Kaieteur News

ExxonhaslegalrighttopursueWalesGasproject

…no need for residents’ approval - High Court told President of ExxonMobil Guyana,

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana limited (EEPGL), commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana, has told the High Court it has a legal right to pursue the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project without the consent of land owners, as the Government of Guyana (GoG)hasexerciseditslegal authority to acquire private lands to facilitate the initiative.

EEPGL, in its Affidavit in Defence filed in the High Court on July 13, 2023, argued that the case brought by the applicants Elizabeth HughesandVandaRadzikis misconceived and bad in law

In their March 27, 2023 suit brought against the Environmental Permit issued for the pipeline that will be used to transport natural gas from the Liza FieldsintheStabroekBlock to the Wales Development site, West Bank Demerara, the citizens contend that the developer failed to provide proofthatitownedthelands through which the pipeline willpass.

TheyhavetoldtheCourt that Pursuant to Regulation 17 (2) (c)(iii) of the Environmental Protection (Authorisation)Regulations, an application for an environmental authorization must contain proof that the applicant either owns the facilityorhasaleaseorother agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity without theconsentofthelandowner oroccupier

Exxon has however pointed out that the Applicantshaveomittedthat the Regulations also allow for the applicant to provide proof that it has the legal rightorabilitytoconductthe activity without the consent of the land owner or occupier

Attorney-at-Law, Andrew Pollard, S.C and Edward Luckhoo S.C are representing ExxonMobil in the case challenging its Permitfortheproject.

The Attorneys said in their defence, “I am advised by theAttorneys-at-Law for the Second Respondent and

verily believe that the applicants’ contention that Regulation 17(2) requires Esso to submit proof that it eitherownsorhasaleaseor other agreement with the land owners or occupiers of the lands which will be affected by the project ignorestheclearlanguageof regulation17(2)(c)(ii)andis misconceived and bad in law.”

He continued, “I am further advised by the Attorneys-at-Law for the Second Respondent and verily believe that by restricting the scope of applicable requirements of regulation 17(2)(c)(ii) to proof of ownership or other agreement with the land owner or occupier the A p p l i c a n t s h a v e m i s c o n c e i v e d t h e Regulations and are disentitledtoreliefssought.”

Regulation 17(2)(c)(ii) of the Regulations provides:

“An application for an e n v i r o n m e n t a l authorization…shallcontain t h e f o l l o w i n g information…(c) proof that theapplicanteitherownsthe

facilityorhasaleaseorother agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity on the facilityorhaslegalrightsor abilitytoconducttheactivity without the consent of the landowneroroccupier.”

In this regard, Exxon arguedthatthecompanyhad p r o v i d e d t o t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its application process for the project, proof that it has the legal right or ability to conduct the activity without theconsentofthelandowner oroccupier

The company told the Court that in a letter dated July 29, 2021 the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) granted Esso permission to enter upon the public lands identified in the attachment to carry out activities relatingtotheproject.

Meanwhile, in another letter dated September 3, 2021 the GLSC appointed Esso as an agent for the purpose of surveying or otherwise examining the

landsidentified.

On October 18, 2021 Exxon submitted copies of the documents to the EPA.

According to the company, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) it conducted also cited government’s responsibility toacquirethelandsrequired fortheproject.

For instance, it quoted Volume One of the EIA, Page EIS-35 that “The Government of Guyana is responsible for the Projectrelatedlandacquisition.”

Exxonsaidinitsdefence that it has complied with Regulation 17(2) (c)(ii) by providing to the EPA proof that it had the legal right or

abilitytoconducttheactivity without the consent of the landowner or occupier by virtueoftheGoGexercising its legal authority to acquire privatelandasneededforthe Project.

Ithasthereforeaskedthe High Court to dismiss the matterandawardcoststothe Respondents.

It was reported that the AttorneyGeneral(AG),Anil Nandlallinhisdefencefiled in the Court argued that the citizens who brought the case are obstructionists and their efforts to quash the Permit is “frivolous, vexatious,misconceivedand an uneconomic use of judicialtimeandresources.”

Alistair Routledge

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

RECOMMENDED REFORMS

Followingthe2020elections,theEuropeanUnion(EU) delivered a report that contained 26 recommendations from itspeopleonthelocalground,ofwhicheightwerelabeledas priorities. To its credit, the PPP/C Government moved speedily and strongly to deal with those priority recommendations that related to the counting of votes cast, and accompanying clarity in the declaration of official results. We think that was urgently needed, and helps to removesomeoffarcesthatwerepartofthelastelections. On the other hand, there are those other recommendations, including priority ones that have not moved much, sometimesnotatall.

Political financing is one that has not seen any material movement from the PPP/C Government, though the stream of words about wanting to do the right thing has continued unabated.Truthbetold,theOppositionhasnotcomeoutin theclearest,mostpersuasivetermsaboutwhereitstandswith politicalfinancing,andwhatitwantsdonetocurbexcesses. Withtheadventofoil,andnumerousdownstreambusinesses opportunitiesbeingexploited,thereistheperfectstormand perfect cover for questionable money to end up here. Real estatedevelopmentsinvolvinggatedcommunitiesandhotel constructioncallforhundredsofmillionsinfinancing,allof whichisnotnecessarilyclean,andwhichcunningpoliticians acrosstheboardinGuyanaknow Thispositionsthemnicely either to seek out donations, or to sit back and wait for the gifts that come to them and their party coffers. The result could be that huge sums of suspect money influence our elections to the detriment of law, institutions, and citizens. Thisisnotonlyathreattodemocracy;itunderminesthewill ofthepeople.

In addition, concerns have been raised about oil companies and the probability of them being quietly involved in funding established political parties, or new groups,withtheobjectiveofpushingoneortheothergroup towards electoral triumph, or draining away votes from a contender, so that the outcome is already predetermined. Money makes many things possible in politics, from vote buying to compromising officials to interfering with electoral dynamics. The beneficiaries are not Guyanese voters, but those who greased their wheels for greater freedomswithrulesandregulations,higherprofitsunderthe veiloflegitimateoperationalactivity,andmoregovernment favours that continue the heavy imbalances in the national patrimonythatgrievouslywoundGuyanese.

Anotherpriorityistheroleofgovernment,assuchrelates to the State media. This recommendation has fallen flat in terms of what the EU observer mission had in mind. The government has to move away from its conspicuously powerful presence in the media, or at least reduce to a minimumitsintimateassociationwiththemedia. Incontrast to the EU’s recommendation on what should happen with State media, the PPP/C Government, it can be said, has expanded its already broad footprint in traditional media, plus the wide-open sprawl of social media. Several semiState media arms are dedicated almost exclusively to propagating talking points of the PPP/C Government, to being channels for attacking conscientious citizens using their constitutional right to free speech, and to overwhelm Guyanesewiththeviewsandpositionsofonesideonly,viz., the PPP/C Government. There is also the matter of identification of political advertisements on social media, which was one of the eight priorities recommended by the EU.Thefactthattherehasbeenconsiderablefoot-dragging by the PPP/C Government and its crafty leadership with politicalfinancingandgovernmentessentiallyrelinquishing significant ground in State media, does not surprise in the least. Theseareareasofknownstrength,andthereisneither hastenoreveninteresttoclampdownonwhatimpairsmore than elections. They impair the authenticity and quality of Guyana’s democracy In fairness, no political group manifests the required enthusiasm for following up on meaningful recommendations when it is in office. Why tamperwithwhathasbeenasourceofprovenstrength,what gives a tremendous edge? It is better to pretend to do somethingbynibblingaroundtheedges,andleavethestatus quo largely intact. Recommendations are nice to have, but onlywhentheyhelp,definitelynotwhentheyhinder

GECOM IS COMATOSEAS OF 2020 WHEN IT COMES TO REVIEWSAND INNOVATION

DEAREDITOR,

The Chairperson of GECOM along with the CEO and Deputy CEO cohosted a press conference following the 2023 local government elections Of interest to me is the C h a i r p e r s o n ‘ s pronouncements, at that presser, on the utilization of biometricsbyGECOM.

