Kaieteur News

East Bank Police Commander, Mahendra Singh and one of his ranks, Constable Ellery Mason, 31 are presently hospitalised after a sand truck crashed into the police pick-up they were in early Wednesday morning.

Guyana's oil helps Exxon give shareholders US$8B in second quarter

Executives at

E x x o n M o b i l Corporation were pleased to disclose that oil operations at Guyana's Stabroek Block are helping to ensure its promise to return excess cash to shareholders is honoured. Specifically, ExxonMobil's Chairman, Darren Woods recently noted that the oil giant was able to pay out US$8B in cash during the 2023 second quarter. Woods said, “We continue to share o u r s u c c e s s w i t h shareholders, distributing US$8B in cash during the quarter, including US$4.3B in share repurchases and US$3.7Bindividends.”

ExxonMobil's Chief Financial Officer (CEO) and SeniorVicePresident,Kathy Mikells was also keen to note that the oil giant continues to target US$17 5B of share repurchasesthisyearandhas the ability to make tactical changes in its repurchase activity if necessary Mikells said,“Ourstrongoperational results coupled with a healthy balance sheet continue to provide us the flexibility to invest in profitable growth through

the cycles and, more consistently return excess cashtoourshareholders.”

Addingtohercomments, her CEO, Woods, told shareholders that the company's efforts to structurally improve its earningspowerispayingoff, as demonstrated during the quarter where it made US$7.9Binprofitswithhelp from Guyana's fast-paced production in the Stabroek Block.

In Guyana, Woods noted that Exxon has two major p r o j e c t s p r o d u c i n g approximately 400,000 barrels of oil per day while noting that improvement plans are in the pipeline to surpassthatlevel.

Woods said, “Our reorganizations, aggressive investments in advantaged projects, and significant reductionsincostaredriving value and improving our competitiveposition.

We've made great progress and have a clear lineofsighttomuchmore.”

In the back half of this year alone, Woods was pleased to share with their investorsthatthecompanyis expected to bring on two advantaged projects: The

expansion of a chemicals facility in Baytown, USA and the startup of Guyana's third development project called Payara which is designedtoproduce220,000 barrelsofoilperday

Notably, Payara is one of the many projects being managed by ExxonMobil Corporation, and its partners, Hess Corporation, and CNOOC International.

It is a monumental undertaking with an estimated cost of US$9B. This comprehensive project encompasses exploration, drilling, infrastructure d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d production facilities geared towards extracting and processing the oil reserves holding 600 million barrels

of oil. Once operational, Payara will complement two existing projects, Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two, which already produce an impressive average of 400,000 gross barrels of oil perday

Furthermore, two other sanctioned developments, Yellowtail and Uaru, are poised to further strengthen Guyana'senergysector,with the former set to launch in 2025andthelatterin2026.

With Guyana in play, Woods said the company is betterpositionedthaneverto realize exponential value for itsshareholders.

The CEO said, “For the first time in our history, we have a corporate technology, projects, trading, supply

chain,andbusinesssolutions organization allowing us to apply the best solutions and talent to our biggest

opportunities And,

importantly, we are developingthemosttalented people in the industry, providing unrivaled opportunities to meet some of society's greatest challenges.”

Headded,“Theirworkis delivering exceptional results, driving industryl e a d i n g r e t u r n s o n investments, and growth in earningsandcashflow

This,inturn,allowsusto d i s t r i b u t e c a s h t o shareholders through share repurchases and a sustained, competitive, and growing dividend while maintaining investments in industry advantagedprojects...”

In summary, Woods said Exxon is pleased with the 2023 second quarter results, theprogressitrepresentsand the improved earnings power of the company “We're confident that we have the right strategy with the right leadership and best people to effectively execute it, delivering sustained growth in shareholder value,” Woods

said.

R e m a r k a b l y, t h e Stabroek Block which is revered as an industry leadingandadvantagedasset in Exxon's portfolio spans 6.6millionacres.

It is set to witness the deployment of six FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels) with a combined gross production capacity exceeding a staggering 1.2 million barrels of oil per day bytheendof2027.Thesheer scale of this endeavour demonstrates the potential for up to 10 FPSOs, showcasing Guyana's immense recoverable resources of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

As ExxonMobil and its partners continue their pursuitofacceleratedenergy excellence in Guyana, the Stabroek Block has emerged as a hotbed for oil exploration and production. Its substantial reserves of high-quality crude oil have positioned the region as a pivotal player in the c o u n t r y ' s e n e r g y development, heralding a new era of prosperity and progress.

Hess boasts to shareholders about low cost of production for 5 Guyana projects ...sixth project plan on track for year-end

Hess Corporation, an American

e x p l o r a t i o n company, has once again assured its shareholders of the multibillion dollar value ofGuyana'soil-richStabroek Block, revered for holding over 11 billion barrels of resources.

During a recent earnings call, the company boasted to shareholders about the five development projects it has received approval for in the block The company highlighted that these projects, Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara, Yellowtail and Uaru, have a breakeven spread of US$25 to US$35 per barrel Brent. It therefore means that if the priceofabarrelofoildropsto US$25, the project would still deliver enough revenues tocovertheoperations.

With such a low cost of production and in an environment where the price

per barrel is hovering around US$80,Hessisguaranteedto cream off US$1B in profits annually from at least four of those named projects. Hess also said that by 2027, that low cost of supply is expected to decline by a further 25 percent as it will embark on a number of operational efficiencies at its Guyanaprojects.

It was also keen to note thatplansremainontrackfor a sixth project plan to be delivered to Guyanese authorities by year end Together, these six projects are set to deliver a gross production capacity of more than 1.2 million barrels of oil perday.

After highlighting the sweet economics of projects in the Stabroek Block, the company said it is clear that Guyana is central to its growthstrategy

In fact, Hess' Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

John Hess underscored Guyana's importance as he reminded that more than 30 discoveries have been made on the Stabroek Block, underpinning a gross discovered recoverable resource estimate of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with multibillion barrels of exploration

potential remaining The companyheadalsonotedthat there is potential for up to 10 floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSOs) vessels to develop the discovered resources on the StabroekBlock.

AsaresultofitsindustryleadingoperationsinGuyana Hess also recalled that it was in June the company was named Exploration and Production Explorer of the Yearinthe15thannualWood Mackenzie exploration industry survey for the secondconsecutiveyear.

The Hess CEO said, “Successful execution of our strategy has uniquely positioned our company to deliver significant value to shareholders for years to come, both by growing intrinsic value and by growing cash returns. We plan to continue increasing our regular dividend to a level that is attractive to

income-oriented investors but sustainable in a low oil priceenvironment.”

He added, “As our free cashflowgenerationsteadily increases in future years, share repurchases are expected to represent a growing proportion of our returnofcapital.”

By investing only in high-return low-cost opportunities, the CEO expressedconfidencethatthe company has built a differentiated and balanced

portfolio, which he reminded, is focused on Guyana, the Bakken, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia. In the S t a b r o e k B l o c k , ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

ExxonMobil CEO, Darren Woods

Hess Corporation's CEO, John Hess

...countryispart of company's master plantodeliver US$17B payout thisyear

Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

HUNTER BIDEN - ANOTHER SACRED POLITICAL COW

Hunter Biden is the son of sitting US President Joseph Biden. He has been a son of great irresponsibility, much alleged criminality Yet, he seemingly evaded the law and its punishments because he is Joe Biden’s son.There are few other conclusions left given what he had gotten away with, how long he was allowed to dodge being reeled in by the law, and avoiding the justice owed to the American people. Now his cushy pleadealhasfallenapart,andPresidentBidenhimselfisin the impeachment crosshairs. Coverups do not clean up anything, but conceal for a time only We hope that the PPP/CGovernmentispayingattention.

EveninAmerica,asocietyofopenness,standards,and many of morals and integrity in high public positions, Hunter Biden ran free, was not answerable for his many tangles with the law It is fair to assert that an ordinary citizen would not have been afforded the latitude that the youngerBidenwasgiven,whatnowensnareshisfather

For the agreement reached between Hunter Biden and American authorities, that felt like a slap on the wrist, has beenjunkedbyajudge.

It stands as another finger in the eye of Americans, a rebuke on the Biden machinations. To our regret, it now seemsthenormforpoliticalfigures,theirfamilies,andtheir friendsandcroniestobetreatedinadifferentmanner,with the most delicate of touches, considerable disinterest, and lackofurgency Whatisevenmoreregrettableisthatthisis happening in hallowedAmerica, and involves the son of a sittingpresident.

DespiteAmerica’sfadingpower,itsweakeninggripon worldaffairs,itstillremainsaforceofconsiderablestrength tobereckonedwith,thebonafideleaderofwhatisloosely calledthefreeworld.ItissaidthatwhenAmericasneezes, theworldcatchescold.

Bythesamemeasurement,whenAmericastandsguilty of lapses at the heights, as exist in the Hunter Biden outrages, then those trickle down to other societies, where the rule of law stumbles. It does not set the kind of clean, consistent standard for other places to follow Guyana standsasoneofthosedilapidatedplacesthatcoulddowitha facelift and a complete makeover where the rule of law is concerned, and when moral and ethical leadership are the concernsthatjustwouldnotgoaway

When those in government who have a history that is riddled with the dirty and the predatory, or the comprised andcorrupt,arecondoned,givenafreepass,thennotmuch could be claimed as standards, or moral compass. When a mystery man named Sue could be scrutinized for his underpinnings,andnottheobjectofhiscontentiousclaims, thenthisisasocietythatisinafreefalltothebottom.When serialwrongdoersareshieldedfromthelongarmofthelaw, then the first shoe has dropped. When the law itself is actually called upon to intervene, and there are serious doubts as to the integrity and unbiased professional nature ofitswork,thenGuyanaisrenderedshoeless.

Cheatersandtricksters,breakersofthelaw,aretheones ruling the roost here. Their words are garbled, they hide behind helpful political comrades, and they can always be assuredofachoiroflouddefenders,whothemselveshave lostanymoralanchortheyoncemayhavehad,ifever Itis good that a courageous judge inAmerica had the will and spirittoquashthesweetdealworkedoutbythePresident’s son,butwhatabouthere?

IftheHunterBidenescapadescouldtakesuchatortured routeinAmerica,thenwhatandwhoisheretogiveussome hopeaboutfairnessandjustice?

Forthelawtobegiventeeth,andjusticetostandonits feet, then it must apply to all, and with the swiftest competency, the fullest potency. America failed in the instance of Hunter Biden because of the heights where his people are stationed, as asserted by whistleblowers. Somebodyhasgottostandup,stepforward,andbellthecat here. Start with the deceivers and misleaders that we have forpoliticians.

ROGERLUNCHEON-AMANTO RESPECT,NOREGULAR‘BANNA’

DEAREDITOR,

In adversarial forms of politics, as Guyana’s is, the acrimony and disdain for, andbetween,opposingsides isalwaysverypalpable.

One is simply not expectedtoadmireorrevere anyone from the “other side”.

In the case of Dr Roger Luncheon however, one couldnotescapetheobvious realitythathewasanenigma whocommandedrespect.

I have had countless close encounters and engagements with Dr Luncheon, and in all he would remind you that he was no regular “banna” - to use one of his favourite expressions.

For three years, a small group, representing the PPP/C and PNCR met quietlyindialoguetodiscuss

a range of issues arising out of the Herdmanston Accord process.

It was hard not to get to know each other on a more personallevel.

Though political views and positions remained unassailable, we all came away with a better a p p r e c i a t i o n a n d understanding of each other Roger Luncheon, in those meetings, never failed to entertainordisappoint.

Athispressconferences, hespokeinaverycircuitous way and one had to develop an art to decipher his language.

He wasn’t known to lie, but didn’t make it easy to understand what he was saying; especially when he was dealing with a thorny subject.

If you took the time to

dissect his words, all one needed to know was intricately revealed. A most memorable example of this was when he coined the phrase “phantom force” in theheydayofthekillings,by statingatapressconference: “ there is reasonably plausibleevidencethatthere is a phantom force involved in killings, and it is not the securityforces.”

In those words was the f i r s t o f f i c i a l acknowledgement of the killings that were plaguing the nation,and the source of them.

Onamorepersonalnote, during the height of 2011 elections campaign, I once accompanied a colleague’s relativetomeetwithhimat6 am, to discuss possible governmentsupportinatime of personal need of the

colleague’sfamily

At that meeting, though we were publicly locked in political battle, Dr Luncheon produced a masterclass on the medical condition and outcomes my colleague was dealing with, and another masterclass on humanity

There was not a hint of rancour, bitterness or arroganceon his part. It was easytotakethelowroadand hit his opponents when in distress.

In the end, he calmly said, “we will help”. I came awayfromthatmeetingwith the conviction that though we would be embattled, we must always maintain a senseofhumanity.

May his soul rest in peace.

Sincerely,

RaphaelTrotman

DEAREDITOR,

Pleaseallowmetoreflect onLincolnLewis’letterthat appeared in your newspaper on2August2023.

Theletterexemplifiesthe crisis in the scholarship of those who purport to advance the interest Guyanese.Letmeelaborate.

First,Mr Lewis’opening salvo were the words of MartinLutherKing.

Thisisemblematicofthe crisis that I have alluded to. The Guyanese intelligentsia havebeenfedagooddietof the Black American experience and their civil rightsstruggles.

Thedebilitatingeffecton Guyanesescholarshipisthat the Guyanese intelligentsia view Guyanese society through the prism of the BlackAmericanexperience.

Their pronouncements are shoe-horned to conform the analytical paradigm of the American Civil Rights movement.

Acareful reading of Mr Lewis’ letter demonstrates this phenomenon; he excludedanyoftheuplifting speeches of Linden Forbes Burnham, Ptolemy Reid, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, or Walter Rodney. Instead, he sought refuge in Martin LutherKing.

He did exactly what Chinua Achebe wrote about in“ThingsFallApart.”

