Kaieteur News

Leaders have a responsibility to present what Guyana offers to the World not to Guyanese -PresidentAli

WithGuyanapositioning itselftobeagloballeaderin the energy, climate and food sectors, President Irfaan Ali said leaders and the citizens of the country should be presenting what the country offers to the world, rather thanGuyanese.

He gave the charge on Saturday evening while delivering an address at the La Primavera Banquet Hall in Ontario, Canada PresidentAliwasonathreeday visit to the state and is expected to be back in Guyanatoday

During his presentation, theHeadofStatefocusedon the country’s development and the investment opportunities that await the diasporainCanada.

Ali explained, “I am not here to sell Guyana A journalist asked me how would you sell Guyana, we don’t need to sell Guyana. Whatweneedtodoistotalk aboutGuyana.

Guyana is already creating its own path but we asleaders,weascitizens,we haveanobligationtopresent

what Guyana offers to the World; not what Guyana offers to Guyanese but what GuyanaofferstotheWorld.”

He added that this is importantsinceitishisview that the country’s prosperity mustnotleadto“arrogance” but rather, to a “deeper understanding of our responsibilityinthisWorld”.

The Head of State went on to note that a deep understanding is what is required for Guyanese to make the World better and more so for the country’s prosperity to be shared with everycitizenoftheWorld.

“A deep understanding of what is required of us to make this world a better place,whatisrequiredofus toachievesharedprosperity for every citizen of the world and I say to you this evening that we in Guyana we will be part of a new global system and we will establish our credentials and we will be part of the solution and not the problem,” he shared while receivingaroundof

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President Irfaan Ali during his address in Canada

ExxonMobil official was to give Guyana US$18M

mastermind behind idea signing bonus

New revelations have surfaced regarding discussions former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman had with senior executives from ExxonMobil. In his recently publishedbooktitled,‘From Destiny to Prosperity’, Trotman shed light on the motivations as well as the true mastermind behind the controversialUS$18million “signature bonus” in the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement.

Trotman disclosed in his book that a senior Exxon executive explicitly stated that the oil giant does not hand over money to governments directly If fundsareneeded,{it}Exxon had to find a way to do it legally According to Trotman, suchdiscussionswithExxon executives primarily revolved around addressing the mutual interests of both parties. Trotman noted that o n o n e h a n d , t h e Government of Guyana was inneedoffinancialandother support to counter Venezuela’s claims for Guyana’s territory On the

otherhandExxon,alongside its partners, Hess and CNOOC, wanted to extend their hold on the significantly large concession to support their long-termoperations.

With respect to the former APNU+AFC regime’s need for funding, Trotman recounted, in his book ‘From Destiny to Prosperity’thathewastolda legalmeanshadtobefound.

“…At one time, I was pointedly told by a senior ExxonexecutivethatExxon doesnothandovermoneyto governments,andthataway had to be found to pass that money over through a legal means.Thisiswheretheidea of a new contract and a ‘signaturebonus’wasraised. It was certainly not my invention, or by my initiation. All this was, of course,newtomesoImade notes and promised to be in touch,” the former minister said.

He added, “Later, at a Cabinet meeting, I consulted,andwastoldthatI shouldgoahead,buttomake sure everything was legitimate. It was on this basisthatweproceeded-not

with an intention to renegotiate the terms of the 1999 agreement, but rather, to find a way to solidify a relationshipwithExxonasa development partner, and at thesametime,receivemuch needed financial and other support to advance our case againstVenezuela’sspurious andpatentlyfalsechallenges

andthreats.”

Trotman also explained that what had come to be known as the US$18M signing bonus was not the traditional bonus that other countries received for the development of their resources, and therefore did notattractthehighnumbers

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Mayhem and mangling

Ouryoungpeoplearegoingdownlikeflies. Sometimes, they take down innocent bystanders and other road users with them. Motorcyclists and their pillion riders are particularlyendangered,withroaddeathsandsevereinjures persistentitemsinmediareports.

Beforeitwasminibusesthatattractedthemostattention and the most dread from other road users, including passengers,pedestrians,andothers.Thoughthatmenacehas not depleted significantly, it is motorcyclists who are now makingthenewsmorefrequentlyandfortheworstreasons: theydietooyoung,ortheyarebadlyinjured,withothersalso maimed in the process. Lives are lost, and the living damagedforlife.

Thereistheusualrecklessspeeding,withridersoftenseen weavingbreath-takinglythroughtrafficinthecityandcountry areas Theyareplayinggamesofdangerousroulette,withthe odds multiplying against them daily Too frequently for comfort, motorcyclists are seen riding without helmets, or doing ‘wheelies’ (daredevil stunts in the face of oncoming traffic) Whenbikescollidewiththebiggermachines,there canonlybeoneloser,andanotherlossoflifebeingtheresult

Oneofthealarmingaspectsoftheroadmayhemsistheage of those falling victim, either by their own hand, or those of others Thenumberofyoungerdriversandridersonourroads is easily observable Speeding and carelessness seem to be their first callings, likely a product of overflowing testosterone,andtherushofadrenalinthataccompaniestaking chances by pushing pedal to floor, or throttles to the max Truth be told, older drivers, especially males, who are supposedtobemorematurefromlongerroadexposures,can also be major contributors to the routine breaking of traffic rules and regulations To ask for, or to expect, basic road courtesies, is an exercise in frustration. Very rare are the occasions on which such are displayed or encountered. Cloudsoflawlessnessanddiscourtesiesarenotthepreserve ofordinarycitizens,forwhatGuyaneselivewithonadaily basisisasaturationofbothineveryaspectoflife,andatmost levelsinthissociety

The educated might as well be illiterate. The experiencedwhohaveseenaworldofgoodandbadshould be a helpful asset. But too often they are too much in the middleofaroilingmilieu,ofwhichtrafficmayhemisoneof the more visible confirmations. It has been the case that whentherearetrafficdevelopmentsthatleadtoconflict,there are no calm, restraining voices, only those that egg on the involved from the sidelines Traffic drives Guyanese to madness,ormakesthemrunforcover Citizenstakealeafout of the thick playbook of veteran political figures, who themselvesaretheworstexamplesofallthatisgoingwrongin thiscountry Wespeaknotjustofthemockeriesthatoccuron ourroads,butoftheperversitiesthatgooninremotehinterland communities,andthefixesthathavebecomethenormtomake matters go away Who is not drunk with power, is driving drunkmostlikelyexemptfromradardetection,orseemingly drunkenlymanglingGuyanesewhohavetheaudacitytostand in their way As regular threatening road users do to their fellows,thereisthemowingdownofthosewhoareobstacles tothefreeforallthatpoliticiansroutinelydemandastheirdue

Onegoodthingisthattherearemorepolicetrafficranks ontheroads,eitheronmotorcyclesoronfoot. Thebadthing about their presence is that they seem to be in their own world,mindingtheirownbusiness,whichisnotnecessarily thebusinessthattheywereputontheroadstoaddress. That is,tokeepasharpeyeoutfortrafficviolators,eitherthrough speeding,pranks,orwhatputsothersontheroadindanger. Themorerulesthereare,themoretherearedeaths,injuries, and abuses. We love to mouth off about being a nation of lawsandnotmen. AsurveyofGuyaneselifeindicatesthat ‘men’isanunderstatement:themonstrousisnowthenorm, withmoredailymayhem,moremanglingfromhighoffices tolowroads.

SN and KN engaging in covering down domestic violence and sexual abuse

DEAREDITOR, In KN’s edition of 6.29.2023, A. Khan did a chronological expose of ‘A long history of alleged predatory behaviour by PPP Government ministers, others’ - Kaieteur News (kaieteurnewsonline com) Thedatastartedfrom2007to present day First thought that came to mind was, are we to believe it only started in2007?

I explained my feelings aboutthepresent-daymatter which involves the Minister as it relates to the hypocrisy of the two female Ministers who made statements Stabroek News did not publish my letter and KaieteurNewsaxedmostof it. WhydidKNdeletewhatI wrote? Itisallinthepublic domain, where a Minister wasengagedinanexchange with a former popular columnist of the very KN

paper Mr Kissoon, wrote about “The other side of Reepu Daman Persaud is wellknowninGuyanaandit certainly is not flattering. I will leave that for another discussion on this most controversial Hindu pandit whodiedseveralyearsago.” K.N. 18/1/2015. And then further wrote Freddie Kissoon replies to Vindhya Vasini Persaud - Kaieteur News(kaieteurnewsonline c om)A.Khan did not seek to mentionthisparticular(now deceased) Minister and honcho of the PPP When it was a serious matter such as a then sitting Minister of Government’s alleged affair with his young staff; it should be the business of every right-thinking Guyanese and especially independent newspapers WhyareSNandKNafraid? Oraretheyalsoguiltyofthe CoverDownsyndrome?

Is it because when it comestoviolenceespecially againstchildren,femalesand allvulnerableinoursociety, there is the culture of ‘COVER DOWN’—where victims are silenced? The late Sukree Boodram wrote “Breakout,” which dealt withthesubjectofDomestic Violence and Alcoholism in her life. The name of the book alone is selfexplanatory, and she related why it is a necessity to deal with these topics. Last year on July 4th, someone who shares the same birthday calledtowishme.

This time though, she was upset as she related to me about the alleged assault of a sister that happened yearsago.

I asked her, why did you not come out in all these years and divulge this heinoussinandIreceivedan earfulofexcuses.Whenwill

we collectively stop condemningandblamingthe innocent victims, making them fearful of even saying that they are the real sufferers?

Domestic Violence is often protected by this code ofsilenceandis‘COVERED DOWN!’ Rape and sexual abuse are enveloped in this protectedshieldof‘COVER DOWN’ I asked the questioninmyaxedletteras to why would someone do over and over what the Minister is accused of allegedlydoing?Weseewhy wheneventhepapersprotect someoftheculprits.

The #MeToo movement certainlyskippedGuyana.

I close with this gentle warning— you never know whenoneday,someonenear and dear may be the next victim.

Yourstruly, N.Sahadeo

PPP/CGovt.condonesabusers,sends dangerousmessagestovictimsofabuse

DEAREDITOR, Tamùkke Feminists notes with concern, the disclosure by the Guyana Police Force that the schoolgirl who had tabled sexual assault allegations againstNigelDharamlallhas moved to withdraw her report. The statement by the police on the matter appears h a s t y a n d l a c k s understandingofchildsafety andprotectionlaws.

In sexual assault cases where children are involved, the Director of Public Prosecutions has the authority to move aheadwithchargesagainst the alleged assailant regardless of if they receiveexplicitconsentfrom thechildinthematter

The DPP’s approach towards this case so far, however, demonstrates a clear lack of will, and sends a dangerous message to survivors of violence

Tamùkkenotesalsothe PPP/C’s party’s response to the rape allegations against Dharamlall, who has in the past faced similar accusations and documented inappropriate remarkstowomen

The response from the DPPandthePPP/Ctoletthe lawtakeitscourseisonethat we must be wary of. What does justice mean in a

society where economic and politicalpowerinfluencesits outcome,andwherecallsfor accountability are seen as baselessandantagonistic?

Callingforjusticeisnot black and white, and innocent until proven guilty cannot be the standardwecontinuetoput forwardassacredwhenitis increasingly obvious that justice is always coloured by the perceived or actual poweroneholdsinsociety

One thing that has always been certain has been that abusers are stood by, with the powerful ranks closing around them to protect them from any serious harm

T h e i r r e s p o n s e however is nothing new; the PPP/C has a documented history of keeping and promoting well-known abusers within their party, with several of them currently holdingthetitleofMinister

One example of this is Kwame McKoy who also had accusations of sexual assault of a child brought against him, and who has also been broughtbeforethecourtsfor othercriminalacts.

There is no question as to why the public does not trust the law.

As we can see, the State and its agents do

not care about the public’s trust; they care about protecting violent men

The permissive stance that has historically been taken towards abusers, especially those in positions oftrustandpower,continues tosendadangerousmessage to their victims, and other survivorsofabuse.

It demonstrates the absolute disregard that is had, particularly for women and children in Guyana, and it makes a mockery of the justicesystem.

Finally, Tamùkke reiterates and supports the call that Nigel Dharamllal must be officially removed from his government appointments, regardless of the legal outcome of the matter

Yoursinsolidarity,

AkolaThomspon

FeliciaMonderson

GraceHutson

MaleyhaJoseph

NiaWilliams

RenataBurnette

SalimaBacchus-Hinds

ShabakiSingh

SunitaSamaroo

ReturnDharamlallfileto DPPforadetermination

DEAREDITOR

From the beginning it seemed mixed-up. First, it was not so, then it was so, now no further action to be taken.

From this development, the public perception seems to be that of exhaustive questioningleadingtotheno further action to be taken in the case call by the complainant.

Itseemsreasonable,ifa seriousallegationislevelled, then the complainant must expect to be subject to intense grilling and questioningespeciallywhen

the file is sent back for furtherinvestigation.

The folding of the complainant has led to all sorts of interpretations, speculations and opinions, and the twist in the saga is tainted with unsupported suggestionsandinnuendoes.