The first observation is that her statements differed from her Rulings on the occasions when this matter was discussed by the Commission The first discussion was in relation to the capturing of fingerprints electronically GECOM‘s Administration on the basis of a prior unanimous DECISIONprovidedforthe purchase of the needed equipment to capture fingerprintselectronicallyin the 2023 budget estimates. GECOM currently captures fingerprintsmanually

The reality is that the manual capture of fingerprints which are then converted to electronic imagesresultsinanumberof printsthatarenotsuitablefor unique identification and cross matching Those fingerprintscannotservethe intended purpose Direct, electronic capture will eliminate that problem, hence the prior technically informed and unanimous decision to implement the electronic capture of fingerprints.Shockingly,the P P P n o m i n a t e d Commissioners reneged on the prior decision and with the support of the

Chairperson voted down the proposed purchase of the e q u i p m e n t a n d consequentially the introductionoftheelectronic capture of fingerprints. On that occasion, the

Chairperson supported the idea subject to a feasibility study although the Commission had already receivedtechnicaladviceon thematter Attherecentpress c o n f e r e n c e , s h e “underscoredtheimportance of constitutional reform prior to the implementation biometric systems in Guyana`s voting process”. What she effectively sought to do is to take a carte blanche position on biometrics and improperly relocate the decision on

biometrics from GECOM to the Parliament. Actually, GECOM already uses biometrics. What is at stake is, in the first instance, the electronic capture of fingerprints, as opposed to the current inefficient and partially ineffective manual capture. There is absolutely no need for any legislative measurefortheintroduction of the electronic capture of fingerprints by GECOM The National Registration Acts provides for GECOM tocapturefingerprintsandto determine the manner in whichtheyarecaptured.The Chairperson`sapparentback peddling on a prior decision; and her own articulated ruling is ominous.Hercontentionthat the refusal of anyone to participate in the electronic c a p t u r e “ w o u l d disenfranchise voters” is disingenuous.Asitis,voters are required to be registered and to be fingerprinted as partofthatprocess.

The only change being proposed is the manner in whichthefingerprintswould be captured In fact, registration is compulsory and like many other instances where rights are involvedtheactualizationof the entitlement requires an administrativeprocess.

The second observation hastodowithherRulingon

the use of electronic biometric identification at the place of poll. She ruled that based on her own judgment in the Esther Perreira case, electronic biometric identification could only be used as a complementary form of identification subject to a prior feasibility study Her latest pronouncement contradicts that Ruling. She now contends that there is need for a constitutional amendment, period, without any reference to her earlier R u l i n g t h a t t h e implementationofelectronic biometric identification is p e r m i s s i b l e a s a complementary form of identification.

In my humble opinion, herdispositionnowandprior are both flawed, suffice to notethebackpeddlingnow

Theprocedureforvoting is provided for in the Representation of the PeoplesAct.

The identification of the voter is required in order to be able to exercise one‘s franchise. Subjecting one‘s self to electronic fingerprint identification does not present any greater demand or impediment in a system that requires independent confirmation that the person whopresentsherself/himself isindeedthepersonrecorded in the List of Electors. In

fact, the electronic fingerprint identification is of greater efficacy than any other form of identification currently in use. Electronic biometric identification is not additional identification aswasthecasewiththevoter identification card that was struck down in the Esther Perreira case It merely requires the registered person to present himself or herself rather than some document that could be falsified or fraudulently presented as occurred in the 2020elections.Itisvirtually impossible to falsify oneself as opposed to falsifying documentation.

Undoubtedly, there will be issues when transitioning from manual fingerprinting to electronic fingerprinting; and visual identification to electronic identification, but thosearenottheissuesbeing raised by the inhibitors to progressatGECOM. They are making every effort to stymie the improvement of the system in the face of known deficiencies. Is it that those deficiencies are so effectively managed by one contestant that the retention of the current system serves theirpurpose?

The Chairperson also mentioned that GECOM “hasimplementednecessary (Continuedonpage6)

Is the GPAbeing politically weaponised against the Govt.?

DEAREDITOR,

The President of the Press Association, Ms Nazima Raghubir, not satisfied with personally attackingmeonthematterof how the recent Presidential Press Conference was conducted and having p u b l i c l y g r o s s l y misrepresented the arrangements for the Press Conference, has now enlistedascurrilouspersonal attack on me in the name of the Press Association, published in today’s (18th July, 2023) Kaieteur News, but, with no signature to the letter other than Press Association.

I ask the following question: in spite of publishing three letters on behalf of Ms. Raghubir, the

Kaieteur News haspublished none of mine, is this the freedom of the press that R a g h u b i r a n d t h e Associationseektodefend?

The Association has happily used the Kaieteur News as a propaganda arm against the government and, me, personally When Guyana was threatened with the installation of a military dictatorship by means of a naked attempt to rig the tabulation of Region 4 results, I ask, where was the voice of the Press Association or the voice of any one of the members of the directors of the Association in defence of much more than press freedom, but the country’s freedom?

In their personal attack

on me, the Association has soughttoconnectmedirectly to “widespread gagging of themedia…thenon-issuance of radio broadcasting l i c e n c e s b a n n e d importationofanewprinting press” and newsprint, in an era long past and of which I had absolutely nothing to do with directly and, ironically, on behalf of a political party of which a number of the members of the Press Association are known to be politicallyassociated.

Myfinalquestion,Imust ask: is the PressAssociation beingpoliticallyweaponized against the government of the day under the guise of defending freedom of the press?

GHK LALLON LUNACY

DEAREDITOR, Sittingwithmycupoftea this morning reading the Kaieteur News (July 17, 2023), GHK Lall’s article entitled “Guyana’s lunatic center, local lunatic universe,” caught my attention. Reading through the article a few times, I couldn’t help feeling a pang of sorrow for Lall His venomous attacks on Guyana’s political parties, leaders, supporters, and the country in general beg the overall question: Why is GHK Lall still residing in Guyana, among all the lunatics he identified and derided?

Pondering my own question while rereading Lall’s column, my mind drifted to Clifford Beers’ (1908) autobiography, “A MindThatFoundItself,”the story of a man who chronicled his life and times in asylums, and I wondered in my silence whether Lall’s autobiography would be, “A MindthatLostItself.”AndI felt some sadness, sadness for a man engrossed in resentment. Why? Let me elaborate.

At the outset, Lall used his column to ask three questions as to ‘who are the biggest thieves, liars, deceivers and con actors in Guyana,’ to which he proceeded to answer by stating, “Always the answer is the same: PPP comrades and cronies.” Because Lall provided his answer with such certainty, one wonders whether he actively participatedwiththebandof thieves, liars and deceivers whichenabledhimtoanswer his own questions without equivocation. And because he provided no documented evidence to substantiate his answer, the question about his surety of ‘thieves, liars anddeceivers’lingered,only toevolvewiththis‘probeof

conscience’ that queries “whether it takes a thief to knowathief,aliartoknowa liar,andadeceivertoknowa deceiver.”

Aftermythoughtsdrifted from all of the above, my attentioncenteredontherest of Lall’s article in general, andparticularlyhisuseofthe word“lunatic”and“lunacy” which he used seventeen times,andifoneincludesthe two times he used it in the title of his article, then the totalbecomenineteen.

Why would anyone use the word lunacy and lunatic so many times to describe nearly everyone in society?

This led me to the Foucauldian reasoning, ‘Is the man who calls all others mad is himself the real madman?’ I would not assumethateverynewspaper reader knows about Michel Foucault so here is a quick peek. French psychologist and philosopher Michel Foucault (1926 – 1984) was arenownedacademicianand political activist who wrote severalbooksthatcutacross several disciplines, psychiatry,medicine,andthe prison system He is popularly known for his book entitled “Madness and Civilization,” in which he e x p l o r e d m o d e r n psychology and ideas of madness and mental illness. ThisbringsmebacktoGHK Lall’sarticle.