He reduced authentic Guyanese voices of Burnham, Reid, Critchlow and Rodney to mere footnotes.

Second, Mr Lewis is enamoured with the American Civil Rights struggles and shoe-horns Guyanese experience to fit theAmericanparadigm. He tries speciously to make a comparison between the American Civil Rights movement and what he claimstobe“dailyresistance to chattel slavery by our ancestors.”

But for Cuffy, Damon and Quamina, slavery in Guyana was a stable situation.

We did not have a protracted struggle like the marchonSelmaorthesitting at the lunch counter of a

Woolworth’s; we did not have a maroon population engaged in a constant battle withtheplantocracy

In fact, Mr Lewis contradicts himself by unwitting stating, “Africans in the British Empire achieved their freedom based on the Emancipation Proclamation.”

The Proclamation was not the result of insurrection butbythesuasionofthelikes of Buxton and William Wilberforce.

It was the Emancipation Proclamation and not insurrection in the colony that resulted in abolition of slavery

Third, Mr Lewis falsely represent Guyana as a place where“inhumanity,brutality andcrueltyarestillpresent.”

Having read this

sentence, I was imagining a Guyana that looks and feels like Afghanistan, South Sudan,orUkraine.

Guyanahasproblemsbut not those that Mr Lewis claims We have our problemsbuttheglassishalf full.

We have issues to confront:thedevelopmentof oil,thereductionofpoverty, thereductionofcrime,issues of good governance, the degradation of the environment, what kind of societywearecreating,etc.

So,Mr Lewis,Iwilljoin hands with you and crusade the length and breadth of Guyana to advance the strugglesforequalrightsand justiceforALL.

Sincerely, RogerAlly Fort

Lauderdale,FL

Opposition rhetoric too pungent, too lacking in true freedom

DEAREDITOR, The opposition forces were out in full force this Emancipation with their anti-government, hate filled rhetoric, which filled volumes.

Reading their messages onthisauspiciousoccasionI amlefttowonder,broughtin bondageandcaptivitybythe slave masters and after almost two centuries. Held

in bondage and captivity of their own making. It would appearthisperceivedstateof affairs is not only conceived out of malice for the government of the day, but thepeopletheyarebeholden to speak for are the ultimate collateral damage, left danglingbythevoicescrying inthewilderness.

True emancipation cannotbeachieveduntiland

unlessweridtheshacklesof hate, divisiveness and racism.

Touseanoccasiontostir the cauldron of the very things our ancestors fought againstmeanswearenotyet free of the forces that once held us on the Atlantic j o u r n e y f r o m t h e motherland.

Yourstruly, ShamshunMohamed

TheAmericanCivilRights experienceisnotthesameasGuyana’s

Jagdeo in full parrot mode, he and Pres.Ali spewing hot air across Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

The Arrow calypso

“Feeling hot, hot, hot” is a song played universally by all cultures, at their festive eventsandputsallpresentin a happy and festive mood to enjoy the party A friend once told me no matter how bad his mood is, this song changes his mood to happiness.

The current feeling hot fromthehotairinGuyanais not so joyous but miserable for Guyanese, due to the increased oil operations flaring,deforestationoftrees from mining and logging, ocean and rivers that help in cooling being polluted, idling vehicles stuck in traffic, congestion of people inonearea,andcountrywide so-called developmental construction erecting concreteandsteelstructures. Meanwhile destroying trees and vegetation which helps in cooling with no environmental study to strike a balance between development and protecting the environment. So those who are lucky to have air conditioning will be turning them up and stressing the power grid, or just like everything else in Guyana, thepowerwillbedirectedto the area where selected foreigners and Guyanese live, and leaving ordinary Guyanese suffering with rollingblackouts.

The entire globe has countries that are experiencingtheirworstheat s e a s o n s w i t h h o t temperatures breaking all previous records. Still, in Guyana,insteadofusingthe

guidelinesforflaringsetout by Dr Vincent Adams’s EPA, we have the Parsram’s EPA allowing Exxon unlimited flaring At the same time, the PPP boasts about carbon credits from increased flaring as Guyanese continue feeling theheatlikeneverbefore.

Many Guyanese go to priests, shamans, and clairvoyants for help when they get ills that they never hadbefore,sowedon’thave any medical statistics that can relate illness to the flaringorotherheat-causing activities.

Instead of having a government that addresses these heat issues, they are instead encouraging and supporting activities that raise the temperature while othercountriesaregoinginto heatemergencies.

In addition to the hot air in the atmosphere hovering over Guyanese heads, we also have hot air spewed by political leaders and spokespersons of the exploiting multinational companies whenever they address Guyanese concerns

for our rightful share of our country’s wealth The spokespersonsoftheforeign exploiters spew hot air whenever they tell Guyanese,thebusinessdeals Guyana received from them are the best things for Guyanesesinceslicedbread.

VPJagdeo, since he likes to name-call critics of his policies as mentally ill, spews hot air like a squawking parrot repeating the same deceitful words when asked to provide important information to Guyanese, as required by law on the oil and resource operationstothepeoplewho are the true owners of Guyana’swealth.

Whenever the VP opens his mouth, we hear APNU didn’t do this and APNU didn’tdothat,andthePPPis now correcting APNU’s shortcomings.

Still, we will never hear of correcting and renegotiating the oppressive oil and resource contracts even as those words came from the PPP’s leaders’own mouths themselves. However, Trotman the

Condolences at the passing of Guyanese patriot, Dr. Luncheon

DEAREDITOR, C R G e x t e n d s condolences to the family andfriendsofDr Luncheon. He was a very dedicated patriot and his contributions to the nation will always be

a p p r e c i a t e d a n d remembered.

Sincerely,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

signer of the oil contract is willing to assist in renegotiating, so all the PPP campaignpromiseswerejust hot air The PPP has now changedtheirgoalpostsfrom renegotiatingtheoilcontract and making Guyana the Dubai of the western hemisphere to now beating APNU. The PPP doesn’t need to beat APNU, with a leader like Norton spewing hot air all the time, APNU willexplodeontheirown. If APNU has any brains at all, they will call an emergency meeting and get rid of Norton.

The PPP, likewise, should also call one and get ridofJagdeoaswell.Norton atoneofhisrecentaddresses referred to President Ali as “Presidunce”, he should retain this word for himself, ifbyalightningstrikeofluck or by divine or foreign intervention he becomes president that word will fit him perfectly since he can never succeed in a job that requires basic competence andresponsibilities.

Meanwhile, my cousin left his home to attend a family function for a few hours and returned home to

find someone helped themselves to his kitchen garden. Maybe when MP JuanEdgehillspewedhotair urging Guyanese to plant bigan,bora,andbajee,thisis whathehadthisinhismind, thatGuyaneseintoughtimes which will happen in the current state of affairs, will be feeding themselves from theirneighbours.

Finally, the hot air spewed by the president could fill a hot air balloon, whetherhespeaksinGuyana or abroad, he boasts of business and investment opportunities for foreigners, but never about what’s in it forGuyanesefromtheirown wealth.

He constantly uses the words “capacity” and “sustainability”, but he will never ask Guyanese if they have the capacity to sustain theonslaughtandbarrageof (a) the massive oil and resourcewealththatisbeing transferred and shipped

overseas from Guyana, (b) the dangers from the desecration of the beautiful environment of Guyana, (c) thewidespreadcorruptionin allsectorsofGuyanacausing Guyanese harm, (d) the increasing debt load on Guyanese that will create unprecedented inflation and high cost of living, and (e) the suffering of Guyanese from incompetence and mismanagement from all levels of government from state, regional, local and stateentities.

Guyanese if you will only spew hot air and continue to accept this nonsense from your leaders by sitting back, staying silent, and being submissive to what’s happening in your country, then you all better get a steady supply of ice if you can, since the temperature will only get hotter.

Trulyyours,

R.David

Farewell dear Comrade, you will find a place in the annals of our history

DEAREDITOR,

ThepassingofDr.Roger ForbesLuncheonconstitutes aloss,notonlytothePartyin Governmentheservedbutto this Nation as a whole. I remember Roger as a youngster and earning the reputation of being one of our brilliant medical practitioners recognized as suchathomeandabroad.

I recall attending a Pan

A m e r i c a n H e a l t h

Organisation (PAHO)

MeetinginWashingtonwith the then Medical Officer of Health, Dr Rex Jones and learning of his reputation soughtanaudiencewithhim.

Roger turned up with a motor-cycle and we invited him to return to Guyana to boostourmedicalservices.

He said ‘bannas, the matter is under active consideration ’ Shortly

after he returned and while holding the portfolio including Health, I always relied on his advice on medical matters Such advice is always useful and workable. Beyond that, I sensed his admiration and political support for Dr Jagan and therefore was not surprised when he opted to head the Presidential SecretariatafterthePPPwon theElectionsof1992.Many ofuslikemyselffeltthathis movementtothetopechelon in the political arena was a substantial loss to the medical profession but in life, we must respect the choices of individuals. As head of the Presidential Secretariat, his penchant to excellence and devotion to dutyinserviceforthepeople and things he believed in stood out. In spite of being

Clear the illegal miners from Amerindian lands; use the laws

DEAREDITOR,

on different sides of our political divide, we retained arespectfulrelationship.

Perhapsasaresultofthe close friendship I enjoyed with his father, Rannie Luncheon, as is customary I called him on his birth date lastmonth. Theyoung lady who answered the phone said she was his God daughterandhecouldnot,at that time, take the call because he was under the oxygentent.

I asked her to convey to him birthday greetings and bestwishesfrommyfamily Roger served his country wellandisnowgonetojoin the great majority beyond thehorizon.

Farewell dear Comrade, you will find a place in the annalsofourhistory Regards, HamiltonGreen

I refer to your news report on the dreadful longrunning case of illegal mining at Chinese Landing (Kaieteur News. (2023, July 28).‘Govt.todeployteamto probeenvironmental,human rights abuses at Chinese Landing – VP Bharrat Jagdeo’.

https://wwwkaieteurne wsonline com/2023/07/28/g ovt-to-deploy-team-toprobe-environmentalhuman-rights-abuses-atchinese-landing-vp-bharratjagdeo/).

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has previously addressed the complaint about similar problems at Isseneru. The two documents are well worthreadingforthecareful histories of events, and summaries of the very dubious and ill-informed decisions of the High Court andAppealCourtinGuyana. It does not seem that our judiciary has grasped the notion that a case may i n v o l v e a t t e n t i o n simultaneouslytoArticlesin the National Constitution

and to sections in the Amerindian Act, Mining Act,andlegislationonwater resources. It is scarcely surprisingthatanylegalcase involvingbothhumanrights and natural resources will require attention to several lawsandregulations.

It is a curiosity that routine application by the GGMCofonesectionofthe MiningAct1989wouldhave or could have avoided many disputes in the ‘gold bush’. The Mining Regulations 1905 contained in section 199 the important provision –‘Alllandoccupiedorused by the Aboriginal Indians, andalllandnecessaryforthe quiet enjoyment by the Aboriginal Indians of any Indian settlement, shall be deemed to be lawfully occupied by them’. This provision has been passed down through revisions of mininglaw ThecurrentCap 65:01 Mining Act 1989, Section111,hasverysimilar language – ‘All land occupied or used by the Amerindian communities andalllandnecessaryforthe quiet enjoyment by the Amerindians of any

Amerindiansettlement,shall be deemed to be lawfully occupiedbythem’. Thatis, in my understanding, all mining operations require the consent of Amerindian communities,andhavedone forthelast118years.

When such consent is withdrawn, as in the case of Chinese Landing and the agreement with Wayne Vieira withdrawn in 2004, t h a t w i t h d r a w a l automatically ended the validity of any GGMC miningconcession.

The current government proposal for talks about finding ‘mutually beneficial and amicable measures’ is simplyadelayingtactic. We see no similar delaying tactics in the current acquisitions of private property for the Gas-toenergy project and the new DemeraraHarbourBridge.

The government should use the authority of the mininglaw,andArticle36of theNationalConstitution,to remove the illegal miners immediately and without furtherprevarication.

Yourstruly,

JanetteBulkan

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WHAT THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT SAY

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President IrfaanAli has been boasting to the world that this country has US$195B in Carbon Credits, US$500B in timber and US$35B in gold.

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That is US$730B and for all of that wealth, Guyana still has around its neck some US$3B in debt, while paying US$44M a year to service these debts.

In all of his boasting, however, PresidentAli has been skillfully avoiding the oil and gas sector.

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In fact, he has not put a value, or said a word about our US Trillion Dollar oil discovery.

He does not say anything on ExxonMobil pumping more than US$10B a year from the Liza2 and 2 projects alone and walking away with almost everything, leaving Guyana with its US$3B debt.

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Meanwhile, we are paying US$44M in interest alone per year and Jagdeo borrowing US$40M to build hospitals.

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APNU Govt. will invest in 'Rucatux’

...Norton tells Buxton Emancipation celebrations

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton on Monday evening told Buxtonians that a future A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) government will invest in 'Rucatux', to create a musical genre of which Guyana is proudof.

He was at the time ushering in Emancipation Day when he revealed some of his party's future plans if elected to office. For one, Norton explained that promoting the African culture through this avenue willbeonhisagenda.

“I have nothing against Jamaica I have nothing against Trinidad, I enjoy seeing people dance reggae, I

enjoy seeing people dance calypso but you know for those of you who go to an oldies, or to one of these shows and you hear

'Rucatux'... 'Rucatux' must have more meaning than just the meaning we attach to it,” hesaid.

To t h i s e n d , t h e Opposition Leader noted, “RucatuxasIunderstanditis a combination of Queh Queh and Comfa…and so what in essenceyouhaveisagenreof music that can become indigenous to the African Guyanese community, important to Guyana and be sold as a product and so any government that is serious would put resources into

developing that kind of indigenous music…an APNU government of the future will invest in culture andtransformsomethinglike 'Rucatux' into something we areproudof.”

