of our TVET programme. It is now in its second phase. It commenced in 2020 between New Amsterdam and Linden

Technical Institutes, “… when the learning institutes underwent a major overhaul, resulting in the retrofitting of (their) workshops with modern equipment directly enhancing the learning experience for students in the areas of Electrical Installation and Welding.”

Indeed, no young person in Guyana can complain of being left out, or not having study opportunities.

Yours truly, HB Singh

Defence in electoral fraud case clutching at straws

Dear Editor,

was already accepted in full, without reservations?

The union erred when it accepted the yearly increases while knowing full well its proposals were for the same years.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

It has long been a delaying tactic by the defence in that electoral fraud case, and is just another obstructionist move placed in the way of an already protracted case. The defence counsel is, at this eleventh hour, asking that the court rule on Section 140 (2) of the Representation of The People’s Act (ROPA); which, in Nigel Hughes’s terms, obstructs a fair trial for his clients.

He somehow convinced the presiding magistrate to seek a judicial review of the matter in the higher court. How successful he would be is yet to be determined. He is also asking for the minutes of GECOM during that period.

What Nigel Hughes is actually saying is that once GECOM’s minutes reflect the greenlight for a declaration to be made, then Mingo was duly authorized to make the declaration he made, and Lowenfield was in order to certify that declaration as the final results of the election.

Wrong! Not so fast, Mr. Hughes. Those figures declared by Mingo ought to have been figures carbon copied from the SOPs, as expressed by the Chief Justice in her ruling. That declaration was to be of figures gleaned from the SOPs, and nowhere else.

So, whether he used a spreadsheet, or whatever the means he chose to use, those figures ought to have

been the exact reflection of the SOPs of the election. This is the question the fraud team has to answer. Whatever the method he chose, the figures contained therein must come from the votes cast for the election, and not from some voodoo concoction of his own.

This is the nonsensical idea Nigel Hughes wants a court to buy into, which in anyone’s view, even if you had half a brain, you cannot accept. So, try as he would, defence counsel has the onerous task to convince a court of law. Therefore, we eagerly await the trial.

Respectfully submitted

FELINE ‘DISTEMPER’

This viral infection of cats has many names.

The real technical name is Feline Panleukopenia (FPL). However, because of a similarity with the agent that causes Parvovirus in dogs, the disease is sometimes called Feline Parvovirus, especially in older texts. Other names for Feline “Distemper” are Feline Infectious Enteritis or Feline Ataxia (uncoordinated gait). I am placing the word “Distemper” in inverted commas because this

FPL is a highly contagious disease, which infects and kills kittens and adult cats – not only those which have been domesticated, like our house cats, but also wild cats. I remember once working in a large zoo in Europe which had prided itself in the breeding of tigers, especially Siberian tigers. They got slack with their vaccination regimen, and when FPL hit that zoo, many of these valuable cats died within a relatively short space of

(i) Direct contact with an infected cat and its excre-

(ii) Contact with FPL virus contaminated utensils (food pans, litter boxes, etc.)

(iii) Via the clothes or hands of friends, neighbours or clinic personnel (including veterinarians or animal health assistants who have handled

(iv) The virus can also travel via the airborne

route and infect a cat which breathes in the virus.

(v) It seems that external parasites (fleas, etc.) can also transmit the disease.

This virus is extremely stable, and can exist for years in cracks and crevices and furniture upholstery and carpets, etc. Also, don’t think that ordinary household disinfectants like Lysol or Smell-o-Pine can kill it. You might wish to involve the services of a tested and proven professional pest exterminating company.

Symptoms

Early signs:

- Inappetence (loss of appetite).

- Apathy (listlessness).

- Fever (as high as 105°F).

- Vomitus (frothy, yellow-coloured bile).

Often, the cat displays its desire to drink, but can’t. If the cat actually takes in the fluid, it promptly vomits

it out.

NB: In kittens, the run of the ailment could be so swift that the animal dies without showing any pronounced symptoms at all.

Later signs:

- Diarrhoea (sometimes with blood).

- Incoordination of movement (wobbly, jerky gait).

would advise that the mother cat be vaccinated before she is bred.

(ii) If felines in your house have died from FPL, then wait at least until six

NB: Cats which actually recover may become blind and exhibit permanent brain damage. They might have a persistent staggering gait. I should mention that due to a general weakness in the cat infected with the FPL virus, other infectious agents (eg bacteria) could invade the animal’s body and hasten its demise.

Treatment

months have elapsed before acquiring a new kitten. Sanitise the premises and utensils as best as you can, preferably using a formalin-based sanitiser.

(iii) Ensure that your cat has no fleas or other external parasites.

The Pet Care Column will deal with the matter of keeping your pets free from parasites (ticks, fleas, lice, mites etc.) at a later date.

New transmission line earmarked for Linden, to remove dependence on Bosai – VP

…cites exorbitant power purchase price

The Government has plans for the mining town of Linden that will include linking it with the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to provide electricity and remove the dependence on the bauxite company of Bosai for power.

During his recent press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked about a billboard boasting that the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, which is expected to come online next year, would power the entire country.

While the 300 megawatt Gas-to-Energy Project will almost double the Guyana Power and Light’s current installed capacity, the VP clarified that the Government would be using a range of options.

As far as powering sections of the country such as Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Jagdeo explained that they may install a transmission line from GPL’s control center at Eccles, all the way to the mining town.

“It’s not going to power the whole country, because the inter-connected grid. So now we’re going to build a transmission main from Garden of Eden, in fact maybe from Eccles (which) has to be upgraded, from the control center all the way to Linden,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo noted that this was in an effort to remove the State’s dependence on bauxite company Bosai, to power Linden’s grid. The Vice President described the current power purchasing arrangement with Bosai as an “exorbitant”

one.

“Because we’re making some investments in Linden now. We’re putting in, the Government is going to finance megawatts of solar panel. But we’re paying Bosai now, a substantial sum of money every year to supply power to the community, at very exorbitant rates… because we have to buy the power from them,” the Vice President further explained.

“So, we, now, need to take that power also to Linden. So, we’d have power from Linden, all the way to Crabwood creek, and then across the river. So, we’re working on an alternate arrangement for Essequibo. Because we don’t have a cable to take the power across.”

As far back as 2022, GPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bharat Dindyal had indicated that the control center at Eccles is expected to be fed power from both the GtE Project and Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP).

The cost for energy has long been cited as not only a major bugbear for resi -

dential customers, but a hindrance to the commercial customers and the manufacturing sector. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is seeking to address this through a mix of various non-Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) options.

The GtE Project will see the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil. It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore.

Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara. In last year’s national budget, the project received a $43.3 billion allocation, in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, for construction of the NGL Plant and the 300MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales.

This year, a whopping $80 billion was budgeted to advance this project and its associated infrastructure, including transmission and distribution upgrades to offtake the power. As of January, this year, the marine offloading facility has been completed, and 26km

The control center in Eccles

of onshore pipelines have been installed. Once completed, the project will allow Guyanese to benefit from a 50 per cent reduc -

tion in electricity costs.

Meanwhile, the 165-megawatt AFHP was the flagship initiative of the Bharrat Jagdeo-crafted

Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). According to the reissued Request For Proposal (RFP), the project, under the BOOT model, will integrate and expand GPL’s national grid capacity to include Linden.

So far, the names of four companies have been in the public domain as having submitted proposals. They are Rialma SA (Grupo Rialma) from Brazil, Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc, China International Water & Elec Corp, and a group made up of OEC, GE Vernova, and Australia’s Worley. (G3)

Pres Ali orders contractors ...

Once completed, it is expected to expand interconnectivity between the East Coast and the East Bank of Demerara, significantly easing traffic congestion.

The 7.8-kilometre fourlane highway will be constructed with sidewalks and a median, while each lane will be built 3.6 metres wide.

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; the Head of the Ministry’s Work Services Group (WSG), Ron Rahaman; another technical officer, and the contractors during his visit.

Meanwhile, on Friday morning, President Ali also inspected ongoing works on the Diamond-to-Buzz Bee Dam four-lane highway on the East Bank, where he urged contractors there to also take advantage of the current favourable weather conditions.

“We gotta work on ensuring that they make use of this weather… Work out a dou-

ble-shift system, because no sense you have this weather and not make use of it.

“The weather has disadvantages, but we have to use the advantages,” the Head of State posited, as he urged the project engineer to meet with contractors and come up with a new plan that will see them on the ground more.

Contracts for this project were awarded in November

2023, to the tune of $11 billion. The highway, executed through the Housing and Water Ministry, will be an asphalted concrete structure. Divided into 12 lots, the project sees the construction of more than 30 reinforced concrete bridges, 4.6 kilometres of reinforced concrete highway pavement, and two roundabouts for improved traffic management. (G8)

Beating the drums…

...on race

Your Eyewitness is very disappointed - but not really surprised - about the continuous harping on “race” to explain anything (perceived) negatively happening in Guyana. In fact, if these accounts are to be believed, race ain’t no variable no mo in our dear Mudland - but a constant! Fella gets robbed as he staggers home from the rum shop? Race! Cocaine discovered in saltfish? Race! Never mind about the cocaine in the vagina.

And we arrive at the constant dismissals and disavowals dragged out from the PPP ever since they were grudgingly allowed to take office five months after they’d been voted in on March 2, 2020. “It ain’t race”!

Your Eyewitness knows we don’t have much experience with changing of governments in Guyana, and the ensuing transitions. After all, the PNC under Burnham and Hoyte rigged their way into power for almost three decades, until finally the latter was forced to allow “free and fair” elections in 1992.

But we then saw the appearance of the new explanatory variable of race for EVERYTHING under the sun. Even before the 2020 election was called, Hamilton Green insisted that the “white man” Jimmy Carter was bent on ousting the PNC. Why? Well, duh - RACE! Carter was just another “Redneck” from the US Deep South who had it in for blacks! And as the PPP attempted to govern and was forced to get rid of some of the “square pegs in round holes” who’d accumulated over the previous 28 years, there came the cries of “ethnic cleansing”!! RACE! Never mind that the said square pegs were all from the PNC’s constituency, and were recruited to augment the already African-skewed Public Service. This had been proven by a survey conducted by the ICJ in 1965.

And never mind that Hoyte had fired more (African) public servants in his five years, at the behest of the IMF, than the PPP did over the course of the 23 years they’d govern Guyana! But NO Race! This would be screamed at the top of the PNC’s lungs at every step of the way in those PPP years. House lots at Paradise? “Race!” cried Hamilton Green. Land at Boerasirie? Race! cried Hoyte. 1997 elections? Race! And of this course, these justified beatings, arson and murders of Indian Guyanese for the next decade! Not race! How dare they support the “racist” PPP?

Which is now back in office, and gotta be RACISTS! Like when over 20,000 GOAL scholarships; over 50,000 house lots given out; 20,000 houses built; roads and infrastructure are built etc – and in EVERY instance, OVER 50% went to African Guyanese!!

Gotta be RACE, innit? But with a twist!!

…to fester

But while the PNC and their camp followers are shouting “race” from the rooftops - which in this era have gravitated into the skies via social media! - they’re deliberately ignoring - or more likely deliberately provoking - the almost inevitable consequence if they continue. To wit, the explosion that followed the 1997 elections. The parallels are uncanny: the 2025 elections are gonna be contested with the PNC insisting “we wuz robbed!”

And the same cries of “PPP supporters getting EVERYTHING” while their supporters get nothing are reverberating!! One rabble rouser keeps harping they don’t have a bank, but what’s stopping them from obtaining the necessary licence from the BoG by showing they have $250M paid up capital and trained personnel in banking? Have they ever applied and been turned down? They should not be fazed by the example of Globe Trust. That failed because of greed, not competence.

But how about New Hayven Bank? Isn’t that being run by a brother?

…for labour

With Guyana open for business and attracting multinational corporations (MNCs), but forced to bend over, shouldn’t the umbrella trade union bodies bury the hatchet and form a united front for labour rights?

But that would mean – gasp!! - the TUC gotta be concerned more with labour issues and less about political ones!!

Public urged to help combat forest fires

…no tolerance for persons breaking law by setting fires – Ministry in notice

Describing the increase in forest fires in the hinterland as “alarming”, the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) have warned those setting these fires that there will be no tolerance for this illegal practice and urged the general public to play their part in combatting the spread of these fires.

