Kaieteur News

EPAapprovesanother35-well drillingcampaignforExxonwithout fullprotectionagainstoilspills

The Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) in a Public Notice, updated to its website on Sunday revealed it has approved ExxonMobil’s35Multi-well Exploration and Appraisal Drilling Campaign in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

The proposed drilling activities are expected to commence in the third quarter of this year, while Guyana is yet to be fully protected against an environmental disaster caused by an oil spill Exxon’s project summary for the multi-well programme has indicated thatatleast50simultaneous developmentprojectswillbe pursued in the resource rich acreage.

This not only increases thechanceofamassivespill but also could see Guyana footing any cleanup costs above the US$600 million insurance and the US$2 billion affiliate company guarantee that Esso

Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has since provided to the EPA.

Exxon has cautioned the local authorities, “The d r i l l i n g o f t h e exploration/appraisal well(s)intheStabroekBlock is expected to potentially occur simultaneously with other drilling activities, including: The Liza Phase 1 Project well drilling and production operations ; the Liza Phase 2 Development Projectwelldrillingprogram and production operations; The Payara Development Project well drilling program, installation, and start of production; O n g o i n g

exploration/appraisal well drilling operations in the Stabroek Block covered under a 25-well campaign and the Yellowtail Development Project well drilling program and installationoperations.”

The company is also seeking environmental authorization from the EPA for a 12 well exploration/ appraisal programme in the Kaieteur Block and for another12wellsintheCanje Block.

It explained that it manages its Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs) through a structured process that includes weekly planning meetings to verify that simultaneous activities between different offshore teams(Drilling,Installation, Production, and Logistics) aremanagedsafely

Guyana has not been opposed to the rapid pace in which its petroleum sector has been moving, even as it struggles to keep up. The country not only lacks the expertiseitneedstoproperly monitor and regulate the sector, but has also been failing to conduct and complete timely audits to ensureitisnotbeingshafted by the oil companies, out of the costs they incur to developthesector

Under the existing Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana inked with ExxonMobil and itsco-ventuers,75percentof the revenue earned in the Stabroek each month is deducted towards cost recovery The remaining 25 percent is then shared as profits between the two parties.

The Opposition in the past had said it does not

agreewiththepaceinwhich the sector is moving as this mayverywellsetthenation up to lose billions of dollars and even expose the nation toagreaterriskofdisaster

D u r i n g a p r e s s conferenceinAprilthisyear, the Opposition shared this view, suggesting that the government instead take a step back in production activities, to allow for the country to benefit greater within the existing provisionsofthePSA.

The Economic Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low explained, “At the moment, the 50/50 split gets Guyana only 12.5 percent of oil revenues–a percentage that seems unlikely to budge under the ongoing oil rush. With five (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels) FPSOs already in operation or already approved, the country is now well-

positioned to seek a larger cut of the pie. In terms of numbers, the 25 percent profitoilmustbeallowedto increase so that the 50/50 split would earn Guyana an increase of more than 12.5 percent.”

With more investments being made daily, he has madethepointthatGuyana’s shareofprofitisnotlikelyto increase in the near future, especially with the government’s recent announcement to fast track such development. In this regard, the Opposition is calling for a phased developmentplanthatwould allow for greater profits for thecountry.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had indicated that with a limited window available for Guyana to extract its oil resources, the development must continue unhindered and will in fact befasttrackedoverthenext 15 years. The official said

such an approach would include the timely award of production licences as well as encouraging investment in the sector See link for m o r e :

https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2023/04/05/jagde o-vows-to-fast-track-oilsector-for-15-yearsminimum-has-no-shameabout-that/

35-WELLCAMPAIGN

The Stabroek Block 35well exploration/appraisal drilling campaign, pending EPAapproval, is expected to

commenceinthethirdquarter of 2023 Exxon said if discoveries are made, well test(s)maybeperformed Itis expected to run until the fourthquarterof2028 Bethat as it may, the schedule, accordingtotheoilcompany, could be influenced by new discoveries,determinationof theneedforsidetracks,and/or welltests allofwhichcould extend the drilling period for theProject

EEPGLcurrentlyhassix drillshipsoperatingoffshore

Continuedonpage9

Canadian Foreign Affairs official to visit Guyana

Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maninder Sidhu will be visiting Guyanathisweek.

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cananda made the announcement on Tuesday Sidhu will travel to Trinidad and Tobago and to GuyanafromJuly2to7,2023,apress release from the Canadian Embassy heresaid.

During his visit to Trinidad and Tobago,ParliamentarySecretarySidhu will represent Canada at the opening ceremonyofthe45thRegularMeeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community(CARICOM).

Whilethere,hewillalsomeetwith TrinidadandTobago’sAmeryBrowne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs,andFitzgeraldHinds,Minister of National Security, to discuss shared political and economic priorities, including furthering trade and investment, and regional security In addition, Parliamentary Secretary Sidhu will attend a round-table networking event to learn about the opportunities and challenges for Canadian business in Trinidad and Tobago.

During his visit to Guyana, ParliamentarySecretarySidhuwillmeet with Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to strengthen the two countries’ collaboration on shared

priorities, including energy transition andfoodsecurity

The Parliamentary Secretary will also get a better understanding of Guyana’s economic situation and its opportunities for Canadian companies by meeting key political and commercial stakeholders. In addition, he will have the chance to visit local projectsthatsupportmigrantsandearly childhood development in Indigenous communitiesandthatarefundedbythe Caribbean Regional Development Program and the Canada Fund for LocalInitiatives.

“Canada and CARICOM are

tightly connected through our deep people-to-peopleties,sharedeconomic interests and our commitment to common values, such as democracy, human rights, freedom of expression andtherules-basedinternationalorder I am delighted to represent Canada at the CARICOM heads of government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in celebration of CARICOM’s 50th anniversary I also look forward to strengtheningourbilateralrelationship with Guyana, as we are committed to collaboratingonsharedpriorities,such as inclusive economic growth, food security and natural resource management,” Sidhu was quoted in thepressreleaseassaying.

The release added that Canada and Guyanaenjoyacloserelationshipbuilt onmorethan50yearsofdeeppeopleto-people ties, important trading connections, long-standing collaboration aimed at advancing inclusive economic development and our security partnership. It noted that Guyana is one of Canada’s largest merchandise trading partners in CARICOM. In 2022, the value of bilateral merchandise trade totalled US$294.1million,withimportsvalued at US$241 4 million and exports valuedatUS$52.7million.

Additionally,thereleasestatedthat Canada has long-standing ties with CARICOManditsmembersonawide range of issues, including trade, securityanddefence,andgovernance.

Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maninder Sidhu

Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram

Guyana’s royalty for 2022 is almost three times less than what Exxon took out for cleanup costs

In 2022, oil giant

ExxonMobil took out some

$49,790,273,570 towards cleanupactivitieswhileGuyana r e c e i v e d a m e r e

$18,892,021,213 in royalty payments from the company in 2022. This means Exxon took outmorethantwotimeswhatit gave Guyana in royalty for a singlecost.

AccordingtotheProduction Sharing Agreement (PSA), the APNU+AFC Coalition Government signed with Exxon, Guyana received a meagre two percent royalty on theresourcessold.Thecontract also enables the contractor to control the decommissioning funds, until it is needed

Decommissioning refers to the cleanup and restoration of the

oceanfloor,followingthelifeof an oil project. It involves the removal of the subsea umbilicals,risers,andflowlines (SURF) and other technical equipment used during the processofoilextraction.

Guyana has been paying billions of dollars each year towardthiscosteventhoughthe funds will not be required until after a project ends. According to Exxon’s financials, it took $17millionin2021towardsthis cost.With a noticeable spike in thedecommissioningcosts,this newspaper reported only yesterday that in 2022 the oil companies deducted monies from the country’s revenue to pay for decommissioning activitiesforthethirdandfourth oil projects in the Stabroek

Block though oil production is yettocommencethere.

Importantly, the third Stabroek Block project, Payara will commence production activities in the last quarter of thisyear Meanwhile,thefourth development, Yellowtail is not expected to start up until 2027. The oil projects each have an expected life of 20 years, meaning the funds will only be required more than a decade later

Kaieteur News has been on the forefront highlighting the numerous ways in which the countrycanbecheatedoutofits resources when it comes to this single expense. Notably, the Commonwealth Secretariat earlier this year cautioned its membercountriesintheoiland

gas industry of the uncertainty of decommissioning costs, whichcanresultinthepricetag torestoretheoceanfloor,easily moving from US-millions to US-billions.

As such, the body urged Governments to ensure they implement policies and regulations that would require oil and gas companies giving regular estimate on decommissioning costs. It was stated that decommissioning cost, like development cost can vary significantly from project to project and that it can easily amounttobillionsofUS-dollars torestoretheoceanfloor

In February of this year duringapublicscopingmeeting forthesixthplanned

Continued on page 12

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

Printed

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

JAGDEO ON RENEGOTIATION – NO, NO, NO

Whatever Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said

before, he is not standing for anymore.

Before the Vice President was about renegotiation, today he is about rejection of any such conversation,evenwhenGuyanastandsachanceofcoming outahead.

Evenmarginallywouldbebetterthanwherethiscountry istoday,whenthepaltrinessofthe2016oilcontractbetween GuyanaandExxonMobil,assignedbythethenMinisterof Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, is weighed and measuredinallofitshemorrhagingtermsandconditions.

It is the same Guyanese signatory to the ExxonMobil contract, Raphael Trotman, who has today come out in support of renegotiation of the contract that he signed binding all Guyanese. After an extended silence of seven emptyyears,Mr.Trotmanhasmadehispositionasclearas day:hestandsreadytolendashoulder-to-shoulderpresence andastrongvoiceforanymovesthathaverenegotiationfor morebenefitsasaprimaryobjective.

Remarkably and regrettably, the man spearheading the charge in Guyana’s oil sector would have none of that, dismisses with a casual wave, any call, any appeal, or any push for renegotiation. In view of his steely stance, Guyana’soilczarJagdeohasdrawnhislineinthesand:no renegotiation today, no renegotiation tomorrow, no renegotiationforever

Not if he has his way, and even then, it will have to be overhisunconsciousandmotionlessbody WhentheVice President, in whose hands has been trusted the great and incomparable responsibilities for management of the nation’s oil sector, is of such of stubbornly made-up mind, then not a single citizen of this country should have any doubtsanymoreonjustaboutanythingrelatedtothenation’s oilpatrimony

Therecanandshouldnolongerbenodoubtaboutwhose interestscomefirst for Jagdeo. No to renegotiationmeans heisnotforGuyana. Notorenegotiationforbettercontract provisions,nomatterhowsmall,confirmshowmuchJagdeo hasabandonedGuyana.

No to renegotiation evidence how much Jagdeo has distanced from his own prior hard postures about how the Coalition APNU+AFC (as captured via the signature of Raphael Trotman) has harmed and devastated Guyana’s promised prosperity No to renegotiation of the obscene ExxonMobil contract screams and shouts about how completelyJagdeohasreversedcourse,andinwhichcamp hisfeetareplanted,andhisheadfastened.

One would think that the nuanced endorsement of renegotiation from Trotman would present two powerful openingsforJagdeo. Thefirstwouldbetobashandsmash both Trotman and his Coalition APNU+AFC for an incredibleandunforgivingfailure.

BharratJagdeo,beingthefoxypoliticalcreaturethathe is, would never let such an opportunity go to waste. But, given the surprising and meaningful position of Raphael Trotman in 2023, Bharrat Jagdeo, now in the driver’s seat, hasarareopportunitytopushaheadforrenegotiationofthe contract. Though it is unclear if Trotman speaks for the PNC,abrightandsensiblepoliticalleaderwouldbequickto detect that the time has arrived for a unified and solidified front to press for renegotiation of the 2016 ExxonMobil contract.

ExxonMobilispowerful,anditalsoistheownerofdeep reservoirs of astuteness. Said differently, ExxonMobil is well-equippedtothinkonitsfeetanddetectwhatcouldbea powerful development of much significance relative to the contractstayingasitis. AunitedGuyanaissomethingtobe feared, given what such could mean for the contract being nationally resisted. ExxonMobil is well aware of the thick rage of growing numbers of Guyanese across the stormy politicaldivideagainstitsexploitativecontract.

THE SYSTEM MUST PROTECT INDIGENOUSYOUTHS

DEAREDITOR,

Over the past weeks, we havebeendisappointed,hurt and angered by the m i s h a n d l i n g o f investigations into the allegations of rape brought against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, by an IndigenousGuyanesegirl.

As Minister, Dharamlall allegedly had the opportunitytogroom,coerce and rape the Indigenous child. Since the allegations were made public, we have been appalled by reports of police intimidation of the child’s family; of an attempted bribe made to the familyofthecomplainant;of the denial of legal counsel for the child; of the lack of

impartial support for the childonceshecameintothe custody of the state; of the child being taken to the crime scene and that Dharmalall was on the premises; and the back and forthofthecasefilebetween the Police and the DPP We are fearful that these allegations will not be fully investigated, and that the Indigenous child will be left tobearthetraumaofnotonly theallegedviciousassaulton herbody,butalsothatofthe brutal handling of this case byGuyana’scriminaljustice system.

Like many Indigenous women, girls and boys withinGuyana,herbodywas and is vulnerable to racial abuseandsexualising,which wecannotignore,asitplaced

her at risk in the first place. We endorse the statement issued by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) that: calls on the state to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect women and children; refers to the government’s responsibility under Article 34 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that speaks to the role of the government in protecting children from sexual abuse; and highlights General Recommendation no. 39 on the rights of Indigenous women and girls from the Committee on the Elimination ofAll Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

We invite all persons of conscience to join us in making the following

demands:

1. The child must have access to support persons of herownchoosing.Thisisher right.

2. The child’s own legal counsel should have immediate access to her if this hasn’t already been arranged.

3 Mental health support/careforthechildand her family, from those adequately trained and who have their best interests at heart.