The file must be returned to the legal authority charged with making a fair, unbiased and transparent determination on the outcome of this development and the way forward.

Sincerely, ShamshunMohamed

Dr. Jagan did not initiate the Sugar Welfare Fund

DEAREDITOR, Just recently a most respected friend and colleague called to ask whether or not I could confirm the rumour being circulated that the late Dr Cheddi Jagan was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r conceptualising and initiatingthedevelopmentof houselotsforsugarworkers – in what the sugar industry described as Extra Nuclear HousingAreas.

A c t u a l l y , t h e imaginative social development programme resulted from the much earlier British Colonial Government sponsored Venn Commission of Inquiry of 1938, caused by the Social Disturbances throughout the BritishWest Indies,intotheemployment and living conditions of sugar workers throughout the West Indies However, the intervention of the Second World War during the early 1940s postponed any immediate action by those sugar producing countries, except Trinidad

and British Guiana The latter government passed its SpecialFundsActin1947–constitutingof:

i) Sugar Industry RehabilitationFund.

ii) Sugar Industry Price StabilisationFund.

iii) Sugar Industry LabourWelfareFund.

The initial allocations wereto:

– Rehabilitation Fund –leviedat$4.50foreveryton ofsugarproduced.

– Stabilisation Fund –leviedat$6.00foreveryton ofsugarproduced;and

–LabourWelfareFund–leviedat$2.40foreveryton of sugar produced The Labour Welfare Fund was managed by the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee, consisting of

a) Bookers Sugar and DemeraraCompany;

b) Manpower Citizens Association (MPCA) – now GAWU–;and

c) Sugar Estates Clerks Association (SECA) – now NAACIE.

Estate management served as agents for the

Committeeinorganisingand delivering a most c o m p r e h e n s i v e infrastructural development of ‘funded’ sugar worker communities, while at the same time utilising industry resources to construct Community Centres and Girls’ Clubs that hosted a wide range of sports and social activities for males and females respectively

Apart from outdoor activities few alive would recall the drama groups which competed regionally, thentothefinals–celebrated at the Theatre Guild which still continues to be very active ever since its establishment by the industry’s expatriate theatre enthusiasts.

Whileaseniorexecutive at that time at GuySuCo, I was one of the industry’s representativeontheSILWF Committee, there was no recordofarelationshipwith Dr Jagan regarding the industry’s acclaimed social developmentprogramme.

Yourstruly,

E.BJohn

Youthful voices being suppressed in undemocratic fashion

DEAREDITOR, From the age of Independence, we were told that “Youths are the Future” which signified that young people must be kept in the vanguard of national development Over the years, we have seen waning involvement of youth at the politicallevel.Itappearsthat national leaders are only interested in courting the youth to vote during elections and not providing social, political, and economicequityforavoting population that’s mostly undertheageof40.

The recently concluded process of electing two youths to sit on the rights of the child commission is an exampleofthestateentities’ willingness to suppress the voices of our young people. Thegoverningpartythrough ayoungercadrehasbecome the light bearers of u n d e m o c r a t i c a n d oppressive behaviors Attempts by the Personal Assistant to the Minister of

Parliamentaryaffairsandthe Director of Youth from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to circumvent the constitutional process of selecting youths to the national commission on the rights of the child are

inexcusable Each organization after given 29 days to submit a nominee, were given a deadline after whichthesenomineesareto

be submitted to the Parliamentary committee of appointments It is mindboggling that given sufficienttimethesedespots were attempting to shoe in a “last-minute candidate” passed the deadline and to subvert the democratic process.

Thankfully, the committee members, including yours truly, stood steadfast to the democratic process against the unprincipled. Asaresult,the Director of Youth, out of jurisdiction, published a letter prior to the elections r e q u e s t i n g m y

disqualification from voting under the grounds that the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) falls under the departmentofYouthandme not being “sanctioned” to vote. Albeit the Executive Officer of the program, who wastheonlymemberlegally, consulted to participate on the cluster, is an earnest and respectful leader, who used his authority to select me as an alternate on the cluster due to my dedication and support, provided to the program over the years.The Director of Youth needs to emulate the Executive Officer’s adherence to democratic principles and understand his struggle to support the program with limited government resources. The Director of Youth in circumventing the process is setting a poor example to the nation’s youth that if they cannot please party agendas then it mustdictatean

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PPPGovt. is carving up Guyana for its own, the Opposition must awake from its slumber

DEAREDITOR,

In the year 2023 the nightmare story of Guyana has gotten worse, and we seemunabletowakeupfrom it. We are lurching from crisis to crisis and the welfare of the ordinary man and woman and working classisbeingignored.Every daythereissomeproblemor theotherinthemanagement of the state, and these problems are either instigated by the regime or continue to go unresolved throughthedeliberateaction orinactionoftheregime.

As ordinary citizens strive to make sense of their surroundings, go about their daily business struggling to makeendsmeetinanoilrich

economy, that is putting essential items out of their reach due to escalating high costofliving,theJagdeo/Ali regimeisunconcernedabout the sufferings and deprivationsofthemasses.

T h i s P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party (PPP) has no interest in governing in a manner that would weld the diverse forces together and e n s u r e e q u i t a b l e development of all, irrespectiveofrace,political association, or other diversity,consistentwiththe constitution and laws of Guyanathatweareallequal and equally deserving. The Opposition must awaken from its slumber given that in the political system they

are the government in waiting and keep the governmentincheckwithor without the support of other stakeholders.Itisnotloston me that the regime is refusingtoengage,andsuch non-engagement is not only a violation of constitutional obligation as required in Article13toforgeapolitical system of “inclusionary democracy,” but we cannot sit back and allow the PPP regime to continue to run wild.

The PPP is carving up Guyana and distributing the nation’sresourcestoafewas though it is their personal propertynotthatofthestate for which they must be held accountable for The regime

ismakingnopretenseofnot wanting to be fair and evenhanded, and therefore, we, thepeopleindirectresponse to their unfairness, must have more public clamoring and agitations to ensure our economic, social, cultural and political rights are respected and safeguarded. We are witnessing a regime playingadangerouspolitical game, intent on fostering deeper divisions and animosities between and among individuals and groups.Thereistheapparent acceptance, even among persons society held in esteem, that in order to reap Guyana’s wealth one must be silent in the face of growing injustices and

executive lawlessness, lest theyloseout.

Others are compelled to wear the PPP’s proverbial red, whether in the actual colour to accommodate the PPP’s pretense of inclusion andthatalliswell,whenthe political system is dysfunctional, and the masses are bleeding, dying, hungry, starving and homeless How can we ignorethat? Alldon’tflaunt the red, but they seek to identify sharing the same space, being part of an entourage welcoming a leaderwhoisnotcomplying with the constitution that dictatestherelationshipwith the Opposition and other stakeholders. They also go

cap in hand for handouts, feeding their selfish greed. They fail to recognise and uphold the integrity as expected of them and the stature they hold in society, whether from historical association, birthright or whatever Many are losing their souls, compromising group values, pride, dignity andthenation’ssecurityjust to get the crumbs of the nation’s wealth. There is no regard by these persons for what constitutes universally acceptable right and wrong or the people’s desire for equity, equality, law and order Othersareplayingto the gallery of the new lawless,unjustandimmoral

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DEAREDITOR, In often trying to goad Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton to stage public protests and other political actions for a new oil contract, Glenn Lall and his newspaper seem blind to a certain reality (see KN editorial of 1 July 2023, for example).

Mr Lall fails to see that the Guyanese people will never come out in numbers to demand a renegotiated contract under the PPP becausetheyknowtheywill never benefit meaningfully from any additional revenues should such renegotiationsucceed.

As I stated in a letter to KNonJune6th(titled‘Most Guyanese see no better life in a fair oil contract.’): “If citizensweretobeaskedina poll tomorrow, ‘Do you think you or your family would enjoy a better life

should Guyana get a better oil deal?’ about 90% of respondents would say “No.”

Ithenconcluded:“Many citizens therefore see no benefit in giving more than moral support to the wellintentioned campaign for a newoilcontract.

Guyanese are not going to protest in their tens of thousands for more oil revenuesunderanuncaring, anti-poor, corrupt, and i n c o m p e t e n t P P P government.”

Mass action against ExxonMobil (if necessary) forabettercontractwouldbe likely only when people are convinced that more royalties and other benefits wouldlargelyendupintheir pursesandwallets.

This mindset is totally understandable.

Why is Glenn Lall finding it hard to grasp the

Man stabbed to death while protecting wife’s purse from Venezuelan bandit

reality of this basic psychology - this basic kitchen-tableeconomics?

The Opposition Leader, therefore,isfranklytellingit asitis.

Renegotiation will have to await a new government that accepts its necessity, that puts people first, and in whichthepeoplethemselves have trust and confidence. These conditions do not existnowunderthePPP

Meanwhile, Mr Glenn Lall and his newspaper should fully direct their advocacy towards the government not only for its total resistance to renegotiation but for its failure to spend the oil revenuesinhand(billionsof US dollars) to reduce the costoflivingandliftthelow living standards of ordinary Guyanese.

Respectfully, Sherwood

Lowe

PPPGovt.iscarvingupGuyana...

Frompage05 rulesthePPPhasset.

Whereinthepasttherewere expeditionsfromafartofind our El Dorado, today when we are exploiting some of ourresources,aPPPcreated buccaneering class has emerged,unconcernedabout the masses and even development, only about themselves and the new trickle-downeconomics.

Forbes Burnham and Cheddie Jagan would be disappointed with what Guyana has become. Neither would they recognise their parties because the heirs have disgraced the legacy left them

The PPP is besieged by menandwomenactinglike brigands and drunken soldiers, robbing the citizens and getting high off the state’s wealth they are entrusted to manage on the people’s behalf, and bringing with them a few tag-alongs to benefit, as they and their cohorts flaunt their consumptive

spendinginourfaces

In the face of the historic exploitation and sale of our resources, which placed one of the poorest countries in the region to now amongst the richestoftheworld,halfthe societyislivinginpoverty

T h e p e n s i o n e r s cannot survive on their income

There is an absence of an appropriate social safety network to cater for the vulnerable and needy.

Our healthcare system isinept

The education system continues to lag behind our Latin American and Caribbean counterparts, churning out functional illiterates, and the high functioning amongst us cannot wait for the next plane to get out due to denial of opportunities withappropriatebenefits.

In spite of the abundance of resources and high deficiencies in human development there is no

A Venezuelan man was on Sunday stabbed to death outside of a Bar at Grove East bank Demerara (EBD) while trying to stopanallegedthieffromstealinghiswife’s purse.

DeadisOscarSanchezofLot37Eccles, EBD. According to police, Sanchez was killedaround04:30hrsreportedlybyanother Venezuelanman.

Investigators learnt Sanchez’s wife,Avie MarioLeaneTores,worksatthebarandafter finishinghershiftaround00:30hrs,theyboth began to imbibe with other Venezuelan nationalsoutsideofherworkplace.

She told police that around 04:00hrs the suspect approached and tried to steal her purse.Sanchezintervenedandconfrontedthe suspect. They ended up in an argument and the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanchezseveraltimestohisbody.

Sanchez fell to the ground and remained motionlesswhilethesuspectranaway Crime scene investigators said that stab wounds were seen in the middle of the victim’s throat, his back, shoulder and abdomen.

Detectives have since questioned a

national development strategy to address our socio-economic and political problems This is notbyaccident

The current leadership of the PPP, all of whom came from very poor background either do not know how to govern or have no interest in governingforall

When will the monsters that create our nightmares be gone?

Guyanese must awaken from this PPP nightmare to rid themselves of the monstersthatsowseedsof discord;robusourwealth, peace, security; that violate our children’s rights, cause their deaths, take away their dreams and brutally rape them; that continue to impose starvationwagesandsalaries on workers and violate their right to collective bargaining; and treat the elderly and other vulnerable groupswithdisdain.

Yoursfaithfully, LincolnLewis

Man beats common-law wife to death

Policearehuntinga man accused of b e a t i n g h i s common-law wife to death on Sunday morning at their home at Uitvlugt, West CoastDemerara(WCD).

The dead woman was identified as Bibi Naseefa Baksh, 48, and on the run is her husband, a 29-year-old fisherman.

According information received,Bakshdiedaround 05:30hrs.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understandsthatthecouple’s relationship was filled with domestic issues that led to frequent fights and quarrels.

On Sunday one of their fightsendeddeadly

The couple reportedly started arguing with each other during a drinking session around 04:30hrs yesterday morning It escalated and Baksh’s husband started beating her in front of her mother and 12-year-olddaughter.

Itisallegedthat theman kicked her down a flight of stairsandreportedlykicked, cuffed, and dealt lashes to her body with a piece of wood.

After beating her, he assistedthewomanbackinto thehousewiththehelpofher

daughter.Bakshwenttobed butneverwokeup.

Seeing her mother motionless on the bed, the 12-year-old child raised an alarm and the police were called in The fisherman reportedly left the house beforetheycame.

When police arrived, theynotedthatherbodybore multiple marks of violence including abrasions to her forehead,shoulder,armsand knees. They took her the Leonora Cottage Hospital where doctors officially pronouncedherdead.

Investigations are ongoing.