In a notice, the Ministry pointed out that the Forests Act (2009) clearly prohibits persons from setting fires, specifically dropping “a lighted match or lighted and flammable material”. Additionally, Clause 27 (2) of the Act makes it the duty of everyone who sees a fire burning to inform a forest or

fire officer. “Clause 28 (1) (a) also informs that persons observing a fire burning in the forest should take all possible steps to extinguish the fire.

Further, Clause 29 (1) (a) states that a forest officer may require persons within a reasonable distance of the fire to assist in getting the fire under control.

of the public is required to report and assist in preventing the spread of fires detected and to prevent new fires,” they added.

about the dangers of playing with fire and to “keep a shovel, bucket of water, fire extinguisher, or other fire-suppression tools on hand”.

Government has always held the conviction that forests must be utilised for the socio-economic advancement of all Guyanese, but in a manner that is in keeping with respect for, and appreciation of the unparalleled environmental values of this renewable resource.

The management of the forests is outlined in Guyana’s revised Low

“The forest resources of Guyana are the patrimony of all Guyanese and provide shelter for humans and animals. It is an evolving eco-system with a rich, diverse biodiversity. Additionally, they provide logging and other employment opportunities which empower Indigenous and other hinterland residents, improving their quality of life.”

It was further pointed out by the Ministry that the forest plays an important role in carbon storage and other environmental services, as well as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

“As such, the important role that forests play in our daily lives cannot be over-emphasised. The deliberate destruction and devastation of Guyana’s forests will, therefore, not be tolerated. The urgent assistance

Only last week Tuesday, a wildfire at Parakies Village in the North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini) claimed the life of 93-yearold Alexander Josephine. Initial investigations indicated that the fire originated in an open farmland area adjacent to the Parakies Main Road, and the fire left significant burn damage and ash residue in its wake amidst the dense vegetation.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has previously issued advisories, urging citizens that with the high probability of grass fires during the dry season, they should desist from lighting any grass or garbage fires especially now, and use other methods of garbage disposal or land clearing.

“If these fires do occur, they should never be left unattended as they possess the potential to spread and become major fire emergencies. Report all fires as soon as they occur to the Fire Service via our toll-free number 912,” the GFS said.

It also provided tips, urging persons to avoid throwing cigarette or cigar butts on the ground or out of vehicles, but rather to dispose of them properly. It also urged persons to educate children

Carbon Development Strategy, which saw the country becoming the first to receive a certification of over 33 million carbon credits by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) on December 1, 2022.

Guyana has signed a US$750 million deal with Hess Corporation for the sale of carbon credits, with 15 per cent of that money going directly to Indigenous communities. Last week, the Government received a fouryear €5 million grant (approximately GY$1.1B) from the European Union (EU) for the sustainability of the country’s forests and forest-dependent communities.

While Guyana’s forests store approximately 90.5 gigatons of carbon, globally, trees and soil store in excess of 13 billion tonnes of carbon. (G3)

The horizons of history

Over the last few months, the letters pages of our newspapers have carried a heated debate on the role of ideology and Dr Cheddi Jagan during our independence era.

Inevitably, these accounts invoke historical claims that are hotly contested, because the interlocutors refuse to acknowledge they are speaking from personal perspectives; or, to use Kosellek’s phrase, “space of experience” --meaning that historical accounts are always oriented from the writer’s present to the past, and simultaneously to his future.

In other words, the way the past is remembered in the present is coloured by the writer’s “horizon of expectation” – the anticipation of the non-yet-known future beyond the horizon. These expectations project a future – as was the case with Dr Jagan - that is the product of the configuration of both individual and collective experiences. “No expectation without experience; no experience without expectation”, said Kosellek.

A history of our present, in the words of Caribbean anthropologist David Scott, demands then that “histories of the past ought to be interventions in the present, strategic interrogations of the present’s norms as a way of helping us to glimpse the possibilities for an alternative future.”

The present debate on Dr Jagan must be elevated out of the unfortunate name-calling. We must concede that Dr Jagan’s interventions in the 1950s and 1960s were coloured by his Marxist ideology, which he had felt would address the incipient ethnic cleavages and simultaneously the contradictions of colonialism in his horizon of expectation. But most importantly for us, we have to ask what can we learn from his experience that can assist us to deal with our horizon of expectations in 2024. We are once again confronted with a Cold War – this time between the US and China - in which we have to chart a course that is best for our nation.

To analyse and evaluate Dr Jagan’s experience should not, in any way, seek to either deify or demonise him, since human systems are not ergodic – where we can know all the variables so as to predict absolutely future outcomes. But our “problem space” – the threats and opportunities that confront us in our present sociohistorical conjuncture – is unfortunately not completely different. For one, while the “us” and “them” within the old narrative is not the unified 1953 “us” versus the British, whom we had hoped to kick out, the divisions in our “us” still exist. But the future can be significantly different, if for nothing else than because the possibilities have been opened up with oil. I am suggesting that, with the privilege of hindsight, we should recognise that while we cannot change the past, we can certainly change the future. Our horizon of expectation must generate strategies that simultaneously speak to our internal and external challenges.

Fortuitously also, our problem space is different from our post-independence era in that, internally, our demographics now deny any built-in ethnic majority, and so open up the possibilities of a working democracy; one in which either of the two major parties can win elections by running on platforms that reach across the ethnic divides. As such, a constructive narrative in our problem space cannot freeze our opposing groups locked forever in mortal combat, as exemplified in some narratives that set “us” against “them” into periodic frenzies of nihilistic Fanonian violence.

On the other hand, we cannot teleologically promise futures that can never be delivered through utopian theories.

Externally, while the geopolitical system in moving from unipolarity to multipolarity, we must consider the implications of our actions within the premises of the Monroe Doctrine, which still motivates the US. We cannot equate our personal morality based on our notions of “good and bad” with the morality of states in which their interests are always paramount: There are no permanent friends or enemies – simply permanent interests.

What then should be our “horizon of expectation”? Criticism is always strategic. What is it

that our interlocutors in the Jagan debate want as a consequence of their criticisms, narratives, actions and exhortations? What is the “good”?

While there will never be – for the simple reason that it just cannot be – a single horizon of ends for all of us, one would hope that there is some consensus that, with the simultaneous threat from Venezuela and the economic and strategic interests of the US, we cannot afford to antagonise the latter as we pursue our strategic interest to create a more prosperous, equitable, and harmonious society.

BoG launches $200 commemorative coin to mark Demerara Revolt

President Dr Irfaan Ali was on Saturday presented with the Bank of Guyana’s $200 commemorative coin that was made to mark the 200th anniversary of the Demerara Revolt

The Bank’s Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga, presented the commemorative coin in the presence of Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and members of the 1823 Revolt Committee. The Demerara Revolt of 1823, in which over 10,000 enslaved persons participated, was the largest uprising against slavery in the then British Guiana.

The Revolt and the consequent deaths of over 250 enslaved individuals and an English priest sympathetic to the uprising drew the attention of the English populace and its Parliament to the dehumanising con-

ditions of slavery, contributing significantly to the enactment of the Slavery Abolition Act and the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire in August 1834.

The coin is a Brilliant

Uncirculated (BU) struck in bronze alloy.

It bears the National Coat of Arms on the obverse side and the 1823 Demerara Revolt Monument on the reverse. The Monument features a bronze sculpture of

an enslaved man wielding a machete and a chain with a cross attached to the end.

The coin is minted by the Osborne Mint in the USA and will be available at the Bank at a price of $5000 each from March 18.

“My vision went from 100 to zero” – Rosemarie Ramit tells her story from blindness to success

“I didn’t want people to pity me because I was blind”Rosemarie Ramit

Despite the common daunting challenges associated with living with a disability, Rosemarie Ramit has defied a lot of odds. At 13, she was diagnosed with severe panuveitis, which cast a shadow over her world. She was at the time attending primary school, and felt early threats creeping up on her, and they later translated into a testing period for her.

What were described as debilitating headaches she was experiencing in looking at the school’s blackboard were the first signs of what then gradually became blurred vision for young Rosemarie.

Constant pain in her eyes and head pushed her to seek

relief by any means, and as the headaches rapidly increased, she was taken to the hospital for a medical checkup.

Plagued by fear of these ominous developments, her parents asked what was causing their daughter’s illness, and medics responded that it was simply an allergy that would go away.

With symptoms increasing in severity, she was taken out of school, but the headaches increased in frequency and her eyes took on a reddish colour.

“My vision went from 100 to zero," Rammit told this publication, and that occurred in the span of two weeks’ time.

Her voice resonating with

resilience, Rosemarie relayed that medical personnel then realized that her condition was much more serious than allergies, and she was then diagnosed with panuveitis. With the arrival of that daunting day when doctors had no choice but to tell her parents about the severity of her eye condition, her par-

ents were unable to comprehend what their daughter was experiencing, and continued hoping she would retain her decreasing sight.

In search of cure

As the hunt for a cure began, Rosemarie was rushed

to other medical facilities in Guyana, and was given scores of medications, ranging from steroids to eyedrops, until she came to the regrettable realisation that the medications were forcing her to stop going to school altogether. This was as a result of the side effects the medication had on her young fragile body.

“The medications I used caused me to get cataracts,” she explained, while speaking with Guyana Times.

As one problem spawned another, she found herself confronting new difficulties, and she again sought professional medical assistance. Two months after her diagnosis, she travelled to Brazil and spent 18 months at her uncle’s home pursuing a solution to her problem. The exact regimen of treatment she had undergone in Guyana was recommended for her condition, but this time, her body was not responding to any of the medications.

She said the Brazilian doctors told her the condition was a recurring one, and even as her body was fighting the condition, it kept striking again.

Acceptance, not pity

Accepting that there was no definite cure to what she was experiencing, she returned home to Guyana, where she found herself visually impaired and having her family members taking care of her for the next 2-3 years.

While being home, the idea of coming back into the real world and socializing with persons played with her consciousness, but, “I didn’t want people to pity me because I was blind.”

She said it was very difficult to accept that she was visually impaired because she did not want anyone to see her as a different human being, and she also did not want to walk with a white cane.

Her father was the one who found out about the Guyana Society for the Blind, and registered her with the Guyana Council of Organisations For Persons With Disabilities. She then found scores of advocates in the society who pushed her to do computer training, and

she learnt to read computer screens while being blind.

She also met Programme Coordinator Ganesh Singh, who inspired her by telling her about other visually impaired persons.

“You are really smart. You have a lot of potential, and I don’t want that to be wasted,” Rosemarie recalled being told by Ganesh Singh. He introduced her to a CXC project which he had planned for persons living with disabilities in Guyana.

The idea of the initiative was that all the text books would be translated into a digital format to help those who are visually impaired. The books were read and recorded, and persons who were visually impaired would listen to each chapter.

Rosemarie and a number of other visually impaired persons were enrolled in the project, and within 14 months, she and the other students were the first batch of students in Guyana to write CXC on computers.

She attained Five Grade One passes and was the top student of the group. She then decided to pursue higher education while advocating for persons living with disabilities, and immediately applied to the Cyril Potter College of Education to pursue a career in teaching. She graduated from CPCE in 2016, and started her teaching career as part of the Education Ministry’s Resource Unit for the Blind and Visually Impaired. And she graduated from the University of Guyana with an Associate Degree in Social Work in 2018.

Rosemarie's narrative has swerved from a path veiled in darkness to one illuminated by hope. Embracing the unknown, she has embarked on a journey of fearlessness, transcending personal achievements to immerse herself in activism. Her pivotal moment came through participation in the IFES-implemented USAID Youth Advocacy, Linkages, Leadership in Elections and Society (Youth ALLIES) programme. Here, she unearthed the transformative potential of her voice and opinions, catalysing her journey towards advocacy and societal change.

discusses winning National Poetry Slam

Trying to navigate the deep, boundless realms of the unknown is a pursuit often deemed peculiar and challenging to master. For 19-year-old Mishael Henry, this journey has been uniquely depicted on his canvas as he swerved away from the conventional pathway with remarkable flourishment.

Born in Venezuela, raised in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and recently setting foot on the shores of the Republic of Guyana, the journey of this teen of Guyanese heritage to the throne of Guyana’s National Poetry Slam Championship has been one which he had never believed would have been granted to him.

