Kaieteur News

DNA test confirms skeletal remains found at Madewini belong to murdered cop

TheGuyanapoliceForce (GPF) on Wednesday announced that DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) testing confirmed that the skeletal remains found in a shallow grave at Madewini, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, belonged to missing police constable,QuincyLewis.

Detectives had found the remainsonApril19thisyear, aftertwosuspectsreportedly confessedtobeingpartofthe policeman’smurder

They reportedly led investigators to a location wheresomeskeletalremains 35-year-old Jamel Van sameaddress. Demerara (EBD) home on were found. Police had sent Lewis, of D’Urban Street, the day he disappeared the remains overseas for Georgetown are presently They are implicated as Lewis was allegedly shot at DNAtesting to verify if they behind bars on remand for the masterminds in the the location and his body wereindeedLewis’. allegedly murdering the policeman’s killing and the then transported to the

The force in a statement policeman. GPF have issued wanted Madewini Sand Pit area on Wednesday said, “On

2020, after leaving their the Demerara Harbour However, two more bulletins for both of them. It where it was buried. The completion of the testing home at La Parfaite BridgeonJune19,2020,and suspects allegedly involved, is believed that they have suspects on remand had process, the results Harmonie, West Bank heading into Greenfield a couple, remain at large. fled Guyana and might be claimed that Zafarali’s confirmed the remains to be Demerara (WBD). He left in Park,EastBankDemerara. The police force have hiding out in a neighbouring husband was the one who those of Constable Quincy a silver-grey Toyota Premio Lewis’ car was never i d e n t i f i e d t h e m a s country allegedlyshotLewisdead. Lewis”. motorcar that he borrowed f o u n d , h o w e v e r ,

Thakurdial Samaroo, 56, of Kaieteur News hadlearnt Lewis went missing

Lot 7 Ogle Front Road, East that Lewis was allegedly some three years ago identified as Twenty-five- at the Agricola Police learntthathiskillershadsold Coast Demerara (ECD) and involved in a romantic According to reports, Lewis year-old Shafeek Vernon Station. it to pay off their debts. his wife Naqueeba Zahid relationship with Zafarali was last seen alive by his called “Profit” of Ogle, East Security cameras had Police are looking for the Zafarali also known as and was reportedly lured to mother, Charlene Jordon, Coast Demerara (ECD) and captured him crossing over buyerofthecartoo.

“Naqueeba Zafarali” of the the couple’s East Bank around 17:15hrs on June 19,

fromafriendforworkduties investigators reportedly

Murdered: Constable Quincy Lewis

Wanted: Naqueeba Zahid Zafarali Wanted: Thakurdial Samaroo

A photo police unearthing the skeletal remains on in April 19 last.

Guyana’s oil sector galloping at breakneck speed

By

- even as Pres. Ali admits country faces human resource crisis

Kiana Wilburg sanctioned projects already construction sector ‘Even improving access to capital and a sixth is underway for the health sector he said has with reduced interest rates,

A US$1 8B gas-to- review by authorities. What notbeensparedashepainted improving access to energy project, an auction of is the government’s plan on a grim picture of shortage of housing, investing in value 14 new oil blocks, ongoing managingthiscriticalareato nurses at the Georgetown addedagro-processingetc. audits for US8 9B in ensurerevenuesaren’tlost? Public Hospital Corporation “… we are pushing this expenses by ExxonMobil, On matters of regulation, (GPHC). e c o n o m y i n a n e w along with a suite of how many Guyanese are

“Only yesterday I met direction,” Ali said, adding legislative and regulatory being trained to support the with a number of nurses at that this pathway is modern, reforms—These are but a enforcement of new laws to GPHC. Some of them are fast paced, technologically few of the herculean tasks comefortheoilsector? doubling up on shifts driven and, coming back to the government must juggle Kaieteur News at a press because of the shortage the heart of the issue, indeed inGuyana’soilindustry engagement with President, When I spoke at the GPHC ofsupportbyadifferenttype

Theextenttowhichthese Dr Irfaan Ali yesterday was administration, they now ofhumanresourceasset. undertakings will be unable to drill down into the have hundreds of nurses While Ali and other successfully handled f o r e g o i n g m a t t e r s s h o r t o f t h e i r f u l l m e m b e r s o f h i s however,alldependsonhow Nonetheless, Ali was still complement and that is why administration have said the w e l l t h e P P P / C asked to say how human we are moving aggressively short-term solution will be administration responds to resource management is withatrainingprogrammeto the importation of skills, no the shortage of human beingtackledinlightofthese bring more nurses into the clearplanofhow thiswillbe resources It has already growing responsibilities system,” the President said. achievedandwhen,hasbeen been established by several withintheindustry. He also shared that Guyana disclosedtothewidermedia. localandregionalauthorities The Head of State is even looking to Cuba for Inthemeantime,Guyana that Guyana’s population of stressed that a number of of the Guyana Online that help is forthcoming possible support from its remains regarded as having roughly 700,000 persons is immediate measures are Academy of Learning from Guyana’s bilateral nursesinthisregard. the world’s fastest growing not enough to meet the beingimplementedtoensure (GOAL) Scholarship partners. These include While the government economy with 11 billion unprecedented demands of the right institutions are in programme which is geared Qatar, Ghana and India. must also manage the barrels of oil already the industry Be that as it place for Guyanese to be to produce not only persons “They are willing to send a challenges of the human unlocked in the prolific may, many multi-million empowered to take that can function in the oil full slew of human resource resource shortage across Stabroek Block, operated by dollar projects requiring advantage of opportunities industry, but also in other capacity to work with our various sectors, Ali said his a n E x x o n M o b i l - l e d massive human resources in the world’s fastest industries that are key to people to help bring them up administration still has to consortium. a r e s t i l l r e c e i v i n g growingeconomy government’s plan for a t o s p e e d w i t h t h e maintain its focus on The country is projected government’sapproval. Ali said, “As you know, diversifiedeconomy management of the sector,” building out other aspects of to grow at an average 25 The government is w e h a v e i n v e s t e d ThoughthePresidentdid hesaid. the economy with support percent annually from 2023 currently undertaking the tremendously in Technical not provide details on the Notwithstanding those fromtheoilrevenues. to 2026, with growth in the country’s most expensive and Vocational Education, numberofpersonsorexperts efforts, Ali agreed that the Ali said this would entail non-oil sector projected at development with the gas- much of which is to support supporting the oil sector’s country is facing a crisis of giving persons more 7.9 per cent this year This to-energy initiative That the oil and gas industry management, as well as a skills. He said this not only opportunities to be will build on the 11.5 per project, expected to reduce Secondly,wehavesupported forecast of how that is cuts across the oil sector but entrepreneurs, opening up cent growth in the non-oil electricity costs by 50 p r i v a t e t r a i n i n g expectedtogrow,hedidnote also in the expanded more lands for agriculture, sectorlastyear percent using gas from the opportunities directly for oil Stabroek Block, will need and gas, whether it is in the for example, a team of maritime industry, welding qualified experts/specialists and fabrication, auxiliary as well as a capable services, transport and workforce to support its logistics, all of this we have operations when it comes on supported.” stream in 2024. What is the Other complementary h u m a n r e s o u r c e efforts he said include the management plan to ensure building of a national skills thisprojectisasuccess? training centre. “This is a

If all 14 oil blocks are more than US$100M awarded in the upcoming investment that will include auction, then who will be the hospitality institute that responsibleforensuringnew will train about 6000 people players abide by the letter of and we are working on their contracts? Guyanese or creating a system in which foreignhelp? all of our teachers will

S i g n i f i c a n t l y , become trained right from stakeholders have pondered where they are…and this the pace at which Guyana is will enable them to access boosting its capacity to keep higher salary scales which track of, and audit, we are also working on to ExxonMobil’srisingcostsin reflectthis.”

the Stabroek Block The The Head of State also American oil giant has five highlighted the importance

“Thief man” outsmarts national cricketer

An alleged thief reportedly worthofcricketgear “Isalotofcricket promised his victim, a gear I have I can’t really say is wha and national cricketer, wa them carry but a few cricket items

Ashmead Nedd , that he like Amazon Warriors Merchandises was going help them get back their and other branded gear”, Nedd told stolenitemsbuthas failedtodeliveron KaieteurNews. that promise after being released from He added that they had managed to policecustody snatch a prime suspect who had Nedd’s home at Herstelling, East promised to take them to where the Bank of Demerara (EBD) was stolen items were. “He was saying that burglarised on the morning of June 30. he was going to take us to give us our He and his relatives awoke around stuff”, Nedd said while adding that 03:00hrsonlytofindtheirhomebroken police arrested the man but later intoandvaluablesmissing. released him Since the suspect’s Apart from stealing cell phones and release he has failed to return the items other electronics from his home, the or show Nedd where the stolen goods thief or thieves stole some $200,000 are.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

National Cricketer, Ashmead Nedd

Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

NEW MAYORS, COUNCILLORS, COUNCILS

The celebrations over Local Government Elections aboutwhodidverywell,andwhoheldthelineintheirown strongholds,arealmostover Nowthetoughtasks,themany difficultchallenges,ofcaringforcommunitiesinthetowns, the country areas, and the remote hinterland communities, must begin in full swing. There are some new faces in leadership roles, there is talk of new visions and new approaches. Nothing different should be expected from thosewhobreathepolitics,liveforit,aremadeintobigmen and women by it. As they move forward to take up their duties, we wish them the best, hoping for differences that enhancethequalityofcommunities,liftthespiritofcitizens.

WhetherPPPCorAPNUcouncilor,theyshouldneedno reminderthattheirfirstcalling,theironlycause,isthatofthe constituenciesthatputthemwheretheyare.

Theyallhaveadutytobethereaslistener,worker,and helper for all citizens. In view of what happened recently, theymustbetheeyesandearsvigilantlyattunedtothesights and soundings coming out of their communities signaling that something is amiss. This has particular relevance for hinterlandcommunities,whoseresidentshavebeenpreyed upon, taken advantage of, and exploited and damaged. Mayors and councilors must fight to protect the dignity of their people; they must not be among the stalkers and predators. Thecommunitieshavetoemergefromtheashes ofrecenthorrorsandbepossessedofthestrengthandmind todrawthewidestattentiontotheirplights,theconditionsin whichtheyexist,towhichtheyaresometimescondemned.

Lotsofthings,vitallynecessarythings,areamissacross Guyanaatthelocallevel. Citizenshavesolidideasofwho are the corrupt ones that sit on local democratic organs. They know those who have gained nasty reputations for shaking down citizens, or delivering shoddy works for the hugeamountsspentondifferentinfrastructureprojects.

They are familiar with the arrogant ones, for whom powerhasgonetotheirheads,tothepointthattheyfeelthey canwalkallovercitizenswhoputtheminpower. Therecord has also been of those suspected of not voting for them or theirparty,orhavingsecretlyloyaltoanopposingpolitical group, being punished through neglect or squeezes applied in any number of subtle, sometimes, blatant, ways. If Guyanese are ever going to go anywhere, the new mayors and councilor that are beginning their terms of office must sayandbeaboutwhatdealswiththeneedsandconcernsof all within their spheres of influence, their radius of operations.