The Leader went on to encourage the gathering to buy from the shops in the communitythatareownedby Guyaneseratherthansupport the Chinese stores that are sending away the profits to develop their country He waskeentonotethatwhilehe is not “anti-Chinese” such a notion is important to the development of the African community especially In fact, the Leader commenced his presentation by

encouraginghissupportersto free themselves from mental slavery as the first step towardsfreedom.

N o r t o n w h o i s representing close to half of the voters in the world's fastestgrowingeconomyand more so a rapidly developing oil producing state did not say much about the sector, except to say that even with oil resources, there is a noticeable increase in poverty Even though he noted his concern, the Opposition Leader did not share his plans with the Buxton citizens on how he plans to make sure they benefit from improved living conditions with the

newfoundwealth.

Nonetheless, he utilised his time on stage to elaborate on the importance of lands as he told the Buxton community, they should not be quick to sell their lands or allow people to take them away, like at Mocha, East Bank Demerara or Hill Foot, Soesdyke Linden Highway

Hesaid,“Weneedtodevelop a new relationship with land…First of all, we must learn not to sell it since we blink Second, we must ensure we begin to utilise the landtoachieveoureconomic independence and third, we mustnotallowpeopletotake away lands from us at their whims and fancies. There must be no more Mocha, there must be no more Hill Foot we must recognise thatourancestorshaveleftus land and we must do everything to ensure we keep those lands.” On education, he said, people must educate themselves so they can become their own bosses

rather than merely be used to get them a job Norton concluded his Emancipation presentation by pointing out that Africans are collecting a pittancefromthePPPandare trying to get other African brothersandsisterstojointhe party

He said they must emancipate themselves from the “PPP slavery” in which they portray propaganda whilediscriminationremains rampant Norton said the discrimination is particularly evident in the award of State contracts.

Two men busted with illegal firearm

P o l i c e r a n k s o n Wednesdayarrestedtwomen aftertheywerefoundwithan unlicensed firearm in their possession At around 05:00hrs yesterday, ranks from the Vigilance Police Station's Anti-Crime Patrol received information about the discharging of a firearm and immediately proceeded toMelanie(marketarea).

According to a police release, on arrival at the scene, the ranks observed two men acting suspiciously The ranks stopped and proceeded to conduct a search on them and their personal belongings, to whichtheycomplied.

It is reported that the ranks unearthed a black metal object, suspected to be a fireman, in one of the suspect's pants crotch. The suspectwasaskedtoproduce a firearm licence but failed. He was told of the offence, cautionedandarrested. Theywereescortedalong with the suspected firearm to the Vigilance Police Station. On arrival at the station, the firearm was inspected and observed to be a.32 Taurus Pistol (without number). The suspectshavebeenidentified as two construction workers of Vigilance and Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) respectively

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

LUNCHEON’S DEATH HIGHLIGHTS THE CRISIS IN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

The death of the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat(HPS),Dr Roger Luncheon, has served as a reminder that ever since the PPP/C government returned to office, the positions of HPS and Cabinet Secretary which at one time was held by Roger Luncheon remain unfilled.

Furthermore, the absence of post-Cabinet press conferences has added to the growing perception that these non-appointments are indicative of a governmentveeringtowards micromanagement and control,andatbest,alackof confidence in other competent individuals to assume crucial roles within theadministration.

The Head of Projects within the Office of the Presidenthasbeenappointed as Head of Presidential Affairs. But this post is not akin to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Luncheon himself was forced to resign as Cabinet Secretary, following the appearance of his name on the list of candidates for the PPPCforthe2015elections. The PPP/C lost those elections and Luncheon did not return to the post following the 2020 elections.

The media have complained about the absence of post Cabinet Press Briefings These weekly Briefings were hosted in the past by Dr Luncheon. The absence of

crucialappointmentssuchas the Head of the Presidential Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretary raises concerns about a potential overconcentration of power withintheexecutivebranch.

The Head of the Presidential Secretariat is a position of paramount importance, responsible for coordinating and facilitating theefficientoperationofthe President’s office. This role acts as a bridge between the President and other government ministries, playing a vital role in disseminating policies and ensuring the President’s directives are carried out effectively The prolonged vacancy in this position suggests a lack of strategic directionandcouldleadtoa disjointed communication and coordination processes, potentially hampering the government’s ability to addresspressingissues.

Similarly, the Cabinet Secretary, a position within thepublicservice,servesasa linchpin between the political leadership and the civil service. As this newspaper pointed out last year, Secretary to the C a b i n e t h a s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o communicate decisions of Cabinet to authorised persons; presumably the President can also instruct that decisions of Cabinet be relayed to the media via the post-Cabinetpressbriefing.

The Cabinet Secretary is crucial for the government’s policy implementation,

Dem Boys Seh...

communication, and coordination efforts The absence of a Cabinet Secretary not only creates a void in the administrative structure but also sends a signal that the government may be unwilling to engage with the wider civil service in a transparent and collaborativemanner

Itwasthereforeironicto hearthePresidentsaythathe hasagoodteamaroundhim. If he did a thorough examination, he would find that there are significant holeswithintheOfficeofthe President that contradicts any notions about effective and coordinated team work. The discontinuation of postCabinet press conferences compounds these problems. These conferences were a m e a n s o f o p e n communication between the government and the public, a l l o w i n g f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f information, clarifications on policies, and a platform for journalists to hold the government accountable The absence of these conferences raises questions about the government’s commitmenttotransparency and accountability, potentially eroding public trust in the decision-making processes.

Micromanagement and control are not conducive to effective governance. The k e y t o a v o i d i n g micromanagement and the concentration of power is to havedelegatedauthority By notappointingindividualsto

BICYCLE GANGS CREATING MAYHEM IN DE CITY

Dem boys serious today We gotta a messed-upsituationrightsmackintheheart of our city.You won’t believe the audacity of these roving bicycle gangs, causing chaos, fear, and now spilling blood and murdering people. Dis happening after working hours when de city quiet and peoplecomingoutfuhgotodemarketand restaurants.

Isdenwhendembicyclegangdoesprey pondem,rightindeheartofGT

Desearenotyourregularcyclists.Dese catsarestraight-upbandits,targetin’regular folksjusttryingfuhmekitthroughtheday And get this – they’re even messing with folks in the oldest profession in the book, doin’their hustle late at night.That’s some next-levelfoulplay,rightthere.

Now, we ain’t just talkin’ petty theft here.Nah,thesebicyclegangstersaretakin’ ittoawholenewlevel,gettin’allviolentand now murdering innocent people. It’s a reality check dat we streets ain’t as safe as

theyshouldbe.Butwhat’sevenworse?The authorities seem to be sippin’ on some sleepy juice ‘cause they ain’t done squat to kickthesepunkstothecurb.

We gotta keep it real – these bicycle crewsain’tplayin’around.

They’re deadlier than those motorcycle crews we used to be scared of. Dem pouncing pon ordinary citizens, robbing demofdemchains,phonesandmoney And ifyuhgetdemangry,demjukkinyuhup.

We can’t let this madness continue. It’s time for the cops to step up their game –more patrols, more eyes on the street, and more brains put into breakin’ down these crews.

Itain’tjustonthepolice,though.

Wedeservesafestreets,dayornight,no matterwhoweareorwhatwedo.It’stime for dem bicycle gangs to hit the brakes, ‘cause we ain’t standin’ for their mess no more.

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

key positions, the government inadvertently reinforces the perception thatit seeks to controlevery facet of governance, potentially deterring qualified individuals from takingupimportantroles. It therefore is difficult to reconcile the President’s assertion that he has a good team with the glaring failures concerning appointments. Not only are keyappointmentswithinthe Office of the President outstanding but more than twomonthsaftertheMahdia fire, the COI has not been named or appointed. Also, theswearinginoftheelected

Mayorshavenottakenplace within the first month following local government elections Key diplomatic appointments have been languishing for three long years, suggesting a crisis in thegovernancestructure.

Thefailuretoappointthe HPS and Cabinet Secretary suggestsalackofconfidence intheabilitiesofotherstofill the void left by Dr Luncheon.

Dr Luncheon’s role was undoubtedlysignificant–he may have even been seen as indispensable–butahealthy democratic system thrives on diversity of thought and expertise Filling these

positions with qualified and capable individuals not only honours Dr Luncheon’s legacy but also showcases the government’s belief in a wider pool of talented individuals to contribute effectively

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

LOCAL CONTENT, GRA DISCONTENT, GUYANA LAMENT

The name of the game is money, and Guyana c a n n o t c o m p e t e

Specifically,

is reeling from the loss of quality personnel in key areas As the GRA Commissioner General revealedbeforeparliament’s P u b l i c A c c o u n t s

C o m m i t t e e , h i s compensation, as head chief, is put to shame by what his auditors are collecting from the foreign companies operating here.

For emphasis, Guyana cannot compete, and by the widest margins. Just give Godfrey Statia a fair hearing.

It is the same old story Poor countries with poor people paid poorly finding theirwaytoabetterdestiny

The irony is that the few among our own people of caliberluredawayarebeing richly paid out of our own riches;therichesthatarenot reachingthemasses. Itpays Exxontooutlayandoutpay the GRA, as Guyana is paying for its own coffin. There is a pattern here to w h a t t h e G R A i s experiencing, and it goes likethis.

In depressed countries, the people with a higher probability of obtaining a prized American or Canadianvisaarethosewith prowess and matching academicpaper

In a word, talent; another, skills, with supporting record I understand that Canada offers extra visa points for applicants possessing technical gifts, aptitude, history. Though ancient, that is still called the brain drain. Whenitoccursinside of a poor country, the baptismal certificate proudlysaysLocalContent. Miserably, local content is now the summer of the GRA’s discontent. Better makethatallsixseasons;the last ones are our seasons of political stupidity and leadership impotency

Skills shortage, limited capacity, but more project approvals What an imbeciliccountry!

Thus, from foreign shores the incentive of a visa, a place of work, and residence are all dangled. Plus, there is the money, with which there is no comparison. Guyanese go, Mr Statia knows. The foreign companies also know Thinkofthis:Exxon

and CNOOC bring in their own expensive people to fill sensitive Guyanese slots, but now it is convenient to recruit auditors from the Cost Recovery Unit of the GRA. The gain of Exxon and CNOOC is the GRA’s(Guyana’s)pain. For decades, the best and brightest of this country fled, with mainly dregs remaining. Sorry Check hallowed parliament reduced to an obscenity

Check institutions condemned to frivolity

Check the political class (both sides), not worth a glass of, shall I say, warm liquid bodily deposit. The difference today is that thoughtheexodustoforeign shores continues unabated, the schemers and plotters at Exxon and CNOOC have introduced that in the local domain. That is, their siren callofcashonthebarrel,and by the barrels, compel the movement of skilled Guyanese across town Here is a serious one that is both painful and laughable. Whoever heard of the Chinese hiring locals for sucharole. Strategy,baby.

Apologies, Mr Statia, but I am struggling for equilibrium through the tears. This is how these mothers come to this motherland and snare its children of sturdiness and standing I wonder if President Ali and President

Jagdeo still cherish President Routledge as Guyana’s best friend

Weaken the territory, then trampleuponit.

Forwhenthereissucha loss of manpower in such a key area at the flagship GRA, then what and how much and how quickly can we look at those American billionspilingupforreview

Congratulationsareinorder to the Americans and Chinese for their crippling vision on how to cripple

Guyana with this clever tactic. In sum, if the GRA doesn’t have people that count,thenitcan’tcount. It can’t count Exxon’s financial calumnies; it can’t count on a clear picture of what these body snatchers areuptowiththeirexpenses. I am thinking of whether to ‘cuss’or cry Mr Statia is, andhehasafewyearstodo so,whilehopingtocatchup. The possibly grim reality thathefacesisthathecould lose more crucial staff (if present) in the years ahead, so he is always under a collapsingpooltable,which is worse than being behind the8-ball.

By way of a helping hand, the PAC people came up with binding contracts. Has its merits, but there is restraint of trade. Then, there is still the revolving door when contracts expire: contract done, skills gone. Theprojectsarenotslowing down, thanks to President Jagdeo, so it is the GRA likelyfallingbehindwiththe billions in bills reaching the rafters. Rememberthatone about scarcity of capacity Now listen to it coming for thejugularattheGRA. Mr Statia should go think of Florida. PresidentAli likes to preen before Guyanese andflexhisvocalbiceps. A simple suggestion, master: tell Mr Routledge and the Chinese and Schlumberger: no more poaching, damnit. Get own people. Bring in someredneckfromTexas,or commie from Mainland China For the PPP Government as a whole, I regrethavingtosaythis,but GOAL is useless here Excellency Ali can boast about 150,000 encoders, a good thing. But he should prioritize decoding the GRA’s DNA. My word! I can’t believe that God gave usmoreoilthanrum,andwe are still so dumb, unconscious to our duty The oil has made us numb, andthisentirecountryintoa nationofbums. Justaskour manGodfrey

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

HARDTRUTHS BYGHKLALL

the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

Pres. Ali hopeful other Chinese companies bid for oil blocks

President Irfaan Ali is hopeful that other Chinese companies would get involved in Guyana's oil and gas sector by bidding for one of the oil blocks that will be upforauction.

ThePresidentmadethose comments during an interview with Chinese state media entity CGTN PresidentAli led a delegation to China for a one-week trip. During the interview, President Ali said, “So over the years, we have seen the contribution of China's development in Guyana in variousareas.Ifyoulook,for example, at the oil and gas sector, we have CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation) as part of the consortium in the Stabroek Block that is with Exxon, Hess, CNOOC and the government.”

ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the lucrative Stabroek Block. For the Stabroek Block development, Guyana is chained to an exploitative deal that gives it a paltry 2% royalty and a 50% share of the profit oil after costs are recovered up to a ceiling of 75%.