Despite being known in Trinidad for winning many titles in the poetry world, Henry said, he had never seen himself holding the title of winner of the National Poetry Slam of Guyana; where he arrived strapped with only essentials, but importantly with a pen and his pocket notepad, a youth of humble beginnings whose actions are fuelled by his unwavering faith in God.

Having previously written and performed spoken word in various endeavours in Trinidad, and having a rich background in societal well-being, Henry embarked on his journey with little knowledge of Guyana's poetry scene.

However, fortune favoured him when he stumbled upon the Guyana National Poetry Slam in February 2024 shortly after his arrival. Receiving a message from his aunt, Henry came into possession of a WhatsApp flyer about the 2024 Mashramani competition, inviting poets to submit three-minute videos on topics such as Guyana, Our Country Our Home; Mental health issues; For the love of humanity; Guyanese patriotism; Youths on social issues; and the Elimination of social ills.

His interest was greatly aroused by the contents of the flyer, and he dived into the competition by taking hold of the topic “elimination of social ills”. Vying for the prize of $200,000, he competed against Guyana’s outstanding voices. Claiming that he had noticed prominent issues within Guyana that were in need of addressing, Henry saw it fit to write a piece entitled “Guyana Race.” The poem addressed the social ills of racism faced in Guyana, and he laced the poem with the metaphor of a person running a race. He created an analogy where Guyanese were running a race to win all the things that they would like to achieve but would constantly kick other races out of the race due to racism.

Combatting this with means to eradicate racism throughout the country by respecting and loving on another, Henry wrote the poem within hours before the dead-

Henry was grateful as he told reporters on the scene, “This suc cess can only be ac credited to God. Once you put your faith in God, you can achieve any thing.”

Mishael

line of the submission where his notepad was whipped with writing, editing, reviewing and fine tuning all before the submission of his final draft.

He submitted his piece to the officials of the National Poetry Slam, and received an email two days later, advising that he had been shortlisted for the competition. Dazzled with great joy within his heart just two days before the finals, Henry found himself a private space where he practised the performance for his poem. Toggling through various ideas of performance, Henry reached on the scene and sat among 19 other poets on the night of the competition.

He fearlessly awaited his name being called, signalling it was time for him to deliver his performance; and finally he heard: “In position number 5 to perform, we have Mishael Henry to perform with a piece entitled ‘Guyana Race’.”

Those words of the host drew Henry to the center of the stage, where he came crouched in the position of a track athlete -- a position strange to many, as he shook up the usual way in which spoken word poetry is performed. He said the crowd, tuned like guitar strings, was played by his words as he delivered the poem, which convicted them as he expressed the ongoing issue in which Guyanese bestow upon each other, where they would pounce on each other using racial slurs.

Lines which said, “Your neighbour of a different colour is still your banna,” resonated with the crowd as he performed the poem. “God has been with me before, He will be with me now”, he stated after coming off the stage to await the judges’ decisions.

Anchored by the view that God would constantly be with him through all his endeavours, he was able to temper the drum roll of fear that attempted to assail his mindset; and upon hearing the names of the fourth, third, and second runners-up being called, he thought to himself that his name wouldn’t rack up within the giants of names that

were called. But just as his faith simmered, he heard his name rolling in first place of the competition!

Draped with excitement as the rookie on the local scene channelled great thought-provoking ideas,

Henry, who had viewed himself as being far away from ever creating such movements within Guyana, was very thankful to be greeted by the Youth, Culture and Sport Ministry, and for being given opportunity to state his point of view on an issue which he saw happening throughout this country.

The 19-year-old currently sees himself creating rapid work within Guyana using spoken word poetry as a tool to foster change and battle issues throughout all 10 ad-

ministrative regions within Guyana.

As a passionate advocate for spoken word, Henry currently holds the role of reporter with <<Guyana Times>> and <<Evening News.>> Throughout this multifaceted journey, Henry anchors his mindset in the growth of the arts within Guyana, as he states, “My goal is to contribute meaningfully to the cultural and artistic landscape of spoken word within Guyana, while uplifting and empowering the voices of the next generation.”

Inspired by her passion for writing and content cre ation, Daniela Christina Araujo, national youth poet, writer and small business owner, is buzzing social me dia with her newly-found ed business: Evolve Media, a platform that seeks to pro vide all the services that are required to boost brands and businesses.

Araujo first introduced her services on her person al social media platforms in March of last year, and im mediately began receiving tremendous support. In a re cent interview with Guyana Times, she expressed that her love for writing started at a very tender age, but she had never thought that her love for, and skill in, writ ing would later propel her to build her own brand.

“I’ve always been a very good writer, and I’ve always loved it as well; but, growing up, there was no one around to see my talent and nourish it. My mom just knew that I was good at writing because all my compositions and poems would be hanging on boards and walls in school, but she didn’t quite know how to nourish it, and so when I got old enough, I had done it on my own, and a few years later, here I am,” she explained.

ly resigned from her fulltime gig to fully focus on her brand and expand her services across all 10 administrative regions of Guyana and beyond.

Transforming her passion into business, the young writer is now offering writing services, PR services, social media management, marketing, voiceovers and more to small, medium, and large-scale businesses. Over the last year, Daniela has

“It was a very hard decision for me because I really loved my job, but I think I was struggling to manage it all, so I had to make a choice, and for the first time in a very long time, I chose myself and I decided to put all my cards on the table to bet on myself (brand); and that’s how Evolve Media came about,” Daniela disclosed. Daniela added that while Evolve Media seeks to highlight her services and promote her clients, she is hoping to use this platform to share more of herself with

stranger to the Guyanese public; her works and talent go way beyond writing. In 2021, she represented Guyana at the World Expo in Dubai, and she is constantly performing at national events and continuously reinventing herself in many ways. When asked what advice she would give to persons who’d like to follow in her footsteps and turn their passions into business, Daniela said, “Just do it! Don’t wait for the right time; do it with what you have, and everything else will fall into place, as long as you believe in your passion and the power it holds. And remember to be consistent with your craft; consistency is golden”.

GPL strengthening legal architecture to tackle electricity theft

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) agency is working to strengthen its internal legal architecture in order to tackle electricity theft, which the agency noted is contributing significantly to energy and financial losses.

GPL is currently working in collaboration with the Housing and Water Ministry, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), to prosecute persons benefitting from illegal electricity connection.

This includes persons plying their trade at street corners, the sideline of main access roads, and on Government reserves.

GPL’s Divisional Director for Loss Reduction, Parsram Persaud, informed the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last week that despite these efforts, legal convictions in these cases are few, and GPL is expending a significant amount of revenue to pursue prosecution. He added that electricity loss cannot be encourage when Guyana’s electricity demand is expanding quickly.

“The situation still exists whereby, as we make arrests, the time it takes to go through a court process (is) a problem for us; and now, to get the message across to the nation that theft is wrong, it’s illegal, and you can go to prison for it, we need to get cases that are reaching this final point of someone going to prison,” Persaud explained.

Legal capability

In an effort to increase the number of persons being convicted for the illegal act of electricity theft, GPL’s Executive and Management Committee member Kesh Nandlall said, the agency would invest heavily in its internal legal capability to play an integral role in deterring citizens from reconnecting illegal electricity connections when those are removed by GPL engineers.

“We are going to beef up our legal framework, our internal legal strengths, so that we can continue to place emphasis on this area of loss reduction. And as Parsram (GPL’s Divisional Director for Loss Reduction) alluded to earlier, one way of deterring this activity is to take legal action and continue to do so,” Nandlall explained.

“We are already working on putting that infrastructure in place. We have the technical infrastructure; we now have to bring that to the forefront, where we can really take on prosecution of these instances more seriously,” Nandlall added.

In 2023, there were reports that five residents of the Zeelugt Squatting Area, EBE, would face the courts over charges related to electricity theft. According to GPL, on September 3, two

teenagers were severely injured by electric shock when they came into contact with an illegal connection at Phoenix Park Sea Dam Squatting Area, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

GPL revealed that the teenagers were returning home in the area when one of them came into contact with a live illegally connected cable. Fortunately, they received assistance from public-spirited persons, who rushed them to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where they were treated.

Electricity Sector Reform Act

The Electricity Sector Reform Act provides for the regular, efficient, coordinated and economical supply of electricity, and for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith. Under this Act, a person who generates, stores, transmits, transforms, distributes, furnishes, sells, resells, or otherwise supplies electricity to any other person, premises or area shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of $1M and imprisonment for six months.

The Act further stipulates that if the offence for which a guilty person has been convicted continues after conviction, that guilty person shall be guilty of a further offence, and would become liable to a fine of $50,000 for every day on which the offence is continued.

Added to this, the Act stipulates that the subject minister shall take such steps and employ such persons as may be necessary to forcibly or otherwise enter upon, seize, take possession of, and cease the operations of any works utilised by such person for the unauthorised generation, storage, transmission, transformation, distribution, furnishing, sale, resale or other supply of electricity.

According to the Electricity Reform Act, any person who lays down any electric line or apparatus, or constructs any electrical installation outside the area or premises in or on which it is authorised to supply electricity by a licence or an exemption granted pursuant

to this Act shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of $500,000. And if the offence of which he/she is convicted is continued after conviction, he/she shall be guilty of a further offence and become liable to a

fine of $30,000 for every day on which the offence is continued.

GPL has said the theft of electricity continues to cost it millions of dollars every year. Thousands of people, mostly in depressed commu-

nities and squatting areas, climb utility poles and attach wires to GPL’s network, while many of them tamper with meters to decrease their actual energy consumption.

GPL has warned that placing energised wires on

roadways or over trenches, dams and other places can cause electrocution and death of people and animals. Persons are accordingly being urged to report electricity theft on 225-5251 or 2262600. (G1)

Govt to table Mergers & Acquisitions Bill for fairer consumer landscape – Walrond

In its bid to protect consumers and promote fairness in the competitive landscape, the Guyana Government will be tabling the Mergers and Acquisitions Bill this year in the National Assembly. Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond made this announcement on Friday in observance of World Consumer Rights Day.

She also disclosed that plans are in process to harmonise the Consumer Affairs Act with the Caricom Model Bill, in order to enhance consumer benefits, clarity, investigation processes, and priority methods for resolution.

She added that efforts are underway to complete and implement regulations governing the rules of procedure for the Consumer Competition and Affairs Commission, in order to en-

sure transparency and fairness in investigations and adjudications.

The theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2024 was "Fair and responsible AI for consumers" - communicating the reality that Artificial Intelligence is dawning, while recognizing that it can be leveraged for the benefit of consumers.

Walrond drew attention to the fact that consumers in Guyana are already interfacing with AI engines deployed by both local and international businesses.

“We recognise that such AI deployment presents both opportunities and challenges for business and commerce. The Government is therefore already examining policy and legislative measures that will enable Guyanese to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence for collective benefit, while maintaining

appropriate safeguards to our rights,” she disclosed.

At the forefront of consumer protection efforts is the Guyana Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), which plays a vital role in advocating for consumer rights and awareness. In 2023, the

CCAC reviewed 492 complaints, amounting to over $480 million, and successfully resolved 85 percent of those cases, recovering $305,788,496 for consumers.

Additionally, the CCAC conducted 1283 inspections and issued approximately 154 compliance certificates, which the Minister said further demonstrated its commitment to consumer protection.

Another important entity in Guyana’s consumer protection framework is the Department of Consumer Affairs, which continually conducts price-tracking activities across various regions of Guyana; providing valuable insights into price fluctuations, and guiding policy decisions.

Many relief measures that the Government has instituted have been informed by the findings of this Department.

Minister Walrond explained, “These initiatives underscore the Government's dedication to ensuring fair practices and informed decision-making in consumer affairs. We continue to enhance the regulatory framework through our legislative agenda. A relatively recent legislative measure was the enactment of the Hire Purchases Bill in 2022. This legislation created a fair and balanced framework for consumers and sellers engaged in hire purchase, credit, and conditional sales agreements.”

The CCAC was established in 2011 to enforce consumer rights and ensure competition within markets under the Consumer Affairs Act and the Competition and Fair-Trade Act. Its functions include investigating complaints made by agencies and consumers, and determining if there has been a contravention of

the Competition and FairTrading Act of 2006; and the CAA takes prescribed action should there be a contravention of the law, in order to eliminate anti-competitive agreements.