Among the pressing areas that have been calling for attention are consistent garbage collection, clearing of drains,fixingdamagedroads(especiallyhightrafficones), security in and around marketplaces, and the ever-present flooding woes that make life miserable for residents, commuters,andworkers. ThePPPCGovernmenthasmade it a practice to run what could be called parallel councils through the Ministry of Local Government in a few of the areas that it does not control, with the capital city, Georgetown a standout example, by initiating projects that falls directly under municipal purview Corruption and incompetence have been offered as rationales for interventions, while the councils so undermined see such ongoing efforts as wooing voters away, and thwarting the willofthepeople.

Regardlessofwhichsidehasitright,thereisthefactthat twooutofthreeeligiblevotersstayedawayfromtheLocal Governmentpolls. Itcouldbespuninmanyways,butwhat resonatesisthatvotersarefranklyfed-upwithhowpolitics has infiltrated every aspect of life, and taken it over for the worst. Residents want to see the main political parties workingtogether,sothattheycanexperiencethedifference intheirlives.

They want to see real movement, and not convenient politicalfixesthathaveless todo withcitizenwelfare,and moretodowithpublicrelationsandpoliticalschemes. As thenewpeoplebegintheirwork,thehopeisthattheoldwill remain in the past, and a new way forward is carved out shouldertoshoulder

EEPGLAPLOYTO PLUNDER OIL

DEAREDITOR,

Utilizing data reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Bank of Guyana (BoG) and Kaieteur News (KN), I will show that EEPGL has already recouped their investment; that they are earning significant profits; andthatGuyana’ssharewill

More importantly, the share of total revenue (14.5 Percent) that Guyana received is estimated at US$2 722Billion as compared with US$16.053 Billion(85.5percent),given that a total number of extracted barrels of oil is 268 22Million of which G u y a n a r e c e i v e d

US$14.08 Billion, yielding anaveragecostperbarrelof US$52.50 and total profit of US$4.693Billion(Table2).

This average cost per barrel of oil is expensive, recognizing that the InternationalMonetaryFund (IMF)estimatedthecostofa barrel of oil is US$21.00 ( I M F R e p o r t :

Therefore,payingoffthe US$ 4.4 Billion investment costplusthecostrecoveryof US$14.081 Billion from the TotalRevenueofUS$14.08 Billion yields a net profit of US$293 88 Million

Likewise, when the average cost of a barrel of oil is US$21.00, and this average cost per barrel is applied to

remain at meager levels for our non-renewal resource, unless the PSA is renegotiated.

According to the KN report dated July 10, 2023, captioned, ‘US$657M received for this year but

38.89Million barrels, and 229.32Million barrels for EEPGL at an average price per barrel of US$70 00 (Table1).

Fromtherevenueandoil distribution described in Table1,itisobservedthatfor

https://nextcloud.a193.ca/s/ 5i4nxPPTnnPrZbr; page 22, section 36) The main implication of this much lower cost structure by the IMF is that the total cost of the268.2billionbarrelofoil is US$5 632 Billion,

US$905Malreadyrackedup in debts’ and the BoG Report, ‘Natural Resource Fund:Jan1-March31,2023:

Table 6 page 17, Appendix 9’(https://bankofguyana org gy/bog/images/accounts b udgeting/natural_resource_f und/quarterly/nrfmarch2023-quarterlypdf), itisrecordedthatthevalueof total profit oil that Guyana received during the period March 11, 2020 to June 16, 2023amountedtoUS$2.347 Billion, with the total profit of US$4.694 Billion being shared equally between GuyanaandEEPGL.

every barrel of oil that Guyana receives, EEPGL captures 5.90 barrels; and this is the fundamental inequity that must be changed. Also, it is very importantthatthenumberof the barrels of oil extracted must be included in the Natural Resource Fund Report,asthiswillprovidea m o r e c o m p l e t e understanding of the total revenue generated in this extractiveindustry

InthePSA,costrecovery is set at 75 percent of total revenue (US$ 18 775 Billion) and this amounts to

yielding a profit of 13.14 Billion of which Guyana should receive US$6 57 Billion. Under the current PSA, Guyana profit share is only US$2 346 Billion, resulting in a shortage of US$4.225 Billion due to the current cost recovery method which hide profits and inflates cost, thereby significantly benefiting EEPGL at Guyana’s expense.

Furthermore, the same IMF report on page 22 also noted that the total investmentcostfortheinitial projectwasUS$4.4Billion.

the total barrels of oil sold (268.22Million), along with adding the investment costs, the net profit is US$8.742 Billion. Obviously, using the same total revenue of US$18.775 Billion in both methods, the cost recovery pathway yields far less netprofit (US$293.88 Million), as compared with the alternative method which generatesanetprofitofUS$ 8.74Billion. Consequently, it is pellucid that the cost recovery method in the PSA is a Ploy to Plunder Profits for EEPGL; and therefore, t h e P S A m u s t b e renegotiated to produce an equitableoutcomebeforethe oil in Liza 1 and 2 are exhausted.

Sincerely,

Dr.C.KenrickHunte Professor and Former Ambassador

DEAREDITOR, Flooding has begun to occur in parts of the world which usually don’t experience such intense rainfall.

Looking at what is happeninginIndia,Vermont

andJapan,Iamremindedof the seasonal flooding that occurs in our Capital. With the increasing rainfall, we must shift our focus to improving our sea defense and drainage. The works being done are usually

reactive and not proactive. The actions of the Ministry ofInfrastructuremustplacea higher emphasis on preventingfutureflooding.It is worrying to see that there is yet to be extensive work done throughout the Capital

and along the coast of such magnitude that future floodingwillnotoccur Withconcern,

Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

Republicans

ofGuyana

Flooding on the rise, Govt. must be proactive, not reactive

Speed bumps cause Guyanese tremendous harm, and there are too many of them

DEAREDITOR,

Since my last letter published in your letter column titled, ‘Speed bump can cause serious harm’, I haven’t seen any movement from those who are responsible for hurting this country in the name of road development. In fact, I have seen speed bumps being placed in greater numbers everywhere Every living day I continued to witness incidents of hurt and harm caused by speed bumps to people and their property

Lastweektheeggvanbroke 17 trays of eggs. Half the blocksonahorsecartfelloff while attempting maneuver overabump.Anelderlyman

wobbled and fell just as he hopped over another bump.

Another young lady complained of losing her first born after the taxi she was travelling in crashed over a speed bump and flinging her into the front seat.

Editor, I continued to do more research and have accumulated more data because it is my conviction that whoever’s idea to implement such dangerous featuretoourcountry’sroad development was badly advised or simply reckless with the wellbeing of this nation My research has shownourcountrymayhave accumulated approximately

55,000 speed bumps and counting. Nowhere in the world did I find road development exposed its citizens to such danger. As you embark on a journey through our streets, you hop sometimes every 30seconds for long periods Does anyonecarewhathappensto our elderly whose bones are already fragile and in pain? Our food in our stomach can’tsettleinpeaceandmay cause upset after a journey For years we managed with potholes road. Today, speed bumps are everywhere, and our roads are no better than the potholes. It costs me $500,000 dollars EXTRA every year to upkeep my

Ashton Chase – a great Guyanese

DEAREDITOR, Ashton Chase, SC, OE, was the lawyer’s lawyer, a labor expert, a statesman, and a wonderful human being He will be remembered as a principled man, a virtuous soul and a kind-hearted gentleman, who always helped younger lawyers. Even now, decades after, I can still picture him, thoughtfully walking down CroalStreetandSouthRoad, file in hand, fixated on his pending matter, and returning to his chambers aplomb, erudition and confidence assured, moving ontosecurethenextvictory T h e c o n s u m m a t e professional, he was rightly awarded Guyana’s highest award-the Order of Excellence, the highest award of the state, given to citizens of Guyana for distinction and eminence in thefieldofhumanendeavor

Ashton deserves the top row of Guyanese whose achievements, vision and dedication made us proud, a legendary figure who touchedandtransformedthe livesofmany,whilemaking a unique and lasting impact on the confluence of law, laborandpolitics.

H e m a d e m a j o r contributions to Guyana’s jurisprudencebythenumber of cases he fought in Guyana’s Courts, including the Teemal and Mohamed Ali cases, forcing the Court ofAppealtoruleagainstthe thengovernmentinitsactsof discrimination and v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e constitution, cases that have m a d e l e g a l a n d constitutional history He

was the author of several worksonlaborlaw,manyof which proudly adorn my library,includinghisseminal work, ‘A History of Trade Unionism in Guyana, 1900 to1961,withanEpilogueto 1964.’ ‘133 Days Towards Freedom in Guiana’, is anotherworkallshouldread.

A tribute to his life is captured in the work by Dr Nanda Gopaul, a mutual friend, entitled ‘Ashton Chase–TheBengalTiger.’

Hewasahistoric,unique and unforgettable father figure for Guyana, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, whose accomplishments was matched by his humility I had the priceless experience of being junior counsel to him in a few cases, and his thoroughness, insight and command of the law were a marvel to experience. He handwrote all of his pleadings, before having his secretary type them up, an arduous task he diligently undertook before going home.Hewasnotthecutand paste lawyer who recycled previous pleadings and submissions, but brought a freshinsightintoeverycase, however large or small it was.

AlastingmemoryIhave ofhimisacasewhereheand B.O. Adams, QC, 2 legal heavyweights, argued for over an hour in a land case matter

In1981,Iwasaninternat B.O. Adams’ Chambers, a lawschoolrequirement,and theargumentstheyespoused were of the highest traditions. I was inspired by their erudition, scholarship

vehicle. I spent 120,000 on four shocks, ball-joints, spring-bushing and other relatedwheelcomponents.It also cost me one gallon diesel EXTRA ($1250.00) for 300 working days amounting to 375,000 yearly If 20,000 out of the 30,000 registered vehicles on the road are subjected to the same harassment; this could a see whopping 9.9 billion being lost by motorists yearly This could have serious economic implications. When whole worldislookingforfueland energyefficiency,Guyanain the name of road development is shooting itselfinthefoot.

speed bumps in a small country like Guyana. He explained that there are differences between speed humps and speed bumps; one is gradual and the other is abrupt respectively He alsowarnedthatthisvolume of hopping citizens endure daily could overwhelm our medical system with serious back and spinal injuries in a fewyears.

law-enforcement are mandated to achieve. It will always be absolutely necessary for certain categoriesofvehiclesuchas the fire engines, police patrols and ambulances to move quickly in the execution of their duties. Subjecting them to speed bumps renders their role useless.

and depth of legal analyses. In another case, in 1984, referred to as the “Body in theBushmurdercase,”Iwas sued for protesting Judge Kenneth Barnwell perplexing “no case” submissions ruling that s h o c k i n g l y a n d unconscionably acquitted the murder accused, Alvin Mitchell. Mitchell claimed that the victim, 30 -year-old waitress, Nastawantee Persaud, whose semi-nude, dead body was found in a clump of bushes, fell out of his moving vehicle, and met her death by accident, somehow falling precisely on a sharp object that not onlyimpaledher,butcaused strangulation marks on her neck and other parts of her body The evidence established the antithesis of that and demanded an explanationfromMitchellto the jury, for the death of the brutally beaten and raped deceased.Ashton comforted me by advising me that injustice and oppression are mankind’s most defining traits, and that one must always defeat them without flinching, advice that still guidesmenowasweseekto conquer new worlds, and expand on his life’s achievements in other parts oftheglobe.

