Kaieteur News

AfterpassinglargestBudgetever…

Govt. dips into treasury for $92 billion more

Weeks after using its p a r l i a m e n t a r y majority to approve $31B in supplementary spending andonthebackofits$781.9B2023 budget-the biggest ever, the President Irfaan Ali Government was back at it again on Thursdaythis time seeking a further $61B of extra-budgetaryfunds.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni SinghonThursdaytabledFinancial Paper 3, when the National Assembly convened at the Arthur Chung, Conference Centre, Liliendaal Of the requested amount $10 1B is for current expenditures and $50B for capital works,thepaperdetailed.

In a quick reaction to the request by the government Shadow Housing and Water Minister, AnnetteFergusonsaidonAugust9, 2023, the Assembly will go into recess, until October 10, 2023.

“This morning (Thursday) when I turned up, myself and colleagues were greeted with documents, including a Supplementary Paper,” Ferguson added. “Mind you this is the third Supplemental Paper for the year 2023; 3/2023, where the PPPC regime is seeking to get a total sum of $61,013,184,705 in addition to what the National Assembly approved in February 2023 for Budget of $781.9B with a further $26B approved by the National Assembly from the Low Carbon Credits for Infrastructural projects.” Ferguson, a former Housing and Water Minister said it will now be $874B from February toAugust2023.

“The PPPC regime will request fortheAssemblytomeetnextweek

for the additional monies to be approved Therefore, they are ending this session with a “Big Bang” before we head into recess on August 9, 2023.” Ferguson noted that the government is spending lavishly and lives of citizens have not improved. “With this $874B, the following remains: poor Infrastructure; poor quality of waterthroughourtaps;highcostof living; frequent blackouts; public servants yet to receive a decent increase in their salaries; poor healthfacilities.”

Ferguson said Guyanese are in trouble, noting that this type of “lavish” spending is premised on: poor planning by the Regime and a lack competence. She called on Guyanese to wake up and ask, where“ouroilmoniesgoing?”

This year's Budget was approved to the tune of $781.9 billion.

Following its passage, government approached the House in April for an additional $31 billion that was later approved in July This means that the total Supplementary funds sought so far totals$92billion.Onceapprovedin Parliament, this year's Budget would increase to approximately $873.9billion.

Notably, last year's Budget was approved to the tune of $552.9 billion.

By the end of December 2022, thetotalfiscalplanwasincreasedto approximately $643 7 billion, owing to the passage of two supplementalbudgets.

According to the Financial Paper seen by Kaieteur News, the d i s a g g r e g a t e d s u m o f

capitalprojects,respectively

ThroughtheOfficeofthePrime Minister, the administration is looking to secure an additional $5 billion to support the advancement ofthetransmissionanddistribution network for the Gas to Energy project. In this year's Budget, the Prime Minister's Office was already allocated $43.3 billion for thenaturalgasinitiative.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works after receiving the highest budgetary allocation is set to receive a further $33 billion to support its development agenda. The Ministry has put in the largest request for additional funding totaling$33,376,457,184.

The PublicWorks Ministry was awarded approximately $150 billion, the largest portion of this year'sBudget.

The Financial Paper detailed that the resources will be utilised for the Berbice Bridge Company; m a i n t e n a n c e o f r o a d s ; rehabilitation of pontoons and high span for the Demerara Habour Bridge and construction and rehabilitation of community and urbanroads.

It also noted that the resources willbeputtowardstheconstruction of the Wismar Bridge in Linden; construction and rehabilitation of Hinterlandroads;addressemerging threats along the sea and river defences and facilitate emergency workstospecificStellings.

In a statement to the press, the Ministry of Finance said the supplemental funding supports “a

range of developmental initiatives countrywide, including provision of additional resources for construction and rehabilitation of community, urban and hinterland roads, drainage and irrigation works, rehabilitation of health buildings and school-feeding programmes among many other areas.”

It noted that over $3 billion is being sought for the education sectortosupporttheschoolfeeding programme;theprovisionofgrants to schools; the provision of additionalresourcestofacilitatethe completion of Good Hope Secondary School and for the acquisitionofadditionaltextbooks.

Under the Health Sector, $1 billion was sought for the rehabilitationandupgradeofhealth f a c i l i t i e s c o u n t r y w i d e Additionally, the Prime Minister's Officehasrequestedatotalof$927 million for the provision of more resources to support electricity companiesinLindenandLethem.

Meanwhile, under the Ministry ofAgriculture, over $8 Billion was sought for drainage and irrigation workscountrywide,withadditional resources for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) to facilitate the rehabilitation of temporarily abandoned lands at Albion, Blairmont, Rose Hall, and Uitvlugtestates.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also put in a request for some $400 million more to procure vehicles and boats to boost the operational effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force, and an additional$1billionwassoughtfor the upgrade of police stations,

living quarters and other facilities along with furnishing and equipment Further, under the Guyana Defence Force, $563 million was sought for the upgrade of infrastructure across several bases.

Only on July 20, 2023 the National Assembly approved Financial Papers Number One and Tw o f o r a $ 3 1 b i l l i o n SupplementaryBudget.

The sum includes $4.7 billion thatwillbedirectlyallocatedto242 Indigenous communities and $26.5 billion for climate adaptation measures, utilising revenue earned through Guyana's carbon credits deal with the Hess Corporation. The Supplementary Appropriation Bill, comprising Financial Papers Number 1 and 2 of 2023, was first presented on April 24 last during the 63rd SittingoftheNationalAssembly

Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

DEBT SERVICE

Asimpledefinitionofdebtserviceistheamount neededannuallytorepaylenders. Itconsistsof thetotalofprincipalpaidbackandtheinterest charged on all loans outstanding. According to Bank of Guyana figures, this country’s debt service in 2022 was approximatelyUS$150million(GY$30billion). Also,the interest component in Guyana’s 2022 debt service was US$43 5 million, or about GY$9 billion These skyrocketing debt service figures are related to the PPPC Government’s continuing addiction to borrowings that pushup the country’s debt stock, leading to more Guyana billionsneededannuallyfordebtservicing.

We assure the public of this fact: debt has its uses, and helps to make many things possible. But, as with most things,toomuchofit,cancausemorethanconstipation,it canresultinahernia. Toomuchdebttakentooquicklycan lead to choking, especially if the underlying revenues needed for debt service encounter trouble, and start to slowdown. In Guyana’s case, a world of dependency is placedonoilpricesstayingatthelevelwhereitiscurrently, orabove. Thereisoptimismtothepointofblindreligious faithinthecampofthePPPCGovernmentthatitis,andwill be,amosthelpfuloilpricehorizon. Wiserpoliticalleaders and better run national governments have made the same mistakeandpaidbitterpricesforlongstretchesoftime. Itis moreaccuratetoassertthatthecitizenswhohavetorepay the suddenly overwhelming debt loads are the ones living withthebitterness.

Oil is a commodity that seesaws violently on world markets, and it does not take much to trigger it rising and fallingwildly LeadingmembersofthePPPCGovernment arefullyawareofthis,butsomeofthemtakecomfortinthe lowdebttoGDPratioofthiscountry,consideringthatsame ratioofothercountriesintheregion. GDP(GrossDomestic Product), or the total output of the economy, can turn on a dime and deliver into nosebleed territory, should geopolitical conditions change in some distant part of the world, or there is a steep drop in demand for the precious energy commodity All the rosy forecasts, and all the expressions of political confidence to service the national debt, then undergo a sharp reversal, with much tightening (stringencies) following, and being the only way to cope withnewrealities.

The people who felt pain during the time of plenty are nowfacedwithnewer,moreunbearablepain.

For when the economic going was on the bright side, those same masses of citizens came in for the paltry here, andapittancethere,andnotapennymore. Weatthispaper have been against binge borrowing from the beginning. Our position has been clear: borrow more slowly, and borrowless. Wedonothavetobeinthismadrushtoinitiate every public works project (infrastructure) that is found appealing,andrunaheadwithgettingthemdone,regardless of how much they add to the overall debt overhang. Debt mania normally fuels squander-mania. Meanwhile, we have too many hopeful citizens stuck at the bottom of Guyana’seconomicladder,whocountthemselvesluckyif theygetatasteofafewcrumbsfromtheirpatrimonythatis thedelightoftheworld. Theirsorrylotjustshouldnotbe, notinthiscountry,ofallplaces,andnotatthistimeinour history

Our accompanying position has been even clearer: get ExxonMobil to the table of renegotiation, and get into a battle royal there for more for Guyana. More for Guyana means more for Guyanese. More in the national treasury means that less has to be borrowed, or should be, given prudent management of our economy This facilitates a betterbalancebetweenborrowingandspendingonprojects, andrespondingtotheplightsofsomanypeoplehungryand needy in this country Tens of billions of Guyana dollars have to be set aside for debt service due to runaway borrowing, while dependent Guyanese are yoked to the repaymentofloanstakenintheirname. Thisdebtpictureis too skewed; it also reeks of much political underhandedness,incompetenceandselfishness.

PNCR SALUTESACHIEVEMENTS OF DR. ROGER LUNCHEON

DEAREDITOR,

The People’s National Congress Reform wishes to join the rest of the nation in mourning the passing of Dr Roger Forbes Luncheon, Medical Practitioner, Cabinet Secretary, Head of thePresidentialSecretariat,a former Member of the PPP Executive Committee, and thePPPCentralCommittee.

As can be seen from the manyimportantpositionshe held,Dr Luncheonachieved an important status in the professionalandpoliticallife of the nation. The Party has nodifficultyinsalutingthese achievements but is not averse to pointing out that Dr Luncheon was a formidable and, at times, a testingopponentoftheParty In its contest with him, the PNC believed that Dr Luncheon made the wrong political choices but respected the steadfast manner and philosophical tenacity with which he held his views and opinions, especiallyasitrelatedtothe defense of the PPP, even when those policies were soiled by racism and illegality

Dr Luncheoncamefrom a generation of Guyanese whose parents placed emphasis on the need for quality education and importance of service to the community

Dr Luncheon’s father was a policeman who was wellknownforhisservicein the Kitty District Dr Luncheon was inclined to serve his country and community He excelled at

primary school and entered Queens College Having entered Howard University, hisoutstandingperformance as a medical student is still rememberedtothisday The PNCplayedsomeroleinDr Luncheon’sreturntoGuyana and he retained friendships with many of its leading membersovertheyearsuntil hisdeath.Agoodmanywere hispatients.Andhereitmust be stated that, despite the seemingpublicadversity,Dr Luncheon and his family, especiallyhisfather,enjoyed a relationship with the Leader of the PNC, Mr Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, after whom Dr Luncheon is named. It was this complex relationship with the PNC and the personal relationship with the Burnham family that made Dr Luncheon’s politicalpersonacomplexas well as ambivalent This complexityandambivalence were manifested when he offered his services when President Burnham entered the hospital for surgery on August6th1985.

Politics changed him

The articulate, chatty, vernacular-loving, intellectually inclined individual became a confirmed Marxist Leninist whoembracedtheprinciples and politics of the PPP Not surprisingly, as a trusted member of the party, Dr Luncheon was given the significant positions of Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat when the PPP wontheelectionsin1992.In

these portfolios, Dr Luncheonnotonlydisplayed his intellectual acumen but also revealed his mastery of the English Language. His pronouncements at press conferences could be

Delphic as well as impressive He was the author of the phrase the “feral blast” as a description of the attack by Ms. Priya

Manickchand on the outgoing American Ambassador It is a phrase which has resonance to this day Dr Luncheon’s press conferencesweremoreopen and revealing than what passes today for encounters with the fourth estate by the ruling party It was Dr Luncheon too who coined the phrase “phantom gang” todescribetheemergenceof an extra-judicial killing machine in Guyana. This machine, which appeared during the tenure of President Bharrat Jagdeo, consumed the lives of over 400 young men and Dr Luncheon is not without some responsibility for this unprecedented violence in our post-independence history

AsCabinetSecretaryand Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Luncheon accumulated formidable powerinhishands.Infact,it isnotafancifulclaimthatthe PPP never engaged in any major political or policy exercise without Dr Luncheon’sinput.

He was in charge of the NIS; actively involved in intelligence gathering; he maintained an iron grip on

theForeignService;andwas a PPP representative in the Dialogue with the PNC. It may be observed here that Dr Luncheonwasnotshyin the exercise of the power he heldorreluctanttoaffirmthe dominance in the PPP He caused the PNC to suspend theaforementioneddialogue withthePPP

It is not possible for the PNC to issue this statement about Dr Luncheon without remarking on an occurrence which even from this distance in time seems incomprehensible Dr Luncheon had rendered unmatched service to the PPP He had deployed his considerable power to get PPP policies through. His loyalty to the party was unquestioned.

Yet when he was proposed as the Presidential candidate for the 1997 electionsitwasrejected.The true story about the relationship between Dr LuncheonandthePPPwhich hechosetoserveisyettobe written It might contain s o m e s u r p r i s e s Notwithstanding his individualshortcomings,the PNC has concluded that despite at times his adversarial opposition to the PNC, Dr Luncheon was a manofexceptionalacademic and political brilliance AboveallhewasaGuyanese to the bone The Party extends sincere condolences toDr Luncheon’sfamily,his lovedonesandclosefriends.

Regards,

People’s National CongressReform

White Fence Ground

DEAREDITOR,

Iwouldbegratefulifyou can grant the publication of thisletterinyournewspaper I am the chairman of the Parika / Mora Social and Cultural Activities Committee, a multi-cultural group which since 2011 has commemorated African EmancipationinParika,East BankEssequibo,exceptfora two year hiatus due necessarily to the Covid pandemic.

Last year we applied as previously done for the use of the White Fence Ground. Wewereturneddownbythe NDC, or more specifically

Commemoration

bytheChairmanoftheNDC Mr Jaideo Sookhoo, which effectively torpedoed the event though we did have a scaleddownversionataless suitablevenue.Thisyearwe have applied againfor an event scheduled for the 20th August, and again are being turned down. The reason cited this time, as the last time, is that the ground is designatedasanalcoholfree zone.Iemphasizedeachtime to Mr Sookhoo, the Chairman,our intention to keepthegroundalcoholfree astheuseofalcoholisnotin keeping with the solemnity of the commemorative

occasion. The Mr Jaideo switched to another reason andthenswitchedbacktohis originalreason.

EditortheWhiteFenceis apublicspaceforpublicuse anditisbeingsousedallthe time. It is unconscionable and inconceivable that a civic group representing a largesegmentofthenational demographic should be denied the use of such a space if they apply for this once a year to hold an event held sacred to them while othergroupsareallowedthat facility Your space would notpermitmetoelaborateon the implications and

ominous ramifications of this,especiallyatthistimein our nation’s evolvement into, presumably, a free, fair andjustsociety

WeneedtheWhiteFence to facilitate the success of o u r E m a n c i p a t i o n Commemoration and we don’t think that this is too muchtoaskorexpect.Ihope the highest authorities are alertedtothisinjusticeandI invite their just intervention onourbehalf.

Regards,

LeonMoses Chairman, Parika Mora

ActivitiesCommittee

We need the

to facilitate the success of our Emancipation

The world chooses not to forget the five agonising months of drama, when the PNC held this country to ransom

DEAREDITOR, August 2nd, 2023, the entire Guyana is celebrating society’s restoration from ‘autocracy’ (hypocrisy) to democracy

After the PPP/C Party had convincingly won the March5th,2020Generaland Regional Elections, the then PNC Government lead by President David Granger, had refused to hand over governance to the PPP/C Party lead by Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali, the legal and legitimate winner oftheelection.