A clear plan on what happens within the months and years ahead for her, and guaranteed support She cannotbelefttosufferforthe r e s t o f h e r l i f e

4.Access to funding for this childtoreceivelegal

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PresidentAli’s moral performance and statesmanship are on the line

DEAREDITOR,

Quote from Lincoln’s biography:

“Statecraft at the highest level is a most exacting human activity, one that presents distinctive moral dilemmas This book examines the moral performance of Abraham Lincoln [1861 -1865] in the officeofthepresidentofthe United States. It is therefore indirectly a book about statesmanship and moral choice in the American presidency, through an examination of the conduct of the most remarkable occupantofthatoffice”(End ofquote).

The title of the book, “President Lincoln” with subtitle “The Duty of a Statesman” Author is WilliamLeeMiller

To KN readers, I say, substitute President Irfaan Ali’s name for Abraham Lincoln, and pay close attention to the highlighted phrases: distinctive moral d i l e m m a s , m o r a l performance, statesmanship andmoralchoice.

There is an allegation of rape and sodomy against a Minister in President Ali’s cabinet.Theallegedvictimis a 16-year-old Amerindian girl Can President Ali

detach himself from this matter and say, “Ah, let the State Agencies (Child Protection Agency, Police Dept, Director of Public Prosecutions) handle the matter – and bring it to a conclusion?Bearinmindthe accused is not a member of the public, he is a Minister serving in the Executive Branchofthegovernment.

Dear readers, I urge you to examine President Ali’s conduct given those criteria – distinctive moral d i l e m m a s , m o r a l performance, statesmanship andmoralchoice.

There is a perception of corruption in the way the StateAgencieshavehandled thismatter ShouldPresident Alistillmaintainhisposture of detachment? Do presidents set the tone of their sense and stamp of governance on the whole country?

A distinguished child welfare advocate, Annan Boodram in the SN of July 3rd referred to the “. $10 million dollars bribe, supposedly to alleged victim’s family, looms large in a situation where poverty is real”. The complainant’s statementwasveryclearand detailedabouttheactofrape and sodomy, so what more

The company has to be privy to the harsh sentiments of citizens who are disgusted with the contract terms, and who have lost patience with the guiles and dodges of Jagdeo. Citizens recognize how their own are against their own interests, sabotaging their own collective destiny Daily,

does the DPPwant before it decides to institute charges against the accused? What exactly is the DPP looking for? And, why was the victim’s lawyer not present in the room to oversee the teenager’s interest to make sure she is not bamboozled and intimidated? Can President Ali still maintain his aloofness and detachment?IsPresidentAli provinghimselftobesuchan emptyslate?

One lawyer said President Ali is running a country of 750,000 people (not a union of 50-States) and has no time to involve himself in every little squabble. This is not a little squabble. This goes to the foundations of rule of law and equal justice for all citizens.

(PresidentAlitookoffon ajunkettoCanada,attending concerts, opening a Mandir, addressing an audience of mostlyMiddleEastMuslims – trying to win over the Canadian constituency?)

Ali’s PR folks advance the rights of the accused: make references to trial by a mob, public lynching Well, a Ministeraccusedofrapeand sodomy by a teenaged girl will get wall-to-wall coverage by media in any

society That’s what O.J. Simpson’schargeformurder and sensational trial was all about – but there was no public lynching here in Guyana. In fact the accused is still drawing his monthly salaryof$US10,000.

Here in Guyana – it a p p e a r s M i n i s t e r Dharamlall’s case has been washed out – and this is the reason why citizens are massingonthestreetscalling forchargestobelaidandlet there be – as in Simpson’s case–acourttrial.

P r e s i d e n t A l i ’s statesmanship and moral performance are under the microscope in how he resolves a serious matter involving an accusation of rape and sodomy made againstaMinisterinhisgovt. Inthefaceofaperceptionof corruption at the level of CPA and/or DPP (Note: Annan Boodram’s reference to a $10 million bribe), I would urge president Ali to availhimselfoftheDPPfile, read it for himself – and make up his own mind as whether the 16-year-old girl’scomplaintiscredibleor not.Ifhethinksitiscredible, hemustacttomakesurethis teenagergetsjusticeincourt.

Sincerely,

MikePersaud

Jagdeo is looking like a lesser bet, a weaker and poorer champion,forGuyana.

Somewherealongtheline,thiscontractisgoingtohavetobe renegotiated. ThelongerJagdeostandsintheway,themore likelythathewilllosebigfordoingso.

The sale of resources on indigenous lands, including carbon credits, without consent of the indigenous village councils is illegal

DEAREDITOR,

ReferenceismadetoMr Joel Baghwandin’s letter entitled, ‘The sale of carbon credits to offset carbon emissions does not breach the Amerindian Act’ (see Stabroek News, July 4, 2023).

The author is colossally missing a key point of the carbon credit trade business and he is falling short of understandingthearguments made by Dr Janette Bulkan

in her exquisite letter to Stabroek News published July3,2023.

Importantly, if one is sellingcarboncredits,oneis in turn committing oneself nottotouchadefinedareaof forests.

These forests are supposed to remain intact to absorbaspecifiedamountof

CO2 units from the atmosphere within the agreed timeframe

Therefore, these forests

cannot be logged for wood, cleared for agricultural purposesorcutdowntogain landforsettlements,roadsor othertypeofinfrastructure.

Hence, the Government of Guyana is selling a valuable asset, here the abilityoftreesonindigenous lands to absorb CO2and offset carbon emissions elsewhere This tangible resource is not a property ownedbytheGovernmentof Guyana, if it happens to

Advocate was on an interpretational misadventure

DEAREDITOR,

The attention of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was drawn to a misguided statement attributed to Attorney-at-Law, Dexter Todd in a Kaieteur News article dated Saturday, 1st dayofJuly,2023.

The article quoted Todd assayingthatastatementby the Crime Chief, Mr Wendell Blanhum, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, in which he confirmed that the allegedvictimhasgivena'no further action statement' against Minister Nigel Dharamlall,waspremature.

However,Todd's curious i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a l misadventure ought to be addressed publicly and with as much prominence since, in his rush to assess the situation for the public and

express a purported legal opinion, he neglected to recognise that the statement of the Crime Chief was a statementof fact.

The Crime Chief merely confirmed that the virtual complainant had given a statement of no further actionandthatthefilehadto be returned to the DPP for legaladvice.

Further, the Crime Chief's statement was in direct response to several queries made by journalists who had received informationviasocialmedia that the victimwithdrew her complaint against Mr Dharamlall.

At no time whatsoever did the Crime Chief or any member of the GPF offer an opinion on the likely course to be adopted by the DPP

Therefore, to lable the aforementionedstatementas prematureismind-boggling. Any right-thinking person would be able to easily recognise and differentiate the clear and glaring differences in stating the facts versus offering an opinion on the likelihood of the course of action to be adopted by the DPP as she performs her constitutional functions.

Editor, in light of the above, the GPF wishes to concludethis missivewith a quote by Mark Twain: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think youareafoolthantoopenit andremovealldoubt”.

MarkRamotar

D i r e c t o r o f Communication GuyanaPoliceForce

occupyindigenouslands.

Specifically, the Government is violating the Amerindian Act, where Village councils have the right:

A to manage and regulate the use and occupation of Village lands (Section13e);

B to manage, use, preserve, protect and conserve Village lands and resources(Section14i);

C to develop and regulateagriculture(Section 14iii)

D to construct and maintain roads, bridges, ditches, fences and other localworks(Section14iv)

Finally, Section 14(2) states “Any attempt to dispose any right, title, or interest in Village lands,

except as provided in this Act,isvoid.” Given these specific provisions of the Amerindian Act, I believe that Dr Bulkan has a strong case in calling out the illegalityofthecarboncredit dealthattheGovernmenthas s t r u c k w i t h H e s s Corporationearlierthisyear

IfIwereJohnHess,CEO ofHessCorporation,Iwould seriously consider renegotiating a legal deal that does not violate the rights of the indigenous village councils. Failure to do so will have a negative i m p a c t o n t h e Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)ratingof Hess Corporation and the company’s ability to raise funds on the international

capitalmarkets.

All this could have been avoided, if the Government of Guyana would have faithfully followed the laws of the land and, if she had engaged in due process and consulted with the indigenous village councils from prior to beginning negotiations with Hess Corporation.

Once again, the topdown approach of the Ali administration to governing Guyana has failed spectacularly

One has to sincerely hope that the indigenous village councils will not hesitate to fight for their rightsincourt.

Sincerely,

AndreBrandli,PhD ProfessorLMUMunich

The justice system must protect rape victims

DEAREDITOR,

As a Guyanese woman and mother of two girls, it anguished my heart to read about the alleged rape and sodomyofa16-year-oldgirl.

When I saw her letter to the President of Guyana, it showed her strength as a young lady detailing all her paintoMr.President.

Was happy that she gave avoicetoallrapevictims.

After her letter was seen in the newspaper, other youngladiesspokeoutabout

theirrapeincident.

The court system should prevail and gave justice to that child and the accuser should know they are not abovethelaw

This has been a norm to our society because of the connection with people in ‘high places’ leaving young ladies scared to speak out. Most rape victims suffer withmentalillnessuntiltheir lastbreath.

Justice for the 16-yearold child would give her

mindarelief.

It will also be an eyeopening for other rape victims and educating them thatnooneisaboutthelaw Parent

“Our Wealth, Our Country” laments that the PPP Government is moving from scandal to scandal

“Our Wealth, Our Country” laments that the PPP Government is moving from scandal to scandal, yet they can find it possible to revelinmirthandmerriment celebrating Local Government Election victories, with a lavish flow offoodanddrinks.

All of this, while the nation is waiting on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to review the Police file in haste and pronounce on whetherchargeswillbefiled against Minister Dharamlall

who have been accused of rape and sodomy The fiery deaths of 20 of our young Amerindianchildrensnuffed outwhentheywerelockedin the dormitory and could not escape, shocked the entire nation and reverberated acrosstheworld.

As they held hands of human chains in many schools around Guyana, all school children understood the failure of our governmental systems in following up on safety and security recommendations contained in various

inspection reports The Ministry of Education is passing the buck and blaming the Ministry of Regional Development, whose Minister is the embattled Minister arrested for allegations of rape and sodomy We urge full and substantial monetary compensation and punitive damagesforallthefamilies, for apparent criminal negligence and reckless endangermentoftheMahdia children.

We also urge that the President establish the

THE SYSTEM MUST PROTECT...

Frompage4

c o u n s e l , c a r e , accommodation etc. while she is in Georgetown

5.Furthercallforthechild’s righttoprivacyasthismatter m o v e s f o r w a r d

6.Apoliticalcoordinationof support for the child, with Indigenous groups and communities leading that support.

Indigenous villages and u r b a n I n d i g e n o u s communitieshavegottoput aside political differences andstandupforthischild.

7 Removal of Nigel Dharamlall from his ministerialpositionandfrom parliament.

Heshouldnotbeallowed to enter any Indigenous communityunlessthecaseis fully and impartially i n v e s t i g a t e d

8 Clear rejection of Dharamlall’s behaviour towards women from all MPS, etc regardless of political affiliation

9. Investigation of all other allegations of sexual assault and sexual offences by Dharamlall and other public officials regardless of political affiliation, while being sensitive to the need, protection and choices of s u r v i v o r s

10. If this can be supported bytheGuyaneseIndigenous community, a boycott of ALL regional and national

heritage activities like the Day of Sports and

Indigenous Pageant, which potentially put Indigenous women and girls at risk for sexualabuse.

Respective villages and districts should be free to carry out their activities, but with safeguarding in place for vulnerable children

11. A full and impartial investigation into how the Dharamlall allegation was h a n d l e d .

12. Accountability from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Regional Democratic Council Region

2, the Police and all other parties involved in this matter

Signed: Medino Abraham SJ, Moruca,Region1

Mikel Andrews, Region 3

Graham Atkinson, Moruca,Region1

KayaAli,Region4 Romona Bennett, Region2

Kissandar Campbell, Region9

Immaculata Casimero. AishaltonVillage,Region9

Shenella Charles, Region2

RitaChung,Region2

Shanya Cordis, Region 1

Jelena da Silva, Karrau Creek,Region7

Faye Fredericks,

promised Commission of Inquiry (COI) with urgent haste.Why the delay? Swift and substantial punishment mustbemetedouttoallwho wereinderelictionofduty

The Ministers with shared responsibilities for the school children in the dorms must face the music too and not go unscathed. Thebuckstopswiththem.In the ongoing saga of the vile andreprobateaccusationsof

DEAREDITOR,

sexual grooming, violent rape and sodomy of an Amerindian schoolgirl – a minor–wejointhechorusof concernedgroupscallingfor the removal and termination of the Minister facing the allegations With the graphic,X-ratedaccusations made,evenifdismisseddue

to technicalities and maneuverings, this Minister willnotenjoytheconfidence of the Guyanese people

Government must save its reputationnow Andasiftwo scandals were not enough, the Government will now haveto explainwhy is itthe head of oil company HESS told a J.P Morgan 2023 E n e r g y, P o w e r & Renewables Conference audience that the President ofGuyanaassuredhimthata stay of the Insurance ruling byJudgeSandilKissoon

(Continuedonpage24)

ShulinabVillage,Region9

LauraGeorge,Region7

Lorna Gregory, Region

9 Romario Hastings, Region7

Leroy Hendricks, Region9

ClydeJames,Region2

Natasha La Rose, Region1

Carmenelena Lord, Region2

VeraMarco,Region9

VivianMarco,Region9

A l m a M a r s h a l l , Kamarang Village , Region

7

D i l o n M o h a m e d , Region 4Alma O’Connell, Maruranau Village, Region

9

Hilton Pablo, Kopinang Village,Region8

Camille Robertson, Region2

Shania Thompson, Region4

K r i s t i e E m i l y Rambharat,Region7

6

Andre Ramaldo, Region

Surujani Williams Robinson, Kato Village Region8

6

MoniqueSarius,Region

Dawn Stoll, Moruca, Region1

Candace Williams, Region7

Tamika Wilson-Jerrick, Region1

Amerindian Peoples Association

ForRedThread:

NormaAdrian

ShirleyAult

SusanCollymore

KarenDeSouza

DanutaRadzik

HalimaKhan

JoyMarcus

JonelPerreira

MaeveRamsay

VanessaRoss

WintressWhite

Seldom do I respond to the ramblings of an individualseekingrelevance or importance without substantive support for his/her claims or remarks. However, when innuendoes filled diatribe is being peddled to Guyanese as assessment or analysis, it becomes insulting not only to the reader but also to the person or entities being discredited In such instances I find is disconcerting. Such is the case of Lincoln Lewis letter in Kaieteur News, July 3, 2023.

