Kaieteur News

Pres. Ali calls on Gladstone heirs to include compensation, reparative justice in apology

President Irfaan Ali on cruel nature of African for Emancipation Day, I The Head of State

T h u r s d a y s a i d h e e n s l a v e m e n t a n d called on those who were proposed that the intended welcomes the “progeny of indentureshipinGuyanaand complicit in and who apology include issues of John Gladstone for their anactofcontritionthatpaves profited from the trade in compensation, reparative apology” but called on the thewayforjustice.” captiveAfricans andAfrican justice,andthoseinvolvedto h e i r s t o i n c l u d e “The apology offered by enslavement to offer just beposthumouslychargedfor compensationandreparative the descendants of John reparations. The Gladstone crimesagainsthumanity justice in their apology In a Gladstone underscores their family has admitted that it The Gladstone family statement to the media, the willingness to confront their benefited from African will today offer an apology Head of State said that an family’s dark past and to e n s l a v e m e n t a n d given the role their ancestors

“Acknowledgement and acknowledge the immense indentureship on the wouldhaveplayedinslavery apology are the first steps in pain, suffering and Demerara and other and indentureship in the process of reparative indignities inflicted upon plantations owned by its Guyana. The short formal justice The apology is innocent persons through patriarch, John Gladstone. It ceremony begins at 9:00 hrs. i m p l i c i t l y a n their family’s actions. As I has agreed to undertake at the George Walcott acknowledgement of the said in my message this year certainactions,”hesaid. L e c t u r e T h e a t r e ,

University’s Turkeyen thePresidentsaid. Campus.

Anticipating a collapse

John Gladstone in African field labour after PresidentAlisaidhistory t h e e n d o f t h e shows that John Gladstone Apprenticeship period, was an absentee owner of Gladstone along with other plantations in Jamaica and planters helped to pioneer Guyana, building on his the use of Indian indentured wealth earned from the labour in British Guiana, mercantile trade in India, the introducing a new form of United States and the West servitude to the colony On Indies After the British the 23rd March 1837, he seizure of the colonies that wrote to the Colonial became Guyana in 1803, Secretary, Lord Grey John Gladstone began to arguing that: “unless a invest in them. His interests system of regular and and acquisitions included at c o n t i n u o u s l a b o u r one time or the other is…adopted, the cultivation plantations at Belmonte, of the sugar cane cannot… Covenden, Hampton Court, be carried on to a productive Industry, Met-en-Meer- level.”

Zorg, Success, Vreed-en- In the same year, an Act Hoop, Vreedenstein and was passed which allowed Wales. Gladstone to import Indian John Gladstone was indentured immigrants Chairman of the Liverpool Serious abuses of Indian West India Association, one indentured immigrants on ofthemostimportantgroups Gladstone’s Vreed-en-Hoop defending the interests of plantation were uncovered West Indian plantation soon after by a member of owners. Throughout his life, theAnti-Slavery Society, the he was a champion of the President said noting that institution of slavery To despite his outsized protect his commercial influence in British Guiana interests, he successfully and the empire as a whole, lobbied Foreign Secretary Gladstoneneveroncevisited Canning not to return the the West Indies. He was an colonies of Demerara, absenteeplantationowner EssequiboandBerbicetothe Reparations Netherlands. President Ali reminded “ W h e n t h e 1 8 2 3 that in recent years, the Demerara Slave Revolt demands for reparations for erupted on his plantation at African enslavement and Success, he was deeply i n d e n t u r e s h i p h a v e confused,blamingRev John intensified. He said “the Smith and the other call for reparations is not missionaries But this intended to promote or tragedy did not deter him leverage shame or guilt over from expanding his theslavetradeandslavery It investments in Guiana. His is not extortion. Instead, the official policy was one of demand for reparations is a amelioration - that slaves’ commitment to righting conditions should be historical wrongs The gradually improved and transatlantic slave trade and Christianisation prioritised, African enslavement were apositionthatwasinstaunch an affront to humanity itself. o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e ‘The Durban Declaration’ abolitionists. At the time of of 2001 at the World abolition, he received Conference against Racism, compensation, which at Racial Discrimination, today’s value is estimated at Xenophobia and Related more than £1oM. The freed Intolerance,acknowledged Africans received nothing,”

(Continued on page 16)

President Irfaan Ali

Trotman challenges Govt. to declare Exxon contract null and void due to ‘criminality’

…Jagdeo says deal remains intact; no probe at this time

Vice President, Dr

principle. Trotman said it is Bharrat Jagdeo has often now incumbent on the Vice accused former Natural President to do something ResourcesMinister,Raphael about the criminality he so Trotman of being the oftengripesabout. “biggest criminal” in the

In response to Trotman’s signing of the lopsided letter, Jagdeo clarified at a Stabroek Block Production press conference yesterday Sharing Agreement (PSA) what he meant by alleging with an ExxonMobil-led that criminality occurred consortium Trotman has “What I said basically is that now challenged Jagdeo to it was criminal negligence use those allegations as on his part because he had grounds to easily annul the advice (from experts) to the contract. contrary but he rushed off

In a letter published in andsignedthecontractwhen Thursday’s edition of the he should have exercised Kaieteur News Trotman greater diligence so it is he acted criminally,” the of a formal inquest into the said,“…Everystudentofthe criminal on his part,” the officialfurtherclarified. purported negligence, the law knows, and I am sure he essence,hesaiditmeansthat there is no valid contract and VicePresidentsaid. The Vice President official said he is not sure at has access to first-rate legal there is no need to call on them to come to the “ It is almost like further noted that the thispoint. advice to confirm, the “renegotiate” the contract as table to hammer out a new malfeasance in public office government has not been “I don’t know, if fundamental principle that many persons have been one,” the former minister when you breach fiduciary able to prove Trotman Kaieteur can come up with fraud and illegality vitiate callingfor said. He further noted that trust and you just callously benefitted personally He some evidence that warrants andvoidanycontract.” “Just inform Exxon and one cannot say that sign off on a complex said however that if that such an investigation then I Trotman said all its partners, Hess and criminality occurred on one contract of this nature…he could be proven by anyone am sure everyone would Guyaneseshouldbehappyat CNOOC that because of the hand but still keep the PSA just rushed off and then that could be a different want to do that, but we don’t thislatestpronouncement,or alleged criminality intact because of the concludedit.ThatwaswhatI casetobeexamined. haveanyevidence,”theVice mis-pronouncement In associated with the signing, “sanctity of contract” said.Hedidnotrepresentus, Probed on the possibility Presidentconcluded.

Major fraud uncovered at South Pakaraima District

…millions misappropriated from Carbon Credit funds, village treasuries ...Govt. dismisses

not value the seven-million- According to the letter, Toshaosorvillagecouncil. dollar cost,” the letter to the Toshaos of Yurong Paru He reportedly spent the Sukhaistated. alleged that several months pension of villager Richard

Followingacomplaintof letter of Peter’s conduct, as

The Toshaos said they ago, Peters uplifted the sum KingofYurongParuandwas major financial irregularities well as the conduct of were also told by Peters to of $350,000, which is part of forced to refund the elderly committed by a Community another CDO attached to the payhimasumof$50,000for the Ministry of Agriculture man at the insistence of the Development Officer sub-region. each vehicle for stickers funds for a poultry rearing villagecouncil. (CDO), by village leaders of ‘Dilapidated’vehicle bearingtheMoAAlogo. project, from the village In the letter, the Toshao the South Pakaraima purchase

Sensing a fraudulent act treasury of Rukumuta Village District, the Ministry of According to the letter, was being committed by Peters allegedly told the reported that last March, AmerindianAffairs(MoAA) which was seen by this Peters, the village leaders village leader that he was Peters uplifted a sum of last Friday terminated the newspaper, Toshaos of the held subsequent meetings acting on the instruction of $848,000 to repair a tractor servicesoftheofficial. villages of Karasabai, with residents, and it was the MoAA Permanent trailer and an all-terrain

“I regret to inform you Yurong Paru and Kokshebai unanimously agreed that Secretary(ag),RyanToolsie. vehicle (ATV). To date, the that your employment with complained to the local they were no longer Thiswaslaterfoundtobefar letter stated, the repairs have Ministry of Amerindian authorities in the sub-district interested in the vehicles. from the truth and several not been undertaken and the Affairs is terminated with t h a t P e t e r s m a d e They also informed Peters other village leaders alleged remote village is without a immediate effect, effective arrangements with an auto that they wanted a refund so that Peters uplifted hundreds mode of transportation. The 2023-08-18,” stated a letter, dealer in Georgetown to that they can continue of thousands from them village council made several the vehicles were being seen by this newspaper, defraudthevillageleadersof implementing community under the guise that he was unsuccessful requests for driven to Lethem, they which was addressed to millions of dollars for projects under the Carbon instructed to do so by Peterstoreturntomonies. encountered a series of Compton Peters, one of two vehicles which the Credit fund. At Karasabai, Toolsie. Misuse of CSOs mechanicalissues,including CDOs attached to the South government allocated to the Peters allegedly bought a Several months ago, the monthly stipends engine and other external PakaraimaDistrict. villages under the Carbon pick-up for $10M for the letter stated, Peters allegedly According to the letter, problems. They were then

The ministry stated that Creditfund. village under questionable gained access to the canister Peters has been accused of parked at the border town in Peters breached the Public The leaders stated that circumstances from Brazil, of COVID-19 cash grant of withholding the stipends of abroken-downstate. Services Rules and several weeks ago, Peters theletterstated. the village of Tiperu and community support officers

“It is also important to Regulations,mainlyOffence instructed the leaders to sign Misuse of withdrewasumof$800,000, (CSOs)andinsomecases, notethatthevehiclesareina #35-malpractices and a receipt for $7M for each

MoAAofficial’s name withouttheknowledgeofthe (Continued on page 15) dilapidated condition and do fraudulentintent. vehicle although the leaders

The MoAA made the did not see said vehicles or decision last Friday to fire hadanopportunitytoinspect Peters, a controversial them. The Toshaos insisted Peoples Progressive onseeingthevehiclesbefore Party/Civic(PPP/C)activist, they were transported from after an urgent meeting was thecitybutPeters,according called by the Toshaos of to the letter, told the village seven villages within the leaders that “he had it SouthPakaraimaDistrict. covered.” He then sent the At the July 31 meeting, Toshaos photographs of the the Toshaos informed the vehicles via WhatsApp Minister of Amerindian messages. Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, by However, while two of

Former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

CDO

Compton Peters

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Sixth oil project

ThenumbersforthesixthoilprojectinGuyana’s

offshore waters are huge. The Environmental ImpactAssessment(EIA)forthissixthprojectis 3636pages,anditcomeswithawhoppingUS$12.9billion pricetag. ThisiswhereGuyanesehavetoshowwherethey stand, how they are with this oil patrimony that they own. Theycanallowthemselvestocontinuetosleepatthewheel, whileoneleaderracesaheadwithmoreindebtednessforthis country, possibly more danger for its environment and the Guyanesepeople,nottosayanythingaboutitsneighbors.

Guyanesehave60daystoreviewjustover3600pagesof theEIA. Onaverage,thisrequiresreadingabout60pagesof mostlydense,highlytechnicalmaterials.

Thismeansthatover95percent,probablyasmanyas99 percent,inGuyana’spopulationwouldnothavethefaintest idea as to what this US$12.9 billion represents and what it meanstotheirlives.

Thefirstthingismoredebt,orlessmoneyfromtheiroil wealth,butbothofwhichlimitsanddrainstherichbenefits ofthisoilfromreachingGuyaneseasitshould. Thesecond conspicuous note is that the cost of these projects spearheadedbyExxonMobilkeepsincreasing. Astheyare recklesslypushedwithnumbingregularityuponGuyanese by Vice President Jagdeo, the nation’s take from its oil is squeezed,anditsobligationsballoon. Consideringtherate at which Jagdeo is smartly clicking his heels and going alongwiththewishesandvisionsofExxonMobil,itisjusta matter of time before the sum of Guyana’s bills owed to ExxonMobilcouldbeintheUS$100billionrange.

Whenthepeoplewhoownthiswealthshouldgetaclear grasp of the extent of their wealth, watch as their governmentworkdiligentlyandwiselytoequipthiscountry with the level of capacity that it needs to manage this incomparablyrichsector,theyarefallingbehind.

TherealityisthatGuyanesearefallingbehindwiththe flurryofprojectsapprovedbyJagdeo,andlosingtrackofthe blurofbillionsinexpenses.

Relative to the latter, Guyana lacks the expertise and technologies to keep abreast of the expenses of current projects,islosingsomeofthefewthatithastoExxonMobil andothers,butVicePresidentJagdeoistheequivalentofa Formula One racecar driver run amok. The multibilliondollar (American) oil projects increase under his watch, while Guyana has a tremendous distance to makeup in its monitoringandauditingofwhatExxonMobildoesoffshore, andwhatitpresentstousforpayment.

It is reasonable to conclude that with more huge oil projects coming onstream, that this country will fall into a deeperanddeeperholeregardingwhatExxonMobilclaims tobedoingversuswhatitisactuallydoing. Inotherwords, insteadofGuyanamakingstridesincatchingup,itislosing ground.

Unless there is an enormous infusion of reliable local andforeignskillsinnumerousareaswiththisoil,thisisthe grimnessoftheoutlookintowhichJagdeodragsthepeoples ofthiscountry ItshouldbeobvioustoGuyanesethatJagdeo ismoreinterestedinbeingthedarlingofDarrenWoodsand theExxonMobilcrowd,thaninpushingforthebestinterests of all Guyanese. This is what the sixth oil project and the othersbeforeit,assoswiftlyandthoughtlesslyapprovedby Jagdeo,meanatthecore.

Fortheirpart,theGuyanesepeoplehaveahardchoiceto make. Theycanstandaside,staysilent,sitontheirhands, andallowVicePresidentJagdeotoplayhiscostlygames,in hishastetojumptothebiddingofMisterAlistairRoutledge andCEO,DarrenWoodsofExxonMobil. Or,theycanhave the strength and spirit to stand up and stand in the path of Jagdeo to slow him down and instill some sense in this leader’shead.

He just cannot go on like this, and that he will not be given the space to do as he pleases with this wealth. It is timeforGuyanesetosay:nomoreofthismadnesswiththis oiltofulfilltheegoandambitionsofonetrickyman.

Dr.Luncheonmadeanindeliblemark

DEAREDITOR,

Dr Roger Forbes Luncheon’s funeral was anunadul treated epitome of the man he was, it was punctuatedwithagreatsense of statesmanship, servitude andunassumingauthority

One of his many hallmarks, including his ability to contingently plan and mitigate any situation

was evident there, when he readhisowneulogy His astute attributes of being self-effacing was on full display with the scores and scores of grass root and those in the hierarchy of leadershipthatattended.

The ceremony although fitforheadofstates,hadthe Luncheontouchfromstartto end,thehymnfromhisalma

mater, sonnets, Bobb Marley,allofwhichwerehis last wishes was culminated with the gathering of comradeshelovedandthose thatlovedhim.

This quintessential humanhasmadeanindelible mark on many of us in and out of government. Your name will be forever etched in the annals of history as a

NationalIcon.Itwasagreat honor and I will forever be thankful for serving with him.FarewellHPS.

“TheAdministration has notedyourcontributions.”

Ronald A. Harsawack, M.P.A, F o r m e r S p e c i a l Assistanttothe Head of the Presidential Secretariat

Hammie sets the record straight

DEAREDITOR, Sections of the media published a letter titled ‘The UK Labour Party’s 1964 perfidy,’ written by Mr Ralph Ramkarran in which he stated that onAugust 18, 2023 former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and his wife,CherieBlairaretovisit Guyana.

He further said that the visit is to promote the work of the Cherie Blair Foundation, which aims to help women in business whichhasalreadydonework hereinGuyana.