The Stabroek Block, in w h i c h E x x o n M o b i l maintains a 45% operating stake, is supported by coventurers Hess and CNOOC, holding stakes of 30% and 25%,respectively

Duringtheinterviewwith CGTN, Ali said: “now, we

have 11 billion barrels proven reserve. We have just gone out to auction for 14 more blocks. We are hoping that not only CNOOC but more Chinese company would participate in this auction.”

Recently, the Ministry of N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s announced that the Guyana 2022 Licensing Round's bid submission deadline has been pushed back to September12,2023.

Thegovernmentsaidina statement that continuous efforts to streamline and improve the petroleum regulatory framework and the resultant comprehensive feedback received from stakeholders led to this necessaryextension.

Whilst recognising the new era of oil and gas development and investors' confidence in economy, the government said it is working to ensure that this

competitivelicensingbidand future rounds are governed by a modern regulatory framework with improved

technical and institutional capacities.

Against this backdrop, the government said it will

soon complement the model

P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g Agreements (PSAs) with a new Petroleum Activities

Exxon and partners fined US$300,000 par for 75-barrel oil leak in Canada

An ExxonMobil-led consortium, Hibernia Management and Development Company (HMDC) has been fined US$300,000 for spilling 12,000 liters of crude-water mixture (about 75.48 barrels) into Canadian waters – which happenedfouryearsago.

According to federal agency, Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), the consortium which operates the Hibernia Platform, opted to plead guilty to the charges broughtagainsttheminrelation to the 2019 oil spill The company has to pay C$90,000 which was imposed under the Accord Act and C$310,000, into the Environmental

DamagesFund.

According to the Canadian body latest statement, in July 2022, the charges were filed against HMDC. The charges came after the agency conducted an investigation into theoilspill.

ItwasstatedthatonJuly17, 2019, HMDC notified the CNLOPB that approximately 12,000litres(75.48barrels)ofa crudeoilandwatermixturewas released from the Hibernia Platform into the Atlantic Ocean In accordance with subsection 1(1), paragraph 9(i) and 6(d) of the Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, this discharge was determined to be pollution. HMDC was

found to have acted contrary to paragraph24(1)(c)andthereby committed an offence pursuant to section 194 of the CanadaNewfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act (Accord Act):194(1).

The unauthorised discharge of the crude-water mixture was deemed as pollution. As such, the company's operation was suspendedforawhile.

TheHiberniaPlatformrests on the seabed in approximately 80 metres of water It is comprised of two components: topsides, which comprises the drilling derricks, facilities

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d accommodations module; and theGravityBasedStructure (Continued on page 22)

Bill 2023, which will not o n l y e n h a n c e t h e managementofthesectorbut also provide improved economic measures for all licensees in the bidding round, as well as future development and production operations in Guyana's petroleumsector

The bid round, officially launched on December 9, 2022, continues to receive strongglobalinterest

Last Friday, PresidentAli met with President Xi Jinping in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's SichuanProvince.

According to a joint statement by the two countries, Guyana and China welcomed the signing of a M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of an Investment and Economic CooperationWorkingGroup. The two countries expressed satisfaction with the positive development of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration in a number of areas. President Ali thanked President Jinping for China's support in Guyana's economic development, including in the area of infrastructure.

Both sides committed to deepening economic ties, includingenhancedtradeand investmentpromotion,andto expanding cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, agriculture, health,energyandeducation.

Map showing the blocks part of the licensing round

President Irfaan Ali during the interview on CGTN

Hibernia Platform (Source: Hibernia Management and Development Company)

Illegal vehicles entering Guyana via borders despite GRAefforts

Illegal vehicles continue to enter Guyana via the borders despite the efforts of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday He noted that work is ongoing to lessen the incidence of vehiclesmuggling.

ThePACiscurrentlyexamining theAuditor General report of 2019, which had listed as many as 195 vehicle-related seizures for that year.

The GRA Commissioner General noted that the issue is especially with the Lethem/ Brazil border

“For instance, it was three weeks ago; we found vehicle that was smuggled through Lethem with Brazilian number plates, in Georgetown with Guyanese number plates.”

“And we also found not only Lethem, but that also happens from Suriname. So all we can do is keep a record of all the vehicles that are Guyana, based on whether they come through the borders,” Statiasaid.

Moreover, he said that there are some instances where vehicles come into Guyana with legal number plates, but they may havebeenstoleninBrazil. He explained that sometimes GRA is able to identify these vehicles.

The GRA has always made it clear that a zerotolerance approach is being adopted against smuggling and any form of tax evasion; and, as such, offenders will face penalties stipulated under the laws, inclusiveofprosecution.

Cops injured after sand truck crashes into police van

It has also issued warnings over theuseofunregisteredvehiclesand the misuse of trade plates on vehicles traversing the country's roadway There are laws governing theuseofunregisteredvehiclesand trade plates and failure to comply will result in the tax regulatory body and the Guyana Police Force (GPF)takingaction.

In addition to the 2019 report, the Auditor General's 2018 report has highlighted a disturbing trend of vehicles entering Guyana via the Lethem/Brazil border crossing and disappearing without a trace

According to theAG's 2018 report, anexaminationoftheincomingand outgoing foreign vehicles and passengers traversing the border area revealed that there were 29,689 foreign vehicles entering Guyana and only 28,933 vehicles exiting Guyana resulting in 766 vehicles not exiting Guyana as at thetimeofauditinAugust2019. Similarly, in 2017, the report noted that there were 30,669 foreign vehicles entering Guyana and only 29,023 vehicles exiting Guyana, resulting in 1,646 not exitingGuyana.

Shopkeeperfound dead,co-worker arrested

A shopkeeper was on Tuesday found dead at 'Mer Meria' Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, RegionSeven.

East Bank Police Commander, Mahendra Singh and one of his ranks, Commander Constable Ellery Mason, 31 are presently hospitalised after a sand truck crashed into the police pick-up they were in early Wednesday morning.

East Bank Police Commander, Mahendra Singh and one of his ranks, Constable Ellery Mason, 31 are presently hospitalised after a sand truck crashed into the police pick-up they were travelling in earlyWednesdaymorning.

Dead is 55-year-old Andrew Harris called 'Shortman'. Police have arrested his co-worker for questioning. It was the co-worker who reported the man dead. Police believe that Harris was murdered sometime between July 31 and August1.

ent

Mason was driving the pick-up at the time of the accident. The crash took place around 06:15hrs along the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) while the commander was heading to a presidentia

According to the Guyana Police

Force (GPF), the pick-up was heading north along the western sideoftheroadwhenatruckowned by Ashoka Buildcon Limited of GUYSUCO Compound, La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara (ECD), travelling in the opposite direction decided to overtake a line of cars. It ended with him crashing intothepolicepick-up.

“The right-side front of the Lorry collided with the right-side front of the Police pickup vehicle, andasaresultofthecollision,both

(Continued on page 22)

Investigators learnt that Harris works as a shopkeeper at Surinamo Landing, Mazaruni River but had spentthelasttendaysworkingwith the co-worker on a newly constructed shop in the backdam. The owner of the shop told police that the co-worker called her on August 1 and informed her that he found Harris dead at the shop. Police were alerted and when they arrived at the scene Harris' body was in a slouching position on a bench. There was blood on his jersey and on the floor close to where his body was found “Detectivesexaminedthebodyand observed a stab wound, about 3

Murdered: Andrew Harris

inches in width, to the victim's upper left chest”, police stated.The co-worker was subsequently arrestedatanearbycampandtaken into custody Investigations are ongoing.

A vehicular checkpoint at the Brazil/Lethem border.

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

Injured Police Commander, Mahendra Singh

WANTED VACANCY

One experienced low bed Driver needed. Must be able to load and off load equipments. Call: 644-7088.

One male and female ablebodied Staff needed to work in a store. Call: 225-2313, 2261497, 658-8559.

Wanted: Experienced Puri Maker, Cashier, Counter Person, Labourer and Cleaner. Apply at Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts.

One live in Housekeeper needed to work in Virginia, USA. Ages 30-50 yrs. Call: 592-615-5476/ 845-325-8241.

One Male needed to work in Hardware store, ages 25-45 years. Must be computer literate residing on WCD or WBD. Call: 624-0239.

1 Woodmizer edger Operator wanted. Call: 697-0852.

One Housekeeper needed to work 5 days per week in Georgetown. Call: 629-4834.

Wanted: Workers to work on Cash Crop Farm, $6000 per day. Call: 695-6139, 679-7552.

One experienced Domestic needed to work 3 days per week in Bel-Air Park. Call: 226-2322.

One Handyman needed to work 3 days per week in BelAir Park. Call: 226-2322.

One experienced Sales Girl needed at Courtney's Boutique, Stall B, Bourda Market. Call: 227-3407/ 661-7283.

Receptionist needed for hotel. Contact: 223-5273/74.

One Cook needed to work 4 days per week. Good pay offered. Call: 624-7436.

One Salesman, 3 subjects cxc, experience in writing bills, stocktaking & cashing. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office. General Domestic needed to work 4 days per week, must know to cook. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

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One office Assistant needed. Experience will be an asset. Call: 688-7911.

Sales Clerks, Delivery Clerks, Warehouse Manager & Graphic Designer needed. Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street next to Buddys/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486/ 2271511, lensgy@outlook.com

We are now hiring Counter Attendants @ Dian's Deli, Bar St Kitty. Opening hours 6:30 am-12:00. Call: 621-7862, 225-3700/ 225-6478.

One Manager for A&S General Store located at Charity, Essequibo. Call: 687-5814.

East Bank Electrical is now hiring Electrical Engineer, Outside Sales Staff & Counter Sales Staff. Call: 604-6394, sales@eastbankelectrical.com

Receptionist, Room Attendant, Laundry Attendant & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198.

$348M estimated to build 70 Core Homes in Region Four

The Ministry of Housing and Water – Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is gearing up to build some 70 core homes in Region Four for an estimated cost of $348,657,400.

The project was recently opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB0 office, where it was revealed that a total of 29 contractors applied for the works.

According to the CHPA,

this project is divided into five lots, with Lot 1 estimated to cost $89,654,760, Lot 2 estimated at $74,712,300, Lot 3 estimated at $29,884,920, Lot 4 estimated at $79,693,120, and Lot 5 estimated to cost $74,712,300.

The ministry, in its invitation for bids, had stated that it received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme, of which

some of the funds will be utilised to build the 70 core houses.

Kaieteur News understands that the work consists of the construction of concrete building measuring 20x20 feet inclusive of twobedrooms.

It was reported in the media that the Core Homes Initiative falls under the $5.8 billion (US$28 million) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP)

funded by the Inter-American Bank (IDB).

A total of 250 low-income families are set to benefit from the programme.

Each unit cost about $4 million and beneficiaries are only required to contribute a sum of $100,000 towards the cost of the home.

They also receive a fiveyear termite treatment certificate, as well as an electrical certificate for the building, valid for 10 years.

Exxon and partners fined US$300,000...

From page 12 (the GBS), which is a concrete pedestal which sits on the ocean floor and has storage capacity for 1.3 million barrels of crude.

The oil is stored in the GBS, which supports the topside. When oil enters the GBS, it displaces water which is used as ballast; this is then

discharged into the ocean.

Through the usage of a Crude Oil Interface Level Measurement System (COILMS) the company is able to monitor the amount of oil being discharged with water. However, the C-NLOB investigation found that the COILMS was faulty which led to false readings.

SERVICES

Visa Application to Canada and U.S.A, graphics design, advertisements,USA passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 6267040.

For the completion of US & Canadian non-immigrant visa applications and Guyana passport applications. Call/whatsApp: 595645-5695.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Property for sale in L.B.I, ECD and Golden Grove, EBD. Call Persaud Real Estate: 653-2477/ 685-6874.

SERVICES

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage . Contact: 649-0956.

COILMS uses sensors to report on what is happening in the cells, as it cannot be

entered manually, and is programmed to both alarm and trip all platform production, in order to prevent: crude oil from entering the ballast water diffuser, located near the bottom of the storage cell, and discharging overboard via the deballast system; and water from entering the crude oil diffuser, located near the top of the storage cell, and making its way to the crude offloading pumps.

On July 17, 2019, during the process, a quantity of oil mixed with water was discharged into the Atlantic Ocean.

The morning after the incident, reports were received of oil on the ocean surface. The cleanup effort spanned two and a half weeks and included numerous vessels engaged in various methods of spill response and remediation.

Cops injured after sand truck crashes...

From page 21 vehicles received extensive damage”, the police said in the release. Commander Singh and the constable were injured and were picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Center. Both of

them received medical attention and were transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital where they have been admitted. The constable reportedly sustained a broken right leg and left wrist while Commander Singh suffered multiple abrasion to his body.

Police have since arrested the driver of the vehicle, Raymond Benjamin. No trace of alcohol was found in his system but he has been served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution by the police and remains in their custody.

Credit Union managers spend

$31 million on overseas trips

...asmemberssuffer wantfordividends

While efforts of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) to pay dividends to its members have been at a standstill, concerns are being raised over how funds are spentonoverseastripsforthe current management committee.

Former Chairman of the GPSCCU, Trevor Benn told Kaieteur News in an interview, that the issue has members expressing frustration over how the credit union is being managed.

According to the former Credit Union Head, some persons on the committee travelled overseas four times for this year alone even as its 15000 plus members wait to paid their overdue dividends. “…Members are really upset about the amount of money that the committee of management is spending on travel.

In this dispensation since May of 2022 to July 2023 the recordshowsthatinexcessof $31 million was spent on travel.”

Benn who was recently appointed acting secretary of

the GPSCCU by way of a court order, lamented on the fact that while the court case over the management committee was ongoing last week, some of those same personswereinCanada.

In addition to this, Benn noted that another troubling issue facing the members is the length of time it takes for themtoaccessloansfromthe CreditUnion.

“When I got there Chair in 2018, it took almost amonthforapersontoaccess a small loan as low $20,000 and many o members come for as low as $50,000; as low as $30,000, they have serious needs and they need the money urgently… we moved the process time from a monthtooneday

The same day you could have got that money,”Bennadded.