In the first and second paragraphs of his letter, Lewis claims that Guyana is “lurching from crisis to crisis” under the leadership of President Irfaan and Vice President Jagdeo who seem unconcerned.

Theastutereaderquickly realizes that “lurching from crisis” is Webster’s dictionaryexampleofhowto usetheword“lurching.”

W h a t p a t h e t i c plagiarism? Furthermore, Lewis’ use of the word “crisis” fails to provide evidence of what is catastrophic or dangerous about Guyana, given the definition of crisis. Lewis did mention “high cost of living”.Ifhighcostofliving is a crisis, then, what was Burnham’s policy of oppressing Guyanese to the brinkofstarvation-banning essential foodstuffs such as salted fish, potatoes, split peas (dhal), sardines, flour etc., all staples of Guyanese diet? Was this a period of celebratory exuberance, or crisis? Am I to assume that Lewis was not born then? And if he was not, is he suffering persistent amnesia in that he fails to recognise, oracknowledges,thisperiod

ofcrisisinGuyana?

In the third paragraph of hisletterLewishurledattack on the PPP for failing to acknowledge the racial compositionanddiversityof Guyana, and that the opposition needs to awake fromtheir“slumber”tokeep the government in check. Such infantile ramblings make it seem as if the opposition is a bunch of sleeping beauties which in facttheyarenot.Coulditbe that Lewis himself is in ‘sweet slumber’and hence oblivious to Norton, Hinds, and other APNUites daily attacks on the government? Aren’t the opposition participants in the parliamentary process and discussions, and therefore actively engaged in the country’sdecisionmaking?

The fourth paragraph of Lewis’letter is an exemplar of someone who is delusional.

Lewis claims that the PPP is carving up Guyana and distributing it to “a few as if it is their personal property ” I guess disadvantaged Guyanese do not deserve house lots and small plots because this is exactlyhowPresidentIrfaan is carving and distributing bits and pieces of the country

In the same paragraph, Lewis calls for “agitation to ensureoureconomic,social, cultural and political rights are respected and safeguarded ” What are theserights?

At the very basic level, qualified social scientists will tell you that when they usetheterm‘social’theyare referring to the interactional everyday conduct among people, ‘cultural’ refers to the beliefs and practices and ‘political’customarily refers to participation in, or

influence over the policy decisions that affect their lives.

Again, Lewis’ claims prove foolhardy at best Here’swhy PresidentIrfaan continues to reach out, interact and engage with the people regardless of race or ethnicity If this isn’t social, cultural, and political then what is. Can Lewis please explain?

In the final paragraphs, Lewisdisplayedthedepthof insipidity He attacked Guyaneseforwearingredin solidaritywiththePPP.Iam not sure why this is an abomination Secondary school students wear the colours representative of their schools, Hindis, Muslims, Christians wear the appropriate colors of theirfaith,whythenwearing the color of your political preference so abhorrent to Lewis.Unlessheisapseudo deitywhowouldlikepeople towearcolorsheprefers,Ido notunderstandhisrant.

After reading, and reading Lewis’s letter, I am stillmiffed.

Inhisfinalparagraph,his continued rant about healthcare and poverty in Guyana is devoid of valid examples or substantive claims,allofwhichleavethe reader stupefied in awe Coulditbeasheinferred,he is trying to stir up “agitation?”

Or, could it be that he is seeking recognition or relevance? If the latter is true, then he needs to substantiate his bombastic claimswithrealexamples.In sodoinghewouldreduce,or eliminate his ramblings, which would then give him the iota of legitimacy he seeks.

Regards,

NarayanPersaud,PhD ProfessorEmeritus

Lincoln Lewis’claims are devoid of substantive proof

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LET THE COURTS DECIDE!

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The fact that a complaint has been withdrawn does not bring an end to the investigation of the allegation of sexual misconduct against Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall.

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It is, we believe, for the court to decide on whether to accept the withdrawal of the complaint or to proceed with charges.

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Justice cannot be solely determined by the willingness of a complainant to proceed.

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Guyana’s EITI suspension lifted

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has lifted the suspension on Guyana, saying that its board is satisfied that the outstanding EITI Report was published withinsixmonthsofthedeadline.

TheEITIBoardhadtemporarilysuspendedGuyanaon1 February2023forfailingtopublishits2020EITIReport.Ina terse statement on its website, the EITI said in accordance withitsStandard,itwasagreedthatthesuspensionwouldbe liftediftheEITIBoardissatisfiedthattheoutstandingEITI Reportwaspublishedwithinsixmonthsofthedeadline.“The SecretariatcanconfirmthatGuyanapublishedits2020EITI Report on 30 June, 2023. Thus, the condition for lifting the suspensionhasbeenmet,”thestatementadded.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard to promote open and accountable management of natural resources. It seeks to strengthen government and company systems, include civil society participation, inform public debates, and enhance trust. In each implementing country, it is supported by a MultiStakeholder Steering Group (MSG), which comprises governmentagencies,extractivecompanies,andcivilsociety organisationsworkingtogether

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was first announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 (the Earth Summit 2002)andwasofficiallylaunchedinLondonin2003.EITIis currentlybeingimplementedin57countriesinAfrica,Asia, Europe, the Pacific, North and South America, and the Caribbean.

The EITI Standard sets out the requirements which countries need to meet in order to be recognised, first as an EITI implementing country and subsequently assessed against the EITI Standard. The Standard is overseen by the EITI Board, which comprises members from governments, extractivecompanies,andcivilsociety

AtthetimeofGuyana’s suspension,PresidentDr Irfaan Ali had vowed to expose and hold accountable, “those individuals who are responsible for the country’s temporary suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative(EITI).”Inavideostatement,,theHeadofStatehad saidthathisgovernmentiscommittedtoupholdingthetenets oftransparencyandaccountability,addingthatnoeffortwill be spared to bring the country in line with its reporting requirements.

Ali had stated then that the country had an extension for submission in May 2023 from the EITI Secretariat. He pledgedthatthiswouldbemet.TheHeadofStatealsoshared his understanding of the root cause for the suspension. Ali said: “I have made it clear that it is unacceptable to have a delay in the submission of the report. Notwithstanding, the factthatanextensionwasgivenbytheEITIsecretariatforitto becompletedbyMaythisyear,westillshouldhavebeenina positiontohavethereportsubmitted.”

Asidefromthefactthatallreportingcountriesweregiven an extension in 2019 as a result of the pandemic, and in Guyana’s case, extensive floods that obstructed data collection, Ali had said he will not tolerate delays in the presentationandsubmissionofthenation’sreport.

Furthertothisunderstandingofthereasonsfordelayand subsequentsuspension,Alisaidanindependentadministrator was hired to work on the report but the Terms of Reference (ToR)fortheconsultantwasheldupbytheMulti-Stakeholder Group (MSG) which consists of members of civil society, governmentrepresentatives,andindustryplayers.

On 28 April 2022, Guyana was also found to have achieved a fairly low overall score (52 points) in implementingthe2019EITIStandard.TheValidationReport outlines the full assessment of Guyana’s compliance. It is basedonextensivestakeholderconsultationsandareviewof three templates namely “Outcomes and impact”, “Stakeholderengagement”and“Transparency”.

The Board decision, including corrective actions needed beforeGuyana’snextValidation,ispublishedinthedecisions register ValidationistheEITI’squalityassurancemechanism to assess implementingcountries on their ability to meet the provisions of the EITI Standard. The Validation of Guyana commencedonOctober1,2021.Apubliccallforstakeholder viewswasissuedonSeptember1,2021.

StakeholderconsultationswereheldvirtuallyonOctober 11-29, 2021. The draft Validation report was finalised on December 6, 2021. Following comments from the MultiStakeholder Group (MSG) January 31, 2022, the Validation reportwasfinalisedforconsiderationbytheEITIBoard.

THE PRESIDENT EMBARRASSED HIMSELF

The President took to social and television media to answer a question that is supposedtohavebeentabled in the National Assembly While he did not provide details about the question, it presumably pertains to the country’sforeignpolicy

It is the not the duty of the President to publicly answer a question that was notaskedofhim–heisnota member of the National Assembly

And it is outside of protocolforaquestionposed in the NationalAssembly to be first answered outside of theAssembly’sChambers.

But as the President explained, he likes to speak directly to the public. And this he did. He would have beenbetteradvisednottosay anythingatallbecausewhat he reveled about his own understanding of foreign policyisquiteembarrassing.

ThePresidentlauncheda long diatribe about the benefits of his overseas

travels and about the achievements of the country’sforeignpolicy But themorethePresidentspoke themoreitbecameclearthat he really has a limited grasp offoreignpolicy

Heisnotthefirstandwill not be the last to assert that Guyana is pursuing economic diplomacy The PPPC has long claimed that thiswasaprincipalthrustof its foreign policy The APNU+AFC did the same. But none of them have clearly defined economic diplomacy

All diplomacy is about economics, politics and security A country’s diplomacy is about protectingandpromotingits national interest, and that interest has always had an economic aspect, a political element and a security dimension.

Economic diplomacy is concernedwithsecuringand protecting markets and defending vital economic interests.

Dem Boys Seh...

Unfortunately, when our localpoliticiansspeakabout economic diplomacy they reduce this to attracting investments and marketing the country’s goods and servicesinternationally This isnottheworkofdiplomats. Theyarenottrainedforsuch work.

Diplomats can and should be asked to sign majoreconomiccooperation and trade agreements, involve themselves in trade and other economic negotiations and organize economicconferences.

But it is not their role to be salespersons, to pave the way for the government to secure loans or seek investments This role is better left to politicians and theprivatesector Diplomacy and foreign p o l i c y a r e n o t interchangeable concepts Diplomacy is the means through which a country’s foreignpolicyobjectivesare pursued and attained Regrettably our political

Now is not de time fuh we leaders fuh go to sleep!

Fuheightyears,between1975and1982, de CARICOM did not hold any Summits. Desedaysdemholdingmorethanoneevery year but with de same result as between 1975and1982–notmuchishappening.

Yetlikeclockwork,ourleadersflyoutto theseconferencesasiftheircountry’sfuture dependsonit.Yuhwouldbelievethatifdem nah attend, that there would be serious repercussions And dem does gat big Opening Ceremony Every country gat to showoffitsentertainmentindustryandhow to out-guest to sleep with long, boring speeches.

ButnowisnotdetimefuhdeCaribbean fuh go to sleep. Dem boys saying that de Caribbean is in crisis and it needs a special summit fuh discuss de crisis. No is not climate change. No is not any natural disaster

De biggest crisis is in West Indies Cricket and dem boys hearing very little about this topic during the present summit. But perhaps dem Heads gan spring a surprise and include something about de state of West Indian cricket in de final communique.

DemHeadsshouldnottrytogetinvolve in managingWest Indies cricket. Dat is not demrole.DeICCganexpeldeWestIndies from international cricket if we political leaderstryfuhmeddleindemanagementof WestIndiancricket.

Wah dem should do is to order a whole container of headache-relieving tablets because right now is sheer headache in de Caribbean. If it not from de West Indies failingtoqualifyfortheWorldCupODI,is deflu.

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

EPA approves another 35-well drilling...

Frompage2 Guyana: the Stena Carron, the Stena DrillMAX, the Noble Bob Douglas, the Noble Tom Madden, the Noble Don Taylor, and the Noble Sam Croft. The oil company did not state whether additional drill ships will be required to support its planned developments. So far, the company has said that the exact locations of the 35 wellscomprisingtheProject havenotbeenfinalized.The operator said that while some of the wells will be

drilled for exploration purposes, it is also possible thatsomeofthewellsmaybe drilled as appraisal wells within the proximity of previously drilled exploration areas. Appraisal wells are drilled to better definethephysicalattributes of petroleum resources that have been discovered through prior exploration activities. If discoveries are foundatparticularlocations, subsequent wells could be drilled in the same area to further assess the potential commerciality of the

leaders have such a poor understanding of foreign policy that they see economic diplomacy as a foreign policy objective rather than the means towardsthatobjective.

The President should never have broadcast that recent address on the country’s foreign policy becauseitwasunexceptional atbest.

He failed to clearly define the country’s foreign policy objectives, and was preparedtomerelylistsome of the benefits which he claimed resulted from his foreigntrips.

T h e I r f a a n A l i administration is guilty of not clearing defining the country’s foreign policy objectives.

It was unpardonable that in almost 25-minutes diatribe, the President did not mention what has long been deemed the country’s primary foreign policy objective: defending the territorial integrity and sovereigntyofGuyana.

The President is clearly

at sea when it comes to articulating the country’s foreignpolicy

Andthisiswhyheshould beseekingadviceandensure he is properly prepared before speaking on such subjects.

Itwillsoonbethreeyears since the government is in office.Todatetherehasbeen no reports of the President addressing a Heads of MissionConference.Itisnot even clear whether such a conference has ever been organized so as guide the work of our foreign diplomats.

The government has neglected the Foreign Service.Ithasfailedtomake k e y d i p l o m a t i c appointments. There is no ambassador to the largest state in South America, Brazil.

There is no ambassador to Venezuela, with which Guyana has a territorial conflict. A number of other missions are without Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

The High Commissioner

toIndiahasbeenrecalledfor monthsnowandyet,todate, there has been no appointment.