Youthfulvoicesbeingsuppressed...

Frompage5 undemocratic and intrusive approach to achievethegoalofbeingloyal.

I do not personally know the Director of Youth, but this behavior warrants a disregard of duty, and the integrity of his positionshouldbecalledintoquestion

The effort of the cluster leader Mr Clayon Halley must be commended for his

tenacity given the numerous obstacles placed before him unwillingly by the state young cadre attempts to disrupt the constitutionalprocess

The voice of the youth will never be silenced, Aluta Continua! (The struggle continues)

Yourstruly, CollinHaynes,MPH,MBA

Glenn Lall fails to see that Guyanese will not come out for more from oil, because it will not come to them

number of individuals in relation to the killingandhaveobtainedvideofootagefrom thebar

Dead Oscar Sanchez

G u y a n e s e Environmentalist, Dr Janette Bulkan, in a recent lettersaidthatthesalebythe

Government of Guyana of forest-based carbon credits wasfraudulent. She explained that the

Government had no authority to sell any of the resources on the titled Village Lands without

explicit Amerindian agreementatVillagelevel.

“Thiswasasaleofstolen property, and Hess

Corporation is likewise

Govt. had no authority to sell forest-based carbon credits from titled Village Lands without explicit Amerindian agreement -Environmental Activist

criminally guilty of purchasing such stolen property, having been

informed of the illegality,” DrBulkanadded.

She explained that any AmerindianVillage Council can agree to dispose of naturalresourcesofthetitled Amerindian Village Lands only through compliance with sections 13, 14, 34 and 44 of the Amerindian Act cap.29:012006. According to Dr Bulkan, these sections require a properly convened villagemeetingandavoteof at least two-thirds of villagers in favour of such disposal.

Tothisendshesaid,“So far as I know, none of the titled Amerindian Villages hasconvenedsuchameeting orpassedsuchavote.”

Consequently, she said the sale by the Government of forest-based carbon credits was fraudulent, including the 2.299 million hectares of forest onVillage Lands sold on December 1, 2022.

“Thiswasasaleofstolen property, and Hess Corporation is likewise criminally guilty of purchasing such stolen property, having been informed of the illegality,” DrBulkansaid.

She added that the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat’s TREES and Aster Global Environmental Solutions as auditor were informedthattheirfailureto apply the Amerindian Act led to these criminal acts. Notably, Aster Global was contracted as the auditor of Guyana’s carbon credits s c h e m e t o e n s u r e compliance with the

Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat’s TREES (The REDD+ Environmental Excellence)Standard.

Dr Bulkan said too that the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) would be justifiedininvokingthe Continuedonpage13

Dr. Janettte Bulkan

The West Indies team has learnt the art of consistent losing

The crisis inWest Indies cricketwasnotanovernight development. West Indies cricket has been in terminal declineeversincetheendof theVivianRichard’sera.

The decline in West IndiescricketisNOTdueto the lack of world class cricketers. The West Indies were losing when it had players of the calibre of JimmyAdams, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. Even withthosestars,WestIndies werenotdominatingredball and white ball cricket. So, it cannotbeacasewherebywe lackedqualityplayers.

We have always produced quality players

But after the Era of Dominance, we did not produce sufficient worldclass players at the same time.Ifyoulookattheteams led by Clive Lloyd and VivianRichards,manyofthe players in those teams were ranked in the top ten in bowlingandbatting.In1981 for example, we had Viv Richards,AlvinKallicharran andGordonGreenidgeinthe Top 10.At least three of our fast bowlers were always in the Top 10 during that period.

Today, our present crop of players struggles to make it into those brackets. At presentnoneofourbatsmen or bowlers is in the Top 10 ranked Test players. But for all-rounders we have two in Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder We are in a worst shape in white ball cricket.

None of our players, batsmen, bowlers or allrounders, are ranked in the Top10.

The metrics suggest that we need not just one great player to perform consistently in a team to make it dominant; we need about three players. At present we do not have this luxury The focus therefore has to be on building a balancedteam.Inwhite-ball cricket years ago, West Indies usually field one specialist all-rounder with VivRichardsdoublingupas a spinner These days we have three to four allrounders in 50-over cricket.

In the ongoing ICC qualifiers, the West Indies went into every match with at least 3 specialist allrounders. This affected the team’s balance and ultimately its performance. Even when the team scored 374runs,itcouldnotdefend thisagainstminnowslikethe Netherlands.

Cricket has changed from the Era of Dominance of the West Indies. In those days, the West Indies Test and One Day International teams were virtually indistinguishable. But now thereisalmostadifferentred ball team and a white ball team.Foraregionassmallas the West Indies, and with a limited pool of players to choose from, it is not advisable to have three distinct teams for T20, ODI andTestcricket.

Admittedly, the rules of ODIhavechangedtoprovide greater entertainment These

Dem boys seh...

changeshaveencouragedthe adventofmoreutilityplayers, including the ‘finishers’ and all-rounders.Butaswehave seen with the West Indies ODI team, this comes at a huge price – not having penetrative bowlers and quality middle order batsmen.

Cricket West Indies has embarked on a development programme to encourage more players and have a larger pool of talent from whichtoselectteams Butthe converse approach might be better: build a strong team from the existing pool and thedominanceofthisteamis going to inspire more personstowanttoimitatethe success of the team’s players.

At present, we have the core of a potentially strong team for Test and One Day cricket We have two good openers in Kurt Braithwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpual with Alick Athanaze as a possible fill-in In the middleorder,ShaiHopehas theclasstobeatopplayerat both Test and ODI even though he has not done well inTestcricket.Andthereare somepromisingplayerswho needtheexposuretoelevate theirgame.

However, it is the bowling department where the nightmare begins Jason Holderisamongthebestallrounders in the world but he needs a few yards of extra pacetobeamorepenetrative fastbowler AzariJosephis developing nicely but apart from him, the cupboard is bare.

Selfies are now worth more than visas

De air is abuzz with excitement! Everyone wantstogetinontheaction. No, it is not money that is sharing out. Rather de ‘ Selfie Boss’is in town and everyonewantstogetclose to him, to have a snapshot with him and to see their photographpunFacebook.

De ‘Selfie Boss’ is de ultimate symbol of public popularity A photograph withhimisworthmorethan aUSvisa.

Never before has de country been so united around any single individual.What Jagan and Burnham could not do, de ‘Selfie Boss’ is achieving.

No matter deh colour or creed, everybody wants to be seen with and to touch and, most of all, get a snapshot with de ‘Selfie Boss’.

De man now more popular dan Santa Claus. WhoknowsifBraddPittor Will Smith or Shahruk Kahn come to Guyana, dem might gat to play second fiddle to de ‘Selfie Boss’.

De line getting longer and longer fuh tek a snapshot with de ‘ Selfie Boss”. But unlike in other lines where people like to cut-in, people are waiting patiently fuh a picture with

As such, theWest Indies havetoidentifybowlerswho can be penetrative and put them through a rigorous trainingprogrammeunderthe guidanceofthelikesofAndy Roberts and Michael Holding.

One of the problems of West Indian cricket is that though the region has produced outstanding legspinners in regional tournaments, when they enter the West Indies team,

they are not given the right encouragement and support tobesuccessful.Asaresult, we have not been giving enoughopportunitiesforthe developmentoflegspinners.

Goingforward,thefocus therefore has to be on buildingagoodteamforTest and ODI from the present crop of players. The core of both teams should have the sameplayers.LeavetheT20 to the entertainment business.Theteamhastobe

balancedwithgoodbatsmen and penetrative bowlers Unlessthishappens,wewill continue to shatter the pride ofourpeople.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or viewsofKaieteurNews.

de ‘Selfie Boss’. Dem so well-behaved. No shoving and pushing People showingmorepatiencethan paper

But yuh know Guyanese. Deh must gat some person who gan behave out of de way One man decide he gan ask de ‘ Selfie Boss’ fuh a ‘raise’. Hegouptode‘SelfieBoss’ and seh “ Boss, me nah want picture, me want a littlefreck.”

Right away de ‘Selfie Boss’ decide is time fuh move. He signal he driver, jump in he fancy car, and rolloutdeplace. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

Stoptheshouting,stopendorsingself-slavery

Guyanesehavetostopshoutingat each other, learn the futility of their incessant reciprocal, primal screaming Nobody benefits, not a singleinch is gained, besides some applause from one’s own circle, while an entire country is oppressed under the foreign jackboot. My fellow Americans aretoday’sPrussians.

Politicians snarl at politicians Politicians lunge at citizens, especiallythosewhodisagreeopenly with them Citizens growl audibly, bark furiously, at citizens. This is the cacophony of a polity at war with itself, democracy’s death throes. Guyanese mobs rampage, while invaders take advantage. Exempt me from any cursing, the vilifying. I turn my cheek; one handcanclapforallitsworth. We have people hurting, issues devastating.

About elections: who rigged before,whoisriggingtoday Beyond any doubt, elections are the most importantthinginGuyana,amatterof life and death. It is unbelievable that elections could take precedence over this nation’s oil patrimony, family, patriotic duty, holdstheunmatchedplacetheydo in our calculations. When we

cannot govern ourselves in a civilized manner, then oil means nothing for the masses, few prosper The odds of it being the pathway to universal prosperity plummet. When we maul one another,wetenderablankcheckto localandforeignexploiterstotake advantage of us avoid addressing the roots of our ills. The only instinct is to outshout the other I donothavetoreturntoAmericato encounter a raging Trump, or a declining Biden, (and the people propping both up); I get that right hereinthenoise,rage,andhate.

Politicalleadersandtheirhelpers screamandshoutatGuyanese(there are few opposing), who question, challenge, object, and expose what surrounds this national wealth, and howitismismanaged. Certainly,it cannot be said that screaming and shouting enhance the prospects of ordinary Guyanese. It is more of a self-recommendation to Exxon by thoselongingforapatonthehead. Good dog! Down boy! Put differently, Guyanese thrill to kowtow before foreign exploiters, so lacking in self-respect they are today. Locals suppress their own intellect and commonsense and pretendthattheyarecontentedwith

howtheAmericanoilcompanyhas treated Guyana’s patrimony To stay in Exxon’s good books, men prostitutetheirmindsfirst,andthen themselves Field Marshall Alistair Routledge must be utterly delighted. Exxon holds all the cards,controlsthehumanlevers,at thehighestpoliticallevels. Thisis why Guyanese grovel to get near the action, and shout at their peers to prove their loyalty to Exxon’s brand, vision, narrative, and actions.

Myirreversiblepositionisthatwe make a start at addressing our many local issues when we respect the person across the fence When the arenas of conversation are characterized by curses and mob mentalities, such meet with the fullest approval, applause, of peoplewhothrillatthespectacleof colored people attacking colored brethren They delight at Guyanese being reduced to this passionate warlike state. Their presence is sanitized; our shouts justify it. When we know our Achilles heels, we may manage ourselves better, succeed in possibly standing upright. If and when we prioritize living in a civil manner,wemightevenprogress.

Ilistenfromtheperipherytothe furiousexchanges,theuninterrupted streamsofreciprocalvilification,and askofmyselfwhetherweappreciate, or even care, that this is how we give comfort to the enemies of our promise, the saboteurs of our destiny More are coming out to denounceme. Myevilisrefusalto subscribe to American slavery, as aided by Guyanese. Do the best with the scurrilous, vicious and unscrupulous. Unmoved,Iam.

There shouldn’t be a single Guyanese political figure around such putrid practices, the product of offal-overwhelmed minds If they can inspire their people into the streets, they can require of them thattheymanagethemselvesbetter We only do favors for the Caucasians who have long exploited and damaged our ancestors. Some of our forebears from India and Africa had the backbone to stand in resistance to the Whiteman’s burden, that become the nonwhite man’s bondage. There was the Indian Mutiny at Meerut, and the Zulu triumphattheBattleofIsandlwana. They died fighting against those calumnies, those racial crimes, thoseracistdemagogues. Wemust

betheworstkindofunmentionable people, the most craven type of sons and daughters have we become, when we feed the hand thatenchainsus,thenwhipsus.

Theyaregoingtohavetogetrid ofmebeforeIbesmirchthelegacies ofthosewhocamebefore Idistance myself from foreign expectations, move away from foreign maneuvers, and abhor their sanctimonious paternalism

Somebody can convey that to BharratJagdeo,AlistairRoutledge, and whoever is the incoming AmericanAmbassador Theyhave crowds of Guyanese fighting to attract their attention, falling over themselves for their smiles. It is theirright. Istandapart. Whoever it pleases can do so, but I will not shout for joy and distort my peace by bending to serve the White man’spiraticalinterests.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressedinthiscolumnarethoseof the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of KaieteurNews.

GHRA says public interest demands trial into Minister Dharamlall case

…calls for implementation of systems to protect victims of sexual abuse

I n l i g h t o f t h e announcement that the 16year-old girl withdrawing her rape allegation against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, the Guyana

Human Rights Association (GHRA) in a recent statement underscored that public interest demands a trial into the case. GHRA also called for the implementation of a Safeguarding Policy for

victimsofsexualabuse.