Mr Ralph Ramkarran is the son of one of the PPP’s stalwarts The gentleman proceeds to state that the British Government using his words “ No doubt the visit will give Mr Blair the opportunity to learn more about Guyana and its new found oil wealth and to confer with high officials” He goes on to state and I

quote “When in 1963, another Conservative government postponed Guyana’s Independence and byasleightofhand,imposed proportional representation for the sole purpose of removing the PPP government from office on the dictates of the US government, the Labour Party was again heavily criticalofthedecision.”

The above emotionally charged Statement is deceptive and since unlike some others I was involved, allows me to set the records straight of how proportional representation replaced the earlier Constituency, First Past the Post system

After the end of World War II,thecoloniesoftheBritish e m p i r e d e m a n d e d Independence.Aspartofthat process and in preparation for Independence, Elections wereheldin1961.

In1961,thePPPsecured

the majority of seats on the firstpastthepostsystem.Of interest is that one seat, the HoustonConstituencycould notbetakenupbythePPPas a result of an Election petitionwhichfoundthatthe PPP operatives indulged in improper practices or the popular word “rigging,” the High Court ordered a ByElection be held for that Constituency The PPP governmentneverfacilitated this, failing to comply with ordersoftheHighCourt.

More important is that eventhoughthePPPwonthe majority of seats. They did not secure an overall majority of the votes. The P P P s e c u r e d 2 0 parliamentary seats with 42. 6% of the total votes cast. The PNC secured only 11 seats with 41% of the total votescast. TheUnitedForce secured 4 Seats, with 16.2% ofthetotalvotescast.

At that time terrorists

from a certain party had engineered an environment of arson, murder and mayhem. The coastal belt was characterized by Maginotlines.

At that 1961 conference, Dr Jagan demanded we go straighttoIndependence. Burnham and D’aguiar contendedthatwithasociety so divided and volatile, that 42% ought not to rule the majorityofcitizensandthere was need for a system that did not promote minority rule. Certain measures were advancedandeveneffortsby the late Dr Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago to break the deadlock failed. Dr JaganandthePPPdidnot support Burnham’s suggestion to return to Guyana to discuss our dilemma to find a modus vivendi.

The British government thensuggestedthatafailure

(Continuedonpage06)

Indo-GuyanesePrideinIndia’sMoonLanding

DEAREDITOR, The whole world, including many Indian Guyanese, watched as India landed a spacecraft on the moon. There was so much pride among the IndoGuyanese and Indian Caribbean diaspora (Guyanese, Trinis, Surinamese, and others) in America in India’s landing of the spacecraft (Lander Module called Vickram) on the moon on Wednesday morning (USA east coast time). Almost everyone I spoke with was watching livecoverageofthelanding. So many Guyanese and Trinis sent me links to the livecoverageofthelanding. South African Indians as well as Indian Fijians and Mauritius Indians sent me links suggesting they were alsowatchingthelandingof theLander

The event lifted the spirits of Indians everywhere making them proud of who they are as a

dless of

nationality or where they live Tears and cheers followed the landing among manyIspokewithincluding membersofmyfamily This wasamostjoyousoccasion. The Indo-Guyanese and IndianCaribbeandiasporais so happy that India, without external help, was able to landandcontrolaspacecraft on the moon. The Indian diaspora take pride in their ancestral country’s engineering feat, growth, oldest continuous civilization, world’s oldest religion (Hinduism), and otherachievements.

Thisisanunprecedented achievement as it is the first time that a moon mission wascarriedlivefortheworld to watch. India also carried livecoverageofitslastmoon venture in 2019 that had a hard landing in which instruments and the lander module were damaged and could not complete the mission There is still communication between thatlanderandIndia’sspace

agency although it lacks movement The current moonmissionwasthetalkof Indians (including IndoCaribbeans) everywhere –live chats, chat groups, WhatsApp messages, and other social media platforms.

This was India’s space agency (ISRO)’s third lunar missionChandrayaan-3.The firstoneexploredaroundthe moon without landing. The second landed on the moon buthadahardlanding.India learned a lot from the first twomissionsespeciallyhow toeffectasoftlanding.ISRO was very confident of a soft landing–itprogrammedthe lander to make its own decisions on landing – to avoid crater, rock, etc. The last lander was stuck in the craterpresumablybecauseit was directed from earth and could not see craters or obstructionist rocks Chandrayaan 3 avoided rocks and craters, making a perfect, flawless soft landing.Thelanderisintact.

Insodoing,Indiahasjoined theelitegroupofthreeother nationstolandonthemoon–USA, Russia or Soviet Union,andChina.ButIndia hasbecomethefirstcountry to land near the Moon’s SouthPole.

The Lander Module (LM) was launched on July 14, taking more than five weeks to get to the moon, a distance of 384,400kilometer (238,855-mile) betweenthemoonandEarth first traveling around earth movingfurtherawayineach revolution and then around the moon getting closer in eachcompletespin.Thenthe lander was placed in a vertical position to make a vertical landing; it made its own landing based on instructions of Artificial Intelligence that were preprogrammed IndoCaribbeans describe it as a most monumental feat as t h e y h a i l I n d i a ’s achievements.

YoursTruly, VishnuBisram

TheexpansionofhorseracinginGuyanaisappreciated

DEAREDITOR, I am glad to see the expansionofhorseracingin Guyana and in the Jagan family, horse racing was always prominent and well attended, especially in Port Mourant and Georgetown. I fondly remember going to the races in Port Mourant with my grandfather Jagan, anavidhorseenthusiastwho would travel to Georgetown for the races, cousins and aunts and uncle Udit, my father’s brother Uncle Naipaul Jagan, who was an

integral part of our dental office on Charlotte Street and the family’s backbone (he resolved Jagan family problems and took care of the whole family) and President Cheddi’s third youngest brother, was probably one of the best horse experts Guyana ever hadandheownedracehorses and also won races at the Durban Park race-course (behindCoffy’sstatueallthe way to the present Cultural Center).

One of his horses, Night

Flight,wasanotablewinnerhe always picked winner, especially in English racing and horses (and whistling birds) were his passion and the envy of many bettors who could not pick good horseslikehecould.

When Uncle Naip spoke about horses, everybody listened- as a teenager, the only person I would trust with a good “tip” was him and he always reprimanded me for gambling but gave that sideways smile as he

sometimes gave me a winning tip. Over the years, atDurbanParkonthedayof racing large crowds would gather to enjoy the day and we would enter the grand stand to sit at Uncle Naipaul’stable.

When he died in his forties, horse racing and Dentistry both lost a real artist of both fields- God bless him and keep his kind soul safe.

Editor, horses are the noblest animals on this planet, not to mention, the most beautiful animals and built for power, speed and finesse

F r o m t h e m o s t ancient civilizations, humankind would have not advanced the way it has without the horse

legendary and expert white horsemeninthatperiodwere in awe of these Native

A m e r i c a n s T h e Olympics to this day, gives medals to horse

equestrian events

w h i c h a r e v e r y

complex and shows different skills horses possess Editor, in thehistoryofsports,horse racing is probably one of humankind’s oldest sports

and race horses are definitely athletes, just as jockeys are, and the dangers are present at every single race and that is why Guyanese horse

world.

The other race of great importanceintheUSAanda world class race is the TraversStakeswhichwillbe run at Saratoga race track in New York this Saturday, August 26 at a distance of oneandaquartermileonthe dirt; this race is considered thethirdmostimportantrace in America after the Kentucky Derby and the BelmontStakes.

DEAREDITOR, It is essential to acknowledge that the enslavementofAfricansand the transatlantic slave trade shouldnotbeconflatedwith thesystemofindentureship.

Whilerecognisingtherights ofdescendantsofindentured labourers to advocate for their claims, it is crucial to maintain a clear distinction between these historical experiences This differentiation is imperative to uphold the integrity of bothnarrativesandtoensure a respectful and accurate understandingofthepast.

The descendants of indentured labourers unquestionably have the right to express their histories and seek recognition for the contributions and struggles oftheirforebears.However, itisessentialtorefrainfrom merging their experiences with the horrors of African enslavement.Eachhistorical episode carries its own unique context, implications, andrepercussionsthatdeserve distinctconsideration

Inthespecificcontextof Guyana,thepotentialdanger of lumping together these distinctnarrativesisevident.

The Gladstone family’s situation illustrates this danger well. The Gladstone family’s historical

connection to both

indentured labour and African enslavement could exacerbate the existing racial tensions between Indian and African communities in Guyana

Conflating these histories risks oversimplifying complexdynamics,leadingto misinterpretations and resentment within these communities

Indentured labour in British Guiana, now Guyana,wascontractualand involvedindividualsof East Indian, Portuguese, and Chinese descent who voluntarily migrated to the region These labourers engaged in contractual agreements for specified periods in exchange for certainprovisions,makingit a distinct system from Africanenslavement.

Conflating these two experiences not only diminishes the unique sufferingenduredbyAfrican s l a v e s b u t a l s o oversimplifies the historical realities of indentured labourers. Such a conflation can inadvertently dilute the

gravity of the atrocities associated with the African slave trade and create an inaccurate representation of history

Discussionswithleaders

o f m a j o r A f r i c a n organisations reveal their firm opposition to merging these two histories. They justifiably express concerns thatdoingsocouldtrivialise thedistinctstrugglesofeach group and hinder genuine understanding.

To promote a more accurate understanding of the past and foster reconciliation among different communities, it is crucial to approach these historical narratives with sensitivity and nuance Recognising each group’s distincthistoryhelpsprevent further division and misunderstanding.Bydoing so, we can work towards acknowledging the past while contributing to a f u t u r e o f u n i t y , understanding, and shared progress.Thankyou.

Regards,

DarrenP.W.Wade Attorney-at-Law

From Alexander the Great (325 BC) and his cavalry battles against the Persians, to the great expansion of Genghis Khan”s empire, to the Pony Express in 19th century in theUSAandincertainareas oftheworldtoday,thehorse has been one of the motive forcesinthedevelopmentof most civilizations-imagine the great African leader, Hanibal, without horses! Or the Roman Empire without horses.

G e n g h i s K h a n conquered China, what is n o w R u s s i a a n d threatened the West with his mounted armies- he actually bred horses which were smaller but couldrunfordayswithlittle restandhadshorternecksso that their riders could shoot arrows straight ahead without shifting right or left for better accuracy The Cheyennetribeswholivedin the southwest of the USA wereconsideredthegreatest horseridersofalltime-their riding skills, especially in armed conflicts, were

racing officials and owners must always take special care of our racehorses and jockeyswhat happened recently at P o r t M o u r a n t i s unacceptable and if there is blame then let it fall on anyone cup cable of such a tragicevent.

Imagine the inherent danger every time a jockey weighing a mere 110 pounds rides a horse weighing almost a ton, as fast as possible , with other horses in close and tight-one has to respect this worldwide sport for its historical longevity and it’s excitement to humanbeings

On dirt tracks, the best races in the world are the Triple Crown of horse racingheldintheUSA-the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes and only exceptional horses win all three like Citation (1948), Secretariat(1973), Seattle Slew(1977) and other great horses over the years

These races are the fastest on the planet and the horses competing each year areamongthebestthreeyear old athletes in the world of horse racing-a very large

However, this year , the Traverswillbeextraexciting because in this nine horse field, three of the horses in therace,eachwononeofthe triple crown races earlier this year and are vying for thetitleof“horseoftheyear at the best racing age-three yearsold”. Theexcitement for horse racing fans will be magnified further because the horse I like and see as a great horse, Forte, was the best two-year-old in the world last year; he missed the first and second legs of the Triple Crown due to a foot injury and after a long lay-up of two months, Forte brought second, closing fast on the winner, in the Belmont Stakes on a muddy track. OnThisSaturday,the racing world will see Forte become, not only the best three-year-old horse in America but the best in the world, ridden by Irad Ortiz (Jr.),whoatthirtyyearsold, is the best jockey in the world. In years to come, the racing world will always remember this black handsome stallion who will go on to great performances of class, speed and power in the years to come- horses of Forte’s caliber appear very rarely in the horse racing world so, to all horse racing fans in Guyana, don’t miss thisraceasit’llbebroadcast onFoxnetworkTV

Yourssincerely Cheddi (Joey) Jagan, (Jr.),

Differentiatingslaveryand indentureshipallowsforrespectful andaccurateunderstandingofpast

more for Sugar Workers Jagdeo and the PPP could have done much

DEAREDITOR, Grateful if you printed thefollowingletterformein your letters columns, inclusiveofthetable. Thank you.

Ihavealwaysconsidered that Jagdeo and the PPP couldhavedonemuchmore for sugar workers through any of a variety of approaches to the economic restructuring of the sugar industry to avoid what has become a financial and economic disaster for both sugar workers and the industry Thisisacrueltwist of fate, considering that Dr Cheddi Jagan’s parents themselves landed in Guyana as infants, children of indentured immigrants, who themselves went on to suffer the abuses of indenture at Port Mourant and Albion Estates

According to Dr Jagan, his mom explained, “Bhaiya, ahwee proper punish.” (Pg 12; ‘West on Trial’) Jagdeo and many ministers of the PPP with connections to Indian indenture following slavery expose their cruel

inhumanity, the savage nature of their minds that they, being descendants of indentured Indians themselves, could continue to suffer sugar workers as theydo.

On reflection, I suppose Jagdeo’s decision to continue to oversee the decimation of the sugar industry, GUYSUCO and sugarworkerswasduetohis Icarus flaw, his perceived political invincibility, that the PPP could never be removedfromoffice,thathe andthePPPwouldremainin control of government forever, that government would continue to finance GUYSUCO’slossesinsome ill-conceived attempt it seems, to keep sugar workers as a voting farm come election time. The economic reality however was much harsher than he probably envisaged, as even underthePPP,theoperations ofatleastoneestatehadtobe wound up Guyana happened to be one of the ACP countries affected by theEU’schangestoitssugar

regime, with St. Kitts & Nevis being one of those which opted to close its sugaroperationsin2005.

Sugar workers, their union and government are reminded the sugar industry hadbeenbirthedandbuilton slave labour, that cheap labour is essential to its survival,sothatrisingcosts, inclusive of higher wages, rendered Guyana’s sugar production increasingly uncompetitiveovertheyears as cost of production overtook and remained well abovetheworldmarketprice for the commodity This i n c r e a s i n g uncompetitiveness would have, and did translate into financial losses over the years for GUYSUCO as neither its board nor government appeared to have developed a strategic plan for the corporation to either restructure the organization towards any of the spectrum of available profitable agricultural ventures, or as I have proposed,divide

(Continuedonpage25)

Hammiesetstherecordstraight...

Frompage4 to break the deadlock would result in a delay of granting Independence The three main areas of disagreement were first, a change of electoral system from first past the post to proportional representation, second, whetherthequalifyingageto vote should be moved from 21 years to 18 years and third, that Independence be grantedafterElectionsusing thenewsystemofPR.

TheideafortheBritishto breakthedeadlocksurfaced. Burnham did not like the ideaandurgedthedelegation toreturntoGuyanatofinda way forward. However, Dr JaganagreedthattheBritish

break the deadlock by imposingasolutionbecause, and I remember these words ringinginmyears,thatheDr Jagan had great faith and confidence in the British senseoffairplayandjustice.

Dr Jagan with alacrity was the first to sign the Memorandum, which stated that all sides would abide by the proposals of Her Majesty’sGovernment Peter D’aguiar was the second to signandreluctantlyBurnham signedthedocument Therest is history, suffice to remark that at the end of the Conference the PPP leadership returned home promising in their words, a hurricane of protests This

translated into an upsurge of violence along with statements such as awe pun top

DearEditor,Idon’tknow where Mr Ramkarran was during the early 60s but I speak with authority and confidence, being General Secretary of the PNC at that periodandwritingfromfirsthandknowledge

Political Pundits and Practitioners must stop rewriting our history, must stop blaming external forces forallthatwentwrongandis going wrong, must stop blaming one side for our woes,muststopthisnonsense of sinners and saints Let us learnfromthemistakesweall

made, let us all understand thatpoliticalleaderscanonly serve their supporters well if they understand Guyana’s roleandplaceintheworld,in spite of our gold and oil, we areasmallpart.