In the article, Lall presents himself as if he is the only sane individual in Guyanese society As this thought of being ‘the only sane individual’ travelled throughmymind,itdawned on me that Lall would be an excellent client to a Jungian therapist, someone who capable of exploring his psyche to assess the interactions of the ego, the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious, alongwiththedetachmentof

the Self from society, to understand the underlying disconnects. With this said, letmebeemphaticthatIam not passing judgement on Lall, I am simply basing my remarks on the article –assessment -he penned. I stronglyrecommendthatthe reader examine his article in KaieteurNews

In the article, Lall not only called people liars, deceivers,conartists,healso used such derogatory terms as “patented madness,” “paranoiac,” “confirmed banditries,’“fanatics,” “land piracies,” “thievery,” “crookedness,” all in his attempt to discredit various groupsofpeople-supporters of the PPP and PNC. In one instance he hurled insult at the entire population for he said, “If this is not lunacy, then all Guyanese need psychotherapy.” Here is a newspaper columnist making judgements on the mental state of the entire nation.

In fact, a line in his column makes one wonder whetherheisdiscreditinghis own newspaper and media affiliationsalongwithothers when he said, “Need a distorter of facts and circumstances,gonofurther than the newspaper, broader

media.” A sad statement indeed coming from a man who writes for a newspaper withthelargestcirculationin thecountry

Finally,itseemsasifthe countryitselfwasnotspared. Lall described Guyana as an “upside-down country,” in addition to asking that if anyone,“Needacquaintance with the fanatics in the teeming cesspool that is Guyana, then journey into the battlegrounds of cyberspace In Guyana, lunacy is considered to be close to godliness”… Here we see Guyana described as a “cesspool,” a place where “lunacy is considered close to godliness.” How much more insulting can a sane mindbe?

The foregoing, my dear readers,leadsmebacktothe Foucauldian question as to who is the lunatic? To this question, I am almost sure my self-made late philosopher fisherman friend from Mon Repos wouldhavesaidtome,“any sanepersonwouldapologize to the country and the people.” If you knew Ram, youwouldagree.

Regards, NarayanPersaud,PhD ProfessorEmeritus

DEAREDITOR,

I expect the sum

announced by the Government to the families who suffered in the Mahdia Dorm fire to be a token

presentation of the compensatory package to come, for G$5 million (or US $25,000) for death, and G$3million(orUS$15,000) forthelifetimeoftraumaand injuries the children and families must endure is no

c o m p e n s a t i o n I categorically condemn the preemptive posture of the Government and hope it is nottheirintentiontoby-pass

a credible and independent

i n q u i r y i n t o t h e circumstances surrounding the disaster that took 20 young lives, and any

acceptable monetary compensationthatmustalso form part of the Terms of Reference. Themiserlysum announced cannot compensate for the years those children lived, the potential value for the

investment in those years, and the potential value of eachlife. Governmentmust therefore make public what formula they used to price the grief, because it appears asthoughtheyjustpluckeda numberfromthesky

Thesumofferedreeksof Governmentmanipulationto circumvent the arms of justice from holding the Governmentaccountablefor their failure to provide safe and secure dwelling for the nation’s children held in their protection The parents of Mahdia must not accept this undervaluing of theirchildren’spricelesslife. Whilst no amount of money can meet the value for each singlelife,eachfamily’sloss and trauma, at least some decenteffortshouldbemade to show that in this oil rich country, the fastest growing economy in the world, human life is not cheapened and has value The agreementtheGovernment

(Continuedonpage6)

Our First People must tell theAli-Government they are not for sale

Jagdeo and his PPPministers think they can bully, con and lie to Guyanese forever

DEAREDITOR

Oneofthesadrealitiesof Guyanaisthatwithacloseto 50 percent poverty rate, not manyofuscanaffordtobuy newspapers on a regular basis to keep up to date on what is going on in the country. A consequence of this is that voters such as sugar workers who are pivotaltochangingthefolly thatcontinuesingovernment remain in a state of ignorance, often depending on Government-influenced media and propaganda for their news and information. The consequence of this is blind support for a governmentwhichcontinues to take advantage of Guyanese in almost every sphereoflife.

It has always been my contention that the administration of the PPP under the leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo has no respect, care or regard for Guyanese, that they have been actively and deliberately engaged in policy aimed at keeping the G u y a n e s e m a s s e s impoverished and in a state of arrested development while they and their cronies in the business community engorge themselves on money from the national t r e a s u r y t h r o u g h government-issued projects. Had Jagdeo and his PPP

administrationhadGuyana’s welfareatheart,GUYSUCO would have already been closed, its workers compensated and provided withlandandallthesupport necessary to become financially sustainable, Public Service workers on the minimum wage would have been receiving around $150,000-$200,000/month, p e n s i o n e r s a b o u t

$200,000/month, rice farmers would have never been robbed by millers and suffered financial losses, including the loss of their farms, Guyana would have had much better schools, teachers adequately compensated, and children wouldhavebeenperforming much better in schools and getting better grades at their

CXC examinations, becomingbetterabletogeta job and start in life. These broad measures would have led to higher incomes nationally on account of the larger money in circulation, an immensely better life, standard of living, welfare for the larger Guyanese population. Butthiswasnot to be Because we understand now that Jagdeo and the PPP are not interested in Guyanese becoming financially independent, not interested in them becoming aware of Jagdeo’s and the PPP’s

malfeasances in office, not interested in having Guyanese become aware of the perversion and lawlessness upon which the PPPhasalwaysstood.

As it stands right now, Jagdeo and his PPP Ministers are at war with Guyanese and civil society over everything from the outrageous GOG-Exxon contract, to mismanagement of Government facilities whichledtotheMahdiafire, to the sexual abuse and silencing of a little girl by a PPP minister Add in the financial blackhole that is GUYSUCO, the PPP’s disregardofpublicservants, particularlyteachers,andwe come to understand how the PPPwasthrownoutofoffice in2015. InoticedJagdeoat some forum talking to people recently After impoverishing them, he turnsaroundandtalksabout solutions to the problems he maintained over the years, and his government gives hand-outs and house-lots to the very people his administration has been oppressing, and turns and says, “see, we are working foryou.Voteforus.”

Whetherchildren,public servant, rice farmer or sugar worker,themaninthestreet, all have been taken advantage of abused and mistreated All have

suffered under an education system designed to benefit thePPP’s acolyteswhilethe fateoftherestofGuyaneseis oneofengineeredfailure,the fullresultsofwhichcontinue to be a guarded secret every year, with many Guyanese unable to compete for and get proper paying jobs. To thisday,therehasneverbeen a declaration of how any children failed their exams, gotgradesIVandV Thereis something dead wrong with oureducationsystem.Public servants have always been

trampled upon, taken advantage of, abused and robbedoftheirfairwagesby the Jagdeo administration’s continued trampling of regulatory guidelines for Public Servants’ salary negotiations, and are forced to live in a state of insufficiency where they cannot take care of their children, much less send them to private school to escape the failures our education system has been maintained to ensure that they become. The persons

who plundered rice farmers continue to walk free, enjoying the fruits of their piracy under the PPP Government, and sugar workers continue to be maintained in a state of ignorance and economic twilight zone as the Jagdeo administration continues to pumpbillionsandbillionsof dollars into GuySuCo even as the corporation has long died and become a drain on our national resources, with anexcessof$60-100billion

(Continuedonpage22)

Our First People must tell the...

Frompage5 had the family or guardian sign for $5 million or $3 millionasaformoffinancial aidtoconstituteasettlement of all claims and actions in relation to injuries resulting indeathornot,thatstemmed from the fire on 21st May, 2023isunacceptable. We need to address our minds to whether these personswerecoercedtosign without full understanding oftheramifications.

I am inclined to believe themannerinwhichtheAliGovernment sought to sequester and isolate the families, immediately after the tragedy, was guided not by care nor compassion but sinister motive, now made

clearbyadocumentfamilies signed absolving the government for any future potential claims for liability and injury This must be rejected.

This is an insult to our Indigenous community and reinforces my belief the Government does not care aboutourFirstPeople.

All the talk about the Indigenous people is only talk because their rights are being eroded under this Governmenteveryday

They are continuously being insulted and exploited by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, as a political o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d Government.

T h e m i s e r l y

compensation only adds to thegrowingdisrespect.