The functions of the CCAC include investigating complaints made by agencies and consumers; taking prescribed actions should there be contravention of the law; eliminating anti-competitive agreements; providing information to consumers on their rights, and enabling them to make informed choices; and instituting and supporting proceedings before a court of law, including bringing prosecutions where the Commission deems fit, among other functions.

The CCAC operates out of two locations: the Sophia Exhibition Complex in Georgetown, and at Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). (G12)

Labour officers probing boiler explosion at Berbice rice mill

The Labour Ministry has commenced investigating the accident that occurred at the Hack Rice Mill at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, where a boiler exploded and resulted in a worker’s foot being severed and two other persons being injured.

The Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Department has confirmed that three young employees were injured when a boiler exploded while they were on duty.

“Statements are being taken, and interviews conducted, to determine the cause of the explosion. Information will be released to the public as it is made available,” the Ministry has said.

Guyana Times understands that the three injured employees have been hospitalised. They are boiler operator Sukra Harrygobin, a 25-year-old resident of Bath Settlement, WCB; boiler operator Farad Uddin, a 19-year-old resident of Blairmont, West

Bank Berbice; and Anthony Ramlochan, called ‘Booby’, a 20-year-old resident of Bush Lot, WCB.

Reports are that workers at the mill heard an explosion, and upon investigating found the three men with what appeared to be burns to their bodies. Harrygobin has said that immediately after the loud explosion, he felt pain and raised an alarm.

All three of these injured men were rushed to the nearby Fort Wellington Hospital, where it was revealed that Harrygobin had lost his left ankle and had suffered minor burns to his upper right chest; Ramlochan had received burns to more than 50 per cent of his body, and Uddin had received lacerations to his right leg.

The Labour Ministry has since commenced an investigation of this incident that occurred at the rice mill.

In December 2021, an 18-year -old labourer was crushed to death at this rice mill by a reversing truck being driven by a 24-year-old man. (G12)

Tourism collaboration now achievable – minister

…as Skyhigh Dominicana opens office in GT

Skyhigh Dominicana has opened its first office in Guyana, one month after it commenced weekly flights between Guyana and the Dominican Republic.

Skyhigh Aviation Services announced last month that it would be offering three weekly flights that connect Guyana with the Dominican Republic, providing convenient and

affordable travel options for business and leisure passengers.

At the ceremony to open their new location in David Street Kitty, the Dominican Republic Ambassador to Guyana, Ernesto TorresPereyra, said that with Skyhigh serving as a bridge, the dream of developing a multi-nation tourism strategy is easily achievable.

The diplomat underscored, “Our countries have never been closer…The opening of direct flights between Georgetown and Santo Domingo is one of the most significant moments in the history of our bilateral relations; precisely because of the potential to foster a more dynamic exchange in trade and tourism, as well as all areas of official cooperation. It is,

once again, a time for discovery.” Tourism, Industry

and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond lauded the company for heeding the call for greater connectivity to Guyana. “Once again, it tells us, as a Government, that the investors are seeing the vision for the development of the tourism sector here in Guyana. We became quick friends, the Dominicans and Guyanese. I believe that the collaboration happened so instantaneously.”

According to Minister Walrond, this feat is just the beginning of many successes to come, and the Guyana Tourism Authority is working with Skyhigh to roll out more seats and a greater tourism package.

“The fact that you’re opening an office to serve the Guyanese people once again tells me that the standards here for your customers (are) extremely high, and this will augur well for our visitors and those who come to experience Guyana and the tourism product,” she expressed.

The increasing airlifts, availability of hundreds of new hotel rooms, and new attractions coming on stream simultaneously do not happen in a vacuum, she also pointed out. She explained, “It happens with government. Government continuing to build out other aspects of the tourism sector that support airlifts. We want to listen to what we can do to make sure that your venture as an airline is viable. The new hotels will add immediately, just in Georgetown, 1000 rooms, which increases our feasibility for doing conferences, meetings and expos as part of our strategy for the building out of the tourism sector.”

There is a strategy to have two million visitors experiencing Guyana by 2027 for both professional and leisure activities.

Skyhigh Aviation Services is a Dominican Republic-based airline that offers scheduled passenger and cargo services across

the Caribbean, Venezuela, and the United States. The current route network includes flights to Miami, Caracas, Maracaibo, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts, Anguilla, St Thomas, St Croix, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Santiago and Havana Cuba, among other destinations.

It has been connecting the Caribbean for more than 12 years, committing to increased connectivity within the region and further afield. The new route, operated by a comfortable Embraer 190 with 97 seats, offers seamless connections between Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) and Georgetown’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

This enhanced connectivity is expected to boost tourism and trade and investment between the two nations, offering exciting opportunities for cultural exchange and economic growth.

Passenger movement at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport continues to increase, with the airport processing 729,680 passengers for last year. This figure represents an increase of 11 per cent compared to the 657,249 passengers processed in 2022.

Additionally, over 11 million tonnes of cargo have been processed at the airport, representing a 25 per cent increase from the previous year’s figure.

Influx of the international arrival rate seen in recent time is due to Guyana becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with many booming sectors and the vast development of its tourism industry. The country has been investing in numerous tourism products and experiences, such as its eco-lodges, tours, and cultural extravaganza, among other tour initiatives. (G12)

5 cops under close arrest for shooting at police sergeant

Five ranks attached to the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force have been placed under close arrest for opening fire on a police sergeant on Monday night at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara.

The GPF, in a statement on Saturday, said the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating a shooting incident involving a police sergeant attached to the Providence Station.

According to reports, at about 22:10h on Monday, a sergeant, a corporal, a lance corporal and two constables of the Special Branch were assisting Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West

Demerara)ranks to investigate a robbery/murder, and were looking for a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion car that the suspects had used as a getaway vehicle when they saw a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion and opened fire in the air as they ordered the driver to stop, not realizing that it was a police sergeant who was driving home from work.

According to investigators, that sergeant, who was unaware that he was being stopped by Special Branch operatives, became terrified and drove to the Providence Police Station, where he related what had occurred. Shortly afterwards, the Special Branch ranks ar-

rived at the Providence Station and were placed under close arrest, their firearms being seized, Police said in a statement on Saturday.

Crime scene technicians have processed the scene of the shooting, and have

recovered several spent shells. The robbery/murder which the ranks were assisting Regional Division Three ranks to investigate involved security officer Paul Waterman, attached to the Sheriff Security Service,

who was fatally shot by bandits during a supermarket invasion on Monday last at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

According to Police, that incident occurred at about 15:00h on Monday at the People Supermarket, located at Lot F New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop. Reports are that three men, two of whom were armed with handguns, entered the supermarket and held Waterman, supermarket proprietor Ping Xian Lin, and his wife Li Yan Ohen, at gunpoint.

Waterman was armed with a .32 Taurus pistol with 10 matching rounds of ammunition, and during the robbery, a scuffle en-

sued between Waterman and one of the suspects, who discharged a round that hit Waterman and caused him to fall to the ground. Waterman was then relieved of his firearm and cellphone, and the suspects proceeded to rob the supermarket before making good their escape by running north through Evergreen Street towards Best Village. They escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, a quantity of Digicel and GTT phone cards, one cellphone and one DVR, while Waterman was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. (G9)

Businessman arrested for illegal gun, ammo

…allegedly pushed gun into friend’s bag after being pulled over for traffic offence

A30-year-old businessman of New Road, Vreeden-Hoop, West Coast Demerara was arrested on Friday after he and three others were found with a black .32 Taurus pistol and a magazine containing 11 rounds of matching ammunition.

Police have said that at about 17:00h on Friday, an anti-crime patrol was on the public road at Grove, East Bank Demerara when they observed Toyota

The gun and ammunition that were found in the businessman’s vehicle

Tacoma PYY 9229 being driven dangerously in the vicinity of Jimbo Bridge at Grove.

Ranks stopped the vehicle, and the driver was instructed to proceed to the Grove Police Station under escort.

There, the driver gave his name to police officers, and three other occupants were observed in the vehicle. A search was carried out on the vehicle, but nothing illegal was found.

Police then observed

that a woman in the vehicle had a black handbag, which was searched in her presence, and a black .32 Taurus pistol and a magazine containing 11 rounds of matching ammunition were found in the handbag.

The woman was asked if she was the holder of a firearm licence, and she replied in the negative. She was then told of the offence committed, arrested, and cautioned, after which she replied: “[name given] put it in my bag”.

Video and audio interviews were subsequently separately conducted with

the woman and the young businessman, who were both cautioned and had their stories video-recorded. According to Police, the man admitted to ownership of the firearm and ammunition, and said that while being escorted to Grove Police Station, he put the firearm in the woman’s bag.

Police have said that the man accepted full knowledge, possession, and control of the firearm and ammunition, and the woman claimed she was of the view that the businessman was a licensed firearm holder. (G9)

Mahdia miner nabbed with ganja

The illegal drug that was found in the miner’s possession

A30-year-old miner of Mahdia in Region

Eight (PotaroSiparuni) has been arrested by police after he was found with a quantity of marijuana in his possession during a cordon-andsearch exercise conducted on Thursday night at the Mahdia Arcade.

The miner, called ‘Gully’, of Seven Miles, Mahdia, Potaro, was stopped and searched, and 13.8 grams of what is suspected to be marijuana was found in a one-strap

Polo bag hooked around his waist. The bag contained two bulky plastic parcels in which were found a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The man was told of the ranks’ suspicion, and was cautioned, arrested, and escorted to the Mahdia Police Station with the drugs, which were weighed in his presence and amounted to 13.8 grams.

He remains in custody, pending charges.

Defective terminal meters contributing to revenue loss – GPL

…says to continue meter replacement activities

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will be installing an additionally 70,000 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters this year to replace the old terminal meters.

In 2023, almost 100,000 terminal meters were placed with AMI devices, and of that number, approximately 700 terminal devices were defective. This is according to GPL’s Divisional Director of Loss Reduction, Parsram Persaud, who made this disclosure while speaking at a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting that was reviewing GPL’s 2023 Operating Standards and Performance Targets on Thursday.

While GPL recorded a loss reduction of 25.5 per cent in 2023, Persaud revealed that the agency recovered millions in losses by replacing defective

meters. He said the programme ensures that citizens have reliable access to electricity, and addresses GPL’s loss reduction challenges.

“As presented earlier, we are actually visiting each of these locations. We started last year replacing

and checking the integrity of installations and replacing the meters, and that is expected to complete mid this year the entire tariff C and D customers,” Persaud said. AMI meters use distribution boxes and insulated wires to minimise instances of illegal connection that cause disruptions

‘Vanilla’ cops Mash Road March Queen title for 10th time

When one thinks about Soca music in Guyana, one is immediately transported to the festivities surrounding Mashramani and those activities associated with the hosting of the Soca Monarch, the Calypso Monarch, and even the newly-added Dancehall Monarch competitions. These are all activities held in efforts to boost local artistes and their music.

But when one speaks about local female artistes and Soca music, immediately Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts comes to mind. No stranger to the road, ‘Vanilla’ has again been crowned Road March Queen for 2024. This is now her tenth win of the competition.

It was no different on the road this year, as revellers in ‘music trucks’ jammed to the tunes of Melissa “Vanilla’ Roberts.

For Mashramani 2007, she recorded the song “Queen of the Band”, which won the Road March competition that year, beating the reigning Soca Monarch and 30 others. That was a significant achievement, and commenced her streak as Queen of the Road. In 2009, she placed second at the annual Carib Soca Monarch competition with her song “Rude”, and also regained her title as Queen of the Road.

Fast forward to 2024, and with the determination to regain her title and be crowned a 10-time road march winner, Vanilla shared, “It definitely was not easy to successfully capture a win in any competition nine times in the face of challenges; and I knew I had to make it to 10 just for the

satisfaction of it all. I wasn’t even anxious or nervous about getting the results this year, because I knew what I had delivered and my capabilities.”

She underscored that for all the years she had entered the road march competition, she never really had the opportunity to write or perform a song that catered specifically for the road. This year, it had to be different, keeping in mind the many challenges, beauty and freedom the road brings, and creating the song was specifically aimed at that and the spirit and vibe which was revealed.