Ourleadersonbothsides of the political divide, must possess the acumen to put Guyanafirstbyunderstanding theworldasitis Someofour leadersforexample,didnotor could not understand the dynamics of the Cold War, could not understand why in 1947,BritishIndiasplitandit tooktheGoldCoasttenyears after that to get its Independence

Letusallonbothsidesof the political divide, pressure andpersuadeourleadersthat the time is ripe for us to sit andtalk,andtalk,andtalkso thatweneveragainplaceour future, place our fortune or lack of it in the hands of aliens and our erstwhile masters. I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Khalil Gibran “Pity the Nation divided into fragments, each fragment deemingitselfaNation”That is my prayer that is my hope that we are not torn asunder

Thesearemyaspirations

In an earlier letter, I pleadedletthetruthprevail.

HamiltonGreen Elder

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Permanent Secretaries on the move

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New Permanent Secretaries coming onboard

Six old ones moving around

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Is this a case of not knowing what to do with senior people?

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Or musical chairs involving those possessing political secrets?

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Permanent Secretaries have great accounting responsibilities

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They either deliver ethically, or they could be left holding the bag

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Caution: don’t cover for ministers, watch out for political operators

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Remember rule Number One: save self first

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Construction Worker killed as murderers remains a mystery

A 40-year-old Construction Worker identified,assaultingSurfin. identified as Kevin Surfin was on Thursday She claims that during the altercation, murderedatSpeightlandVillage,LowerKara Surfinmanagedtojumpintoanearbycreekto Kara,Lindenafteranallegedaltercationwith avoid his assailants. He reportedly came out unidentifiablesuspects. of the creek with what appeared to be blood

According to reports, Surfin attended a onhisbodyandthenfelltotheground birthday party at Speightland around Surfin was subsequently picked up and 23:35hrs on Wednesday He was takentotheLindenHospitalComplex,where accompanied by a 29-year old female whom hewaspronounceddead.Afterexaminingthe hehadarelationshipwith. body it was revealed that a small wound was

The female reportedly said that around seen to the region of his heart and a bruise 05:00 hrs on Thursday, she left him standing abovehislefteye. with several of her friends to go purchase The body of 40-year-old Kevin Surfin is cigarettesatthebar.Howeveruponherreturn presently at the Pension Funeral Home, five minutes later, she observed a group of awaiting a post-mortem examination. about 15 persons, three of whom she Investigationscontinue.

MOH has not procured dengue vaccines

The Ministry of Health Programme is under serious number of jurisdictions on Thursday said that it has considerationinGuyana,but around the world where the not procured any dengue a decision is yet to be made vaccines are used, they are vaccines for use in its whether Guyana will only used under very National Dengue Control introducedenguevaccinesas restrictiveconditions. Programme. In a statement part of the fight against “The WHO’s Strategic to the media, the Ministry dengue. Advisory Group of Experts said it noted a report “Once a decision is (SAGE) on Immunization published by an online news made, Guyana will procure hasbeenstudyingthedengue entity that suggested the adequate supply of dengue vaccine data and Guyana is ministry has secured the vaccines. a w a i t i n g t h e vaccinesandkeptitasecret. It should be noted that recommendations coming

“It makes no sense that while the dengue vaccines outoftheSAGEGroup. the MOH would secure presently being marketed – As soon as the SAGE vaccines and keep it a secret. Dengvaxia from Sanofi comes out with its This is simply a reckless Pasteur and Qdenga from recommendations, Guyana report designed more to Takeda – are licensed in a will work with PAHO/WHO create confusion and to small number of countries, to include dengue vaccines misleadthepublic. they have not yet been in our fight against dengue.

To make it pellucidly prequalifiedbyWHO.” Guyana’sFDAispreparedto clear, the MOH has not Additionally, the license dengue vaccines as procuredanydenguevaccine Ministry of Health said that soon as a decision is made to for use in the National none of the World Health use these vaccines,” the D e n g u e C o n t r o l Organisation’s (WHO), the ministryofhealthsaid. Programme,” the Ministry US CDC and the EU The Ministry urged the said. regulatory authorities have media to desist from

Further, it was said that recommended these circulating false information the use of dengue vaccine in vaccines for universal on matters affecting the the Dengue Control administration. In the small healthofcitizens.

ExxonMobil reduced disputed audit costs from US$214M to US$11M - Jagdeo

...says delayed audits costing Guyana extra $$$ ByDavinaBagot

The US$214 million in disputed costs, flagged by the British firm that conducted an audit of the expenses incurred by ExxonMobil during the period1999to2017hasbeen reducedtoUS$11million.

This was revealed on Thursday by Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference at FreedomHouse.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

The VP was at the time submitted over the period. The MNR said the responding to a question Now they are saying they partnership with the foreign when he explained that the f o u n d e v e n m o r e partner is geared towards Britishfirm,IHS-Markitthat documentation.” improving the local content was hired by the former G i v e n t h a t m o r e capacitywithinthesector Coalition government in documentation continues to According to the 2019 is still working along be submitted by Exxon, this Ministry, “The current with the oil company to meansthemoniesthatcanbe finalization of the petroleum complete the process. IHS reclaimed by government audits being done by the was contracted to review will be reduced. Jagdeo told Government of Guyana some US$1.6 billion in reporters that government encompasses the thorough expenses racked up by will not be getting involved examination of transactional Exxon over the 18-years’ and is in fact reluctant to tell records including receipts period, prior to oil the GRA which costs to and payments as outlined in production. acceptorreject. the Petroleum Sharing

Theauditwasawardedto Meanwhile, as it regards Agreement (PSA) of June the firm late 2019 but the extra costs to complete the 27, 2016, the Petroleum comments period provided audit, the Vice President ( E x p l o r a t i o n a n d for by the 2016 Production confirmed, “Yes it does cost Production) Act of 1986, Sharing Agreement (PSA), usmorewhenit’sextended.” along with the standards set according to Jagdeo, has He pointed out that forth by the International resulted in its delayed government may be able to Financial Accounting completion; costing the state shortenthisprocessbyhiring Reporting Standards and the additionalresources. more auditors or by Council of Petroleum

During his engagement institutingaspecifictimeline Accountants Societies with the media, the former for completion. He however (COPAS).”

President said, “I don’t think noted that during the Itthereforeindicatedthat it’stheauditsthattookalong iterative stage, the entire the audit process for the time, like the last one cause cohortofauditorsmaynotbe period 2018 to 2020 will be we had a few months and required. concluded subsequent to a thenitgotextendedslightly.” The Ministry of Natural comprehensive review of

Rather, he explained, “It Resources (MNR) in a any identified audit is the movement from the separate statement informed exceptions and resultant auditors, then GRA(Guyana that it is still reviewing and conclusions.

RevenueAuthority)hastodo verifying the expenditure

The Ministry of Natural its review then we have to audits and verification of Resources assured that it is write Exxon. Exxon has a profit oil associated with the working diligently with the particular period; they send Stabroek Block operator’s GRA to bring the audits to a back their documents to us. e x p l o r a t i o n a n d total closure as “efficiently Again, it’s an iterative development campaign as possible”. MNR added process.” during the periods of 1999 to that the lessons learned from

Jagdeo said that the 2017, as well as the these processes will be largest pool of disputes operator’s activities for the adopted and applied for the featured costs relating to periodsof2018to2020. 2021 to 2022 audit of the inadequate documentation

The second audit was Stabroek Block and other

To this end, the VP noted, awarded in May 2022 to offshore operations of the “So they told me the first VHE Consulting which is a Guyana Basin. It did not say audit that was done under registered partnership when this review would APNU, they had about between Ramdihal & commence but noted that the something like US$214 Haynes Inc; Eclisar GoG remains committed to million or over US$200 Financial; and Vitality ensuring that all standards million not enough Accounting & Consultancy and principles are followed documentation. That came Inc.TheLocalConsortiumis to guarantee the careful down to US$11 million supported by International management of the nation’s wh

firms- SGS and Martindale burgeoning petroleum

The production figures will determine whether a force majeure existed

The APNU+AFC government did what was reasonably expected of it. When the pandemic broke out around March 2020, no one could have reasonably predictedhowlongitwould have lasted or how it would haveunfolded.

As such, ExxonMobil would have made some assumptions given the lockdowns and restrictions thatwereinplacelocallyand elsewhere. The company no doubt feared that its work programme would have been affected and therefore this could affect its adherencetorelinquishment provision.

The Production Sharing Agreement, signed between Guyana, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC requires a relinquishment of 20% of the areas allocated to the oil companies. There are good reasons for relinquishment requirements.

One of the main reasons is to ensure that the oil companies do not ‘skincock’ with exploration R e l i n q u i s h m e n t requirements apply only to areas where there are no d i s c o v e r i e s T h e relinquishment provisions serve to encourage the oil companies to engage in continuousexploration.

If companies were allowed to hold onto blocks indefinitely, it could lead to delays delaying the discovery and development of potential oil and gas reserves. Another criticism is that the oil companies wouldgetmoretimetomap out all the fields and then to hand over unproductive assets–thatisfieldswithout

anyoil–tothegovernment.

Holding on to oil blocks withoutexplorationcanhelp theoilcompaniesraisetheir asset value on their books. This can boost their shareholdingvalue.

Secondly, releasing relinquished oil blocks back into the market creates opportunities for new playerstoentertheindustry This avoids monopolies from developing which can be a risk for a country’s development.

The third reason for relinquishment has to do with maximizing economic benefits Relinquishment requirements allow governments to auction or lease relinquished blocks potentially earning more revenues and attracting new investments.

Itisbecauseofthislatter benefitthatthereisnomuch concernoverthedecisionto grant Exxon Mobil and ‘extension’ofoneyearforits relinquishment This decision has led to strong c r i t i c i s m s o f t h e government.

The PPPC government has shamelessly to transfer t h e b l a m e f o r relinquishments to the APNU+AFC which had granted a conditional extension to the oil companies, But the extensionwhichwasgranted wasbasedonaforcemajeure caused by the pandemic. At thetimeoftheextension,no one could have predicted how the pandemic would havepannedout.Assuchthe APNU+AFC did the safe and advisable thing and granted the extension on conditionthatthedecisionis

Dem boys seh...

Imagine yuh step

i n t o d e supermarket, feeling like a boss ready to conquer dem grocery aisles. Yuh grabbin’ items offdeshelf,blissfullyfillin’ up yuh cart. But wait, here comes de plot twist!

Suddenly, yuh realize yuh ain’t just shoppin’, yuh performin’ mental gymnastics, calculatin’ priceslikeahumanabacus. Inflation done turn us into mathematicalmaestros.

Dem days when yuh could just toss things in de cart like a carefree spiritdemdaysdonelef’uslikea

reviewed every three months.

If for example the pandemic turned out to be a falsealarm,thentherewould be no need for the one year extension. As such, the government could revert to theoriginalrelinquishments.

The first quarterly review was due in September2020.Butbythen the APNU+AFC had been replaced as the government. As such, it was the responsibility of the incomingPPPCgovernment to undertake the review and to determine whether the pandemic acted as a force majeure sufficient to extend t h e p e r i o d f o r relinquishment.

The PPPC however is dodging responsibility for undertaking the necessary review It begs the question whether it undertook the review due in September of theonedueinDecember In both instances they could have assessed the extent to which the oil company’s operations were affected by the pandemic to determine whether the force majeure wouldapply

A force majeure is an unforeseen and exceptional circumstancesoreventsthat are beyond the control of partiesinacontract,making it impossible or highly challenging for them to fulfill their contractual obligations.Theseeventsare often considered as events that are unforeseeable and unavoidable,suchasnatural disasters, wars, strikes, pandemics and other major disruptions, and they may temporarily excuse or suspend the parties’

obligations under the contract due to the extraordinary nature of the situation. The fact that an event is unforeseeable or unavoidable does not necessarily mean that it is a force majeure. One of the maincriteriaisthattheevent must result in an inability to perform the contractual obligations, all other things being equal The force majeure must result in nonperformance.

Whether the pandemic actedaforcemajeureisbest measured by the production numbers Critics of the extension have argued that ExxonMobil continued to work during the pandemic,

since its operation was deemedanessentialservice.

It was said that special flights were even arranged for the oil company’s workers even though the country’s airspace was closed to other commercial traffic.

If Exxon’s production targetswerebeingmet,then regardless of lockdowns or restrictions, a force majeure couldnotbesaidtoexist.Ifit can be established that the pandemicdidnotdrastically curtailExxon’soperationsin Guyana, a force majeure would not exist and as such the original relinquishments wouldapply

But do not tell that to

Jagdeo before he blows a fuse and turns red His government continues to dodge requests for it to say whether it undertook the quarterly reviews that were peggedtotheapprovalofthe relinquishmentextension.

(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.)

minibusinahurry Now,if yuh nah walkin’ wid a calculator, yuh walkin’ on thin financial ice De struggleisreal.

Inflation playin’ tricks pon Prices creepin’ up slylywhilewesleepin’,and by de time we reach de cashier,ourbilllookin’like denationaldebt.Whoknew yuh could spend so much on just water, rice, and a likkle cheese? Even bora nowis$700perbundle.It’s like de prices takin’ a jet plane while consumers travellingpundonkeycart.

Imagine de scene at de cashier when yuh realize

yuh might have to start puttin’back things. Is pure embarrassment and shame. This is why nuff people nowmentallycalculatin’de cost of dem intended purchasesplusdeVAT But dis inflation ting teachin’usatingortwo.We learnin’tobudgetlikeapro, doin’ mental math quicker dan Usain Bolt dashin’ downdetrack.

We turnin’ into financial wizards, outsmartin’ de price tags and showin’ dem cash registers who is de real boss. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

Guyanese are becoming experts at mental arithmetic

BY GHK LALL

Sounds of dementia, schizophrenia, and trauma - moderates must stand up

There is a curious sound cringe before the delusions open before any leader who makes liars and losers of reawakening of its long Nixon,asittingUSPresident making the rounds in and deceptions of leaders on has made railings as the Guyanese. dormant center, to stand used to feign madness to see Guyana. Lots of this same a rampage against truth and cover for his (or her), When an example is against and stamp out this how many Americans he sound that I hear; then more justice and the brightness of rogueries, calling card, needed, then consider it creeping leadership lechery could bowl over, and how of it in rising volumes. It is cleanlight. Itispastthetime modus operandi, and way of done; and if this means that I thatembodiessomuchthatis many he could win over to the sound of dementia, for Guyanese to cower and governance, and call him a ammadeintoanexamplefor viciousandvengefulhere. If his imitations of truth. The schizophrenia, and trauma, coil themselves into a ball, liar and a fraud and a con others not to follow, then so the middle prefers to cave in man was a crook. Does this as projected by senior and then collapse into artist. be that also. In whatever on itself, and refuses to stir remind of some here, one in political presences in this cowardlyretreat. When such are the form. By whoever’s hands. and grow now, then the two particular? AlongcameDon countryandtheirwidespread It is high time that the essencesofwhatexistsinthe On whoever’s orders. For if blocks of support on the Trump,whowouldpassfora cohorts of celebrants at the few Guyanese voices of localenvironment,thenIcall t h e m o d e r a t e s a n d peripheries would snuff out Mafia don, but ended up an trough of Guyana’s treasury moderation, which have out as the situation fits, and independents in this society those who sit on their hands American president, which

It is what drowns out all always been present to take let the chips fall. We have cave into silence before in silence, and wait for for some is the same damn other voices, their murmurs, back this country from the many here who measure up menace, then extremists and whatever a raging political thing. He, too, was and and their offerings in public handsofdirtypoliticiansand t o t h o s e c r i m i n a l fanatics takeover, which is leadership class dumps on remains a confidence spaces. their still dirtier minds characteristics, and then a exactly what has become theirheads. trickster that holds half of

Now, as each morning is Guyanese must peel back few more at different deep-seated throughout Silence is self-defeating, America in thrall with an broken, the pall of silence their layers of self- elevations,whoareinaclass Guyana. Guyanese must and silence in the face of encyclopedia of lies, flat-out thatsaturateseachGuyanese protection, and standup for all by themselves. In all make moves to take back countless leadership misinformation,andoutright daymustsplinter,thesounds countryandconvictions;and situations, moderation rules, their country, and recapture atrocities is death-dealing. disinformation. We also of silence, of voices once may I add to that, if only to whether due or not. When their destiny, from the death The death of dreams. The have all of that right here in stifled and remains stilled; take a stand for the children. the thoughtful and tempered grasp of the lunatics driven departure of initiative. The the decayed political arewhatmustbebroken. Itishowdemocracyworks,a must reign, which is always, t o m a d n e s s b y t h e diminishing of character leadershipclass.