Theworldchoosesnotto forgetthefiveagonizingand traumatizing months of drama, when the PNC Party held this country to ransom with a rebel band of “sanctimonious gangsters” placing their knees on the throats of pleading Guyanese.PrimeMinisterof St Vincent and the Grenadines and former CARICOM Chairman, had accused a “rogue clique” of playing with fire, commotion, disorder and civil war and wanting to hijack, in plain sight, the elections, and thus, the country

In fact, what the world prefers to remember is the blatant and bare-faced

attempts by the then PNC Government to feebly and porously rig the election in front the glaring eyes of the watchful national, regional andinternationalobservers.

With their usual foolish, dotish and childish misdemeanors, their prankish, hoggish and selfish endeavors, failed to defraudtheGuyanesepeople of electing a party of their choice to manage the affairs ofthenation.

Head of the OAS observer mission to

Guyana’s March 2nd elections, Bruce Golding (former Jamaica Prime Minister), had said, “And permit me here to pause to makeacomment.

Ihaveneverseenamore transparentefforttoalterthe results of an election.”“You k n o w i t t a k e s a n extraordinarily courageous mind [he gave a hint of a laugh as he said those two words] to present fictitious numberswhensuchasturdy paper trail exists,” he had asserted.

Guyanese would forever be grateful, praiseful and thankful to the members of theABCE Diplomatic Core, inparticularUSAmbassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, who stood their grounds and

refused to be intimidated by a bunch of ruffians and rebels who wanted to retain powerthroughillegalmeans by rigging the election with fictitious votes, swear in David Granger as President andstorminpowerwiththeir high-handed attitude, backed and protected by theirfriendsinthethenGDF andtheGPF

It was obvious back in 2020, the Military Forces wereinfluencedtodelayand deny the process of law and orderandthepracticeoffair t r e a t m e n t w a s unquestionably trampled PrimeMinisterofBarbados, Mia Mottley (former CARICOMChair),hadsaid, “Many of us have observed with great sadness what has been transpiring in Guyana The role and focus of political parties must be useful and not obstructiveinembracingand promoting the clear and expressedwillofthepeople.

When we confuse and frustrate that will, is when we begin to sow the very seeds of discord and acrimony that we are sworn todissuadeanddiscourage.”

Mia Mottley did remind the PNC,“Thetruthhurts.”

Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago had

expressed grave concern, “I amgettingafeelingthatthis is not going to end well…I hope I am wrong but that feeling…I am not having a good feeling…I have this unsettling feeling [that grows] with every passing day,”Itwasthe“Landingof the Eagle” which saved Guyana’sbacon.

First, it was the institution of visa sanctions tomembersofthethenPNC Government, their families and relatives which sparked second thought to continue holding the country to hostage.

A soured caretaker President Granger’s 75th birthday celebration was marred as the US Government announced the sanctions.

In as much as this move instilledsomedegreeoffear on July 15th, 2020, a still dejected and daunted PNC Government refused to comply

It was only when the heavyboothsofthethenUS Secretary of States, Mr MikePompeo,directedthat, “individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana,” “stepaside”thatDr Aliwas allowedtobesworninasthe PresidentofGuyanaandthe

US downgrade should strengthen the Guyanese dollar

DEAREDITOR,

Therecentdowngradeby FitchoftheUSfromAAAto AA+ should result in a stronger Guyanese dollar

Our economy is headed in the correct direction with both leading and lagging indicatorsshowingpositives for a strong economic outlook in both the near and longterm.

Havingincreasedbuying power will be a welcomed change during this high inflationperiodintheglobal markets. Continued prudent financial management and increased returns on our investments is necessary to ensurethatthestrengthofthe Guyanesedollarhasastrong base upon which to be sustained Our sovereign wealth fund continues to be

an opportunity where increased returns can be achieved that will result in less borrowing Thus strengthening our balance sheet and further increasing the value of our currency.A strong Guyanese dollar will also help the current construction boom in the economy and make it more affordable for new house lot

ownerstobuildtheirhomes. This opportunity does not come along very often and we should make the most of itwhenitdoes.

PPP/C Party form the new Government.

“ T h e G r a n g e r governmentmustrespectthe results of democratic elections and step aside,” Pompeosaid.

ThePNCneedstoreflect b a c k i n G u y a n a ’s Parliament,November2018, whenformerPrimeMinister of Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo, once told the then PPP Opposition Party, “Wearenotafraidofdebate. We are old debaters Question is, there is an old unwritten law, this is inequity that says “He who wants justice must come withcleanhands”.

Thecleanhandsdoctrine is based on the maxims of equitywhichstatesthatone, “whocomesintoequitymust comewithcleanhands.”

This doctrine requires the court to deny equitable relief to a party who has violated good faith with respect to the subject of the claim.

The dirty hands of the PNC can never be clean. They have forcefully, violently and brutishly rigged elections in order to retainpower

Their mantra is to seize power at any cost Mr

Nagamootoo had declared, “First, the constitution – our law says that in order for a motion of no-confidence to pass it must have a majority oftheelectedmembersofthe National Assembly I’ll repeat that. It must have a majority of all elected members of National Assembly

Our National Assembly has 65 members. It means that the motion of noconfidence, in order to pass, must have 33 members who areelectedasmembersofthe NationalAssembly

The Opposition doesn’t have that It is the Government that has 33 members who are elected and sitting in the National Assembly.”

It was the very Party whichwentagainstitswords to claim that 33 is not the majority of 65. Of course, their “bombasity” was exposed when the CCJ o v e r r u l e d t h e i r “unmeritorious, frivolous and vexatious” claim. Mr Charrandas Persaud’s name will forever be associated with the motion of no confidence and Guyana’s fightfordemocracy

Yoursrespectfully, JaiLall

Bestregards,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

The Palms Elderly Care Facility is in distress and a mess

DEAREDITOR,

Last evening, I received an email from a concerned citizenofGuyanainrelation to the horrific condition, uncaring and unprofessional attitude of staff employed at the The Palms Elderly Care FacilityinGeorgetown.

Asapreamble,thePalms was established in 1874

under British colonial rule and was called “The Alms House.”

In1974,acenturylater,it was renamed “The Palms ElderlyCareFacility”andis allegedlyfullyfundedbythe GovernmentofGuyana.The mandate for the facility is to provide efficient and adequate 24 hour nursing

carefortheelderlyresidents, as well as, free services to destitute Guyanese senior citizens.

The content of the email was quite disturbing and begs for the proper authorities to look into the matter Noteworthy, the Palms jurisdiction comes under the Ministry of Social

August 2 – a day to remember

DEAREDITOR,

With the passing yesterday of Dr Roger Luncheon, August 2nd now has a double meaning. Dr Luncheon,ofcourse,wasno stranger to the electoral victory August2, 2020, becausehegaveallhehadin himtosavedemocracyfrom thethreatbytheAPNU-AFC thatwasfullyoperational.

The PPPC victory of 2020 was in no small measure due to Roger Luncheon’s dedication, sense of duty to the nation, and to his unfathomable resilience What an extraordinary and blissful coincidence that he has departed this life on what is no doubt a day in history to remember

The election saga from March to August 2020 that the APNU-AFC put this country through should never be forgotten. This is particularlysobecausewhile the PNCR, AFC, and some civilsocietygroupstalkalot of democracy, they are in fact agents of authoritarian rule. Worse yet, a small n u m b e r o f t h e ideologues(David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis) continue to peddle the narratives of freedom solely in AfroCentric terms, and some in civilsocietybelievethatEast Indians have no right to governGuyana.

These backward discoursespersistdespitethe strong presence of AfroGuyanese support for the PPPC, and massive contributions by Africans across Guyanese society

Many of you will recall that leading up to the 1992 elections, David Hinds wanted Desmond Hoyte to be the (PCD) consensus candidate on the grounds thatJaganwastainted.

He meantthattheurban, Afro-Mulatto middle class wouldratheracceptthevery president (Hoyte) who had helped to preside over numerous rigged elections, over a man from Port Mourantwhohastoiledwith honesty and dignity for decades to remove the same

PNC that the said Desmond Hoyteled.Astounding!

Over the dreary months of March 2-August 2, 2020, the likes of Mingo, Lowenfield, and Myers became celebrities with the authoritarians. They almost became life-long heroes for those that still nurture the rigging instincts of the Burnham days. They failed because PPPC supporters stoodwithresolve,whilethe PPPC leadership under presidential candidate MohamedIrfaanAliandPPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, mounted a courageous battle to save this nation from impending tyranny

Too many people were involved in this fight to list names but who could forget the brilliant legal work of Anil Nandlall and Sanjeev Datadin, the towering strength of Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shadik,the tenacity of Sasenarine Singh, Charles Ramson Jr , Rosalinda Rasul, the courage and experience deployed by Sonia Parag and Gail Teixeiraandmanywhonow form the cabinet, the moral presence of FITUG leadership, the civil society giants like N.K. Gopaul and Captain Gerry Gouveia, and last but not least, the rank and file of PPPC supporters who guarded the ballot boxes and containers, provided the logistics, and most of all stood tall in the faceofwhatwasanexorable drivetowardsdominationby t h e A P U N U - A F C

RememberDavidHindsand his friends wanted to throw out the entire results of the election and simply declare Grangerthewinner

Thediasporaalsoplayed a key role by contacting elected officials in the US Congress, and State Legislatures.Somehelpedto fund ground operations in Guyana.

I know specifically of money raised in MarylandDC-Virginiaareathathelped tofundthepeoplewhowere guarding the ballot box containers.

Protection.

What I’m about to share contextually comes directly from the source who has requestednotthedivulgethe author See below “Good morning Lloyd, Happy Emancipation... I need to have someone visit the Palms.

way Some of the beds have nosheets.

Stillotherswereindirect contact with key officials in the Department of State, right up to Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Ambassador Michael Kozak. I have seen a letter from Ambassador Kozak stated that the APNU-AFC canremaininofficeonly“at theirperil.”

For the record, please note the pattern of delaying bythePNCandlaterAPNUAFC where elections are concerned.Thisisimportant forthosemightthinkthatthe 2020attemptatelectiontheft wasaone-off.

InstanceNo.1-ThePNC under Hoyte agreed in December 1989 to hold free and fair elections The agreement with Carter Center The election did not happenuntilOctober1992.Lapse1009days.

Instance No. 2 The noconfidencevoteoccurredon Dec 21, 2018. The elections did not come until March 2020.Lapse437days.

Instance No 3 - The electiontookplaceonMarch 2 and the APNU-AFC did not concede until August 2. Lapse153days.

To date, therefore, the PNC-APNU-AFC have spent no less than illegitimate 588 days in office, 1009 days governing in bad faith, and 28 years in rigged or manipulated elections.

Between the elections of December 16, 1968, and October 5, 1992, there were 9125 days Altogether, therefore, the PNC/R has snatched approximately 9715 days from the Guyanese people since the 1968 election. (I did not doublecountthe1009days).

March2-August2,2020, was not a side-show for the PNCR/APNUandAFC.The PNChasalongandtortured history of delaying, diverting, and rigging. The people must be on their toes because there is no sign of c h a n g e f o r t h e authoritarians.

Sincerely, Dr RandolphPersaud

Itisinaridiculousstate.I haveafamilymemberthere, soIvisitregularly Theward sheisin,thebathroomneeds tearingdownandrebuilding. Thewaterfromthedrainage is backing up into the bathroom area. There are some huge rats in the compound.

I saw one come into the ward a few days ago! The food is horrible For a country which has a sound Agriculturebase.

They have a contract with a bakery to take bread everydayforthoseresidents, regardless of their health condition.

Why aren’t they providing provisions, and vegetablesforthosepatients. The nurses staff is severely limited. Many times I go there, and no nurse is in attendance.

One of the residents usuallysharethemealstothe patients in the most crude

It is difficult for me to callthesepeopleoutbecause I work with the (name removed). I do point out certain things to the admin department, but I cannot bring certain other things to the awareness of the public, for my identity will be known.

I am also cognizant that myrelativecanbeaffectedif Ido.TheSocialWorkersare either incompetent, do not care or are intimidated by some senior person/s, because they are not advocating on the residents behalf and do not care to do so.

There are mattresses on bedswithmanyholes.

Whenquestionaboutthe terrible condition of the beds, we are told that they tell that are waiting on new beds and mattresses which are expected next year The odor is nauseating The treatment of those residents a t t h e P a l m s i s heartbreaking.

If we didn’t take an interest in my relative welfare, I don’t know what wouldhavehappened.

It is really troubling given the millions of USD

the Government claims to invest in the healthcare system. Don’t talk about the public hospital where patientshavetopaytogetXrays, and other treatment. I had to pay for an X-ray for myrelativeafewweeksago.

Drugsareunavailable,so patients have to try to purchase it at Pharmacies or do without Please don’t mentionmyname.”

With the substantial amount of monetary resources gained from oil and other investment, it is ridiculous that the governmenthasnotinvested properly in the care of its seniorcitizens.

Hopefully, with this exposure, the ministry and government will make the necessary adjustments in order to clean up the mess and implement proper care and facilitation of needed medication and professional trainingforthestaff.

It is also my intention to have this matter looked into by a few prominent individuals who can highlight and share the disturbing inadequacies to the proper authorities for remediation.

Regards,

LloydPhillips

We have normalised toxicity

DEAREDITOR,

I have shared this story with several news outlets, expecting that one might publish it and shed some light on the type of toxic environment we as social workersmustendure.

But to date, not one of these so-called unbiased champion of the voiceless have shared my article,I am hopingthatyoumight.

I read a post that was sharedonsocialmediaabout threepsychologistsfromthe mental health unit that walkedofftheirjobsbecause ofatoxicworkenvironment andwouldliketosharesome details of how toxic some “do-good”organizationsare. I would like to request that my details be kept private duetothefearofretaliation.

I was speaking with a friendwhoworksforawellknownNGO.TheNGOhasa national presence, dozens of employees and ongoing humanitarian responses in extremely difficult parts of thecountry

As she described her workplace, I was struck by how toxic it sounded. When we think of toxic workplaces, we often think of high-pressure corporate environments where people

are publicly berated or pressured to do unethical things. However, toxicity in the NGO sector is just as pervasive.

Theonlydifferenceisthe wayitshowsup-lessflashbang and more poisonous drip.Buttheendresultisthe same: people become mentally and physically ill; there is a high turnover rate; morale is low; there are cliquesandgrumbling;there is disengagement; and peopleburnout.

We are conditioned to believethatNGOs,charities, and other “do-good” organizations are healthy places to work. We believe that organizations with admirable aims – like eradicating poverty, advocating for the marginalized or fostering more just societies – also have supportive and compassionate workplaces. Unfortunately, we’re increasingly seeing that this isn’ttheexperienceofmany whoworkforthem.

As my friend said to me, “we never stop We’re alwaysbehind.

There’s always more to doandwe’reexpectedtojust get on with it…When you work some NGOs, there’s

almost more pressure because if you’re the bottleneck, it’s not that the product doesn’t get sold, it’s that people don’t get the support.”

Some of the toxic behaviours highlighted to meare:

1.Peopleareemotionally manipulated into working more or not enforcing boundaries around their personaltime.

2 Condescending remarks are made about people–especiallyrelatedto their work performance or capabilities.

3 Rude, abusive, or unprofessional behaviours are ignored, accepted or excused because of the nature of the work or the pressureoftheworkload.

4.Accommodationisnot made for people’s personal lives – such as being ill, taking care of children or otherfamilymembers.