Our Amerindian women and children are being mentally, physically, sexually, economically and sociallyabusedbyapolitical leadership that see others’ lives as cheap, more comfortabledoingtheirdirty deedsandignoringthesafety and security of the people, after which they seek to buy their dignity rather than accept dignity is priceless, God given, and should be respectedeveryday!”

Our First People must tell the Irfaan-Ali Governmenttheyarenotfor sale.

Regards, RoysdaleFordeSC,MP

GECOM IS COMATOSEAS OF...

Frompage4 safeguards at the polling stations”. There is no new measure that GECOM has

implemented to address the complaints made by both of themajorpartiesin2015and 2020.

Notably,thepartiesvacillate and only complain convenientlyandinapparent self-interest.

GECOM is still to respondtothebloatingofthe list by the retention of thousands who die overseas and remain on the electoral list.

In 2015, the Carter Centre proposed that based on immigration records, the

names of probable absentee votersshouldbehighlighted on the electoral list to provideforgreatervigilance.

The legal framework for implementing that measure exists, yet GECOM is obstinate and did not even entertainareviewofits2020 performance with the intent of identifying and rectifying flaws in the system GECOM is comatose as of 2020 when it comes to reviewsandinnovation.

Regards, VincentAlexander

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

INVESTIGATE JAGDEO ON ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Over a year ago, allegations of corruption and bribery were leveled against Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

It was a Vice News Documentary by two undercover reporters in Guyana who learnt through Jagdeo’s friend ‘Su’that the Vice President is allegedly fingered in collecting bribes to facilitate Chinese businesses in Guyana.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Of more consequence however, Jagdeo’s friend was heard saying that he also collected huge bribes for the oil sector as well.

To date, there has been no investigation into these allegations while the VPremains in office at the helm of our oil sector.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

With the country’s maiden bid round for oil blocks set to start sometime this year, these revelations, though mere accusations for now are troubling and could spell disaster for our future.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

An independent investigation should be conducted to ease the discomfort experienced by patriotic Guyanese.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

APresident that is concerned about transparency and accountability would never hesitate to order such a probe.

SingaporecabinetMinisterarrested intop-levelcorruptionprobe

The Guardian - Singapore’s

TransportMinisterhasbeenarrested

in connection with a rare top-level corruption investigation that has also ensnared a billionaire hotel tycoon, the country’s anti-graft bodyhassaid.

S Iswaran, the minister, was arrested last Tuesday and “subsequentlyreleasedonbail”,the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau(CPIB)said in an emailed statement late on Friday, confirming the arrest for the first time.HoteltycoonOngBengSeng, one of Singapore’s richest people, was also arrested on the same day and released on bail in connection withtheprobe,thebureausaid.

The bureau has not disclosed details of the investigation that has gripped the city-state, a global financial hub reputed to be among the least corrupt countries in the world. Cabinet ministers are paid salaries comparable to the top earnersintheprivatesectortodeter corruption

The investigation of the transportchiefbythepowerfulantigraft bureau widened after it was

Minister S. Iswaran

disclosedthatOngwasincludedin theprobe.

Ongisthemanagingdirectorof Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which owns a string of high-end hotels and resorts in locations aroundAsiaandthePacific.

In a filing with the Singapore exchange on Friday, the company said Ong was given a “notice of arrest”bytheCPIBandhadposted bail

While the passports of those under arrest are generally impounded, Ong was granted permission to leave Singapore on

Two injured in Mazaruni River boat mishap

Friday, with the CPIB noting it considers requests for travel overseas “on a case-by-case basis”. The CPIB said it had granted Ong’s request to travel overseas but increased his bail to S$100,000(US$76,000)

“Upon his return, Ong is required to report to CPIB and surrender his passport to the bureau,”theCPIBadded Ong, a Malaysian who is a Singapore permanent resident, is credited with helping bring the Formula One Grand Prix to Singapore in 2008 His private company Singapore GP and the SingaporeTourismBoardlastyear renewedthecontracttohosttheF1 raceuntil2028

Iswaran, meanwhile, had been orderedtogoonleaveearlierinthe week by the prime minister, Lee HsienLoong,aftertheCPIBsaidthe ministerwas“currentlyassisting” anongoinginvestigation.

Leesaidtheanti-graftbodyhad sought his approval for a formal investigation that would involve interviewing Iswaran, among other people

Two persons were injured early Monday morning in a Mazaruni River boat mishap while returning from a wedding house in Batavia Village,RegionSeven.

According to police, two boats were transporting persons from a wedding house and collided in the MazaruniRiverataround02:00h.

Eachboathadfouroccupants One boat, a canoe was transporting Victorine Miguel, Clifton Adams, TyndallMiguel,andAaronMiguel,all ofBataviaVillagewhiletheoccupants of the second boat (75 HP Yamaha outboardengine)wereJuniorGaddett called ‘Bird’(unlicensed captain) and three passengers Edeena Smith, Ishmael Smith, andTemera Smith, of BataviaVillage

Enquiries disclosed that on Sunday, July 16, 2023 all of the individuals mentioned above were inviteestoaweddingcelebrationheld at the residence of Devon Boyal at BataviaVillage.

At about 01:50 hrs on Monday morning, the occupants of the canoe boarded and departed the landing near the wedding house. Clifton Adams and Victorine Miguel were

the persons with paddles. At about 02:00 hrs, the occupants boarded the secondboatanddepartedthelanding. They were captained by Junior Gaddett.

“The location was very dark, so an occupant from boat #1, Aaron Miguel, used the light from a cell phone screen to wave in hopes that thecaptainofboat#2wouldseehim.

However, the captain (Junior Gaddett) did not, and the boat collidedwiththecanoe,throwingthe occupants of boat #1 overboard. Upon realizing what had occurred, Junior Gaddett rendered assistance andrescuedalltheoccupantsofboat #1andtookthemtoland,”thepolice reported.

It was subsequently discovered that two persons, Victorine Miguel and Clifton Adams, were injured. They were taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where they were seen and examined by a doctor on dutyandadmittedaspatients. Clifton Adams suffered a dislocated elbow, while Victorine Miguel received injuries to the forehead.

Investigationsareongoing.

NURSES ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY

Last Christmas, I paidavisittoone of the country’s public hospitals It was during the midday visiting hours.

I n o n e o f t h e workstations of a female ward, there were 3 nurses. Theirheadswerebentonthe table in which they were seatedandtheywereallfast asleep.

I am not sure if this was because of the double shifts which they were forced to workoriftheywerehavinga snooze on working time. Whateverthecase,itdidnot paint a pretty picture of a professionalnursingservice.

Over the years, there have been numerous complaintsaboutthequality ofnursingservicesofferedat public institutions. In the past, there have been complaints about rudeness, lack of courtesy and nurses nottakingenoughinterestin patients.

Some families have complained that they were forced to go and bathe their loved ones Others have complained that the nursing staffwasfarfromhelpful.

This situation is contrasted with the foreign nurses who, it was said demonstrated a far superior work ethic, were more courteousandtookagreater interest in patients’ wellbeing.

This has led for calls for the government to import moreforeignnurses.

The private hospitals are already overflowing with foreign nursing staff and doctors.

In fact, the private healthcare system would shutdownwereitnotforthe presence of foreign medical

personnel.

Now, the President has indicated that the

Georgetown Public Corporation is short of hundredsofnurses.

This is surprising since the GPHC is not a hospital which accommodates thousandsofpatients.

It can at best only hold a fewhundredpatients.

The normal ratio of nurses to patients in the wards should be around 1 nursetoevery5patients.

For the emergency rooms, the ratio should be onetotwo.

It is therefore hard to imagine how the GPHC can be short of hundreds of nursesevenconsideringthat there should be at least 3 shifts.

The President should requestthenumberofnurses onpayrollandthenumberon compliment and the number ofpatients.Heshoulddohis ownindependentanalysis.

T h a t s a i d , t h e government has no choice buttoimportnurses.

Nurses are leaving the public health system for countries such as the United Kingdom where nurses are in high demand. Earlier this year, reports out of Jamaica reported that Canada was also seeking internationally qualifiednurses.

In2021,morethan4,000 medical personnel migrated from Zimbabwe. Guyana’s Minister of Health has admitted that the country is losing large numbers of nursestooverseasrecruiters.