Not everybody in real one. This is how its then the message of truths compelling incense of first,thencouragesoonafter. The demanding reality is Guyana must live in fear of ideals, and its routines are that do not flinch must come power. Ortheywillbetaken Moderation makes us, or we that men and women of paranoid leaders, those who held fast to, and honored, into their own, and take their over mind, body, and soul allow madness to mangle goodwill, good faith, and bordermoreandmoreonthe come whatever hells men place at the pinnacle of without a finger raised in and destroy us. Guyanese good conscience must maniacal. Not everyone in make. consideration. Thisleaderis self-defense, without so must find it in themselves to possess the freedom of mind the domestic domain should For myself, I stand in the a liar, that one is a loser, and much as a spirited word of stand up to the big barking and spirit to say this in the objections. bulldogs, and all the pet clearest,rawestterms:tohell We need some degree of poodles that they have with this. And damn the moderation to counter the yapping about important repugnant forces that would extreme levels of political they are, and how well they destroy us from within from leadership madness aredoingforall. the peaks of power Then Guyana urgently needs the I recall how Richard Guyanahasachance.

Major fraud uncovered at South Pakaraima...

From page 3 village leaders were not allowed to questioning. However, the matter chance to hold public office in the villages within the South never handing over the monies to prepare bills for travel and other later fell by the wayside after the areaorintheRupununi. Pakaraima District told this the workers. The Toshao of Tiperu expenses. girl’s family were allegedly paid a Although Peters has been publication that the former CDO alleged that Peters has refused to They were later told that a sum sumofmoney. dismissed from his post for should face the courts over the hand over the payments for four of $500,000 was made available by In the letter sent to Sukhai, the committing fraudulent acts, the massive fraud he allegedly workers from the village; he was the MoAA to offset their expenses Toshaos of the South Pakaraima villagers at Karasabai and other committed. accused of converting the sums to but to their disbelief, Peters had District related that although the his own use. The money represents already collected the sum on their police were informed of the matter, payments for a three-month period behalf. They alleged that this has it was dropped and Peters returned in 2021. To date the monies have been a normal act committed by to the village of Karasabai “as per notbeenrepaid. Peters for Toshaos attending normal.” The Toshaos alleged that Alarmingly, two of the CSOs meetingoutoftheirvillages. Peters committed similar instances are no longer under the A host of other accusations of sexual abuse of teenage girls in employment of the village, were levelled against Peters and other villages. However, the girls however, their names continue to another CDO and they include the are afraid to report the matters for appear on the paysheet, and rental of the government’s ATV to fear of victimization by Peters.The someone has been collecting officials requesting transportation Toshaos accused Peters and the monies on their behalf.TheToshao while conducting official duties in other named CDO of sexual accusedPetersofforgingthemen’s the sub-district. The men were also harassment of the female CSOs signature to fraudulently steal accused of renting the vehicles to whoworkinthevillages. monies.Asimilarsituationexistsat villagersandtheirfriends. “These serious allegations the village of Taushida and in that Rape allegations againsttheCDOwarrantsanurgent case, Peters has reportedly In January this year, rape investigation and subsequent threatened the village leader from allegations against Peters surfaced removalofMr Petersfromthepost reportingthemattertotheMoAA. on social media. According to of CDO,” the Toshaos lamented to No reimbursement of LCDS Karasabai residents, Peters Sukhai. meeting allowances allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl, “TheKarasabaiVillageCouncil Thevillagerleadersnotedinthe whose mother was assisting him at and the people have absolutely no letter that several weeks ago, there an Old Years’ night bar-be-que confidence, no trust and no respect was a consultation meeting on the party which he hosted at his for the CDO at this point in time,”

Low Carbon Development residence. theysaid.

Strategy (LCDS) and they had to Peters was arrested and even They pleaded with the minister travel to the location. However, the taken to Lethem for further for Peters not to be given another

Pres. Ali calls on Gladstone...

From page 2 characterised by a high of slavery,” he said while that slavery and the slave dependency on a few crops noting that the Caribbean trade are a crime against and sectors. The focus of the Reparations Committee’s humanity and should always colonial economies was on t e n - p o i n t p l a n f o r havebeenso.” the production of these cash reparations offers a

Millions of Africans crops for export to Europe. r o a d m a p t o w a r d enduredunspeakablehorrors The labour-intensive nature dismantlingthebarriersthat — displacement, captivity, of plantation agriculture persist extreme and brutal physical meant that the vast majority The ten-point plan calls and sexual violence and the of people were engaged in i n t e r a l i a f o r a n severing of family ties agricultural work The unconditional apology and “They were treated as legacy of a predominantly investment in education, chattel, their labour exacted agrarian economy based on healthcare, infrastructure, u n d e r t h e h a r s h e s t plantation agriculture has a n d c u l t u r a l conditions. had a lasting impact, as lack r e v i t a l i s a t i o n a n

They dehumanised of sufficient diversification investment not only in the slaves by taking away their has made the region’s presentbutalsointhefuture, culture, religion and even economies more vulnerable ensuring future generations their names,” the President toexternalshocksandhighly are unshackled from the said noting that “the dependent on external chainsofhistory heinousness of this crime markets.”

“While acknowledging against humanity demands Further, President Ali the historical atrocities of that we seek to right these noted arguments by slavery and offering an wrongs.Yet, we face a push- sociologists that the high apology is undeniably back when it comes to levels of interpersonal, significant, it constitutes just recompense for this crime – institutional and societal the initial step on the path something that does not violence which are being t o w a r d s a c h i e v i n g accord with the fundamental e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e comprehensive reparative underpinningsofjustice.” Caribbean are a legacy of justice for African

The President said that colonialism. enslavement. the Caribbean is demanding “During the colonial era, An acknowledgement reparations because “slavery persons were subjected to andapologyserveasamoral has bequeathed a legacy that extreme physical violence reckoning, validating the endures to this day.” The and brutality Violence was pain and suffering inflicted Head of State said that two also used as a tool of control on generations past out of every five slave and perpetuated an

However, the multifaceted persons were shipped to the environmentoffear legacy of slavery extends far Caribbean. The call for reparations beyond the confines of

The Region bears is an essential response to historicalmemory witness to the lasting impact right a historical wrong and The descendants of John of this historical injustice, a mitigate the enduring Gladstone must now also burden that has impeded l e g a c y o f s l a v e r y outlinetheirplanofactionin development and hindered Reparations are aimed at line with the Caricom tenprogress. ensuring a reckoning for the point plan for Reparatory

“Colonialism, including greatest crime against Justice for slavery and slavery, has bequeathed humanity and addressing indentureship,” President economic structures the multifaceted inheritance Alistated.

Businessmanarrestedfor bludgeoningcustomertodeath

Police have arrested a 34-year-old were nearby and began hurling them at the businessman of Second Avenue Bartica, suspect, who was in the bar behind the Region Seven for the murder of 40-year-old counter The suspect armed himself with a MarkBraithwaite. hammerandwentbehindBraithwaite,whoat Investigations thus far revealed that the this time had made his way to the front of the suspect’s father, a 63-year-old man from gaming centre, where he dealt him blows to SecondAvenue Bartica, owns and operates a his head and face, police said in a press BlastGamingCenteratthesaidlocation. release.

At about 19:45h on Wednesday, the Braithwaite fell to the ground and suspect was left in charge of the gaming remained motionless. He was taken to the centre while the victim, a regular customer, Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced was playing at one of the slot machines. The deadonarrivalbyDrBenjamin. suspect and Braithwaite of Four Miles The body was examined, and blunt Housing Scheme, Bartica, had a wounds were observed to the right jaw area, misunderstandingoveralcoholspillingonthe above the right eye and to the forehead. The countertop, and during the argument, the body is at the Bartica Hospital’s Mortuary, suspect scolded Braithwaite about the awaitingapost-mortemexamination. spilling of the alcohol. Braithwaite then The suspect was arrested and is presently armed himself with several glass bottles that incustody

Speightland man dies after beaten by group

A 40-year-old man was on Thursday she observed a group of about fifteen (15) morningbeatenbyagroupofapproximately persons, three of whom she identified, 15 persons and subsequently died. Dead is assaultingSurfin.

KevnSurfin.

“During the altercation, Surfin managed Surfin, a construction worker, was to jump into a nearby creek to avoid his reportedly killed at Speightland Village, assailants. He eventually came out of the LowerKaraKara,Lindenatabout05:00h. creek(withwhatappearedtobebloodonhis Police in a statement said that Surfin body),andhefelltotheground,”policesaid. attended a birthday party at Speightland at Surfinwassubsequentlypickedupandtaken around 23:45h on Wednesday He was to the Linden Hospital Complex where he accompanied by a 29-year-old woman with waspronounceddead. whomhesharedarelationship. Upon examination, a small wound was According to the woman, at about 05:00 seen to the region of the man’s heart and a hrs on Thursday, she left Surfin standing bruiseabovehislefteye. with several of her friends (names withheld) Surfin’s body is at the Pension Funeral togotopurchasecigarettesatthebar Homeawaitingapost-mortemexamination. Upon her return about five minutes later, Investigationsaregoing.

2023 Commonwealth

Guyanese among regional finalists announced for the Youth Awards

Guyanese Akola Commonwealth. It will be Thompson has the 10th time they will be

been shortlisted convening, and this meeting among 20 young people as a willbeheldunderthetheme: regional finalist for the 2023 ‘Aim Higher: Delivering Commonwealth Youth MoreforYoungPeopleinthe Awards. In a statement, the Commonwealth.’ Commonwealth Secretariat While there will be saidthattheselectedpersons celebrations of the 50th have made outstanding a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e contributions in various Commonwealth Youth areas and will vie for the Programme,themeetingwill Commonwealth Youth be focused on charting the Awards for Excellence in way forward with the input DevelopmentWork. of young people, experts,

The regional finalists and youth workers in were selected from a group collaboration with the of 50 shortlisted young Ministers, Senior Officials leaders identified as change and policymakers who will makers who are actively begatheredforCYMM. making progress towards On Thursday, 14th achievingtheUnitedNations September, those gathered Sustainable Development for the Commonwealth Goals. Youth Ministers Meeting

The Commonwealth w i l l c e l e b r a t e t h e Youth Awards will be achievements of the Youth presented in person this year Awards finalists The at St James’s Palace in celebrations will also unveil London,wheretheeventwill the much-anticipated be attended by His Royal Commonwealth Young Highness, The Duke of Person of theYear The 2023 Edinburgh. The Duke has finalists for the Caribbean long championed youth regionare: causes and promoted C h é G r e e n i d g e development opportunities (Barbados) foryoungpeople. Maya Kirti Nanan

The Commonwealth’s (TrinidadandTobago) Head of Social Policy Shergaun Roserie (Saint Development, Layne Lucia)

Robinson, said: “These A k o l a T h o m p s o n awards are a source of pride (Guyana) for us at the Secretariat, and Each of the 20 finalists, particular the Secretary- from across give regions; General, as we have will receive a trophy, a wholeheartedly committed certificate and £1,000 as to empowering and theirprize.

amplifying young people. The top finalist from These 20 regional finalists each region will be have sacrificed much and it recognised as the regional iswithgreatpleasurethatwe winner and will receive have an opportunity to £3,000. reward them. I also want to One of the five regional thanktheDukeofEdinburgh winnerswillthenbecomethe for agreeing to attend the Commonwealth Young Awards and the Queen’s Person of the Year 2023 and Commonwealth Trust for beawarded£5,000. theircontinuedpartnership.”

In continuation of the

The Youth Awards will C o m m o n w e a l t h be one of the main side Secretariat’s partnership e v e n t s o f t h e w i t h t h e Q u e e n ’ s Commonwealth Youth Commonwealth Trust M i n i s t e r s M e e t i n g (QCT),anadditionalprizeof (CYMM), which takes place £20,000 in funding will also from 11-15 September 2023. bepresentedtooneprojectat Ministersandseniorofficials the award ceremony, to be from across 56 nations will delivered over the course of gather at Marlborough twoyears.

House, the Commonwealth The winner will be headquarters, to deliberate enrolled into QCT’s Youth on proposals, share best Ventures Programme and practices and decide on given access to coaching futureplanstosupportyoung a n d d e v e l o

The Regional finalists announced for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards

Queen’s College boy emerges as Guyana’s top CAPE performer

aresh Jagnanan that CAPE is over, he will be forGuyana.

Nperformances by the CAPE Physical Education And Geography From 95 percent o f Q u e e n ’s taking a break and would “The Ministry is pleased candidates were good, Sports Unit One And Two To 100 percent, Pure C o l l e g e o n later embark on pursuing a toannouncethattherewasan Hussain pointed out that Physics,SpanishTwo.” Mathematics from 65

We d n e s d a y careerinthesciencefield. increase in the number of there was a slight dip in the The CEO noted that the percent to 88 percent; Pure emerged as the top “I am thinking about Guyanese candidates who overall past rate in CAPE Ministry recorded a 75 Mathematics Unit Two from performing Guyanese going into engineering or wrote CAPE… from 671 in this year Guyana recorded a percent pass rate in the forty 80 percent to 87 percent in candidate who sat the something like that,” 2022 to 701 in 2023,” he 90 85 percent pass rate unitsoffered. 2023, Chemistry from 86 C a r i b b e a n A d v a n c e Ramotar said. Ramotar and said. representing a two percent Hussain said, “Improved percent to 88 Percent Proficiency Examinations theotherfourtopperformers According to CEO, the declinefrom2022. Performance Offered in LiteraturesandEnglishfrom (CAPE)thisyear are among the 701 students candidates were offered He said, “Candidates Accounting Unit One went 95to97Percentin2023.” Jagnanan secured the top who sat the advanced level units in 21 subject areas. He received a 100 percent past from 80 percent to 90 He noted too that spot having secured nine examsthisyear explained that “Each unit rates in12units;Accounting percent,Agriculture Science Caribbean Studies and Grade Ones and One Grade Chief Education Officer comprises of three modules Unit Two, Applied Math from 76 percent to 91 Communications Studies twoin10subjects. (CEO) Saddam Hussain in and each module is 150 Unit Two, Building And p e r c e n t , A p p l i e d which are compulsory He was named among an address to students and hours. The results for CAPE Mechanical Engineering Mathematics from 88 subjects at CAPE both the top students by the teachers at the auditorium of are reported on a seven point Unit One And Two, Food percent to 100 percent, accountedforinexcessof90 Ministry of Education when the Anna Regina Secondary scaleifyougotGradesoneto And Nutrition Unit Two, Economics From 81 percent percentofthepassrate. a team led by Minister of School said that the figure five you attained an Geography Unit Two, Green to90percent,ElectronicAnd Hussain explained that, E d u c a t i o n , P r i y a represents an increase in acceptablepass.” Engineering Unit Two, Electrical Technology from “ T h e r e w a s s t a b l e Manickchand travelled to number of CAPE candidates A l t h o u g h t h e

Physical Education Unit, 80 percent to 85 percent, performance in Geography the Anna Regina Secondary Unit Two, Law Unit One School in Region Two to Management of Business announce the preliminary Unit One, Physics UnitTwo, list of top performers for this Spanish Unit Two, Physical year’s Caribbean Secondary Education and Sports Unit Examination Certificate one and Two Building and (CSEC)andCAPEresults. Mechanical Engineering

Along with Jagnanan, Unit One and Green Joshua Gulab of Queen’s EngineeringUnitTwo.” College who wrote 17 Meanwhile, the CEO subjects, securing eight listedthesubjectswhichsaw Grade Ones, four Grade a decline as Biology Unit Twos and two Grade Threes Onewhichmovedfrom92to nd camein2 place. 87 percent, Biology Unit

Cleon Jardine of St two moved 97 to 92 percent Stanislaus College secured p e r f o r m a n c e s the third spot with an overall Environmental Science Unit pass in nine subject areas. One moved from 100 His passes include seven percentto97percent. Grade Ones and one Grade “ F o r U n i t Tw o , Tw0. Information Technology

Diyva Nandlall of dropped from 100 percent to Queen’s College holds the 96 percent, Information fourthspotwithsevenGrade TechnologyUnitOnemoved OnesandoneGradeTwoand from 96 percent to 92 Zayden Ramotar of Queen’s percent. Sociology declined College secured 10 subjects from 100 percent to 95 including six Grade Ones percent for Tourism moved andfourGradetwos. from 100 percent to 92.59

Speaking to the media percent following the announcement

Overall, Hussain said of the top students by the there were significant Ministry at the Anna Regina improvements in more than Secondary School in Region 10 subjects; stable Two, Ramotar expressed performanceinmorethan10 contentment with his results. and a slight reduction in six He told reporters that now subjectareas.