On Friday, the alleged victim informed police investigators that she no longer wishes to continue with the matter. Kaieteur Newsreportedthatthechild, who has been in protective

custodyforjustoveraweek, toldinvestigatorsthatsheno longerwantstoproceedwith thecase.

The Association underscored in their press statementthattheactionand inaction of politicians at

every step of the way in the matter involving Minister Dharamlall have been deferential to the offender ratherthanthevictim.

“Offender-deference dictated the choice of the Child Care & Protection

Agencyto‘protect’thechild, effectively isolating her fromthecare,protectionand legal support she required, while making her available and vulnerable to those seekingtochangehermind,” itwasstated.

GHRA continued:

“Despite unprecedented public revulsion over the incident, Government leaders continue to see nothing in the pattern of Dharamlall’s behaviour that even merits a rebuke. This non-reaction has all the hallmarks of the suspect being in a position to embarrass others if action weretakenagainsthim.”

The Human Rights Association questioned the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), adding, “In jurisdictions less complacent than ours about sexual assault, police acting professionally would have encouragedthevictimnotto giveup.”

Added to this it was stated that public interest considerations in the Dharamlall case point heavily in support of the needforatrial.

“Sexual assault cases involving young indigenous girls in Guyana are widespread, systematic and rarely prosecuted, a conclusion the forthcoming Commission of Inquiry into the Madhia dormitory fire will likely reveal,” GHRA noted.

Itwasunderscoredthata professional policing approach to combatting the reality of a victim not wishing to press charges wouldbetopointoutthatthe support from the police still remainonoffer

“The offer can extend to clothes being stored and evidencekeptinafreezerin casetheychangetheirmind. Thecontrastingsadrealityin Continuedonpage14

Minister of Local Govt. & Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

Scholarshipsavailabletopursue Master’s,Bachelor’sDegreeatUG

DPI - Scholarships are now available through the MinistryofPublicServicefor persons wanting to pursue a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Guyana (UG) for the 2023/2024academicyear

Interested students can earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, Procurement Management, Strategic Development Studies and Supply Chain Management through this mechanism.

Prospective applicants mustobtainadmissiontoUG for the required programme andtheymusthaveobtained theirBachelor’sDegreewith a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8.They must be 35 years or under and be in good health to complete the programme successfully A valid Guyanese passport is also requiredtobeconsideredfor thescholarship. Additionally, spots are available to pursue a

Govt.hadnoauthority tosellforest-based...

Frompage8 Judicial Review Act cap. 03:06 2010 to require the Government to restore the carboncreditstotheaffected titled Amerindian Villages, and to pay appropriate damagesforthetheft.

Moreover, Dr Bulkan’s lettercomesinsupportofthe recent meeting with the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), the Moruca District Council (MDC), North Pakaraimas District Council (NPDC), South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), UMDC and carbon credits scheme verifier,AsterGlobal.

At that meeting, Aster Global was represented by its Principal Scientist and lead auditor, Mr Kevin Markham and Forester/GIS Remote Sensing Specialist, Mr SandeshShrestha.

Mr Markham told the meeting that Guyana is entering its second crediting phase (2021-2025) and his team was conducting site visits for the verification of the credits and compliance withtheTREESstandards.

In his introduction, Mr Markham explained that his team met with communities in Regions 1, 2 and 5 along with government and other stakeholders. He added that the team’s priorities were based on the “useful comments”submittedbythe

homes for elderly to be constructed soon in Sand Creek

of 50 homes to be built

APA. During the meeting, Mr Markham asked a series of questions surrounding concerns raised during the last crediting period particularly relating to the processesemployedtoarrive at the benefit-sharing agreement, the National Toshaos Council (NTC) resolution endorsing the Low Carbon Development Strategy2023andtheoverall consultation period led by thegovernment.

Additionally, Mr Markham committed to follow-up meetings if necessary, with theAPAand District Councils, to ensure that all their questions are addressed.

The District Council representativestookthelead during the discussion and presented the Aster Global team with all the relevant information relating to the law, processes, and guidelines of free, prior and informedconsent(FPIC).

Notably,themeetingwas also used as an opportunity to elicit answers from Aster Global’s team about the work they do and how they ensure compliance with the TREEStandards.

At the end of the meeting, there was a commitment to further collaboration and informationsharingfromall thepartiespresent.

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Statistics, Economics, Public Management, Social Work, Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, Medicine and Geologyamongothers

Applicants must obtain admission to UG for the required programme and must have a GPA of 2.8 or above. They are also required to be 35 years or under and in good health to completetheprogramme.

Applications must be submitted on or before Sunday, August 20, 2023. Limitedscholarshipsare

Continuedonpage14

Minister within the Ministry of Housing andWater, Susan Rodrigues hands over the quotation form

DPI - The government is set to commence construction of the first 20 of 50 homes in Sand Creek, South Rupununi, Region Nine, as part of the Hinterland HousingProgramme.

Theinitiativeformspartofacommitment made by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali whenhevisitedthearealastyear Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, during an engagementwiththeresidentsofthevillage on Saturday, stated that the homes will primarily cater to vulnerable groups, with a particularfocusontheelderly

The selection of beneficiaries will be conductedbytheVillageCouncil,ensuringa fairandtransparentprocess.

Quotationformswerealsodistributedfor materials such as sand, stone, bricks and timber, as well as labour to commence the constructionofthehomes.

Theconstructionofeachhouserequiresa teamoffiveworkers.Theprogrammecovers the cost of two skilled persons, while the beneficiaries are responsible for providing threelabourers.

Theministerassuredthecommunitythat Continued on page 19

Total

20

GHRAsayspublicinterestdemandstrialinto...

Frompage12 Guyana is that credibility of the engaged Agencies is so low, they are reduced to creating a demeaning video of her retraction,” it was added.

The Association explained that introduction of Safeguarding Policies in every organization in the country should be the priority response to this

incident.

GHRA outlined that, “The Safeguarding Policy must be prominently placed and accessible by all staff andvisitors.ASafeguarding Officer (whose name is displayed in the Notice) is appointed to manage and enforce the policy and is ring-fenced from retaliatory action.”

Moreover, the Guyana

Police Force (GPF) issued a statement condemning and cautioning against the peddling of misinformation on social media about what occurredinthecase.

Itwasfirststatedthatno police investigator made contact with the teen on Thursday to conduct any interview after the file was returnedbytheDPP

The GPF claimed that it

was last Thursday when the girlinformedherparentsand an officer of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) that she did not want to proceed with this matter anyfurther Thereafter, it was stated that the teen girl and her parents then prepared a statement to reflect that she is withdrawing her complaint Notably, the

Police said that no investigatorwasapartofthis process. The statement was then delivered to the DPP’s Chambersbyaparentofthe teen; another copy was then deliveredtothePolice.

It was explained that only after receipt of that statement did investigators meet with the teen, her parents and an officer from CPA.

“Atthattime,theVirtual Complainant (alleged victim), in the presence of herparentandtheChildcare official, informed the investigators that she was withdrawing her complaint against Minister Nigel Dharamlallandthatshewas doing so without anyone forcing her to do so and of herownfreewill,”thePolice disclosed.

It was stated too that a videorecordingwasmadeof the teen expressing her wishes. Notably, the Police underscored that every process of the child withdrawing her allegation was done in the presence of her parents and the CPA officer

Given this, the Police said the next step will be to sendbackthefiletotheDPP forlegaladvice.

Moreover, it was stated that, “For emphasis, it must be reiterated that at no time whatsoever, was the Virtual Complainant [alleged victim] interviewed and reinterviewedtoexhaustionas isalleged.”

The GPF expressed concerns over the fact that confidential information surrounding the interview that was conducted by a Non-Governmental Organization was disclosed to several persons who publisheddetailsofsameon socialmedia.

To this, the Police said, “Thisisaseriousdevelopment whichcanunderminecriminal investigations resulting in serious miscarriages of justice”

Scholarships availableto...

Frompage13 available for persons to pursuestudiesattheCarnegie School of Home Economics forthesameacademicyear

Spotsareavailableforthe Diploma in Catering and Hospitality as well as a Certificate in Commercial FoodPreparation Applicants must gain admission to the school before they can be considered for the programme.

The closing date for submissionsofapplicationsis July 31, 2023 Register and apply online by visiting the Ministry of Public Service’s websiteathttp://mpsgovgy

In 2023, some 1,221 Guyanese will receive scholarships from the Ministry of Public Service. This is in keeping with the government’scommitmentto enhancing human capital through educational opportunities.

Over600residentsbenefittingfromnew $35MwatersysteminSawariwau,RegionNine

with the Village Council to extend the water service to households on the outskirts oftheWapichanvillage.

Minister Rodrigues explainedthattheprojectisa commitment made to the village after it was discovered that only 20 per centofthevillagehadaccess to potable water from a hand-dugwell.

The minister reiterated t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s commitment to the development of the 230 Amerindian villages across the ten administrative regions. She noted that this commitment is evident through substantial annual budgetary allocations to

varioussectors.

Inthewatersectoralone, a significant investment of over $2 Billion has been made to enhance access to water in the hinterland and riverine communities, with an additional $1.4 Billion earmarked for projects this year

“We are always thinking of ways to improve our system and we always have your interest at heat… All across the country, you can seeworkbeingdoneinevery single sector for the improvement of lives,” she underscored.

Meanwhile,theresidents expressed their appreciation for the new system,

recognising its positive impact on improving their standardofliving.

J o s e p h A n t o n e , acknowledged the significant investments made by the government in thehinterland.Hestatedthat the new water system is just one example of the numerous projects being undertakeninthevillageasa direct result of government intervention.

Joycelyn Wilson, one of theleadersofthecommunity cultural groups, shared that she is now experiencing the luxuryofhavingwaterinher showerforthefirsttime.

“Thewaterisveryclean

Continuedonpage20

DPI - More than 600 residents of Sawariwau Village, South Rupununi, Region Nine are now benefitting from a newly constructed $35 million water distribution system,

ensuring clean and reliable potable water for the community

On Saturday, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, officially

inauguratedthenewsystem. Itcatersto60percentofthe villagepopulation,including health and education facilities.

Additionally, a $2 million contract was signed

The $35M water system

Southern Wing of Uncle Eddie’s Home refurbished by HARRIS PAINTS

Uncle Eddie’s Before Uncle Eddie’s After

Th e s e n i o r residentsofUncle Eddie’s Home located in the Tucville n e i g h b o u r h o o d o f Georgetown, are enjoying thecomfortandrelaxationof wonderful new living quartersrecentlyredecorated withHarrisPaints.

The project was initiated by Guyana’s ‘Food for the Poor’ who reached out to Harris Paints for assistance with refurbishing the Southern Wing of Uncle Eddie’s Home, an important institution in the community for almost 50 years. The facility houses 18 elderly residents and provides general housing and benevolenceprogrammess.

Colour is an important part of managing health and well-being and a palette of

twoshadesofgreyandwhite was selected to create a soothing and calming surrounding for those who live there. Grey provides a soft backdrop that is peaceful, balanced and reassuring.

A spokesperson for The Home said that since the remodel residents are now gravitating to the Wing and spending more of their time there.

Harris Paints Limited, Guyana donated some 30 gallons of paint and other painting supplies including brushes,traysandrollersfor the ‘Helping Hands

Volunteers’ to assist ‘Food

ForthePoor,GuyanaInc’.in upliftingthefacility

Senior Manager of Gifts and Kind at ‘Food for the Poor’, Jimeel Davis, who

oversaw the renovations, said that they were very p l e a s e d w i t h t h e performance of the paint; thatitappliedwell,driedfast and had a low scent which was important for the health ofresidents.

They also remarked that itcoveredverywellwithone coat and only applied the second as it is the recommended standard practice.

‘Food for the Poor’is an organisation which emerged in 1982 when Ferdinand Mahfood was inspired to serveGodinamoreintimate and committed way He devoted his experience in business to be a ‘beggar for thepoor’.

With the charitable donationsraised,hestarteda chain of giving that today results in relief projects and programmes in Guyana and more than two (2) dozen countries in Latin America andtheCaribbean.

Retail Services Manager ofHarrisPaintsGuyana,Mr Nigel Dodson said that he was happy to be on board with ‘Food for the Poor’for thisproject.

“It was a delight to be able to partner with this exceptionalcharity,andgive back to those in need, especially the elderly, many of whom have already given s o m u c h t o t h e i r community.”

The Harris Paints Team as they presented the items before the painting was done: Sidonia Peters, Logistics, Inventory and Human Resource Manager, Jameel Davis, Senior Manager, Gifts and Kind, ‘Food for the Poor’, Guyana Inc , Nigel Dodson, Retail Services Manager, Harris Paints Guyana Limited and Ms Jonelle DeVeira, Public Relations Manager, ‘Food For The Poor’, Guyana Inc.

The before and after pictures of the Southern Wing of Uncle Eddie’s Home

20 homes for elderly to be constructed soon...

Frompage13 theirchallengesandneedswillcontinuetobe addressedbythePPP/Cgovernment.

“As long as you have challenges and needs, we will have those fixed We come to these communities to see what the issues are and we report back to the cabinet and then thereisimmediateactions,”sheunderscored.