5 Labour laws and health and safety standards arenotknownorfollowed.

6.Reports,dataandother communications are altered to suit the audience. Donors or regulators are not given the‘wholestory’.

7.Peoplewhosepersonal (Continuedonpage22)

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GOLD SMUGGLING

Gold smuggling in massive amounts has been suspected, whispered under the wire, to have been the norm since the period that Bharrat Jagdeo was this nation’s leader, which lasted more than a decade.

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Gold smuggling is nothing new, and it has never been on the small side. Jagdeo also knows that very well, so for him to come up with this concoction about now realizing is just another of the verbal sleights of hand at which he gets better and better.

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It was he himself who has mocked reports and claims of gold smuggling to other countries in the region since the PPPC Government returned to power in 2020.

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The issues involved in gold smuggling is that they run so deep, and encircle so many powerful political presences in this country.

Gold smuggling is not of small people scampering across Guyana’s vast borders under the cover of dark, but of sophisticated participants armed with smart networks.

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The heavyweight gold smugglers are not of the tiny pennyweight variety, but of operators smuggling by the thousands of ounces.

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Successive Governments of Guyana know this all too well, but have done little to clamp down on it, which has its reasons.

Chinese Landing Village Council says Govt. must address their safety concerns

...appearstorejectfact-findingmission,slamsTeixeira'sattackonAPA

Th e C h i n e s e Landing Village

C o u n c i l o n Thursday said they are not interested in a government fact-finding mission to the community, but rather the administration should address their safety concerns occasionedbyoutsideminers working on a concession there who, armed with highpowered rifles and have been threatening to harass residentsintheirlands.

The Village Council also rebukedthegovernmentfora statement it issued through theMinistryofParliamentary Affairs and Governance (MPAG) on Wednesday, which sought to cast aspersion on the Amerindian People's Association. (APA) “…the APA has always supported our village's struggle for our rights, and we will continue working with the APA as we value theirdedicationandsupport,” theVillageCouncilsaidinits

statement.

“We respectfully request thattheGovernmentfocuson addressing the threats to our rightsratherthanitsviewson

the APA. We have agreed to the delayed dates of August 5-6 requested by the Government for an initial meeting,andwehavealready

sent our proposed agenda for that meeting to the Government.

We look forward to welcoming the Government team to our village and to constructive discussions towards the implementation oftheIACHRresolution.”

In a lengthy statement, the ministry said in response to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' precautionary measures issued to Guyana o n J u l y 2 1 , 2 0 2 3 , Government has taken a decision to stop all mining in ChineseLandingtemporarily toallowforamoreconducive environment to address the concerns of the community andallconcerned.

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, andtovisitourfamilies”.

The ministry said in its statement that this concern was also 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 activitymuststop.”

"This decision is as a direct result of the ongoing communication between the Government of Guyana through the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and the Chinese Landing Village Council through Toshao Fernandes," theministrystated.

In its statement the Village Council said it wishedtoclarifyafewpoints raised in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance press statement in the hopes that this will assist the Government to better act in compliance with the Commission's resolution.

AccordingtotheCouncil,the IACHR has accepted their evidence of these facts on a prima facie standard, noting that “because of this that we have stated, as we have been requesting for years, that this outside mining – which we have never properly consentedto–muststop.”

The council noted that it is looking forward to engaging in discussions with the Government towards implementation of the IACHR precautionary measuresrequest.

“We have never asked the Government to stop all miningonourlands.

We feel that we must clarify this, as we note that some of our villagers do small mining for their livelihoods,andwehopethat the Government will not cut off our source of livelihood and further infringe upon our rightsinitsattempttorespect ourrights.

Should there be any confusionregardingourright to our livelihoods, we are prepared to request clarification regarding our rights from the IACHR,” the VillageCouncilstated.

Nofact-findingmission

Additionally, the council said they continue to believe that a “fact-finding mission”

is not what the IACHR has r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e Government do, but rather, that the Government must nowworkinconsultationand agreement with them to identify the targeted measures needed to protect residents'rights.”

We must clarify that our submission of May 22, 2023, to the Commission, was merely in response to the various legal and factual arguments raised by the Governmentinitsownreport to the Commission (which wehadonlyreceivedonMay 15).

Our response raised no new substantive facts that require investigation by the Government.

We also appreciate that there has been continued communication between us andtheGovernment.

We again offer the reminder that it is the Government's responsibility to consult and agree with us onthemeasurestobetakento protect our rights to life and personal integrity We hope that any discussions we will have together will be in this spirit,” the Village Council stated.

Disappointed

Turning its attention to the attack on the APA by the government, the Village Council said it is very disappointed.

“We are however disappointed that the MPAG chosetousemuchofitspress release to malign the Amerindian Peoples Association.

The APA has always supported our village's struggle for our rights, and we will continue working with the APA as we value their dedication and support. We respectfully request that the Government focus on addressing the threats to our rightsratherthanitsviewson theAPA.

We have agreed to the delayed dates of August 5-6 requestedbytheGovernment for an initial meeting, and we have already sent our proposed agenda for that m e e t i n g t o t h e Government.

We look forward to welcoming the Government team to our village and to constructive discussions towards the implementation of the IACHR resolution,” the council's statement concluded.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

WHAT ABOUT THE PSA, JAGDEO?

Jagdeo wants us to believe that his government has strengthened the legislative and environmental frameworks governing the petroleumsector Inhismost recent press conference, he belabored the point that theseframeworkshavebeen improved But he said nothing about what is being done about the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) fortheStabroekBlock.

Jagdeo’s government stubbornly refuses to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). This agreement is the overarching agreement used for the development of the Stabroek block and which contains an estimated 12 billionbarrelsofoil.

By not doing this, the government is giving the oil companies a free pass. And this is unacceptable. Jagdeo thereforecannothaveitboth ways. On the one hand, he claims that the legislative and environmental frameworks have been improved and that the permits for the field development plans have been strengthened. On the other hand, his government has failed to strengthen the overarchingPSAwiththeoil companies.

Bynegotiatingfavorable terms within the PSA, the government can secure a larger share of revenues, royalties, and taxes, which can then be invested in

critical areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social development Jagdeo, however, seems satisfied that Guyana’s revenue take will increase as production increases. Instead, he could have ensured that as production increases and unit costs decline that Guyana would gain much more than the 12.5% profit sharing. There is no reason whythiscouldnothavebeen added as an amendment to the contract. This is basic Economics101.

At present, Guyana has no Petroleum Depletion Policy Guyana is perhaps one of the few petroleumproducing countries in the world which give exclusive jurisdiction to the oil companies to determine the rate of resource extraction. What is the use therefore of having a governance framework when one of the m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l requirements of governance – a depletion policy – is not inplace.

We might as well sign over the transport of the Stabroek Block to the oil companies because this is effectivelywhattheyhaveat present.Oneoftheforemost objectives of government is to maximize benefits from itsoilindustry Butthisdoes not necessarily mean that it has to adopt the position of increasing production as muchasitcanandasfastasit can. But even if this is the

Dem Boys Seh...

philosophy of the government, it still has an obligation to ensure that depletionisdoneinamanner and at a rate that does not presentrisks.Yet,thereisno suchpolicyinGuyana.

While the government contends that environment protections are being strengthened, it is the said government which opposed adecisionoftheHighCourt toforcetheoilcompaniesto provide for full liability coverage.What, however, is of equal concern are the waivers for environmental; impact assessments which are being granted for some projects. What Jagdeo has not addressed as yet is the pace at which his government has been approvingfielddevelopment plans. When you hear the Opposition complains about the slothfulness of certain areas of government you have to ask why this is so when compared with the alacrity with which field developmentplansarebeing approved.

Someone should check to see if Guyana has not entered into the Guinness Book of World Records in terms of the speed with which it is approving these plans. There has also been slothfulness in terms of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability Key questions concerning permits and interest rates relating to the oil and gas sector has not yet been

Take away now is part of de shindig!

De time changing like de wind wah blowin’throughdecoconuttrees.Backinde day, yuh coulda invite a few family and friendsoverfuhalil’shindigatyuhhumble abode,andapotofcook-upriceandajugof mauby woulda be plenty to keep de vibes flowin’. But look how de world tun upside down noweh!

Demodernget-together,mefriends,it’s likeabigbuffetatdeMarriottnow Yuhain’t just welcomin’ dem friends no more; yuh welcomin’dewholeneighborhoodanddem cousinfromoutoftown, plusdemuncles, aunties, and even dem friends’ frenemies. Wha’ happen to small and intimate? Dem invitees does show up with more plus ones thanamathexam.

Andwhendemdonestuffin’dembelly, deyain’tsatisfied.Demwantmore–notjust to fill deir bellies, but to fill up takeaway boxeslikedeypreparin’fuhafamine!One

box? Nah, dat’s too lil’, me pardner Two? Still not enough, me sister Three? Well, nowyuhtalkin’!Threeboxesperpersonfuh takehome!

Dis ain’t nothin’ short of pure oldfashioned greediness , and dem folks collectin’ ‘em like dey collectin’ dey pension. Me granny always seh, “Share wha’yuhhave,mechild,andblessingswill flow like de Essequibo River.” But some a we s done take dat to a whole new level –dey share de blessings, den dey collect de blessings back in dem takeaway boxes fuh later!Covetousnessmekkin’deroundslike apersistentmosquito,anditlooklikesome awecan’tswatitaway.

Sonexttimeyuhgettin’readyfuhhosta lil’get-together,rememberdis:decompany of true friends worth more than a hundred takeawayboxes.

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

answered And the inordinate delays in conducting audits of the recoverable expenses of the oil companies. No one is fooled by the prevarication on these issues. But in the same way that the government claims to be strengthening regulations and conditions in the permits, why cannot it press for improvements in the PSA? Whatissodifficultin demanding regular and comprehensive reporting on production volumes, revenues, and operational activities and making this

information publicly available? The government has developed local content laws.Butthiswastoolatein coming since the major procurement contracts were already sealed by the oil companiesandmostofthese contracts are long-term in nature Just as the government has taken steps to strengthen permits granted to oil companies, it has the opportunity to enhance the Production

Sharing Agreement governing the Stabroek oil block.

Bynegotiatingimproved

terms, the government can ensurethatthecountrygetsa betterdeal.

(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

NIGER – WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SPIRITS ARE AGITATED

Coups are a rare and rarer occurrence these days, with the extended focus of influential Western nations on democratic governments and a high premium on humanrights. Atleastthatis what theWestern powers of North America and the European Union aligned bloc of nations have made theirpublicpostures. Afew daysago,thiswasturnedon its head with an army coup in the African country of Niger Africa is a continent thathasmorecoupsthanany otherinthelasthalfcentury, with Niger the latest instance America and Europe have articulated their grave concerns in different ways about this worryingdevelopment.

According to what I gathered from the skimpy reports coming out of Niamey, the coup leader, General Tchiani, identified the prime reasons for the coupaction,ashavingtodo with corruption, insecurity, and economic woes. All three should ring piercingly

with most Guyanese. The claimsmayactuallybeso,or they may be what an ambitious army general cleverly uses as his counter to what sitting governments insistaretheexactopposite. Therealityisthatacouphas occurred,andagovernment, positive or negative, has been tossed out on its head. Thegoodnewsisthatousted leaders are safe, and that therearenoreportsofblood runninginthestreet.

Regarding the coup itself,uprisingsingeneral,I walk across barbwire in a mined no man’s land. I abhor coups, their costs, their dislocations, their results, intended or otherwise. Yet,onoccasion, they are seen as the only remedy For, there comes a time, when reasonable, troubled,conscientious,and patriotic citizens just can’t take what is going on anymoreinthebelovedland of their birth. Consider these. Over two centuries ago, American Patriots had had it up the depths of their

nostrils, and they reacted with spills into Boston Harbor, and determination torushtheexploitersbackto B u c k i n g h a m a n d Nottingham. In the fabled British Isles, some three centuries before, the agitated took it upon themselves to bring an oppressivemonarchtoheel, andsqueezeconcessionsout of his unyielding craw ThereistheMagnaCartain Great Britain, and Independence in the USA. Citizens’ rebellion, or baronetcyrevolt,thosewere coupsoroverthrowsagainst thestatusquocomingabout underanothername.

I go further and contend that what Mahatma Gandhi led in colonial India was a nonviolentrebellionand,by the same yardstick, Dr Martin Luther King powered ahead for a second American emancipation of nonwhite Americans Limited coups, to some degree. Callthemwhatever, pleases, rebellion, revolt, upheaval, ousting,

overthrow, they are all coups, or attempted coups, intendedtointerferewith,or supplant the status quo, howeveritcametobe. Asa quickdigression,andbefore any Guyanese makes a production of being holier than yours truly (I am unholy), Americans have made a living with orchestrating coups all over the world, with a series of ugly and bloody examples right here in LatinAmerica. Plus, there was one which the British backed, and the Americans led in this neighborhood in the late 1950s-early 1960s. They still do. Noticeably, the Europeanshavenotbeentoo critical; at least, not in the open; or unless their interestsaremenaced.

Returning to Mohandas and Martin not a single Guyanese that I know of (including His Excellency MIAliandtheHon.Bharrat E. Jagdeo) could or should have a word of objection to whatIlaybeforeourfellow citizens about subcontinent India and Jim Crow America. Because we have someofthoseJimCrowtype figures operating under the pristine shroud and virginal purity of contract sanctity, I

canidentifywiththe bloodless[toapoint] revolts of Gandhi and King. Often, they are inevitable, no less inescapable When injustices against citizens’ conditionsalreadygrimandharrowingare made infinitely more intolerable by their own brothers given the power of governance, citizens

simmer When the downtrodden is further squeezed and shortchanged by rampant political corruption, people are enraged. When economic woes are exacerbated by

racial division, then ordinary people pass breaking point When leadership actions stoke societal tension with inequity, then democratic idealsandrestraintscollapse from distresses inflicted Even further, when there is t h e u l t i m a t e contemptuousness of smoothing over through leadership hypocrisies and pieties, then the boundaries of calmness and respect crumble. Recall African coups of the past decades, and check their origins, as stated, or for what they really were. Not all were

initiatedbythegeneralstaff.

Nowadays, coups are regarded as a curse and a cancer, the worst of crimes, bythosewithpowerintheir hands, and their prosperous interests at heart. Those on topshouldalwaysremember something: people can only be contained for so long, fooledforsolong,andused, misused, and abused for so long. In Guyana, the PPP Government, full of selfcongratulation, has killed the spirit of most Guyanese with corruption, insecurity, andeconomicwoes,despite thepresenceofunparalleled paper riches In other countries,thereishelltopay when such is the case Somebody eventually moves, something usually gives. Already, spiritual uprisinggatherssteam.

(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

Man caught on camera running away with HJ's TV

Hit and Jams Entertainment (HJ) is offering a reward for information leading to the capture of a brazen thief who was on Wednesday seen on camera running away with its television The television was reportedly stolen from HJ's 206 Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, Georgetown location Security cameras mo nted on nearby buildings

captured a man dressed in a green cap, black short pants and blue shirt walking on the parapet besides the building when he suddenly scaled the fence. The man walked away from the camera's view towards the HJ building and returned in full view while sprintingawaywiththetelevision.

HJ in a statement said “any assistance leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect may be

eligible for a reward”

Persons with any information regarding the identity or whereabouts

increase in passenger arrivals

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has recorded a 14 per cent increase in passengers this year in comparison to the sameperiodin2022.