Vanilla further shared, “Tears of joy came to my eyes. Changing the game doesn’t mean giving up, and I'm grateful for good guidance from my manager Mr. Burchmore Simon. Winning means giving thanks to all the persons who have supported me over the years. It means thank you to the real, true, genuine fans. It means consistency is the key”.

When asked why she decided to enter the competition again, as most would think, ‘Why go so many times?’, Vanilla simply replied, “I'm

big on setting goals and achieving them. So, in order to achieve this particular goal, I needed to enter the road march again”.

Vanilla has become a staple in the activity, and most band leaders seek after her at Mash time. Even so, this year she is already burning up the airwaves with her latest track, “O weh O”. According to her, this new release is part of her two big projects slated for 2024.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, her big projects would each be a game changer, and she is looking forward to the possibly bigger opportunities they will bring.

Meanwhile, along with Vanilla’s big win, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has announced the winners of the Mashramani 2024 Costume and Float Parade Competition, which showcased the rich cultural tapestry of Guyana.

The judges panel was composed of esteemed judges, who had a challenging task of choosing among some 25 bands.

to the power distribution network.

GPL’s Executive and Management Committee member Kesh Nandlall has said this also allows the meter to reflect more accurate readings. “Those

ones (AMI meters) the meter readers go around, they have an instrument that automatically picks up the reading. We have about 70,000 prepaid, where we don’t need to read those meters,” Nandlall said.

Since commencement of the AMI meter replacement programme, some 97,480 meters have been replaced at households and commercial businesses across the country. These smart meters, which were designed by a reputable company in the United States of America, also facilitates customers to submit their meter readings to GPL via WhatsApp and Customer Web portal.

The upgrade is being funded by a grant from the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and works are executed by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation / China Synergy Electric Engineering Company (CMC/CSEEC) and Ramoutar and Sons Contracting Services. (G1)

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“You are the future of the economy” – Exxon’s Routledge to TVET learners

Seeking to make various Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) projects long term, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Friday shared that several of these would be redeveloped and revolutionised.

Stating that the Government is committed to ensuring youths who have the technical aptitude are provided with the same level of counsel and facilities provided to academic learners, Hamilton expressed that this commitment was one that echoed the sentiments of the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme. This, he said, was conceptualised to develop the local workforce and build human capacity through the enhancement of education to promote sustainable economic diversification in Guyana.

Raising awareness of the underlined growth which

he sees, he stated that the GGI’s celebration ceremony of the TVET programme at the Centre was a project with a great purpose.

“The long-term project must be to revolutionise education and learning in this country; we must ensure that the children who have the aptitudes to be technical are given the same counsel and guidance and facilities at an early age,” the Minister underscored.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair

Routledge, who was at the GGI’s celebration ceremony, said the investment in these training programmes was about raising the standard of employment; therefore, raising the standard of prosperity while having a sustainable and competitive economy.

Many youths were present at GGI’s celebration ceremony, which was hosted at the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre on Friday

“Oil and gas resources we all know are finite and the more important resources of the country are its people and you are the future generation. You are the future of the economy and of society and by investing in you, we are investing in the future of the country. Programmes like these are critical ,because technology helps drive competitiveness and it is all forms of technology,” he shared.

Referencing Hamilton’s views, Routledge disclosed

that last year, Exxon invested in a workforce study that covers a five-year window from 2023 to 2028 focusing on five sectors of the economy – oil and gas, construction, transportation, agriculture and health care. The forecasts reveal the need for an additional 50,000 persons in the workforce in these areas.

Similarly, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dr Ritesh Tularama, who was representing the Education Minister, said the programme aligned with the Ministry’s strategic vision of educational empowerment made possible through collaboration.

“The Ministry of Education, in its strategic vision, carefully articulates that vision that every single child that exits the secondary school, by extension post-secondary institution, must do so with a skills certificate and here, we are realising that vision.” he stated.

21 March International Day of Forests

Most people are often fascinated by the beauty of the exotic and diverse plants and animals found within forests. However, the forest is far more than what we see; there are numerous not so visible benefits of forests, without those benefits our existence would be threatened. To bring focus to the benefits of forests, the UN in 2013, designated 21 March, International Day of Forest (IDF).

IDF is an annual observance and this year, it is being celebrated under the theme; ‘Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.’ As such, activities planned to mark the IDF observance will aim to promote effective solutions to reduce (mitigate) climate change and to prepare (adapt) to its effects. Importantly the Day will also highlight the need to use forests in a sustainable way finding new solution for a better world.

Innovation and technology have transformed forest monitoring, enabling countries to track, monitor and report on their forests more effectively and efficiently. “A total of 13.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide forest emission reductions or enhancements have been reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change through transparent and innovative forest monitoring” as reported by the United Nations.

Importance of the Forests

Forests cover about one third of the world’s land mass. We all depend on the forest in one way or the other for our survival and livelihood. Some important functions of forests include but are not limited to:

• Providing habitat for more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

• Contributing to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the atmosphere.

• Protecting watersheds, which supply fresh water to rivers, lakes etc.

• Providing homes, jobs, clothing, shelter, food, medicine, research, cosmetics and security for millions of people around the world.

• Forests also play a key role in our battle in adapting to and mitigating climate change.

Forest and Climate Change

Over the years the world has been changing, most of the increase in global temperature is due to the increase of certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Forests play a very important role in maintaining natural processes and store large amounts of carbon; hence, through the carbon cycle and other natural processes, forest help to combat climate change. Nevertheless, because of deforestation, forests are a large source of carbon dioxide emissions.

To tackle these challenges, FAO and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have jointly launched Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (AIM4Forests), a five-year program that aims to enhance forest monitoring through modern technologies, technical innovation, and the utilization of space data and remote sensing.

Reducing deforestation and forest degradation and restoring and sustainably managing forests are critical pathways to meet the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The battle against deforestation requires new technological advancements, these innovations are essential for early warning systems, sustainable commodity production, and empowering Indigenous Peoples through land mapping and climate finance access.

Additionally, ecosystem restoration, including reforestation efforts, can significantly contribute to climate mitigation and enhance food security while pushing the boundaries of sustainable wood products, and enhance food security while promoting sustainable wood products.

How can we help in the fight against climate change?

• Plant a tree,

• Preserve our forest

• Use resources wisely

• Dispose of waste properly and do not litter

• Reduce the use of artificial items and practice the 3Rs of waste management – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Make conscious efforts to learn more about forests and their benefits and share the information with others.

The forests are an integral part of survival on Earth. Protect it, for it protects us!

Sources:

http://www.un.org/ http://www.fao.org/

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Huge interest from Diaspora in agri investments – Diaspora Unit

…as excitement grows over 25 by 2025 initiative

With Guyana’s “25 by 2025” vision in mind, interest continues to be shown, particularly from the Diaspora, in agricultural investments in Guyana… so much so that there are those in the Diaspora looking to acquire large tracts of land for the cultivation of various crops.

Making this disclosure was Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul, in an interview with Guyana Times. The Unit, which interfaces directly with Guyanese living in the Diaspora, continues to field interest from the Diaspora in a wide range of investments, including in agriculture.

“We do have several interests in the area of agriculture.

And one of the things again, we’re very cautious about that, well we all know about the “25 by 2025” initiative by the President. So that’s gotten a lot of people excited,” Rasul said.

“What we’re doing is basically providing information to

them about the specific areas that the Government is targeting when it comes to agriculture, that makes their investment a little more targeted and would help the Government achieve its objectives, in the end.”

Rasul further noted that the Diaspora’s interest in large tracts of land for investment in agriculture remains high. However, she noted that they have had to temper ex-

pectations in some cases, because the land being requested was either too large or not available.

“One of the things we have to guide our Diaspora in is their asking for land. Because some of them are asking for large tracts of land to engage in an agricultural project. But then our technical persons are telling us, you don’t necessarily need all that land to produce certain number of yields.

You can do hydroponics. Depends on what crop you’re looking at.”

“So, we have several of those in agriculture, basically that we’re still working on them. I think for us, it’s to get past the land issue of not asking for way too much land. I remember we were talking about this yesterday, about a Guyanese in New York, who wants 200 acres of land for rice production,” Rasul said.

According to her, while the Unit did do checks to see whether this potential investor’s request was a fulfillable one, a single 200-acre parcel of land was not available. Rasul indicated that this was an example of the assistance her Unit provides to investors.

“We did some checks on that and they, unfortunately, wouldn’t have been able to

get 200 acres of land, at least not an entire tract. Probably in parts. So that’s something we’re working with them as to how well this can be implemented,” she explained.

Vision 25 by 2025, which was first conceptualised by President Dr Irfaan Ali, aims for the Caribbean to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in the Region’s food import bill by the year 2025. Owing to the Region’s dependency on imported foods, it faces hardships when disruptions occur. And in light of this, the intention was to formulate a sense of food stability and security.

The Agriculture Ministry was allocated $97.6 billion in Budget 2024 for the advancement of the industry. The largest portion of the agriculture budget, totalling $72.3 billion, is earmarked for drainage and irrigation works, acquisition

of 40 mobile pumps, and $6 billion to bolster the sugar industry, specifically targeting improvements in GuySuCo’s production and operational efficiency.

Additionally, of the $97.6 billion budgeted for the agriculture sector, $1.3 billion would be expended by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support increased production and productivity in the rice industry.

In terms of other crops, cultivation of corn, soya bean, citrus, spices, coconuts, and high-value crops such as broccoli, cauliflowers, bell peppers, romaine lettuce and carrots would be expanded.

In 2024, Government would continue to accelerate coconut production by investing in 39,000 high-yielding seed nuts as 500 additional farmers are targeted. (G3)

$3.5M community centre commissioned in Mabaruma Settlement

Anew $3.5 million community centre was commissioned in Mabaruma Settlement, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Saturday morning.

The centre will be utilised to host meetings and other activities, benefiting some 5000 residents. With this new building, the Community Development Council (CDC), along with the residents, will no longer have to host their meetings in the ballfield or elsewhere.

The building was constructed in three phases, which saw the injection of $1 million for the first phase, $1.5 million for the second phase, and $1 million for the last phase.

Delivering brief re-

marks, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag said that the community centre

would enhance the social wellbeing of the residents, as the Government was committed to developing the live-

lihood of every Guyanese.

According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report,

she continued by saying, “We are happy to have this because the Government is not only committed to making sure that we empower people economically but also socially… I know that it [the centre] will bring much joy to every resident here.”

Many community centres in the hinterland regions and rural areas are being utilised as a hub where young people are advancing their skillsets, Minister Parag said.

She also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing developments in the region.

“We are very happy to be here at a moment when, in the next two days, so much we will be unveiling from the Government’s developmental projects…,” Parag told

the residents. According to a DPI report, the commissioning ceremony was spearheaded by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Parag, Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, Mabaruma Mayor Trevi Leung, Region One Regional Executive Officer (REO) Sewchand and other officials.

Mayor Leung expressed gratitude for the centre and further emphasised that everyone would benefit from it.

During a walkabout in Kumaka Market, in Mabaruma on Saturday morning, Ministers Croal and Parag, along with other officials, interacted with the vendors and consumers.

UG’s open days, job fair expected to connect students with prospective employers

The University of Guyana will be hosting its annual open days and job fairs from March 21 to March 23 at Turkeyen Campus and on April 12, at the Berbice Campus.

Apart from providing secondary school students, young people and those wishing to pursue a university education with an opportunity to assess their many choices at the University, the events prom-

ise an immersive experience for all attendees.

In a press release on Saturday, UG said this year continued the trend which the University began in 2022 of featuring an impressive line-up of leading public and private companies spanning various sectors. This aspect has been successful in linking academia and industry, fostering a conducive environment for knowledge exchange, potential collaborations, and employ-

ment opportunities for persons to continue on the path to successful careers.

This year’s event is themed: “Delivering an Empowered Labour Force” and according to UG, key aspects of the event will be live-streamed on UG’s Facebook page and also on UG Broadcasting Service. Additionally, edited recordings of the event will be posted on UG’s website.