Meanwhile, the community is now benefitting from a $15 million water supply system,acollaborationoftheGuyanaWater Incorporated(GWI)andthevillagecouncil

Thewatersystemcomprisessolarpanels and a new pump system, providing 95 per centofthevillagewithpotablewater Thisis in addition to the extension of an existing

distribution network scheduled to be operationalbytheendofAugust.

SandCreeknowboaststhreewells,with the pump system estimated to last about 20 years.

Minister Rodrigues outlined the government’s broader plan for water infrastructure, which will see 100 per cent

coverage in hinterland and riverine communitiesby2025

Over the past three years, a total of 40 wellshavebeendrilledinthehinterland,with another 40 on schedule for construction this year Thisisinadditiontotheupgradingand extension of existing water distribution systems

Over600residentsbenefitting...

Frompage15 and the pressure is very strong, I am getting water to my shower The pensioners are benefitting from it, especially my mom who is90yearsofage,”shetoldtheDepartmentof PublicInformation(DPI).

Wilson said she anticipates a further

expansionofthesystemtocover100percent ofthevillageinthenearfuture.

Permanent Secretary, Andre Ally and Hinterland Director of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Ramchan Jailall and Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock were alsopresentattheevent.

Guyanese Dr. Bisram honored in Fiji for global humanitarianism

Dr Vishnu Bisram, well k n o w n G u y a n e s e commentatorandpollster,was honoredinFijilastmonth“for lifelong humanitarian and volunteerservicetoDiasporas globallyandforextraordinary academicachievements”.

The award was given by Janhitkari Sewa Sansthan, an organization that spreads goodness globally through volunteerism. Dr Bisram was recognized by this NGO for his commitment to serve humanity

Dr Bisram has been involved in humanitarian and communityaffairsintheUSA sinceinthelate1970swhenhe arrivedtheretopursuetertiary studies He said his recognition and extraordinary achievements are due to hard work, dedication, and commitment to various humanitarian and charitable causesandworkingcloselyto uplift the lives of Guyanese and other immigrants in America.

“Ifoughtthehelltogetan education while serving others, and I fought my own battle as well as the battle for Guyanawhileservingtouplift lives of less fortunate,” he said.

Dr Bisram donates funds and his time regularly to myriad social causes and organizations in Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Fiji, the US, and India He also regularly helps with the Christmas and other festival luncheons and occasional outingactivitiesfortheelderly in Queens, through the Indo Caribbean Federation and various Hindu religious organizations.

Hehastutoredjuniorhigh schoolstudentsinpreparation for entrance exams to select (magnet)highschoolsinNew York City; he worked closely with USA Arya Samaj and Indo Caribbean Federation to organise programmes and refreshments for participants in their various activities, and has tutored students individually in their homes gratis.

Remaining deeply committed to human development, Dr Bisram will continue through his hard work and dedication to build capacity among members of the Diaspora, while generating measurable, sustainable impact for the meaningful enhancement of theirlives.

Dr. Vishnu Bisram (second from right) receiving his award

WANTED VACANCY

Lathe Operator, Welder and Handyman needed at Good Hope on the East Coast. Call: 645-9333.

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One able- bodied male or female staff needed to work in a store. Call: 225-2313, 2261497, 658-8559.

Driver with MV licence, ages 25-40 years. location: R.M Bhaichandeen Inc, 78 Church st, G/town.

One diesel Mechanic and Welder Fabricator needed to work in the Interior. Interested persons can make contact on: 701-4000.

Housekeeper/ Maid wanted in Section A, Diamond EBD. Call: 657-8732/ 665-0677.

Chef Express Catering Service is now hiring Cooks and kitchen Assistant, Contact: 506-2211/ 699-5042.

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced Chauffeur with mini bus and hire car licence and also contract vehicles needed. Call: 645-0025.

Domestic/ Cook needed. Contact: 223-5273/74.

Diesel Mechanic wanted. Contact: 688-0417/ 2235273/74.

Honest Driver and Saleman needed. Must have experience in sales and Lorry licenses. Contact: 233-3512

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Female Domestic/ Maid for house keeping $4500 daily, Male Labourer $5000, semi skilled $6000, skilled $7000$8000. Call: 6825230, 6154414.

EDUCATION

Nursery, Primary,Form 1-2 Literacy, Reading, Examination preparation & Tours 76 Brickdam Next to N.I.S. Rising Star Academy. Call: 6909378.

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One Salesman, cxc subjects, experience in writing bills, stocktaking & cashing. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

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Hick's Ville Hotel is now hiring Receptionist and Hotel Attendant. Required to work shifts. Call: 6400673, 227-7714. Email: info@vegeworld.net

Water delivery Driver and Porter needed at E.C.D. Call: 676-1363/692-6768.

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Vacancy exists for one Driver, ages 20 - 60 yrs. Must know to drive Manual and must have car, van & motor lorry License. Contact: 679-7391.

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Anti-vaping campaign for St Ann high schools

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(Jamaica Gleaner) The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) has launched an anti-vaping campaign to help tackle the pervasive issue of e-cigarette use among high school students in St Ann. The launch took place on Tuesday at the St Ann Parish Library in St Ann’s Bay.

Ferncourt High School is set to become the testing ground for the pioneering initiative, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of ecigarettes and combatting the growing trend of vaping among secondary students.

Speaking during the

launch, Substance Abuse Officer for St Ann, Nordia Henry said that by partnering with the school, the NCDA aims to deliver targeted anti-vaping messaging to the student body, foster a culture of informed decision-making and promote healthier lifestyle choices.

She further shared that the campaign, which is expected to span six months to a year, was conceptualised following a recent rapid assessment in the parish, which revealed that seven per cent of 193 young respondents are using e-cigarettes.

Henry noted that there is a worrying trend in high schools with vaping, in that “girls are heavily using vape and also sharing the device within their circle of friends.”

She said the campaign will encompass a multifaceted approach to engage, educate, and empower school administrators, teachers, school leaders and parents to help students with substance abuse and social issues.

Training sessions will commence at Ferncourt in July and will be extended to other secondary institutions buying into the campaign.

Leaders have a responsibility to present what Guyana offers to the World...

From page 2 applause from the audience.

Ali said in all three of the crises that policy makers across the world are faced with; including energy, climate and food, there will be no conversation on those matters without Guyana being mentioned as part of the solution.

The President’s statement on leaders’ responsibil-

ity to offer what Guyana has to the World, rather than Guyanese would cause concern especially since its existing agreement with oil giant, ExxonMobil extends greater fiscal benefits to that company instead of the country. Despite the administration being aware of the flawed terms embedded in the deal, it still refuses to change the contract.

cial Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo has called on Guyanese to fight back against the government on the lopsided oil deal.

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LEGAL NOTICE

APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDERS CERTIFICATE

Raphael Trotman, the former Minister of Natural Resources who inked the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) on behalf of Guyana in 2016 has said that the contract can be renegotiated. He also pledged his support for changes to the lopsided agreement.

Sanzillo pointed out during a panel discussion that the Guyanese government have not only refused to renegotiate the Stabroek Block contract, but also allows lax enforcement of the laws governing the sector to continue. As such, he urged that it is now up to Guyanese to fight back.

One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage . Contact: 649-0956. Pure honey, wholesale and retail quantity. Call: 621-4273.

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

PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDER’S ACT. I, DERVILLE EQUIANO HARRY, of Lot 18 Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, Guyana hereby give Notice that I have applied to the Magistrate of the Georgetown Magisterial District for a Certificate under the Money Lender’s Act, authorizing the grant to me of a Money Lenders License to carry on the business of a Money Lender under the title of PHOENIX PAWN SHOP at, Lot Stall# 3 Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, Guyana. NOTICE of any objections to the 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, DERVILLE EQUIANO HARRY, Applicant.

Dated at Georgetown, Demerara. This 30th day of June, 2023.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has however refused Trotman’s support and has since made it clear that the contract will not be renegotiated.

Only on Sunday last, Kaieteur News reported that Director of the Institute for Energy Economics and Finan-

“The willingness of the government to participate in this is something that does need to be addressed but it’s not going to change because they’ve made it clear that this is the plan, and the plan will be to allow lax enforcement, to allow this really lopsided fiscal deal to continue…the people of Guyana really in terms of their government, they had better learn how to fight back because we have seen what happens when they don’t,” the Financial Analysis noted.

ExxonMobil official was mastermind behind idea...

From page 3 other nations secured.

While he made the point that the US$18 million “signature bonus” was not a typical bonus provided to countries, the former Minister said a previous assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) still deemed it to be a fair amount for a frontier producer.

Trotman also explained that the initial amount sought by the government of Guyana was US$15 million, benchmarked against a similar sum raised by CGX Inc., adjusted for inflation, to support the legal team defending Guyana’s case against Suriname before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Those funds

were used to assemble the legal team to combat Venezuela’s renewed claims for Guyana’s territory.

“I was told, and had no reason to doubt or disbelieve, that the same team that had handled our matter with Suriname had been assembled for our proposed defence against Venezuela’s renewed claims,” Trotman stated.

An additional US$3 million was allocated to enhance the capacity of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and related agencies.

At the time, the expectation was to utilize an average of US$1 million per year for capacity building until production and earnings commenced in 2019.

Russia launches the first drone strike on Kyiv in 12 days and all are shot down

(AP) - After a relative lull,Russialaunchedadrone attack early Sunday on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, officialssaid.Itwasthefirst such attack of the war in 12 days.

All of the Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones were detected and shot down, according to Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city administration In additiontothecityitself,the surrounding Kyiv region wastargeted.

Kyiv regional Gov. RuslanKravchenkoreported that one person was wounded by falling debris from a destroyed drone. Officials in the Ukrainian capital didn’t provide an exact number of drones that attackedthecity

But Ukraine’s air force said that across the country, eight Shaheds and three

Kalibr cruise missiles were launched by the Russians Further south, a 13-year-old boy was wounded in overnight shelling of Ukraine’s partially occupied s o u t h e r n K h e r s o n province, said Oleksandr T o l o k o n n i k o v , spokesman for the Ukrainian administration of the province

T h e c h i l d w a s wounded when the Russian army shelled the village of Mylove on the banks of the Dnieper River in the Beryslav district,Tolokonnikovsaid.

“The child was hospitalized, there is no threat to his life, ”

Tolokonnikov added,” he saidonstateTV

Shelling of Kherson province continued Sunday morning, wounding four people in the regional capital,alsocalledKherson.

T h e r e g i o n a l prosecutor’s office said that a residential area of the city was targeted by Russian troops operating in the Russia-occupied part of the Khersonprovince.“

“At least four citizens were wounded, two of them due to a targeted strike on a high-rise building,” the officewroteonTelegram.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military reported that the most intense fighting continued in Ukraine’s industrial east, with attacks focused around Bakhmut, Marinka and Lyman in the country’s Donetsk province, where 46 combat clashes tookplace.

Ukrainian forces were advancing amid a “massive offensive” on the southern and northern flanks of the destroyed city of Bakhmut, Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces spokesman Serhii Cherevaty told Ukrainian statetelevision.

But he didn’t mention how much progress they made

The details, he said, would be disclosed once Ukrainian forces had analyzedthesituationand consolidated their positions

In its regular update

Sunday morning, the General Staff said that over the previous 24 hours, Russia had carried out 27 airstrikes, one missile strike and around 80 attacks from multiple r o c k e t l a u n c h e r s , targeting regions in the north, northeast, east and southofthecountry

Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Black Sea port city of Odesa on Sunday the day the country honors its navy to hear a report from the navy commander, discuss prospects for the development of a naval drone and missile program, as well as present awards to servicemembers.

In Russia, local officials reported that air defense systems shot down a drone over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, while the neighboring Kursk region facedshellingattacks

Following the drama of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion last week, Russian authorities remained defiant VyacheslavVolodin,speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin came out of this situation “having strengthened his position even more both in the country and in the world.”

Russian society, he said, “having passed this test, has shown its maturity ” According to Volodin, there was “not a single example of someone supporting the rebellion.

But Gen Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of the Russian group of forces fighting in Ukraine, was believed to have been detained days after the mutiny

It’s not clear whether Surovikin, who has longtime links to Prigozhin, faces any charges or where he is being held, reflecting the opaque world of the Kremlin’s politics and uncertaintyaftertherevolt.

Writing on Telegram, Volodin said that the Russian president “did everything to prevent b l o o d s h e d a n d confusion,” including explaining to Wagner fighters “the real state of affairs.”

“(Putin) suggested that those who want to defend Russia continue their service with

weapons in their hands

As far as I know, many of them agreed to this,” Volodinsaid.

In addition, the

speaker of the State Duma said that he had analyzed the “challenges” Russia faced in the past, affirming that if “someone

like Putin” had been leading the countryin1917 and 1991, there wouldn’t have been a revolution in Russia, and the USSR wouldn’thavecollapsed.

But independent observers and analysts say that Putin may come out politically weakened after first announcing that Wagner would face harsh repercussions, only to later say that the group’s forces wouldn’t face prosecution. Prigozhin was also allowed to leave Russia forBelarus.