According to the airport, 50,000 more passengers were processed in 2023 compared to last year The 405,000 passengers processed in 2023 represent a 14 per cent increase when compared to 2022.

“Theincreaseinpassenger numbers is due to the increased airlift by the existing carriers and the entrance of BritishAirways to the Guyana market in March. Passenger movements are projected to rise further when Sky Cana Airlines commence flight operations to Houston, Texas and Canada,” CJIAsaid in a statement.On the other hand, an additional 1,330,000 kilograms of cargo were processed in 2023 compared to 2022. Cargo exports have increased by 450,000 kilograms or 54 per cent comparedtolastyear

“The increase in cargo numbers is as a result of increased imports in oilfield equipment and ship spares, whileexportsinagro-products increased exponentially LATAM Cargo now provides freighter service between Houston, Miami, and Guyana

and has moved 133,000 kilograms of cargo since May 9,2023,”theCJIAsaid. Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, said CJIA is poised to achieve unprecedented growth in the comingyears.

“The airport is a critical part of Guyana's economic development and the government is committed to ensuring that it can meet the needsofthecountry'sgrowing economy,”theministersaid.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Mr Ramesh Ghir commented that the airport is on track to achieving President Irfaan Ali's prediction of one million passengermovementby2025.

He noted that CJIA is actively engaging several legacyandlow-costcarriersto provide air services to and from South America, Europe, andtheMiddleEast.

This will further boost the airport's connectivity and make it a more attractive destinationfortravelers.

The Government of Guyana is currently working to automate the arrival and departure processes by introducing biometric kiosks and electronic gates This project has commenced and is expected to be completed in early2024.

The man caught on camera running away with HJ's TV. TV

of the bandit are asked to contact the nearest police station or Amel Griffithon227-0992,227-0580.

Loss of skilled professionals at GRA to oil companies reflects Govt.'s incompetence

...Country in need of comprehensive skills gap analysis – Opposition Leader

OppositionLeader, Aubrey Norton, r e s o l u t e l y asserted that the exodus of skilledprofessionalsfromthe Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is a direct reflection of the government's

ineptitude On Thursday, during a virtual press conference, Norton was invited to share his views on the concerning trend of staff attrition at the tax agency, a detail that Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, recently divulged to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Statia specifically highlighted the current staffing crisis within the department responsible for overseeing the burgeoning oil and gas sector According to him, the Petroleum Unit currently employs 31 individuals, falling significantly short of the requisite65.Statiawentonto describe how trained personnel are being enticed away by oil companies and their contractors, who offer more attractive remuneration packages.Alarmingly,within the past year alone, five individuals trained by GRA have been poached by these

oil firms which includes ExxonMobil Corporation's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited(EEPGL).

Furthermore, Statia indicated that GRA is grappling with operating at less than half its necessary workforce, with the Cost Recovery Unit particularly impacted, lacking the necessary personnel to effectively audit petroleum companies.

Bearing in mind these troublingrevelations,Norton concluded that the issue underlines a profound leadership deficiency In his view, it underscores the administration's failure to equip the revenue authority with the tools it needs, such as competitive wages, to retainitsskilledworkforce.

Norton said, “If you are not paying competitive wages and salaries then people will go where it is higher You would recognize when we were government wespentalotofresourceson improving people's lives by giving the salaries so we can retainthem.Soweneedtodo this. Then there is the wider problem that points to the absence of planning and

Truck drivers must cover trays when transporting materials – Says Ministry of Public Works

Truck drivers are being urged to cover their trays when transporting sand, stones, loam, dirt, garbage andotherloosematerials.

The Ministry of Public Works in a statement said it notes with concern the overwhelming number of reports of trucks transporting materials along the public roadways without veering to prevent the materials from being displaced from their trays.

“When materials are displaced, it can impede visibility for other drivers/road users, in addition to changing the driving condition of the road environment, which in many instances resulted in accidents from unsuspecting drivers and riders. As such, truck operators/drivers are advised to have their trays

trainingbytheregime.”

Expounding further, Norton recalled that some weeks ago, the government announced that some 60 foreign nationals had to be imported to serve as truck drivers on the Ogle to Eccles road project. This disclosure was made last month by Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill who said,“…Wewereleftwithno choice but to grant work permit for the contractor that isbuildingtheOgletoEccles road to bring in drivers, drivers, [and] an elementary job like drivers to drive heavy duty equipment, trucks.”

Norton said he found this situation laughable, especiallyinacountrywhere there is still a high level of unemployment. He said it is i n c u m b e n t o n t h e government to implement a robust training programme so that citizens can benefit from the rapid pace of development works. He said

the clear mismatch is what will summon even more difficulties for the oil producingState.

The Opposition Leader said too that government should do an analysis of the skills needed in the country to ensure that it is

strategically addressing the deficiencies in the system.

“So it is my view that it is government's incompetence that is causing this conundrum we have , ” Nortonadded.

Expressing similar sentimentswashisEconomic Advisor, Elson Low He too shared the view that the government needs to arm the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the resources it needs to keep competent staff.

He said this state of affairsisfarfromacceptable.

Low said, “Government clearly does not demonstrate that it understands the seriousness of this issue,” adding that it is essential to ensuring the country has the requisite capacity to conduct audits of expenses incurred in the Stabroek Block by an E x x o n M o b i l - l e d consortium.

Presently, two audits of the Stabroek Block oil and g a s a c t i v i t i e s a r e

outstanding. The first audit wasawardedsince2019fora review of ExxonMobil's US$1.6 billion expenses between 1999 and 2017 Meanwhile, another audit that was signed in 2022 for the oil company's US$7.3 billion expenditure, racked up between 2018 and 2020 is yettobefinalized.

Low was also critical of this state of affairs as he noted that a timeline for completion of these audits needs to be included in the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023 which was laid in the Houseyesterday

That Bill seeks to repeal and replace the existing Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act Cap. 65:04 a n d t h e P e t r o l e u m (Production)ActCap65:05. As the debate on the new o i l l a w l o o m s , t h e Opposition's eyes are likely to remain fixed on the solutions government will devise to confront the deepeninglabourcrisis.

covered when transporting materials such as sand, loam, stones, dirt, garbage, and other loose materials,” the ministry'sadvisorysaid.

Failure to cover truck trays is an offence in accordance with Regulation No. 99 of the Motor Vehicles a n d R o a d T r a f f i c Regulations, Cap 51:02, which is enforced by the GuyanaPoliceForce.

“Additionally, the actions of truck operators while driving can impact other drivers, inclusive of truck drivers, since the blind spots around trucks are more and trucks will take longer to come to complete stop when compared with smaller vehicles.”

Moreover, the Ministry urgedtruckoperatorstodrive at the required speed limit, andtooperatetheirtrucksina safemanner

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

Two dead in mining pit cave-in at Kamarang

The walls of a mining pit at Moonlight Backdam, Kamarang, Region Seven, caved in on Wednesday nightburyingaliveadredgeownerand hisemployee.

Dead are 38-year-old Trayon HastingsofKamarangLanding,Upper Mazaruni and Rowel Corria also known as 'Rocky Norton', 20, of Moruca, Region One. Reports are that Hastings had owned a six-inch land dredge mining operation at Moonlight Backdam, and Norton was his employee.

According to the information reaching the police, on Wednesday about 22:30 hrs, Hastings and Norton were working alone in the mining pit when Mark Embelton, another miner, who was in a camp close by, observed the mining pit caving in and raised an alarm The workers immediately formed a search party and used two excavators to comb through the pit in search of Hastings and Norton. It was reported that about 12:30hrs and at 01:20hrs the lifeless bodies of both menwerefound.

Police said upon examination of

Hasting's body, injuries were seen to his abdomen and head, while injuries were seen to right side ear of Norton's body Thebodieswerethentakentothe Kamarang District Hospital, where they were officially pronounced dead

by a doctor Police reported that their bodies will be transported to Georgetown for post mortem examination An investigation is ongoing.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Thursday, the relatives of both men, described them as jovial and good persons as they were the breadwinners fortheirfamilies.

Hastings' wife briefly shared that shelastspoketoherhusbandearlieron Wednesdaywherehecheckedinonher sinceshehadrecentlygivenbirthatthe Georgetown Public Hospital This publication understands that Hastings leaves to mourn his wife and seven children.

Norton's aunt related yesterday, that he had been working at the backdamforthepastsevenmonthsand had planned to come home for Christmas to help build a home for his mother She said that he was the breadwinner providing for his mother and other siblings since his father had died when he was younger The young man leaves to mourn his mother and fiveothersiblings.

Three Int'l firms vying for contract to supervise repairs to East Bank road

Three international firms hailing from Canada, Italy and the United States of America (USA) who teamed up with local companies are now the onlybiddersinrunningforthe contract to supervise the rehabilitation slated for the East Bank of Demerara (EBD)publicroad.

On Thursday during the opening of bids at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office it was revealed that the companies are Sheladia Associates Inc. of the USA; EXP Services Inc. (Canada) in association with CEMCO (Guyana); and Politecnica Ingegneria ed Architettura (Italy) in a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h SRKN'gineering(Guyana).

At the opening it was revealed that Sheladia Associates Inc. bid US$ 7,976,000 for the project, EXP Services Inc. bid US$ US$11,828,883, and P o l i t e c n i c a b i d US$10,890,000. These firms were previously shortlisted along with Beston Consulting Limited out of Trinidad and Tobagofortheproject.

The project entails the d e s i g n r e v i e w a n d supervision services for the East Bank road from Good Success to Timehri. It was reported that the East Bank road is being rehabilitated under the IDB's Programme to Support Climate Resilient R o a d

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 signed on March 6, last and it isforfiveyears.

Speaking of the loan at an event in May, the ministry'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,butspeciallyto 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, with a boundary from Good SuccesstoTimehri,EastBank Demerara.

The rehabilitation of the road includes widening to cater to pedestrians and cyclists,landscapingandcurb improvements, rehabilitation ofdrainage,andretrofittingof 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 walk in the park project given the number of vehicles that traverse that corridor on a daily

“The residents of the East 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'sthebiggestchallenge to the project team, to the engineer and whoever would bethatsuccessfulcontractor,” hehadstatedbackinMay

Dead, Trayon Hastings

Dead, Rowel Corria also known as ‘Rocky Norton’

Members of Mahdia fire COI to be sworn in next week - Jagdeo

Members of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly fire that claimed the lives of 19 children at the Mahdia SchoolDormitory inMaythisyear will be sworn in on Wednesday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

He made this disclosure during his weekly press conference held on Thursday The announcement comes weeks after it was announced by President Irfaan Ali that the Government will launch a CoI into the deadly school dormitoryfire.

Alihadsaidthatallmembersof the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) tasked with investigating the tragic fire at the Mahdia girls' dormitory will be selected after consultation with a number of potential candidates. It was also suggested that that Major General (ret'd) Joseph Singh would be a suitable candidatetoleadtheinquiry

OnMay22,2023,adevastating fire ripped through the Mahdia SecondarySchoolGirls'Dormitory in Region Eight, resulting in 20 deaths. The government has since lent support to the families in the form of a $5 million settlement to theaffectedfamilies.

Meanwhile, Opposition

Leader,Aubrey Norton told a news conference on Thursday that his partywillnotrelentinitscallforan independentcommissionofinquiry into the Mahdia Dormitory Fire.

“Seventy-four painful days have now elapsed The government continues to dilly-dally in the hope that the matter will fade from the national limelight, memory, and conscience. It will not,” Norton

asserted.

He said the more the government stalls in appointing an independent commission of inquiry, then the more it exposes itself as uncaring and callous. “It exposes its disregard for the collective pain and grief of the nation over the tragedy It also reveals its intention to bury the matter in the hope that the grieving

parents and the nation will soon forget and move on. It exposes its tendency to put Freedom House first and foremost, even to the extent of protecting incompetent PPP ministers and officials regardlessofthecosttothecitizens andthenation.”

Inthisregard,Nortonsaid:“We must note the government's protection of Nigel Dharamlall

who serious allegation of rape has beenleveledagainsthim.Thesame istrueaboutBharratJagdeoagainst whom serious allegations of bribery and corruption have been made.”

Norton said through their voices and votes, the Guyanese peoplewillnotallowthePPPtoget away without full accountability, liability,andresponsibility

‘Ordinary citizens have nothing to show for PPP/C's three years in office’ –Norton

Wh i l e t h e government is in celebratory rd mode over its 3 anniversary in office, ordinary Guyanese have little to show for the socalled development by the rulingadministration.

This was highlighted by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition at its weekly pressconference.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton scolded the government over what he considers to be minor accomplishments in an oil economy.

“With oil revenues now providing a steady and substantial income into the nationaltreasuryoverthelast three years, ordinary Guyanesestillcannotseeany pathway to prosperity for themselves and their families. By prosperity, we

mean what is articulated in the Guyana Constitution at Article 40 (1), which states among others: “Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a h a p p y, c re a t i v e a n d productive life, free from hunger, ignorance, and want,” Nortonsaid.

Norton bemoaned the manner in which the governmentchoosestospend taxpayers' money on infrastructure in a wild, unplanned and corrupt manner. In addition, he noted that the Government is in the habit of making sporadic handouts to citizens w i t h l i t t l e t o n o

accountability

“GuyaneseunderthePPP [Peoples Progressive Party] continue to experience high cost of living and high

unemployment thus living unhappily, entrapped by poverty, unfairness, hunger and want. Clearly, the focus of the government is not on the development of the peopleofGuyana,”hesaid.

The Opposition Leader stressedonthehighpricesfor food, rent or mortgage, transportation, utilities, private school lessons, good health care, childcare that ordinarycitizenshavetodeal withdaily

He added, “The PPP regime has shown utter disregard for the plight of the working class and working poor in Guyana Salary increases are always cloaked in uncertainty and in government bad faith and political shenanigans. When

increases are eventually announced, they are below the inflation rate and therefore not enough for workers to overcome the

country's high cost of living andthelargedebtsowed.The PPP's approach guarantees our workers a life of poverty.”

With regard to the microto-small business sector in Guyana, Norton suggested that for this type of business to flourish, the sector must havereadyaccesstomarkets, grants, soft loans, set-aside contracts, technical support, a n d t a x a n d o t h e r concessions.

He noted that “just as crucial, Guyanese citizens musthavethelevelofincome to invest in businesses or to serve as their regular customers.”

“The more spending power or disposable income inthehandsofGuyanese,the more flourishing will be the

small business sector and the Guyana economy generally

Therefore, the high levels of poverty and economic insecurity under the current PPP regime will continue to strangle growth and opportunities for small businesses,” the Opposition Leadersaid.

In short, he said the adhoc and inadequate measures by the PPP regime will not convert the small business sector into a pathway to prosperity for many Guyanese.

“A more cohesive and holistic approach is needed starting with greater and easier access to grants and soft loans. But all of this is beyond the competence and vision of the PPP,” the OppositionLeaderadded.

Cop who wrongfully arrested lawyer promoted to Traffic Chief

Oneofthepoliceofficers who unconstitutionally arrested a lawyer for advising her client to remain silent will be Guyana's next Traffic Chief come September

Superintendent of Police,KrishnaRamanawill take over duties as Traffic Chief from Dennis Stephens onSeptember1,2023.

Ramana, a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Investigator wrongfully arrested Attorney-at-Law, Tamieka Clarke back in October, 2022.

Clarke was detained on October 28, 2022 after she advised her client, who was a t t h e t i m e b e i n g investigated by the agency, not to answer the questions askedofherbySOCU.