Value of two benefits

According to UG, like in recent years, this year’s event will feature two main aspects – an open day and a job fair. The open day component will allow members of the public and potential University students an opportunity to explore the 160+ programmes being offered by the University of Guyana and learn about various career paths. Visitors and high school students

will also get the opportunity to engage with lecturers delivering these programmes at the university as well as with student representatives of the various student clubs, among others.

Potential employees

The job fair component will feature leading local and international Public and Private Sector companies, including ExxonMobil Guyana, SLB, CNOOC, AGM Inc, Republic Bank Ltd, GTT,

and Guyana Defence Force, among others. Additionally, other representatives from the recruitment and service sectors will be present, offering comprehensive insights into various career opportunities, including on-the-spot job interviews.

The release stated that the event will commence with a grand opening ceremony, on the first day at 09:30h at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), Turkeyen Campus.

Some strategies to prevent kidney failure include treating underlying causes, controlling blood pressure, eating a kidney-friendly diet, and making lifestyle choices. Still, it may not always be possible to prevent kidney failure.

Kidney failure is life-threatening. A person may need dialysis until they can get a kidney transplant. In some cases though, acute kidney failure — the sudden form of the syndrome — is reversible. A person may need supportive care, including dialysis, until doctors can reverse the cause.

Preventing kidney failure when a person has a genetic form of kidney disease is not always possible. However, a kidney-healthy lifestyle can slow the progression of

HEALTH TIPS

PREVENTING KIDNEY FAILURE

even genetic kidney disease, and may prevent most other forms of kidney disease.

A kidney-healthy lifestyle reduces the organ’s workload, and can lower the risk of chronic diseases that cause kidney damage.

• Treat underlying chronic medical conditions.

Chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are major risk factors for kidney disease. A person with these conditions should monitor and treat their condition. Some important tips may include the following:

• Talk with a doctor about getting cholesterol into target ranges.

• Monitor blood glucose, and seek advice from a doctor about treating diabetes.

• Ask healthcare professionals about dietary changes and lifestyle shifts that can reduce heart disease risk.

Take medications as a doctor directs. Do not suddenly stop taking medication, do not self-prescribe, and do not take over-the-counter medications without consulting a doctor. A person should be mindful of the risks of mixing medications, and should tell a doctor about all the drugs he/she takes.

• Eat a kidney-friendly diet.

A low-sodium diet can help reduce the risk of kid-

ney disease, heart disease, and other risk factors for kidney failure. People with early signs of kidney disease should talk with a doctor or dietician about implementing a kidney disease diet. This may include reducing potassium and phosphorus in the diet, too. Some tips to try include:

• Choosing vegetable toppings such as spinach or broccoli for pizzas

• Choosing foods with little or no added sugar

• Substituting unhealthy snacks for fruits — for example, trying to eat an orange rather than having orange juice.

• Using different cooking techniques, such as baking or broiling fish and chicken instead of frying

• Control blood pressure.

Blood pressure above 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) is a significant kidney disease risk factor, es-

pecially in people with diabetes. A person should check their blood pressure regularly, especially if there is a family history of high blood pressure. A doctor may recommend adopting a hearthealthy lifestyle to control blood pressure. If lifestyle changes do not control blood pressure, a person may need blood pressure medication to lower their kidney disease and kidney failure risk.

• Avoid unhealthy habits.

Quitting smoking (if applicable) can improve anyone’s health, and it is never too late to reap the benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle. People with kidney disease must quit smoking. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease, which can damage the kidneys.

Excessive drinking may increase the risk of liver and heart disease, with the potential to cause damage to the kidneys. People should

limit their alcohol intake, and seek treatment for alcohol addiction.

Become physically active.

Exercise has many benefits, including: helping to protect heart health.

Supporting the body to manage blood glucose.

• Helping a person maintain or attain a healthy weight.

Together, these health improvements may reduce the risk of kidney failure.

• Maintain a healthy body weight.

People who are overweight or obese should lose weight to lower their kidney disease risk factors. Weight loss strategies such as eating a healthy diet and becoming more physically active may further reduce the risk of kidney disease and other chronic diseases that are risk factors.

However, people with kidney disease or kidney failure should avoid rapid weight loss or highly restrictive diets when trying to lose weight.

• Monitor kidney health

A doctor can screen for kidney function with a simple blood test. A person can ask a doctor to do this as part of their physical. This can help detect early signs of kidney disease.

Screening is especial-

ly important before a person develops symptoms, as it may mean that the condition receives treatment earlier.

Generally, people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease have a higher risk of kidney failure. Certain medications and medical crises — such as cardiogenic shock — may also increase the risk. Vulnerable populations can lower their risk by:

Seeking prompt care for any serious medical problems

• Discussing with a doctor how to reduce their risk of kidney failure.

• Avoiding overuse of any medication, including supplements and over-thecounter medications

• Working with a nephrologist (a kidney specialist) if bloodwork shows signs of a kidney injury.

Lifestyle issues greatly increase the risk of kidney failure, including in people with genetic kidney syndromes. Maintaining a healthy weight, an active lifestyle, and a varied diet may help reduce the risk while preserving overall health.

People with kidney disease or kidney failure risk factors should discuss prevention strategies with a doctor. Regular consultations with a nephrologist may be necessary as soon as a person begins showing early signs of kidney disease.

Regional Tensions rise in Haiti as leadership remains in balance

Residents braced for another tense night in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Friday, as attacks continued across parts of the city in the aftermath of the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and in the absence of a clear plan to replace him.

“Ariel Henry resigned but we are still in political distress,” said resident Claude Atilus. “We must take our destiny into our own hands. I want the political players to rise to the task and commit themselves to organising the country.”

A man walked through the city’s Champ de Mars square carrying a white coffin over his head, while further out in the city’s sprawling Delmas neighbourhood, flaming tyres and roadblocks lined the streets.

“The situation is not

good for us,” said vendor Jean-Phillipe Jean-Louis, adding he was exhausted, prices were exorbitant and working on the streets was dangerous.

“When we merchants go out into the streets looking for money to feed our children and wives, we find nothing,” he said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund has warned of record hunger and life-threatening malnutrition concentrated in the capital’s poorest, most dangerous and busiest neighbourhoods, with one in four children nationwide suffering chronic malnutrition, or stunting.

Local media reported Police were facing off late on Friday with gangs in the Delmas area, traditionally a stronghold of the G9 alliance led by Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier.

Henry, the country’s unelected Prime Minister,

said he would step down on Monday as he faced international pressure while stranded in Puerto Rico, as an escalation of fighting in the capital prevented him from returning home.

His resignation is pending the appointment of an interim replacement chosen by a transition council, but the members of the council have yet to be decided and some political groups tapped for representation have rejected the plan, proposed by regional leaders, or been unable to unite their factions.

Cherizier this week threatened politicians who take part in the council and said Henry’s resignation marked just “a first step in the battle” for the Caribbean nation.

Local outlet Gazette Haiti reported that meetings on a compromise were set to take place on Saturday. (Reuters)

Maduro announces candidacy for re-election

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will run for a second re-election to secure another six-year term in voting planned for July 28, the ruling Socialist party said on Saturday.

Maduro, a 61-yearold former union leader, was proclaimed as the Socialist party’s candidate by Vice President Diosdado Cabello, and took the stage at a large sports arena to address supporters.

“There’s just one outcome, the people’s victory on July 28,” Maduro said, wearing a bright red zippered jacket. “They haven’t been able to stop us, nor

will they be able to.”

Recent polls show 13.9 per cent of Venezuelans plan to vote for Maduro, far behind Opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado’s 54.5 per cent.

But though Machado won an Opposition primary in October, it was unclear whether she will appear on the ballot after the country’s top court upheld a ban barring her from holding public office.

Candidates have until March 25 to register and it remained unclear whether the Opposition will name a replacement for Machado, who is under increasing pressure to pick a substi-

tute. The US partially rolled back sanctions on Venezuela’s Government in late 2023 because of an elections deal with the Opposition, but the nascent rapprochement came to an end with arrests of Opposition figures and the court decision about Machado. The US has pledged a reinstatement of oil sanctions from midApril.

Ruling party sources have told Reuters the reversal in policy by Maduro may be due to waning popularity with his base. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bolsonaro says he does not fear being put on trial

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro said on Saturday he does not fear being put on trial, one day after a Police investigation revealed the far-right politician tried to co-op the country’s military chiefs in a coup plan to overturn his 2022 election defeat.

Bolsonaro did not refer directly to the allegations made by two armed forces commanders that he had summoned them to discuss a possible coup d’état to prevent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from returning to power.

But he did refer to a trial he could face, as evidence mounts of his efforts to convince the military to step in.

“I do not fear any judgment, as long as the Judges are impartial,” Bolsonaro said at a political rally in Rio de Janeiro to back his candidate for Mayor of the city in local elections in October.

At the event in a Rio samba school quadrangle, the former President claimed he was being politically persecuted by the Lula

Government because he was a thorn in the side of the left.

Bolsonaro has denied planning a coup after his election defeat, which he never conceded. He left for Florida to avoid handing the presidential sash to Lula, and days later Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Government buildings in an attempt to provoke a coup.

Last year, Bolsonaro was banned from running for elected office for eight

years for abusing his power as President and repeatedly criticising the country’s electoral system. He could face possible arrest and a trial by the Supreme Court.

The crowd in Rio cheered Bolsonaro’s name as he endorsed Alexandre Ramagem, a former Police Chief who briefly served as head of the national intelligence agency during his presidency. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cop among 4 killed in Harpe Place gun attack

Police were on the scene at an apartment complex at Harpe Place in East Port of Spain, where several persons were shot and feared dead during a mid-morning attack on March 16.

Of the nine persons who were hit, early reports said four died of their injuries.

One is said to be a Police Corporal who was a member of the Police band.

There was rapid gunfire mid-morning, and when the gunfire subsided, at least four victims were motionless on the ground. Video footage circulating on social media shows a man lying between two cars in the car park and

another victim nearby. Scores of residents and onlookers gathered and appeared to be in shock over the horrific incident.

Police cordoned off the scene as angry residents gathered nearby, questioning the absence of static patrols in the community. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Jamaica: Record tourist arrivals in 1st 2 months

Jamaica welcomed a record one million visitors in the first two months of this year.

The number was disclosed by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett during a Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace press conference held on Thursday at the Jamaica Tourist Board office in New Kingston.

Bartlett also indicated that the island earned US$1 billion through the tourism industry for the two months.

He said the numbers highlight the impressive growth trajectory of the country’s tourism sector.

“I am particularly proud of the level of growth we have had post-COVID.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett

Normally, 2019 was used as our benchmark for growth, but 2023 is now that new benchmark as we broke two important barriers — welcoming four million visitors and earning US$4.2 billion,” said Bartlett as he underscored that the performance so far this year is

unprecedented in the country’s tourism history.

Jamaica recorded 611,642 stopover arrivals in January and February –which represents a 7.4 per cent increase – and 389,319 cruise visitors, a 29.7 per cent increase.

Total arrivals reflect 1,000,961, an increase of 15.1 per cent, while earnings reflected an 8.5 per cent increase.

“We continue to work with our tourism partners across the globe to ensure that our tourism offerings remain top of the line.

Jamaica provides unique and authentic experiences that keep visitors keep coming back,” said Director of Tourism Donovan White. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

OIL NEWS

Oil majors set to sanction US$125B in upstream projects in 2024

International oil and gas majors and the Middle East’s national oil companies are expected to give the green light this year to up to 30 projects, worth a total investment of US$125 billion and holding an estimated 14 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of resources.

That’s the estimate in Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis of upstream oil and gas projects expected to reach final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2024.

The consultancy expects more projects to take FID this year compared to last year’s 22 sanctioned upstream developments as several projects slated for 2023 approval were delayed.

“With many projects delayed or postponed, we expect operators to commit to more projects in 2024 than last year,” said Ross McGavin, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

“National Oil Companies (NOCs) in the Middle East will control the most projects, but the majors will be busy as well, particularly as they prioritise advantaged deepwater resources,” McGavin noted.

The most advantaged deepwater projects continue to deliver in terms of economic returns and low emission intensity, and these will be the focus of FIDs for Big Oil, according to WoodMac.