Thanks for a life of service and love for humanity,AshtonChase!

Yourstruly,

Hon Albert Baldeo, District Leader of Little Guyana,NY

Former Senior State Counsel, State Prosecutor & Police Legal Advisor (Guyana)

Recentinformationfrom the Mahdia Dorm fire revealed that the fire tender had to hop about 50 times beforeitreachedthefiresite. This would have hindered the fire engine rescue effort by at least 30 minutes or more. Twenty lives were lost. Speed bumps would havecontributedtothisloss. In any rescue operation, every second counts A similaroccurrencehappened in the Mahaica fire where two children perished. A fireman in a conversation admitted that speed bumps have been a big challenge and partly responsible for mostoftherecentfailuresby the Guyana Fire Service. Every Guyanese must be concerned and especially thosewhomaylive100/200 speedbumpsawayfromany of our country’s’emergency services.

I was in conversation with a medical doctor from theUS,thedoctorexpressed shock and horror of 55,000

Editor,itisnosecretthat we have a very serious problem of reckless drivers ontheroad.Theoriginofthis problem emanated from years of corruption in the GuyanaPoliceForce. More than half the so-called driversontheroadneversat one day in a driving class. Every conversation on driving at the street corners revealed that a drivers’ license could be had for a price of 140k/160k. Don’t tellmethattheGovernments and all the opposition parliamentariansdon’tknow of this. Nothing has ever been done over the years to reform the outdated Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force. The madness we are witnessing on our roads is a symptom of a diseasethatwaslefttofester fortoolong.Ithinkallofus will agree that the Traffic Department has failed miserably

It has failed not because there are not hard-working personnel trying in difficult circumstances. It has failed due to not being armed with modern technology and advancetrainingtodealwith thelargevolumeoftrafficin our country today You cannot use speed bumps to achieve what the law and

Let me say, a competent driver will always be a selfregulated person who upholds the law Anyone who fails to possess this qualityhasnorightholdinga driver’s license The president promised to create 50,000 jobs Here is an opportunity to create or add 10,000 traffic wardens with speed guns and ticket books in every corner of this country There are several other alternatives to speedbumps,whicharesafe, effective, and economically viable.

Now is the time for new regulations, hefty fines and revocation of license for reckless traffic violations. Causing death by dangerous driving should be given a lengthy jail sentence. Speed bumpsshouldneverbeused toreplaceorcompensatefor the failure of the traffic department.Itistimeforour President of Guyana to act andinitiateaseriesofaction to bring the road insanity to an end. Speed bumps have created a double whammy for the economy, health and safety of people of this country.They have no place in a well manage society where the rule of law is properlyadministered.

Yourssincerely,

C.Woolford

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“JAGDEO TAKE THE WHEEL”

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This newspaper is on record calling on President IrfaanAli to hold regular news conferences and for Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo stop being a ‘pot salt’.

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But after yesterday’s disaster of a presidential press conference, we may have to adjust our position and say like the church folks: “Jagdeo take the wheel”.

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What PresidentAli did yesterday, graphically demonstrated how out of touch he is with what’s taking place in the country he leads, and how illprepared he is for the big league.

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He is probably just as good to host sideline interviews with reporters.

Yesterday’s read out of his government’s so called chievements is fit for budget debates or party campaign meetings.

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Simply put, the press conference was a disaster.

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Pres. Irfaan Ali finally holds press conference, invites one reporter per media house to ask one question

Months after Kaieteur andafollow-up. managed to grow its estimatedat3.8%. News and other independent During his presentation, economy and put measures Ali alluded that the media houses called for a Ali was keen to note that the in place to reduce the burden macroeconomic outlook for press conference with Guyanaeconomyhasalmost of aggregated prices on the country remains positive President Dr Irfaan Ali, one tripledsincetheendof2020, citizens, while at the same especially as the oil industry wasfinallyheldyesterday thanks to many of the time prudently managing remains on an accelerated

That engagement was progressive policies being financialresources. growth path. With respect to moderated by Public implemented across the At the end of 2022, he Guyana’s oil resources, Ali C o m m u n i c a t i o n s p e t r o l e u m , h e a l t h , said Guyana’s debt to GDP noted that total recoverable Consultant, Kit Nascimento education,housingandother ratio stood at 24.6% down reserves are over 11 billion at the Head of State’s Shiv sectors. Ali said, “With our from 38.9% a year prior, barrels in the Stabroek Chanderpaul Drive Office. nominal Gross Domestic demonstratinggovernment’s Block, adding that the crude There, journalists were not Product(GDP)movingfrom commitment to prudent oil reserves have been allowed to ask all of their $1.1 trillion in 2020 to $3.1 fiscal management of the ranked 17th in the world and questions. trillionattheendof2022.Of country’sresources. 3rd in Latin America. He

In fact, prior to the start course, this is largely owing He said, “Now if you also noted that with o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e , to the startup of oil look at economic growth increased production of the Nascimento explained that production at the Liza Unity estimates, the world is country’s medium sweet each media house would be floating, production, storage estimated to grow at 2.8% in gradecrudewithlowsulphur allowed one question and a and offloading vessel 2023, advanced economies content, government follow-up. If that permitted Guyana is now the fastest are expected to grow at revenue is projected to be for more questions, that growing economy in the 1.3%, LatinAmerica and the US$10 billion annually by processwouldberestarted. world.” Caribbean 1 6%, the theendofthedecade.

Public-Private Partnerships to spur economy and sustainability

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has partnered with the Government

of Panama to organise the eleventh PPP Americas, the most important forum on public-private partnerships(PPP)inLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.

The theme of PPPAmericas 2023 is “Partnerships with Purpose,” and it will bring together over 250 public and private sector representatives from 25 different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. From July 18 to 20 in Panama City, participants will explore the latest trends in PPPs in the region and discuss ways to close the infrastructure gap through sustainable, resilient, and sociallyimpactfulprojects.

The Head of State spoke For the period 2023 to C a r i b b e a n t o u r i s m

Currently, Guyana’s e x t e n s i v e l y , f o r 2026, Ali said Guyana is dependentcountriesat3.2%, crude oil production which approximately one hour, on projected to grow at an Caribbean commodity includes the Liza Unity and s o m e o f t h e k e y average 25% annually exporters18.7%andGuyana the Liza Destiny floating, achievements made by his Expounding further,Ali said is expected to grow at production, storage and government as it nears the Guyana’s non-oil growth is 25.1%.” offloading(FPSO)vesselsin three year mark in office now projected at 7.9% this In terms of inflation the Stabroek Block average come August, 2023. Given year, building on 11 5% estimate, Ali said the world is about 400,000 barrels per Ali’s comprehensive growth recorded last year estimate is at 6.1%, Latin day Productionisforecastto overview, journalists were Despite varying economic American and Caribbean at meet 1.2 million barrels per only allowed one question challenges, Ali said Guyana 11 8%, and Guyana is daybytheendof2027.

According to a IDB press release, by 2030, Latin AmericaandtheCaribbeanneedstoinvestUS$2.2trillionin water and sanitation, energy, transportation, and telecommunications to expand and maintain the infrastructure needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, growth in traditional public investment is constrained by the region’s complex macroeconomicandfiscalcontext.

PPPsarethusakeytoolforjoiningforcesandmobilising resources to close the current infrastructure gap, creating valueforcitizens,governments,andtheprivatesector

The PPP Americas 2023 agenda features six central themes:climateinvestment,digitaltransformation,logistics chains, job creation, boosting inclusion, and measuring impact.

Between December 2022 and May 2023, the IDB held threewebinarsonthesethemesinpreparationfortheevent.

THINGS WERE NOT REGULAR YESTERDAY

When the news broke thatthePresidentwasfinally goingtoholdalong-overdue press conference there was an air of eager expectation and heightened anticipation. But those feelings were quickly dampened when media houses were told that onlyonereporterperagency was being allowed at the pressconference. This restriction caught media houses by surprise since all media houses usually have different reporters covering different sectors. Having a limit of only one reporter constrained the scope of questions which could be asked at the press conference.

Butthiswasnottheonly controversial aspect of the pressconference.Themedia turned up only to be crammed into a small room which was far too tiny even fortheone-personpermedia house Surely those responsible should have predicted that their actions would have raised concerns as to whether there was an attempt to constrain the mediaandwhetherthespace available was suitable for hosting a Presidential press conference.

It is not as if the government did not have alternative venues State House or the Arthur Chung Convention Center could have more than sufficed to provide adequate space for the entirety of the media corpstobepresent.

The decision to host the press conference where it was hosted was a bad one

a n d t h e p r o b l e m s encountered should have beenpredicted.Therecanbe no excuse for what happened.Thepressisowed anapology

To make matters worse, every media house was limited to one question and one follow-up question during the first round of questions And no doubt because of time constraints, there was only one round. Not that the reporters may have been keen on another round in that cramped press room and having listened to the a long-winded presentation by the President.

But the more serious apology should come from the President. He droned on and on like an ever ready battery Clearly, his advisers ought to have told him that his lengthy and exhaustive opening statement was totally unsuited for a press conference. It was much too long and covered too wide a rangeofissues.Andmuchof it was not the type of information that the media wouldfindexciting.

The media look for new information. And they got little of this. No wonder in one newscast following the press conference, what was featured about the press conference was a report that that Spanish would be made compulsoryfromSeptember and that some service commissions would be appointed this week. These were the major takeaways from the almost two-hour pressconference.

The President needs to

Dem Boys Seh...

appreciate the purpose of a press conference. This was an opportunity for the Presidenttoestablishagood rapport with the press. The members of the media were cravingtohearfromhimand to have him in the spotlight. Many were growing tired of the monotonous Thursday Press Conference hosted by theVicePresident.

People also wanted to hear from the President on important matters. Having nowheardfromhim,itisnot certainmanymembersofthe press corps are looking forwardtoattendinganother of his press conferences, at leastnotsoon.

A press conference provides the host with an opportunity to provide information and his or her perspective on issues. The President chose to rattle off about the achievements of his government. It was like an early 3rd August celebration. But there were moreimportantissueswhich should and were not adequatelyaddressed.

And it is not as if the President is incapable of handling himself in front of the media. It was simply as case of him speaking far too long and on issues left for a politicalrally

Apress conference is an opportunity for public officials to engage the media. It allows the media the opportunity to pose questions and to solicit information from public officials There was no shortage of information but it was not the type of information the press was

A presser to end all pressers

De Prezzy finally gave in to pressure andhostedapressconference.Butitwasa press conference with a difference and one thatnotmanywouldlikeasecondinviteto.

Theroominwhichthepresserwasheld was an unprecedented display of spatial inadequacy Asdeattendeessqueezedintoa room mo’ fitting for sardines, it became abundantlycleardatclaustrophobiawasn’t amerepossibilitybutanimminentmedical emergency waiting to happen. Dem boys even understand dat de the local hospitals were on standby, anticipating an influx of reporters and journalists who had succumbedtotheroom’scrampedconfines.

Prezzy, renowned for his oratorical theatrics,decidedtotreattheaudiencetoan openingstatementoftrulyepicproportions. This was the Titanic of all opening statements. Forawholehourandmore,his words rebounded off the weary ears of the press corps, transforming their attentive expressions into yawns and eye-rubbing. Someofdemactuallydozedoff.