When the APNU+AFC created the post of Foreign Secretary, the PPPC was highly critical of it. Jagdeo questioned the role of the Minister in light of this appointment. ButthePPPC hasgoneanddonethesame. It has appointed its own ForeignSecretary The President needs to speak on issues under advisement.

He should never have embarrassed himself in that waybyusinghisPresidential prerogative to speak about a topic for which he was illprepared.

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

discoveries.

The Stabroek Block is located approximately 200 kilometers offshore in Guyana waters, where EEPGL has conducted substantial exploration and development activities to date Even though the company is seeking to extract the resources from the Guyana basin, it is not equallypreparedtoofferthe country a guarantee that states its commitment to cleanupanoilspillthatmay occur as a result of its offshoreactivities.

HAPPIEST MAN IN GUYANA, MAYBE THE WORLD

If any Guyanese thought that His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali is the happiestmaninGuyana,startover If any citizen believed that it was former President, now Oil President, Bharrat Jagdeo, wrong again. The honor, the state, the grandeurofbeingthehappiestman in Guyana is none other than Mr Alistair Routledge of Exxon; he may even be the happiest man in the world, considering his stature in Guyana when Exxon casts a long, broad shadow across this nation’s landscape, Alistair Routledge is the length and depth and strength of that shadow It is morethanashadow;itisacurse.

I urge the natives to observe Mr Routledge. He doesn’t speak asmuchasbefore;doesn’tdirtyhis unsullied hands anymore in dealing with unwashed doomsayers, scaremongers, and Exxonbashers. HegetsGuyanese cavedwellingpoliticiansandtheir supplementstodothedirtyjobsof drumming some sense in the Guyanese people heads, and of shutting them up. When the head bangingdoesn’twork,thenthereis no choice but resorting to oppressing the unruly and the

uncowed using untried methods. When the carrot of cash fails to impress, then the big, barbed stick isunsheathed. EntertheGuyanese extravaganza functioning under thenameLiveinGuyana. Itisthe South American recreation of the Klu Klux Clan. The masks of social media are their cover, and one under which the PPP Government is only too glad to shelter and hide. It is all to keep King Alistair happy The dukes (sorry, duchesses not allowed into exclusivechambersjustyet)inthe PPPreporttotheExxonmonarchy thatinstalledinGuyana. Then,as if to demonstrate who is boss around here, put the PPP back (installed) in power Installed is the ongoing narrative, the quaint, faded,legendofthePNC. Ifthere is anyone doubting that the dukes inourpoliticalleadershipclassare not beholden to the regal Alistair, just check out the acrobatics of President Ali, and the gymnastics of the Vice President. Brother B has transformed into one of the biggest fans of transcendental meditation, a living, breathing, waking sleepwalker he has become. His answers to oil questions (on most issues) are

extremely wavy and hazy, with much of what is fuzzy; a leader now more circular than Thales, Archimedes, and Pythagoras put together It should be clear why Alistair Routledge is the happiest maninGuyana,withBrotherBarry eating out of his hand, jumping to his command. What about the interest rate Exxon is charging Guyana? Get a life, and get lost! How about renegotiation of the 2016Exxoncontract? Exxongets Jagdeo (andAli) to sell suckers in Guyanasanctityofcontract. Ican seeAmericanaristocratRoutledge rubbing his hands in glee: that’s telling them, show them who we putincharge. Theinvestmentsare paying off, depositing a high adrenalin rush As for His Excellency Ali, he is a bundle of contradictions, a multiplicity of ambiguities. He says one thing, meanssomethingelse,whicheven he may not know anymore. This has special application to oil stewardship,andGuyanesegetting a few pennies more. We are investor friendly; we honor our promises. How about what is friendly to the poor Guyanese people, honor oath given to Guyanesetoputthemfirst? From

theheadofstate,therehavebeen repeatedflightsfromreason,easy rejectionofreality SeewhyIsay thatAlistair Routledge has reason tobeproud;isthehappiestmanin Guyana, possibly the hemisphere?

When Drs. Jagdeo and Ali are lumped (apologies, blended) together, they are a source of double happiness for Exxon’s Routledge. There was a Chinese restaurantonSherriffStreetbythat name,sotheChineseshouldn’tfeel leftout,disrespected.

When asked about oil, PresidentAlitookachapteroutof BrotherB’sbook:hebecamelongwinded, which is a proxy for boring,floating.

Liketeacherandgodfather,like student. Now he has decided that loose lips sink ships. The critical problem is that the President has dugsuchaholeforhimself,thatthe more he tries to clamber out, the morethewallsofhisverbalprison collapse Under the Ali Presidency, the Jagdeo tyranny, and Routledge’s merry monarchy, Guyana got oil democracy, which is an oxymoron, since the two are incompatible. Nevertheless, I compare Guyana’s democracy to that of Russia under Gorbachev

andYeltsin:thechainislonger,the food is farther away, but citizens are free to bark loudly A killer cost-of-living, declining hopes, anyone? While Guyanese are going down, Routledge, like the band on the Titanic, plays on. I wouldbeashappyasapiginswill too, if I had billions of barrels as ballast, and billions more undeclareduntilthepropertime.

Look, I am not a man to begrudgeanotherhisgoodfortune, thesourceofhisgranddelight,his incomparable celestial happiness. My only objection is that it must not be to the misfortune of the people to whom the wealth belongs. Stripaway,splashaway, and enjoy the stay But never discount the wrath of hungry, betrayed people Belated 4th, Majesty

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.)

DPPacceptswithdrawalofcomplaintfromschoolgirlwho accusedMinisterDharamlallofrapingandsodomisingher

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, on Tuesdayinformedthepolice thatasaresultofthe16-yearoldgirlwithdrawingherrape complaint against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, NigelDharamlall,thereisno

“legal provision” for the mattertoproceed.

Last Thursday, the DPP returnedthepolicefileonthe rape allegations against the minister instructing that r a n k s d o f u r t h e r investigations into the matter However, the following day, the Guyana

…advisesPolicetodiscontinuematter

Police Force (GPF) in a statementannouncedthatthe teen informed police investigators that she no longer wished to continue withthematter

Thepolicedisclosedthat

it was on Thursday that the girlinformedherparentsand an officer of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA),thatshedidnotwant to proceed with the matter Thereafter,itwasstatedthat

the teen girl and her parents then prepared a statement to reflect that she is withdrawing her complaint. Notably, the Police said that noinvestigatorwasapartof this process. The statement was then delivered to the DPP’sChambersbyaparent oftheteen;anothercopywas thendeliveredtothePolice.

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.

In a press release last evening,thepolicedisclosed thatthefilewassentbackto the office of the DPP for legal advice on Tuesday morning.

“Consequently, the DPP returned the file this afternoon containing her legal opinion. In her advice, the DPP disclosed that consideration was given to thefactthatthecomplainant gave a further statement to

investigatorsthatshewishes to withdraw her complaint against Minister Dharamlall andthatherdecisionwasnot influenced by anyone and that same was in her best interest The DPP also proferred her advice based on the fact that the virtual complainant’sstatementwas taken by a forensic interviewer in the presence of a parent, a Child Care officer and a Police officer and that such statement was free and voluntary,” the policestatementsaid.

T h e s t a t e m e n t continued: “In light of the above,theDirectorofPublic Prosecutionconcludedthat

Continuedonpage18

Guyana’sroyaltyfor...

Frompage3 development in the Stabroek Block, Projects Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana,Anthony Jackson explained that even though the operator may abandon its equipment on the seafloor,thecountrystillhastopaythesecosts.

At previous consultations, Exxon said it may leave its equipmentontheseafloorasmarinelifeoftentendstomake thisitsnewhabitat.Removingthesemayactuallycausemore harmthanthegoodtheoperatorbelieves.

Jacksonexplained,“It’stwothingswearepayingfor,first no matter what, if we do have to decommission the FPSO [FloatingProductionStorageandOffloadingvessel]thatisa costandthatisindependentoftheSURF.”

Jacksonsaidthateveniftheequipmentwillbeabandoned ontheseafloor,attheveryleast,ExxonMobilmustdetachthe riserswhicharetheequipmentthatgoesfromtheseabedfloorto thesurfaceoftheFPSOs Afterthatisremoved,hesaidthelines willbepurgedtoensurethereisnowater,oilorgasleftthere

Thirdly, he said that the wells must be capped thereby plugging to abandon it, after it has reached its production timeline. It must be sealed to ensure there is no release of hydrocarbonstotheenvironment.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

Minister of Local Govt. and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

Harris Paints conducts training with inmates for construction industry

Part of the ‘Fresh Start’initiative which wasconceptualisedbytheMinistryofHome Affairstohelprehabilitateinmateswithskills for their successful reintegration back into society, Harris Paints recently conducted

trainingwithsomeoftheprisonersforskills neededintheconstructionindustry

InareleaseonTuesday,HarrisPaintssaid that they recently collaborated with Guyana Prison Service and Str8edge Superior

Painting contractors to conduct the first vocational training course at Lusignan’s Prison’s Vocational Training School with inmates to develop finishing skills for the constructionindustry

Participatinginthecoursewere13inmates along with three officers and Prison Trading Instructor, Mr NovanAmsterdam, who were given training on Harris Troweltex Textured Finish Application This included technical information, notes on preparation and handson practice applying the texture with a float andtroweltocreateitsuniquetexture

According to the company, this durable stone-render style textured finish is growing inpopularityinGuyanaforbothinteriorand exterior finishes as it provides an attractive coral stone appearance and once applied correctly,lastsalifetime.

Retail Services Manager at the company, Mr NigelDodsoninthereleasesaid“salesof HarrisTroweltexhaveincreasedsignificantly anditsbeingusedonseveralhousingprojects sothereisacallforskilledapplicators.

There is a bit more to it than traditional paintingbut,fromaconstructionperspective it has several benefits; it is mainly used as a one coat system so is relatively quick to apply; it can easily cover imperfections in underlying wall surface; it has a very sophisticatedaestheticandaddstotheoverall strengthofthebuilding.”

Harris Paints, which has been a major supplier of paints in Guyana for over 30 years, also makes an elastomeric version of thisfinishspeciallydesignedtocoatconcrete panel construction that allows for slight movementsofthebuildingwithoutcracking.

Mr Dodson thanked Mr Garfield Manasseh and Mr Mohamed Rahim, the Harris trainers and Mr Vinroy Johnson, St8edge Superior Painting an expert in texture finish application for their participation in leading the training with the inmatesandsaiditwasapleasuretobeableto contribute to this constructive approach to reducing recidivism and strengthening communities.

FreakStormleavesfivefamilieshomeless

Heavy winds on Friday left five families in theAmerindian Village of Aishalton,RegionNinehomeless.

Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock, said that the stormoccurredataround22:30hrson Friday AccordingtoAllicockatotalof six houses containing five families were affected Kaieteur News

understands that 13 adults and 22 childrenwerelefthomeless.

In a release on Monday night, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said that along with Regional Authorities they conducted a damage assessment and as a result of the assessment, the CDC dispatched food hampers, tarpaulins, hammocks and

cleaning hampers to the impacted residents.

According to the CDC, a team is currently in Aishalton to conduct additional assessments to provide furtherassistance.Itwasnotedthatthe Regionisbeingmonitoredcloselyfor more high level winds and flood impactsastherainyseasoncontinues.

CARICOMHeadsplacing timecapsulefor50years

CDCrespondstoHighWindsimpactatAishalton

A total of six (6) houses were destroyedbyhighwindsinthevillageof Aishalton, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo(Region9)onJune30,2023

This was confirmed by Regional ChairmanofRegion9,BryanAllicock

Afterreceivingthereport,theCivil Defence Commission (CDC) along withRegionalAuthoritiesconducteda

damageassessment.Asaresultofthat initialassessment,theCDCdispatched food hampers, tarpaulins, hammocks and cleaning hampers to the impacted residents.

The traumatised residents, comprising 13 adults and 22 children thanked the Government of Guyana through the CDC and Region 9’s

administration, for their swift assistance. There is presently a team from the Commission in Aishalton to conduct additional assessments in ordertoprovidefurtherassistance.The Region is being monitored closely for more high-level winds and flood impactsastherainyseasoncontinues. (DPI)

Nation News - In celebration of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) 50th anniversary, heads of state acrosstheregionwillbeplacing lettersintoaspecialtimecapsule whichwillbesealedforthenext 50 years The capsule, which will also contain their reflections, advice and lessons, will be addressed to their successors,tobeopenedbythem onJuly4,2073 Inanodtothe regional organisation’s history, the ceremony will take place in ChaguaramasonTuesday

This news came from Trinidad & Tobago’s Prime MinisterDr KeithRowleywho was speaking during the twinisland’shostingofCARICOM’s 50th anniversary opening ceremony yesterday afternoon. Rowleytalkedaboutthegrowth of the organisation from its inception in 1973 to now, highlighting its importance, despite the naysayers from aroundtheworld

“Herewearetoday,50years on, side by side in mutual solidarity, regard, respect and esteem; strong, together and unified Together, this regional family of nations can examine their achievements during the lasthalfcentury Wehavefaced manychallengesandhaverisen to overcome them despite the difficulties through our cooperation, shared goals and above all else through our friendshipwithinCARICOM.

“Our regional integration movementhasnotonlysurvived butithasthrived,expandedand flourished Whilstwerecognise there is a whole lot more to be obtainedatthisjuncture,wecan proudly say that we have been going in the right direction I have witnessed first-hand the way that CARICOM has remained relevant to the needs, dreams and aspirations of its regional citizenry Our children need to be taught its relevanceanditshistory.”

Hewaskeentostressthatas the Caribbean entered the postpandemic era, the bonds forged amongmemberswouldbemore importantthaneverastheregion continuedtofacechallenges In Rowley’s opinion, it was paramount that the Caribbean

charteditsowndestiny,citingthe decisiontosigntherevisedtreaty of Chaguaramas in 2001 and forming the CARICOM Single Market and Economy asanexample.

CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett expressed similar sentiments in anearlieraddress,statingthatthe organisation had built a strong foundation over the past 50 years However, she noted expansion of inter-regional trade, hassle free movement of regional citizens, the pervasive nature of crime and insecurity were areas that stood out in need of fixing immediately Barnett also believes food security remains a key issue regionally, but noted that the thrust to reduce the food import bill by 20 per cent by 2025wasgatheringtraction.

She revealed that the action plan for CARICOM’s 2030 Human Resource Development Strategy was currently being implemented Thestrategyseeks to provide youth people in the Caribbean with the tools necessarytofunctioneffectively inthe21stCentury

“Weareseekingtoembrace evenmoreinnovativeideasfrom ouryoungpeopleandmovingto provide opportunities which challenge their creativity into areas of entrepreneurship Furthermore,asignificantpartof our agro-food agenda is encouraging young people into thesector,utilisingthenewtools of Information Technology to increaseproductivityandbuild sustainable livelihoods,” Barnettsaid.

CARICOMwasestablished by the Treaty of Chaguaramas andcameintoeffectonAugust1, 1973 Barbados, Jamaica, GuyanaandTrinidad&Tobago werethefoundingnations

Now, it consists of 15 member states: Antigua & Barbuda,TheBahamas,Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint VincentandtheGrenadinesand Surinamehavejoined Thereare also five associate members in Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands andTurks&CaicosIslands

Trinidad & Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley (Picture courtesy CARICOM Secretariat)

Some of the homes that were destroyed in Aishalton

Kares Engineering Inc. has been certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards(GNBS)tousethe ‘Made in Guyana’ Certification Mark ProgrammewhileUltraCare Medical Centre Laboratory has been certified to the National Standard GYS 170:2021 – General requirements for the operationofalaboratory

Kares Engineering was certified on Friday, June 30, 2023, to use the ‘Made in Guyana’ Standard Mark on its Concrete slabs and tiles usedinconstruction.

The certification ceremony was hosted at the company’s Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) location where Chief Executive Officer, Mr Radesh Rameshwar lauded theGNBSCertificationteam foritsefficiencyinfinalizing theprocessinashorttime.

“We’re extremely delighted to reach this juncture where we are today…where I can now brandmyproducts‘Madein Guyana’ and everyone will know this is a local product produced by a Guyanese company,” Mr. Rameshwar said as he noted that Kares Engineering is already pursuing certification to the international standard ISO 9001:2015 Quality ManagementSystem.

The ‘Made in Guyana’ certificate,whichisvalidfor oneyear,washandedoverby GNBS Technical Officer, M r L a t c h m a n Mootoosammi who congratulated the company onitsachievementandurged other local manufacturers to jointheprogramme.

Also present at the ceremony was President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA),Mr RamsayAli.In brief remarks, he congratulated the company

Man drops rice bag with gun after seeing cops

A man on Monday dropped a Karibee rice bag containing a single barrel shotgun loaded with a live 12guagecartridgeafterhesawpoliceranksheadingtowards himatLimeTreeBackdam,CuyuniRiver,RegionSeven.

The ranks were on a mobile patrol when they noticed themandropthebagandran.Asaresult,theychasedthe manwhomanagedtoevadethem.

Notwithstandinghisescape,theranksretrievedtherice bagcontainingtheloadedgun.

and the GNBS for pursuing andimproving standards and qualityonthelocalmarket.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, July 04, 2023, Ultra Care Medical Centre Laboratory was certified under the GNBS’s Laboratory Certification Programme to the National Laboratory Standard, GYS 170:2021 –General Requirements for theoperationofalaboratory

The scope of certification includes Urology, H a e m a t o l o g y a n d

Biochemistry

At a handing over ceremony held at the facility’s Light and Second Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown location, the Laboratory’s Managing Director, Dr Latoya

Gooding noted that this certification is a stepping stonetowardsthelaboratory achieving International Accreditation.

“This was not just an overnight achievement, it is something that my laboratory staff worked on very hard…I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to them for their hard work and dedication throughout thisprocess,”shesaid.

The certificate was handed over to Laboratory Manager, Ms Anola Stephens by Head of Certification(Ag),Mr Keon Rankin who congratulated the laboratory personnel for their efforts to meet the requirements of the standard.

Certification to the National Standard enhances consumer confidence in the services offered by Medical Laboratories Those requiringmedicaltestingare encouraged to utilize the services of certified laboratories to guarantee accurateandreliableresults.

The shotgun found by police

RapeaccusedMinister NigelDharamlallresigns

In a dramatic turn of events, President Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday night announced that rape accused Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall has resigned from his postasLocalGovernmentMinister andMemberofParliament.

Dharamlall’s resignation came just hours after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali Hack, SC stated that in the absence of the schoolgirl’s complaintagainst him,“thereisno legal provision for the Police to proceedwiththematter”.

“Thisevening,you’veseenthe statement from the DPP in which she has advised that she will not proceedonanychargesagainstthe Ministerbasedonallthatisbefore her” Ali said while adding, “However,MinisterDharamallhas advised that he will tender his resignation as the interest of the governmentisimportanttohimand hewillnotwantanyonetobringthe governmentintodisrepute”.

The President has since accepted the former Minister’s

resignation.

“I’ve, therefore, accepted his resignation as a Cabinet Member and a Member of Parliament”,Ali

Thievessteal motorcyclefromyard

Policearecurrentlyonthelookoutforthieveswhoreportedlystole a black and orange motorcycle, from a man’s yard at Lot B South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.

According to the owner, Jermaine Goodluck, he parked his

motorcycle with number plate, CJ6974,onSundayandwenttobed.

When he woke-up the next morningthebikedisappeared.

It is believed that the thieves sneakedintohisyardduringthewee hours of Monday and removed the motorcycle.

saidonhisOfficialFacebookPage. Dharamlalllandedinhotwater

after a 16-year-old schoolgirl accused him of rape and sodomy. The allegations sparked major protests demanding justice and his sackingbythegovernment.

Anofficialstatementwasmade to police and following an investigation,acasefilewassentto the DPPfor legal advice.The DPP returned file to investigators

requesting further probe into the matter.

According to police, investigators had contacted the complainant for further statement but she reportedly told them that she wishes not to proceed any further with the matter and gave them a “no further action statement”.

RegionNinefarmerstoadoptadvanced farmingtechniquesfromBrazil

Agriculture in Region Nine is being advanced as the region’s farmers are on the verge of utilising new farming techniques fromneighbouringBrazil.

The techniques were shared duringarecentfarmers-to-farmers engagement in Jabuti, Roraima, Brazil. Farmers from the villages of Kumu, Moco Moco, Quarrie and St. Ignatius spoke about their plans to practice similar techniques.

According to Cyril King, who isasmall-scalefarmerinLethem, his region practices similar farming techniques but Brazil’s is more advanced However, he foresees the country reaching that levelshortly

Meanwhile, another farmer from Moco Moco, Ben Smith applauded the initiative between thetwocountries.

“I see the experience as being really beneficial because what I see,isthattheirtechniqueofusing the planter to plant so many lands is good for the people and the farmers, and it’s really quick,” Smithreported.

Theyoungmannotedthatwith the government aggressively fostering agriculture in the country,hepredictsthattherewill soon be much more technological equipment similar to Brazil Further, with a flourishing corn and soya bean farm in Region Nine, knowledge of additional

techniquesisnecessary According to another farmer, Vivian Xavier, he learnt indepth about the plantingofthetwoproducts.

“When it comes to planting corn, I learnt how to properly put the fertiliser, and when to put it,” he noted Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock, and Consulate General of Guyana in Boa Vista Brazil, Rodger King, as well as a representative of the National Agriculture and Research ExtensionInstitute(NAREI)were alsopresent.

The government has been making strides in purchasing a number of farming equipment for itspeople,inkeepingwithitsfood securitygoal.(DPI)

Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock, Representative from NAREI and farmers at the engagement in Brazil

Stolen motorcycle

Former Minister of Local Govt. and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Laing Avenue, Yarrow Dam residents to benefit from $50 million home improvement programme

ResidentsofLaingAvenueandYarrowDam,Georgetown will benefit from a $50 million Home Improvement Programme that is being rolled out by the government as it workstowardsimprovingthelivesofeveryGuyanese.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo made the announcement during follow-up community meetings on Monday afternoon. He was accompanied by Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, Director of the Guyana Online AcademyofLearning(GOAL)scholarshipprogramme,and the11electedCouncilorstotheGeorgetownMayorandCity Council(M&CC).

Necessary systems will be put in place through consultationswiththegovernmentandacommittee,thatwill comprise residents from each area. An estimated 252 households are set to benefit. “We’ll have an ongoing engagement,thisisnotaone-offthing,itmeanswe’dhave toworkcontinuouslyuntilwehavedevelopmentinthese areas, so we’ll talk a bit on how we pursue and the mechanism through which we will do it,” the VP told residents.

Youthswereinformedofthemanytrainingopportunities availableintheoilandgassector “Thejobscanbeveryhigh payingbutweneedtogetpeopletoorganisethemselves… We can give skills like carpentry … Welding is a badly needed skill, electrician and that other sort of training because with the building boom now taking place in the country,weneedalotofthose,”hefurtherdisclosed.

Teachers were encouraged to make use of the GOAL’s ‘Teach children how to read’scholarship programme that is targeting, 500 teachers through the scholarship programme. Young entrepreneurs were also urged to make use of the business training programme that is offered by the Small BusinessBureau(SBB)oftheMinistryofTourism,Industry andCommerce.

Similarly,acommitteehastobeformedinYarrowDam,to develop a mechanism whereby all persons benefit from the HomeImprovementProgramme.Residentswillalsobenefit fromapavedroad,thatwillbeundertakenbytheMinistryof Public Works, for which the contract has already been awarded. Drainage and irrigation, and land ownership were among the key issues raised by residents in this areas. “I’ll bring the Minster of Housing (Collin Croal) and his technicalpeopleandIcansendthemoutback,they’lllook attheareas,ifit’snotcontentious,Idon’tseeareasonwhy wecan’tdoit,”theVicePresidentadded.

These are commitments being fulfilled by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, made during its campaign trail leading up to the 2023 Local Government Elections.(DPI)

DPPacceptswithdrawalof complaintfromschoolgirl...

Frompage12 in the absence of the victim’s complaint, there is no legal provisionforthePolicetoproceedwiththematter.”

Kaieteur News had reported that in a letter to President IrfaanAli, the teen girl shared gruesome details about how shewasallegedlygroomedandlaterrapedbytheminister In her letter, she pleaded with President Ali, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and relevant authorities to lookintothematter

According to the letter seen by this publication, the girl firstmettheministerataneventlastyear,whenshewas15years-old.Shesaidshewasrapedthreemonthsaftermeeting the minister and at that time, she was 16-years-old. She disclosedintheletterthataftercontinuouslyharassingherto meetupwithhim,sheeventuallyagreedtomeettheminister The teen said this is when the minister allegedly raped and sodomisedherbeforehandingherasumofmoney

Following the official report made to the police by the teengirlinthecompanyofanofficerfromtheCPA,Minister Dharamlall was arrested and subsequently released on $1M bail.

AmidcallsandprotestbycivilsocietyforDharamlallto be sacked, President Ali announced that the rape accused proceededonadministrativeleave.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo addressing residents during the meeting on Monday

World registers hottest day ever recorded on Monday

Scientists say to expect more records to fall this year as climate change and an emerging El Nino pattern make the mercury climb.

Aljazeera-Mondaywas thehottestdayeverrecorded globally, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

The average global temperature reached 17.01C (62.62F), surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C (62.46F) as heatwaves sizzled around theworld.

The southern US has been suffering under an intense heat dome in recent weeks.InChina,anenduring heatwave continued with

temperatures above 35C (95F). NorthAfrica has seen temperatures near 50C (122F) Even Antarctica, currently in its winter, registered anomalously high temperatures. Ukraine's Vernadsky Research Base in the white continent's Argentine Islands recently broke its July temperature recordwith8.7C(47.6F).

“This is not a milestone we should be celebrating,” said climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the

White powder found at White House identified - Washington Post as cocaine

Environment at Imperial CollegeLondon.

“It's a death sentence for peopleandecosystems.”

Scientists said climate change combined with an emerging El Nino pattern w a s t o blame.“Unfortunately, it promises to only be the first

in a series of new records set this year as increasing emissions of [carbon dioxide] and greenhouse gasses coupled with a growing El Nino event push temperatures to new highs,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at BerkeleyEarth.

Reuters - A white powder found inside the White House late on Sunday, which led to the temporary closure of part of the presidential complex, was identifiedbyWashingtonfire department as cocaine, the WashingtonPostreported.

The Secret Service confirmed to Reuters that an "unknown item" had been found that led to part of the White House being closed, but referred other questions to the fire department, which declinedtocomment.

“On Sunday evening, the White House complex went into a precautionary closure as officers from the Secret Service Uniformed Division investigated an unknown item found inside a work area," a Secret Service spokesperson said in an emailedstatement.

The item was discovered in the West Wing, the spokesman said. The West Wing is an area attached to theexecutivemansionwhere the president lives and includes the Oval Office, cabinet room and press area,

along with offices and workspaceforthepresident's advisersandstaff.

President Joe Biden was not in theWhite House at the time. Hundreds of people work in or come through the West Wing of the White House regularly ”The DC Fire Department was called to evaluate and quickly determined the item to be non-hazardous," the Secret Service added. There was "an investigation into the cause and manner" of how the substance entered the W h i t e H o u s e , t h e spokesperson said The Washington Post reported "a firefighter with the D C department's hazardous materials team radioed the results of a test" of the item, citing an online database of emergency responder communications. The radio dispatch said "We have a yellow bar saying cocaine hydrochloride.”