Despite the exodus of local nurses to greener pastures, Guyana is supposed to have more than 3,000 nurses and midwives. Butitappearsasifeventhis

Dem Boys Seh...

number is not sufficient for the country’s healthcare system.

Many local nurses as soon as they complete their periodofmandatoryservice, theyleaveforoverseas.

Itisdifficultforcountries like Guyana to offer local nurses salaries that can competewithwhattheywill earn in North America and Europe.

In the meantime, the demand for nurses is increasing Private healthcare, with active governmentencouragement, isexpanding.

Ittooneedsnursesandis recruiting both local and foreign nurses from India andCuba.

Theproblemwithnurses is not an overnight development. It has existed for some time and the government ought to have realized this when it went aheadwithitshastyplansto build12newhospitals.

It is now being confronted with the reality that it does not have the medical personnel to staff thesehospitals.

Instead of reversing course, the government is now being forced to import nurses.ManyGuyanesewill welcome this decision because as mentioned before, there have been complaintsaboutthequality of the services provided by localnurses.

But the government should not only import nurses. It should make an informed decision as to whetherGuyananeedsthose 12 new hospitals that are beingplanned.

Or whether it would not bemuchbettertobeef-upthe existing facilities before

Crossing de road is a now a leap of faith

Hollywood come to Guyana! Being a pedestrian in Guyana dese days is like stepping into a Fast and Furious movie set. Just by stepping on the streets, pedestrians aretakingagamblewiththeirlives.

Crossing the public roads is now a greater risk than bungee jumping or skydiving.Itprovidesanadrenalinerushno differentfromoneofthosegravity-defying ridesingameparks.

Is only a matter of time before pedestrians will have to put on iron guards and safety helmets when going for an afternoon stroll. Who knows dem might even attract sponsorship from some local tire company But for the time being is

safetyfirstandstylesecond.

Nowadays yuh gat to learn to dodge traffic. Is more like dancing. Crossing de road does involve twirling, spinning, and pirouettingacrosstheroad.Bythetimeyuh dome,yuhqualifyasaballerina.

Yuhalsogattolearntoreadminds:dem drivers’mindsbecausesomeofdemwould stop fuh yuh cross but de others could not giveahangaboutyou.Yuhgattoanticipate who gan slam on dem brakes and who gan tryfuhaccelerate.

Guyana roads are now like a neverending racing track. It is dangerous out there,sobecarefulandwalkinthecorner TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

launchinganyexpansion.

It is not likely that the government will reverse its decision to build 12 new hospitals.

No government likes to admit that it made a rash decisionanddidnotconsider the human resource and materialrequirements.

As such, the only option

nowistoimportnurses.

But instead of merely importing nurses, from Cuba,itshouldoutsourcethe management of the 12 new hospitalstotheCubans.

Guyana needs not only

nurses but hospital administrators and there is no better place to find these thanCuba.

(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

A ONE-QUESTION DEMOCRACY

President Ali repeatedly says that he is about transparency in his conduct of government affairs. If any other Guyanese tried pulling that one, he or she

risks being lifted into an effigy displayed repeatedly Regarding the affairs of government,theyhavebeen mostly sordid ones. Like most affairs in the world of

men and women, the transparency of Excellency Ali has been riddled with secrecy It is how transparency gets a bad name, how the President

makes a mockery of democracy through his manycalumnies.

The newest one from President Ali was this limit of one question per media house. This is to where freedom of the press, and freedom to speak have degenerated under the surgicalhandofDr Ali. Ido not for a moment believe that this one-question abominationemergedoutof the head of the President; after all, he is too busy with his other gimmicks and gadgets of office that fascinatehimsomuch. But to cutout and closeout with such reckless abandon the interests of the people, and their inquiries, is not something that redounds to the credit of the national leader

W h a t k i n d o f comprehensiveanswercana singlequestionpromptfrom an increasingly wily political operator like ExcellencyAli? Mysecond thoughtiswhetherPresident Ali was hoping for, or expecting, a question along thelinesof:‘howdoyoudo, sir?’ Andwiththatitisover, asthequotaofquestionshad just expired. I shouldn’t have to tell the President this,asheknowsit:limiting questioning to one inquiry signals that he has something to fear One question presses home the perceptionthatthePresident has much to hide. I have a soft word for the President that has the unbreakable firmnessofstone:presidents living right don’t have anything to fear; presidents doing good don’t have anything to hide. So, they never find it comforting to shelterbehindonequestion. At least, not a President operating cleanly by the people who put him in office, not a President with thedeepestsenseofwhatthe improperandunjustare.

To restrict independent journalistsgoingabouttheir jobs professionally to one question condemns a presidential press

conference to a presidential press circus, results in a presidential witches’ brew Regrettably, I findthedisdainfultobe proper, with circumstances demanding such. Though President Ali may deny forever, talk a dairy farm’s worth of cheese, his regime has been a haven and coven of snakelike secrecies Secrecy is nothing but treachery of the highest order against expectant Guyanese. Now to concoct this repugnance of one question per reporter is layering secrecy with more secrecy

Dr President, sir: the world cannot find enough words with brilliantine gleaming to speak about Guyana,andheretheforlorn politicalleadershiprealityis that Guyanese are not allowed to ask frankly, openly, and freely, as it should be there is silencing by presidential decree What is that Dr Ali, sir? Why call this abomination on the presidential head? Why besmirch the presidential standing with this deplorable desolation and unnecessary selfcondemnation? In view of President Ali’s reluctance, his palpable quivering, before the independent sections of the Fourth E s t a t e , I h a v e a recommendationthatIoffer most respectfully to His Excellency

IthinkPresidentialpress conferences with this restrictive one-question condition should be discontinued. Do everyone a favour, starting with the sacred presidentialtimeand presence: Just don’t have them anymore. Put self out of thine misery, oh divine leader; so that this latest strain of farce is a thing of the past. It is better to stop all the motion, than go through the motions for a pressconferencetobeonthe record as having been held.

Admittedly, the presidential time is precious, but that is

nogroundsonwhichtotreat the interests, the concerns, and the priorities of the Guyanese people in such a cavalier, if not appalling manner

Akindlywordisinorder for the President: press conferences are not a gift from heaven, as if the Guyanese people are waiting,actually,depending on the delivery of the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount or somesurafromthesandsof the Sahara No sir! presidential press conferences are a necessary d u t y, a l e a d e r ’ s responsibility,thesumofhis expressions that are vested i n u p h o l d i n g t h e unblemishedintegrityofthe citizenry When President Alicouldcometothefullest, clearestappreciationofthis, then he has no need for a mouthpiece; and definitely no need to speak from the sideofhismouth,likesome ventriloquist.

Mr President: national leadersdonotresorttothese kinds of low, cheap trickeries. Presidentsdonot go about the business of the peoplewhistlinginthewind or, worse still, whistling in thegraveyard,asthoughitis midnight. When there is reductionthroughthisartful construction, a copyrighted concoction, of one question per reporter, then there is presidential darkness in the brightness of the noonday sun. Instead of going gently into the night, all Guyanese should rage against the dyingofthelight. Iamsorry President Ali, but one question only suggests an emergingMussolini.

(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.)

Compensation offered to families of Mahdia dorm fire insulting – Opposition MPs

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Amanza Walton-Desir has responded to the move by the Government of Guyana to give the relatives of the 20 children who died in the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire $5 million each.

On Monday, it was announced by the Ministry for Legal Affairs that the government will give financial assistance to the families of the children who died in the fire as well as thosewhowereinjured.

According to the document seen by this newspaper, each family will receive,ifagreed,thesumof $5 million in financial assistance,whichconstitutes asettlementofallclaimsand causesofactionsonaccount of all injuries resulting in death and not resulting in death, that resulted from the fire.

“What we learned today is that the affected families have been offered a settlement of $5 million to compensatethemfortheloss

of their children This situation certainly raises a number of questions,” the Opposition MP said in a videopostedonFacebook.

She questioned why 56 days after the Mahdia tragedy the government is yet to constitute the promised Commission of Inquiry (COI) but offers a settlement.