Clarke through her lawyer, Nigel Hughes had filedlegalproceedingsatthe Demerara High Court against the State seeking several reliefs along with $300,000indamages.

The Lawyer had also filed two private criminal charges at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts against Superintendent Ramana and Sergeants Navranda Persaud and Winston Singh The

Shalimar Ali-Hack had discontinued the criminal charges.

“I have considered it and found that the issues of Wrongful Arrest and False Imprisonment arise. These are issues of Tort and Constitutional breaches which are civil actions,”AliHackhadsaid.

The DPP added too that all issues which are included in the allegations will be addressed in the civil action

Guyana's Next

Traffic Chief, Krishna Ramana

that was filed against the State.

On Saturday, July 8, 2023, the Chief Justice, Roxane George, SC ruled that Clarke's arrest was unconstitutional.

Justice George in her ruling stated, “An Attorneyat-Law admitted to practice in Guyana is entitled to advise a client to remain silent when questioned by any lawful enforcement agency.”

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

GRA must notify Govt. of inability to conduct oil audits - Jagdeo

Amid complaints from the Guyana R e v e n u e Authority (GRA) of its significant human resource shortage, specifically in the Petroleum Cost Recovery Unit, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has said the agency must first notify the government of its inability to execute its functions before actionscanbetaken.

CommissionerGeneralof the tax agency, Godfrey Statia on Monday during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC)meetingexplainedthat the Unit is currently operating at half its capacity, with31onrollbut65persons requiredforthejob.

As a result of the lack in human resource capability, StatiatoldtheCommitteethat GRA has been conducting “selectiveaudits”withthetax body concentrating its efforts on clawing back the largest return. In addition, he said, “we have to use external accountants to do the cost recovery audit and we work along with them and we utilise their analysis and their findings to guide us in our examination and review of the accounts that would have been submitted by the oil and gasplayers.”

D u r i n g h i s p r e s s conference on Thursday, Jagdeo was asked by this n e w s p a p e r t o s t a t e government's position on the GRA's inability to conduct cost oil audits as a result of the agency losing its staff to theoilcompanies.

To this end Jagdeo said that the mobility of the local labour force was not new and itshouldinfactbecelebrated. He explained, “Yes, it's always a concern but not just there (GRA), from the government agencies we are losing staff to the private sector- to Exxon- but we are losing staff to other private sectorandsomeoftheprivate sector are losing staff to the government because sometimes our pay is more lucrative than the private sectortoo.“

The former President added, “People have labour mobility now where they have choices. You can't hold people like in bondage, you havetokeeptrainingandthat is why we have 17,000 people now on government onlinescholarshipalone.”

Jagdeo said that the issue of labour mobility will continue and the government cannot restrict the right of citizens. According to him, “This is something that

should be celebrated too. There was a time when peoplefelttheyhadnooption but to stick with one job for life.PeoplenowfindIcando better in another place then theymoveon.”

As Guyana continues with the rapid development of its oil and gas sector, the subject of the country's skilled labour force shortage has been debated in the past, with President Irfaan Ali even indicating that the nation will soon be required toimportsuchworkers.

Jagdeo said yesterday that the administration has been very cautious in granting permits for the importation of skilled labourers.

He said, “They have to demonstrate a need and they have to now show that the project would be adversely affected before we give the permission.”

When it comes to the specific shortage of employees at the GRA, Jagdeo said that the Commissioner General should formally share the issue with government so thatmeasurescanbetaken.

“If the GRA comes to us and say we can't get 'X' work done because we don't have this 'Y' skilled person, then we will deal with that immediately, but we don't wanna deal with it on a blanketbasis.

Theyhavetodemonstrate a need and a very specific need because the moment we do it on a blanket basis, you bring down 10 people here to work at GRA, five of our local guys would show up and say hold on a minute, we are qualified, we can do the job,”Jagdeoreasoned.

As such, he said, “if GRA, the Commissioner General goes to the Minister of Finance and say my work is being affected because I don't have skilled Guyanese and I need three persons of a skilled nature...if we can't find them here we would have to bring them in but it must be specific.” On M o n d a y , t h e G R A Commissioner General told the PAC that despite the higher salaries being paid to the trained auditors, the employeeshavebeenleaving the job to work for the oil companies offering bigger remunerationpackages.

He explained, “We are working assiduously to get the full complement of staff. We have even pulled some staff from other Ministries, but as we know we have a

paucity of skills in Guyana. We have even increased pay for persons in that capacity forthemnottoleavebutwhat we have seen is that as we trainstaffwelosestaff.”

Five persons trained within the past year alone have been stolen by the oil companies,accordingtohim. Presently, two audits of the Stabroek Block oil and gas activities are outstanding The first audit was awarded since 2019 for a review of

ExxonMobil's US$1 6 billion expenses between 1999and2017. Meanwhile,anotheraudit that was signed in 2022 for the oil company's US$7.3 billion expenditure, racked up between 2018 and 2020 is yet to be finalised. Statia said he has been appealing to the employees' patriotism, rather than force the workers to remain on the job, since he believes “you have to love your work and you have to

love what you do”

Additionally, he said he b e l i e v e s t h a t G R A employees are privy to the best working conditions and in some cases double salaries compared to the other public servantsatthesamelevel.

The revelations made by the tax boss as it regards the limited human resource in this critical agency would spark further concerns among Guyanese who have been calling on Government

to implement a depletion policy for its newfound resources. This plan could possibly,amongotherthings, address the prevailing challengesbeingfacedbythe RevenueAuthority In its bid to fast track the oil and gas sector however, Government last year launched its maiden bid round for 14 of its oil b l o c k s T h i s w i l l undoubtedly add to the already strained tax authority

MediadevicesdonatedtoBishops’ HighbyNYTri-StateAlumni

The NewYork (NY) TriStateChapteroftheBishops' High School on Thursday donated a quantity of media devices to the school at its C a r m i c h a e l S t r e e t , Georgetownlocation.

The devices include several computers, cameras andCentralProcessingUnits (CPU) The devices are expected to prepare, boost, and enhance students' academicperformance.

The equipment are intended to enhance both the teaching experience of teachers and the learning experience of students in the manifold subject areas delivered at the institution, theschoolsaid.

Gail Nues, a member of theschool'sAlumnifocuson ensuring the betterment for

thestudents.

“The whole idea behind the project is to make sure Bishops' High School students benefit equally,” Mrs.Nuesstated.

Similarly, Leslie Sue former President of the NY Tri-State Chapter and a member of the school's Board of Governors said, “The New York Tri-State Chapter has since started its inception contribution to the BishopHighSchoolin2018, while they were doing a mentorship programme with students and one thing that was recognized was a need fortheMediaRoom.”

M e a n w h i l e , t h e headmistress of the Bishops' High School, Shandrina

Welcome-Lee thanked the Alumniforitsdonation.

“This project will be extremely helpful and instrumentalintheeducation of the students and the audio visual needs of teachers,” shesaidwhiledisclosingthat the Ministry of Education (MoE) intends to mark examinations digitally in the future and the equipment h a n d e d o v e r w i l l significantly assist the students.Further, the alumni have also assisted the school's basketball players who are currently on a familiarization trip to Washington, DC, United States. Welcome-Lee noted too that the visit to Washington will not only enhance the students' skills in the sport but provide a holistic experience that will benefittheminthefuture.

Gail Nues (third left) Member of the Bishops' High School's NY Tri-State Chapter and Shandrina Welcome-Lee (second Left), Headmistress of Bishops' High School, Leslie Sue former President of the NY Tri- State Chapter with students and others during the handing over of the equipment on Thursday

Gail Nues (Right) Member of the Bishops' High School's NY Tri-State Chapter and Shandrina Welcome-Lee (Left), Headmistress of Bishops' High School. Shandrina

The Bishops' High School's Basketball athletes training in Washington, DC

Govt. talks up benefits of Difficult Circumstances Unit

Thousands of vulnerable Guyanesehavefoundrefuge through programmes offered by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security's Difficult CircumstancesUnit.

In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud said since the government took office three years ago, a series of transformative initiatives have been introduced aimed at uplifting the lives of vulnerablepopulations.

Minister Persaud noted that these programmes born out of compassion and commitment, have already madeasignificantimpacton thelivesofmany Amongthe most influential projects put into action is the pampers bank, which was initiated to support vulnerable families withinfants.

The programme has evolved into a crucial lifeline for persons living with disabilities (PWDs), andseniorcitizens,allowing vulnerable citizens to get up to three months' worth of supplies. Minister Persaud noted that the process is simple and requires only basic information and a means test to ensure assistance reaches those who need it most For persons living with disabilities, the minister

emphasised the significance ofprovidingassistiveaids.

She explained that, “No such programme existed before and coming into office in 2020, I was struck at how difficult it was for persons who lived with disabilities, especially those with mobility issues to access these assistive aids.”

Taking into account this gap, the ministry acted swiftly to ensure access to essential aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, and white canes. Persons can now request these aids and have them delivered directly t o t h e i r h o m e s o r communities. Additionally, the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has developed a wellestablished referral pathway for persons to access free hearingaids.

Empowerment through Training

The government has taken a holistic approach to empower persons living with disabilities through development training, to improve their quality of life. These programmes include basic computer training, job access with speech (JAWS) for the visually impaired, garment construction, adult literacy, and numeracy As a result, nearly 500 persons living with disabilities have receivedspecialisedtraining

tailored to their unique needs.Additionally,tofoster entrepreneurship and economic independence among persons living with disabilities, the government has established the R e v o l v i n g F u n d , specifically dedicated to s u p p o r t i n g m i c r oenterprises initiated by these individuals.

Eyecareprogramme

Meanwhile, in late 2021, an eye care programme was launched to provide vision care to underserved communities and vulnerable citizens. The initiative has already made a profound impact, with over 3,000 pairs of spectacles distributed to date. Focusing on elderly individuals, those with disabilities, children, and residents of remote regions, the programme aims to bridge the gap in access to vision care Minister Persaud pointed out that by ensuring better eyesight, this initiative enables individuals to excel in their academic pursuits, professional endeavours, anddailyactivities.

The government has also been actively involved in providing hampers, assisting with funeral expenses, and helping individuals affected by p r o p e r t y d a m a g e , particularly due to fires.(DPI)

New US$12.7M ferry to make first trip to Region 1, next week

The new US$2.5 billion MV Lisha which was built in India.

The newly-built $2 5 billion (US$12.7M) MV MA Lisha will make its inaugural trip to Region One from Georgetown on Thursday, August 10,2023,at16:00hrs.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the MV MALisha will then return to Georgetown from Kumaka, Region One on Tuesday,August15,2023,at16:00hrs.

The ferry, which will ply the BarimaWaini/Georgetown route, can accommodate 250 revenue paying passengers, 12 Sedan type vehicles and two trucks. MVMALisha was built by Indian company, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited and has special features to mitigate challenges faced bytravelers.IthadarrivedinGuyanabackin April.

Govt. signals intention to further increase debt ceilings

…as house approves US$3B hike

The National Assembly on T h u r s d a y approved an increase to the country’s domestic public andexternaldebtceilingsby some US$3 Billion following a contentious debate by members of the g o v e r n m e n t a n d opposition

At last week’s sitting of the National Assembly, SeniorMinisterintheOffice of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh had tabled the Orders to increase the country’s debt ceiling to allow for accessing more loans to accelerate its development agenda.

Guyana’s domestic public debt ceiling was increasedto$750billion,up from$500billion,andanew external borrowing ceiling of $900 billion, after its last increase to $650 billion Guyana’s previous debt ceilings were last increased in by the Government back in January 2021

According to the MinistryofFinance,given Guyana’s economic outlook, these revisions to the external and domestic public debt ceilings are consistent with the country’s long-term debt sustainability

Dr Singh argued that with Guyana’s economy rapidly growing, the country’sabilitytoborrow more loans increases “Every loan that we have contracted there are available for all to see the evidence of what that loan was invested in, the gas to energy project, hospitals, schools or roads,” the ministersaid Notably, fuelled by a ramping up of oil production and the resurgence of the non-oil e c o n o m y, G u y a n a registered real GDP growth of 62 3 percent in 2022, making it the fastest-growing economy in the world As such, it was noted that this appreciable growth performance and the country’srobusteconomic o u t l o o k u n d e r p i n Guyana’s sustainable absorption of the new debt

Insum,theGovernment said it is committed to harnessing Guyana’s debtcarrying capacity to accelerate its development agenda.

Opposition MPs, Juretha Fernandes, Ganesh Mahipaul and Amanza Walton-Desir put forward their arguments objecting to themotion.

In her argument, Fernandesstatedthattherate at which the Government is going to incur more debt, it adds a burden on future generations and will be felt the hardest on the working class.

“They (Government) believe the more money Guyana has, the more Guyana should borrow, what is even sad is that the PPP (People’s Progressive Party) is borrowing based on projected figures from oil revenues One of the most significant dangers faced by our oildependent country is its vulnerability to oil price fluctuations, if oil price plummets like we have seen in the past, we will be struck by a severe revenue shock,”MPFernandessaid.

The Opposition MP added, “Mr Speaker it is evident that between 6th March and 6th June (2023) the PPP came to this house and racked up more than double of the s e c o n d q u a r t e r ’s revenues garnered from oil ”

She added: “the 2023 budget is already being carried by the oil and gas sector, we cannot keep adding debt to this country.”

Fernandes said too, “It leaves questions, for the PPP to come to this House and operate as if there is no harm to what they are doing It is simply reckless for the P P P t o c o n t i n u e borrowing in the manner in which they are doing ”

The MP highlighted that according to the Bank of Guyana (BoG) first quarter report for 2023, public debt increased by 2 3%

She said too that after passing the country’s largest budget ever, the

Government within two weeks has approached the House for billions in supplementary spending, yetpublicservantsarestill waiting to on an increase for living wage She underscored that the Government approached the House to increase the debtceilings,whilefailing to do basic things like raising wages for public servants

A c c o r d i n g t o Fernandes, “Financial stress can weaken the economy; this approach w i l l b e h i g h l y detrimental

The PPP is doing exactly what they should not be doing operatingas though there is no tomorrow…Theyhavespent all that we have, and all that we don’t have. There is nothing prudent about the way PPP manage debt it is reckless.”

For his part, MP Mahipaul requested that the Government submits the list of the projects that need to be funded under its “ambitious developmental agenda” which is the reasonforthe increaseinthedebtceilings.

“We have never held to the position that borrowing is bad, what w e a r e s a y i n g i s borrowing is necessary

on the revenue you have, not on the revenue you are anticipating ”

Mahipaul argued, “They draw comparison with ordinary Guyanese citizens. Mr Speaker,ifsomebodyin this country is working for below 100,000 if they go to the bank to borrow a loan the bank would not lend them a loan anticipating that they will get higher earnings in the years to come. It would be based on their salary and their ability to repay, what we have is an attemptbythePPPtoborrow and borrow and borrow because we are expecting a higher revenue income in the years to come but that becomes a burden to futuregenerations ”

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, in supportingtheincreasetothe debt ceilings said, “We are not borrowing to pay salaries, or to pay old age pension,ortopaynursesand teachers… even though we are earning money from oil, wehavetotakeadvantageof this opportunity to catapult this nation. We want to be able to facilitate the engagement with China Exim bank, the InterAmerican Development Bank(andotherbanks)…”

Inhisclosingarguments, Dr Singh reiterated that

Guyana’s growing economy has produced a unique opportunity for the country to borrow more loans, because the country will be abletoserviceit.

“It’s called sustainable borrowing,” the Finance Ministersaid.