He continued that holding of a Special General MeetingorderedbytheCourt is now a priority and an audit of the institution's financial recordsisunderway

“We want to get that out of the way to move on to the elections we want to

ensure that we have a new election that is transparent as much as possible for all of its members.

Our intention is to make sure that the work of the credit union is not affected that most of all that the members benefit,” Benn added.

As such, the

former Chairman said that one of the first orders of business once the dust settles

over the elections is to have Annual General Meeting after which members will

receive their “rightful and hardearneddividends.”

Bennisoptimisticthatthe court case will conclude so t h a t t h e G P S C C U management can move forward with credit union work.

Just last week, a High Court order was handed down stripping three GPSCCU officers of their r i g h t s , d u t i e s a n d responsibilities within the CreditUnionaftertheyfailed to show up in a contempt of courtmatter

T h e i r l a w y e r s communicated that the trio

wereonanoverseastrip.

However, Justice Navindra Singh interpreted their absence as disrespect fortheCourtproceedingsand ordered that they no longer hold their positions or perform duties within the creditunion,untilthehearing and determination of the matterinSeptember

He also ordered instead that former Chairman of the Credit Union, Trevor Benn, Vice Chairman, Patrick Mentore and Treasurer, Rajdai Jaggernauth fill their positions and perform their functions.

Ghana/Guyana to host first Local

Content Conference

Atwo-day GhanaGuyana Local

C o n t e n t Conference is set to open on Thursday, August 10, at the MarriottHotel.

The first of its kind conference which will be rotated between the two countries is organised by the G h a n a C h a m b e r o f CommerceGuyana,(GCCG) with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Local Content Secretariat of Guyana.

It is also supported by Ghana's three key state agencies in the petroleum sector, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC) the Ghana National Gas Company and the PetroleumCommission.

According to the GCCG, the conference will bring together consultants and service providers in the upstream petroleum sector in bothcountries.

“It is a unique platform for the private sector players in both countries to network, share experiences, explore investment and collaboration opportunities and discuss various ways of deepening l o c a l c a p a c i t y a n d participation in the oil and gas sectors of the two countries,” says Opoku AhweneehDanquah,CEOof GNPC.

Organisedinlinewiththe cooperation agreement between the two countries, the conference is seen as an important practical way of giving meaning to the bilateralagreement.

Ghana has, since striking first oil in 2010, built remarkable local capacity in the upstream petroleum industry, with Ghanaian companies now offering servicesinternationally.

Commenting on the conference during a recent webinar, Bobby Gossai Jr., senioradvisorattheMinistry

of Natural Resources, believes the Ghana-Guyana Local Content Conference will foster collaboration and knowledgeexchange.

By focusing on vital themes such as local content and localization, capacity building, knowledge and skills transfer, this event seeks to unlock new avenues for growth and development inthepetroleumsector

"We are thrilled to host this ground-breaking conference, which marks a significant milestone for the Chamber, " said Ms Loveland White, Director, for the Ghana Chamber of CommerceGuyana.

"By providing a platform for industry players to convene,wehopetofacilitate fruitful discussions and collaborations that will benefitbothnations."

Keynote speakers and experts in the field will grace the event, sharing valuable insights and experiences that

can shape the future of the energy industry in both countries The conference will feature engaging panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, ensuring that attendees can make the most of their participation.

"We see this conference as a crucial step towards fostering economic growth and empowering local businessesinbothGhanaand Guyana," Egbert Faibille Jnr”, C.E.O of the Petroleum Commission "By pooling our knowledge, resources, andexpertise,wecancreatea thriving ecosystem that drives innovation and progress in the energy sector."

TheGhanaGuyanaLocal Content Conference promises to be an invaluable e x p

participants, offering a platform for learning, collaboration, and building strong business relationships

across borders Interested individualsandorganizations are encouraged to register and secure their spot in this landmarkevent. GCCG is the leading

p a r t n e r s h i p s a n d collaboration, the GCCG aims to create sustainable economic growth and development for both nations.

Formoreinformationand toregisterfortheconference, p

By

(wowlogbook.com)

GPSCCU Head Office in Hadfield Street

Former Chairman of the GPSCCU, Trevor Benn

GCCG chair Gabby Asare Otchere Darko

Roger Luncheon passes away

F o r m e r C a b i n e t Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Forbes Luncheon p a s s e d a w a y e a r l y Wednesday morning after a prolongedperiodofillnessat the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).Hewas74.

D e m e r a r a w a v e s reported that Dr Luncheon had been admitted at the hospital for several weeks and had undergone surgery forablockedartery

Luncheon at the time of his death was still a member of the powerful Central and ExecutiveCommitteesofthe People's Progressive Party and also a member of the IrfaanAliCabinet.

“Itiswithadeepsenseof sadness we receive the news of the passing of one of Guyana's most outstanding sons, Dr Roger Luncheon. This exceptional patriot and national icon was fearless and selfless in his complete commitment to national development and defence of a free and democratic Guyana,” President Irfaan Alisaidinamessage.

“It is a painful and deepwounded loss for the Government and Party He offered me unflinching support throughout my political career, both within the PPP and in public life. This man has shaped me in many ways and placed tremendous trust and confidence in me. Onward fearless warrior and pure nationalist, your work is donebut,theproductofyour labour will live on forever,” theGuyaneseleaderstated.

For his part, General SecretaryofthePPP,Bharrat Jagdeo also extended deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and others of Dr In a statement posted on the party's Facebook page, Jagdeo said: “Dr Luncheon served in many capacities, including as Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary for five Presidents of Guyana. He wasamemberoftheCabinet and the party's Central and Executive Committees up

until his passing. He also contributed immensely during the struggle against PNC dictatorship.Atrue son of the soil who helped to shape the lives of many, Dr Luncheon left a rich legacy of true commitment to service, patriotism, and a deep sense of national pride and hard work for the people ofGuyana.”

Former Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo said Luncheon's death did not come as a surprise “yet we lowerourFlaginmourning.”

“He has been an outstanding Marxist revolutionary intellectual and a "shadow president" in successive PPP governments.” Nagamootoo said since 1976 he and Dr Luncheon became close comrades in the PPP's leadership “When I nominated him to be the party's presidential candidate in 1997, another comrade at my side whispered "that's a death wish".Ididn'tknowthenthat it was my political death that shehadmeant.

Roger persevered, and overcametheoddstoremain a towering presence in Guyana's political arena,” Nagamootoo wrote. “It is with sadness that I say farewell to a dear comrade. Sita and I send condolences to his children and his colleagues at this time of mourning. His passing is a loss to Guyana of humble, modest, unassuming leadership, and pro-poor policies Farewell, dear Roger!”

Another former Prime Minister and Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green said the passing of Dr. Luncheon constitutesaloss,notonlyto the party in Government he served but to this Nation as a whole.

“I remember Roger as a youngster and earning the reputation of being one of our brilliant medical practitioners recognized as such at home and abroad. I recall attending a Pan

A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organisation (PAHO) Meeting in Washington with the then Medical Officer of

Health, Dr Rex Jones and learning of his reputation soughtanaudiencewithhim. Roger turned up with a motor-cycle and we invited him to return to Guyana to boost our medical services. He said 'bannas, the matter i s u n d e r a c t i v e consideration.' Shortly after he returned and while holding the portfolio including Health, I always relied on his advice on medical matters Such advice is always useful and workable,”Greensaid.

Green said beyond that, “I sensed his admiration and political support for Dr Jagan and therefore was not surprised when he opted to head the Presidential SecretariatafterthePPPwon theElectionsof1992.

Many of us like myself felt that his movement to the top echelon in the political arena was a substantial loss tothemedicalprofessionbut in life, we must respect the choices of individuals. As head of the Presidential Secretariat, his penchant to excellence and devotion to dutyinserviceforthepeople and things he believed in stood out. In spite of being on different sides of our political divide, we retained a respectful relationship Perhaps as a result of the close friendship I enjoyed with his father, Rannie Luncheon, as is customary, I called him on his birth date last month. The young lady who answered the phone said she was his God daughterandhecouldnot,at that time, take the call because he was under the oxygen tent. I asked her to

convey to him birthday greetings and best wishes from my family Roger served his country well and is now gone to join the great majority beyond the horizon,”Greensaid.

Former Minister of Natural resources, Raphael Trotman, said one could not escape the obvious reality that Dr Luncheon was an enigma who commanded respect “I have had countless close encounters and engagements with Dr Luncheon and in all he would remind you that he was no regular "banna" - to use one of his favourite expressions,” Trotman statedinalettertothemedia.

He recalled that for three years, a small group, representing the PPP/C and PNCR met quietly in dialogue to discuss a range of issues arising out of the Herdmanston Accord process. “It was hard not to get to know each other on a

more personal level.Though political views and positions remained unassailable, we all came away with a better a p p r e c i a t i o n a n d understanding of each other Roger Luncheon, in those meetings, never failed to entertain or disappoint. At his press conferences, he spoke in a very circuitous way and one had to develop an art to decipher his language. He wasn't known to lie, but didn't make it easy to understand what he was saying; especially when he was dealing with a thorny subject. If you took the time to dissect his words, all one needed to know was intricatelyrevealed.”

Trotman noted what he described as a most memorable example of Luncheon was when he coined the phrase "phantom force" in the heyday of the killings, by stating at a press conference: " there is

reasonably plausible evidence that there is a phantom force involved in killings, and it is not the security forces." “In those words was the first official acknowledgement of the killings that were plaguing the nation, and the source of them,”Trotmanwrote.

The National Insurance Scheme, which was chaired for several years by Luncheon, said it is saddened by his passing. “Our scheme has benefited tremendously from the

wisdom and input of Dr Luncheon during his tenure as Chairman of the NIS Board He was one of Guyana's true sons of the soil, a brilliant medical doctor, politician and communication specialist,” theschemesaid.

“The Board of Directors, ManagementandStaffofthe National Insurance Scheme would like to extend sincere condolences to the Government and people of Guyana, the family, friends and associates of the late Dr Luncheon. May his soul rest in peace and his legacy be cherished.”

Between 1992 and 2015, the PPP/C stalwart served as Head of the Presidential Secretariat During that period, he also sat on several stateboards,andatonetime, served as the Cabinet Secretary. However, in recent years, Dr Luncheon, duetohisillhealth,hadbeen confined to a wheelchair and,atonetime,walkedwith the aid of a cane. When the PPP/C returned to office back in August 2020, Luncheon was rehired as an advisor StaffersattheOffice of the President had disclosed that Dr Luncheon would go to work and sit behind his desk in his wheelchair “There is an elevator there so he is assisted to his office and would sit behind his desk in the wheelchair,” one staffer related.

U.S. health advisors partner with Ministry of Health to strengthen COVID-19 response and public health supply chain

The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with the Guyana Ministry of Health to support Guyana's public health infrastructure.

USAID's Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) Program, a flagship data and information system project of USAID's Bureau for Global Health, is providing two global public health technical consultants to the Ministry of Health for a one-year period. Theseadvisorswillbefocusingontwokey areas- addressing COVID-19 data management issues and enhancing the public health supply chain management system, the US Embassy here said in a pressrelease.

Mr. Emeka Ogbolu, a seasoned public health supply chain expert, is collaboratingwiththeMinistry'sMaterials Management Unit to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the public health supply chain management system. In particular, Mr Ogbolu is coordinating with the Unit's Director in strengthening

the operations and logistics of the central and regional warehouses. With extensive experience in supply chain logistics and management, Mr Ogbolu is dedicated to supporting the Ministry's vision for 2030 and aligning efforts to achieve public health objectives.

Mr YazabantuSoldati,aHealthInformation Systems Advisor from South Africa, is leading efforts to identify and implement solutions related to the collection, storage, and utilization of COVID-19 data. With more than 15 years of experience in information systems and data analytics, Mr Soldati brings a wealth of expertise to support monitoring and evaluation andoperationsresearchofhealthprograms.

Expressing support for this initiative, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch said, “Through this strategic partnership, the United States Government, through USAID, is bolstering Guyana's capacity to combat COVID-19 and optimize public health supply chainmanagement,contributingtothecountry's overall health resilience and progress toward a healthier future. We remain a committed and resolute partner with the Government and peopleofGuyana.”

Former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Forbes Luncheon

Two Chinese-owned companies are the only bidders vying to undertake the repair works on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor from Good Success to Timehri, a project being funded through a loan from t h e I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) and Guyana to the tune of US$117million.

At the opening of tenders on Wednesday at the National Procurement and TenderAdministrationBoard (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that the companies bidding for the design and build contract are China R o a d a n d B r i d g e Corporation, and China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co. Limited in joint venture with China RailwayConstructionBridge Engineering Bureau Group Co.Limited.

These two firms were previously prequalified with Brazilian firm – Alya Constructora S A for the Ministry of Public Works project. On Wednesday, only

the technical and financial proposal submissions from the two Chinese firms were readattheNPTABoffice.

Kaieteur News had reported that East Bank road is being rehabilitated under the IDB's Programme to Support Climate Resilient Road Infrastructure Development. Through this programme, the IDB would finance US$100 million towards the project while the Government of Guyana would finance the remaining US$17 million.The loan was signedonMarch6,lastandit isforfiveyears.

Speaking of the loan at a previousevent,theministry's Project Manager Mark Greene had stated that it is to advance Guyana's safe and efficient roadway using c l i m a t e - r e s i l i e n t infrastructure, but specially to improve road surface quality, as well as the utility service provided along that corridor

The project will see the rehabilitation of 23 5 kilometres of the highway,

…CanadianGoldCompanytellsinvestors

...two Chinese companies only bidders

IDB loans Guyana US$100M to repair East Bank public road

with a boundary from Good Success to Timehri, East BankDemerara.