She added, “We were told that by the end of last week,thepresidentthatwas hopeful that he could name the entire commission, but we see that he has gone off somewhere, attending some conference and the Commission has not yet beenempanelled.”

In the Legal Affairs ministry statement, it was highlighted that from the beginning, the Government saiditwilloffereverytypeof assistance possible and necessary to support the victims and families of the tragicfire.

According to that statement, thus far, medical treatment has been offered bothlocallyandoverseas,all

transportation to and from R e g i o n E i g h t , t o G e o r g e t o w n a n d accommodation in Georgetown were provided, all funeral and related expenses have been paid, and all personal items destroyed in the fire have been purchased and delivered Psychosocial assistance, including counselling, has also been provided.

In response to this, the Opposition MP stated that the support offered to the families outlined by the

Ministry of Legal Affairs makes it seem as though the government has forgotten that the children died in the careandcustodyoftheState.

“Andso,theStatehasnot been doing a favour to the families. These families left their children in the care of the State trusting that they will be taken care of. So, I want the AG to understand that by enumerating all of these reliefs and assistance that the government would havegiventothefamilies,it makesthemalmostlookasif they are expecting these people to be indebted to themsomehowwhenitisthe least that they could do to compensate for the negligence that resulted in these children’s gruesome deaths,” Walton-Desir added.

Speaking more on the promised COI, she highlighted that conducting aninquiryintoMay21,2023 firethatresultedinthedeath of 20 young lives would be the decent and right way to go.

“Because we need to get to the root cause of the system’s failure What failed? What happened? What were the systems that failthatcausedustolose20 ofouryoungpeopleinsucha horrific manner…” the MP

added.

Notably, Walton-Desir questioned a clause in the agreement,whichstatedthat if the aggrieved agree to the accept the settlement, the families are precluded from proceeding with any legal action against the State for negligence or anything on their part that caused the deathofthechildren.

Moreover, for his part

Opposition MP Roysdale

Forde S.C in a statement yesterday noted the monies offered to the families and survivors of the tragedy, “is nocompensation”andcalled itunacceptable.

He continued: “I categorically condemn the preemptive posture of the Government and hope it is nottheirintentiontoby-pass

a credible and independent i n q u i r y i n t o t h e circumstances surrounding the disaster that took 20 young lives, and any acceptable monetary compensationthatmustalso form part of the Terms of Reference.”

MP Forde said that the miserly sum offered cannot compensate for the years those children lived, the potential value for the investment in those years, and the potential value of eachlife.

As such, he said the Government must make public what formula they usedto“pricethegrief.”

“The sum offered reeks o f G o v e r n m e n t manipulation to circumvent the arms of justice from holding the Government accountable for their failure to provide safe and secure dwelling for the nation’s children held in their protection. The parents of Mahdia must not accept this undervaluing of their children’spricelesslife,”the OppositionMPadded.

To this end, he said that whilst no amount of money can meet the value for each singlelife,eachfamily’sloss and trauma, some decent effortshouldbemadeto Continuedonpage14

Opposition MP, Amanza Walton-Desir

Opposition MP, Roysdale Forde S.C

OppositionsubmitsMotiontoPACquorum

The combined A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+ AFC) Opposition has submitted a Motion to the National Assembly in a bidtoreverseGovernment’s decision to change the composition of the quorum of the Public Accounts Committee(PAC).

On April 13, 2022, Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Government side successfully tabled Resolution No. 35 of the National Assembly amendingStandingOrder82 (2) which allowed for the composition of the quorum needed for the holding of a PAC meeting to be changed fromthreetofivemembers.

Since then, the opposition members of the PAC have complained bitterly of not being able to moveforwardwiththework due to the absence of governmentmembers.

AccordingtotheMotion set to be moved by Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul when Parliament resumes on Thursday, there h a v e b e e n e l e v e n cancellations of meetings duetothecompositionofthe quorum.

TheMotionlistedonthe Parliamentary Order Paper under schedule of the 65th sitting of the National Assembly,notestheabsence o f G o v e r n m e n t representatives of the PAC which resulted in the cancellation of lawfully mandated meetings that in turn resulted in a backlog of the PAC’s examination of the Auditor General’s

reports.

It states that the need to reversethedecisionisurgent sinceitisthelegaldutyofthe PACtoexercisesupervisory oversight of the functioning of the Audit Act and any otherlaw “ Whereas since the resolutionnumber35eleven meetings of the PAC have been cancelled due to a lack ofquorum.”

“Whereas the [PAC] examines the economy and efficiency of the administrationofthesepublic expenditures by all central and local government bodies and entities all bodies and entitiesinwhichtheStatehas a controlling interest and all project funded by way of taxes,loansorgrantsbyany foreignstateororganization”

Further it states that the [PAC] exercises powers in keepingwiththeLegislative Bodies Evidence Act, Chapter 1:08 allowing for thesummoningofwitnesses to give evidence and or provide documents to the committee.

AccordingtotheMotion,

the decision to change the quorum must be rescinded since it hinders the PAC’s examination of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 auditreports.

The opposition has complained bitterly about the lagging behaviour of the government as it relates to the work of the PAC. In a previous statement, Chairman of the PAC, Jermaine Figueira accused the government of deliberately stalling the meetings.

When the modification ofthequorumwasproposed bythegovernmentlastyear, the PAC Chairman had protested against it. He had predicted that the change of quorum for PAC meetings from three members, irrespective of party affiliation to a quorum to five members would be problematic, if those on the government side failed to turnupforthemeeting.

Figueira had repeatedly alluded to what he calls a blatant disregard by the government for the responsibilities they were elected to uphold on behalf ofthepeopleofGuyana.

The PAC Chairman stated that the government’s consistentfailuretoshowup and do the work they were electedtodoisamicrocosm oftheunacceptablerealityof many other committees of theNationalAssembly

He noted, “The Natural Resources Committee, for example, which should be meeting, given Guyana’s resource-rich status and the p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r

transformationwithournew oil-richresource,hasnotmet since the inception of this Parliament.”

Figueira added that, “The deliberate derailing

andstymieingoftheworkof the PAC by the government isunacceptable,anditistime for the people of Guyana to demand the accountability they deserve.” As Chair of

the PAC, Figueira said the situationcanonlybeseenas untenable and as such, he believes the committee cannot to allow it adversely affectitsoperations.

Opposition MP, Ganesh Mahipaul

Food prices remain high globally - World Bank

— says Latin America one of the regions hardest hit

Domestic food price inflation remains high around the world, theWorld Bank said in its latest food securityupdate.

According to the bank information from the latest month between February 2023 and May 2023 for which food price inflation data are available shows high inflation in most lowand middle-income countries, with inflation higher than 5% in 61.1% of low-income countries, 79 1% of lower-middleincome countries, and 70% of upper-middle-income countries, with many experiencing double-digit inflation.

In addition, 78.9% of

high-income countries are experiencinghighfoodprice inflation, the bank said, notingtoothatmost-affected countriesareinAfrica,North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. In real terms, food price inflation exceededoverallinflationin 79.8% of the 163 countries wheredataisavailable.

The agricultural and cereal price indices closed 4% and 12% lower, respectively, while export price indices closed at the samelevelastwoweeksago. The decline in the cereal price index was primarily driven by a sharp decline in maize prices which dropped by21%comparedto2weeks

ago.

Wheat prices also declined by 3% while rice prices increased by 1% over the same period. On a yearon-year basis, maize and wheat prices are both about 19% lower while rice prices are16%higher.Maizeprices are 4% lower, while wheat and rice prices are 1%, and 3%higher,respectively,than in January 2021. (See “pink sheet” data for agricultural commodity and food commodity prices indices, updatedmonthly.)

The July 2023 edition of the Agricultural Market InformationSystem(AMIS) Market Monitor highlights geopolitical tensions that threatentheBlackSeaGrain

Initiative, including the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam and damage to the ammonia pipeline betweenRussiaandUkraine. The flooding and disruption of irrigation, along with the demand to reopen the pipeline, are increasing tensions and could lead to termination of the agreement, ultimately reducing Black Sea exports and undermining Ukraine’s productionincentives.