Two "officials familiar withthematter"confirmedto the Washington Post that the substance found at theWhite Housewascocaine.

rickshaw

A rickshaw puller quenches his thirst during a heatwave in Dhaka, Bangladesh

[File: Munir uz Zaman/AFP]

A view of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson

WANTED VACANCY

LatheOperator,Welderand Handyman needed at Good Hope on the East Coast. Call:645-9333.

Skilled Carpenters, Masons & Labourers needed. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385/ 6257642.

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

Porters, Driver and Salesman needed.Attractive salaryoffered,experiencewill beanasset.Call:226-9800.

Oneable-bodiedmaleorfemalestaffneededtoworkin astore.Call:225-2313,2261497,658-8559.

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

One diesel Mechanic and WelderFabricatorneededto work in the Interior. Interestedpersonscanmakecontacton:701-4000.

Chef Express Catering ServiceisnowhiringCooksand kitchen Assistant, Contact: 506-2211/699-5042.

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced Chauffeur with mini busandhirecarlicenceand also contract vehicles needed.Call:645-0025.

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

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

HonestDriver andSaleman needed. Must have experience in sales and Lorry licenses. Contact: 233-3512 Email-prestigefoodsguyana @gmail.com

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

Ladiesneededtowash5gallonwaterbottles.Preferably living between Parika and CorneliaIdaarea.Call:6619447.

Experienced canter Driver/ Salesman, to work on water deliverytruck.Preferablyliving between Parika and CorneliaIdaarea.Call:6619447.

KitchenAssistant,Supervisor, Chef and Salesperson needed.Call:659-5559.

OneSalesman,cxcsubjects, experience in writing bills, stocktaking & cashing. ApplyatKeyfoodMcDoomvillage next to the post office.

One Clerk needed for TSI Ecclesoffice.MusthaveEnglish and Mathematics. Email:techserigy@yahoo.com orCall:615-9132.

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

Cashiers&StockClerksurgently needed at Two Brothersmini-mart.Experience will be an asset. Call/ WhatsApp:592-708-3256.

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

VacancyexistsforSalesRepresentative at Innovations America.Contact:679-7391.

Vacancy exists for Junior Book Clerk at Innovations America.Contact:679-7391.

Maid to cook and clean for EastBankarea.Call:615-9132.

Ladiesneededtowash5gallonwaterbottles.Preferably living between Parika and CorneliaIdaarea.Call:6619447.

Experienced canter Driver/ Salesman, to work on water deliverytruck.Preferablyliving between Parika and CorneliaIdaarea.Call:6619447.

FORRENT

Fully furnished 2 bedrooms apartment in Albert Street, Alberttown. Preferably students, no smoking and no petsallowed.Call231-5695/ 611-9134.

1-8000 sq ft Modern Warehouse/Manufacturing facility located in the Eccles Industrialsite.$10,000USper month.Telephone:695-0333.

One,twoandthreebedrooms furnished apartments for rent in Providence and Diamond. Call: 604-6664, 6826238or216-2299.

2 bedroom Apt Vreed-enHoop, kitchen with granite countertop, ac, fence yard, security cameras, grilled. $40000 monthly. Call: 6825230,6154414.

One bottom flat and storage spaceavailableinVreed-enHoopsuitableforclinics,salon/barbershop,taxiservice, office,etc.Call:683-4281.

President Ali pleased over lift on Guyana’s temporary suspension from EITI

President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday said the Government of Guyana is pleased thattheExtractiveIndustries Transparency Initiative (EITI)Boardlifteditstemporary suspension on Guyana.

Guyana was suspended fromthebodyonFebruary1, 2023 for failing to submit a reportdocumentingrevenues receivedbythestatefromthe extractive sector for the period2020.

EITI on its website had said that Guyana was not eligible for an extension of the reporting deadline for fiscal yearJanuary2020-December 2020.Itsaidtoothatthedeadlineforthepublicationofthe outstanding report remains December31,2022.

Back then, President Ali had committed to hold to account those responsible for the temporary suspension of the country from the international institution.

Upon the announcement from EITI yesterday that the Board decided to lift the suspension following Guyana’s publication of the report, the Head of State expressed his satisfaction.

According to President Ali, Guyana published its report on June 30 within five months of the six-month deadline.

strengthen public and corporategovernanceandaccountability, and provide the data to inform policymaking and multi-stakeholderdialoguein the extractive sector

Bybecomingamemberof the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), countries commit to disclose information along the extractive industry value

chain – from how extraction rights are awarded, to how revenues make their way through government and how they benefit the public.

In each country that has joinedtheEITI,amulti-stakeholder group composed of government, companies and civilsociety,supportsimplementation of the EITI Standard.

FOR SALE

PurebreedGermanshepherd pupsforsale.Call:680-1828, 632-9022/639-4966.

Farm produce for sale: pumpkin,plantain,lemon, lime, cayenne & apple banana.Call:688-0417.

For Sale: cement mixer & pump truck, mini excavator andconcretebatchingplant. Call:652-0251/650-0402.

Fodentwinsteerdumptruck, 3 ton canter, Leyland DAF Hiab truck & Foden hauler truckforsale.Call:652-0251/ 650-0402.

Goodqualityparkayandvinyl with glue. Please Call: 693-1071/232-0269.

He indicated, “The Government remains confident thatallsystemswillremainin place to ensure that Guyana isnotplacedinasimilarposition in the future.”

TheEITIBoardapproved Guyana’s application to join theEITIatitsmeetinginManilaon25October,2017.

EITI sets out to promote an understanding of natural resource management,

Popular businessman found guilty of trafficking cocaine

Popular business man, Michael Mor gan, was on Tuesday found guilty of traffickingsome3.2kilogramsofcocaine.

According to a statement from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Morgan was found guilty by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the DiamondMagistrates’Court.

“Morganwasfoundguilty and sentencing was deferred to the 14th July, 2023 pending a probation report,” CANU said in its statement.

Found guilty of Trafficking Cocaine

SERVICES

ForthecompletionofUS& Canadian non-immigrant visa applications and Guyana passport applications.Call/whatsApp:592645-5695.

The guilty verdict came oneyearafterhisarrestathis residence, Ixora Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

CANU reported that the narcotics were tested and confirmedtobecocainewith atotalweightof3.27kganda streetvalueofapproximately $3.5million.

Farmproduceforsale:pumpkin, plantain, lemon, lime, cayenne and apple banana. Call:688-0417.

OneCRVHonda,$3.3M negotiableand1ToyotaAllion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculatecondition,lowmileage.Contact:649-0956.

VEHICLES FOR SALE EDUCATION

Nursery, Primary,Form 1-2 Literacy,Reading,Examination preparation &Tours76 BrickdamNexttoN.I.S.RisingStarAcademy.Call:6909378.

For sale rice farmers-132 laverda rice combine, 290 Massey tractor, 110-90 fiat tractor.Call:+5926952220/ 9544648614.

Pure honey, wholesale and retailquantity.Call:621-4273.

PurebreedHuskiesforsale. For more information Call/ WhatsApp:626-0679.

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FilingVisaapplicationforms. Call:683-0916.

Morgan was arrested in June last year after CANU officers, acting on intelligence, conducted a search at his home where a quantity of cocaine and 27 nine mm rounds, one .32 Taurus firearm,alongwithonemagazine, and 25 matching .32 rounds were found.

The businessman was the loneoccupantatthepremises at the time of the search.

As such, Morgan was arrested and escorted to the CANU headquarters along withthefirearm,ammunition, and narcotics.

Morganisreportedlystill on trial for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

Head of CANU, James Singhsaidthatthefirearmand ammunition charge will be filed by the police and not CANU.

Notably, Morgan is the brotherofPeterMorgan,who was deported to Guyana in 2015 after completing a 10year sentence in the United States of America for drug trafficking.

President, Irfaan Ali

Govt. spending $3.6B to build 4 pump stations

Soon works will commence on four new pump stations in Regions

Three and Four, which are estimated to cost some $3,695,018,042, as bids wererecentlyopenedforthe contracts at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)office.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)-theprocuringentity noted that the pump stations

Ministry

will be constructed in areas such as Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) in the Pouderoyen area, West Bank Demerara (WBD), Belle Vue, WBD and at Jimbo, Grove, East BankDemerara(EBD).

It was revealed at the opening of tenders, that the station for Meten-MeerZorg is estimated at $918,231,386, Pouderoyen pump station is estimated at $ 1,007,627,546, Belle Vue

is pegged for theoneforJimbo,Grove.

K

undertaking is critical since Regions Three and Four are pronetoflooding,whichcan result in livelihoods being affected.

In January, during the presentation of this year’s budget, it was revealed that thegovernmentwillinvesta

sum of $19 7 billion to upgrade the drainage and irrigationsystemsacrossthe country

It was mentioned in the budget too that farmers and residents of Meten-MeerZorg, Jimbo Grove, Belle VueandLetterKennywillbe direct beneficiaries of new pumpstations.Drainageand irrigation upgrades will also benefitfarmersandresidents acrossthecountry,including those at Amazon in Region

Two, Adams Creek in Region Two, Nabaclis, Golden Grove, Buxton and Bellamy Canal in Region Five.

Already, preparatory works have started at Letter Kenny community, Region Six, for the construction of thatpumpstation.

In May, bids for the pumpstationwereopenedat the National Procurement and Tender Administration B o a r d o f f i c e a n d

$935,844,954wasestimated for the project Ten contractors have submitted bids ranging from $750 million to $955million for theproject.

Meanwhile, last year the Ministry had signed a $650,074,684 contract with Well Built Construction Services to construct a new pump station in the Canal No.1area,WBD. B e l o w a r e t h e companiesandtheirbids:

ofAgriculture–NationalDrainage andIrrigationAuthority(NDIA)

Constructionofpumpstationat Meten-Meer-Zorg,WestCoastDemerara.

ConstructionofpumpstationatPouderoyen,RegionThree.

ConstructionofpumpstationatBelleVue.

Constructionofpumpstationat Jimbo,Grove,EastBankDemerara.

ProvisionofSecurityandMonitoringofthe EastDemeraraWaterConservancyEmbankment.

ConstructionofDrainageandIrrigation StructureatYakusariCattleSavannah.

ConstructionofFloodEmbankment atKookeriteSavannah,Berbice.

France shooting: Peak of rioting has passed, says Macron

BBC - French President Emmanuel Macron said he believes the peak of rioting acrossthecountryhaspassed afteraweekofviolence.

He made the comments on Tuesday at a meeting of more than 200 mayors from areas that have been affected bytheunrest.

The protests were sparked by the fatal shooting of teenager Nahel M at a traffic stop near Paris on 27 June.

However, the president said he still remained "cautious".

"Is the return to calm lasting? I will be careful, but t h e p e a k w e h a v e experienced in recent days has passed", he said in a televisedaddress.

Mr Macron said he had invited the mayors to thank them for the action they had takeninrecentdays.

"If you are here it is because you have been victimised, sometimes you have been victimised in a verydirectandpersonalway, your families and loved ones, in an intolerable and unspeakableway,"headded.

His comments come as the interior ministry said the levelsofviolencehadhalved inthepast24hours.

S e v e r a l p e o p l e , including police officers, wereinjuredinstreetclashes and a firefighter died on Sunday night while trying to putoutburningcars.

In total, over 3,400 peoplewerearrested,andthe riots are estimated to have caused millions of euros worth of damage to public transport in the Paris region alone.

On Monday, mayors

“Our Wealth, Our Country”....

From page 6 would be put in place. In an audiotape, the HESS Head said, “…the President wasveryemphaticthatastay would be put in place that would have no impact on production.Thestaywasput in place. There is no impact on production....” OWOC is concerned that the rule of

law is under threat if businessgroupscangotothe President directly seeking solace and interventions if they do not like court decisions.

This is quite disturbing, as ordinary Guyanese do not havetheprivilegeofseeking presidential assistance if they do not like court

decisions. OWOC calls on the President to clear the air onthismatter

OWOC is a registered civic society group advocating for transparency, accountability and good governance of Guyana’s resources.

O u r We a l t h , O u r Country

across France held demonstrations calling for an end to the violence after attackers tried to set fire to the home of Vincent Jeanbrun, a suburban Paris mayor, and fired rockets at theofficial'sfleeingwifeand children.

The public prosecutor's office has started an investigation for attempted murder

Mr Macron told the

mayors on Tuesday that they had his "full support" and that he would provide them answers over the events of thepastweek.

The killing of Nahel M by a police officer has reignited anger from members of the public, who accuse the security forces of systemracism.

The 17-year-old was of Algeriandescent.

It has also sparked a

widerconversationaboutthe power of the police and the relationship between the authorities and people from France's suburbs, who feel segregated from the country's prosperous city centres.

The police officer accused of killing Nahel M has been charged with voluntary homicide. He said he had fired because he felt hislifewasindanger

Emmanuel Macron has pledged his full support to mayors from areas of France affected by the recent violence (Shuttershock)

Lindenwoman allegedlyrapedonthe wayhomefromsalon

Police in Linden are on the hunt for a suspect who allegedlyrapedawomanonMondayevening,whileshewas walkinghomefromthesalon.

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatthesuspectdrovebehind the woman, pulled her into the car and drove to another location where he raped her After allegedly raping her, the man reportedly took the woman to another location before makinggoodhisescape.

Thevictimtheninformedrelativesofwhattranspiredand wastakentoapublichospitalwheretherelevantofficialsand policewereinformed.

Region10Commander,KurleighSimonconfirmedthata report was made and the police are actively pursuing the suspect.Investigationsareongoing.

AmCham Guyana re-elects President, Board of Directors

The American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AmCham) is pleased to announce the successful reelection of its President and Board of Directors during the organisation’s 5th Annual General Meeting held last Friday at the GuyanaMarriottHotel.

Since its establishment, the purpose of the Chamber has been to provide a network and support structure for US enterprises doing business in Guyana, AmCham said in a press release.

AmCham Guyana’s main success has revolved around creating a platform for its members to collaborate, and explore potentialpartnerships.