One unfortunate soul awoke from his unintendedsiesta,momentarilyconfusedif

he had traveled forward in time to next year’s Budget speech. Another reporter wrote a note to his counterpart asking whetheritwasindeedapressconferenceor a State of the Union address. One person even claim how Prezzy tryin fuh break de Vee Pee record fuh de longest opening statement.

Howcouldanyoneblamedesereporter?

De length of Prezzy’s opening statement hadalreadysurpassedtheaverageattention span of a goldfish. When the time for questionsfinallyarrived,theinquiriesbore little relevance to the words that had just dripped from Prezzy’s lips. Instead of probing the depths of his profound monologue, the questions meandered aimlessly to issues which were topical, especiallyaboutdeMinisterwahresign.As thepresscorpsexitedthesuffocatingpress room, gasping for fresh air… and clarity, they were left with a lingering question: Was this an exercise in public accountabilityoratestoftheirabilitytostay awakefortwohours?

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

seeking. They got in some question during the ‘questions and answer segment’ but by then the mood of the press conference had changed from anticipation to exhaustion.

The President got it all wrong this time. Press conferenceshouldbelimited toaddressingafewsubjects, m a k i n g i m p o r t a n t announcements or addressing controversial issues They provide an opportunityforjournaliststo

ask questions and seek clarification on important matters.

ThePresidentannounced that he will be soon leaving for overseas engagements. Perhaps when he returns, he can host a press conference to tell the media about his trip.

But even this seems to posechallengesfortheHead of State. When he returned from India he had hosted a pressbriefingatStateHouse and every member of the head table was asked to say

something, thereby giving a new complexion to press briefings.

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

H@RD TRUTHS

LALL

GEORGETOWN CITY COUNCILTHE NEWEST MISSED OPPORTUNITY

I extend my best wishes to the new Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore on his taking the reinsforthecity Thesame

warm hand is stretched out to all other members of the council of Georgetown, regardless of whether they are of PNC or PPP heritage

(or some other). Residents and participants in the city could use a vibrant, functioning mayoralty and city council; one

unhampered as much by politics, one that produces. Our capital city, our image, our residents would be better

The first order of approval to Mayor Mentore goes to him for saying the right words, about working togetherandthecolorsdon’t matter They suited the occasion, sounded right, in what should have been a fresh start after some b r u i s i n g y e a r s Unfortunately, that was not to be, for reality (real politicks) emerged, and things fell apart. Inevitably Almost, as if ordained. For me,itispainfultonotehow the actions that may mean something fell far short of matching the mayor’s words. I heard something from the new mayor about “signals” from the PPP, and that such were neither visible nor audible Nonsense! I say, sir Utter confounded nonsense, Lordship.

We can blame the PPP for a litany of wrongs that have harmed city, country, andcitizens,andtheyareso many that the rest of the decade is needed to spell them out one by one. For sure,ithasstonewalledover necessary assistance to the GTCityCouncil,alongwith the vital fundings, plus withheldthekindofhealthy partnership, which have all severely impaired the council’swork,andretarded the ambience of the capital city Residentsandcitizens lostwithoutfail.

When central and municipal are engaged in a running battle, citizens suffer Thoughthedisguises of incompetence and corruption have their role, bothwerelaidontoothickly and too long to everyone’s detriment. Somebodyhasto breaktheice. Ithoughtthat the incoming city administration, with Mayor Mentore in the lead would know that, be about more

than saying the right things. Meaning, do therightthing,eventhe littleones. Someonein one of the political parties must take the first step. There has to be a leader,amayor,afigurewho thinks of the higher ground, then clambers for it, no matter what it takes, for citizens’sakes. If not, then whatdowehave?

All that we would have left is what we live with, which is going round in circles, continuing the unending cycles of pointing fingers, of digging out the other man’s eye, and of leaving all of us more blind thanbefore. Thatis,ifthere is such a state (being blinder) still left in Guyana. I commend Mayor Mentore forwantingtoandappealing to other councilors for workingtogether Itistaken at face value. There is resonance to that ring, but whenthatisallthereis,and there is retreating from going forward with the palpable, then what G u y a n e s e w e r e beneficiaries of is more hot air Iamsorry,Lordshipfor this sharp preliminary greeting, but circumstances necessitate.

The PNC at higher leadership levels cannot speak (rightly) about the need for inclusion in Guyana, and then turn around and stand wrongly, strongly, for exclusion in thoseplaceswhereithasthe upperhand,likeGT Itdoes notmatterwhatthePPPdid, orisdoing.

Make a start. Set the example. Be the precedent. It is my position that the D e p u t y M a y o r o f Georgetown should have been extracted from the ranksofPPPcouncilors. As a gesture of goodwill and goodintentions,therewould havebeennonebetter. Now chew on this: there is none better at playing those spitefulgamesthanthePPP;

none better equipped at fostering and then getting awaywiththatculture. This plays right into the PPP hands, with returning the favor by the dozen. How long the partisan? Division destroys Guyana, with perpetuation guaranteed. It isabouttimethatbothsides start thinking of going in a different direction, if only forthegoodofthepopulace. Thinkandthendo.

Why not reach for the PPP’s hand by calling for a nominationfromthatsideof thecouncilaisle. Idon’tsee that as a political move, but as one loaded with pragmatism, with the slightest opening towards possibly new beginnings, greater things that could lift all up and lead somewhere different. Let the de facto leader of the PPP, the sole decision maker of the party, refuse PPP councilors should be on key committees to observe and participate in clean city governance, determine who isnot.

They must prove their own cleanliness. What is there to fear? Why the objections? The record wouldbecompletewithwho saidthefirstword,andthen followed through with supporting action that speaks for itself. It is time that we all talk less, stop wasting words that turn out to be empty of substance, and leave all in the same self-destructive place. Somebodyouttheremustbe willing to aim higher. I nominate Mayor Mentore. Now, go ahead and deliver, sir

(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.)

Guyana turns to Cuba for help as local nurses bolt to UK, other countries

Noting that there is a shortage of nurses in the local health system, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said that his government is engaging Cuba on having nurses from there come into Guyana’s workforce.

The President made the disclosure during a press conference with the media at his Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office.

W h i l e a n s w e r i n g questions from the media, the Head of State said that oneofthemainissues facing the Caribbean region right now is the outward movement of nurses and nurses and bringing more from about 150 to 200 per healthworkers. nurses into the system. “So yeartonowenableustotrain

Autopsy reveals missing teen drowned at Bartica

The teen found dead one day after going missing, reportedlydiedbydrowning, at the Bartica Beach, Region Seven,anautopsyrevealed.

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Cameron of Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) went missing on Tuesday At around 15:30hrs on Thursday, his body floated up about 200 feet fromtheFifthAvenueBeach atBartica.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Wednesday, his mother, Liloutie Cameron said that autopsy results statedthattheteendiedfrom drowning, compounded by blunt trauma to the head. Although drowning killed Cameron, his mother still wants to know how her son sustained a blunt trauma to Esseequibo Coast, Region that afternoon for a malaria hishead. Two, Cameron travelled to test. Cameron reportedly did

While training is being

According to him places we have to find the between1000to1500nurses such as Canada, the United immediate measure, the per year This programme Kingdom, the United States medium term and long term. has already started and not of America and Europe are Themediumandlongtermis only the training of nurses, facing the same shortages, to train and retrain and train we are also working on hencenowtheworldisonan more than the capacity that specializedareasfornurses,” active drive of recruiting you need but the immediate hedisclosed. nursesallover term for example for nurses

“Only yesterday I met is to have nurses come into offered to get nurses in the with a number of nurses at the system from external system, the President said the Georgetown Public sources,”heexplained. they are also looking at the Hospital and they were so In terms of the medium present situation where there happyfortheworktheywere and long term approach, is a shortage. He further doing,andthatsomeofthem President Ali said in his commented that on are doubling up on shifts statementyesterdaythatthey Wednesday morning he held because of the shortage have a programme now for discussion with the Cuban When I spoke to the anyone with the entry Ambassador to have nurses administration of the requirement to come and do comeintothecountry Georgetown Public Hospital nursing. He noted that they “UptothismorningIhad it was said they now have have expanded their post a long discussion with the hundreds of nurses short of graduate training at the Ambassador to see if he can their full compliment,” he Georgetown Public Hospital get Cuban nurses to come related. with 16 post graduate into the system now, in the

In dealing with the issue, programmes and is looking immediate period to help to thePresidentsaidthatiswhy toaddmorelatelyintheyear fill that gap because of the his government is moving “We are developing a hybrid tremendous shortage that we decisively on a number of nursing programme to have,” the President shared training programmes for increase training of nurses yesterday

$20 million contract awarded to rewire Suddie Magistrate’s Court

It is unclear how Bartica from Supenaam to not want to accompany him Cameron got into the spend some time with his into the hospital and Essequibo River, but a blunt grandmother requested to wait for him trauma injury could mean His uncle picked him up outside. that he might have hit his from the Bartica Stelling on His unclesaidthatheleft head while plunging in the Tuesday but hours later, Cameron playing by a swing However, only further thechilddisappeared. locatedinaparkoppositethe investigation could reveal if T h e u n c l e w a s hospital. thiswasthecase. questioned by police and he He returned some 15 After spending a week’s claimed that he had gone the minutes later, and Cameron vacation at his aunt on the Bartica Regional hospital haddisappeared.

Robert Persaud holds talks with US official in Washington

Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Cooperation,RobertPersaud on Wednesday held discussions with Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western HemisphereAffairs.

Also present at this meeting was Samuel Hinds, Ambassador of Guyana to the United States of America The Foreign Secretary and the Assistant Secretary discussed current international issues that are priority for the Government of Guyana, inter alia, Food Security, Energy and Climate Change, the ministry said in a press release.

Following the national bidding process, Contracting Service & ElectricalSupplies,to the National Procurement and Tender the tune of $20,648,760. This contractor was AdministrationBoard(NPTAB)hasawarded among eight firms that had applied for the a $20 million contract for the rewiring of the works.

SuddieMagistrate’sCourtinRegionTwo. Asimilar project is scheduled for the Fort

It was reported that the project, which is Wellington Magistrates’ Court in Region beingexecutedthroughtheSupremeCourtof Five. These works are estimated to cost $20 Judicature, was estimated to cost million.

$24,453,694. The justice sector was allocated some

On its website, NPTAB stated that the $6.2billionthisyearfromthenationalbudget project was awarded to N Balgobin & Sons forthestrengtheningofthejusticesystem.

The talks were aimed at enhancing Guyana’s bilateral and regional relations as well as advancing Guyana’s foreign policy in keeping with Guyana’s Developmental Agenda in the areas discussed and proving updatesontheadvancements

role Guyana intends to play Nations Security Council, made by Guyana in recent in the maintenance of notwithstanding the years. international peace and complex challenges. Mr

During the Meeting, the security given its recent Persaud is currently on an Foreign Secretary also election as a non-permanent official visit to the US highlighted the important member of the United capital.

Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud (left) and Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs

The Suddie Magistrate’s Court in Region Two.