On June 6, 2023, the catastrophic collapse of the K a k h o v k a d a m i n southeastern Ukraine resulted in extensive flooding, posing a threat to drinking water supplies and raising concerns for agriculturalareasthatrelyon the reservoir for irrigation. The Kakhovka dam and reservoir are crucial for agriculture, providing water through major irrigation canals to more than 500,000 hectaresoffarmland.

The reservoir irrigates vast croplands that produce grains, oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits The dam’s collapse has caused

significant flooding downstream, affecting more than 40,000 hectares of land and numerous towns and villages. Although the flooded agricultural area is r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l , disconnection of the irrigation canals upstream has led to water scarcity for summer and winter crops, with implications for Ukraine’s agricultural exports.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development–Food and Agriculture Organization (OECD-FAO) Agricultural Outlook 2023-2032, a 10year assessment of agricultural commodity and fish markets at global, regional,andnationallevels, highlighted the threat to globalfoodsecurityfromthe surge in agricultural input pricesinrecentyears.

One of the key concerns raised in the report is global food insecurity resulting from the surge in agricultural input prices in recent years. The outlook suggeststhatrisingfertilizer costscanleadtohigherfood

prices. Using the AglinkCosimo modeling approach, the report estimates that, for every 1 percent increase in fertilizer prices, agricultural commodity prices will rise by0.2percent.

The impact is more significant for crops that dependdirectlyonfertilizers than for livestock products, except for poultry and pork, which heavily rely on compound feed The outlook’s medium-term projections are based on the assumption that current policieswillremaininplace and that consumer preferences and production technology will evolve as expected, although uncertainties related to environmental, social, geopolitical, and economic developments could influenceprojections.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, traderelatedpoliciesimposedby Continuedonpage21

Compensation offered to...

Frompage12 show that in this “oil rich country, the fastest growing economy in the world,” human life is not cheapened andhasvalue.

Forde too highlighted the clause in the document which absolves the government for anyfuturepotentialclaimsfor liability and injury He said thatclausemustberejected.

He added, “This is an insult to our Indigenous communityandreinforcesmy belief the Government does not care about our First People.All the talk about the Indigenouspeopleisonlytalk because their rights are being erodedunderthisGovernment every day They are continuously being insulted and exploited by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, as a political organisation and Government The miserly compensationonlyaddstothe growingdisrespect.”

The Opposition MP said too,“OurAmerindianwomen and children are being mentally,physically,sexually, economically and socially abused by a political leadership that see others’ lives as cheap, more comfortable doing their dirty deeds and ignoring the safety and security of the people, after which they seek to buy theirdignityratherthanaccept dignityispriceless…OurFirst PeoplemusttelltheIrfaan-Ali Government they are not for sale.”

GTA to launch 15 new tourism products

Product Development Grant, which is up to $1 million. He said the grant is mainly for licensedtouroperatorsbecausetheAuthority

wantstoshowcasethenewproductsbythose experiencedandunderstandtherequirements andsafetyguidelinesfortravelers.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be launching a number of tourism products and experience this year that will give both local and international travelers a variety of Destination Guyana experiences, DirectorKamrulBakshsaidrecently

Baksh in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) said, “This year, we have the aim of launching at a minimum, 15 new tourism productsandwehaveusedthefirsthalfof the year to do all the assessments and the training.”

He said while some of the products will belaunchedinthelatterpartofthisyear,the GTA will be taking full advantage of Guyana’s hosting of the Caribbean Premier

League (CPL) cricket matches. Some of the productswillalsobelaunchedintimeforthe CricketCarnivalcelebrations.

“Youhavequiteafewexperiencesthat willbelaunchedinthemonthofAugustin anticipation of Cricket Carnival which commences in mid-September,” the GTA directornoted.

During this time, an influx in visitors is expected and as such, GTA is making preparations to add to already existing attractions.

Baksh noted that these new experiences will include nature and adventure-based products, culinary products, and culture and heritage experiences. The GTA Director made mention of the recently launched

CATShostaviationoutreach forsecondaryschoolstudents

Some 320 secondary school students from across the country benefitted from an aviation outreach hosted by the Civil Aviation TrainingSchool(CATS),the training school of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority(GCAA).

The Grades 10 and 11 students (4th and 5th form students) were exposed to careersintheaviationsector during the outreach which beganonJune26andended on July 5, 2023 The participating schools included Covent Garden Secondary, Camille’s Academy Inc , Diamond Secondary, North West Secondary, Port Kaituma

Secondary, and St. Ignatius Secondary

The programme was done in partnership with the MinistryofEducation.

“The quest to increase the interest in aviation related careers is fuelled largely by the growing opportunities in the aviation industry, which is facing shortages of pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and other key personnelduetoretirements, resignations,” a statement from the GCAA said

Tuesday

The Aviation entity said it hopes that the outreach peaked interest in female students and will serve as a

catalyst for them to seek opportunitiesinthesector

“The students gained a better understanding of piloting an airplane and directing traffic in the skies.

ItisthehopeoftheDirector General, Lt Col (ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A. that in the years ahead, these 10th and11thgraderswilltakean interestinaviationandlearn the principles of flying, approach and area control, take-offs and landings and other concepts in aviation,” thestatementsaid.

The outreach is part of the NextGen initiative, to generate more interest in aviation among the younger generation.

The magnificent Kaietuer Falls

Arepresentative of CATS interacting with schoolchildren at the aviation outreach

Govts.mustensurerobustlegalframeworkin placetogovernoilcompanies’developmentplan

–CommonwealthEconomicAdvisor

strategies, policies, laws and international best practice;

ByKianaWilburg

If governments are desirous of having their oil resources developed optimally and in the interest of their people, then they mustensureclearlegislative requirements are in place to govern how oil companies’ d r a f t t h e i r F i e l d DevelopmentPlans(FDPs).

O u t l i n i n g t h i s perspective in a handbook forgovernmentofficialswas Naadira Ogeer, Economic Advisor in Commonwealth Secretariat’s Ocean and Natural ResourcesAdvisory Division.

The handbook with a total of 132 pages was developed to support government officials in Commonwealth member countries in the effective review, approval, and oversight of Field DevelopmentPlans.

Ogeer noted that the publicationpublishedbythe Commonwealth Secretariat benefitted immensely from discussionsandreviewswith government officials from Belize, Ghana, Guyana, Kenya, Mauritania Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania and Uganda as well as a number of individuals and organizations with expertise inFDPs.

Before dissecting some ofthekeyresponsibilitiesof government officials in the FDP process, the handbook dedicated several pages to explaining what a FDPis. It was noted that after a company makes an oil/gas discovery and determined it to be in commercial quantities,thenextstepisto prepare a plan of development That plan outlines how a company intends to develop a petroleum field, manage the

impact on the environment and society, as well as forecasts for production and costs. The FDP is therefore the company’s blueprint for how this will be done. It is considered a critical roadmap for both the company and the country to maximise value and minimise risks from an oil andgasproject.

The Commonwealth advisor noted in the book that the FDP is a critical moment in the project lifecycle as it is the place where decisions will affect the field value and associated benefits to the countryfor20yearsormore. Foradevelopingcountry,the expert noted that a single FDP can easily be equal to, or double the size of, the entire economy because of the scale of investments and potential government revenues.“Itisthereforeof paramount importance thatthegovernmentisable to review these plans to ensure that the economic, social and environmental issues are effectively addressed,” her handbook said.

Turning to the role governments must play the expert said this can be broken down into four categories:

(1.)Arobustregulatory framework (that includes strategy,policies,amodern legal framework) which is consistent with national goals and international

best practice. This provides clear direction to investorsandthepublicon

the government’s expectations for the sector and the “rules” under which activities will be undertaken;

e regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with

(

3 . ) E f f e c t i v e management of the state’s commercial interests. This is where the government’s strategy is to have state participation (either via National Oil Company or other arrangements); and finally,

(4.) Effective revenue managementtoensurethat thegovernmentreceivesits fair share of revenues and prudent macroeconomic planningisadopted.

Since an FDPis the plan ofhowacompanyintendsto developpetroleumresources belongingtothecountry,the handbook said it is to be expected that the

government has an instrumentalroleintheFDP process to determine the most optimal means of developingtheoil.