The rehabilitation of the road includes widening to cater to pedestrians and cyclists, landscaping and curb improvements, rehabilitation of drainage, and retrofitting of bridges and culverts, among other upgrades. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill when speaking of the project had mentioned that it is very important and that it is no walkintheparkprojectgiven the number of vehicles that traverse that corridor on a daily

“TheresidentsoftheEast Bank corridor where this road serve I'm sure as important stakeholders, they will be satisfied. But I also have to caution that building this road that is so heavily trafficked right now is no walk in the park, it's the biggest challenge to the project team, to the engineer and whoever would be that successful contractor,” he hadstatedbackinMay

Brazilian police say at least nine killed in Rio de Janeiro raid

Brazilian

police forces say they came under fire as they carried out an operation against criminal groups in a favela.

(Al Jazeera) Brazilian authorities have said that at least nine people were killed during a police raid in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the latest case of violence stemming from law enforcement activity in the city's poor favela neighbourhoods.

Police said that Wednesday's operation was focused on targeting criminal gangs in the Complexo da Penha, a network of favelas in the northofthecity

“A clash occurred when police teams came under attack by gunmen at the scene,” the police said in a statement. The operation was launched after police received information about a meeting of high-levelgangleaders.

Eleven suspects were wounded in the attack, and nine died of their injuries.

One officer was taken to the hospitalandisinstablecondition.

Theraidbringsthetotalnumber slain in similar operations over the last six days to 42. Brazil's police

forceshavesaidtheyarelockedina deadly battle with powerful criminal groups, but criminal justice groups have accused them of corruption and human rights abuses.

Police raids are a persistent source of controversy in Brazil, where pro-law enforcement politicians defend the operations as a necessary part of the fight against criminalgroups.

Critics, meanwhile, allege that police kill indiscriminately in poor neighbourhoods, collaborate with paramilitary groups, and take part incriminalactivitythemselves.

Brazil's right-wing former PresidentJairBolsonaro,whoonce said criminals should “die like cockroaches”, waived aside concerns about rights abuses by police.

Police officers take positions during an operation against drug gangs in the Complexo do Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 21, 2022 [File: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters]

firearms. police reports about violent incidents. For example, after a July 2022 raid in Rio de Janeiro's Complexo do Alemao favela, a resident told

The Associated Press, “It's a massacre inside, which police are callinganoperation.” That raid killed at least 18 people.

Some sections of the East Bank of Demerara public road

Govt. pulls plug on mining at Chinese Landing

In response to the InterAmerican Commission on H u m a n R i g h t s ' precautionary measures issued to Guyana on July 21, 2023, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance announced Wednesday night that the Government of Guyana has taken a decision to stop all mining in Chinese Landing temporarily to allow for a more conducive environment to address the concerns of the community and all concerned.

The decision comes in wake of the IACHR resolution calling on the PPP/C Government to protect the rights and interests of the residents.

Among some of the complaints by residents to the IACHR is the fact that community members “felt unsafe even passing through the concessions to the other side to farm, hunt and fish, and to visit our families”. The ministry said in its statementthatthisconcernwasalso reiterated in a correspondence to Minister Teixeira dated July 29, 2023 in which Toshao Orin Fernandes stated that steps which require immediate attention included “mining activity must stop.” "This decision is as a direct r e s u l t o f t h e o n g o i n g communication between the GovernmentofGuyanathroughthe Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and the Chinese Landing Village Council through Toshao Fernandes," the ministry stated.

According to the ministry, it should be noted that an initial requestfortheplannedfact-finding mission to be accommodated was sent to Toshao Fernandes on July 28. A response was received dated July 29 in which the Toshao explained that “while we appreciate your quick reaction and proposal the village council requires slightly more time to confer with the village on the appropriate measures”. August 2/3 was identified by the Toshao as a more favourable time. In addition, the Toshao also highlighted four measures which in the council's opinion required the government's immediate intervention – among which was the halting of all mining activity. The Toshao also indicated in this correspondence that it was “not clear” what the purpose of the fact-findingmissionis.

The ministry said the Government of Guyana then dispatchedanothercorrespondence on July 31, 2023 to the Toshao, responding to all questions and concerns and making clear the government's approach. "It was reiterated that the fact-finding mission was being implanted to effectively implement requests fr

the government of Guyana to “report

on the actions taken to investigate the events that led up to the adoption of [the] precautionary measure, so as to prevent such eventsfromhappeningagain”.

The Toshao was reminded, the ministry said that the outstanding issues identified by the IACHR as prompted by the community's May 22, 2023 submission were only seen for the first time by government when it received the IACHR resolution, and as such, those claims would need to be investigated as they include further allegations about health, environment pollution and outstanding investigations with regardstoharassment,intimidation andpersonalintegrity

In the July 31, 2023, correspondence, the Government also indicated that it would comply with the request of the village council to stop all mining in the village. "To implement this, a team from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will be deployed to put this decision into effect and to ensure that there is a peaceful cessation to all mining. As such, a request was made for the factfinding mission to be shifted to August 5-6, 2023 to allow for the measures to be properly implemented.

The Government of Guyana expresses its appreciation for the continued communication between theToshao,VillageCouncilandthe Government, even in the face of inevitable differences. In the space of only 5 days, there have been a total of four correspondences betweentheparties,andtheVillage Council has clearly indicated its resolution to collaborate with Government in the best interest of the community of Chinese Landing."

The Government of Guyana welcomes the efforts made by the Chinese Landing Village Council and commits to continue working directly with the beneficiaries (the people of Chinese Landing) and their elected representatives (Toshao Orin Fernandes and the VillageCouncil),thereleasestated.

It added: "It is on these grounds that the Government finds the statements made by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA)tobemostdisingenuousand tantamount to fueling rivalry and creating an unnecessarily divisive environment.

The APA statement which is publishedintheAugust2editionof the Stabroek Newspaper notes that “MPAG's announced plan suggests that it, at best, does not understand the IACHR's recommendations, or that, at worst, it is deliberately attempting to undermine the village's rights”. These statements, the ministry said are clear indications that the APA does not

directlywiththeVillageCouncil

independent ART-TREES, calling for the suspension of Guyana's ART-TREES carbon credits. APA failed and is now attempting to appealagainstthedecisionofARTTREES These very resources, which APA wants to prevent the communities from receiving, are being used to directly improve the social and economic development of Amerindian communities. In 2023, the first payment of $4.7 billion Guyanese Dollars or US$22 million is being disbursed to 241 Indigenous communities Some 220Amerindian communities have already submitted the outlines of their Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs) as part of the process of accessing their respective allocations from the $4.6 billion (US$22 million) earned from the saleofGuyana'scarboncredits.

respect the process laid out by the IACHR and does not wish the matters affecting the Chinese landing community to be resolved by the Government and the community."

Further, the Government of Guyana wishes to call on the AmerindianPeoplesAssociationto play a more constructive role in the implementationofthesemeasures.

The ministry said in the interest of full disclosure and transparency, theGovernmentofGuyanacallson the APA to share with its constituents the records of the funds it has been receiving to implement numerous projects, noting that interestingly, simple research will show that from 2019 to 2026 APA has been allocated a total of US$5,151,387 – in excess of 1.03 billion Guyana dollars by the Land Tenure Facility (based in Stockholm,Sweden).

The ministry said according to the Land Tenure Facility this project is supposed to “support the 70,000-strong indigenous population – roughly 10% of the nation – in work to protect their cultural and practical links to the land,bysecuringlegalownership”.

"Notably, of the numerous funding sources, this is the only donor whichhasbeendirectlytransparent about the project funds which are beingmadeavailabletotheAPA.

It should also be noted that the stakeholders listed under this project included “the National Toshaos Council, and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.” However, these entities have no records of any engagements with theAPAwith regards to the project

outline. It is also notable that in Phase2(2023-2026)“Securingand Enhancing Indigenous Land Tenure in Guyana” of this project, valued at the sum of 3,001,887 USDorover600millionGuyanese

Dollars, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and National Toshaos Council have not been listed as stakeholders – a clear indication of the APA's unwillingness to work with Government and the National ToshaosCouncil."

The ministry added that it should also be noted that Amerindian Land Titling is a process which engages the Amerindian communities and the Government of Guyana in accordance with the Amerindian Act– the APA has no authority to allocate titles to Amerindian Communities.

"The PPP/C Government of Guyana receives absolutely zero financial support from any international or regional civil societybody,TrustFund,etc.,inits consistent work to advance land titling, extensions, and demarcation of Amerindian lands. Government allocated over GY$560M in 2022 and over GY$500M in 2023 towards land titlingonly.

Thisdoesnotincludethemultibillion-dollar budgets geared towardsAmerindianDevelopment, nor the carbon credit financing for Amerindian villages as part of the carbon credits partnerships," the releasestated.

The ministry said Guyanese shouldberemindedthatitwasAPA that made representation to the

APA's request for the suspension of the process would have denied much needed resources from the Amerindian communities – a grave injustice to the Indigenous peoples of Guyana. Thankfully for our Amerindian brothers and sisters, the ARTTREES independent grievance process verified that theAPAmade false claims that they had not been appropriately consulted. It was revealed that the APA's complaint had been made without the knowledge or support of any Amerindian communities in Guyana, and even without the knowledge of any of their elected representatives who form the National Toshaos Council – the only official representative organisation of the Amerindian communities across the entirety of Guyana comprised of leaders elected by the Amerindian communities, unlike those of the APA.

"It is unfortunate that the APA continuestomisrepresenttheneeds of Amerindian communities in an effort to consistently conflagrate situations which may invite more donor attention, and consequently leadtoaccessingmorefunding.

The Government of Guyana reiterates its commitment to workingwiththepeopleofChinese Landing, who are the real beneficiaries, to ensure that the identified issues can be adequately resolved.

We trust that this decision to implement a cessation on all mining is welcomed by the people of Chinese Landing as it was part and parcel of their primary requests.

Further, the Government welcomestheopencommunication approach byToshao Fernandes and the Chinese Landing Village Council, and looks forward to realizingtheimportantfact-finding mission as soon as practically possible," the ministry statement concluded.

...saysplansforinterventionscontinue

Mining activities have been halted at Chinese Landing

Jamaica dump Brazil and Marta out of World Cup to reach last 16

AFP - Jamaica ensured there would be no fairytale ending to Marta’s World Cup career as they strangled Brazil 0-0 to reach the last 16 yesterday and condemn the South Americans to their earliest exit since 1995.

It was heartbreak for the legendary Brazilian attacker Marta, who at age 37 has said this sixth World Cup would be her last.

“Not even in my worst nightmares was it the World Cup I dreamed of,” she said, looking as shellshocked as she was upset.

But it was joy in Melbourne for a Jamaica team

who are yet to concede at the tournament and are into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Lorne Donaldson’s unbeaten side, who have defied rows with their federation to get this far, will most likely meet Colombia next after finishing second in the group behind France.

“This is one of the best days I’ve ever had in my life,” Donaldson said.

“To see a country like Jamaica be able to do this, it’s unbelievable.

“The girls are doing it for the country, the country should be proud. “We had re-

silience, fight. We are going into a war and we need to be ready,” he added. “And it was a war, and we stayed in the battle.”

Jamaica’s achievement, having lost all three games in their debut World Cup in 2019, is all the more remarkable considering the tensions behind the scenes.

Donaldson’s team has been in open dispute with their football federation over a lack of support, including issues over pay and poor planning in the build-up to the World Cup. Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer said their run at the tournament will

Thursday August 03, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Emotionally speaking, things might get tense for you today as others demonstrate a rather selfish attitude, Aries. Remember that selfishness isn't always considered negative.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You might be quite stirred by the general energy today, Taurus. "Stirred" may be too light a word. Put on your armor and get ready to do battle.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Move in for the kill today, Gemini. Don't stop until you succeed. Don't let other people's insecurities become yours. Have confidence in yourself and the way you act around others.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Now is the perfect time to say something you've been meaning to say for quite a while, Cancer. Get it out in the open. Keeping it inside is only eating away at your internal mechanisms.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Your opinions might be the focus of conversation all day, Leo. You have a very strong will that you aren't afraid to express. You will get that chance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Your sensitive heart may be touched by anger today, Virgo. Don't be afraid of hurting other people's feelings as you express this emotion. You'd be doing yourself.

Basil Butcher Trust, King’s...

From page 29 overseas friends of the RHTY&SC also contributed cycles and other prizes.

send a message to the bosses back home. “We know we’ve got a point to prove and the better we do, the more pressure it creates.

“We hope they’re looking at us and taking us seriously now.” - ‘Marta ends here’Brazil had to win to be sure of going through, whereas Jamaica needed only to draw.

So it was little surprise that it was the South Americans who had the better of an attritional contest.

In front of a crowd of nearly 28,000, Brazil had much more of the ball and attempts at goal — Jamaica had none on target all game to Brazil’s five. But for all that and with Marta starting, Jamaica were never really in serious trouble at any point in the game.

They include Bruce Butcher, Zaeer Ali, Romel Ayasammy, Yogimdra Narine, Devindra Narine, Andy Lamphins, Papie Asfrali, Francoise Culley and Lavern Lawrence.

RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster expressed thanks to the numerous donors for their support, and expressed confidence that all the planned activities would be properly organised and be successful.

He noted that the cricket teams would also be organising tribute programmes for firemen in the township of Rose Hall, and undertaking some restoration of the Area H Ground.

to the restoration of the main pavilion. Foster noted that the venue badly needs an upgrade to host matches, and the club has committed to spearheading the effort.

The RHTY&SC currently has a membership of hundreds of youths, including Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Shabika Gajnabi and Sheneeta Grimmond, who will be playing soon in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League.