Naresh Jagnanan of Queen’s College, 9 Grade Ones, 1 Grade Two

Joshua Gulab Queen’s College, 8 Grade Ones, 4 Grade Twos and 2 Grade Threes

Cleon Jardine of St. Stanislaus College, 7 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Twos.

Divya Nandlall of Queen’s College, 7 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two

Zayden Ramotar of Queen’s College, 6 Grade Ones and 4 Grade twos.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand flanked by the top CAPE performers at the Anna Regina Secondary School on Wednesday.

AnnaReginaboytopsGuyanaatCSEC

Preliminary results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certification

(CSEC) examination for this year revealed that an Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMSS) student, Alex Muntaz topped the country with 27 subjects- 23 Grade ones and four Gradetwos.

This is according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand who on Thursday released this year’s results at the Anna Regina SecondarySchool,inRegionTwo. This is the second year in a row that the Anna Regina Secondary School copped the top spot at CSEC

Cautioning that this is only the “preliminary results” and not yet official results the Minister also revealedthatcominginsecondwas Virendra Dookie of Saraswati A process happens that have that Grade Twos and one Grade Three is not the end of your academic teachers, lessons teachers and Vidya Niketan who wrote 20 Grade reviewed and it can change, (seventh); Naila Rahaman of journey,”shesaid. friends subjects and gained 19 Grade Ones so that is why these are preliminary Queen’s College who wrote 20 At this year’s exams it was Another top performer, andoneGradeTwo. results.” subjectsgained17GradeOnes,two mentioned that a total of 12,118 Tashmee Ganesh of Queen’s

The third position was copped Among the top 10 students are : Grade Twos and one Grade Three students registered for the College said, “I feel proud of by Anna Regina Secondary’s Kuntie Singh of Abram Zuil (eighth); Tashmee Ganesh of May/June sitting as compared to myself to know I put in the effort Suriya Walcott who wrote 25 Secondary School who wrote 23 Queen’s College who wrote 20 10,368thatregisteredlastyear andIdidmybestinallmyexams.” subjectsandgained18GradeOnes, subjects and gained 18 Grade Ones subjects and gained 17 Grade Ones An analysis of the 2023 She said from CSEC she has six Grade Twos and one Grade and five Grade Twos (fourth); and three Grade twos (ninth); and preliminary results revealed that appliedtotheUniversityofGuyana Three. Murizio Mangra of ARMSS who Noah Aryan Persaud of Queen’s the overall pass rate at the General for a four-year programme to do

Theministerexplained,“Iwant wrote 27 subjects and acquired 17 College who wrote 20 subjects and and Technical proficiencies for petroleum engineering. An elated to make it clear that CXC Grade Ones and 10 Grade Twos gained 17 Grade Ones and three Grades One to Three declined to Ganesh yesterday credited her [Caribbean Examinations Council] (fifth); Arthur Roberts of Queen’s GradeTwos(tenth). 65% as compared to 2022 which achievement to her teachers, dubs these preliminary results, College wrote 23 subjects and Minister Manickchand in her had68.5%passrate. herself,parents,andfriends. they’re not final results. They are gained 17 Grade Ones, five Grade brief remarks on Thursday

It was noted by the ministry’s Ganesh’s mother, who is a preliminary for a reason. Every Twos and one Grade Three (sixth); congratulated the students on their Chief Education Officer (CEO) teacher at the Enmore Primary student is afforded the opportunity Mariah Sookram of Saraswati performances and told them that Saddam Hussain that improved School expressed that the family is for a fee of course to review their Vidya Niketan wrote 21 subjects being able to complete their full performance at CSEC was evident very proud of her daughter’s Gradesiftheyareunhappyaboutit. and gained 17 Grade Ones, three secondary journey through the in 14 subjects and remained performance at the exams. She said effects of the global pandemic constant in five subjects, which her daughter worked hard to get “meansyouarealreadyawinner.” includedMathematicsandEnglish. wheresheistoday

“For me the fact that you made Speaking with the media after “She work hard, we never it to fifth form or grade 11 and learning of his preliminary results, forcedher,weallowedhertodothe wrote these exams when we just top performer Muntaz said “I feel subjects she wanted to do and just came out of a pandemic that saw accomplished, I feel good, it’s letherexplore,thesubjectsthatshe millions of children across the mostly overwhelming.” He noted did were the subjects that she loved world existing prematurely high that moving forward he wants a and I am very proud of her,” the school, means you are already a scholarshiptostudyoverseas. womansaid. winner The Government of “I want to study in probably Another student, Virendra Guyana is putting all kinds of the medical or engineering field,” DookieofSaraswatiVidyaNiketan measures in place to make sure he added Muntaz encouraged told the media that he credits his childrenwhoexistsuccessfullyand those who will be sitting the success to being diligent do well can move on to tertiary exams next year to have good time throughout his five years at school training and education in any field management and to do all their and to his parents, teachers, and that you want. But we are also SBAs very early, because that was friends for all the hard work they making sure that we have in place one of the difficulties he faced putin. for the children who did not exist which delayed him from studying “Now I plan to pursue a degree successfully that there all kinds of The young man yesterday credited in civil engineering at the programs that will ensure that this his success to his parents, UniversityofGuyana,”headded.

Alex Muntaz of Anna Regina Secondary wrote 27 subjects - 23 Grade Ones and 5 Grade Twos.

Virendra Dookie of Saraswati Vidya Niketan wrote 20 subjects - 19 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two.

Suriya Walcott of Anna Regina Secondary wrote 25 subjects –18 Grade Ones, 6 Grade Twos and 1 Grade Three.

Kuntie Singh of Abram’s Zuil Secondary wrote 23 subjects –18 Grade Ones and 5 Grade Twos.

Murizio Mangra of Anna Regina Secondary who wrote 27 subjects – 17 Grade Ones and 10 Grade Twos.

Arthur Roberts of Queen’s College wrote 23 subjects and gained 17 Grade Ones, 5 Grade Twos and 1 Grade Three.

Mariah Sookram of Saraswati Vidya Niketan wrote 21 subjects and gained 17 Grade Ones, 3 Grade Twos and 1 Grade Three.

Tashmee Ganesh of Queen’s College who wrote 20 subjects and gained 17 Grade Ones and 3 Grade Twos.

Noah Aryan Persaud of Queen’s College who wrote 20 subjects and gained 17 Grade Ones and 3 Grade Twos.

Jagdeo defends Granger’s one-year extension for Exxon’s three oil blocks

Vice President, Dr Granger gave the extension report to the Ministry [of BharratJagdeoconfirmedon almost five months after the Natural Resources] on how T h u r s d a y t h a t t h e tumultuous March 2020 their original [exploration] government did its due General and Regional plan was affected from six diligence to ensure the Elections. rigs down to four because exploration efforts of Upon further scrutiny of twocouldnotbemobilized. ExxonMobil and its partners those signed documents, the “So they demonstrated in the Stabroek Block were Alliance For Change how COVID affected them. indeed affected by the (AFC)—which was part of a It is the David Granger COVID-19 pandemic, coalition with the A extension that therefore thereby warranting a one- Partnership for National shifted the timeline to yearextension. Unity— pointed out that relinquish 20 percent of the

That extension has been Granger never gave an blockfrom2023to2024and the centre of a political unconditional extension, but that is the consequence we quarrel that erupted over the rather outlined the need for arelivingwith.” last few weeks as it delays quarterly assessments to With respect to the the relinquishment of 20 allow for adjustments. The Opposition’s call for reports percent of the lucrative first assessment was of such due diligence to be Stabroek Block this year to required in September 2020. made public, the Vice 2024. Political opposition The AFC on Wednesday President said there is no parties had lambasted the called for Jagdeo to provide need for the government to governmentforallowingthis evidence that this was done do this. “This is a diversion. tooccur a f t e r t h e P e o p l e ’s They got caught with their T h e g o v e r n m e n t Progressive Party assumed pants down…we don’t have t e n s i o n s o f o t h e r Opposition should ask Guyana Limited are subsequently released three office. to give evidence to AFC,” stakeholders.Hesaidthefact Granger for an explanation expected to give up 20 documents showing that it At his press conference theofficialsaid. of the matter is that an on this. I don’t disagree with percentoftheblockthisnext was former President, David on Thursday at Freedom The chief policymaker extension was granted and thecontentsoftheletter Iam year which could then be Granger who granted Exxon House, the Vice President wasalsonotinclinedtomake the government did not not going to run him down used as part of an auction to a one-year extension due to said, “Exxon brought in government’s reports on this extend it. Furthermore, the forthat.Buthedidn’tneedto garner more funds for the COVID-19 impacts information and gave a full matter public to ease Vice President questioned do that The current country why Granger prioritized governmentcouldhavedone Exxon has to date suchanextension,especially that…” received government at a time when the country The Stabroek Block approvals for five oil was fighting to maintain its which spans 6 6 million projects worth over US$40b democratic credentials after acres and holds over 33 oil and is streamlining project suffering a historic five- discoveries is so massive documents for a sixth monthdelayduetoanumber thatitisequivalentto600oil Guyana,consideredtobethe of legal battles over the blocks offshore Guyana fastest growing economy in verification of certain Exxonanditspartnerswhich the world, is targeting oil regionalvotes. include Hess Corporation production to surpass over Jagdeo said, “The and CNOOC Petroleum 1.2millionbarrelsby2027.

Trump surrenders at Atlanta jail on charges he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss

Former President Donald Trump surrendered Thursday on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, a brisk 20-minute booking that yielded a historic first: a mug shotofaformerAmericanpresident.

He was released on $200,000 bond and headedbacktotheairportforhisreturnflight hometoNewJersey

Trump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar election-season routine in a way that belies the unprecedented spectacle of a former president being booked, in four different cities,onfelonycriminalcharges.

But his visit to Atlanta was notably different from the three past surrenders, unfoldingatnightandrequiringhimtovisita problem-plagued jail rather than a courthouse—andnotinaliberalbastionlike New York or Washington but rather in the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. And unlike in other cities that did not require him to pose for a mug shot, a booking photo of him was taken, presidentinU.S.historytobeindicted.Since according to a person familiar with the then,he’sfacedfederalchargesinFloridaand proceedings. Washington, and this month he was indicted

Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 inAtlanta with 18 others — including his exp.m. and was driven, through the city’s rush- chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — under a Wearing his signature white shirt and red tie, racketeeringstatutenormallyassociatedwith he offered a wave and thumbs up as he gangmembersandorganizedcrime. descendedthestepsofhisprivateplane. Giuliani surrendered on Wednesday and

He completed the process in 20 minutes, posed for a mug shot. Meadows, who had providing officials as is customary with his sought to avoid having to turn himself in physicalmeasurements:6foot3inches. while he seeks to move the case to federal

The Fulton County prosecution is the court, turned himself in Thursday Bond was fourth criminal case against Trump since setat$100,000.Thecriminalcaseshave March, when he became the first former (Continued on page 29)

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

…released on $200,000 bond

Former President, Donald Trump was booked at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta on Aug. 24, 2023. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office)

Gladstone heirs to apologize for both Slavery and Indentureship

The University of have owned the Whitby and reparations were discussed Guyana on Thursday Hesperus, the ships which or agreed upon with the disclosed that the apology it transported the first East Gladstone heirs. Reparation along with the Guyana Indian Indentured to payments are not within the Reparations Committee Guyana The Gladstone purview of the University (GRC) helped to negotiate family, which includes and therefore cannot be part with the Gladstone heirs for severalhistorianswillinfact of any conversations Guyana includes both offer an apology given the between the national slavery and indentureship. role their ancestors would academic institution and the In a press release, the have played here. The short Gladstones.” University said that this was formal ceremony begins at Additionally, the so since the particular 9:00 hrs. at the George University said that “It is ancestor was integrally Walcott Lecture Theatre at unclear whether an amount involvedinboth. the University’s Turkeyen of 100,000 pounds accepted

In an earlier release the Campus on Friday, August by the Government of University had indicated 25,2023. Grenada from theTrevelyan that the John Gladstone All groups from all Family might have become owned plantations and umbrella bodies from ethnic infused into a story about managed several others not and other cultural groups on Guyana which was carried ownedbyhim. allsideshavebeeninvitedat by international news since

Quamina and his son hear the apology After the the University was not the John, who led the 1823 formal ceremony, the source of the international uprisings, which are being moment will be marked by news stories. The Gladstone commemorated this month, an inter-generational family who are arriving were enslaved on Gladstone d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n upon the invitation of the Plantations amongst University of Guyana University of Guyana and thousands of others. The students and youthful the GRC have for decades

University itself is founded members of the Gladstone b e e n s u p p o r t i n g on plantation lands upon family, a linking of the educational, historical and whichpartoftherevolutions University of Guyana cultural projects through were enacted While no Librarywithdigitalarchives grants which are divorced attempt is being made to of the Council of World from reparations and which equate the impact of slavery Missions and an exhibition have benefitted other with that of indentureship, of scholarly work by Universities given the The Gladstone ancestor is University of Guyana i m p o r t a n t r o l e o f also recorded as “one of the scholars throughout the day Universities in the initiators of schemes for the onthesubjectmatter illumination and removal of exporting of indentured “Other events are being systemsofoppression.” labor to the Caribbean” heldovertheweekendunder The University of (https://www ucl ac uk/lbs/ the auspices of the Guyana Guyana assured the public person/view/8961). Reparations Committee that as the national

It is also indicated their TheUniversityreassertsthat University it continues to be ancestor John Gladstone no financial negotiations of focuseduponpositiveand who died in 1851, might any kind regarding

(Continued on page 25)

Brother, boyfriend among four arrested for murder of mother, 7-year-old boy

Police have arrested Commander Bacchus Police disclosed that the MelissaArokium’sbrother,a also told reporters that the murders occurred on cousin, her boyfriend and a four persons are being Wednesday between 06:30 neighbour for her gruesome questioned in relation to the hrsand13:30hrs. murder and that of her 7- doublemurderandnotedthat According to police, year-oldson. that based on preliminary Melissa’s body sustained

The bodies of Melissa investigations traces of multiple chop wounds to the andAnthonyArokiumof189 blood were found by back of her neck, left side Mangrove Street, Rose Hall investigators in the waist and upper left hand Town were on Wednesday backlands (not far from the while Anthony was chopped found in blood with chop crimescene). several times to his right wounds.Thechildwasfound T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n side, head and face. Police on the bed in the bedroom understands that police said that a post-mortem while the woman was found arrested33-year-oldCerrano examination with dissection inthehallway Arokium, a Cane Harvester, was performed on the bodies

OnWednesday,Regional 37-year-old Shailendra of Melissa andAnthony The Commander, Shivpersaud Umrao of Belvedere post-mortem examination Bhaccus told reporters at the (Melissa Arokium’s conducted on 31-year-old scene that police received a boyfriend) and Deo Naris Melissa revealed that she call just around noon on called ‘DJ’ of Mangrove died from shock and Wednesday informing that Street, Rose Hall Town heamorrhage compounded there was an alleged (Melissa Arokium’s with incised wounds to the wounding. He said when neighbour). neck. Anthony Arokium’s police responded, the bodies Acousin of the deceased causeofdeathwasalsogiven of the woman and her son w a s a l s o a r r e s t e d as shock and heamorrhage werefound. Additionally, police had compounded with multiple K a i e t e u r N e w s initially arrested Melissa’s incisedwounds. understands that Melissa’s younger brother but he was Following the postyoungest brother made the subsequentlyreleased. mortem examination, the discovery when he ventured Two of the persons bodies of Melissa and to the house to use the arrested have since been Anthony were handed over washroom. Melissa has an taken to the Criminal totheirrelativesforburial. older brother who lives in HeadquartersinGeorgetown Investigations are anotherhousebehindhers. forquestioning. ongoing.