Dead: Daniel Cameron

President Irfaan Ali

CGX head says Guyana lacks skills, financing for oil industry

Du r i n g a constraints of access to r o u n d t a b l e capitalincountry.

discussion on In his address, Professor

- as he woos Ghanaian investors

Wednesday, Narine highlighted that Local Content Law, in order supply of housing, and you Executive Chairman for CGX, is a Canadian oil and for a foreign company to havethesupplyofthingslike CGX (Guyana) Energy, gas exploration company workinGuyana’soilandgas f o o d , b e v e r a g e s , Professor Suresh Narine, that holds an interest in the industry it must meet certain entertainment services, underscored the paucity of Corentyne block in the requirement. transportation services, skilled workers here in the Guyana Basin - a proven One such requirement is logistical services,” he oil and gas industry and the petroleum basin. He said too that joint ventures with added. lackoffinancing. that since 1997, CGX has foreign companies must be CGX Head explained

The discussion was held been an active explorer both 51% Guyanese ownership. thatthemarginsofprofitthat virtually It was hosted by onshore and offshore “Youwillfindinsomecases, you make increases with the G h a n a P e t r o l e u m Guyana and now have two to update the local content industry, 2022-2026’ which very enthusiastic local sophisticationoftheservices Commission in partnership discoveriesundertheirbelt. targets. was published back on players who do need help on neededbytheoperators. with the Ghana Chamber of He said, “We are a very, He added, “As you heard December19,2022. the skillset side but also “So I think that this Commerce Guyana (GCCG) very fresh country on the from Professor Narine, WhiletheGovernmentis require the right kinds of workshop,perhapsis agood and ALA Strategic Consult petroleumscene.”Tothis,he access to capital and persistent in accelerating the financing that will allow start, but we need a forum Ltd, and focused on added that in many cases financial availability in industry – the ILO reports them to own 50% or 51% of where matchmaking opportunitiesforGhana’soil Guyana lacks skilled human Guyana is one of our biggest states that such a move can your joint ventures. So your between your service & gas service companies in resources for the oil and gas constraints. We encourage endbadlyforGuyana. entranceinthecountryisnot providers and our local Guyana’s petroleum industry as well as access to investorstocometoGuyana, “The accelerated only your know-how and c o n t e n t i n t e r e s t e d industry and how they can capital in country As such, especially those who can expansion of the oil and gas your cultural attunement, it businesses, can truly engage add value to developing he encouraged Ghanaian bring the necessary capital, operations (in Guyana) has is also your ability to bring inintimatediscussionsabout localcontentinGuyana. investors who are looking hencelocalcontent.” exposed a pronounced gap creative financing. And if what those opportunities

This publication had for opportunities in

This publication had between the industry’s creative financing can be are,”henoted. reportedthatwhileGuyana’s Guyana’s petroleum r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e labour demand and the part of the package, you will Moreover, Senior oil resources have placed it industry to partner with International Labour availability of skilled find that local content, and Petroleum Coordinator, for among the top petroleum locals. He noted that he Organisation (ILO) in its workers at the local level,” joint venture opportunities the Ministry of Natural producers in the world, the believesthatGuyana’sLocal December 2022 study ILOsaid. will abound. So that’s an Resources, Bobby Gossai country’s lack of technical Content Law at the current emphasised that Guyana’s To this end, it was stated important aspect of this,” Jnr., for his part explained expertise and workforce stage cannot realize its full oil and gas industry is that if the gap is not CGXHeadpointedout. that while Guyana’s Local capacity, continues to be a potential without the right moving too fast for the addressed, the latter will

“The basic level of local Content Law was only bugbear The local private partnerships. country’s limited skilled likely slow down the growth content of course is where passed in 2021, the move by sector on multiple occasions He explained that with workforce.TheILOfindings ofthesectorandofthewhole you have the supply of fairly the Government of Guyana had highlighted the the enactment of Guyana’s werehighlightedinitsreport economyor,attheveryleast, unskilled labor, you have the to update the law so soon is titled, ‘Prospective generate inefficiencies in the occupational skills needs in level performance and for the Guyanese oil and gas theeconomy

Dharamlall’s replacement to be named by weekend

Pr e s i d e n t

result of the 16-year-old girl

Mohamed Irfaan withdrawing her rape Ali at a press complaint against Minister

conference on of Local Government and Wednesdayannouncedthata Regional Development, replacement of disgraced NigelDharamlall,thereisno former Local Government “legal provision” for the Minister, Nigel Dharamlall mattertoproceed”. will be made known before

Just hours after her theweekends. statement, PresidentAli who

Former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall

Ali was at the time was at the time attending a responding to a question CARICOM heads of about the former minister’s Government event in replacement. Ali responded, Trinidad and Tobago, “…before the end of this publicly announced that week I will be making some Dahramlall had resigned announcements which from his post as Local leadership of this party is Prosecution (DPP), includethereassignmentand Government Minister “This decided by members of this Shalimar Ali Hack SC. for a s s i g n m e n t o f t h e evening, you’ve seen the party, at a congress, every legal advice but she returned responsibility of that statement from the DPP in leader of this party is elected it advising that police portfolio.” which she has advised that at [Congress],” the president c o n d u c t f u r t h e r

Reporters also asked if she will not proceed on any toldreporters. investigation. Investigators government will grant charges against the minister Dharamlall landed in hot had contacted the girl for Dharamlall another job based on all that is before waters after reports of him more statements but she “…the minister who is a her” Ali had said while allegedly raping and reportedly gave them “a no citizen having any work in adding, “However, Minister sodomising a 16-year-old further action statement”, governmentisnotsomething Dharamall has advised that indigenous schoolgirl according to Crime Chief, I have considered or he has hewilltenderhisresignation surfaced last month. The WendellBlanhum. requested,”Alisaid. as the interest of the child eventually made an Kaieteur News later Ali, before giving his government is important to official police report against learnt that the girl did not response made sure that he him and he will not want the minister which led to his wish to proceed with the let reporters know that he anyone to bring the arrest and a subsequent matter against the minister does not have any power in governmentintodisrepute.” investigation into the The file was returned to the his party, the People’s Ali said he accepted allegations. DPP and after reviewing it Progressive Party/Civic Dhramlall’s resignation as a A file was prepared and for a second time she (PPP/C) to choose who is fit Cabinet Member and a sent to the Director of Public reportedly said that “as a to lead or not “The MemberofParliament”.

Spanish will be compulsory for the next school term - Pres. Ali

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday confirmed that Spanish would be a compulsory subject in the

school system starting next term, which commencesinSeptember

The President at a news conference told reporters that he had asked for a full assessment and has been advised that thereisadequatecapability,especiallyinthesecondarylevel to have Spanish taught.Ali’s aim is for Spanish to be taught startingfromGradefourorfive.

“One of my greatest regrets now, that I have this responsibility for Guyana, is that I dropped Spanish when I was in Secondary School,” President Ali said while noting that he subsequently saw the importance of knowing a secondlanguage.

The President hopes that not only the school implements this but the private sector would also move towards having their employees trained in Spanish. “We also seek to launch an online platform so that any Guyanese that want to learn Spanish, can go on that platform and learn the language,” saidPresidentAli

He added, “with us celebrating being the only Englishspeaking country within the South American continent, we have to realise too that we are a part of this continent that speaks Spanish.” President Ali went further to say that he believes, “we are going to do the future young people of our country, an injustice if we don’t point them into this direction. In addition, knowing a second language would be necessary if a person intends on being competitive internationallyorwanttolandaninternationaljob.”

Executive Chairman for CGX (Guyana) Energy, Professor Suresh Narine

Amstelresidentattackedbypitbulls

A69-year-old News yesterday, the man’s came from across the road off,”shesaid. number of stitches about his dangerous for persons who man of Den wifeSandraReeverssaidher and launched their attack on She further related after body Shesaidtoothathelost are living in the area and

Amstel, West husband Lindon Reevers him. learningoftheincidentabout alotofbloodasaresultofthe have to pass the dogs every Coast Demerara is now was attacked sometime “He said he started to h e r h u s b a n d , t h e y attack. day,” the woman lamented. nursing several wounds around 04:45hrs while holler for help, help but immediately rushed him to Mrs. Reevers said they She expressed that while her about his body after being returning from his fitness nobody was helping until a theWest Demerara Regional have since reported the husband survived the viciously attacked by two pit walk in the vicinity of the guy came up with a black Hospital where he received matter to the police and are attacked, there are children bulldogsduringhismorning Den Amstel Public Road. vehicle and the guy then see treatment for his wounds. waiting on a feedback on a whowouldtraversethesame walk in his community on Accordingtothewoman,her another boy and instructed Thewomansaidherhusband way forward. “Something route where the dogs are Wednesday husband related that while at him to get a stick to hit the who is currently in severe needs to be done in relation locatedtogetontothepublic Speaking with Kaieteur the public road two dogs dogs in a bit to scare them pain having received a to the matter, because it is road.

GPAurges police to provide monthly crime stats, timely information

The Guyana Police media.

Force (GPF) on Commissioner Hicken Wednesday met alluded to the fact that the

with the Guyana media is an essential Press Association (GPA), to c o m p o n e n t o f l a w discuss fostering a better enforcement and plays a relationship between the crucial role in information GPF and the media dissemination and ensuring fraternity peace and stability in the GPA President, Nazima nation, the police release Raghubir, and Secretary, Iva stated GPA President Wharton, met with Acting Raghubir, in her remarks, Commissioner of Police, acknowledged the marked Clifton Hicken, Deputy improvement in relations Commissioner, Calvin between the GPF and the B r u t u s , D e p u t y mediainrecenttimes.

Commissioner and Crime M e a n w h i l e , i n a Chief, Wendell Blanhum, statement of its own, GPA Head of the Corporate noted that it raised a number Communications Unit of issues among them, (CCU), Mark Ramotar, and requesting authorisation of Deputy CCU Head, Stan Commanders to speak with Gouveia. the media, for the provision

The police in a statement ofcontactsforCommanders, noted that Hicken welcomed Deputy Commanders, the the GPA team to the Traffic Chief and Crime Commissioners’ Conference Chief as well as the timely accidents and incidents well as crime, the GPA also Police PR dictates that Press Association, and Room and said the long provision of information statistics along with recommended frequent information must be fact- several suggestions for overdue and much- especially on major comparative figures for media engagements with the checked and accurate before facilitating this were made anticipated meeting was like i n c i d e n t s , w h e r e corresponding periods with police via press conferences, dissemination. As such, he from both sides. All present ‘a breath of fresh air’ and confirmation and accurate asmuchaspossible,detailed familiarization sessions as noted that this process may at the meeting made augurs well in efforts aimed information would be statisticsonaquarterlybasis. wellastraining. not always be timely individual contributions to at strengthening the existing needed The body also Wi t h w i d

relationship between the requested the provision of disinformation on various Commissioner Hicken noted that the GPF remains relations between the GPF GPF and members of the monthly crime and traffic issues relating to policing as explained that the nature of open to working with the andtheMedia.

The wounds Lindon Reevers received after being attacked by two pit bull dogs on Wednesday morning.