This has been facilitated t h r o u g h b u s i n e s s networking events, seminars, and workshops allowing US-based entities to connect with the local private and public sectors.

Mr Devindra Kissoon, who has been instrumental in driving this recent growth and development, was unanimously re-elected as the President of AmCham Guyana,forasecondterm.

The re-elected members

oftheExecutiveCommittee include: Ms. Iman Cummings, Mr. Shyam Nokta, and Mr Eduardo Reple, who will serve as Vice Presidents, while Mr FitzroyMcLeodhasbeenreelected to the position of Treasurer of the Chamber

The re-election of the President and Board of Directors reflects the continued trust and confidence placed in the leadership of AmCham Guyana The re-elected Board of Directors, set to s e r v e f r o m 2023-2025, represent a diverse blend of American and Guyanese business entities from all major industry sectors within the country

During the 5th Annual General Meeting, members of AmCham Guyana were provided with an overview of the organisation’s accomplishments over the past five years and its plans for future membership growth and service expansion.Themeetingalso served as a platform for members to engage in discussions,shareideas,and explore collaborative opportunities.

CWI Rising Stars U19 Men's/Women's 50-over tournament Round 1

Guyana suffer double loss in opening round

Twomoreyoung...

From page 30

Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal N

Nagamootoo, Regal Sports

Parmanand Dhaniram and DenanautiSingh.Wethankthe media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture Distribution will continue.

Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or KishanDason17186640896.

Guyana ladies almost pulled off a thrilling low-scoring game in their opening round.

Rampertab Ramnauth

KingFedererbackintownasAlcarazandRybakinashineatWimbledon

LONDON, (Reuters) -

Wimbledon king Roger Federer returned to light up a rain-drenched second day at the grasscourt championshipsasthenewprinceof the hallowed lawns Carlos Alcaraz began his campaign to seize the crownyesterday

Retired Swiss great Federer ditchedhisracketforaclassycream blazerandacomfyseatastheeighttime Wimbledon champion graced

champion Elena Rybakina come from a set down to beat Shelby Rogers4-66-16-2.

He then saw British national treasureAndyMurraybeginhisbid for an unlikely third Wimbledon title by dispatching home wildcard Ryan Peniston for the loss of four games.

numberone.

Alcaraz, playing his third Wimbledon, bagged the first set in 20 minutes and the second in not much more time before being pushed harder by the 36-year-old Chardy who is now retiring but can at least say he faced a player tipped forfuturedomination.

the Royal Box and received possibly the longest ovation of his illustriouscareer

On a day when 69 first round matches were rained off, the 41year-old stayed nice and dry under the closed Centre Court roof to watch defending women's

But Federer missed Spanish phenomenon Alcaraz, the 20-yearold who has taken the tennis world bystorm.

While the Swiss was milking the applause,Alcaraz was on Court One pounding winners past experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in a 6-0 6-2 7-5 victory that illustrated why he has surged to the top of the rankings and is seeded

The last point of Chardy's professional career was an Alcaraz ace that whistled past his outstretchedracket.

"I'm really happy with the level that I played, with the performance today," Alcaraz told reporters, although he was not so happy that Federermissedhismatch.

"After the match I was on the phone checking everything, all the stories, all the posts. I saw that Federer was here. I was a little bit jealous."

RYBAKINARECOVERS

Kazakhstan's Rybakina, the third seed, looked in danger of becoming the first Wimbledon women's defending champion to suffer a first-round exit since Steffi Graf in 1994 when American Rogerstooktheopeningset.

Admitting the watching Federer had made her nervous, she shrugged off that poor start to win in style."Amazing atmosphere, it's the first time I've played under the roof and the grass is still on the

West Indies to face England in three Tests in July 2024

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua – West

IndiesMen willtourEnglandinthe summer of 2024 where they will play three Test matches. The series will bowl off at Lord's on 10-14 July, followed by the secondTest at Trent Bridge on 18-22 July and final contest at Edgbaston on 26-30 July

The tour will mark the second occasion that the two teams will compete for the Richards-Botham Trophy – named in honor of cricket icons Sir Vivian Richards and Lord Ian Botham. West Indies are the current holders having won the

Tour bowls off at Lord's as teams compete for Richards-Botham Trophy

inaugural series which was played in the Caribbean in March 2022.

The series will also form part of the ICC's World Test Championship 2023to2025.

Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies said: “West Indies and Englandhavehadmanyenthralling duels on the field over the last 95 years and we expect another great seriesin2024–whichwillmarkthe th40 anniversary of the famous tour of1984,whenWestIndieswon5-0. This series next year will see us defending the Richards-Botham Trophy, as we continue to celebrate

the relationship of the teams and honor the legacy of two of the game'sgreatestplayers.”

West Indies played their first Test matches against England at Lord'sinJune1928.Sincethemthe two teams have met on 163 occasions – West Indies won 59, Englandwon51with53drawn.

MATCHSCHEDULE

st 10-14 July: 1 Test at Lord's, London

nd 18-22 July: 2 Test at Trent Bridge,Nottingham r d 26-30: July 3 Test at Edgbaston,Birmingham

baseline. It's amazing," she said. "Justenjoyingthemomenthere."

Advertisement Scroll to continueTunisia's Ons Jabeur, beaten by Moscow-born Rybakina inlastyear'sfinal,madeasolidstart as the sixth seed beat Poland's MagdalenaFrech6-36-3.

With rain still falling late in the afternoon, play was abandoned on the outside courts with Court Two and Court Three ticket holders and those with ground passes eligible for full refunds after seeing barely anhouroftennis.

But the Centre Court roof, criticised on Monday after an 80minute delay during men's

champion Novak Djokovic's opening win, enabled women's second seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach round two with a 6-3 6-1 win againstPannaUdvardy Wednesday, when better weather is forecast, will have a manic schedule as the tournament referee attempts to complete the first-round matches in the top half of the men's draw and bottom half ofthewomen'sdraw

The only other match played on Tuesday was local hope Cameron Norrie against Czech Tomas Machac, with the 12th-seeded Britonprevailing6-34-66-16-4on CourtOne.

Alfred, Archibald take 100m titles at CAC Games

SportsMax - St. Lucia's Julien Alfred and Guyana's Emmanuel Archibald emerged as 100m gpold medalists at the CAC Games in SanSalvadoronMonday

Alfred, coming off an outstanding NCAA season for the Texas Longhorns, transferred her form to San Salvador to win in a CACGamesrecordequaling11.14 ahead of Jamaica's Yanique Dayle (11 39) and Cuba's Yunisleidy Garcia(11.50).ThiswasSt.Lucia's firsteverCACGamestrackmedal.

On the Men's side, Archibald produced a time of 10.24 for victory, just ahead of the

Dominican Republic's Jose Gonzalez (10.26) and the British Virgin Islands' Rikkoi Brathwaite (10.26)

In the field, Jamaica's Erica Belvit threw 70.04m for silver in the Women's hammer throw Venezuela's Rosa Rodriguez won gold in a games record 71.62m while Colombia's Mayra Gaviria threw68.61mforbronze.

The BVI's Djimon Gumbs threw 19.00m for bronze in the men's shot put. He finished behind the Mexican pair of Jairo Moran (19 18m) and Uziel Munoz (20.81m).

Elena Rybakina (KAZ) serves during her match agains Shelby Rogers (USA) at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. (Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports)

West Indies Men will tour England in the summer of 2024.

St. Lucia's Julien Alfred and Guyana's Emmanuel Archibald emerged as 100m gold medalists at the CAC Games this year.

Britain's Cameron Norrie in action during his first round match against Czech Republic Tomas Machac. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)

BCB/ Roy Baijnauth Memorial Inter Primary School tournament-Upper Corentyne...

Massiah Primary School emerges champions after defeating Yakusari Primary in final

Th e B e r b i c e Cricket Board on Monday last successfully completed another cricket tournament as it forges ahead with its 2023scheduletohostcricket at all levels The board despite the weather was able to host the final of the BCB/ Roy Baijnauth Memorial Tournament for primary schools in the Upper Corentyne area at the Number48ground.

Three schools turned up for the semifinals and grand final with Number 56 Primary failing to do so.The draw for the day saw Skeldon Primary playing Massiah Primary with Yakusari Primary of Black BushPolderdrawingthebye to the final In the semifinals, Massiah Primary

scaredwithanimpressive41 which included three boundaries He received support from Keshan Narain who scored twelve runs and Aryan Singh with ten Ridwan Elmudeen took two wickets for 13 runs from his three overs for Yakusari Primary In reply, the Yakusari Team reached 45 alloutfromtenoversasonly

Omar Rahubar and Zabir Rosan reached double figure with 12 and ten respectively Bowling for the champions was Rayon Reece 2 for 12, Marvin Chapelle 2 for 8 and Zakariyya Khan 2 for 6 in an impressive bowling effort. Marvin Chapelle was named Man of the finals and received a medal and a specialprize.

Each of the finalists received a voucher to uplift

andarolemodeltomany

The BCB President, in a direct appeal to the primary school students, urged them to make an educational background the number one objective in their lives Education, he told the attentive students, is the most important asset they can get and pleaded with them to focus on their studies.

Not everyone would go on to be a successful cricketer and as such it was important to do well in school. Foster also pledged that the BCB under his leadershipwouldcontinueto invest heavily in youth's development, especially at the school level. Massiah

Primary would now advance to the overall Berbice Finals where they would play the

winners of theWest Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje and Lower Corentyne zones

Latchmansingh Primary School of West Berbice has alsoadvanced.

defeatedSkeldonPrimaryby eight wickets. Batting first, Skeldonwererestrictedto35 for 9 wickets off their allotted twelve over as

Adrias Mohamed top scored with 12 Bowling for Massiah Primary, Rayon Reecetook4wicketsforfour runs from his two overs.

Massiah Primary in reply raced to 36 for two wickets from five overs as Marvin Chapelle and Rayon Reece both ended on ten runs apiece.

In the final, which was witnessed by a large crowd of parents and supporters of both teams, Massaih batting first reached 89 for 5 from their allotted fifteen overs as captain Marvin Chapelle top

educational stationery from O f f i c e E x p r e s s i n Corriverton, while the BCB with support from the Rose HallTownYouthandSports, donated exercise books and otheritemstotheschools.

BCB President Hilbert Foster was present for the finalandexpressedgratitude to the Baijnauth family for their sponsorship of the tournamentinmemoryofthe LateRoyBaijnauth,aformer Mayor of Corriverton Baijnauth also served as president of the Berbice Cricket Board for two terms before he was succeeded by Malcolm Peters Foster hailed the late BCB President as a faithful servant of Berbice cricket

The winning Massiah Primary School poses after been crowned champions.

Man of the finals Marvin Chapelle receives his prize.

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

Female player Jade Campbell and her teammate Enrique Micklewerethelatestyoung cricketers to benefit from this initiative jointly done by Anil Beharry and Kishan Das. They are products of Rose Hall Community Center CC. Thirteen years old Campbell, a student of N e w A m s t e r d a m Multilateral Secondary School, is a fast bowler and was the only female cricketertobeselectedinthe Berbice 2022 under13 male squad. Mickle, a student of CanjeSecondarySchool,isa left arm orthodox spinner, representedBerbicelastyear at the under15 level. He was in the Select 11 for the 2023 tournament They both received one pair of batting gloveseach.

The young striving cricketers were very thankful for the gesture. The project is pleased to be part of the development of young peopleinGuyana,especially throughcricket.

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $370,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, two trophies, seventeen pairs of cricket boots, thirty pairs of batting pads, thirty one cricket bats, twenty eight pairs of batting gloves, twenty one thigh pads, three pairs of wicket keeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes, nine cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets and one softball cricket bat. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime.

To date, sixty three young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gear bags, two trophies, four armguards,twentyfivebats, two boxes, five helmets, twenty two pairs of cricket shoes,fifteenpairsofbatting

pads,twothighpads,onebat rubber, twenty three pairs of batting gloves and two pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats Pomeroon, Leguan and Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t CommitteesandCottonTree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club

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

Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the countryandclubleadersalso assist to identify talent Progressive and well managedcricketclubswitha

youth program, will also benefit.

We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna BachanandImranSaccoor, (Continued on page 27)

Without racket, Federer wows Centre Court

LONDON,

(Reuters)

Retired Swiss great Roger Federer made a surprise appearance on his favourite stage to the delight of a packed Centre Court at Wimbledonyesterday Federer, whose 20 Grand Slam singles titles include a record eight at Wimbledon and who many regard as the greatest player of all time, retired last year at the age of 41.

With his long-time rival Rafa Nadal also absent this year as he tries to regain his fitness and Serena Williams also retired, Wimbledon is missingsomeofitsfavourite players.

But even without his racket, Federer had the CentreCourtcrowddrooling during a short video presentation played on the s c o r e b o a r d s b e f o r e d e f e n d i n g w o m e n ' s favourite Elena Rybakina took to the court for her openingmatch. The film captured Federer's glittering Wimbledon career, from his firsttitlein2003tohislastin 2017.

Federer,wearingacream blazer, took his seat in the Royal Box alongside his

-

wife Mirka, his parents and the Princess of Wales as the 15,000 capacity crowd gave him a standing ovation that lastedseveralminutes.

AfterwatchingRybakina battle back from a set down to beat American Shelby Rogers,Federerthensawold sparring partner Andy Murray outclass fellow BritainRyanPeniston.

"Amazing to have some royalty here but also some tennis royalty," Murray told the fans after his victory as Federer smiled "It was amazing to have Roger supportingtheevent."

Murray also managed to get in a jibe at the 20-time Grand Slam champion who he lost to in the 2012 W i m b l e d o n f i n a l , memorably shedding tears afterwards before bouncing back to beat the Swiss a few weeks later to win Olympic gold.

"The last time I was here and Roger was watching it was the (2012) Olympics and he was in (fellow Swiss) Stan Wawrinka's box so it was nice to see some claps for some good shots (today)," said Murray, who beat Wawrinka in the Olympicsfirstround.