Highly mutated COVID variant found in new countries but pandemic in ‘a different phase’

Reuters - A highly mutated COVID variant calledBA.2.86hasnowbeen detected in Switzerland and South Africa in addition to Israel, Denmark, the U.S. and the U.K., according to a leading World Health Organizationofficial.

The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB 1 5, the dominant variantthroughmostof2023 - a number roughly on par with the Omicron variant thatcausedrecordinfections comparedtoitspredecessor

It was first spotted in DenmarkonJuly24afterthe virus infecting a patient at riskofbecomingseverelyill was sequenced. It has since been detected in other symptomatic patients, in routine airport screening, andinwastewatersamplesin ahandfulofcountries.

A dozen scientists around the world said while it was important to monitor BA.2.86, it was unlikely to cause a devastating wave of severe disease and death givenimmunedefensesbuilt up worldwide from vaccination and prior infection.

“It’s still low numbers,”

Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead at the WHO, said in her first interview regarding BA.2.86.

Thattheknowncasesare not linked suggests it is already circulating more widely, particularly given reduced surveillance worldwide,shesaid.

Scientistsaretestinghow well updated COVID-19 vaccines will work against BA.2.86. Kerkhove noted that vaccines have been better at preventing severe illness and death than reinfection.

“We are in a very different phase (of the pandemic) than if this popped up in the first year,” said Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who advisestheWHO.

Dr NiravShah,principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency and others spotted the new variant last week, heldmeetingswithscientists throughouttheweekend,and issued a risk assessment on Wednesday.Therehavebeen nine such cases detected as of Aug. 23 and the variant was also found in wastewaterinSwitzerland.

It appears that current testsandmedicationsremain effective against BA.2.86, although the variant may be more capable of causing infection in vaccinated people and those who have had COVID previously, the assessment said.There is no evidenceyetthatitiscausing moresevereillness.

Still, the potential risk must be taken seriously, e x p e r t s s a i d , a n d surveillance must continue, ifnotatlevelsundertakenat thepandemic’speak.

“Governments cannot droptheball,”VanKerkhove said, adding that the coronavirus continues to circulate, evolve, infect and killpeople.

TESTINGDOWN90%

Another COVID subvariant called EG 5 already has some people on highalertintheU.S. Pharmacy chains CVS (CVS N), Walgreens and Rite Aid (RAD N) told Reuters on-site molecular tests and sales of at-home tests increased in recent weeks.

How much surveillance is needed to track the virus remains an open question, health experts said, and the countries that have detected

the new variant all have strong genomic sequencing capacity As of December 2022, 84% of countries could sequence Sars-CoV-2 in-country, according to WHOfigures.

Butdatasubmittedtothe international database, GISAID, has fallen dramatically In the first weekofOmicron,morethan 200,000 coronavirus sequences were submitted. Last week, it was around 20,000.

“ W h e n w e d o sequencing now, it’s like (finding) a needle in a

haystack,” said Tyra Grove K r a u s e , a D a n i s h epidemiologistattheStatens Serum Insitut which identified three BA.2.86 cases.

The WHO said COVID testing has declined by 90% worldwide from the peak. Testing has also plummeted in the U.S., and sequencing isdownbyaround90%,said Dr Ashish Jha, who served as White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator until June 2023 Data from hospital admissions, emergency room visits, deaths,wastewatersampling

andsequencing,includingat airports,hashelpedfillinthe globalpicture,hesaid.

Jhaandothers,including the European public health agency and COVAX, the global program for getting vaccines to the world’s poorest, said COVID surveillance and defenses could be reactivated in the event of a major infection wave.

“Itwouldtakeresources; it would take will; it would take people deciding this is important to do,” Jha said. “But we’velargelyfigured outhow.”

TrumpsurrendersatAtlantajailoncharges...

Frompage23 spurred a succession of bookings and arraignments, with Trump making brief court appearances before returning to the 2024 campaign trail. He’s turned the appearances into campaign events amid a far lighter schedule than his rivals, with staff delighting in wall-to-wall media coverage that has included newshelicopterstrackinghis everymove.

The campaign has also used the appearances to solicit fundraising contributions from his supporters as aides paint the charges as part of a politically motivated effort to damage his reelection chances. As Trump was en route from New Jersey to Atlanta, his campaign sent a message saying, “I’m writing to you from Trump Force One, on my way to Atlanta where I will be ARRESTED despite having committed NOCRIME.”

As afternoon turned to

evening, scores of Trump supporters had gathered outsidethejailwheretheexpresident was to surrender, some waving flags with Trump’s name, as officials tightenedsecuritymeasures.

District Attorney, Fani Willis has given all of the defendants until Friday afternoontoturnthemselves inatthemainFultonCounty jail. OnThursday, her office proposedanOctober23trial d a t e , t h o u g h t h e complexities of the 19person case— and potential scheduling conflicts with otherTrumpprosecutions— would appear to make it all butimpossible.

The date seemed to be a response to early legal maneuvering by at least one defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, who requested a speedytrial.

Just ahead of his expected surrender, Trump hiredanewleadattorneyfor theGeorgiacase.

SteveSadowtooktheplaceof another high-profile criminal defense attorney, Drew Findling, who had represented Trump as recentlyasMondaywhenhis bond terms were negotiated But by Thursday Findling was no longer part of the team, according to a person withknowledgeofthechange who spoke on condition of anonymitybecausetheywere not authorized to discuss the matterpublicly

Sadow, who has representedarapper,Gunna, who pleaded guilty last year in a racketeering case also brought by Willis, said in a statementthat“thepresident should never have been indicted.

He is innocent of all the charges brought against him.”

the ambitions and careers of political opponents of the president have no place in ourjusticesystem.”

It’s not the first time this year that Trump has shaken uphislegalteameitherinthe run-uptoanindictmentorin the immediate aftermath

Oneofhisleadlawyers,Tim Parlatore, left the legal team weeks before Trump was indicted in Florida on chargesofillegallyhoarding classified documents, citing conflicts with a top Trump adviser

Two other lawyers, James Trusty and John Rowley, announced their resignations the morning after that indictment was returned

to help him ”find 11,780 votes” for him to overturn his loss in the state to Democrat Joe Biden Trump is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail, which has long beenatroubledfacility

The Justice Department last month opened a civil rights investigation into conditions, citing filthy cells, violence and the death last year of a man whose body was found covered in insects in the main jail’s psychiatricwing.

Three people have died in Fulton County custody in thepastmonth.

But Trump is not expectedtospendmuchtime there.

through a security checkpoint before checking in for formal booking in the lobby

During the booking process, defendants are typically photographed and fingerprinted and asked to provide certain personal information. Since Trump’s bondhasalreadybeenset,he will be released from custody once the booking processiscomplete.

t

criminal defense attorney,

“Welookforwardtothe case being dismissed or, if necessary,anunbiased,open minded jury finding the president not guilty,” he added “Prosecutions intendedtoadvanceorserve

Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing He said in a social media post this week that he was being prosecuted for what he described in capital letters as a “perfect phone call”inwhichheaskedthe Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger,

His attorneys and prosecutors have already agreed to a $200,000 bond, plus conditions that include barring the former president from intimidating codefendants, witnesses or victimsinthecase.

When defendants arrive atthejail,theytypicallypass

U n like in other jurisdictions, in Fulton County, arraignments in which a defendant appears in court for the first time generally happen after a defendant surrenders at the jail and completes the booking process, not on the sameday

ThatmeansTrumpcould have to make two trips to Georgiainthecomingweeks though the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has said some arraignments in the case may happenvirtuallyif thejudgeallows,orhecould waiveTrump’sarraignment.

People wait in line to take a COVID-19 oral swab test on a sidewalk in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, U.S., June 20, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Judge says UK owes trillions in reparations

BBC - A United Nations (UN) judge says the United Kingdom is likely to owe more than £18tn in reparations for its historic role in transatlantic slavery.

A report co-authored by the judge, Patrick Robinson, says the UK should pay $24tn for its slavery involvement in 14 countries.

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But Robinson said the sum was an “underestimation” of the damage caused by the slave trade.

He said he was amazed some countries responsible for slavery think they can “bury their heads in the sand”.

“Once a state has commit-

ted a wrongful act, it’s obliged to pay reparations,” said Robinson, who presided over the trial of Slobodan Milosevic, the former Yugoslav president.

Robinson spoke to the BBC ahead of his keynote speech at an event to mark Unesco’s Day for Remem-

bering the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition at London’s City Hall on Wednesday.

He’s been a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since 2015 and has been researching reparations as part of his honorary

presidency of the American Society of International Law.

He brought together a group of economists, lawyers and historians to produce the Brattle Group Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery.

Gladstone heirs to apologize for both...

From page 25 respectful projects based on evidence, historical fact, fairness and respect for all our peoples.

“The University looks forward to this moment as one of the national recognition of the origins of our national trauma as well as our resilience, and to contribute to processes of personal and national healing, introspection and unity.

culpabilities and the dismantling of systems which perpetuate these legacies today. The public is invited to attend the event virtually or in person.”

Persons desirous of attending the event virtually can register using https:// zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_Ob0sefwYTYYVypQZPTePA#/registration

and around Academia, Youth, Technology and Vulnerable Communities, Indigeneity, Indentureship and Slavery as specific and integral aspects of dispersion.

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The Gladstone family apology is noted as an important first step in the process of reparation, official acceptance of historical

The apology takes place as part of The Diaspora and Migration Centre that is set up to pursue five (5) specific areas of research interest including, but not limited to Diaspora and Migration in

The University said that the research track for Slavery and indentureship is the reason why it was deemed appropriate to launch the Diaspora and Migration Centre (MiDias) in this historically auspicious month in regard to the ema ncipation of enslaved peoples as well as the 200th anniversary of the 1823 Slave Revolution in Demerara.

Jagdeo and the PPP could have done much... among sugar workers and provide counseling, retraining and financial support to re-engage them successfully back into the economy while preventing much financial harm to their families.

FOR RENT

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We are now hiring Bartender, Waitress and experienced Cook. Preferably from WCD, attractive salary offered. Call: 689-7481.

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NOTICE

APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER’S CERTIFICATE

(Pursuant to section 4, Money Lenders Act)

I, MALLORINE JONAS of Lot 1379 Section C Block X Diamond East Bank Demerara, Guyana., hereby give notice that I have applied to the Magistrate of the Georgetown Magisterial District for a Certificate under the Money Lenders Act, authorizing the grant to me a Money Lender’s Licence to Carry on the Business of a Money Lender under the Title of R AND AND J’S INVESTMENTS of LOT 1379 SECTION C BLOCK X DIAMOND EAST BANK DEMERARA, Guyana. NOTICES of any objections to this application should be sent forthwith to the CLERK OF COURT OF THE GEORGETOWN MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT, and a copy of any such Notice should be sent to the Subscriber.

Mellorine Jonas Georgetown, Demerara Dated August, 2023

From page 06 GUYSUCO’s land amongst sugar workers and embark on a program of agricultural support for animal/crop husbandry that could potentially grow into Guyana’s aspiration of becoming the bread basket of the Caribbean. (No justification is needed for releasing these lands to sugar workers as they and their generations have endured much economic abuse through the decades.) Or simply close the corporation and compensate sugar workers while providing support for them over the next five to ten years.

Today the impoverishment and systematic pauperization of sugar workers, the ultimate emaciation of the sugar industry, it’s inevitable unsung restructuring/ closure which continues to be dragged out interminably by the administration, probably stands among the greatest disasters of the Peoples Progressive Party, worse than even degradation of the welfare of public servants orchestrated by successive administrations of the PPP, because thousands of sugar workers were laid off with little or no support, or delayed support for maintaining their families and ensuring that they returned to economic viability.

Recent hand-outs of $250,000 to sugar workers very probably did little to alleviate their financial straits since much if not all of this money would likely have been used to retire financial obligations and address pressing family commitments, leaving sugar workers in exactly the same place before they received their hand-outs.

I urge the government to divide up Guysuco’s land

This happens to be one of the DNC’s proposals for resolving the problems in the sugar industry which we are proposing to assist sugar workers.

Our governments through the years are liable for the financial disaster in which GUYSUCO now finds itself, as well as the pauperization of sugar workers, because they ignored warnings by the European Union of impending reforms which included a 36 percent cut in the price it paid countries under its preferential arrangements, phased over the four-year period 2006-9. The table compares significant indicators of GUYSUCO’s performance between 2006 and recent years.

Output of sugar which stood at a whopping 259,588 tons in 2006 contracted to 88,889 tons in 2020, declining 81.9 percent from 2006 to 47,049 tons of sugar in 2022. The corporation’s financial operations, with 2020 being the most recent available data, reflect the dire straits, and completely unsustainable position in which the organization now finds itself.

Revenues contracted 69 percent from $32.5 billion from 2006 to $9.9 billion in 2020.

Total assets contracted 64 percent, from $115.6 billion in 2006 to $41.9 billion in 2020. Retained earnings of negative $1.8 billion in 2006 grew into an accumulated loss of $118.8 billion at the end of 2020. All of this excludes Jagdeo’s approval of the notorious 2008

Skeldon Sugar Factory, the debt of which he saddled on the backs of taxpayers. But Guyanese don’t mind. We love him.

- Appendix F - Central Government Expenditure\ If for the sake of argument, government under the advice of the EU had proceeded to wind up GUYSUCO in 2006, it would have had around $60.3 billion to put towards assisting sugar workers, retraining re-engaging them in the economy.

With liabilities growing to $131.4 billion in 2020, winding up Guysuco then would have cost government $89.5 billion. The auditor’s report of 2020 clarified in no uncertain terms that with an accumulated financial loss of $118.8 billion, the corporation’s continued operations was dependent on continued financial support from Central Government.

Further, the EU’s approximately 136 million Euros, G$32 billion, were apparently never applied towards any restructuring program. Instead, it seems to have been included in the total of G$58.8 billion central government disbursed to GUYSUCO from 2013 through 2023.

The sugar industry’s dilemma places government and GAWU in positions of conflict of interest. For government, this would be how address the terminal issues of the sugar industry while maintaining its voting farm, for the Union, how to properly advise and represent sugar workers knowing that GAWU will very probably cease to exist when Guysuco is fully restructured or closed. Taxpayers enjoy VIP seats at ringside.

Yours Faithfully, Craig Sylvester.