P o l i s h I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r M a r i u s z KaminskisaidSundaythat Poland would send 500 police officers to join 5,000 border guards and 2,000 soldiers already on the country’s border with Belarus It follows an announcement earlier this week that Poland would strengthen defenses on its eastern border after the relocation of Wagner fighterstoBelarus.

Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Warholm wins 400m hurdles race hit by environmental protest in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) - Norway’s Olympic champion Karsten Warholm won the men’s 400 metres hurdles in a race that was hindered by a protest from environmentalists at a rain-hit Galan Diamond League meet yesterday.

Three protesters from A22 Network, who interrupted the Swedish final of “Let’s Dance” on TV4 last month, knelt on the track about 10 metres from the finish line, stretching a banner across six lanes, forcing most of the field to run through it.

Warholm, running out in

lane eight, was not affected.

“It is permissible to protest, but this is not the way to do it,” Warholm told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It is disrespectful to those who are here to do a good job.

“I must honestly admit that I’m pissed off.”

The 27-year-old double world champion, who slapped his thighs and let out a loud whoop during the introductions, ran blind in the outside lane en route to a time of 47.57 seconds.

While he was a way off his world record of 45.94 set at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, two

Monday July 03, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

A large weight should lift from your shoulders today, Aries. The air has started to clear, and the winds of communication have started blowing again. Listen closely to the buzz in the air.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

People may be abrasive today, Taurus, but you will find after careful assessment that they don't mean any harm. More than likely they aren't fully informed.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Don't criticize the situation until you've come up with a better solution, Gemini. Be creative. You can accomplish much if you approach the situation confidently.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Your thoughts may have a dreamy quality today, Cancer. You will find that things are less stable than they have been for the past few days. Don't get discouraged by pessimistic people.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Your emotions are soaring, Leo, and you should feel free to indulge in your greatest fantasies. Take a break from reality for a while. Let your inner child play.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Reward yourself with two desserts today, Virgo. Take a bubble bath. Share your fantasies with others and express yourself fully. Don't feel like you have to say yes.

victories in two races bodes well for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for Aug. 19-27 in Budapest after an injury-riddled 2022 season.

It was not a day for records with the weatherdriving rain for most of the night and a chilly 15 C - playing spoiler. The crowd at Stockholm Stadium huddled in red rain ponchos.

“I felt very good before the start but the conditions make it a little bit more challenging, but I felt I had to get in and got to post another good time, so I am very

pleased,” Warholm said. “I am 100% exactly where I want to be.”

WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

The rain wreaked havoc with numerous events, particularly the much-anticipated men’s pole vault featuring local hero Armand Duplantis.

The event was delayed more than two hours due to safety concerns. Fans stuck around to watch more than an hour after every other event had finished and vaulters cradled cups of tea to keep warm.

Duplantis, the Olympic and world champion, cleared 6.05 metres on his first attempt to win. He then missed on three attempts at 6.23, which would have topped his world record of 6.22.

“I just wanted the win here and I got it so glad at the moment and let’s go building up on it,” Simbine said. “In

such conditions, I think the time was fast ... I do not like rain, I was cold. I just went there and ran.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

The weightiness of the past few days seems to be lifting. You will find a slight breeze building that will help fuel your fire, Libra. By building a solid foundation, you've created a reliable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Now that you have a solid grip on your situation, unexpected things may come along that change the rules again, Scorpio. It may feel like the chair you just got comfortable.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Use gadgets and electronic devices to make life easier today, Sagittarius. Why take the time to chop food by hand when you can use the food processor.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

Be careful of the information that comes your way today, Capricorn. People may make unwarranted claims and false accusations. The day has a dreamy, innovative quality to it that asks you to venture out on a limb.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Maintain an air of detachment, Aquarius. Feel free to delve into your fantasy world and let your emotions carry you to another realm. Today is one of those days when you might come up with a new invention.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may find that things are much lighter than they were the past couple days, Pisces. This is a good time to let your physical body take a rest.

Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia threw 69.83 metres despite the slick throwing circle to win the men’s discus. Daniel Stahl of Sweden, who was second, hit an official in the shoulder with his throw. Broadcasters said the official was unhurt.

Freweyni Hailu led a trio of Ethiopians in the top three spots in the women’s 1,500m, surging into the lead with half a lap remaining to finish in 4:02.31.

“The victory is great but the competition was not ideal due to the weather. But we have to adapt to all conditions,” Hailu said. “I believe in more victories to come this season.

Kenyan Beatrice Chebet won a tactical women’s 5,000, opening a yawning gap on the field with 300 metres remaining to clock a season’s best 14:36.52.

“The first thing was to get the win today and the second was to fight with these conditions,” said Chebet, silver medallist in the event at the 2022 world championships. “Yes, the weather was not really good but you need to run in any conditions.”

Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco won the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, beginning his celebrations with 50m remaining to win in 8:09.84.

With Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia breaking the steeplechase world record last month in Paris, there could be a thrilling battle between the African pair at the worlds in Hungary. Akani Simbine of South Africa, a top-five finisher in the last three world championships, was not really challenged en route to victory in the men’s 100 metres in 10.03 seconds.

Karsten Warholm

8th Digicel Schools Football Championship…

Huge wins for Chase’s, Dolphin & Charlestown Chase’s, -Matchescontinuetoday

On Friday, the eighth edition of the Digicel S c h o o l s F o o t b a l l

Championship continued in Region4’sGeorgetownzone andRegionNine,withatotal ofeightmatches.

In Georgetown, Chase’s Academic Foundation, Dolphin Secondary and Charlestown Secondary were the highlights of the dayastheyrecordedmassive wins while St. Ignatius and Sand Creek also triumphed inRegion9’schampionship.

At the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Dolphin Secondary dismantled Tutorial High to win 10 – 0 as Nicholas Tappin (27’, 43’ & 60’) led with a hat-trick while doubles came from Gerry Burnette (15’, 27’) and Jamal Williams (23’, 23’). Jequan Cole (26’), Requan Corbin (64’) and Jude Charles (70’) accounted for theothergoals.

In Chase’s triumph over Brickdam,SeonCato(7’,38’ & 42’) was the hat-trick scorer, Bryan Wharton (18’, 22’) and Omar Sam (15’,

26’) scored doubles while a goal each came from Mannasseh Anderson (4’), Duquan Samuels (31’), Shakem Welcome (28’) and MartimMartin(60’).

Charlestown blasted eight unanswered goals past North Georgetown at the National Insurance

Scheme (NIS) Ground as D‘Angelo Dick (13’), Malach Barker (17’), Jeramiah Booker (24’),

Andrew Carto (37’), Natahan Pollard (47’), Malcolm Hendricks (50’) and Emmanuel Nedd (57’), allfoundthebackofthenet. North Georgetown

Men’s Hockey team out of CAC Games despite impressive performance against Cuba

ByRawleToney

Guyana’s men’s hockey team displayed an impressive performance in one of their standout matches at this year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, despiteultimatelylosing3-5 toCuba.

Guyana started the tournamentwitha1-4defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, followedbyasurprising2-3 loss to the home team, the Dominican Republic, placingthematthebottomof PoolB. Withtwolossesand unfavourable results in the group, the Guyanese men were left to play for pride against the defending champions,Cuba.

Carlos Consuegra openedthescoringforCuba in the third minute, but Guyana responded swiftly with goals from Jamarj AssanahandSimeonMoore,

takinga2-1lead.

The score remained the same heading into the second quarter, but the Cubans increased the pressure,applyingrelentless attacks on the young Guyanese team This offensive pressure resulted in goals from Consuegra (28', 29'), Freddy Duanny (22'), and Iraidys Calderon (24') Trailing 2-5 and needing a victory to end the tournament on a high note, Coach Robert Fernandes’s team managed to find another goal from Andrew Stewart in the penultimate period. However, the final 15 minutes of play offered little excitement from both sides and when the final whistle blew, it was Cuba celebrating another victory, maintaining their unbeaten record Cuba will face Mexico, the second-placed team in Pool B, while

Trinidad and Tobago will match skills with the impressive and undefeated Barbados team, which toppedPoolA.

Guyana’s highest placementintheCACMen’s Hockey championship was fourth place in the 2018 gamesheldinColombia.

Trinidad and Tobago remains the only Englishspeaking Caribbean team to have won the men’s CAC tournament,securingvictory in 2002 when they defeated Barbados3-2.

Barbados has earned the bronze medal twice (1982, 2010)andfinishedfourthon four occasions (1986, 1993, 1998, 2014). Except for the 2002 tournament and the 2010 edition when Mexico emerged as champions, Cuba has dominated the championships since 1982, securing victory in all other competitions.

added to their own misery when Dhanesh Persaud picked up an own goal in the 43rd minute. The other Georgetown games saw Ian Daniels (15’, 46’) score twice for Carmel in their 2 –1 w i n over North Ruimveldt, Excelsior

Academy were awarded with a walkover victory against St. John’s College andStWinifred’sproduceda marvelous performance to sinktheBishop’sHigh3–1.

In Region 9, Anai a n d S t I g n a t i u s battled to a 2 – 2 stalemate but the latter

emerged victorious5–4 on penalty kicks while Sand Creek romped to a comfortable 3 – 1 win over Aishalton. Meanwhile, the tournament which is organised by the Petra Organisation continues today, July 3

Grand season opening today for Bartica FA

All nine teams competing teams in the Bartica Football Association 2023 Senior Men’sfootballLeagueareexpectedtobeon parade, today, as part of the official opening totheseason.

The Bartica Community Centre ground will be a buzz from as early as 4 pm when a ladies game featuring Potaro Strikers and RiversViewwillkickstarttheproceedings.

The March Past to follow at 5 pm will involve: Cup Holders Rivers View FC, Beacons FC, Rising Stars FC, Wolves United, Potato Strikers, Lazio FC, Mil Ballers,AgatashUnitedandAKGalaxy

The first two games of the 36-game schedulewillcommenceat6pmwhenRivers View begin the defence of their title against AK Galaxy The night cap will be Lazio versusPotatoStrikers.

The one-round nine-team league will continueonWednesdaywithanotherdoubleheader at the Bartica Community Centre ground. The first match set for 6pm will be BeaconsFCagainstAgatashUnitedandat8 pm it will be Rising Stars up against Mil Ballers.

President of the Bartica FA, Alden Marslowe indicated to the Media that all plans are in place for a positive start and reiteratedhisFA’sgratitudetothegoverning

Alden Marslowe

body,theGuyanaFootballFederation(GFF) for providing financial assistance for the stagingofthe2023League.

The Bartica FA is the 4th Regional Association (RA) to begin the new season. They join the Rupununi, Georgetown and Berbice FA’s of the nine RA’s of the GFF to getthenewseasonunderway

Chase’s Academic Foundation’s goal scorers, from left: Duquain Samuels, Manasseh Anderson, Omar Sam, Seon Cato, Matrim Martin, Shakem Welcome and Bryan Wharton.

Harvey wins Women’s CARICOM 10K ...Trinidad and Tobago sweeps Men’s podium

The CARICOM 10K, held in the

Twin Island

Republic yesterday, witnessed Trinidad and Tobago dominating the men’s category and Guyana’s Attoya Harvey securing victory in the women’ssection.

This year marked the 16theditionofthe10Krace, servingasapre-eventforthe Annual Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, which coincidedwithCARICOM’s 5 0 t h - a n n i v e r s a r y celebrations.

Over 200 athletes from the 15 CARICOM Member States participated in the race, starting at Pier 1 and progressing west along the WesternMainRoadtowards the Military Gate at ChaquacabanaBeach.

Therouteledtherunners back east along the same road, culminating at the ConventionCenter In the women’s section, 17

Taylor, Henry 50s spur Windies

Women to six-wicket victory and 2-0 series win over Ireland Women

SportsMax - Half centuries from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry spurred the West Indies Women to a six-wicket victoryoverIrelandanda20wininthethree-matchCG U n i t e d O n e D a y International series at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia on Saturday

Winning the toss and batting first, Ireland posted 203alloutin50overs.

The star of the Irish innings was Gaby Lewis, who was stranded on 95 not outfrom121deliveries.

Lewis shared a 50-run partnership with Cara Murray which proved crucial in steadying the ship after Ireland had lost quick wickets.

Afy Fletcher 10-0-37-3 and Shamilia Connell 4-016-2kepttheIrishbattersin check.

In response, the West Indies Women started their inningsshakily,losingafew earlywickets.

However,itwasStafanie Taylor who once again

rescued her side She notched her 40th ODI halfcentury while showcasing her experience and composure in a challenging situation.

Taylor found a reliable partner in Chinelle Henry, who carried on her good form from the first ODI, hitting her second consecutivehalf-century

Together, they put on a match-winning 104-run partnership, steering their team to a comfortable victory with 8.4 overs to spare.

This was captain Hayley Matthews first serieswin

“I’m happy that we were able to get over the line in a series that we w e r e l o o k i n g t o dominate,”shesaid.

“We earned valuable I C C W o m e n ’ s Championship points, Stafanie is back in form and Chinelle is coming into her own along with d e b u t s f r o m o u r youngsters, I’d say those are some serious positives

we can take away from this series.