In responding to the arguments made by MPs Fernandes, Dr Singh said, “You can’t selectively cherry-picksomesectionsof the report (BoG) and hold it up as gospel, and when the sectionsthatdon’tagreewith your narrative you dismiss it.”

He added that Guyana is atastagewhereitistheplace to do business more than it has been in any time in its economichistory

“We will invest it into things that will earn us a greater income, like infrastructure We will ensure we do so in a manner we can afford to do , ”theministeradded

The Finance Minister said, “Today we have multilateral, bilateral and private lenders from around the world, who are not naïve, who are not incompetent people they a r e t h e m o s t sophisticated we have the capacity to borrow today because these lending agencies have rigorously assessed

Guyana’s economic potential that we have the capacity to repay whatever the loan we borrow ”

To this end, the minister noted that as Guyana’s ability to borrow more increases the Government will return to the National Assemblytofurtherincrease thedebtceilings.

Followingtheminister’s concluding argument, the National Assembly approved the motion to increase the country’s debt ceilings.

Recently, Kaieteur News reported on United Nations Secretary General,António Guterres highlighting that half the world is sinking into a development disaster, fuelled by a crushing debt crisis, noting that some 3 3billionpeople–almost half of humanity live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on education or health

Also, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) in a new report published earlier this year, cautioned Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries against ‘excessive’borrowing and urged governments to bring their debts down to moreprudentlevels

Opposition Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

Niger coup: Thousands march to support junta

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Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Niger’s capital, Niamey, in support of last week’s military coup. (ISSIFOU DJIBO/EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK) the military leader to ensure there was no repeat.

BBC - Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Niger’s capital, Niamey, in support of last week’s military coup.

They condemned West African countries who have imposed sanctions on the country, and also demanded the departure of foreign troops.

Both US and France have military bases in the country to help fight Islamist militants.

A similar protest on Sunday led to attacks on the French embassy but Thursday’s demonstration was peaceful.

France, the former colonial power in Niger, had called on

Previous demonstrations had seen some chanting “Long live Russia”, “Long live Putin”, and “Down with France” - the leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has reportedly described the coup as a triumph.

But organisers had asked people not to wave Russian flags this time, and there were far fewer on display compared to Sunday. People had Nigerien flags instead.

It isn’t clear if this was because Russia has issued a statement calling for the return to power of the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, and negotiations, or because Thursday is Niger’s Independence Day.

Mr Bazoum, the first democratically elected president to succeed another in Niger, was detained by his own guards last week.

many people who are opposed to the coup.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a trade bloc of 15 West African countries, has imposed financial and trade sanctions. It has also threatened to use force if President Bazoum is not reinstated by Sunday.

Senegal on Thursday said it would send troops if the bloc decided on military intervention. Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall said there had been one “coup too many” in the region. The army has seized power in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea in recent years.

“Senegalese soldiers, for all these reasons, will go there,” she said.

On Wednesday evening, coup leader Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani warned against “any interference in the internal affairs” of the country.

Gen Tchiani, a former chief of the presidential guard to Mr Bazoum, seized power on 26 July.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Gen Tchiani said the military regime rejected the Ecowas “sanctions as a whole and refuses to give in to any threat, wherever it comes from”.

He labelled the sanctions “cynical and iniquitous” and said they were intended to “humiliate” Niger’s security forces and make the country “ungovernable”.

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Correspondents in the country say there are also

Niger’s electricity company says that neighbouring Nigeria has cut electricity supplies, leading to widespread power cuts, although this has not been confirmed by Nigeria.

Hundreds of foreign nationals have been evacuated from Niger. The US has ordered a partial evacuation of its embassy and more than 1,000 French and Europeans have been flown out of the country.

We have normalised toxicity...

From page 6 characteristics are not considered normative are marginalized or ignored.

8. There are favourites and favouritism.

back, coaching or engage constructively with those they manage.

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9. Managers are often short, snappy and irritable in their conversation with staff.

10. Line managers ‘never have time’ to provide feed-

11. Ego and Lack of humility – The organization belongs to the founder and is there to serve whims.

When I showed this list to my friend working for the NGO, her reaction was: “I don’t think some of those

behaviours are toxic, they just seem normal to me.” And therein lies the crux of the issue.

We have normalized quiet toxicity to the point where it is our normal. We cannot change a problem that we cannot see.

Yours faithfully, Troubled Social Worker

Guyana, China to expand collaboration on climate change, environmental, ecological services

capacityforAntiguaandBarbuda's smallbusinessestoenterEUmarkets

Micro Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) of Antigua and Barbuda will soon benefit from capacity building interventions that will enable private sector entities to access markets in the European Union (EU).

The project entitled 'Strengthening Private Sector Capacity to Utilise the CARIFORUM European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to Increase Competitiveness and Maximise Opportunities for Global Export' is the second project being implemented in Antigua and Barbuda through the EPA and CSME Standby Facility for Capacity Building, the Caribbean Development Bank said in a press release. The projectwillalsofocusoninterventions aimed at greater market penetration within the CSME by building sustainable export capacity of MSMEs.

towards greater economic growth, competitiveness, innovation and overall development and will assist local MSMEs to overcome existing export and market access barriers.” He added that the Government must focus on empowering businesses to tap into their full potential. The new project is being managed by the Caribbean DevelopmentBank(CDB).

institutional, social and economic resilience in Antigua and Barbuda, through the growth of MSMEs…”. He further noted that it is important to explore opportunities provided under theEPAandthatcreatingthenecessary capacity building framework that is aimed at providing assistance to small businessisvitaltoasustainableprivate sector

Guyana and China continue to advance and sustain their bilateral ties which will soon see an expansion on the climate change and environmental and ecological services fronts.

“As we move forward in this journey, we are expanding the collaboration to include climate change and environmental and ecological services, ” President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali pointed out Thursday, during an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

The head of state noted thatovertheyears,Chinahas been contributing to Guyana's development in several areas including technology, infrastructure andeducation,amongothers. For example, Dr Ali highlighted China's HUAWEI company, which has been playing a critical part in Guyana's safe city programme.

“They are also part of a relationship with the private sectorintherollingoutof5G in the country On the infrastructure side, we have many Chinese companies that are investing and working in the infrastructure transformation of our country,” President Ali added.

One of the major projects istheconstructionofthenew Demerara Harbour Bridge

un

Moreover,thereis also a great partnership on

source development and education fronts,asmanyGuyaneseare studying in China through exchange programmes and scholarships. Only recently, the two governments worked out an arrangement where several Guyanese are being trained in China in aquaculture management, aimed at expanding and modernising the local food sector

Meanwhile, with the exploration of the oil and gas sector here, President Ali called for more Chinese companies to come on board and function within the industry “We have CNOOC (ChinaNationalOffshoreOil Corporation) as part of the consortium in the Stabroek Block that is with Exxon, Hess and the Government. Now we have 11 billion barrels proven reserves. We have just gone out to auction for 14 more blocks and we are hoping that not only CNOOC, with more Chinese companies would participate inthisauction,”thepresident underscored He also r e i t e r a t e d h i s administration's support for the One-China Policy and further strengthening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

(DPI)

According to E.P Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda “…the project signifies a new era in our collaboration with the private sector

Project Manager, EPA & CSME Standby Facility, Mr Cyril Gill, stated that the Bank looks forward to continued partnership with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda astheyimplementthisinitiativeforthe advancementofthecountry'sMSMEs. Speakingattheevent,heindicatedthat the project is unique and timely in that it emphasizes the establishment of a digitally enabled framework where businesses can establish an online presence for the promotion and sale of their products. He further highlighted that it is critical, in the post- pandemic period that MSMEs adapt to the global digital trends in order to remain relevantandcompetitive.

EU Project Manager, Mr Sheldon Jackman,indicatedthattheprojectwill “…contribute significantly to building

The two-year project is being implemented by the Ministry of ForeignAffairs,Agriculture,Tradeand Barbuda Affairs in collaboration with the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA). The two-year initiative provides EUR189,307 in Technical Assistance to Government of Antigua and Barbuda from the EPA & CSME Standby Facility and the Caribbean Technological Consultancy ServicesNetwork(CTCS).

The Standby Facility is a €8.75 million resource managed by CDB which offers opportunities to 15 Caribbean economies to grow trade, deepen integration and economic involvement, impact competitiveness, market access and exports by implementing targeted projects in thematicareas.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali meets with President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping

Jamaica goalkeeper Spencer tells federation: ‘Show us the money’

MELBOURNE, (Reuters)Jamaica goalkeeper Becky Spencer said she hoped the nation’s soccer federation would reward the team properly after the Reggae Girlz broke through to the knockout phase for the first time in just their second World Cup.

The Jamaican players have been in dispute with the Jamaican FA over pay and conditions, and complained about insufficient preparations in the leadup to the global showpiece.

For all that, the team has outdone themselves, and

their 0-0 draw to eliminate Brazil on Wednesday was their third clean sheet.

They reached the last 16 finishing second in Group F, having also held heavyweights France 0-0 while beating Panama 1-0.

“Obviously we fight a battle constantly for us as players,” said Spencer, who was given the player-of-thematch award against Brazil.

“We put (the dispute) to bed for the tournament (but) the better we do the more pressure it creates.

“We hope they’re looking

Friday August 04, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

There's an important lesson to learn today, Aries, so don't shy away from the classroom. It's important to control your attitude now or it's likely to control you. It could be that your ego is a bit too inflated

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Consider the romantic relationships in your life right now, Taurus. It's important to remember that regardless of how hot and steamy a partnership is at first,

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today is your day to become a hero, Gemini. You don't have to be dressed in fancy tights and a cape to make an important difference in someone's life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

There's a great deal of fun to be had today, Cancer. Money isn't always necessary to make this happen, however. In fact, money isn't a great way to keep score.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Remember that the important thing isn't necessarily what you're doing but the people you're with, Leo. There's a great deal of passion in the air today that yo u can latch onto and put to good use.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

You could learn a tough lesson today, Virgo. More than likely, the harder the message hits you, the more important it was for you to hear. It's important that you accept failure gracefully.

at us and do what they should be doing.”

Jamaica have come a long way since their first World Cup in France four years ago where they were well beaten in all their group matches, including a 3-0 opening loss to Brazil. On Wednesday, Brazil were culpable for blowing some early chances but the Jamaicans were well organised in the second half and kept their heads to repel eight shots on goal.

Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson rolled on the field in celebration and the Reggae

Girlz stayed out there singing and dancing long after the final whistle.

Some were heard chanting: “We told you!” — which Spencer said was a message to those who had doubted

U-15 Boys National...

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

There's a great deal of fuel to keep your fire raging today, Libra. Powerful situations are apt to come your way in which you're asked to take decisive action. Don't shy away from added responsibility.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Remember that one wrong move today could cause you to have a headache for a good long while, Scorpio. Don't take uncalculated risks. There's dynamism and confidence in the air.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

It's a long road to becoming exactly the person you want to be, Sagittarius. You can't change who you are. Input from every person you know and lessons from every bump in the road.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You should always leave a loved one with loving words, Capricorn. Each time you exit a room, consider that you're never going to enter that room again. Perhaps you'll never see those people again.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Just when you think you have absolutely no energy left, you're able to kick into a higher gear. Push beyond your limits today, Aquarius. You'll find that you can achieve a great deal.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Regardless of how you feel today, Pisces, it's important to own up to your mistakes.

Keep in mind that you're responsible for your actions. No matter how much you might want to shrink away,

From page 28 along with the players have done the hard work so it’s just how good we execute on the game day will determine our chance against the countries in our group.”

This is Guyana’s fourth appearance at the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship. This year Guyana is drawn in Group F of League B with Guadeloupe, Barbados and St. Lucia. Matches will be played on August 6th, 7th and 8th. Winter added that Guyanese at home and overseas should be proud to support “this committed and talented young team” in the prestigious regional competition.

The team departs Guyana today, Friday, August 4.

Two more youths...

From page 29

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they would perform given all their off-field strife.

“There’s a real family-oriented feeling in our group and we stick together,” said Spencer.

“We’re just showing that

we’re catching up with other teams and we’re showing what can be done.

“We’re showing the young kids and players out in Jamaica what can be achieved.”

Jamaica’s Rebecca Spencer in action against Brazil.

(REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

CWI welcomes SATsport as team partner for West Indies v India white ball matches

ST.JOHN’S,Antigua–Cricket West Indies (CWI)

yesterday announced SATsport as a new partner for the ongoing white ball series between West Indies andIndia.

This new partnership will see the SATsport brand on the upper back of the West Indies playing jersey for the CG United One-Day Internationals ( O D I s ) a n d T 2 0 Internationals (T20I) The w h i t e b a l l s e r i e s comprised three CG United ODIs as well as the five-match Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series powered by Black and White which started yesterday, Thursday,3August

will be visible on the shoulders of the iconicWest Indies maroon and gold playing jersey and will be seen by millions of fans aroundtheworld.”

“SATsport is thrilled to be a part of the ongoing West IndiesvsIndiaODIandT20I series, it’s a privilege to be associated with the legendary maroon jersey, which is synonymous with bringing joy and excitement to cricket fans all over the world.

Weareconfidentthrough this association we will be abletoreachouttoourtarget audience and engage with themproactively.”

startedatBrianLaraCricket Academy in Trinidad yesterday

MATCH SCHEDULE

Kuhl Stylish Fans

T20I Series powered by BlackandWhite

3 August: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad – WI wonby4runs

6 August: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana

8 August: 3rd T20I, N a t i o n a l S t a d i u m Guyana

12 August: 4th T20I, B r o w a r d C o u n t y Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida

which provide

welcome SATsport as a partner for the white ball series against India It’s investment for the developmentofcricketinthe WestIndies.SATsport’slogo

The five-match Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series poweredbyBlackandWhite

13 August: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill,Florida

• Start time at: 10:30am (9:30amJamaica)

Holder and co stoutly defend 149 as West Indies beat India

ESPNcricinfo - A T20 team built with the future in mindwasunabletodealwith thechallengesofthepresent as West Indies made India scratch, struggle and finally submit.

It was a hard-earned victory too West Indies repelled a three-man spin attack on a slow Tarouba pitch to put up 149. Their captain, Rovman Powell, who was discarded in the preceding one-day series, top-scoringwith48.

Then the experience of Jason Holder, the guile of Akeal Hosein and the gumption of Romario Shepherd combined to ensure those precious runs ontheboardwerefourmore thanenough.

The game was in the balance when Hardik Pandya was bowled in the chase with India needing 37 off29balls.Itwasstillinthe balance when India needed ten off the final over with three wickets in hand Shepherd tipped it West Indies’ way, showing everyone that they can be competitiveevenwhentheir seniorsareavailable.

Hosein, who was back from the Major League Cricket tournament in the USA, had set the tone for West Indies by taking out Ishan Kishan in the powerplay

T h e l e f t - a r m fingerspinner then returned to finish with outstanding figures of 4-0-17-1, including 14 dots. Holder, Obed McCoy and Shepherd all took pace off the ball to makelifedifficultforIndia’s batters.

On such a pitch, Suryakumar Yadav could score just one of his 21 runs behind square Both debutant Tilak Varma, who hadtop-scoredforIndiawith 39 off 22 balls, and captain Hardik were done in by offcutters.

There would be no way backforIndia,despitealate cameofromArshdeepSingh.