GPA executives and officials from the GPF at the meeting on Wednesday

Halfoftheworldsinkingintoadebtdisaster -

Nations

UnitedNationsSecretary public debt are staggering UnitedStatesandeighttimes outdated global financial General, António Guterres and surging,” the UN boss more than the wealthiest system, which reflects the on Wednesday warned that said. European countries The colonial power dynamics of half the world is sinking into He noted that in 2022, InternationalMonetaryFund the era when it was created. a development disaster, global public debt reached a says 36 countries are on so- The system has not fulfilled fuelled by a crushing debt record US$92 trillion, with called “debt row” – either in, its mandate as a safety net to crisis, noting that some 3.3 developing countries or at high risk of, debt help all countries manage billion people – almost half s h o u l d e r i n g “ a distress. Another sixteen are t o d a y ’s c a s c a d e o f of humanity live in countries disproportionate amount ” paying unsustainable unforeseen shocks – the that spend more on debt

Additionally, the UN said a interest rates to private pandemic; the devastating interest payments than on growing share is held by creditors.”TheUNSGsaid. impact of the climate crisis; educationorhealth. private creditors who charge According to the UN a and the Russian invasion of

He made the comments sky-high interest rates to totalof52countries–almost Ukraine.” as the UN launched a report many developing countries. 40 percent of the developing The UN Secretary titled: ‘A WORLD OF

“On average, African world are in serious debt General said debt is an DEBT’. The document was economy In 1991/ 1992 the Goals or the transition to countries pay four times trouble. “It is one result of importantfinancialtoolthat prepared by the UN Global public debt to GDP ratio renewableenergy Levelsof more for borrowing than the the inequality built into our (Continued on page 16) Crisis Response Group and exceeded 600%…we have the five UN Regional been able over the years to Commissions: ECA, ECE, bring public debt down and ECLAC, ESCAP and today Guyana’s public debt ESCWA. According to the to GDP ratio stands at 24.6 report, public debt around percent.” theworldhasbeenontherise Withthecountry’spublic over the last decades debt steadily increasing and Cascading crises in recent at least $79 billion more in years triggered a sharp loans being added this year, acceleration of this trend.As President Irfaan Ali recently a result, global public debt assured that Guyana has the has increased more than lowest debt to Gross fivefold since the year 2000, Domestic Product (GDP) clearly outpacing global ratio in the Caribbean. The GDP, which tripled over the Head of State gave this same time. In 2022, global assurance during an address public debt – comprising at the La Primavera Banquet general government Hall in Ontario, Canada. He domestic and external debt– wasfocusedonthecountry’s reached a record USD 92 development and the trillion Developing investment opportunities countriesowealmost30%of that await the diaspora in the total, of which roughly Canada when he gave 70% is attributable to China, specifics regarding the state IndiaandBrazil. of the economy According The UN reports comes tothePresident,eventhough against concerns locally that there is chatter that Guyana the Guyana Government is is borrowing a lot, the on a borrowing spree since it countryhasmadeitclearthat has discovered oil. Guyana’s it would only borrow from Finance Minister, Dr Ashni institutions that are offering Singh, during his 2023 loans at a fixed interest rate budget speech had disclosed of no more than 3.5 percent. thatthecountry’stotalpublic “Some people say we are debt stood at US$3.6 billion, borrowing a lot…although an increase by 16.9 percent we are a country that is the from last year. This fastest growing economy in publication had pointed out the world, we have set that almost all of its recently ourselves an internal target a n n o u n c e d p u b l i c in Guyana that we are only infrastructural projects going to borrow fixed rates, government has been less than 3.5 percent,” he borrowing to finance them explained. despite earning over US$1 Unsustainable debts billion in the oil account for Meanwhile, delivering last year Despite this Dr remarks at the launch of the Singh told investors earlier report, UN Secretary this year that Guyana’s General noted that because Gross Domestic Product most of these unsustainable (GDP) has tripled in the last debts are concentrated in three years, placing the poor countries, they are not country in a greater position judged to pose a systemic totakemoreloans.Dr Singh risk to the global financial saidGuyanahasbeenableto system. According to the prudently manage and UNmarketsmayseemnotbe reduce the debt to GDPratio suffering – yet, but people over the past 30 years. He are. “Some of the poorest explained, “Those of you countries in the world are who have been following being forced into a choice Guyana for long enough, betweenservicingtheirdebt, would know that there was a or serving their people period just about maybe 30 They have virtually no fiscal years ago when Guyana’s space for essential publicdebttoGDPexceeded i n v e s t m e n t s i n t h e six times the size of the Sustainable Development

...says countries spend more on debt interest payments than on health, education

United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres

Cuba condemns EU Parliament resolution calling for sanctions against president

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(Reuters) - Cuba’s National Assembly said on Wednesday it “strongly condemns” a resolution by the European Parliament, which criticized the country’s human rights record and called for EU sanctions against Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel and other top officials.

“The European Parliament lacks the moral, political and legal authority to judge Cuba,” Cuba’s parliament said in a statement.

“This could cast doubt on the EU’s objectives of seeking to re-launch its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.”

EU leaders will meet in Brussels next week with heads of state of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), their first biregional summit in eight years.

They

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From page 15 can drive development and enable governments to protect and invest in their people. But when countries are forced to borrow for their economic survival, debt becomes a trap that simply generates more debt.

“Today’s report is our most detailed picture yet of this unfolding debt crisis, with a wealth of comparisons and context.

The Bridgetown Agenda led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and the recent summit hosted by President Macron of France generated other important proposals.

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It also sets out our roadmap to global financial stability – a roadmap already put forward in our Policy Briefs on reforms of the Global Financial Architecture and the SDG Stimulus.

Deep reforms to the global financial system will not happen overnight. But there are many steps we can take right now.

The upcoming G20 Summit is an opportunity to take these ideas forward. A ction will not be easy. But it is essential, and urgent. Today’s report shows that time is up for 3.3 billion people,” the UN Secretary General stated. Devoting more money to pay debts The report said in Latin America and the Caribbean, developing countries are devoting more money to interest payments rather than to investment.

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“ “Our proposals include an effective debt workout mechanism that supports payment suspensions, longer lending terms, and lower rates, including for vulnerable middle income countries. Governments can agree right now to scale up development and climate finance by increasing the capital base and changing the business model of Multilateral Development Banks.

They can enable much stronger coordination between the banks, to transform their approach to risk without losing their triple A credit rating, so that they can massively leverage private finance at affordable cost to developing countries.

The report noted that across the world, rising debt burdens are keeping countries from investing in sustainable development.

“An increasing number of countries find themselves trapped in a situation where both their development and their ability to manage debt is compromised.

Currently at least 19 developing countries are spending more on interest than on education and 45 are spending more on interest than on health.

In total, 48 countries are home to 3.3 billion people, whose lives are directly affected by underinvestment in education or health due to large interest payment burdens,” the report added.

The late Cuban President, Fidel Castro discuss issues such as climate change, development funding and Haiti’s security crisis. Cuba on Monday said

wanted stronger relations but accused the EU of being opaque and manipulative in its preparations.

ODITC - 3t EnerMech supports OMNI Helicopters with Vital Industry Recruitment Campaign in Guyana

Pregnant woman and child displaced after Wismar fire

ODITC, the joint venture between EnerMech, a global specialist service and 3t EnerMech, Guyana-based technicalsolutionscompany

Orinduik Development Alan Sharp, General Manager, ODITC, Incorporated,andWindsorTechnologies,has said: “These important assessment and provided its industry-leading assessment and training exercises for OMNI highlight and training facilities to aid OMNI Helicopters reinforcethepositiveimpactourstate-of-thewith its local Search and Rescue (SAR) artfacilityoffersthelocalworkforceandfastrecruitmentprocess. growing oil and gas sector in Guyana. It is an

Supporting the region’s sole helicopter honour to be selected to partner with OMNI operator the ODITC Centre of Excellence to support the organisation’s recruitment and facilitated a group of candidates with growthwhichinturnboostsin-countryskills, swimming assessments, their ability to use safetytrainingandleadingindustrystandards lifesaving equipment and perform an forthesector.” effective escape from the Helicopter Peter Gay, Country Manager, OMNI said UnderwaterEscapeTrainer(HUET). ¨We are very pleased to be able to utilise the

Ten individuals were assessed on their ODITC facilities to assess the candidates as performance during the exercises based on part of the selection process as they begin the vital role of rescue swimmers, as well as their journey with OMNI Helicopters to the winch person inside the helicopter, with support the offshore sector in Guyana.” theaimtorecruiteightfulltimeroles. Delivering OPITO-accredited training to oil 3t EnerMech is a joint venture with 3t and gas workers, ODITC was established to Energy Group, provider of world-class help facilitate the growing demand for new training and innovative workforce oil and gas talent within the region via the developmenttechnologiesandsolutions,and ODITCCentreofExcellence.

Six persons including a heavily-pregnant woman andachildarenowhomeless afterafirelateTuesdaynight destroyed their home at Poker Street, Wismar, Linden.

The fire started around 22:30 hrs, however no one was at the Poker Street, Wismar residence. Family member, Lovern Jacks, received the news around 23:00hrs.

while at work. Though she and the others rushed home, they were unable to save anything. Fire fighters suspected that the fire was maliciously set and evidence shows that the suspect broke into the window and exited throughthebackdoorbefore setting the fire. “Nothing, nothing ain’t get to save, we lose millions because the house was fully furnished, three chair set, two freezers, they pooled their resources getting baby all the clothes one fridge, bed and together to renovate the everything damaged everything, nothing, nothing houseinexcessof$2million Everything burn up, we ain’t save,” the distraught dollars. might gah bunk on one Jackssaid. Familymembersarenow another tonight to sleep Jacks and her family seeking refuge at the homes somewhere,” she said lived in the three-bedroom of relatives. “Right now it is Anyone willing to assist the flat concrete house close to very much difficult at the displaced family can contact three decades and recently moment, one of the girls LovernJackson686.7106

AFC urges Govt. to issue travel advisory after Monkey Pox hits T&T

The Alliance for Change Guyana. In a press release 1980andtheendofsmallpox (AFC) said it has noted the the AFC said if there are vaccination worldwide, announcement by the protocols already in place, monkey pox steadily Ministry of Health in thenationandairlinesshould emerged in Central, East and neighbouring Trinidad and beremindedofthese. WestAfrica. Tobago of the first case of According to WHO, the TheUnitedStateshasthe Monkey Pox in the twin virus was discovered in highestnumberofdeathsand islandrepublic. Denmark in 1958 in cases (30,555 and 45

In light of the regular monkeys kept for research, respectively),theCentersfor travel between Guyana and and the first reported human Disease Control and Trinidad, the AFC calls on case of monkey pox was a Prevention website notes the Ministry of Health of nine-month-old boy in the WHO says people can Guyana to issue an advisory Democratic Republic of the contract monkey pox from on travel to and from Congo in 1970. Monkey Pox contaminatedobjectssuchas Trinidad; and to state the can spread from person to clothing or linens, through protocols that would be person or occasionally from injuries in health care, or in implemented to prevent the animalstopeople.Following community settings such as spread of Monkey Pox to eradication of smallpox in tattooparlors.

What is left of the Poker Street, Wismar Linden home

Participants conducting training activities at the facility

Participants engaged in a briefing during a training activity at the facility.

Ben Cutting, Tristan Stubbs, Saim Ayub and Mohammd Haris to feature in CPL

CPL - Three teams have confirmed their fifth overseas player ahead of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Australian all-rounder

Ben Cutting will be joining the Jamaica Tallawahs. Cutting has played at the CPL before with the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in 2018. With experience in the best T20 leagues around the world he will bring power batting and skillful bowling to the Tallawahs line up.