“We all knew the potential Chinelle has and what we have been expecting from her, it’s great to see her scoring runs and I know there’s moretocome ”

Taylor was awarded PlayeroftheMatchforher outstanding knock of 79 not out under pressure, while the Player of the Series was given to Hayley Matthews for her all-roundperformance

The two teams will now switch to the shorter format when the threematch T20 International series starts tomorrow, Tuesday at the same venue.

All matches will start at 5pm Eastern Caribbean time (4pm Jamaica time). T20InternationalSeries: All matches start at 5pm Eastern Caribbean Time (4pmJamaicaTime)

Tuesday4July:1stT20I

Thursday 6 July: 2nd T20I

Saturday8July:3rdT20I

seconds.

Sheclaimedthetopspot, leaving Samantha Shukla (43:21.7) and Laura Limery (44:54.1) to secure second andthirdplace,respectively

In the men’s category, Trinidad and Tobago showcased their prowess by clinching all three podium spots.

Marlon Nicholson from Guyana, last year’s race winnerinSuriname,finished fourthbehindthetriumphant Trinidadians.

Nicholson’scompatriots, Winston Missigher and Cleveland Thomas secured sixth and eighth place, respectively

T h e i n a u g u r a l

y

ar-old Harvey delivered an exceptional performance,completingthe race in 41 minutes and 58.6

CARICOM 10K was organized in 2005 to commemorate the United NationsInternationalYearof Sport and Physical Education.(RawleToney)

Former national takes centre stage in RA’s League

Inhisheydayhetormentedandterrorised defenders,whilebeatinggoalkeepersatwill. NotonlyinhishomelanddidAnthony‘Awo’ Abramsdisplayedhisgoal-scoringprowess, as he also reaped dividends in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname where he scored a record21goalsin11gamesplayingforLeo Victorin2012.

Atage43,‘Awo’,in65minutesofaction for Beacon FC netted the first treble of the season for the Georgetown FA’s Senior Men’s League in its 3rd game.Thehat-trick spearheadedan8-1demolitionofOrderand Discipline at the GFC ground last Friday night.

Beacon was in action again last night at theGFCgroundwhentheyclashedwithPele FC in the final game of the triple-header Black Pearl versus Vengy FC and Riddim Squad against East Veldt FC were the other games.

The former senior National forward ended his playing days at both International and National in 2017, but recently got back onto the pitch competitively where he led Beacon Masters to Championship glory last weekend.His10goalsin7gamesearnedhim the Top Goalscorer trophy and he also capturedtheMVPtrophy

The other game played last Friday resultedina1-alltiebetweenCamptownFC andhomesideGFC.

Former National forward, Anthony ‘Awo’Abrams

Guyana’s Attoya Harvey stands tall at the top of the podium after winningthis year’s CARICOM 10K Road Race in Trinidad and Tobago

“How did West Indies Cricket get here?”

Co m m e n t b y COLIN CROFT, former West Indies Cricketer and ICC CWC 1979 winner, on West Indies’ elimination ICC CWC 2023, after losing to Scotland in the Super Sixes of ICC CWC 2023 QualifyingTournament.

G r e a t s a d n e s s , tremendous disappointment, utter confusion, ‘blue vex’ anger, acute embarrassment, and so many other unprintable words, can be used by all West Indies supporters, and former WI playerslikeme,ColinCroft, too, after West Indies failed to qualify for ICC CWC 2023.

Thisistheveryfirsttime, since its inception in 1975, that the West Indies would notbeappearinginthefinal, proper segments of the International Cricket Council’s premier event; its 50oversWorldCup.

But the main question is this:Howthehelldidweget here?Whatreallyhappened?

Back in 2018, West Indies barely qualified for ICC CWC 2019, thanks to therainthatprobablyrobbed Scotland back then. Now Scotland had turned the tables and tightened the screws into West Indian backs too. Have we not learned anything in the last four years to enhance our main cricketing product for world championships standards? Or are we looking in that great suspense film Director Alfred Hitchcock-like mirrors, and fooling ourselves as to what we can actuallysee?

Thegreatestironyisthat only about ten days ago, on June 23, 2023, all

knowledgeable West Indian supportersandplayersalike,

celebrated the 44th anniversary of West Indies winningICCCWC1979,the 2nd such consecutive winning stanza, when West Indies beat England by 92 runs in that 60-overs final. What tremendous euphoria weallhadbackthen.

Regardless of what you may have thought of them, T&T’s Dr Eric Williams, Barbados’Sir Errol Barrow, Guyana’s Forbes Burnham, Antigua & Barbuda’s Vere Bird and especially Jamaica’s Michael Manley, and all other Caribbean leaders too, plus cultural icons like Bob Marley, The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, Peter Tosh, BunnyWailer,DavidRudder and so many others, joined fully in the massive 1979 celebrations too, in London andintheCaribbean. Those celebrations heralded what wasthebestcricketteamthat the cricket world had ever seen.

That is probably still so. So what the hell has happened to West Indies cricketsincethen?

From that 1979 Final, Collis King’s absolutely majestic 86 from 66 balls (ten 4s; three 6s), in a partnershipwith(Sir)Vivian Richards that realized 139, will live forever For probablytheonlytimeinhis cricketing life, (Sir)

‘Smoking Joe’ Richards, very intelligently, took a b a c k s e a t , f u l l y understanding that “Kingdom” was at full throttle. As one headline suggested, ‘Collis King leavesVivianRichardsinthe shade.’ Quite so. That CollisKinginningsof86,in

itsfullcontext,isSTILLthe bestODIinningsIhaveever seen.

(Sir) Vivian Richards’ superbly calculated innings of138n.o.isstillcelebrated bythosewhoeitherplayedor witnessed it. Many still ponder as to (Sir) Viv’s arrogance, at pulling England fast bowler Mike Hendricks’ last delivery of WestIndies’inningsintothe Tavern Stand, at Lords, where most of the West Indian supporters had bunkered,foraloftysix.

Standing at the nonstriker’s end, I had a firsthandviewofthatexcellence, asWest Indies totalled 2869,in60overs,afterbeing994 at one stage, with Gordon Greenidge (9), Desmond Haynes (20), Alvin Kallicharran (4) and captain CliveLloyd(13),allbackin

the changing room cooling their heels. To put that match-saving and matchwinningpartnershipofKing and Richards into real context, all of the West Indies fast bowlers made no score(0),andwicket-keeper DeryckMurraymade5.

Thereafter, fast Bowlers Joel Garner’s toe-crushing ‘yorkers’- 5 for 38 from 11 devastating overs - plus Michael Holding’s truly frugal input; 2 - 16 from 8 overs; and even my, Colin Croft’s,3-42from10overs, including the last English wicket to fall - Mike Hendricks out bowled - put paid to any of England’s hopes, as they were dismissedfor194,toloseby 92runs.

WestIndiesevenwentto the 1983 ICC CWC Final too,whenbarecomplacency

allowedKapilDev’sIndiato win with a middling total of 183, the West Indies inexplicably subsiding for only 140. That stunning upset in 1983 was the very lasttimethatWestIndieshad been in an ICC CWC Final. Couldthatlosshavebeenthe catalyst of the steep fall that hasbroughtWestIndiestoits knees and the ignominy of Zimbabwe2023?

How did West Indies cricketdropsoprecipitously in 44 years to a point where the winners of the first two stanzas of ICC CWC, in 1975 and 1979, cannot even comeoutvictoriouslyfroma qualifying tournament for ICCCWC2023? Whatthe hellhashappenedhere?

Many have suggested thatusingT-20cricket;CPL, IPL, BBL etc; to prepare to play 50 overs cricket, is probably the greatest culprit here.

Except for the two wicket-keepers, Nicholas Pooran and captain Shai Hope, none of the present West Indies cricketers in Zimbabwe looked fit enough, or focused enough, tobatforperiodslongerthan 20 overs. Maybe there is something in that 20 overs for50overstheory,eh?

Whatever happens, things cannot go on like this anymore.

In 2029, just six years fromnow,itwillbe50years since West Indies will have won the ICC Cricket World Cupbackin1979. Couldthe West Indies retool and rebuild,witharelativelynew Cricket West Indies administration running its cricket,inthenextfouryears or so, to ICC CWC 2027, in time to be a genuinely good unit, to factor and feature

heavily, and successfully, in 2027?

Already, Trinidad & Tobago’s present Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, hascomeoutfiringbazookas and Exocet missiles, plainly implying that something, maybe many things, drastic or otherwise, have got to be done about West Indies Cricket.

I am also very sure that the actual real leader of the very beautiful Caribbean Community and Guyana, Barbados’ Prime Minister, Madame MiaAmor Motley, will definitely be conferring withhercounterpartsinT&T whentheymeetthisweekto celebrate CARICOM’s inception back in 1972-73; yes, 50 years already; as to whatshould,probablymust, be done about the present stateofWestIndiescricket. Perhaps a neutral voice could shed some guiding light,andhaveafinalsay,on WestIndiescricketnow VirenderSehwag,former Indianopeningbatsman,and ICC CWC 2011 Winner, offeredhisthoughtsonWest Indies’present 2023 demise inZimbabwe:

“What a shame it is that West Indies have failed to qualify for ICC CWC 2023. Itjustshowsthattalentalone isnotenough.

These situations need much focus, proper man management and to be free from internal politics. The onlysolaceisthatthereisnot any lower that West Indies cricket can sink to from here.”

Many people who support West Indies cricket sincerely hope that Virender Sehwag is correct with that last thought, but many are notsosureeither!

CWI Rising Stars Women’s U19 Tournament, Trinidad & Tobago…

Star-studded Guyana open 1st round against Windward Islands

A strong Guyana Girls under19 team left for Trinidad and Tobago yesterday for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 tournament. The opening round of the tournament bowls off on July 4th with Guyana squaring off against Windward Islands in the opening roundatGilbertPark.

The aforementioned match will be complemented by two more exciting games; Leeward Islands battling Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago battling Barbados, completing Round 1’s trioofmatches.

Guyana is set to field a strong team,withfive(5)nationalplayers from the Women’s senior team

including Ashmini Munisar the skipper, Realanna Grimmond, Cyanna Retemiah, Tilleya MadramootooandNyaLatchman, making up the core of Guyana’s team.

Grimmond and company played for Guyana during the recent CWI Women’s Senior 50OversandT20tournamentsandis

expectedtoplayabigrolefortheir team. They will seek to lead the likes of young players such as Naomi Barkoye, Sarah Amin, Emlissa Whyte and other upcoming stars who will need the leadership and experience of their more senior teammates if Guyana will have any chance of winning thisyear’stournament.

The Guyana team was encampedforlittleoveraweekat the GCB LBI Facility alongside Coach Tremayne Smartt and Manager Hema Singh, as part of the team’s gelling and training preparations ahead of the competition, which is expected to beofthehighestlevelinwomen’s U19cricket.

Colin Everton Croft

Australia survives Stokes assault to win 2nd Ashes test amid boos on

spicy last day at Lord’s

LONDON (AP)

Australia outlasted another epicsoloassaultbyEngland captain Ben Stokes to win the second Ashes test by 43 runs with a session to spare onasaltylastdayyesterday

Stokes seemed to be pulling a stunning victory out of impending defeat for Englandwithanastonishing 155 that echoed another unforgettable century in a thrilling fourth-innings chasetowintheAshestestat Headingleyin2019.

Again, he turned hope into expectation for a soldout crowd and helped to reduce a never-reached 371 targetatLord’sto70.

Then he was gone, topedgingashortballfromJosh Hazlewood behind to wicketkeeper Alex Carey A febrile Lord’s sunk into silence until the crowd rose to send Stokes off to a sustainedstandingovation.

He was the seventh man out, and the tail wagged for another hour England was all out for 327 and congratulated Australia on the pavilion steps after the victors were booed off the field.

Australialeadstheseries 2-0andtheholdercanclinch a first Ashes series win in England since 2001 at Headingley in the third test startingonThursday England’s chances of retaking the urn were bleak. Onlyoneteamhasevercome back from 2-0 down in the

Ashes, and it had Don Bradman,in1937.

Thematchwasn’tasepic aslastweek’sopeningtestat Edgbaston, which was a thriller for all five days, but thelastdayatLord’swilllive long in Ashes infamy as Stokes embellished his legend and the Australians were booed mercilessly and accused in crowd chants of cheating.

The Marylebone Cricket Club even apologized to the visitors for some of their members handling and verbally abusing the Australians in the sacred LongRoomatlunch.

Achasethatwasmoving at a serene pace erupted when Jonny Bairstow got himselfstumpedhalfanhour beforelunch.

Bairstow ducked a bouncer from Cameron Green and he neither checked the fate of the ball nor stood his ground Instead, he left his crease to talk with Stokes and wicketkeeper Alex Carey simply underarmed the ball into his stumps and the Australians celebrated Bairstow was confused and the umpires asked for a rulingfromthethirdumpire, whodidn’thesitatetosayhe wasstumpedfor10at193-6. England’s tail was exposed, stillneeding178moreruns.

Despite Bairstow’s brain fade, Stokes expressed his anger to the on-field umpires, and large parts of

Lord’s blamed the Australians in chants. One was, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,cheat,cheat,cheat.”

As prim and proper Lord’s turned into the Colosseum, Stokes, the last recognized batter, switched intobeastmode.