Enrique Mickle (left) Jade Campbell and accept their gear from Balram Samaroo.

Seanden David-Longe upsets N0. 8 seed; Hawker wins marathon match

The GTA One Guyana Open 2023 Tournament is a pillar of the emerging National Sports Academy; an initiative which is funded by the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Ministry ofCulture,YouthandSport,andby extension the Government of Guyana.

Day4oftheinauguralGTAOne Guyana Open demonstrated tenacity and toughness. After a brief rain delay, Seanden DavidLonge, a former National player, defeated his older brother Saevion David-Longe, the No. 7 seed, 5/76/1 - 7/5 to create another upset in thetournament.

Unseeded David-Longe used one of his tricks to guide his opponent from one corner to anotherafterlosingaclosefirstset. This proved to be too much of a puzzle for his rival, and Seanden won the second set by losing just onegame.

Although he didn't play poorly, his older brother was unable to

match Seanden's shot making variety With some deft drop shots and slices, Seanden took control of the third set and sprinted to a 4/1 lead. In the end, Saevion would fight his way back and take charge ofthedecisiveset.

At 5/4 and serving for the match,itseemedasthoughSaevion would survive to fight another day, but his younger brother's tricky shots got the better of him, and he droppedthefollowingthreegames. Seanden David-Longe would proceed to his first Round of 16 in theMen'sSinglesOpen.

Hawker survives marathon match

Rondae Hawker flirted with the four-hour mark when he scored a 6/7(8)–7/6(5)–6/2comebackwin over Immanuel Baker in the Men's Open Singles Round of 64 Surpassing the marathon match, this one clocked 3 hours and 47 minutes.

Bothplayersdugdeeptostayin the longer rallies where they split

Archibald 100m Gold was the first for Guyana at CAC

thefirsttwosets.Inthedecisiveset, Hawker trailed 0/2, before finding hisgrittowinthenextsixgames. NextupforHawkeristheBoy's 18 Champion and No. 4 seed, GeraldScotland.

OtherResults

Ladies' Open Singles Round of 16:Afruica Gentle defeated Justine Kennedy6/1–6/0.

Ladies' Open Singles Quarterfinals: Kalyca Fraser defeatedDevanieArjune6/0–6/0.

Ladies' Open Singles Round of 16: Shawna Gentle defeated JamaaliHomer6/2–4/2(default).

Men's Open Singles Round of 32: No. 5 seed Nathan DeNobrega defeatedKareemWilson6/2–6/0.

Men's Open Singles Round of 32: Andre Erskine defeated AkilSemple6/0–6/2.

India pre-series warm ups

Cricket West Indies (CWI) st named some eight 1 class players who will participate in the warmup match with the Indian team ahead of the upcoming Cycle Pure AgarbathiTestSeries.

Thevisitorswillhaveatraining camp in Barbados and will play a two-day match on 5 and 6 July at Kensington Oval. They will then travel to Dominica for the firstTest atWindsorPark,starting12July

The defining moment! Emanuel Archibald is all smiles after winning the Men's 100m at the CAC Games. at

By Rawle Toney

Emanuel Archibald created history on Monday evening in El Salvador by becoming the first Guyanese athlete to secure a Gold Medal in the 100m event at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC)Games.

While the CAC Games have been held since 1926, Guyana's participation began in 1959, when thegameswereheldinVenezuela.

PriortoArchibald'smomentous achievement, Guyana had only achieved first-place finishes in Track and Field at the CAC Games onthreeoccasions.

Thefirstgoldmedalintrackand fieldwasclaimedbyRalphGomes, representing British Guiana. In 1959,Gomesemergedvictoriousin themen's800m.

During the same year in Venezuela, he also secured a thirdplacefinishinthe1500mevent.

Duringthe1982CACGamesin

Cuba, June Griffith (mother of former NBA player Darren Collison) secured Guyana's second gold medal by winning the women's400mevent.

Inthesubsequentgamesheldin the Dominican Republic in 1986, Oslen Barr triumphed in the Men's 800m, adding another gold medal to Guyana's track and field accolades.The most recent track and field medals for Guyana in the CAC Games were earned during the2010editioninPuertoRico.

Cleveland Forde claimed third place in the Men's 5000m, Marian Burnett secured bronze in the women's 800m, and Aliann Pompey finished second in the women's400m.

Emanuel Archibald's victory in the 100m event marks a historic milestone for Guyana at the CAC Games, further cementing the nation's presence and success in trackandfieldcompetitions.

The 8 players all have firstclass experience. They are: allrounders Roshon Primus and Kevin Wickham; batsmen Zachary McCaskie and Rashawn Worrell; Guyanese wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach; off-spinner Chaim Holder and fast bowlers Jair McAllister andMcKennyClarke.

Meanwhile, off-spinner Bryan Charles has been added to theWest Indiespre-seriesTesttrainingcamp atCoolidgeCricketGround(CCG) inAntigua, which forms part of the

team'spreparations.

Imlach is among 8 1st class players selected by the CWI to play India in the pre-series Test warm-ups.

The Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test series will be the first fixtures for both West Indies and India in the new 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. The first Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test will be at Windsor Park, Dominica from 1216 July which will be followed by the historic second Test on 20-24 July at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad – marking the 100th Test match between West Indies and

India.

T E S T M A T C H

SCHEDULE:

Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test Matches

(Start at 10: am local time/9: amJamaicatime)

12-16 July: 1st Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test Match, Windsor Park,Dominica

20-24 July: 2nd Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test Match, Queen's ParkOval,Trinidad

for Guyana at CAC Games

Bitter-sweet day

Another day, another

t o p s y - t u r v y performance by team Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador

In athletics, Kenisha Philips secured a spot in the 400m final, while Deshana Skeete's journey came to an end in the semifinals. Skeete, who had a solid Junior Collegiate season, finished fifth

withatimeof53.39s.

On the other hand, Philips, despite finishing fourth in her semifinal, managed to secure the last qualifying spot with a time of 53.31s.

The women's 400m final is scheduledforThursday

In the men's division, Emanuel Archibald, fresh off his historic gold-medal win in the Men's 100m event, will compete in the Men's

4x100mrelay

Today, Guyanese athletes will showcase their skills in the 200m, 800m,andtriplejumpevents.

Meanwhile, in badminton, the Rhamdani siblings, Narayan and Priyanna, delivered impressive performances in the singles event

eventually eliminated from the competition. (Rawle Toney)

Men's 45 Singles RoundRobin: Sunil Bianchini defeated Harry Panday6/3–6/3.

Men's45SinglesRoundRobin: Steve David-Longe defeated PatriceStewart6/0–6/1.

Rondae Hawker

Guyana Harpy Eagles wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin

st Imlach among eight 1 class players named by CWI for

Saints continue good form on Day-three of the ExxonMobil NSBF

Th e ExxonMobil/Yout

h Basketball

Guyana (YBG) Boys and

Girls Under-18 National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) continued on Monday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. Day three was an action-packed fixture with eight exciting matches; the Boy's division saw Bishop's

High School, Kwakwani

Secondary, LindenTechnical Institute, Saints Stanislaus College and Christianburg

Secondary emerging

victorious, while School

Girls Combined and

President's College (PC)

dominated the Girl's

division PC Boy's also commanded a 10-point win

over Christ Church

Secondary to sum up another

thrilling day of high school basketball.

HighlightsofDayThree

The Girl's started off a bit slow, in a low-scoring match between President's College (PC) B-team and Marian Academy, where PC held a slight lead against Marian

Academy to emerge victorious with a nail-biting finish; PC won 9-8 score.

S h a n i a N o b l e w a s

instrumental for PC, contributing four points, including three rebounds, whileStephannaPerryadded threepointstosecurethewin.

Angel Ramjaram of Marian

Academy performed admirably, scoring all eight pointsforherteam,including three rebounds While School Girls Combined ( S G C ) d o m i n a t e d Charlestown Secondary with

a massive 25-point victory

Kassidy Woolford stood out with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Talya Gray contributed 7 points and 7 rebounds. The game ended 25-0infavourofSGC.

Moving on to the Boys division, Bishops' High School (BHS) defeated QueensCollege(QC)bynine points, with BHS scoring 39 points and QC finishing with 30 points after four quarters. MattiasArrindell of BHS led theteamwith18pointsand7 rebounds, while Daniel Bailey added 9 points and 12 reboundstomaintainthelead for BHS. François Myers scored 11 points and Owen Hoopercontributed10points and 6 rebounds for QC in a losingeffort.

Trayon Grenville stood out for Christ Church Secondary with 19 points and 6 rebounds.

Linden Technical Institute later dominated Tutorial High School, securing a 34-6 victory Jemol Semple scored 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Leany Baker added 6 points and 9 rebounds. Shortly after that, Regional Conference champions Saints Stanislaus College extended their impressive run with a commanding 38-11 win over Vryman's Ervin Secondary Saints had top performances from Brandon McKoy with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals, as well as Alafin Joseph with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Nohoj Baird of

T h e K w a k w a n i

Secondary boys displayed an impressive performance, securing a 14-point victory over Mahaicony Technical Institute (MTI), with a final score of 45-31 Kelon Phillips led Kwakwani's run with 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Kassim English added 15 points

Nahum Rigby of MTI finished with 11 points and 12rebounds.

Regional powerhouse President's College boys continued their winning streak against Christ Church Secondary,winningthegame 33-22.

Judah Ferreira scored 10 points and Ezekiel Saul contributed 9 points for PC.

Vryman'sErvinfinishedwith 9pointsand5rebounds.

In the final game of the d a y, C h r i s t i a n b u r g Secondary defeated Marian Academy Boy's with a score of 48-38 Keishawn Kitt scored 20 points and had 5 rebounds for Christianburg, while Teishawn Kitt contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds. Jaden Simon and Marion Fiedtkou finished with 21 points and 10 points, respectively for Marian in a losingeffort.

D a y f o u r a c t i o n continued yesterday at the same venue. The tournament issponsoredbyExxonMobil, with support from National Sports Commission, Edward BBeharry,andG-BoatsGY

...ImpressivewinsfromKwakwani,LTI,SGC, Christianburg,PresidentCollegeBoys,Girls

Kassidy Woolford in action as SGC blowout Charlestown Secondary.

Monday's action between Kwakwani Secondary and Mahaicony Technical Institute.

Regal survive Blizzards threat to take another Independence Cup

Defending champions, Regal Legends held their composure to stave off a spirited run chase from Toronto Blizzards to win the over50 category of the New York Softball Cricket League's international softball tournament lastweekend.

TheGuyaneseoutfitposted217 for 6 from their quota of 20 overs buthadtoworkhardintheexciting final to restrict the Blizzards to 208 for4.

Vijay Seonarine with an even 100 and Sunil Dhaniram 26, set up the chase nicely with an opening stand of 99 in 12 overs but the supporting cast could not pull off theheist.Atthehalfwaystageofthe chase, the Canadian side were 88 without loss, still requiring 130 runs They were behind the

required run rate but with all wickets in hand, including two set batters, they were confident of an upset.

However, like true champions, Regal Legends defended the boundaries and made smart blowing changes to build scoreboard pressure on the Blizzards. Left arm spinner, Laurie Singh (1/29) got the breakthrough when he sent back Dhaniram in the 12th over Desmond Chumley didn't last long after also holding out at long on for a 5-ball duck off PlayeroftheMatchRameshNarine Deonarine (2/34) who also sent back Brijmohan Harihar for 1. Throy Kippins then snapped up the threatening Seonarine leaving RamoMaloneandJaiminiSinghto get41intwoovers.

Kippins (1/45) then conceded 10 runs in the 19th over leaving Khamraj Sumair (0/53) to defend 31 against Malone 36 not out (17b; 3x4s; 3x6s) and Jaimini Singh 17 notout(9b;4x4s;1x6).

The9-runvictorywassetbythe powerful Regal Legends batting line up led by Ramesh Narine 36ball knock of 82 (5x4s;7x6s) 36b. Deonarine and opener Mohendra Arjune (17) consolidated to put on 79 runs for the 2nd wicket after inform opener UnisYusuf was sent backforagoldenduck.

After Arjune was dismissed in the 9th over, Ramesh and another inform batter, Rudolph Baker went to the mid-innings break with the score on 86 for 2. After the break, Dhaniram scattered the stumps of Baker for 8 which ignited the

fireworks on the hot day at Baisley ParkinQueens,NewYork.

Sumair joined Deonarine in the middle and smoked the ball to all parts of the ground much to the enjoyment of the crowd of mainly Regal supporters. The pair put on 68 from 29 balls for the fourth wicket before Fazil Rasool (2/45) bowled the left handed Deonarine for the innings top score. Then enteredEric'Mr T'Thomas.

Sumair continued his pugnacious innings to put on 44 runs from 20 balls with Thomas before he was bowled by Malone (2/29) for 58 (30b; 2x4s; 7x6s), while Thomas, after a slow start ended unbeaten on 29 (3x6s; 1 x4) when the innings ended. Sumair's savage knock helped Regal Legends to score 131 in the last 10

overstotaketheMahendraHardyal led side to their third Independence Cup title in a row and their overall title count in major tournaments to 16.

Hardyal, who is also the team owner, was elated with the overall team effort and said after playing unbeaten in the tournament that winning is a habit of the Regal Legends.

In the other categories of the 3day tournament which began on Friday, New York Softball Cricket League All-Stars won the Open title, while their Masters side took theover-40strophy Regal Masters ended as runnerup after failing to defend 143 against the NYSCL Masters in the lowscoringbutexcitingfinal.

Hat-trick Champions. Regal Legends with the NYSCL symbol of supremacy in Queens, New York.

Ramesh Narine Deonarine on the go at Baisley Park.

Khamraj Sumair powers one down the ground.

Kwakwani's top performers Kelon Phillips and Kassim English (center) share photo with teammates after their victory over MTI.

Emanuel Archibald with his Men's 100m Gold at the CAC Games.

Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer stands alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales during a presentation on centre court to honour his achievements. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)