Jonathan Rampersaud and Jeremy Sandia, Guyana’s leading under-19 bowlers, are also members of the club.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

You might feel a great deal of physical power today, Libra. If someone asks you to help move a couch, you're likely to be able to pick the whole thing up by yourself. Don't sell yourself short.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

The train is headed out, so you'd better hop on, Scorpio. People won't be too sympathetic to your emotional sob story today, so keep it quiet.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Jump into action with energy today, Sagittarius. Order others around and delegate tasks for a change. An aggressive approach is what's needed, and you have the ability to deliver the goods.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

Guard your heart well today, Capricorn. It's a prime target for the abrasive words being tossed around. Your sensitivity leaves you feeling alone and naked in the harsh atmosphere.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

A position involving power and authority is opening up, and you're the perfect one for the job, Aquarius. Today's astrological aspect is helping you find the necessary confidence.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you, Pisces. The problem with today's energy is that there just may be some sticks and stones tossed in your direction.

Jamaica, who held France 0-0 before getting their firstever World Cup win with a 10 victory over Panama, were defending deep and in numbers. Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, who have never won the World Cup, looked short of ideas as they went to the break goalless.

The second half was more of the same but Brazil were struggling to really create a golden chance.

Cast for Quarterfinals...

From page 29 action kick off yesterday, The Petra Organisation officially presented complete team kits to the schools that will be competing in the Round-of16 section in the 8th edition of the Digicel Football Championship. The presentation occurred at the National Insurance Scheme ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Petra Organisation Co-Director, Troy Mendonca, disclosed that the event has been a learning experience for his team, which was alleviated by the established network of regional coordinators. This tournament is being administered by the Petra organisation.

He further noted that the organizing committee is looking forward to the 9th and 10th editions, which will feature incremental improvements from the current iteration. Gabriella Chapman, Communications Director of Digicel, congratulated the respective teams that have progressed to this juncture of the tournament, declaring that tournament, which is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, is a testament to their commitment to the development of youths and sports.

The teams recently did some repairs to the internal fence of the venue and West Indies white ball allrounder Kevin Sinclair has committed

The cricket teams of the RHTY&SC are Poonai Pharmacy under-11 and 13; Farfan and Mendes under-15; Bakewell under-17 and second division; Pepsi under-19 and intermediate; Metro females, and NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour under-21 and first division.

Shariff dominates Diamond Insurance Women’s Chess C/ship Qualifiers

With only three rounds left to play, former Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff has begun her journey with thrilling performances, aiming to advance to the National Women’sChampionshipand reclaimthecovetedtitle.

Shariffwasinpossession ofthetitleupto2022whenit waswonbycurrentreigning championPoojaLam

After four rounds, Shariff has claimed the top spot as the only player with 3.5 points. Thematchesbegan onJuly29th,whenshesecured victoriesagainstChelseaHarrison and Chandra Lall, both newcomerstocompetitivechess Despitetheirvaliantefforts,the seasoned national player proved too strong, resulting intheirdefeat.

In round three, Shariff continued her winning streak by defeating Vienna Bharosay However, her match against fellow senior national player Jessica Callender in round four was a gruelingbattlethatlastedabout

Sasha Shariff

25hoursandendedinadraw

Both Shariff and Callender are accomplished senior players who have

represented Guyana multiple times on the international stage They previously faced each other in the Women’s N a t i o n a l C h e s s Championship last year

and were teammates at the 2022FIDEChessOlympiad inChennai,India.

A head-to-head clash b e t w e e n t h e t w o demonstrated their prowess inthegame.Shariff,playing the white pieces, opened with the popular King’s Pawn Opening and Callendercounteredwiththe

RHTYSC School Holiday activities 2023...

Basil Butcher Trust, King’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals, P&P lend support

Duringthecurrent

school holidays, cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) would be hosting several activities for youths in the ancient county of Berbice. WidelyconsideredGuyana’s most progressive youth and sports organization, the RHTY&SC hosts, on an annual basis, a record seven hundred activities under a wide range of sub-headings that include sports, culture, coaching, charity, youth development, community development, publications, anti-drugs, religious, antisuicide, anti-alcohol, and awards.

The club is currently hosting the 15th edition of the Republic Bank School Holiday Camp and the 34th editionofitsAnnualCricket Academy The academy is sponsored by Bakewell and the Guyana Beverage Company, and both events haveattractedalargeturnout ofstudentsandcricketers.

Thecampisbeingheldat theRoseHallTownPrimary

School, and its main objective is to assist Grade Six students to make a successful transition from primary level to secondary level.

The cricket academy, which has attracted close to 80 youths, has been a resounding success over the last 30 years, and has producedover100playersat all levels for Berbice, Guyana,andtheWestIndies. Yesterday, the club received major support from several of its major supporters for the two graduation ceremonies, wherein the top students and cricketers would receive over

$800,000 worth of prizes, including a motorbike, gold medallions, bicycles, food hampers, packages of cosmetics, designer watches, cricket gear, clothing, and household utensils; while each youth would receive a school bag along with educational materials.

Additionally, the cricket teams have received special giftsfortheawardeesfroma

Caro-KannDefense.

The Caro–Kann is a commonresponsetotheKing’s Pawn Opening and is classifiedasasemi-opengame whichwasaninterestingtwist sinceShariffandCallenderare both typically known for playing closed games The Caro-Kann when played efficiently,oftenleadstogood endgames for black who has thebetterpawnstructure This endgame,however,culminated withShariff’slonerookagainst Callender’s connected passed pawnsfastapproachingthefirst rank At move 48, the players saw no way forward that offeredeitherofthemtheupper handandagreedtoadraw

Currently, Shariff leads with 3 5 points, closely followed by Callender, Waveney Johnson, and Aniyah Couchman, all with threepoints ItalyTonChung, AnayaLall,ViennaBharosay,

Adia Alphonso, and Aditi

Joshi are at 25 points, while Priya Doodnaught, Chandra Lall, Ciel Clement, and KataleyaSamstandat2points Chelsea Harrison, Parnita Kishun, and Tharisha Montes

De Oca have each earned one point, and Kaija Clement and JoannaShepherdarebothon halfapoint.

The players have proved theirtitlesas“Queensof the Board”,demonstratingtheir valour and determination in all their games with players even journeying from regions three and six, for a chanceatthetitle

While Shariff currently holds the lead, she must keep winning to remain in the top positionuntilthecloseofplay or other players may surpass her within the final three rounds

The Qualifiers will conclude on August 6th, after

whichthetoptenplayerswill compete in a National Championship at a date to be determined 2022 Women’s ChampionPoojaLamwillnot bereturningtodefendhertitle sincesheiscurrentlyfulfilling study commitments This makes way for a new championthisyear

The Guyana Chess Federation extends its heartfelt gratitude to Diamond Fire and General Insurance for their generous sponsorship of this prestigious event Additionally, the GCF would like to acknowledge theSchooloftheNationsfor graciously providing the venueforthetournament.

As an avid supporter of chess in Guyana, the School oftheNationsalsofacilitates the Federation’s Chess Club every Saturday from 10 am to12pm.

Digicel Schools’National Football Championship… Cast for Quarterfinals to be completed today

- Teams don new outfits for final rounds

wide range of supporters. Overseas-basedformerRose HallTownresidentDrLenny Kudrath has donated 200 schoolbagsinmemoryofhis late cousin Farouk Kudrath, a former RHTY&SC Asst Secretary CEO of Beacon Cafe, Ramdeo Kumar, also donated a large amount of school bags. Speaker of the National Assembly, ManzoorNadir,alsochipped in with a contribution of educationalmaterials.

Other donors include Canadian Surplus, Namilco, HASnacksCoLtd,TheGift Center, John Lewis Styles, Ministers Joseph Hamilton and Collin Croal, Ricks and Sari Agro Inc, DeSinco Trading, Roger Harper, Sheik Mohamed, Food for the Poor, PPDI, Skeldon Energy Inc, Dr Philip DaSilva, Delmur Shipping Ltd,Ansa McAl, Bank DIH Ltd. Ryan Persaud of Kings JewelleryWorldhasdonated a West Indies Cricket medallion for the Cricketer oftheAcademy Several

(Continuedonpage28)

The final four teams for the quarterfinal stage of the Digicel Schools’ National Football Championship will beconfirmedtodaywhenthe Round-of-16 stage culminatesattheMinistryof Education (MoE) Ground, CarifestaAvenue.

In the opening match, Carmel will meet Region 6 Champion, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), at 13:00 hrs while Georgetown Champion, D o l p h i n , o p p o s e s Westminsterat15:00hrs. D.C Fox battle Region 5 Champion, Mahaicony Technical Institute, at 17:00

hrs in the third match and West Ruimveldt Secondary thrash it out with Charlestownat19:00hrs.

The Round-of-16 stage commencedyesterdayatthe same venue with the first four matches that saw Tucville knockout Region 2 Champion,Charity,inabout that ended 4 – 1. Dwayne Kellman led with a double, whileSahaleButtsandRyan Greene supported with a goal each in the one-sided affair

In the second match, Region 9 Champion, St Ignatius eliminated East Coast Champion, Buxton,

with a score that read 5 – 2. Akon Albert’s hat-trick along with a goal each from Romel Earnest and Morgan Taruma comfortably propelled their side into the finaleight.

Match three featured SantaRosagoingupagainst Region 10 Champion, Mackenzie High, while the day was set to wrap up with KwakwaniversusWaramuri Top. However, up to press time Santa Rosa led 1 - 0 with the final match approaching. Details will be published in tomorrow’s issue.Meanwhile,beforethe (Continuedonpage28)

Twelve of the 16 participating schools display their new team jerseys which are part of the complete team kits that were presented by the Digicel and the Petra Organisation. Sitting from left are Petra Organization Co-Director - Troy Mendonca, Gabriella Chapman - Communications Director of Digicel and National Coordinator, Lavern Fraser-Thomas.

RHTYSC and NAMILCO celebrate achievements of cricketers

The National MillingCompany o f G u y a n a (NAMILCO) and the Rose HallTownYouth and Sports Clubwouldshortlycelebrate four years of working together as the company has been the official sponsor of the RHTYSC first division team. The Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour First Division team over the years has been the leading one in the Ancient County and is a constant producer of players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert

Fosterhailedtheoutstanding bond between the club and NAMILCO, describing the company as one of the foundation of its success.

The RHTYSC in 2023 has produced a total of fifteen cricketers for Guyana at the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, female and seniormalelevels.

Theteamalsohasatotal of six senior players who wouldparticipateinthe2023 Caribbean Premier League, which starts later in the

- Six to participate in upcoming CPL

month Three NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour male membersareontheAmazon Warriors team They are Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon

Anderson and Junior

Sinclair Additionally, three female RHTYSC members

Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneeta Grimmond and Shabaki Gajnabi are on the Amazon Warriors Female teamforthetournamentthat wouldbeplayedinTrinidad.

Foster described the six players in the CPLas a major achievement for the club that was founded in September 1990 by three times CommonwealthYouthService Awardee,theSt FrancisXavier Roman Catholic Youth Club

Jonathan Rampersaud and Jeremy Sandia have been outstandingwiththeballforthe Guyana Under19 team currentlyplayinginSt Vincent

Rampersaud is the leading bowler for the team with twofivewickethaulswhileSandia has one Matthew Pottaya wouldshortlybeservingasthe vice-captain for the national Under17 team, while Raffel

McKenzie and Tameshwar Deonandan are with the

Guyana Under13 team in Trinidad for a series of matches.

In 2023, the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour team has undertaken a total 32 programmes/projectunderthe nameofthesponsorship They includetheconstructionofan internal fence at theArea ‘H’ ground, massive clean-up of the venue, publication of the annual review magazine, Jessica Sandia Mother’s programme, Walter Nero Father Day Programme, Republic Bank School Holiday camp, Cricket Academy, Tribute to Heroes, FeedingofthePoor Theteam also donated over $400,000

worth of items to the Port Mourant Hospital Therapy Unit and also assisted hundreds of youths with bicycles, clothing and sports gears

Theteamisalsoplanning a series of activities for the rest of the year to make a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.The team is now spearheading a million dollars school bag project for school children and other programmes including restoration of the Area‘H’pavilion,upgrading of the club office, medical outreach with USA doctors, Christmas village and the

annual Christmas charity programme. The team is also working on the publication of a pictorial review of the club for 2023 and also another edition of the RHTYSC Youth InformationBooklet.

National player Kevlon AndersonleadstheNAMILCO ThunderboltFlourteamin2023 and includes Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Slyus Tyndall, Jonathan Rampersaud, Keith Simpson, Slyus Tyndall, Jeremy Sandia, Romesh Bharrat, Matthew Pottaya, Jason Sinclair, Keon Sinclair, Troy Mathieson, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneeta

Grimmond and Shakabi

Gajnabi

Foster, who is also the President of the vibrant Berbice Cricket Board, hailed the support of the management and staff of NAMILCO. The RHTYSC, Foster states that the company also sponsors a number of activities every year with financial contributions, trophies, medals and hampers of its products NAMILCO’s Managing Director Bert Sukhai stated that his companywasverypleasedto beassociatedwiththecricket teamandwasdelightedwith itsachievements.

Lusignan Golf Club re-elects Per Persaud and his Team for third term -Kidsgolf,majorupgradestothefacilityinthemaking

The Lusignan Golf Club held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday 30th July, 2023. In the end the Executive of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) was returned, with minor changes, for a second term signalingbroadapprovalfor theorganisation’sdirection.

Atotalofthirtyfour(34) financial voting members alongwithmanynon-voting membersandguestswereall interested in the outcomes and deliberations. The first order of business was the election of the Returning Officer(RO).Anon-partisan independent Returning Officer by the name of Stephano Ramnaught, who has an auditing background and also worked for GECOM,wasappointed.

T h e r e w e r e t w o competing slates for the generalelections,theywere:

Slate1:ledbyincumbent

President Patanjilee Persaud, VP Brian Hackett,

Secretary Chetwynd

B o w l i n g , G r o u n d

S u p e r i n t e n d e n t

Rabindranath Persaud, Captain Pope Emmanuel London, Treasurer Miguel

Yunes, Assistant Secretary

Treasurer Ms Eureka

Giddings and PRO Paton

George.