The ‘FID class of 2024’ is expected to have much lower average emissions intensity compared to the global upstream average, per the consultancy’s estimates. The projects expected to be sanctioned this year will have an average emissions intensity of 13.6 kg of CO2e per boe, well below the global upstream average of 21 kg CO2e/boe, including liquefaction emissions.

Project economics are also improving, as the share of liquids compared to natural gas is set to grow in the class of 2024 sanctioned projects, WoodMac noted.

The weighted average internal rate of return (IRR) – the estimate of the profitability of potential investments – for the class of 2024 is 23 per cent. To reach just 15 per cent IRR, this year’s project would need an average price of US$47 a barrel oil, compared to project breakevens at US$49 per barrel for the projects sanctioned last year, according to WoodMac’s analysis.

“The higher liquids weighting and higher long-term price assumptions will improve IRRs for this year’s projects,” McGavin said.

“Most payback periods are less than eight years from FID, as operators focus on rapid execution, lower unproductive capital, and higher returns.”

This year was off to a slow start, but FID activity is expected to pick up as the year progresses, Wood Mackenzie said in a report earlier this month.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will be the Middle East’s leader in expansion plans in terms of reserve volumes, with its offshore expansion plans to sanction the Upper Zakum, Lower Zakum, and Umm Shaif gas cap projects.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Turkish national oil company TPAO is expected to approve the largest phase of its giant Sakarya gas project in the Black Sea, WoodMac says.

Not only NOCs will be busy sanctioning projects this year. Big Oil is also set to approve large multi-billion upstream developments.

Out of the expected $125 billion capex on this year’s projects, TotalEnergies is the operator of two of the top five largest projects by capital expenditure. The French supermajor looks to reach FID on projects that would have a combined capex of nearly US$30 billion, per Wood Mackenzie’s estimates.

US supermajor ExxonMobil is set to sanction its sixth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) project at the prolific Stabroek Block in Guyana. In the South American country’s offshore, operational Exxon projects are currently producing more than 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and are expected to reach more than 600,000 bpd in output later this year.

Out of the 30 projects set for FID this year, many will be deepwater resource developments, Ian Thom, Director of Upstream Research at WoodMac, said earlier this year.

“Many of these will be deepwater discoveries, with the 10 biggest deepwater oil projects requiring US$52 billion of investment for recoverable resources of 5 billion barrels of oil,” Thom noted. (Oilprice.com)

Around The World

Israel prepares return to ceasefire talks; UN says Gaza hunger crisis worsens

The main United Nations aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine.

On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new

proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

The delegation will be led by the Head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene his security Cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the latest Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands".

Efforts failed to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, and Israel said on Friday it planned a new offensive against a Hamas stronghold in Rafah, the last

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike as Palestinians fleeing north Gaza owing to Israel’s military offensive move southward, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at the central Gaza Strip, March 15, 2024 (Reuters/Ahmed Zakot photo)

relatively safe city in Gaza after five months of war.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a visit to the region, voiced concern about

an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia's presidential vote starts final day with accusations of Kyiv sabotage

Russia started its final day of presidential voting today with Moscow accusing Ukraine of using air attacks to try to sabotage the election that is expected to keep President Vladimir Putin in power for another six years.

More than half of Russian voters have already gone to the polls in the first two days of the

three-day-election, according to officials. The final day will test the strength of the country's Opposition, which called for all its supporters to vote at the same time at noon, in an action dubbed "Noon Against Putin".

Sporadic protests have already marked the election, but the latest developments in the war with Ukraine have cast a great -

Iceland volcano erupts again, spewing fountains of lava

Avolcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, the country's meteorological office said, spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air in sharp contrast against the dark night sky.

In a video shot from a Coast Guard helicopter and shown on public broadcaster RUV, fountains of molten rock soared from a long fissure in the ground, and lava spread rapidly to each side.

The eruption began at 20:23 GMT and the fissure was estimated to be about 2.9 kilometres long, roughly the same size as the last eruption in February, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement.

Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent on the Reykjanes peninsula just south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik.

The site of the eruption was between Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell, the same

area as the previous outbreak on February 8, the Met Office said.

"This was definitely expected," said Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Centre.

"Of course, the exact time of the eruption is impossible to predict. The first cues of this moving towards the surface actually only happened about 15 minutes in advance," she said.

Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport's website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals.

Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly south towards the nearby Grindavik fishing town, where a few of the nearly 4000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, the Met Office said.

The town was again being evacuated, public broadcaster RUV reported. An outbreak in January burned to the ground several of its homes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

er shadow on the vote so far. On Friday, Putin accused Kyiv of trying to disrupt the election with its intensified drone and missile attacks inside Russia and on Moscow-held territory in Ukraine. He also vowed to punish Ukraine.

Local Russian officials said early today that Kyiv's forces continued their strikes on Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not address the reported attacks in his nightly vid -

eo address on Saturday, but he thanked his military forces and intelligence "for the new Ukrainian longrange capabilities".

Kyiv regards the election taking place in parts of its territory controlled by Russia as illegal and void. Military analysts see the daily pounding by Kyiv that chiefly targets energy and other key infrastructure as an attempt to shake Russians' feeling of stability and undermine Moscow's war effort. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian Navy seizes ship from Somali pirates and rescues 17 crew

Indian naval forces, including special commandos, seized a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members, a spokesperson for the Navy said on Saturday.

The Mavy said in a post on social media platform X that all 35 pirates aboard the ship, the Malteseflagged bulk cargo vessel Ruen , had surrendered, and the ship had been checked for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.

The Ruen had been hijacked last year and the navy said it had intercepted the vessel on Friday.

The vessel may have been used as the base for the takeover of a Bangladeshflagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia earlier this week, the European Union naval force said.

The hijacking of the

Ruen was the first successful takeover of a vessel involving Somali pirates since 2017 when a crackdown by international navies stopped a rash of seizures in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Somali pirates had caused chaos in important global waterways for a decade, but had been dormant until a resurgence of attacks starting late last year.

India deploys at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea to provide security against pirates as Western powers focus on attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.

At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking and suspicious approaches had been recorded by the Indian Navy since December 1, Indian officials previously said. (Reuters)

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI

(MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

(June 21July 22)

LEO

(July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Shake off any negativity that comes your way and focus on what you want to achieve. Take time to pursue something you enjoy. Make decisions that put your mind at ease and benefit you financially.

Don’t get angry, get moving. How you react to others will make a difference and define what you can do under pressure. If you love someone, let them know. Share your long-term goals.

Can you keep a secret? Being too revealing may cost you, and someone will steal your thunder and run with your thoughts. Stay focused on what you want and be careful not to take unnecessary risks.

Show what you have to offer. Learn all you can. You’ll reach your goal if everyone on your team knows what you want. An unusual suggestion will spark your imagination.

You can say what’s on your mind, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get what you want. Once you know where you stand, adjust your plans to fit the circumstances. Don’t give up or give in.

You’re in the driver’s seat, so take control and don’t stop until you reach your destination. A hands-on approach to life, love and happiness will help bring about the changes you desire.

Don’t let mixed emotions lead to trouble. Take your time, sort through your thoughts and plans, and address issues when you feel confident you have everything in place. Timing will be crucial.

Go over your finances, address medical issues and review documents that require attention. Knowing where you stand will allow you to make exciting plans with a loved one. Express your feelings.

Step around anyone who tries to get in your way. The less information you offer, the better. Distance yourself from anyone looking for a scapegoat. Choose your words wisely.

Look at your financial situation and make changes to help you build equity. Home improvements that add to your comfort and entertainment are favored if you stick to a set budget.

Contain your thoughts and avoid an unnecessary argument. Overreacting will lead to poor behavior and problems with people who can cause you grief. Choose peace and love over discord and chaos.

Your enthusiasm will build interest. Jump into action and put a plan in motion. Seek out people who can broaden your awareness and help you finetune your approach. Romance is on the rise.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”… Gold is Money, North East advance

…Colours Boutique extends partnership with tournament

Two-time defending champions Gold is Money, North East La Penitence, and Laing Avenue advanced to the group stage when the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown edition commenced at the National Park Tarmac.

Gold is Money laboured to a 2-1 penalty shoot-out victory over newcomers Renegade AllStars, after regulation and extra time ended 0-0.

Meanwhile, Laing Avenue Ballers bested Festival City 2-0. Bevney Marks recorded a Guinness Goal (GG) – a goal scored in the final three minutes of normal time and the final two minutes of extra time which counts as two – in the 37th minute.

On the other hand, North East La Penitence overcame Ballers 2-1. Kelvin Moore and Akil Plass scored in the sixth and 22nd minute respectively. For the losers, Sam Barnes scored in the 26th minute.

In other results, Rising Stars squeaked past Alexander Village 3-2. Daniel Ross recorded a GG in the 28th minute of normal time, while Jamal Williams scored in the seventh minute. For the losers, Kenroy Dominick netted twice in the fourth and ninth minutes.

Meanwhile, the Sophia and

Bent Street Young Gunners encounter was deemed a no-contest by the officials, following a brief altercation between the players, which resulted in both teams being expelled from the competition.

Colours extends 9-year affiliation

Meanwhile, Colours Boutique continued its nineyear affiliation with the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Championship by donating the team uniforms for the entirety of the 2024 season.

The simple but significant presentation occurred at the entity’s Robb Street location. The company will outfit every competing team in the respective zones. They are Georgetown,

Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Bartica, Linden, Essequibo, and West Demerara.

More than 130 teams, equating to more than 800 players, will receive complete uniforms. Colours will also serve as the official supplier of match balls for the event.

Representative Rodwell Greaves made the presentation on behalf of the business. Greaves stated that the company was committed to the development of the community, which is one of the primary objectives of the competition.

Meanwhile, Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste stated that Colours Boutique was a vital cog in the staging of the tournament and without its

FL Sport, Guyana TV Network support GCB Youth Programme

FL

behalf of the two entities which is expected to be used for the development of age group cricket for boys and girls.

“The folks at the Guyana TV Network and FL Sport think that the youngsters need the support and we would like to see them rewarded handsomely from a young age. That is why we are doing this and will continue to do so. Maybe we can get to that stage where we adopt a young player, support him or her and watch them develop to professionals then we begin the cycle again,” Ramsingh noted.

The pledge was made during the final of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-Association Senior Men’s T20

Tournament, where the idea of the emerging player caught the eyes of the streaming companies and the conversation started.

The handing over was done at Everest Cricket Club at the conclusion of the Reunion cricket match for the Guyana team of 198, to GCB’s Technocrat Officer with responsibility for marketing, Anil Beharry.

The GCB welcomed the latest additions to the growing list of sponsors/shareholders, who have been coming on-

board by the numbers; as they team up to play a role in cricket development while supporting cricketers across all levels.

FL Sport has been the goto company for live streaming and their productions are seen on www.flsport.gy and on the FL Sport channel on the Guyana TV Network App. Patrons may download the Guyana TV Network App on their mobile devices or smart television sets to follow their favourite sport, whether live or at their convenience at a later time.

contribution, the overwhelming success of the event would not be possible.

Baptiste further stated that Colours Boutique’s involvement was a genuine attempt and effort to foster social relations between the respective teams and communities by adding a professional and disciplined outlook to the participants.

The tournament continues today at the same venue with another round of matches.

Complete results

Guinness Goal-(GG)-2 Game 1

Alexander Village 2 v Rising Stars 3

Rising Stars scorers

Daniel Ross – (GG) 28th

Jamal Williams – 7th

Alexander Village scorer

Kenroy Dominick – 4th and 9th

Game 2

Sophia v Bent Street Young

Gunners No Contest due to scuffle

Game 3

Festival City 0 v Laing

Avenue Ballers 2

Bevney Marks – (GG) 37th Game 4 North East La Penitence 2 v Ballers FC 1

North East scorers

Kelvin Moore – 6th

Akil Plass – 22nd Ballers scorer

Sam Barnes– 26th

Game 5 Gold is Money 0 v Renegade

All-Stars 0 Gold is Money won 2-1 on penalty kicks

Sunday, March 17 schedule

19:00h: Up Top Boss v Lodge All-Stars

19:45h: Tiger Bay v Middle Road Ballers

20:30h: Bent Street v Tucville Rangers

21:15h: Stabroek Ballers v Bad a Yard

22:00h: Leopold Street v Unstoppable

22:45h: Sparta Boss v Back Road Ballers

GCF continues Special Education Needs Schools’ initiative

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Special Needs Committee, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, hosted the first teacher's training session for 2024 at the David Rose Special School on Friday, March 15.