KingandPooranteeoff Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran, fresh off a hundred in the MLC final, were responsible for 51 off the 54 runs West Indies had scored in the powerplay With the pitch expected to slow down as the game

progressed, King went harder against the new ball, pumping debutant Mukesh Kumar for back-to-back fours in his first over King also lofted Axar Patel for a sixbeforeYuzvendraChahal trappedhiminhisfirstover Pooran took over from King and laid into India’s spinners with his variety of sweeps Despite Pooran’s presence in the middle, Hardik gave the last over of the powerplay to Axar, who endedupleaking14.

Jason Holder celebrates after sending back Hardik Pandya. (AFP/Getty Images)

concedeasingleboundaryin the last three overs of the innings.

Tilak’sarrival

India then had a skittish start, losing both Gill and Ishan Kishan in the powerplay.Hoseinmadethe newballdipandturntohave Gillstumpedfor3off9balls. Kishan also tried to manufacture a shot by advancing at McCoy, but he ended up mis-hitting it to mid-on.

IndiapullWIback

Axardidn’tbowlanover after that, but Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal and the seamers used the pitch to their advantage to apply the brakes on West Indies’ innings.

Kuldeep and Chahal

split three wickets between them on their reunion, but it was Hardik who claimed the prized scalp of Pooran for 41 off 34balls

Powell led a charmed

life-hewasdroppedtwice - but managed to repair West Indies’ innings with 48 off 32 balls Even though he didn’t always pick the wristspinners out of the hand, he showed courage by constantly charging them, and once he got to the pitch of the ball, the direction of the turndidn’tmatter

Mukesh and Arshdeep then bossed the death overs with their yorkers and hardto-hitfulltosses.Indiadidn’t

In the next over, however, Tilak announced his arrival into international cricket with back-to-back sixes off 140-plus kph rockets fromAlzarri Joseph. Then when Shepherd went full, Tilak drilled him over extra-cover for six more. Shepherd, though, struck backtohoodwinkTilakwith acutter

Tilakwastheonlyproper batter from either team to have struck at over 150 on thispitch.

Scores: West Indies 149 for6(Powell48,Pooran41, Chahal2-24,Arshdeep2-31) beat India 145 for 9 (Tilak 39, Holder 2-19, McCoy 228)byfourruns.

SATsport as a new partner for the ongoing white ball series between West Indies and India. (CWI)

‘Teach Them Young’ swim programme concludes this weekend

The Ministry of Culture, Youth a n d S p o r t s (MCY&S), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the GuyanaAmateurSwimming

Association (GASA), achievedremarkablesuccess with the inaugural Learn to SwimprogrammeinApril.

Buildingonthissuccess, the August Vacation ‘Teach

Them Young’ swim programme which unfolded on July 8th at the National Aquatic Centre (NTC) locatedinLilliendaal,witha staggering registration processwhichamassedover two thousand participants registering for the monthlongprogramme.

Meanwhile, the July’s edition of this swim programmehasbeenanother excitingfourweeksforboth the participants and coaches sofar Theeventwillreacha fever pitch at the grand closing ceremony which is expected to be held on SaturdayAugust5that14:00 hours.

The prestigious ‘Teach Them Young’ swimming programme provides a platform for young swimmers to learn, grow, and potentially pursue competitive swimming as a

career It serves as a crucial stepping stone towards nurturing future national athletes while also promotingoverallhealthand wellness among the youth and adults alike. It aims to instill valuable life skills, more so ensuring a positive impact among youth in the local communities This overwhelming response stands as a testament to Minister Charles Ramson’s visionary approach to sports developmentinthecountry

The Minister in a previous interview explained the importance of

investinginsportsandyouth development, saying, this approachplaysapivotalrole towards shaping the country’s future and ensuring a brighter and healthier tomorrow for all Guyanese Minister Ramson,inpartnershipwith theDirectorofSports,Steve Ninvalleremainscommitted tothecause,astheycontinue to inject the needed support to all sport disciplines countrywide.

Also assisting with the smooth running of the programme is National CoachPaulMahaica,whois

on the ground working assiduously towards the success of the programme. Together, they are actively working to make swimming accessibletoeverychildand adult alike Their c o m m i t m e n t w a s demonstrated June last, through the recently concludedAdult’s ‘Learn to Swim’programme,followed withthecurrentJuly/August edition of the Teach Them Young programme, highlighting the Ministry’s dedication towards ensuring the growth and success of swimminginGuyana.

Colourful opening ceremony to usher Commonwealth Youth Games

ByRawleToney

A vibrant burst of colours will light up the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago today, as the seventh Commonwealth Youth Games commences with a carnival-stylecelebration.

The eagerly anticipated event is scheduled to take place from August 4th to 11th and will feature seven disciplines, bringing together athletes and paraathletes aged between 14 and18.

This marks the second time that the prestigious Commonwealth Games Federation event is being hosted in the Caribbean, with the first being in The

Bahamasin2017. Originally planned for 2021, the Games had to be postponedduetotheglobal Covid-19pandemic.

Now, finally, the opening ceremony will be graced with performances by the Kiddies Carnival Kings and Queens, alongside a youth steel pan ensemble. The event will a l s o c e l e b r a t e

Emancipation Day, observed on August 1, and showcasetherichhistoryof theCaribbean.

The ceremony will culminate in a captivating performance by Freetown Collective, who will presenttheGames’Official Song,“StayReady.”

Dignitaries such as the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Kangaloo, and the Commonwealth Games Federation President, Dame Louise Martin, will welcome the athletes and officially inaugurate the Games.Trinbago2023will proudly present over 1,000 athletes competing in athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, netball (Fast5), rugby sevens, swimming, andtriathlon.

Thesportingeventswill takeplaceatvariousvenues across Trinidad and Tobago, including the Hasely Crawford Stadium (for Athletics and Para-

Aquatics Centre (for Swimming), National Cycling Velodrome (for TrackCycling)inTrinidad, Pigeon Point Beach (for Beach Volleyball) and Shaw Park Cultural Complex (for Fast5 Netball)inTobago.

Significantly, ParaAthletics will be included in the Games for the first time in history, adding an extra layer of excitement andinclusivitytotheevent.

Seventy-one nations will participate in the G a m e s , w i t h 1 4 representing the Americas, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Canada, CaymanIslands,Dominica,

Grenada,Guyana,Jamaica, StKittsandNevis,StLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, along with the host nation, Trinidad and Tobago Guyana, in particular, will be represented by eight talentedathletescompeting inAthleticsandSwimming.

In Swimming, which getsgoingonSundayAriel Rodrigues, Elliott Gonsalves, and Shareefah

Lewis will display their skillsinthepool,guidedby coachSyhkaGonsalves.

The Track and Field events, which starts on Tuesday, will feature CARIFTA medallists

Tianna Springer, Javon Roberts, Attoya Harvey,

Malachi Austin, and Narissa McPherson, with Julian Edmonds as their coach Supporting the athletes during the Games will be a contingent of 13 from Guyana, including Dr V i c t o r A l l e n , Physiotherapist Vanessa Wickham, and Team LeaderNaliniMcKoy Notably, Guyanese boxers Clevlon Rock and Keevin Allicock have previously won medals at Commonwealth Youth Games, both securing silver However, boxing will not be included among the eight disciplines at this year’seventinTrinidadand Tobago.

Minister Charles Ramson (right) handing over certificate of completion to a successful participant during the closing ceremony of the April edition of ‘Teach Them Young’programme.

Afew participants of the July/August edition of ‘Teach Them Young’swim programme demonstrating their skills at NTC pool.

GT Bannas stop Leguan Warriors’ winning streak in OMSCC Over-40, T20 tournament

GT Bannas ended Leguan Warriors’ winning streak last Sunday in the continuation of the 2023

Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC)

Over-40,T20competitionat LittlesPark,Scarborough.

Leguan Warriors were unbeatenwitheightvictories but GT Bannas proved their competitiveness to win by fourwicketswiththreeballs remaining in thrilling fashion.

Warriors won the toss andoptedtotakefirstknock. They reached a moderate 133 all out off 20-overs, while GT Bannas replied with 134-6 triggering wild celebrations by the jubilant GT Bannas players and supporters.

Their effort was spearheaded by opener Bob Chungwhohitaresponsible 38,whileKevinGeorgealso batted with maturity to contributeavital33.

Thetwoalsoparticipated in a steady, 55-run fourth-

wicket stand after GT Bannas lost three early wickets.

Despite the impetus in the bowling department by LeguanWarriors,Chungand Georgeensuredtherewasno more fuss in the innings. Recently,theformerGuyana youth player George struck an impressive, unbeaten 81 tospurGTBannastoahuge win against Pegasus. In this fixture,theright-handeralso showed a great amount of belligerence clobbering four mightysixes. AbdoolAzeez grabbedthreewicketsfor14

U-15 Boys National Team selected for CONCACAF Championship in Curaçao

runs delivering three overs for Leguan Warriors, who remained at the top of the pointsstanding.

Earlier,theirinningswas built around Faoud Mohamedwhostrokedatopscore of 26 and Sharaz Hamidwith17.

Veteran player Mark Khan claimed 3-15 from his maximum three overs to leading the bowling for the triumphantunit.

The victory also ticked GT Bannas fourth win from nine encounters but they are at number 5 on the points chart.CaptainMarkAlleyne dedicated the memorable win to frontline batsman Abid Ally who picked up a wrist injury and has been ruledoutfortheseason.

Meanwhile, the eightteamcompetitionisslatedto resumeAugust13thwiththe playoff segment The championship game will takeplaceAugust27th.Carr TecMastersSportClubisthe reigningchampion.

GuyanaUnder-15BoysNationalFootball TeamHeadCoachDevnonWintersaidgame intelligence, technical, physical and mental strength were key qualities his team looked for during the selection process of the 18member final squad for the 2023 Concacaf BoysUnder-15ChampionshipinCuraçao.

The junior national squad includes players attached to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Academy Programme in Bartica, Berbice, Rupununi, Georgetown, East Demerara, Upper Demerara, and international players from the United States andCanada.

“Selectionwastoughbecauseofthepool of very good players we had to select from, especiallyhavingsomeinternationalplayers amongthegroup,butweareconfidentthisis therightgroupofplayers.Theteamselection was based on the quality of discipline, technique, tactics, physical, mental strength, socialandgameintelligence,”Wintersaid.

The junior players have spent approximatelysevenweeksinpreparationat the Federation’s NationalTraining Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara under the watchful eyes of Coach Winter and the coaching staff, Assistant Coach Selwyn Isaacs, Goalkeeper Coach Andre Gibbs, Physiotherapist Pablino Cupido and Team ManagerJoyannWilliams.

Thefinalsquadhastwogoalkeepers,five

defenders, eight midfielders and three forwards. Goalkeepers: Tejpal Nijjar and LeAndre Garnette Defenders: Jameal Garnett, Michael Joseph, Candel Hazel, Kemron Pellew and Max Robinson Midfielders: Shaquan David, Mikkel Mills, KeishonLeacock,MalcolmHendricks,Luke Langevine,QuancyFraser,JadenHarrisand Joseph Eussebio Forwards: Ezekiel Baldeo, Stephon Sprosta and Machaia Defreitas Wintersaidheis“optimisticthattheboyswill makeGuyanaproud.Thecoachingstaff

(Continuedonpage25)

South Korea 1-1 Germany: Germany knocked out of Women’s World Cup

BBC Sport - Two-time champions Germany were sent crashing out of the Women’s World Cup group stagesinthebiggestshockof the tournament thanks to a drawwithSouthKorea.

It is the first time in Germany’shistorytheyhave failed to reach the knockout stages.

One of the pretournament favourites, Germany knew they needed to better Morocco’s result against Colombia to progressinGroupH,butthat match finished 1-0 to Morocco.

An early goal by South Korea’s Cho So-hyun shook the Euro 2022 finalists in Brisbane, but captain Alexandra Popp netted her fourth goal in three matches to equalise shortly before half-time.

Germany were heading throughasgrouprunners-up astheywentoffthepitchfor the break, but Morocco stunned Colombia to score

minutes later in Perth, meaning Martina VossTecklenburg’s side had to win. Popp was their best hope of scoring again and she almost did, thumping a header off the crossbar minutes after she had bundleditovertheline,only for the video assistant referee to confirm it was offside.

The Wolfsburg striker came close again later when shesentafreeheaderwideof the post, roaring in

frustration as the minutes tickedawayforGermany

During stoppage time Germany sent countless crosses into South Korea’s box to no avail as substitute Sydney Lohmann struck wide and sent another effort inchesoverthebar Germany’splayersfellto the ground at full-time and were in tears as they were consoledbystaffmembers.

South Korea finish bottom of the group, having losttheirfirsttwomatches.

Colombia face Jamaica on Tuesday at 09:00 BST in the last 16, while Morocco takeonFranceat12:00.

Germany exit will send shockwavesacrossworld

This has already been a World Cup full of surprises, but very few would have predicted Germany to exit after only three games in AustraliaandNewZealand.

Ranked second in the world,theyhavetoppedtheir group in eight of their nine tournamentappearancesand won back-to-back titles in 2003and2007.

However, cracks had s h o w n d u r i n g t h e tournament as, despite opening with a 6-0 victory over Morocco, they looked shaky at the back and were making too many mistakes inpossession.

They were punished in their second match by Colombia, losing 2-1, and were at risk of exit as they prepared for their final showdown with South

Korea. South Korea’s 16year-old Casey Phair had an early strike pushed on to a post by goalkeeper Merle Frohms. But Germany did not learn from their error as South Korea once again broke in behind Germany’s backline, and this time Cho didnotmiss.

Like she has done on so many occasions, Popp stepped up to the plate to headinanequaliserandgive Germany a lifeline, but they grew frustrated and lost patience as the game wore on.

Further missed chances by Popp, Lohmann and Klara Buhl proved costly and South Korea grew in confidence, running down the clock smartly and remaining resolute in defence.

Germany are the third teamintheworld’stop10to drop out of the group stages after Olympic champions CanadaandSouthAmerican giants Brazil failed to

progress. But this will send shockwaves among supporterswhoaresousedto seeingGermanyarriveinthe latter stages of major tournaments,anditisahuge comedown 12 months after they lost to England in the Euro2022final.

Result could shake up knockoutstages

South Korea had a disappointing tournament but at least end on a high, avoiding defeat for only the third time in 13 matches in thecompetition.

Cho,wholeftTottenham at the end of the Women’s Super League season, becamethefirstSouthKorea playertoscoremorethanone goal at the Women’s World Cup, having netted against Spainin2015.

Her goal, though it did little to change South Korea’soutcome,couldhave a significant impact on the rest of the tournament given the draw is now wide open thanks to Germany’s

shockingexit.

Voss-Tecklenburg’s side would have been on course to meet England in the quarter-finals or semi-finals hadbothreachedthatstage.

But there is now an opportunity for Morocco, who pipped Germany to a placeinthelast16,tomirror the achievements of their male counter-parts, who shocked the world to reach the last four in Qatar in December

“Everybody would have thought that was it when Popp scored, but we kept fighting and kept playing,” said South Korea manager ColinBell.

“I didn’t know that Germany would be out. I only found out four or five minutes after the match. I lived there and played footballthere.Iamsurprised and also sad that they didn’t getintothelast16.

“They tried everything so you have to credit them forthat.”

Devnon Winter

Kevin George

Basil Butcher Memorial Trust Fund...

assists youths with sports and educational

West Indian Maestro

The late Basil F. Butcher was not only a batting maestro for the West Indies buthewasalsoaclosefriend of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club, the Rose HallTownYouth and Sports Club MS. Butcher for close tothirtyyearswasanadvisor to the management of the club and also supported the R H T Y S C c r i c k e t development programme with sponsoring of the Butcher Trust Fund, which assisted dozens of youths with cricket gears They include Shawn Perriera, Shimron Hetmyer, Assad Fudadin and Shemaine Campbelle.