Tristan Stubbs will be joining the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. A powerful batter who has recently broken into the South African international team, Stubbs has experience of play-

ing in T20 leagues in England, India and his native South Africa. This exciting talent will bring firepower to the Patriots team.

Saim Ayub will join the Guyana Amazon Warriors, an international batter for Pakistan in T20 International cricket. With a proven track record of success, he will be a real boost for the Amazon Warriors.

The Amazon Warriors have also announced that Rahmanullah Gurbaz will not be available for some of this year’s CPL due to international commitments. Gurbaz will be replaced by Pakistan international Mohammad Haris for that period.

Thursday July 13, 2022

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You'll notice that your emotions are coming to a monthly climax today, Aries. Don't be alarmed but do be cautious about lashing out at people for no reason. You may feel on edge.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Extremes is the name of the game now, especially for you, Taurus. Today the emphasis is on action. You're the one to call to get the job done. You won't wait another second to simply go for it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Be adventurous and strike out into new territory, Gemini. Be a pioneer. Work to make some new discoveries in the world. Today isn't a day to worry about consequences.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Certain situations may be difficult to deal with today as they take an emotional spin, Cancer. You're getting anxious.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

You should find that the general mood of the day is favorable to your personality style, Leo. Take this opportunity to present more of your thoughts and ideas to the world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

The fog has lifted and you're ready to take off, Virgo. The dreaminess you may have experienced lately has been nice, but now it's time to get moving again.

Saim Ayub will join the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

GCB U17 Inter-county tournament...

De

Mattos,

bowlers help

Essequibo to 9 wicket win over Select XI

Harold De Mattos gets his award from Match referee Grantley Culbard.

Ethan Lee wins National Junior...

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

This is a terrific day for you, Libra, and you'll find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal. This is a day of new beginnings. You have the opportunity now to start over.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

The fire is raging today, so be careful, Scorpio. Try not to be too impulsive in your actions. Your natural tendency may be to lash out against others without really thinking about the consequences.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Go for the gold, Sagittarius. Today marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. You may be on a crusade and your combative instincts could be working overtime.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You may feel as if someone is poking you today, Capricorn, urging you to get up and get moving. Don't be surprised if someone seems to be picking on you for no reason.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

This is a great day for you to get up on stage and make your presence known, Aquarius. Let people know that you're the leader of the pack.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

This is a good day to add spark to your life, Pisces. If things have seemed boring and stagnating lately, you may need to infuse a bit of excitement into the situation.

From page 23 Café Bellvana for their support. The GCF has recently engaged the Ministry of Education’s CEO Saddam Hussain to expand its chess in schools program.

The initial focus will be on dormitory schools and some key regions in the initial stages.

Mr. Nicholas Fraser from the Allied Arts division had the opportunity to interact with the chess players participating in the tournament and committed to collaborating with the GCF in providing the necessary support in having the sport introduced to teachers and students in various regions.

Special thanks to the event title sponsor De Sinco Limited and Milex: one of Guyana’s leading distributors of fast-moving consumer goods.

Medals were presented to the top 9 performers and to Italy Ton-Chung, who copped the best female prize for the tournament. De Sinco Limited also distributed gifts to all participants promoting their product Milex.

Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Alicia De Abreu congratulated the players and commented on the familiar faces in chess she’s been seeing over the years since De Sinco Limited has been a sponsor. She thanked the parents who took time off from their busy schedule to support their children in the game of chess.

Ms. De Abreu said De Sinco will continue to promote different brands in upcoming chess tournaments. Milex is the official brand for the National Junior Qualifiers and National Junior Championship 2023.

A clinical all-round performance from Essequibo allowed them to cruise past the Select XI by 9 wickets following yesterday’s match at Everest Essequibo bowled out the Select XI for a just 80 runs after they took first strike.

Captain Dave Mohabir and Parmehwar Ram hit identical scores of 16 as the rest of the batsmen failed.

The Essequibian duo of

Rajindra Ramballi (3-9) and Darwin Joseph (3-21), ran through the Select XI batting order.

It was a simple chase for the Cinderella County team, who ended on 83-1 thanks to opener Harold De Mattos (44) and number 3 batsman, Gladwin Henry (28), who batted their team 5o a huge win. Meanwhile, Demerara will play Berbice at Everest today from 09:30h

Ashwin takes 5-60 as West Indies skittled out for 150

India80-0atstumpsonopening dayoffirstTestinDominica

Ravichandran

SportsMax - Another day, another poor performancefromaWestIndiesteamasIndia tookfirmcontrolofthefirstTestinDominica attheendofyesterday’sopeningday

After Captain Kraig Brathwaite won the toss and chose to bat, the home side were bowled out for 150 in 64.3 overs. The West Indies batsmen were left in a spin as Ravichandran Ashwin took 5-60 and RavindraJadejahadfiguresof3-26.

At stumps, India were 80-0, trailing by only 70 runs as Test debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 40. At the other end Rohit Sharma was not out 30.

Neither batsman seemed troubled by a West Indiesattackthatlackedpenetration. TheonlythingredeemingabouttheWest IndieswasAlickAthanaze,whoscored47to top score for the home side. Brathwaite got 20, which was the second-highest score for theWestIndies.

RaheemCornwallwasnotouton19when theWestIndiesinningscametoanend. As things stand, theWest Indies bowlers havealongdayaheadofthemtoday

Scores:India80for0(Jaiswal40*,Rohit 30*) trail West Indies 150 (Athanaze 47, Ashwin5-60,Jadeja3-26)by70runs.

Tropical Shipping Drag Wars 2.0 speeds on July 29th

This month is proving to be full of action for motor sports, and fans alongwithcompetitorswill not be complaining as the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) hasannouncedtheywillbe hosting a second event in July; on the 29th at the Timehri based South Dakotadragstrip.

The event, which is dubbed‘DragWars2’,will see competitors from at least three countries competing including the local boys, neighbouring Suriname and the twinisland republic of Trinidad & Tobago, according to a source close to the GMR&SC.

Vice-President of the GMR&SC, Shairaz Roshandin, in an invited comment, revealed that Tropical Shipping has signed on as the marquee sponsor of the highly anticipatedevent.

An official statement from the club noted that,

“Tropical Shipping, which is a leading transportation and logistics solutions provider, will facilitate the seamless transportation of race cars from the Caribbean to Guyana for high-profile motor racing events. With its extensive network, state-of-the-art facilities, and commitment to exceptional service, Tropical Shipping will ensure a reliable and efficient shipping experience for all involved parties.”

Meanwhile, Mahendra Boodhoo, the head of the GMR&SCsharedthat,“We (GMR&SC) are happy to have Tropical Shipping as the official shipping companyforGuyanaMotor Racing. We recognise the significanceofmotorsports in Guyana and will continue to grow our international events by providingsecureandtimely transportationforracecars.

Tropical Shipping’s extensive experience in the shipping industry and our

c o m m i t m e n t t o competitor’s satisfaction ensure we exceed all involved parties’ expectations.”

This event was initially scheduledtorunoffinMay but unsuitable weather conditions forced the organisers to postpone it to July29th.

AtDragWars1.0,Most of the big names in Guyana’s Drag Racing cametothelineandseveral of the newcomers looked impressive.

But, a well-organised and keen day of competing was curtailed following an incident with drivers AzruddinMohamed(GT-R Nismo) and Denzel Hopkinson (Toyota Supra, commonlycalled‘Kong’).

The South Dakota drag strip record is still held by Team Mohamed’s Promod A time of 7 036 seconds they set last August.

Ticketswillcost$2,500 for adults and children will pay$1,000.

Ashwin (centre) celebrates one of his five wickets yesterday

Two former Guyana y o u t h c r i c k e t e r s

Surujnarine (116*), Chattergoon (102) inspire Apollo Sports Club to victory in Canada

Kandasammy Surujnarine

Kandasammy Surujnarine andHarrinarineChattergoon struck 116 not out and 102 respectively to help Apollo Sports Club to a resounding 84-run win over Dream CrushersCricketClubinthe continuation of the 2023 Canadian Commonwealth Cricket Association of To r o n t o 4 0 - o v e r s competition.

Playing at Norfinch Cricket Ground, Apollo Sports Club raced to a imposing302-7fromthe40overs while Dream

Crushers, in reply, were all outfor218inthe33rdover The right-handed Surujnarine hammered five sixesand11foursduringhis entertaining 99-ball stay at the crease, while

Chattergoon, the younger brother of form West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon, clobbered 12 sixes and five fours off 64 deliveries.

Theytwoalsoengagedin a steady 132-run thirdwicket stand after another two ex-Guyana youth playersNathanPersaud(00) andSharazRamcharran(02) departedearly

Right-arm seamer and captain Manas Manan grabbedthreewicketsfor38 runs from five overs while RamanSinghpickeduptwo for32offfourovers.

When Dream Crushers Cricket Club batted, their i n n i n g s g o t s o m e momentum from Raman Preet Singh who stroked an impressive and combative 80,aninningslacedwith10 sixes and two fours while LalitLambamade27.

Chattergoon returned with the ball to claim 3-40 from seven off-spin overs, while Raman Singh

supportedwith2-32(04).

The 14-team roundrobincompetitionisslatedto continuethisweekendwitha number of matches across theGreaterTorontoArea.

On Saturday, Dream Crushers Cricket Club will faceupwithTorontoGolden KnightsandthenonSunday, Apollo Sports Club tackling Team Tigers at Summerlea facility

Apollo is currently leadingthepoints’tablewith six wins from seven games. Melbourne Sports Club sitting at second with six winsfromsixappearances.

Ethan Lee wins National Junior Chess Qualifiers

National Junior Championship set for July 14

The De Sinco Limited National Junior Chess Qualifiers concluded on Tuesday, July 11, at the National Stadium, Providence, with an excellent performance from Ethan Lee, who emerged as thebestplayer

Lee finished on 6 5 points after seven rounds. Hisonlydrawwasaround6 clash against Keron Sandiford.

He also amounted wins against National Under-16 Girls Champion Anaya Lall and Under-16 Open Champion Alexander Zhang, Aditi Joshi, Micaiah Enoe,RonanLeeandKishan Puran.

This puts Lee as the top contender to rival reigning champion Ricardo Narine, who is poised and ready to defendhistitle.

In 2022, when Narine first claimed the title, the championship had winded down to a tense battle between him and Lee who

had tied on points and were forcedtogotoaplayoff.

But Lee is not the only challenger Narine must prepare for, with the top 9 players in the qualifiers, eagerforachancetowinthe title of National Junior Champion2023.

In second place is Keron Sandifordwith6points,after drawing matches with Lee and National U14 Open Champion Kyle Couchman, and winning his remaining games.

AlexanderZhang,Ronan Lee, Nicholas Zhang, Kyle Couchman, Matthew Singh and Oluwadare Oyeyipo all finished on five points each to take 3rd to 8th place respectively

With 4.5 points, Kishan Puran took the final spot to continue on to the Championships.

Notable performances came from Logan Simpson, Italy Ton-Chung, Ethan Persaud and Omar Shariff who all ended on 4.5 points

each.

The 2023 Junior National Championship will playinaroundRobinformat under the time control of 90 minutes with 30 second increments.Gameswillplay between July 14th and 19th at the Guyana National Stadium,Providence.