Slate2:LedbyPresident

Pastor Balgobin Ragnauth, VPRichardHanif,Secretary

Rommel Bhagwandin, Captain Ayube Subhan,

Treasurer Selochni

Ramsundar, Ground

Superintendent Hardeo Ganpat, Assistant Treasury

Secretary Seeru Deo, PRO RobinTiwari.

The slate led by

Patanjilee Persaud got an overwhelming majority of over70percentofthevotes, demonstrating the confidence the membership hasinhisleadershipandthat ofthefullcommittee–most of which had served on the management committee over the previous two years.

However, there were three newentrantsnamely:Eureka Giddings, MiguelYunis and Pope Emanuel London, bringing new blood into the managementcommittee.

Returning President Patanjilee Persaud took the floor and highlighted the club’s achievements of the past year which included a successful Guyana Open, more that 24 tournaments and improved playing conditions. As part of the President’s report, the Vice President Brian Hackett presentedsomeofthefuture plans which included a commitment from Republic BankGuyanatosponsorthis year’s kids youth camp and golf clinic scheduled to begin in the second week of August.

grounds

allow more play during the

seasons.

improve they will continue to work w i t h t h e b r o a d e r membership in a big tent approach and as such will reach out to the full membership including the

drainage membersfromtheotherslate to work together to ensure they have buy-in and contributions and diverse ideassothatLGCcanrealize itsfullpotential.

The RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team pose with Namilco Managing Director Bert Sukhai.

Tropical Shipping Drag Wars 2.0 results finalised

Th e h i g h l y a n t i c i p a t e d T r o p i c a l Shipping DragWars 2.0 had generated much hype over the past few weeks and was settoculminateinthegrand finale on Sunday Teams fromTrinidad&Tobagoand Suriname were here and set to take on the local competition who was ready todefendthehometurf.

The day got off to an earlystartandtheeventwas ahead of the day’s schedule, producing exciting races in the lower classes, setting up nicelyfortheheavyhitters.

However, a major snag was hit when our timing equipment started to malfunction shortly after 1:00 pm Officials and technical personnel, along with help from several race teams, attempted to identify and resolve the issues that were being experienced

After several attempts, the equipment was still plagued with several errors which would have produced inaccurateresults.

Given the circumstances oftheday,thecompletionof

racing in the 12 to 6 second classes could not be completed. As a result, the winner of these classes was decided based on which competitor had the fastest dial-intimeonSaturday

The showdown between the 6 second cars of Team Mohamed’s,TeamDabyand Sheldon Bissessar was perhapsthemostanticipated races of the day and the GMR&SC made every attempt for racing in this classtotakeplace.

Team Daby’s Toyota Solara faced Sheldon Bissessar’s Spitzer Dragster in the first round since their dial-in times were closest to each other (6.727 & 6.728 respectively) Bissessar emerged victorious over Team Daby in this race and was set to take on the Pro Mod Mustang of Team Mohamed’s in the final However,thisracecouldnot takeplaceimmediatelysince thesehighpoweredcarshave cool down times ranging between 30 to 60 minutes. Withlightfadingquicklyand competitor and spectator safety being of paramount

importance, the race could not be run. As such the winner was decided in the samewayasthatoftheother incomplete classes, and that is by the fastest dial-in time.

Team Mohamed’s Pro Mod Mustang set a time of 6.403 during dial-in on Saturday and as such, that car was declaredthewinner

T h e G M R & S C apologizes to fans that left t h e e v e n t f e e l i n g disappointed and we assure you that we will be taking steps to ensure that such a situation does not reoccur in thefuture.Wearecommitted to enhancing the motorsport experience in Guyana and the Caribbean, and events like the Tropical Shipping DragWars continue to serve as thrilling platforms for showcasingtheregion’sbest talents. We would also like to thank our sponsors, officials, competitors and everyone who was involved inputtingtogetherthisevent.

Toyouthefans,aspecial thankyouforyourcontinued support and, especially the patience you exercised throughout the technical

Gymkhana Post-Emancipation Horse Race meet set for this Sunday

problems For further updates and information about the GMR&SC and upcoming events, please visitwww.gmrsc.com.

The winners are as follows:

- 16 seconds - #923 -

Shawn Whyte - Toyota

CorollaAE100

- 15 seconds - #94 -

DevinMoses-ToyotaStarlet EP91

- 14 seconds - #1165 -

One of Team Mohamed’s

Akshay Lachninarainsingh -

ToyotaCrown(Suriname)

- 13 seconds - #300 -

Parshuram Ramkissoon -

HondaPrelude - 12 seconds - #1234 -

Raghubar Virish -

Vo l k s w a g e n G o l f (Suriname)

- 11 seconds - #110 -

Raymond John - Toyota Chaser(Suriname)

- 10 seconds - #1166 -

Jasvant Bhagikath

(Suriname) - 9 seconds#1176 - Rabbanie YacoobToyotaVerossa(Suriname)

- 8 seconds - #1162 -

MichaelNamchand-Mazda RX-7(Suriname)

- 7 seconds - #2 -

Terrence Cox (Team Mohameds) – Nissan GT-R (Godzilla)

- 6 seconds - #5 - Victor Florito Flores (Team Mohameds) – Mustang Pro Mod

Horse racing action returns to Nootenzuil

Sideline Dam, East Coast Demerara, with the 2023 Gymkhana ‘Emancipation’ HorseRacingmeetbilledfor 6thAugust.

Theeventpromisestobe a heart-pounding spectacle for horseracing enthusiasts. The East Coast will come alivewiththunderinghooves and racing fervor, this Sunday with a stellar lineup ofraces;cateringtodifferent skilllevelsandagegroups.

Spectators can expect an action-packed day of events consisting of six exciting race classes, including Jand-Lower,K-andLower,Land Lower, and the

adrenaline-pumping Twoyear-old Maiden races Moreover, to further ignite theexcitement,therewillbe Cart horse races and Ranch Horseraces.

Meanwhile, the track will witness the talents of some of the most prolific jockey’s in the region, adding an extra layer of anticipation to this event.

Fans can look forward to cheering for favourites like Pakar Pride, Dr Switch, Black Jack, Baba Chun, Short Boss, Julian Pride, Little Andrew, and many others as they compete for gloryontheturf.

The promoters of the event; Sancho, Nigel, and Stevenareconfidentthatthe

Emancipation Horse Racing extravaganza will deliver electrifying action and unforgettable moments. The event has also garnered the support of various sponsors, resulting in a plethora of prizes up for grabs for the winners.

Theorganizershavealso set an affordable admission fee to ensure that everyone can be a part of the horse racing festivity Adults can gain entry for just $500, while children pay $300. Actionstarts12:00noon.

For further information about this eagerly awaited meet, interested individuals can contact Mr King at 6727862 or Richard at 6819108.

fleet of outstanding performers.

Promoters along with organisers of the 2023 Gymkhana Emancipation Horse Race meet pose with a few of the trophies that will be up for grabs this Sunday.

WI switch to T20 mode as CPL stars look to topple India

Bigpicture:IPLheroes vsCPLstars

Though West Indies failedtoqualifyforthemain event of the last T20 World Cup-andtheupcomingODI World Cup - their T20I side seems to be in better health than their ODI and Test teams.EithersideoftheT20 World Cup’s first round in 2022, West Indies challengedNewZealandina 2-1 series defeat at home, and beat South Africa 2-1 away Theywillbebolstered further by the return of Nicholas Pooran, who propelled MI New York to the MLC title last Sunday with a sensational 137 not out off 55 balls.Allrounders

Jason Holder, Odean Smith and Akeal Hosein are also backinthemix.

India will be without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj for the T20I leg of the West Indies andUSAtours,buttheirlineupstilldripswithpowerand class, thanks to their IPL

heroes. After having lit up his Test debut with 171 in Dominica, Yashasvi Jaiswal could potentially make his T20I debut on Thursday in Tarouba,andopenalongside Shubman Gill. There could also be a debut for Tilak Varma, who has been the engine room of Mumbai Indians’ middle order since Hardik Pandya moved to

Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Varma will now combine with Pandya to marshal India’smiddleorder. This could be another opportunity for Sanju SamsonandIshanKishanto prove their white-ball chops andfirmuptheircasestobe I n d i a ’ s b a c k - u p wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul,whoisontheroadto

recoveryfrominjury

For West Indies, this series marks the beginning of a long T20 home season, withtheCPLsettobeginon August 16, three days after the end of the T20I series against India in Lauderhill, USA. Strong performances in this series - and the following CPL - could help West Indies shape their side for their home T20 World Cupnextyear

In the spotlight: Powell andMukesh Rovman Powell is among West Indies’ leaders

in white-ball cricket, but he wasdroppedforthelasttwo ODIs against India, with Keacy Carty replacing him. He had also been dropped fromtheODIsideduringthe World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. But Powell is nowsettoreturn,thistimeas thecaptainoftheT20Iteam, and with a point to proveparticularly against the spinners.Powellhasastrike rate of 115.03 only while facing spin in T20 cricket, while that number jumps up to153.20againstpace.

Mukesh Kumar had to slog for years to make it to India’s squad, but if he gets picked on Thursday, he will endupmakinghisTest,ODI and T20I debuts in a fortnight in the West Indies. Mukesh usually operates in the lower 130kph range, but hecangettheballtoskidand seamoffthepitchlikehedid in the ODI series decider in Tarouba on Tuesday. With a number of senior quicks absentonceagain,Mukeshis likelytogetagoodruninthe five-matchT20Iseries.

Team news: Will India pickanextraspinner?

ThiswillbeWestIndies’ firstT20IundercoachDaren Sammy, but there might not

be too many changes from the team that toppled South Africa in SouthAfrica. ODI captain Shai Hope might compete with Johnson Charles for the No.3 spot.

West Indies will look up to the returning Pooran and ShimronHetmyertocounter India’s spinners Hosein could be West Indies’ main spinnerafterhavingreturned fromtheMLC.

Ifthepitchthatwasused forthefinalODIisrolledout once again, India might considerbringinginanextra spinner Anditremainstobe seenwhetherthevisitorscan fit both Kishan and Samson intheirXI.

Pitch and conditions: Rain could interrupt the game

The Brian Lara Cricket Academyhashostedjustone T20I so far, in 2022, when Indiapiledup190for6,and then defended it with considerable ease against WestIndies.

The Tarouba pitch is usually friendly to batters, but a used one could offer more assistance to the bowlers. The forecast for Thursday isn’t particularly promising, with a 40% chanceofrain.

One Guyana Kares T10...

Action heads to Enmore on August 5

The final three semi-finalists will be decided as the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball tournament’s Super 8 stage bowls off at the Enmore Community Centre on Saturday, August5.

Six teams will be vying for a spot to be guaranteed prize winnings and join Eccles All Stars in the play-off stages of the competition. In the opening match at 10.00 hours,RegionTwo’sUnitedCrewwillgoup againstTarmacTitans.Thiswillbefollowed by Village Rams taking on V-Net Vipers at noon and Team Corruption competing againstAvinashAll-Starsfrom14.00hours.

The move to Enmore resulted from the inclement weather on Saturday After the dust has settled, Eccles All-Stars and the three winners will head to the National Stadium, Providence to clash in the semifinalsbeforethewinnersbattlefor$1Minthe finalunderlightsonAugust12.

- Key Super 8 matches to be played

The runner-up will not leave emptyhandedbutpocket$300,000,whilethelosing semi-finalists will take home $100,000. Individual prizes are also up for grabs, including a motorcycle compliment of Assuria Insurance and three television compliments of Regal Stationery The final has been confirmed for August 12 at the NationalStadium,underlights.

ThetournamentisalsosponsoredbyGT Beer, Star Rentals,Avinash Contracting and ScrapMetalInc.,ENet,RegalStationeryand Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance,CricketZoneUSA,BeaconCafé, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc. and Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM FM,Assuria Insurance, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Gafoors and HardRockCafé.

Shimron Hetmyer and Obed McCoy are back in the squad. (CWI)

Preparation work underway at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

Minister Ramson meets Guyana Commonwealth Commonwealth Youth Games Team before departure

Minister of C u l t u r e , Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, yesterday morning, in his Ministry’s Conference room,deliveredthecharge t o G u y a n a ’ s Commonwealth Youth games team before they departed Guyana for the gamesscheduledfrom4th11thAugust2023inTrinidad andTobago.

Mr Ramson remarked, “On behalf of the government and people of Guyana, I wish you every successandwearegrateful f o r y o u r s e r v i c e Congratulations on being selected as national representatives

It is an honour and privilege to represent one’s country, and do so with honour, pride, distinction and to the best of your abilities.”

Hefurtheremphasized on the government’s c o m m i t m e n t t o developing sport in

Guyana

“As a government we are working and making the strategic investment in developing the sporting landscape and industry ”

Reflecting on his own life experiences, Minister Ramson referenced the potential and positive impact sports has on moldingone’slife.

He outlined to the selected student athletes to use the experiences of sports to expand their horizon, growth and development

“In your young and budding careers filled with somuchpotential,youareon the pathway to excellence and it’s critical that you remain disciplined as students of your sport and life.”

Minister Ramson implored the athletes to use the opportunity of the games and the current position they are in to inculcate the right habits, create the attributes, attitudes, mindset that w o u l d s e e t h e m maximizing and realizing their fullest potential in future sporting careers andinlife

“Know that you have worked hard, sacrificed, have the talent and potential to do of your best, meet new friends in your downtime, discuss training regimen, adopt a resilient, positive and growth mindset as a key ingredient for realization of your potential and talent as you embark on thiswonderfuljourney”

Guyana will be represented by a delegation of13.

The team comprises of five track and field a t h l e t e s , t h r e e s w i m m e r s , t w o p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s swimming and athletics coaches along with Chefde - Mission, Ms Nalini Mc Koy

The swimmers will commence competition on August 6, while the athletics team will display their talent on the 7thAugust

The athletes take a photo with Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr

Minister Charles Ramson Jr. with the athletes and officials during the meeting at his office.