Butcher who played forty-four test matches for theWestIndiesinthe1950’s and1960’sdiedinDecember 2019 in the United States of America after a prolonged illness.

The widow and four children of the late West Indian player worked along with the management of the club to establish the fund in memoryofButcher Overthe years, the Basil Butcher Trust fund has assisted

cricketclubs,schools,public institutions and youths with donation of cricket balls, bicycles, school bags, educationalmaterials,sports gears, food hampers, electronic tablets, uniforms and electric fans. Several awards ceremonies were also organized to honor students, medical workers, lawenforcementofficersand teachersunderthetrustfund.

The cricket teams of the

RHTYSC-

PoonaiPharmacy

Under 13, Farfan and Mendis Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19, Metro Females, NAMILCO ThunderboltFlourUnder21 and first division are currently hosting the fourth edition of the Trust Fund.

Ten youths onThursday last were presented a pair of batting gloves with the assistance of Sheik

Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper The Trust Fund has also donated ten cyclestoyouthsoverthelast twoweeks.

The bicycles were to assist the youths to attend schoolandcricketpractice.

Under13 cricketer Leon Balkaran received a cricket batfromthetrustfundworth $50,000 while six schools also received top student honor boards. The objective

of the board is to honor the top CSEC and Grade Six students every year The cricket teams have also spearheaded the distribution of school bags and educational materials worth one million dollars The Basil Butcher Trust Fund also donated gym equipment,officeequipment and stationery to the Port Mourant Public Hospital

The teams also honored

outstanding medical workers, police officers, teachers, students, cricketers, postal workers and municipality workers undertheBasilButcherTrust Fund Award Programme

The fund has also assisted a total of eleven cricket clubs including Whim, Kildonan and Wiruni while the Republic Bank Grade 6 Summer Camp and Bakewell/Busta Cricket

Academy have been successfully hosted with a combined 200 youths in attendance.

RHTYSC organizing secretaryandcricketmanager Robby Kissoonlall stated that thecricketerswouldshortlybe hostingitsfirst-everTributeto Fire Prevention Workers Programme, where five officerswouldbehonoredfor outstanding job performance inthetownshipofRoseHall.

Kissoonlall also hailed the hard work of club members to keep the legacy of Basil Butcher alive Butcher scored over three thousandrunswithseventest centuries and sixteen halfcenturies at an average of 43.11.

This project is one again pleased to announce that two more young cricketers have benefited with cricket gear to further enhance their careers.RomarioRamdeholl and Avishkar Beharry, members of Rose Hall Community Center Cricket Club, received one pair of batting gloves and one cricket bat respectively

Ramdeholl captained

Berbice Under15 team in 2022and2023.

The all rounder is a student of Canje Secondary School. Beharry is a leg spinner who is pursuing

CAPE at the New Amsterdam Secondary School. He has represented Berbice at the under17 and 19 levels and the select eleven at the same levels in the GCB Inter County Tournaments. Both young players expressed gratitude

forthesupport.

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $370,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, two trophies, seventeen pairs of cricket boots, thirty one pairs of batting pads, thirty two cricket bats, twenty nine pairs of batting gloves, twenty three thigh pads, threepairsofwicketkeeping pads, five arm guards, two boxes, ten cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets and one softball cricket bat. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donatedbySheikMohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman.

All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and notavailableatthetime.

Todate,sixtyfiveyoung players from all three counties of Guyana have

benefited from three junior gearbags,twotrophies,four arm guards, twenty six bats, two boxes, five helmets, twenty two pairs of cricket shoes,fifteenpairsofbatting

pads,twothighpads,onebat rubber, twenty four pairs of batting gloves and two pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited

from two used bats

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wa k e n a m C r i c k e t

CommitteesandCottonTree

Die Hard also received one boxofredcricketballseach, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received two, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries are The Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem and youth coach, Travis Persaud and softball teams in the UpperCorentynearea.

Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients.

Talent spotting is being

done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programmewillalsobenefit.

We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish PandayofPandPInsurance Brokers, Sean Devers, TrevisSimon,ÅrïêlJ.Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh,RomashMunna,Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra SadeoandRameshSunichof Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports AwardsandTrophies,Ajay

(Continuedonpage25)

Five of the youths with their bicycles from the Butcher Fund.

RHTYSC

materials in memory of the late

Two more youths benefit from “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Avishkar Beharry receives the bat from the find.

Digicel Schools’ National Football Championship... Final eight decided; Quarterfinals set for Sunday

The Quarterfinal round in the 8th edition of the Digicel Schools’ Football Championship is billed to take place this Sunday, August 6, at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, with all fourmatchesonthecard. Yesterday, the last four matches in the Round-of-16 stage were contested at the same venue. In the opening

match, Carmel disposed of Region6Champion,Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), 4 – 1. Omar Husbands led with a brace while Ian Daniels and Marcus Layne chippedinwithagoaleach.

The second match saw Georgetown Champion, Dolphin, remain spotless as they defeatedWestminster 4 – 2. Gerry Burnette’s triple led the way for the eventual winner while his teammate

Jequan Cole found the back ofthenetonce.

MatchthreefeaturedD.C Fox and Region 5 Champion, Mahaicony Technical Institute, which waswonbytheformer,2–1. Bevon Jones and Antonio Isaacs accounted for the winninggoals.

Up to press time, the fourth showdown between West Ruimveldt and Charlestown was not completed.

When the Round-of-16 commenced on Wednesday, Tucville defeated Region 2 Champion, Charity, 4 – 1, Region 9 Champion, St Ignatius, eliminated East Coast Champion, Buxton, with a 5 – 2 result, Santa RosaknockedoutRegion10 Champion,MackenzieHigh, with a 5 - 2 score and Waramuri Top sank Kwakwani,4–1.

That means, the quarterfinalists are Tucville, St Ignatius, Santa Rosa,

T&T confirms 11-member squad for August 18-20

Winfield Braithwaite Boxing Championships

Wi t h t h e prestigious

Wi n f i e l d

Braithwaite Caribbean

Schoolboys/Juniors Championship programmed for August 18th-20th on localshores,traditionalrival Trinidad and Tobago has officially confirmed a 14m e m b e r t r a v e l i n g contingent, which is their largest delegation for the Caribbeantournament.

The team which was officially submitted to the G u y a n a B o x i n g Association (GBA), comprises a two-member technical staff, and a 12party fight roster Vicki Boodram and Cecil Forde willserveinthecapacities of Head coach and Managerrespectively

More importantly, the invading pugilists are (1)

Jaheem AlexanderSchool Boys (11-12yrs);

(2) Kayden McKennaSchool Boys (11-12yrs);

(3) Makieve BellilleSchool Boys (13-14yrs);

(4) Ekile John - School Girls (13-14yrs); (5)

Prince Charles - Junior (15-16yrs); (6) Chris

Persaud - Junior (1516yrs); (7) Jadiah BlakeJunior (15-16yrs); (8)

Paul Matthew NewalloJunior (15-16yrs); (9)

Rhys Grant - Junior (1516yrs); (10) Neraj

Mahadeosingh - Junior (15-16yrs); (11) Joshua Lewis - Junior (15-16yrs); and (12) Shania Nunez (female) - Junior (1516yrs). The competition, which is a 2016 conception of GBA chief, Steve Ninvalle, will be staged at the National Gymnasium, MandelaAvenue.

Presently, the 2023 edition is scheduled to featurethelargestcontingent intheevent’shistory

Participation has also been confirmed from Barbados, St Lucia, and Jamaica, whilst Aruba, Grenada, the Bahamas, and St Maarten are also expected.

Guyana has emerged as the overall Champion Countyineachedition.

Meanwhile,theGBAina move to improve its preparatorymechanism,will alsostageaReferees/Judges Training Seminar from

August14th-17th.

This platform will be managed and supervised by Three Star Trainer James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago and is being conducted to provide clarity and educate the respective participants on the recent rule changes that were effected by the world governing body, the International Boxing Association(IBA).

G B A P r e s i d e n t Ninvalle said, “Once again we are at this annual juncture,wherethefutureof the discipline takes centre stage.

The Caribbean School B o y s a n d J u n i o r Championships have grown from strength to strength with each iteration which is indicative of its actual and emerging value within the r e g i o n I t w a s conceptualized to be an exhibition of the country’s backboneandfutureandhas emerged to undertake an identical element and trait amongst the other participating nations, effectively rendering the e v e n t a W o r l d

Championships within the region, which is a testament to the drive and ambition of theGBA.”

He further said, “This is the most boxing important tournament in the EnglishspeakingCaribbean.

Without this event, which is of Guyanese identity, the growth, and continuity of the discipline would be a herculean task notonlyforGuyanabutthe entireregion,asitprovides a humble but substantial a v e n u e f o r t h e development of the respective athletes Its overall value to the Caribbean Community cannotbequantified

That is where the event’s true benefit and successmaterializes.”

TheGBAhadinitiatedits rigorousselectionprocedure with its monthly U16 Championships at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym, Albouystown, as part ofitsselectioncriteriaforthe looming tournament

Following the results of the previous event which occurred in July, pugilists were selected and will be

encamped for two weeks prior to the prestigious regional championship to continue the preparatory segment Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Team

Technical Team Vicki

B o o d r a m

Head Coach Cecil Forde Manager / Coach Boxing

Roster (1) Jaheem

Alexander School Boys (11-12yrs) (2) Kayden

McKenna School

Boys (11-12yrs) (3)

M a k i e v e B e l l i l l e

School Boys (13-14yrs) (4)

E k i l e J o h n

School Girls (13-14yrs) (5) P r i n c e C h a r l e s

Junior (15-16yrs) (6) Chris Persaud Junior (15-16yrs) (7) Jadiah Blake Junior (15-16yrs) (8) Paul MatthewNewallo Junior (15-16yrs) (9) Rhys Grant Junior(15-16yrs) ( 1 0 ) N e r a j

Mahadeosingh Junior (15-16yrs)

(11) Joshua Lewis Junior(15-16yrs) (12) Shania Nunez (female) Junior(15-16yrs)

Waramuri Top, Carmel, Dolphin, D.C Fox and the winner of last night’s final

encounter On Sunday, the four-match card kicks off at 13:00hrsattheMoEVenue.

This season of the tournament is organised by thePetraOrganisation.

James Beckles (right) and GABApresident Steve Ninvalle during a previous visit.

Round-of-16 action between Carmel Secondary and Berbice Educational Institute at the MoE Ground.

D.C Fox’s scorers in the Round-of-16 Fox’ were Bevon Jones and Antonio Isaacs

On a captivating Wednesday, an enthralling international friendly unfoldedattheSegraFieldin Leesburg, Virginia, United StatesofAmerica,wherethe Golden Jaguars faced off against a formidable Ethiopianside.

The match ultimately culminatedina0-2defeatfor Guyana, marking their inaugural encounter with an Africanopponent.

Under the guidance of Coach Wayne Dover, the Guyanese starting lineup showcased an impressive

collection of local talent, exemplifying the Guyana Football Federation’s dedication to football development.

Akel Clarke exhibited unwavering determination asheguardedthegoal,while Jeremy Garrett, Reiss Greenidge, and Curtez Kellman formed a steadfast defensive wall, making Ethiopia work hard for their goals.

In the midfield, Leo Lovell, Raushan Ritch, and Daniel Wilson tirelessly worked to control the tempo of the game and create scoringopportunities.

However, despite their best efforts, the attacking quartet of Darron Niles, Kelsey Benjamin, Deon Moore, and Nicholas MacArthur couldn’t penetrate the resilient Ethiopian defence, who proved to be a wellorganized and challenging opponent.

Ethiopia’s standout player, Shemeles Bekele, showcased his goal-scoring prowess, becoming the architectofGuyana’sdefeat.

Bekele’s significant impact on the match came

through a stunning double that secured the victory for histeam.Inthe11thminute, he broke through Guyana’s defence, finding the back of thenetandgrantingEthiopia an early lead going into halftime.

Despite the setback, the Golden Jaguars regrouped during the break, attempting to mount a comeback and

turn the tide in their favour

However, Ethiopia’s resolute defence stood firm, frustrating Guyana’s efforts tofindtheequalizer

In the 76th minute, Bekele struck again, leaving the Guyanese defence in disarray and notching his second goal of the match. This pivotal conversion further extended Ethiopia’s

Ethiopia tame Golden Jaguars 2 - 0 in historic friendly Guyana Cup after concert promises enjoyable experience for fans

lead, and despite their best endeavours, the Golden Jaguars couldn’t overcome thedeficit. Nevertheless, the match offered an excellent opportunity for the Guyanese players to showcasetheirtalentsonthe international stage, gaining invaluable exposure and experience

The organisers are promising top f l i g h t entertainment for the after show of the Guyana Cup Horserace meet set for Sunday August 13th at the RisingSunTurfClub.

Organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) the Guyana Cup horserace meet at the Rising Sun Turf Club at West Coast Berbice, will see the majority of the leading racehorses and jockeys on show during the exciting events with attractive cash prizes at stake in Guyana’s premierhorseracemeet Gates at set to open as earlyas8:00amandfansare promised a treat with the on track action and the show to be staged after the racing. Eight races have been highlighted on the provisional programme, all being draw-card events, but the Guyana Cup main event

willbethecrowninggloryof theday’saction.

However, the Guyana Cup Stage Front experience awaitsfansstayingonforthe show at the Johnny Walker VIP Stage Front as patrons can get up-close and personalwiththeArtistes.

Anentertainingconcert isenvisagedwithMasicka, Teejay and Malie Donn among the performers set to lightupthestage.

Freedrinksallnighthas been promised for the VIP Stage Front patrons

Tickets have been set at $10,000 while stocks last. You will pay more at the door Call 639-1235/6109766 for free delivery of tickets; 4 and more (ThroughoutGuyana).

A total prize package of over$30,000,000isonoffer forthehorseracing.

Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early to avoid any last minute rush andnotbeingabletogetinto

thevenue.

Early bird tickets are $3000 (available while stocks last), while you will have to pay $6000 at the gate, $10,000 for VIP stage front (tel: 639-1235), $30,000 for the VVIP early bird(tel:640-3672).

Other Ticket locations: Leisure Inn Berbice, HJ Box office, Main street lime on Fridays, Soesdyke Junction on Sundays,AJM Enterprise Smythe & Leopold Street MonFriday Tel: 223 9132, Jumbo Jet Smythe Street Tel: 225 8255, Eccles East Bank Tel: 233 3101, Berbice West Coast Chester Village Tel: 624 9242, Berbice Corentyne #1 Road Jagdeo office Tel: 322 0789 or 322 0369; Or go to jumbo jet events facebookpageandclickon thelinktobuyonline.

Banks DIH is the sponsorforthefeatureevent andtheexcitingafterconcert from6:00pm.

Guyana Cup concert flyer – The concert flyer tells of the artistes on show during the Guyana Cup concert.

Part of the action between Guyana and Ethiopia during their first encounter.

Part of the action between Guyana and Ethiopia during their first encounter.

Honourable Speaker of the National (centre) poses with the winner competing teams and T

Romario Shepherd took out Tilak Varma. (AFP/Getty Images)

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Dame Louise Martin in Trinidad and Tobago for the Trinbago2023 CommonwealthYouth Games.

Rovman Powell swings at the ball. (AFP/Getty Images)