The initiative was spearheaded by Sabine McIntosh, who heads the Special Needs Committee of the GCF. The training workshop included teachers from multiple special needs schools, such as St Barnabas Special School, Linden School for Special Children, New Amsterdam Special Needs School, David Rose Special School, Special Needs School, East Bank Demerara, and Ptolemy Reid Complex in Georgetown.

The GCF recognises the importance of including and equipping educators with the skills necessary to match the various learning levels of young learners with disabilities.

The workshop, which aims to increase knowledge and awareness of chess for children with special needs, will see the game being added as part of regular class activity. Chess helps to develop creativity and problem-solving skills, strategy, and discipline. It teach-

A

es children and adults to focus and serves as a social and recreational activity while creating friendly competition. These are real-life skills students can learn and apply in or out of school.

The educators in attendance, some of whom have been part of previous workshops, took advantage of the refresher course on training methods for students who require a more hands-on approach. Open discussions among teachers were held on the challenges and progress of chess in the classroom for the schools for special needs students.

The objective was to introduce chess in more schools as

an effective form of support education for students with disabilities, on the spectrum, or who have difficulty learning the traditional way.

The GCF would like to thank the David Rose Special School for providing the venue and the Beacon Foundation, who provided meals for the participants and staff. Special thanks were extended to the GCF team of volunteers who provided invaluable assistance during the workshop.

The GCF is especially grateful to Sabine McIntosh, who works tirelessly to promote chess within the special needs schools in Guyana.

Guyana men depart for Indoor Pan American Cup in Calgary

The

The

Arrows will open play on March 19 against regional powerhouses Argentina at 13:15h (Guyana time), before going up against the USA at 18:15h. They then face Canada on March 20, before concluding round-robin play against Trinidad and Tobago on March 21. With the semi-finals and finals scheduled for March 22, the

top two finishers from the tournament will qualify for the 2025 Indoor World Cup.

Asked about his expectations of the team, Head Coach Shane Samuels said: “I expect nothing less than qualification. We have a good mix of youth and experience, and the last time we had this sort of mix, we did well, but fell short in games we should’ve won. As coach, my task is to keep everyone focused on the main goal and secure the wins we should. Having some of the overseas-based players with recent experience in cold conditions is a big plus for the team, since the majority of the locally-based

players have little to no experience competing in a cold climate.”

The team will have two practice sessions and a friendly match against Canada, in an effort to acclimatise to the conditions in the two days prior to the start of the competition.

Team

Robert France (C); Medroy Scotland (GK); Paul D’Andrade (GK); Jarbari Lovell; Kareem McKenzie; Meshach Sargeant; Shakeem Fausette; Shaquon Favorite; Tahrea Garnett; Aroydy Branford;

GFF boss meets with Golden Jags ahead of FIFA Series departure

Guyana Football Federation (GFF)

President Wayne Forde on Friday afternoon met with the Golden Jaguars team travelling to Saudi Arabia to take part in the inaugural FIFA Series to wish them well.

At the brief meeting at the Federation’s headquarters in Georgetown, the top football official also took the time to reinforce the importance of abiding by the regulations of the Middle Eastern nation and tournament.

He encouraged players to seize the opportunity “to show the world the level of talent we have in Guyana, while being respectful of the customs of the host nation”.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz echoed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the tournament and “staying focused throughout the competition

because you are representing Guyana on an international stage”.

The Golden Jaguars will play two international friendlies in the Middle Eastern country, with the first showdown set for March 21 against Cabo Verde (Cape Verde). This will be followed by another match on March 26, against Cambodia.

The historic matches are scheduled to take place in the Prince Abdullah AlFaisal Stadium in Jeddah.

Introduced in 2023, the groundbreaking FIFA Series initiative paves the way for international friendlies every other year across all six confederations. It offers national players a prestigious global stage to exhibit their talents.

Guyana is grouped with Cabo Verde, Cambodia, and Equatorial Guinea. This worldwide competition fea -

tures 20 FIFA member associations battling it out across multiple venues in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka from March 18 to March 26.

The GFF urges fans to rally behind the Golden Jaguars.

other matches fans have been eager to get their hands on.

Tickets for all West Indies Group Stage matches are available now. West Indies, who are in Group C alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea, play their four Group Stage games in three Caribbean locations: Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Prices start at US$22 and are available now at tickets.t20worldcup.com. The tournament’s full match fixtures are available at https:// www.icc-cricket.com/news/ groups-fixtures-confirmed-for-

icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2024.

Additional tickets will also be released for Super 8 matches in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Available tickets will also go on sale for the two semi-finals. The first will be played on Wednesday, June 26 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago, and the second on Thursday, June 27 at the Guyana National Stadium. The final will be played at

Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29, for which tickets are currently unavailable.

Prior to the additional tickets being released, fans can create an account at the official platform tickets. t20worldcup.com to purchase tickets for 37 matches today. From 10:00 AST on Tuesday, they can purchase tickets for an additional 14 games.

The fastest, easiest, and most secure way for fans to get the tickets they want

to the games they want is at tickets.t20worldcup.com. Payment can be made with Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards.

A limited number of tickets will be made available for locals at box offices across the Caribbean at a later date. However, fans are encouraged to buy online now to secure their seats to see the world’s best players at venues across the Caribbean.

Fawwaz Baksh, Tournament Director, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, said: “With less than 80 days to the start of the World Cup, this announcement is an emphatic response to the global call from fans to make additional tickets available for matches and we are thrilled to be able to do so.

“Whether you prefer the convenience of online transactions or the face-to-face interaction of securing your tickets in person, we’ve got you covered. Our online ticketing portal provides a hassle-free way to secure your tickets with just a few clicks. Simply vis-

it tickets.t20worldcup.com.

“In the Caribbean, there has always been a preference to purchase tickets over the counter at a box office, and this has always been a part of our plans. By offering both online and box office ticketing options, we aim to accommodate the diverse preferences of our fan base, ensuring a memorable and inclusive experience for all.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 hospitality programme will also be launched on Tuesday, at 10:00 AST; fans will be able to choose from a range of premium private suites and individual food and beverage packages across the West Indies and at Nassau County International Stadium in New York. Packages for fixtures at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas, and Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, will be released at a later date.

For further information on ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 tickets, visit tickets. t20worldcup.com.

Harpy Eagles edge Pride in final-day thriller

Nerves were high at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday as the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Barbados Pride were locked in an intense battle, nearing the conclusion of their fourth-round clash in the West Indies Championships 2024.

When the dust settled, it was the defending champions, the Harpy Eagles who drew out a 33-run victory in tense, nail-biting fashion.

Barbados Pride raced to 31 runs in the final four overs on Friday afternoon, showing their intent to the Harpy Eagles, heading into the final day of play. But Day 4 was a see-saw as Guyana consistently took wickets while Barbados showed some resistance.

The duo of Kraigg Brathwaite and Zachary McCaskie returned to the crease on Saturday morning, unbeaten on 8 and 18 runs respectively.

Brathwaite was the first to go, falling for 23 from 40 deliveries after being cleaned up by Veerasammy Permaul. Permaul then had Shian Brathwaite and first innings centurion Jonathan Drakes removed in quick time for four runs and a duck re-

spectively; to put the Harpy Eagles back in contention.

However, at the other end, McCaskie was playing an innings similar to Drakes in the first innings. Together with Raymon Reifer and after his demise, Jason Holder, McCaskie put the pressure back on the Harpy Eagles bowling.

McCaskie eventually got to 87 off 103 deliveries, inclusive of 14 boundaries before Nial Smith rained on his parade.

While Reifer came and went for 19 runs, Shane Dowrich spent a bit of time at the crease to frustrate the Guyanese bowling line-up.

Gudakesh Motie finally got Dowrich for a 37-ball 26 and later Kemar Roach for 8 as the Harpy Eagles continued to inch closer to victory.

Soon, the only resistance Barbados had Jason Holder, who, at tea, remained unbeaten on 45 runs after facing 93 deliveries. At that point, the Harpy Eagles had

John Lewis Memorial Sevens gets underway

GDF Reserve Colonel (Retired) John Percy Lewis was a long-standing servant of rugby in Guyana and the Caribbean, serving as President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and Pepsi Hornets Club, while also contributing to the establishment of the West Indies rugby team.

reduced Barbados to 2397, needing just three wickets for the fourth-round win. On the other hand, Barbados required 104 more runs, to taste victory. Holder showed his class and experience in the final session, taking the Barbados Pride dangerously close to their target with the help of Jomel Warrican.

However, the eventual hero in Smith took his second big wicket of the day, trapping Holder lbw for 76 off 138 balls. Though Warrican still looked menacing, it was smooth sailing there on out for the Harpy Eagles.

Smith claimed the remaining two wickets of Chemar Holder and Jair

McAllister to end with a match- winning 4-87 in 13.5 overs. Motie and Permaul who did the heavy lifting earlier in the day, backed up Smith with figures of 3-71 from 28 overs and 3-66 from 23 overs respectively.

In other West Indies Championships results on Saturday, the Jamaica Scorpions defeated the West Indies Academy by two wickets, Leeward Islands Hurricanes overcame Combined Colleges and Campuses by three wickets, while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force upset Windward Islands Volcanoes by six wickets.

The Harpy Eagles will face the Windward Islands Volcanoes next in Round 5 of the Championships.

Since his passing in 2020, the current administration of GRFU has implemented the John Lewis Memorial Sevens tournament, the second edition of which got underway on Saturday afternoon at the National Park, Georgetown.

The two-day tournament in Lewis’s honour will see competition from four clubs, namely the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Falcons, Panthers and the Pepsi Hornets.

Before the action could bul-

ly off, current Pepsi Hornets President Ryan Gonsalves spoke fondly of the late Lewis, deeming him a special person.

“From what I can remember, and most of the senior players that are here too, is that John Lewis was a special person in rugby, clubwise, on and off the field, and we’re pretty much sad that

he isn’t here today, but we just want to share some good moments that we had with him,” Gonsalves said at the brief opening ceremony for the tournament.

He went on to add, “He also is one of the most successful managers for the sevens team, which I was also a part of and you know, what can we say? We can’t answer every question, but we’re happy that today we could open the sevens season with the John Lewis Sevens and we’re so happy.”

When the action finally got underway, the Panthers mauled GDF 41-5 in the opening game, with Godfrey Broomes scoring a hat-trick of tries. A win for the Police Falcons followed, as they eased past a young Pepsi Hornets team 24-12.

The Rugby action continues today, Sunday March 17 in the National Park from 15:00h.

NSC urges sports associations to submit financial statements

With the singular purpose of laying the groundwork for the establishment of an ideal sports culture of governance, the National Sports Commission (NSC) petitions all national federations and associations to submit and publish their respective annual financial statements in an expeditious and transparent manner.

This clarion call, which is not an act of compulsion, was made by Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle.

The corresponding associations and federations should see this course of action, in Ninvalle’s estimation, as the start of the adoption phase of a new culture independent from coercion, force, or compulsion.

He expounded, “The creation of a model sports culture is what drives the mandate of the NSC – a philosophy, though infant in its establishment, that speaks to accountability and transparency not only at the administrative and governmental levels but, more importantly, in the public strata and court. This is not a decree, but simply an act of good faith as we strive to create the humble but import-

ant tenets of culture that is required for the evolution of our sporting landscape.”

According to Ninvalle, “We acknowledge that some associations might be experiencing challenges organising financial statements and other supporting documentation. And to make sure that this occurs, we’re prepared to collaborate with them. In the medium to long term, associations are advised to take this course of action.”

The timely submission of audited financial reports, in Ninvalle’s estimation, is a hallmark of good governance. The National Sports Commission, and conse-

quentially, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, will subsequently incorporate this data to construct appropriate guidelines and procedures for the incorporation of this culture into sport associations.

“Associations are required to submit their financial statements annually; some have, but some have not. Despite our requests and the National Sports Commission Act’s mandate, we still find that some associations are negligent. Nevertheless, we want to embrace them (those who have not) and help them integrate into this burgeoning culture,” he explained.