Briton Kerr stuns Ingebrigtsen to win 1,500m gold

BUDAPEST, (Reuters)Briton Josh Kerr pulled off one of the shocks of the World Championships when he beat Olympic champion and hot favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen in an absolute carbon copy of last year’s final to take 1,500m gold on Wednesday.

Favourite in 2022, Norway’s Ingebrigtsen was outkicked by Britain’s Jake Wightman to miss out on gold and Kerr, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist behind Ingebrigtsen, made his move at about the same

spot with 200 metres to go.

Kerr dug deep to stay in front and won in 3:29.38 with Ingebrigtsen, whose 3:27.14 run in Poland five weeks ago made him the fourth-fastest man in history, taking silver in 3:29.65.

Fast-finishing Norwegian Narve Gilje Nordas secured the bronze in 3:29.68.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s quite an overwhelming experience. I’m so proud of myself,” said Kerr, who ran the race in sunglasses.

Friday August 25, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You're certainly in a strange mood today, Aries. True, things have been going smoothly for the past few days but be careful not to be fooled. Pride goes before a fall, as they say.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

It will be as though you're in a new and hopeful world today, Taurus. The people you meet will be cordial and caring, and the future will seem like a bright, attractive place to live.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Because you tend to brood over everything right now, Gemini, a day like this can't be anything but beneficial. It has been difficult for you to find satisfaction within the realm of the known world lately.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

There are days when you feel wonderful without being able to attribute the feeling to any real event. Of course, your rational mind will search for a reason for your happiness.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

The day ahead should be excellent, Leo. For the past several days you've been searching for meaning in life. There have been changes in your chief occupation, new relationships.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

You will probably be perfectly in tune with the day ahead, Virgo. Of course, it's tempting to run away from the reality and hardships of the moment.

Jamaican Williams captures second world hurdles title

BUDAPEST, (Reuters)Jamaica’s Danielle Williams raced to her second world title in the women’s 100 metres hurdles yesterday.

The 30-year-old, who won world gold in 2015 and bronze in 2019, edged Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, to win in 12.43

seconds.

Camacho-Quinn had to settle for silver in 12.44.

Less than a tenth of a second separated the top four hurdlers with American Kendra Harrison taking bronze in 12.46, keeping Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas (12.52) off the podium.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Don't try to control what happens today, Libra, because you won't be able to fathom what's going on. How could it be otherwise when collective currents are interfering with your life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

This kind of strange day doesn't come around often, Scorpio. It will seem as though you no longer know what you want. Do you have a yen to take off for the other side of the globe.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Do other countries represent real openings for you? This is a question that you will soon have to answer. This may be true, but it may also be an illusion that gives you a simplistic explanation.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) = It

You're going to think this is a strange period. It isn't, Capricorn. It's just that today won't be like others. Look around and you will see that people are either depressed or trying to keep up a good façade.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Today, Aquarius, you might get the chance to take a trip around the world to visit fabulous palaces and experience a timeless love, and all - get this - totally free! This could be called a sensitivity test.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You will float today, Pisces. You won't talk, you will be sleepy, and your mood won't be the best. OK, perfect! Get back into your novel, take several siestas.

“I didn’t feel like I ran the best race either. I just threw my whole 16 years of this sport in that last 200m and didn’t give up until the end.

Kerr said he had planned meticulously for this race.

“We threw everything we had at this in terms of nutrition, sleep, training, race reviews, everything,” he said. “We left no stone unturned and if it wasn’t a gold medal today, that was the best we could have done. I planned like a champion.”

Kerr had a good view of Wightman’s tactics in Eugene as he chased him home to finish fifth and he produced an almost uncanny replica of his Edinburgh club mate on Wednesday.

“As I came round the bend I thought I have to give everything I have. I just made sure I was there with 200m to go,” he said. “Then in the last 30 I thought ‘I want this so badly, I don’t care how much pain I’m in I’m going to do everything to get to the finish line first’.”

Ingebrigtsen said he was not physically in great shape as he was unable to respond to Kerr moving onto his shoulder.

“All credit to Josh, he had a good race, but I feel a little bit unlucky not being able to do what I have been doing the whole season,” he said.

“I was a little bit dry in my throat, it got worse last two days. I don’t feel my body was quite 100%.

“I won’t blame it on anything, but last year I was by far the best, but did a worse race. Today I wasn’t the best. I’m disappointed, but not when others do things right and are as prepared as they are. I don’t feel like I could have done much differently.”

Last year Ingebrigtsen recovered from the setback in his favourite event to win the 5,000m gold and he confirmed that he will defend his title on Sunday, the last night of the championships.

Gold medallist Britain’s Josh Kerr celebrates after the final. (REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel)

Republic Bank CPL 2023…

GAW vs. STKP

MVP Motie, Hope help

Guyana Amazon Warriors sink Patriots by 65 runs

- Hope 54, Motie 4-29

Shai Hope top-scored for the Warriors. (Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

Shai Hope stroked an eye-catching half-century while Gudakesh Motie spun webs aroundhisvictimstoinspire awhopping65-runwinover the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park last night, giving the Guyana Amazon Warriors their first winthisseason.

Batting first, Amazon Warriors finished nicely on 197-7 from 20 overs D y n a m i c o p e n e r , Pakistani Saim Ayub, gave his team another flying start with 31 off 17 (3x4 2x6) but it was the in-form Hope who led with an aggressive 54 off 32 with 3 fours and 4 toweringsixes

The Guyanese crew of ShimronHetmyer(26),who

shared a crucial 74 runs off 45 balls partnership with Hope, laid a foundation for all-rounders Keemo Paul 25 off 18 (2x4, 1x6) and Romario Shepherd 25* from 10 (2x4, 2x6), to provide some entertainment/fireworks as theoversexpired.

The Patriots bowling failedtopreventtheWarriors from reaching their team’s 100 in just 10 overs, as pacer Oshane Thomas (3-38) and seamer Dominic Drakes (2-43) emerged as the most successful

Inresponse,St.Kittsand NevisPatriotswereknocked overfor132inside17overs.

Opener Evin Lewis topscored with 48, smashing 6 sixes with support coming

from Indian star Ambati Rayduwhohitapairoffours and as many sixes in his innings of 32 from 24 balls, but no other batsman apart from Joshua Da Silva (10) couldreachdoublefigures. Warriors bowled with aggression as the leftarm spinner Motie, who was magical for his 4-29 and the veteran skipper Imran Tahir 2-35, put a stranglehold on the Patriots batsmen.

Fast-bowlers Paul and Shepherd then followed up their batting cameos with a wicket each, to end a fruitful evening.

Scores: GuyanaAmazon Warriors197-7;St.Kittsand Nevis Patriots 132 (16 5 overs).

Port Mourant and Albion to clash in delayed finals on Saturday

The Port Mourant Cricket Ground

on Saturday will come alive with some exciting junior cricket when vibrant Berbice Cricket Board hosts the final of the long awaited BCB/Minister Zulifar Mustapha under15 tournament.

The final is expected to be an exciting one with several of the county top under15 players in action The match would start at 930am and executives of the BCB led by President Hilbert Foster and Competition Chairman LeslieSolomonareexpected tobepresenttosupervise.

Foster stated that the final of the tournament, which started in 2021, was delayed due to several factors but the BCB decided to host the final now, using the current date of birth for this year’s

competition.

The 2023 final was recently played off at the Area H Ground with Rose Hall Canje defeating power house Rose Hall T o w n t

champions

The Albion team would

be led by Farhan Belle and he would be supported by national junior player Nathaniel Ramsammy, Feaz Baksh, Nicholas Lepps and SahidGajnabi.

Port Mourant challenge would be spearheaded by Navin and Ravin Boodwah, Asgar Nabbie, Vishal Williams and Arvin Samaroo.

The tournament was sponsored by Berbice b o r n M i n i s t e r o f Agriculture Zulifar Mustapha

T h e P e o p l e Progressive Party Member of Parliament was once involved in the county’s cricket at the seconddivisionlevel

He was the captain of the Bloomfield Second DIV team and h a s b e e n v e r y supportive of the game in the county

Martin, Perez seal double glory for Spain in 35km race walks

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) -

Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez completed Spain’s dominationoftheracewalks at the World Athletics Championshipsyesterdayby adding gold in the 35 kilometres events to their victories in last weekend’s 20kmraces.

Martin held off Ecuador’s Brian Pintado to win the men’s race in two hours, 24 minutes and 30 seconds, while Perez clocked a championship record time of 2:38:40, finishing more than two minutes ahead of defending champion Kimberly Garcia Leon.

Perez’s victory was rarely in doubt as she dominated Peru’s Garcia Leon, who finished in 2:40:52 European championAntigoniDrisbioti of Greece completed the podium with a season’s best 2:43:22.

“I had this problem with myhamstringafterthe20km race and I was still considering whether to start atthe35kmbutImanagedto get through,” said Perez, who smashed Garcia Leon’s

35 km world record by nearlyhalfaminuteinMay

“Thehardworkandpain paid off This is a huge achievementnotonlyforme but for the whole Spanish team

After early leader

Aurelien Quinion of France haddroppedoffthepaceand was then disqualified, Martin shared the lead with Pintado and Japan’s

Masatora Kawano entering thefinal4kmbeforemaking thebreakwithlessthan2km remaining.

He set a national record

Over one hundred thousand dollars worth of prizes would be shared out to the winner, runner up and man of the final Albion team - Farhan B e l l e , N a t h a n i e l Ramsammy,Feaz Baksh, Nicholas Lepps,Reshaan Sakrulla, Chamesh S e w n a u t h

Navin Boodwah

and crossed the line four secondsbeforePintado,with Kawano posting a season’s best 2:25:12 to finish third. Defending champion Massimo Stano of Italy was seventhin2:25:59.

“I am so tired,” Martin said. “I was fourth in the Olympic Games and it was very tough to get so close to an Olympic medal It’s wonderful now to be a double world champion in Budapest.

“IseeMariaisfirsttooin thewomen’srace,sotodayis agreatdayforSpain.”

Navin Boodwah, Ravin Boodwah,Asgar Nabbie, R. Kushley, R Parache, Aryan Dasrat, Devendra Samaroo, M Khan, Vishal Williams, Vickesh Roopnarine, A Roopnarine,Arvin Samaroo and S Boodwah Tekha Pooran-Manager

Dutchwoman Bol takes long-awaited gold in 400 hurdles

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) - Femke Bol of the Netherlands powered to victory in the women’s400hurdlesyesterdaytosecureher firstworldchampionshipgoldmedal.

It was a hugely satisfying win for Bol, whofellmetresfromthelinewhenracingfor gold in the mixed 4x400m relay on the openingnightofthechampionships.

Bol,secondatlastyear’sworldsandthird at the 2020Tokyo Olympics, was level with AmericanShamierLittleuntiljustbeforethe homestraightbeforepullingawaytocrossthe linein51.70seconds.

Little finished in 52.80, holding off Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton who took the bronzein52.81.

Netherlands’Femke Bol in action during the final. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

Minister Zulifar Mustapha, MP

“Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

West Indies Under19 all rounder Isai Thorne benefits from programme

West Indies under19 fast bowling all rounder, Isai Thorne received one pair of cricket shoes through this noble initiative. The cricket shoes was donated by former Berbice junior wicket keeper/batsman Ishwar Singh, the brother of former West Indies youth player Gajanand Singh, who also represented Guyana at the Senior Level and currently donningUSAcolors.

Isai, regarded as the fastest young bowler in the

Caribbean, was recently selected for the West Indies Under19teaminpreparation for the next Youth World Cup. At a simple ceremony held recently, the Rose Hall Community Center Cricket Clubplayerwasthankfulfor the token. Singh in response said that he was impressed with this initiative and the progress of young Isai and willcontinuetogivebackto cricket in Guyana. This project is pleased to be part of Isai’s development and wishedhimwell.

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 donated by Sheik Moha

PeterLewisConstruction&AsphaltPlant ServicesBigManCricket-2@O40s

Rounds 4 & 5 fixtures

released for this weekend

Powered by Blue Waters as the Official Water

This exciting tournament continues this weekendwith12matchesacrossthecountryBerbice, Demerara & Essequibo The weather is expected to be brilliant this weekend and it is highly anticipated to have

allmatchescompleted.

The fixtures for the 4th& 5thround matches to be played on Saturday, August 26th,2023andSundayAugust27th2023are asdetailedhereunder

med,formerNationalwicket keeper/batsman All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime.

To date, sixty seven young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gearbags,twotrophies,four arm guards, twenty seven bats, two boxes, five helmets, twenty three pairs ofcricketshoes,fifteenpairs of batting pads, two thigh pads, one bat rubber, twenty four pairs of batting gloves a n d t w o p a i r s o f wicketkeeping gloves In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket CommitteesandCottonTree

Die Hard also received one boxofredcricketballseach, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received three boxes of balls, fifteen whitecricketshirts,onepair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves and a set of stumps a n d b a i l s O t h e r 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 programme, will also benefit.

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 Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh,DeneshChandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Nagamootoo, Moses Nagamootoo, Regal Sports Store, Omkar Singh, P a r m a n a n d Dhaniram,Denanauti Singh, Krishna Rengensamy and Ishwar Singh. We thank the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture Distribution will continue. Anyoneinterested to contribute can contact AnilBeharryon6236875or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

CWI Rising Stars U17 2-Day tournament Round 1…

Guyana vs. Jamaica Day 2

Van

Jonathan Van Lange missed out on a ton but his innings played a crucial role as, Guyana pulled off a draw againstJamaica,bringingan end to an exciting opening round.

Resuming on 65-2, the overnight pair of Romeo Deonarain(36)andNicholas Shiopersaud(18),addedjust

- Guyana (202-8 1st innings) Jamaica (1st innings 200-9 & 2nd innings 36-0)

Lange 91 headlines drawn match

afewrunstotheirrespective overnightscoresbeforethey weredismissed.

TheheroforGuyanawas its Captain Jonathan Van Lange, who unfortunately missed a century by a few runsashis91off103with7 fours and 3 sixes, was undoubtedly the foundation ofhisteam1stinningsscore of 202-8, replying to

Jamaica’s200-9.

Omari Wedderburn was the pick of the lot, snagging 3-32 while Kev’Aundre Virgo supported with 2-20 operating for the Jamaicans, whobattedtoadrawasthey were 36-0 from 18 overs, in the 2nd innings; with openers Virgo (14*) and Tyriek Bryan (21*) holding downtheirrespectiveends.

Isai Thorne on the left accepts the shoes from Gajanand Singh.

Indian federation suspended for failing to hold elections on time

NEW DELHI, (Reuters)

- The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was banned by the sport’s global governingbodyyesterdayin afreshcrisisforthenational federation battling a sexual harassmentscandal.

The United World

Wrestling(UWW),inaletter to the Indian Olympic

Association (IOA), conveyed its decision to suspend the WFI for failing toholdfreshelectionsinthe wakeofthescandal.

IOA acting Chief Executive Officer Kalyan

Chaubey confirmed receiving the UWW letter but did not elaborate when contactedbyReuters.

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was charged with sexual harassment and criminal intimidationlastmonthafter

several women wrestlers, accompanied by their male counterparts, staged sit-in protestinApril.

Singh, an influential member of parliament from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has denied any wrongdoingandwasgranted

One point separate top 3 in Bartica

bail last month. In May, the UWW had threatened to suspendtheWFIifitdidnot hold fresh elections within 45 days After multiple delays, the elections were scheduledtobeheldonAug. 12beforeahighcourtstayed the polls following legal

disputes. The UWW did not immediately reply to a Reuters email seeking details.

The suspension means Indian wrestlers will competeasneutralathletesat theWorldChampionshipsin BelgradefromSept.16.

FA League...

Monedderlust FC clobbers Fyrish 18-0

Afterplaying9gamesa-piece, thetop3teamsintheSeniorMen’s League (SML) of the Bartica FA are each separated by a single point.