He took out his outrage on Green, initially Green’s next over went for 14, including three Stokes boundaries. The next Green over went for 24, including three successive Stokes sixes The last of them brought up his 100 off 142 balls. Stokes went from 62, hisscorewhenBairstowleft, to 100 in 16 balls. It was his 13thtestcentury

He had a warrior of similar ilk in the foxhole withhim,StuartBroad,who played up to the crowd by exaggeratingplantinghisbat behind the crease. Broad walkedoffforlunchberating Carey and Pat Cummins as boos rained down on the Australians.

The second ball after lunch was dispatched over longonbyStokes.Butinthe same over bowled by Hazlewood, Stokes on 114 wasspilledbySteveSmithat deep backward square Carey then couldn’t hold onto a chance at 115 as the crowdcheered.

Broad took body blows fromCumminsandMitchell

Zamal Khan (120) pilots Phoenix to win over Empire in NYNCL competition

FormerGuyanaandWest Indies youth player Zamal Khan struck an attractive 120 to lead Phoenix Cricket Club to a resounding 125runwinoverEmpireCricket Clubinanotherroundfixture of the 2023 New York National Cricket League (NYNCL) 40-overs competition.

At Whitestone 1 facility last Sunday, the left-handed Khan clobbered ten fours and seven sixes as his team reached a formidable 310-8 from the 40-overs while Empire Cricket Club respondedwith185alloutin the38thover

Khanalsoparticipatedin a solid 171-run fifth-wicket standwithShivaSankarwho contributed a measurable 66

Zamal Khan

andKumarJosephallpicked up two wickets apiece for Empire who opted to bowl firstafterwinningthetoss.In EmpireCricketClub’sreply, Rovin Dusrajh batted brilliantly to be stranded on 99 not out , running out of partners as Empire was bowledoutfor185.

The left-handed Dusrajh caressed five fours and nine sixes during his 83-ball occupationatthecrease.

snatching 2-33 in his sixoverstint.

T h e 1 4 - t e a m tournament will resume July 9th with a plethora of encounters Empire Cricket Club will match their skills against

Richmond

Hill Liberty Cricket

Starc, doing what was necessarytofeedthestriketo Stokes.

Stokes flayed the Australians with nine sixes, oneofthemone-handedover fineleg,andnineboundaries tothecrowd’sutterjoy

He had 86 runs of their 100standfrom93balls.But hewentdownswingingsoon after

Without injured spinner Nathan Lyon, Australia dismissedEnglandfor327in 81.3 overs. Seamers Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood tookthreewicketseach,and Starc, the one change by Australia after Edgbaston, had a leading six for the match.

Hazlewood took the day’s first wicket, when opener Ben Duckett edged behind on 83. He also got Duckett in the first innings on 98. Duckett was beside himself after a stand of 132 with Stokes that England wassobadlyrelyingon.

Then Bairstow came in, and his dismissal fired up Stokes.

Scores: Australia 416 (Smith110,Head77,Warner 66,Root3-19,Tongue3-98) and279(Khawaja77,Broad 4-65) beat England 325 (Duckett98,Brook50,Starc 3-88) and 327 (Stokes 155, Duckett 88, Cummins 3-69, Starc3-29,Hazlewood3-80) by43runs.

Canada held again, Guadeloupe sparkle with goal parade

AFP-ToothlessCanada wereheldtoagoallessdraw by Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday, while group D rivals Guadeloupe sparkled ina4-1crushingofCuba.

sawfewchancesotherthan a Nathaniel Mendez drive which was well saved by Milan Borjan andattheotherendaJunior Hoilettvolleyoverthebar

while skipper Hemendra Ramdihaladded47.

Kenly Adams

On an animated pitch, left arm spinner Gaurav Ramesh delivered with precisionandgoodcontrolto claim 4-30 from his maximumeightoverstohelp Phoenix significantly with theball.

Sankar proved his allround capabilities by

Club while Phoenix Cricket Club will clash with Panthers Cricket Club Phoenix is currently sitting at number 6 on the points’ chart having snapped up four wins from sevengames Empire has thus far chalked up two victories from seven appearances as well only accumulated four pointsandarelanguishingin the10thspot.

The results leave Guadeloupe top of the group on four points, ahead of Guatemala on goal difference with Canada on two points and Cuba yet to register a point. John Herdman’s C a n a d a c a n s t i l l progress into the quarter-finals with a win against Cuba but it was another below-par performance

The energy-sapping heat in Houston could be blamed for a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, which

Thetempowashigherin thesecondhalfbutchances remained scarce — Jacob Shaffelburghesitatedinside the box and his effort was blocked in the 75th m i n u t e w i t h Z a c McGraw blasting the follow-uphigh.

Guatemala looked dangerous on the break in thelatterstagesandEsteban Garcia’s lovely first touch created an opening but he firedwide.

Antonio Lopez had the last chance of the game but his shot lacked power and waseasilysavedbyBorjan.

Ben Stokes heartbroken, Josh Hazlewood jubilant. (Getty Images)

Lafay gives Cofidis ‘liberating’ Tour win as Pogacar picks up bonuses

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain, (Reuters) - Victor Lafay gave his Cofidis team theirfirstTourdeFrancewin in15yearswhenheclaimed the second stage , putting years of scandals and near misses behind the French outfityesterday

The Frenchman, who showed great form in Saturday’s opening stage, powered away with one kilometre to go and did not look back with a reduced bunch breathing down his neck.

Cofidis had not won a stage on the Tour since Sylvain Chavanel in 2008, which was four years after the team was engulfed in a doping scandal and a year after they pulled out of the race when Italian Cristian Morenifailedadrugstest.

In 2004, Cedric Vasseur, now the team’s general manager, was one of several riders detained for questioning in the doping scandalbeforebeingcleared ofanywrongdoing.

The 27-year-old Lafay, who finished ahead of Belgian Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) in third, said he knew his win was a relief for the whole team.

“I’ve been with Cofidis for five years so I can appreciatethatit’sliberating

for the whole team,” Lafay told a news conference, recalling that his team mate BenjaminThomashadcome agonisinglyclosetowinning inCarcassonnelastyear

“We’ve been going for this Tour stage win on the Tour for so long and also we’ve never won a French nationaltitle(sincetheteam wasfoundedin1996).

“We came into the Tour determined not to finish empty handed. This victory isgoingtodoalotofgoodto allofus.”

On Saturday, Lafay was the only rider to follow the pace of main contenders Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, but eventually could not fight for the stage win.

SURPRISEWIN

Lafay’s victory on Sunday still came as a surprise, even for his own teammates.

“Withonekilometreleft, the guys asked me who won,” said Cofidis rider Anthony Perez, who was lagging far behind. “I said VictorbutIwasjoking.And then I saw that he had actually won, I didn’t know it,it’scrazy

Lafay added: “I kept on telling myself, ‘They’re going to eat me up, they’re going to eat me up, but suddenly I realised I had doneit.”

Briton Adam Yates, Pogacar’s UAE team mate, retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after finishing safelyinthechasingbunch.

Twice Tour winner Pogacar gained a twosecond bonus, added to the eight seconds he earned for being first to the top of the Jaizkibelclimb,justaheadof defending champion Vingegaard.

The Danish rider, who came elbow-to-elbow with Pogacarinthelead-uptothe sprint, picked up five seconds there but now trails hisbigrivalby11secondsin theoverallstandings.

“I think it was successful today even if we didn’t get the stage win,” saidPogacar

“It’s a perfect situation We wanted to defend the yellow jersey and take seconds, and we did that,” added the Slovenian, who brokehiswristlastApril.

“It’s abit sore now after all this sprinting, but it’s gettingbettereveryday,”he said

Yates told a news conference:“Ourgoaltoday was to set up Tadej for that sprint (at the top of Jaizkibel) He’s a great leader to work with. He’s alwaysmotivatedsoitkeeps everyonearoundmotivated.

Yates leads Pogacar by six seconds, with

Verstappen dominant in Austria to go 81 points clear

(Reuters) - Max Verstappen won Red Bull’s home Austrian Grand Prix from pole position and with the fastest lap yesterday as the Formula One champions celebrated a 10th successive victory and ninth of the season.

Verstappen, who also won Saturday’s 100km sprint race and leaves Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring with a maximum haul, stretched his lead over Mexican team mate Sergio Perez to 81 points with his fifthwininarow

It was also the Dutch driver’s seventh win of a dominant campaign accelerating him ever closer to a third Formula One crown.

Charles Leclerc was second, 5 155 adrift, for Ferrari’s milestone 800th podium while Perez fought from15thatthestarttothird in a race littered with time penalties as drivers repeatedly exceeded track limits.

“Amazing race, the car was on fire today,” said Verstappen after his 42nd career win took him above the tally of late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna

It was also his fifth success at the Red Bull Ring, more than any driver and in the first race in Austria since the death of team owner Dietrich MateschitzlastOctober

“I’m just enjoying the moment driving this car and working with this

team.The Sprint weekend is always hectic and a lot of things can go wrong but luckily a lot of things w e n t r i g h t , ” s a i d Verstappen.

It was still not a perfect afternoon for the 25-year-old, with his phenomenal run of 249 successive race laps led ending on lap 26 when he pitted and Leclerc took over Verstappen hit the frontagainonlap35of71 and pulled away, having so much time in the bag that he pitted on the penultimate lap for soft tyres to seize the fastest lap bonus point from Perez

Carlos Sainz was fourth for Ferrari, with Lando Norris fifth in an upgraded McLaren and FernandoAlonsosixthfor AstonMartin

Seven-times world c h a m p i o n L e w i s Hamilton was seventh for Mercedes,withteammate George Russell eighth, and Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine Lance Stroll took the final point forAstonMartin

TIMEPENALTIES

Hamilton was one of a string of drivers shown a blackandwhitewarningflag for going beyond the white lines with all four wheels, collecting a five second penalty “I can’t keep it on thetrack,thecarwon’tturn,” Hamilton, who passed Norris for fourth at the start toslotinbehindtheFerraris,

toldhisteam.

Sainz and Gasly also collected penalties, along withAlpine’sEstebanOcon, Williams’ Alex Albon and AlphaTauri’sYukiTsunoda.

The drivers made sure the stewards were kept busy by pointing out over the radio whenever they saw a rivalexceedingthelimits.

“Perez completely off at turn 10, has he got a penalty yet?,” enquired Hamilton after getting his penalty “If they’re dishing these things out they might as well know.”

Leclerctriedandfailedto pass Verstappen at the start, with the safety car deployed after Tsunoda and Ocon collided and the field led through the pit lane as marshalscleareddebris.

Nico Hulkenberg’s retirement on lap 14 triggeredavirtualsafetycar, the German pulling over in his smoking Haas, and a flurry of pitstops but Verstappen and Perez stayedout.

Verstappen dropped to third after his eventual first stopbuthedespatchedSainz quickly and then slashed the seven second gap to Leclerc, timing his pass to perfection to prevent the Monegasque from hitting backwithDRS.

A minute’s silence was held before the start in respect for 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van’t Hoff who died in a junior series race at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuitonSaturday

Vingegaardinsixthplace. Monday’sthirdstageisa

193 5-km ride from Amorebieta Etxano to Bayonne as the race enters France.

Cofidis’Victor Lafay celebrates as he crossesthe finish line to win stage 2. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

Guyana U19 wings out ahead of CWI

Rising Stars U19 tournament in St. Vincent Vincent St

- Guyana, Jamaica battle in Round 1

Th e G u y a n a Under-19 team w i n g e d o u t yesterday morning (July 2) ahead of the upcoming Cricket West Indies (CWI)

Rising Stars Boys Under-19 tournament.

Skipper Marvindra Dindyal will lead a strong team featuring a bevy of stars.The tournament bowls

off in St. Vincent from July 4-Aug1whiletheteamwill returnhomeonAugust2. The competition will feature the respective territories across theWest Indies with tons of young future stars representing their respective countries in what is anticipated to b e a h i g h - l e v e l competition

Andre Percival, the former Guyana all-rounder will return as the team’s Head Coach while Nazeer Mohamed will serve as the Manager

Among the talents who performed well last year, stars such as, Rampertab Ramnauth, Dindyal, West Indies under-19 pacer Isai

Thorne and Guyana’s leading run-scorer in last year’s tournament Shamar Yearwood are among the star-studded bunch as Guyana will enter the tournament as one of the favorites in the competition. Zeynul Ramsammy, Aryan Persaud and Thaddeus Lovell are expected to lend good support in both the

batting and bowling department.

Dindyalandhismenwill face the Jamaicans in the opening round on July 4, while Trinidad and Tobago will play Barbados, with Windwards Islands and L e e w a r d s I s l a n d s completing the opening roundofgames.

The full squad reads:

Rampertab Ramnauth, Shaahid Vieira (WK), Mavindra Dindyal (Captain), Alvin Mohabir, JonathanRampersaud(ViceCaptain), Zachary Jodah, Thaddeus Lovell, Aryan Persaud, Joash Charles, Zeynul Ramsammy, ShamarYearwood,Jeremy Sandia, Rivaldo Phillips andIsaiThorne.

The Guyana National U19 team.