The Junior Chess Championship Qualifier tournamentattractedover50 students from schools in Region 3, 4, 6 and 10, and was supervised by FIDE ArbitersJohnLeeandAnand Raghunauth, assisted by top playerCMTaffinKhan.The top 8 boards were broadcast live on you-tube and livechesscloud com giving viewersathomeafirst-hand look at the juniors’ performances.

The Guyana Chess Federation would like to thank the Ministry of Culture,YouthandSportfor once again providing the venueforthetournamentand (Continuedonpage21)

GBA to start selection process for Caribbean Schoolboys Championship team

With the annual and highly anticipated 6th Caribbean School Boys and Junior Championships programmed for August 18th-20th on local shores, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will commence its rigorous selection process from Sunday with the staging of t h e m o n t h l y U 1 6 Championships at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym,Albouystown.

Basedontheresultsfrom the aforementioned tournament, boxers will be selected and subsequently encamped two weeks prior to the prestigious regional championship, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, t o c o m m e n c e t h e preparatoryphase.

The competition, which is the brainchild of the incumbent GBAchief Steve Ninvalle and will be staged at the National Gymnasium, M a n d e l a Av e n u e , commencedin2016andhas featuredanexpandinglistof nationswitheachedition.

Atthemoment,the2023 iteration has confirmed the participation of the largest contingent in the event’s burgeoning history, with confirmed representation emanating from the likes of

Aruba, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St.Lucia,andTheBahamas. Guyana has emerged as the overallChampionCountyin eachedition.

Similarly,theGBAinan effort to improve the quality

of its training and preparatory apparatus, will conduct a Referees/Judges Training Seminar from August14th-17th.

Theyearlyforum,which

will be administered by Three Star Trainer James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago, is being staged to sensitize and educate the respective participants on the new rule changes that have been implemented by the world governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA) to ensure uniformityandclarity

President Ninvalle said, “Thereisnoobligationtoor

for success. In basic

parlance, what was subsequently reaped is what was initially sowed, and as

such, the GBA has again demonstrated its visionary approach and aptitude for s u c c e s s v i a t h e implementation of programmes, policies, and initiatives that drive this empirical agenda and mandate Unarguably, the Caribbean School Boys and Junior Championships, whichisauniqueplatformin the region, especially in the English-speaking strata, not only form but is the backboneofGuyana’sfuture in the discipline. It is our most important element in sustaining our dominance at the various levels in the region, and has effectively, evolved into the de facto WorldChampionshipsofthe region, something that the Guyanese public and sportingfraternityshouldbe proudof.”Hefurtherstated, “Developmentisanarduous and painstaking process. At theGBAweunderstandthat basic reality, and have

conceptualized programmes like our U16 Tournaments, and our Caribbean School B o y s a n d J u n i o r Championshipstocreatethe foundation and continuity that is required to achieve a n d r e a l i z e o u r developmentalobjectives.In particular, Caribbean Schools Boys and Junior Championships, despite the unofficial label of a C a r i b b e a n Wo r l d Championship, a title which might eventually become a reality, benefits not only the localpopulacebuttheentire region,andthisisevidentby its annual expansion in the number of participants, and nations Its success is a testamenttothehardworkof the association, but more importantly, the concerted exertions of our boxers, coaches, and trainers who have utilized and embraced thisplatformandavenuefor their own personal evolution.”

Guyana suffers crushing defeat to Bermuda in opener

- Bounce back with impressive draw against host Jamaica on opening day of the 2023 RAN c/ship

The 2023 Rugby America’s North (RAN) Men’s U19 and Women’s U15’s Twelve’s championship got underway yesterday withsevenexhilaratingmatchesincluding one Women’s U15’s match. Guyana, however, opened their campaign at the RAN Men’s U19 twelve’s championship against Bermuda, yesterday at the UniversityoftheWestIndies,MonaBowl Campus,Kingston,Jamaica.

The Young Green Machine kicked off their campaign in Group B, amongst Bermuda and host Jamaica. Guyana met with a formidable Bermuda Men’s U19 in their first match at 10:00 hours. But fate hadadifferentplaninstoreforGuyana,as theywereleftscorelesswhiletheBermuda Boysdominatedthefield.Guyanalosttheir openingmatchtoBermuda48-0.

From the very beginning, the Bermudiansdemonstratedtheirsuperiority ineveryaspectofthegame.Theirforwards established a formidable presence, winning the scrums with sheer power and precision Guyana, despite their best efforts, struggled to gain possession and were repeatedly pushed back, unable to mountastrongoffensive.

Bermuda’s backline showcased exceptional coordination and speed.Their fly-halforchestratedtheirattackingmoves flawlessly, passing the ball seamlessly between his teammates to score rapid goals. Bermuda’s well-drilled defensive linepreventedanybreakthroughs,shutting down the Guyanese attacks before they could gain traction. Despite their valiant efforts,theycouldn’tfindawaytobreach the Bermuda’s impenetrable defence, eventuallylosing48-0totheBermudians.

TheylatermetwithhostJamaicainthe latter game of day one, an improved Guyana side held regional powerhouse Jamaicatoagoallessdrawafterthatheavy defeat to the Bermudians in their first match.TrinidadandTobagoandBermuda move into day two with a win and a loss each, USA South and host Jamaica both recordedtwowins,whileCaymansuffered two defeats on the opening day of the tournament.

Guyanaontheotherhandissettoplay their third match against Trinidad and Tobago at 9:00 hours today, followed by anotherclashwithBermudaat17:00hours

championship.

James Beckles (right) and GBApresident Steve Ninvalle at a previous interaction.

GPF keep clean-sheet in commanding victory over Buxton United– GFF/KFC Elite League

In the ongoing Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/KFC Elite League 2023, Season Five continued with an exhilarating encounter between Guyana Police Force (GPF) Football Club (FC) and Buxton United FC at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence.The match turned out to be a one-sided affair as the Lawmen dominated and secured a resounding 6-0 victory over Buxton United. The GPF FC movedtothenumberfourspotwith15points includingfivewinsforsixmatches.

Right from the start, GPF displayed their prowess,establishingacomfortableleadwithin the first forty-five minutes of play Jemar Harrigan opened the scoring for GPF with an earlygoalinthe8thminute,settingthetonefor their dominant performance. Daren Benjamin further extended their advantage with a wellexecuted strike in the 38th minute, taking the Lawmentoacommanding2-0leadbyhalftime

In the second half, GPF continued their relentless attack, and their efforts were rewarded when Nicholas McArthur successfullyconvertedapenaltyinthe52nd minute, widening the gap to 3-0. The remarkable Dorwin George and Junior Redmanshowedtheirskillsinthelatterpart of the second half, collectively adding three moregoalstotheGPF’stally Georgenetteda latebraceinthe76thand83rdminutes,while Redman contributed a goal in the 80th minute, ultimately extending GPF’s lead to animpressive6-0.

Despite Buxton United’s valiant efforts,

Hamilton Green’s Cup now shifted to October

In a shocking turn of events, the highly anticipated Hamilton Green’s Cup, which wasscheduledtocommenceonJuly16th,has beenhitwithyetanothersetback.Organisers of the prestigious Hamilton Green’s InterWard knockout Football tournament, former coach Lennox Arthur announced yesterday that the tournament would be further postponedduetounforeseencircumstances.

The tournament which is named after esteemed former Mayor of Georgetown and PrimeMinisterofGuyana,wasshiftedtolate October, following a meeting with officials Friday last. As it is, the rescheduling of the competition is due to bad lighting and poor playingconditionsatoneofitsmajorvenues.

they were unable to breach the Lawmen’s impenetrabledefence.ThedominanceofGPF FC took its toll on Buxton United’s morale, leading to errors and missed opportunities for theopposingteam.Asthefinalwhistleblew,the 6-0 scoreline emphatically reflected GPF’s completecontroloverthematch.TheAccurate Lawmen emerged as deserving winners, showcasing an impressive array of goalscoringprowessthroughoutthegame.

The excitement continues today, Thursday, at the same venue from 7.00pm with Ann‘s Grove United Football Club going up against Victoria Kings FC, while GuyanaPoliceForceFCtackleMilerockFC at9.30pm.

Meanwhile, the decision to delay the tournamentcomesasamajorblowtofootball enthusiasts who have eagerly awaited the showdown between some of the most renownedlocalfootballteamsinthecountry TournamentCoordinator,LennoxArthur,ina recent interview, cited a range of factors contributing to the decision. He noted, “The conditions at the GFC ground is not conducive for football at the moment. Though, it is not a problem from our end, theseunforeseencircumstanceshavecreated a complex web of complications, making it impossibleforthecompetitiontoproceedas originallyscheduled.”

According to him, officials are working diligently to resolve the issues. He also provided a new October timeline for the competition. Notably, the tournament has garnered interest from teams such as

Stabroek Ballers, Belle West Stars, Two Friends, No.1 All Stars, Sparta Boss, Road Runners, Club 45, Festival City Ballers,

Airy Hall, Den Amstel, Herstelling,BentStreetandmanyothers.

Asfansandteamsanxiouslyawaitfurther updates, the football community remains hopeful that the Prestigious Hamilton Green’s Cup will ultimately take place in October. The tournament promises to showcase the skills of some of the finest footballers in the country and serve as a platform for unforgettable moments in the historyofthesport.

Murray edges Campbell; advances to Menʼs 35 Singles Semifinals

The GTA One Guyana Open 2 0 2 3

Tournament is a pillar of the emerging National Sports Academy; an initiative which is funded by t h e N a t i o n a l Sports Commission (NSC), the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension the Government of Guyana and latest play resulted in Ronald Murray going past Martin Campbell in Men’s Singlesaction

Ronald Murray, the reigning Men’s 35 Singles champion and the top seed, defeated Martin Campbell 6/2 – 7/5 to advance to the G TA O n e G u y a n a Open Men’s 35 Singles semifinal.

After falling behind in the second set by a break, lefty,Murraybattledbackto win.

The crucial moment

occurred when Campbell was serving at 5/3 to secure the second set and level the match.

H o w e v e r , t h e experiencedMurraycleaned up his unforced errors and found some well-placed servesatcriticalmomentsto win the match’s final four games “I was confident all the way More or less, I was still trying to find my form in the match I realised [Campbell’s] game started to pick up in the secondset.

Soat3/5down,Idecided toretakecontrolandcloseit out without giving him any chances,” the Men’s 35 Champsaid.

The No 4 seed Aubrey Younge awaits Murray next, in a rematch of the 2022 GBTI Open Men’s 35 semifinal The Men’s 35 Champ

a p p l a u d s t h e Government’s initiative

“In the years before, tennis was on the backburner and was never considered when all the funds were being distributed, so to see tennis then to now, while there is room for improvement, I love what the Government of Guyana is doing for the sport,” Murraysaid.

“I hope to see more spectators and more p e r s o n s i n v o l v e d because tennis is not only for the persons in the tennis fraternity, but for all of Guyana ”

OtherResults

Men’s 35 Singles Quarterfinals: No. 4 seed Aubrey Younge defeated LeroyChapman6/1–6/1.

Men’s 45 Singles Round Robin: Harry Panday defeatedSteveDavid-Longe 6/4–3/0(ret.).

Ronald Murray

Tournament’s Coordinator, Lennox Arthur

GPF goal scorer, Dorwin George

from CEO of De Sinco Ltd,Alicia DeAbreu.