When the 2nd round of matchesinthe9-teamSMLbegan last Monday at the Bartica Community Centre ground there were wins for Cup holders Rivers View and former champions BeaconsFC.

In the opening game of the double-header, Rivers View had littledifficultyinsecuringtheir7th win as they cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over RisingStars.

Don Lam opened the scoring

in the 14th minute, while Omario Lake added another in the 26th minute and one minute later Joshua Jones made it 3-0. Lake completed his brace in the 31st minute and increased his season tallyto8goals.

ThewinpushedRiversViewto 21pointsandtheyretain3rdplace inthetable.Itwasthe3rdlossfor Rising Stars who remain in 4th positionon14points.

Inthenightcap,Beaconswent one better after comprehensively putting away Mil Ballers 5-0.

Whitney Welcome’s treble (22', 33' and47') spearheaded the 7th win for Beacons as they stay unbeatenandretainedthetopspot

on23points.Thehat-trickcarried his season tally to six, while Shaquille Hopkinson’s 33rd minute strike took him to nine for the competition. The other goal scorer, Curt Welcome broke the deadlockinthe9thminute.Ballers remain 2nd from the bottom on 3 pointsaftertheir8thdefeat.

The 2nd double-header of the 2nd round played on Wednesday resulted in a 7th win for Potaro Strikers who disposed of Wolves United4-0toholdonto2ndplace on 22 points. The team’s leading scorer,DanielGardinerstartedthe scoring in the 18rh minute to take his season tally to ten goals and 3 within the leader of the

competition. Kevin Reddy (30'), Keron Spencer (62') and Floyd Jones (85') were the other players on target.The 4th loss forWolves causedthemtoslipto6thposition on11points.

The other encounter produced a1-1stalematebetweenLazioand AK Galaxy Omar Persaud gave Lazio the lead after half hour and Mohabeer Sooknandan equalised in the 75th minute. The one point earned, lifted Galaxy to 4th place on11pointsandLazioto8points and7thplace.

Monedderlust FC clobbers

Fyrish18-0

Monedderlust FC showed no mercy on new comers Fyrish FC

when they met last Wednesday night at the Rosignol Community Center ground where the Senior Men’sLeagueoftheBerbiceFAis beingstaged.

Nineunansweredgoalsineach half gave the West Coast Berbice side their 4th win from as many games.All three principal scorers netted helmet-tricks: Kevin Cottoy(10',26',30'and58'),Paul McDonald (13', 20', 40' and 57') and Daniel La Rose (50', 53', 61' and65')werethechiefmarksmen. RaulSemplesupportedwithahattrick (19', 25' and 62') and there was one each for Terrence Lewis (37'), Akimo Watts (45') and RaynelRoss(52').

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik address a news conference as they take part in a sit-in protest demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who they accuse of sexually harassing female players, in New Delhi, India, April 24, 2023. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo)

Duplantis soars into world pole vault final

AFP - Sweden’s pole vault kingArmand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis on Wednesday soared into the final at the W o r l d A t h l e t i c s Championships.

Skipping the opening mark of 5.35m, the world andOlympicchampionthen hadthreesuccessfulvaultsat 5.55m, 5.70m and 5.75m respectively

That was sufficient to leadallofthe12competitors to progress to Saturday’s finalinBudapest.

“Ididn’twastetoomuch energy during qualification. EverythingwentasIwanted to,”Duplantissaid.

“In the final and recordwise, everything is possible. Itisuptometogooutthere and put the right jump togetherattherighttime.

“But I’m focused on winningthecompetitionand takinghomethegoldmedal. I’m in good shape and I feel good technically, so I would

say everything is ready to have a great jump on Saturday.”

Duplantis, 23, is bidding to claim a sixth successive title He was European, world outdoor and world indoor champion in 2022 and Olympic and European indoorwinnerin2021.

Hislastdefeatatamajor championship was when he was 19, finishing runner-up toAmerican Sam Kendricks at the 2019 world championshipinDoha.

Duplantis comes into Budapest on the back of a rare defeat – only his fourth since 2019 The world champion and world record holderfinishedfourthatlast month’s Monaco Diamond Leaguemeet.

But he leads the 2023 worldoutdoorlistbyamile, thanks to the 6 12m he clearedinOstravainJune.

He also improved his world record to 6 22m

indoorsinClermont-Ferrand inFebruaryandheboaststhe second best outdoor vault, 6.11m in Hengelo, and five six metre-plus outdoor clearancesinallin2023.

Only two other vaulters in the field, Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen and FilipinoErnestJohnObiena, hadgoneoversixmetresthis season, but the Norwegian failed to make it out of qualifying.

Duplantis, who set a then-world record of 6 21mtowinworldgoldin Eugenelastyear,willagain meet reigning world silver and bronzemedallistsChris Nilsen of the United States andObienainthefinalinthe Hungariancapital.

Nilsen said he was headed for a full ice bath after three hours in the selteringheat

“I am from South Dakota and there it is around 21 to 22 degrees

Rockaway Group of Companies presents jerseys to West Demerara Cricket Umpires Association

Rockaway Group of Companies has presented a quantity of jerseys to the West Demerara Cricket Umpires Association. The presentation was made recently in NewYork where the entity’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Hafeez Ali presented 35 jerseys to umpire Nandkumar Shivsnakar

Ali said he is happy to render assistance to the association and urged the members to continue to provideservicetothegame, while Shivsankar thanked Aliforthegesture.

Ali has been a long supporter of sports and over the years and has assisted players, clubs and associationsacrossGuyana.

C e l s i u s , s o t h e s e temperatures are kind of crazy!”theAmericansaid “Hopefully, the final in theeveningwillbecooler”

The hot conditions didn’t bother Duplantis, however, the Swede born and raised in Louisiana saying: “It is quite hot, but

Idon’tthinkitisnecessarily abadthing.“Ithinkearlyin the morning the body needs to warm up naturally, so it wasnice.”

King leads Jamaica Tallawahs to victory

CPL-JamaicaTallawahscontinuedtheir unbeaten start to the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with an eight wicket win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

TheJamaicanfranchisewonthetossand chosetofieldfirst,withasuperbfourwicket haul from Salman Irshad helping them restricttheStKitts&NevisPatriotsto156/9 after20overs.

The Tallawahs managed to chase down the target in 16.3 overs, captain Brandon King producing a magnificent innings of 67 to continue the defending champions great starttotheseason.

The Patriots had got off to a promising early start, Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis combiningtopushthescoreto20/0aftertwo overs.Yet the fourth over would change the whole complexion of the tie as Irshad took three wickets, including that of Fletcher and

AmbatiRayudu,toleavethePatriotsreeling at37/4. WestIndiesinternationalJoshuaDa Silva steadily rebuilt the innings with his scoreof36,beforealateburstfromDominic DrakessawthePatriotsreach156/9attheend oftheirinnings.

JamaicaTallawahopenersBrandonKing andKirkMcKenziecombinedtoscoreseven boundaries and take the side to 34/0 after threeoversoftheirchase.Kingwouldgoon to bring up his half century off just 22 balls, before losing his wicket on 67 to a Dominic Drakes delivery Shamarh Brooks would continue to accelerate the score beforeAmir Jangoo would take his side across the finish linewithasix.

Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 157/2 (King 67, Brooks 38; Thomas 1/25, Drakes 1/28) beatStKitts&NevisPatriots156/9(DaSilva 36, Drakes 29; Irshad 4/27,Amir 3/20) by 8 wickets.

CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Mr. Hafeez Ali (left) presents the uniform to umpire Nandkumar Shivsankar

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis (Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV)

Jamaica Tallawahs batsmen celebrate during the match. (CPL)

gold for Jamaica

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) - Jamaica’s AntonioWatsonwona thrilling World Championship 400 metres gold yesterday as he overhauled fading Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith on the line

Hudson-Smith, who set a European record of 44.26 in winning his heat this week, went out hard and was well clear coming off the final bend but that effort took its toll as he began to tie up, allowing the 21year-old Watson to win in 44 22 seconds

Hudson-Smith,bronzemedallistlast year,tooksilverin44.31,withAmerican Quincy Hall also finishing strongly for bronzeinapersonalbest44.37.

Jamaica’sfirstgoldintheeventsince Bert Cameron won at the inaugural World Championships 40 years ago came minutes after Danielle Williams had taken the country’s first gold in Budapestinthewomen’s100mhurdles.

Jamaica’s Antonio Watsoncrosses the line to win the men’s 400m final aheadof second placed Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and third placed Quincy Hall of the U.S. (REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski)

Olympicchampionandworldleader StevenGardineroftheBahamaswasnot involved in the final having pulled up withahamstringinjuryinthesemis.

Fast-finishing Watson takes 400m Jackson, Alfred, Strachan speed into Women’s 200m final in Budapest

SportsMax - Shericka

Jackson, Julien Alfred and Anthonique Strachan have made it through to the final oftheWomen’s200mfinalat the 2023 World Athletics ChampionshipsinBudapest, Hungaryyesterday

The fastest of the three, Shericka Jackson, threw down the gauntlet to the 100m champion, the USA’s Shacarri Richardson, with a confident run to win her semi-finalheat.

Jackson ‘jogged’ to a time of 22.00 to leave the American 100m champion behind in 22.20. Marie Jose

Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast whowasthirdin22.26isalso qualifier in a non-automatic spot.

However, the fastest overallheadingintothefinal istheUSA’sGabbyThomas, who won the opening semifinal heat in 21.96. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also made it through to the final when she finished secondin22.28.However,it wastheendofthecampaign for Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte who was third in 22.52.

AlfredofStLuciahadto

got

Shericka Jackson, Julien Alfred and Anthonique Strachan are through to the 200m final.

totakeherplaceinthefinal. Both Kayla White of the USA and Kevona Davis

were fourth and fifth, respectively, in 22.34 and missoutonthefinal.

Britain’s Daryll Neita who

out well in lane eight. However, the NCAA champion surged ahead down the home straight to

win the heat in 22.17 with Neita close behind in 22.21. Strachan was third in 22.30

Republic Bank Ltd. Nationwide under-23 Inter-Club Super50 tournament…

North Essequibo, Achievers, Blairmont, Albion notch up victories

Azruddin Mohamed sponsors

Guyanese boxer to Pan Am Games to fulfill dreams of making Olympic 2024

Guyanese boxer, Desmond Amsterdam’s dreams to represent Guyana attheOlympicsGamesnext year is one step closer with his participation in the Pan Am Games made possible through Mr Azaruddin Mohamed.

It is no doubt that the businessman continues to throw his support behind young Guyanese sportsmen and women with the main aim of them realizing their dreams.

However, the 30-yearold member of the Guyana DefenceForcewillrepresent Guyana in the Light Heavyweight Category at theGamessetforOctober20 to November 5, 2023 in Argentina.

Oncehesecuresagoldor silver medal, he is automatically qualified for the Olympic Games to be heldinJuly,2024inParis.

BlairmontbeatTPCCby 5wickets

Excellent allround performances by senior Berbice inter-county players

Seon Glasgow and Nigel Deodat led Blairmont Blazers Cricket Club to a 5wicket victory over Tucber Park, when RBLnationwide Under-23 Inter-Club

Super50actioncontinued.

TucberParkposted93all out after Zeyul Ramsammy (26) and Ricardo Ramdehol (15) offered resistance Bowling for Blairmont, Altave Balman 3-11 along with the experienced duo of Deodat2-16andGlasgow223, kept the TPCC things tightfortheirside.

When the chase ended, Blairmontgotto96-5thanks to the pair of Glasgow, who hit 48 not out and Deodat (23), who returned to lead theirteamhomewiththebat.

Leon Swamy (3-14) and Addul Ramsammy (1-20) , Ramsammy (1-5) were the successful bowlers for TucberPark.

Achievers defeat

D’Edward/Bathby211runs

Achievers racked up a massive315allout,ledbya splendid hundred from SheltonRamsay(118)with5 fours and 12 sixes, 74 from Shamal Angel and 57 from TomariAnthony

HemrajHarilallsnatched 2-37 as three other bowlers snappedup2wicketsapiece forD’Edward/Bath.Inreply the latter were kept 104 all outwithalmosthalftheruns in extras andAyinde Rogers top-scoringwith31.

Brilliant bowling from Jayden Samuels (5-32) and Angel(4-17),cleanedupthe oppositionbattersinnotime. North Essequibo beat South Essequibo by 2 wickets

South Essequibo 166 all outaftersometag-teamwork fromAmitPersaud(4-41)

Raj Ramballi (4-32), whoranthroughtheorder

In reply, their combined efforts with the ball gave NorthEssequibotheedgeas theywouldendon167-8,led by Shazif Mohamed, who stroked an unbeaten 53 North Essequibo has now booked their place in the

Essequibo county final and await the winner of the Bartica and East Bank Essequibogame.

Albion beat Port Mourantby32runs

Albion made 142 all out 41.4oversthankstoDamion Cecil (61) who withstood PMCCbowlers, Romel Budwah 2-15, Navin Budwah 2-26 and FardeenKhan2for29.

Port Mourant racked up inreplywereshotoutfor111 all out 30.1 overs despite some heroics from National under-19 opener Rampertab Ramnauth who finished 77 not out as he ran out of partners.

Bowling for Albion, LeonCecilstarredwith4-22 a l o n g s i d e K u m a r Deopersaud who grabbed 433.

The RBL nationwide Under-23 Inter-Club Super50 Tournament will continue today, Friday with Berbice semi-finals. Albion face Skeldon at Skeldon ground, while Achievers face Blairmont at Cotton Treeground.

Nevertheless, Mr Mohamed’s sponsorship includes training, supplements and other aspects.

Amsterdam who hails from Stanleytown, Berbice last represented Guyana at

the Patrick Ford Boxing Card and won by knocking outhisopponent. With several wins under his belt, he remains optimistic that he will make theteamtotheOlympicsand thankedthebusinessmanfor

hisgeneroussupport. On the other hand, Mr Mohamed wished the boxer best of luck at the Pan Am Games while adding that he islookingforwardtoreceive thenewsofhimmakingitto Paris2024.

Champion of Champions dominoes set for Sunday

Champion of Champions dominoes competition is set for Sunday at 76 Meadow Brook Gardens starting at 14:00hrs

The winning team will take home a trophy and $225,000, runnerupatrophyand$100,000, third place atrophyand$50,000 and fourth place $35,000 Entrancefeeis$15,0000ateam The best female player in the tournament will pocket $10,000andtheMVP$10,000. The competition is open for teamsthatwontournamentsso far this year- Big Boss Girls, Turning Point, Spartans, Corrupt, Executive, Phantom, Hammer,1966LAW,Players,F andH,Gangster,RandR,Wild Bunch, Lions, 300, C Point, GoldisMoney,C7Strikersand MixUpA Theguessteamsare All Seasons, C 6, Hustlers, Providence, 53, Next Level, Gold Board, GRA, NALICO, Swagger Boss, Mix Up B, Dam, Vlissengen Road, West Side,MochaandFreshCash.

GeorgeAbramsoftheUSA has sponsored the first place prize.

Azruddin Mohamed (right) and Desmond Amsterdam. (Azruddin Mohamed Instagram page)

Mark Wiltshire accepts the trophy from Tanda Crossman of the Trophy Stall.

Shelton Ramsay Jayden Samuels

Sports

CWI Rising Stars U17

2-Day tournament Round 1…

Guyana vs.

Day 2

Republic Bank CPL 2023…

GAW vs. STKP

MVP Motie, Hope help Guyana Amazon Warriors sink Patriots by 65 runs

- Hope 54, Motie 4-29

Van Lange 91 headlines drawn match

Jamaican Williams captures a second world hurdles title

- Guyana (202-8 1st innings) Jamaica (1st innings 200-9 & 2nd innings 36-0)

Guyana Captain Jonathan Van Lange hit 91 in yesterday’s draw versus Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Danielle Williams crosses the line to win the women’s 100m hurdles final. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

Gudakesh Motie celebrates one of his four wickets. (Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

Jamaica