If these plans are not properly developed, the expert warned that it could lead to poor execution, resulting in environmental disasters, severe financial repercussions and reputational difficulties for thecompaniesinvolved.

“It (government) should therefore be fully informed

ofallmattersrelatingtohow the country’s petroleum will be monetized, ” the Commonwealth advisor stated.

HANDBOOK’SORIGIN

The Commonwealth Secretariat, through the Oceans and Natural Resources Division, supports member countries in the sustainable developmentoftheirnatural resources.

TheSecretariatalso

Continuedonpage18

Commonwealth Secretariat Advisor, Naadira Ogeer

Gold declarations decline further in

1st quarter of 2023 - Bank of Guyana

Over the past six years, Guyana’s gold declarations have been falling,even with the massive discoveries beingannounced.

This year, the trend seems no different, with the Bank of Guyana (BoG) reporting a decline in declarations for the first three months of the year when compared with the same period last year The BoG in its first quarter statistical report on the performanceoftheeconomy has said that gold declarations were lower by 5.3 percent, as local and l i c e n s e d d e a l e r s ’ declarations contracted by 23.9 percent. The financial institution reported that, “The declarations from Aurora Gold Mine Inc (AGM), Zijin Mining’s subsidiary in Guyana, the sole operating foreign company, increased by 65.4 percent, when compared to the same period one year prior.”

Notably,itwasindicated that gold prices increased fromUS$1,897.71perounce to US$1,912.73 per ouncean increase of 0.8 percent, duringthefirstquarterofthe year Data provided to the Bank by the Bureau of Statistics show that revenue earned from the export of gold up to the end of March

2023 amounted to

$43,920,500,000 or US$210,145,933.

This amounts to approximately 110,000 ounces of gold declared during the first half of the year The BoG did not state the total declarations made totheGoldBoardduringthe first quarter of 2022 while reporting the 5.3 percent declinethisyear

The continued lower declarations have sparked concernamongstakeholders, as foreign gold companies operatinginGuyanacontinue toannouncemegafinds

Only yesterday Kaieteur News reported that three weeks after Omai Gold Mines announced drilling results showing significant gold deposits in theirWenot pit,locatedin RegionSeven

Govts.mustensurerobust...

Frompage17 worksincollaborationwithotherorganisationstodeliveron itsmandate TheNewProducersGroup(NPGorGroup)is onesuchpartnership TheNPGwasestablishedin2012by Chatham House, the Natural Resources Governance Institute,andtheCommonwealthSecretariat.

The NPG’s aim is to achieve lasting and inclusive developmentoutcomesinemergingproducercountriesand tohelpthemprepareforaworldbeyondoilandgas Itisa network and community of practice bringing together over 30 countries (Guyana included) which are new to the oil and gas sector, and half of which are Commonwealth countries(CWC).

NPG activities are centred around holding Discussion Meetings,includingtheAnnualMeeting,NationalSeminars, publications which are focused on issues pertinent to emerging producers, and capacity-building initiatives (eg training, mentoring, technical teleconferences,workshops andwebinars).

Atthe2019NPGAnnualMeeting,governmentofficials identifiedFieldDevelopmentPlans(FDP)asanareawhere support was needed. In response, the NPG conducted a seven-day training workshop during October 2020 on “GovernmentReviewandApprovalofFieldDevelopment Plans”whichwasattendedbyalmost100officialsfrom11 countries. In 2021, the Group has facilitated several countriestodevelopinternalgovernmentprocesseswhich enabletheeffectivereviewofFDPs.

To complement the foregoing, the handbook was prepared by the Commonwealth Secretariat to address key challengesfacedbyregulatorybodiesinmembercountriesin reviewing, approving (and monitoring the implementation of)FDPs

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni)–the Canadian company on Mondayannounced“similar excellentdrillresults.”

The company had disclosed that since their return to Guyana’s gold industry, they have been expanding their search in their pits as well as increasingthedepthatwhich theysearchforgold.

When the announcement of the gold discovery was madethreeweeksago,Omai Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President, Elaine

Ellinghamsaid,“Wehavenot seen any limitations to the Wenot deposit, and as such are confident that additional drilling can further expand thegoldresources”

Further activities at the Wenot deposit have since brought more success for Omai According to the CEO, “These new results againconfirmthesignificant expansion potential for the Wenot deposit, to depth as wellasalongtheflanks.”

In November last year, a Canadian mining company,

AlerioGoldCorpboastedto its shareholders that there was a “gold fever” in Guyana as the company entered into a property purchase agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in five gold prospecting licenses here, known as the Puruni Gold Property

Just two weeks prior, it was reported that Omai had struck a new gold find that was worth two times the country’s total debt at the time.

DECLARATIONS ONDECLINE

Even though gold companies have been boasting of the “unlimited resources” unlocked in Guyana, the excitement of these results has been undermined by a failing sector, at least according to the declarations made to the GuyanaGoldBoard(GGB).

According to the BoG AnnualReportfor 2022, the total gold declarations last year declined by 2.5 percent to 486,415 troy ounces (oz). Atableusedbythefinancial institution indicated that in

2021 and 2020, declarations were 499,054 oz and 585,433ozrespectively

In 2019, the gold sector had performed better with declarations amounting to 641,828 oz The BoG Annual Report for that year explained, “Total gold declaration increased by 4.7 percentandrepresented99.1 percent of the revised targeted amount for 2019. The gold subsector experienced greater declarations by small & mediumscaleminersby23.9 percent to 448,321 ounces while the combined output of the foreign companies (GuyanaGoldfieldsInc.and Troy Resources Guyana Inc ) declined by 26 6 percentto186,584ounces.”

Meanwhile,fortheyears 2016, 2017, and 2018, notable decreases were recorded; a total of 712,706 oz,653,753oz,and613,073 o z w e r e r e c o r d e d respectively BoG in the 2016 Annual Report noted that gold declarations had increased by 58.1 percent when compared with the resourcesdeclaredin2015.

Watertaxioperatorstowork24-hrs duringfour-dayclosureofHarbourBridge

Water taxi operators plying the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop route have agreed to work for 24 hours per day to transport persons across the Demerara River due to the closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge from Monday, July 24 to Thursday, July 27, 2023.

The closure will facilitate the necessary replacement of span nine of thebridge.

The agreement was made during a meeting the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and Coast Guard held with boat operators on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of PublicInformation(DPI)hasreported.

During the meeting, DirectorGeneral of MARAD, Captain Stephen

Thomas reiterated that there would be no change in fares, and that security would be increased along the waterways.

Measures to ensure the latter include more frequent coast guard patrols and the establishment of police outpostsattheGeorgetownandVreeden-Hoop stellings to ensure there is no spikeincrimeduetothehighervolume ofpassengers.

He reminded, also, that a rescue boat and at least one water ambulance wouldbetraversingthewaterincaseof emergencies.

Deputy Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Ravindradat Budhram, stated that procedures are being put in place based on previous

closuresofthebridge.

He noted that the Guyana Revenue Authority(GRA)andtheprivatesector, as well as the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the joint services would be assisting with boats and patrolsthroughoutthethree-dayperiod.

Healsoaskedthatpersonsexercise their humanity, by assisting vulnerable persons—including the elderly and persons living with disabilities—with boarding the boats, and assured that a secure space would be identified for thosedesirousofparkingtheirvehicles. The Guyana Defence Force has also offered the use of four 30-seater buses to shuttle persons on the West Bank from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Vreed-en-Hoop.

Representatives of MARAD, the Coast Guard and Guyana Police Force met with water taxi operators on Tuesday

Bar Council mourns passing of Joseph King, SC

TheBarCounciloftheBarAssociationofGuyanasaidit hasnotedthepassingofJosephArthurKing,S.C.on16July 2023withdeepregret.

InastatementonTuesday,theBarCouncilsaidMr King was born on 28 March, 1930, at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara,toJohnandBarbaraKingandcamefromafamily of prominent lawyers, including his grandfather and namesake,JosephArthurKing,whowasthePublicTrustee, OfficialReceiverandCrownSolicitorofBritishGuiana.

Hisfather’sbrothersincludedPercyKing,whowasalso thePublicTrustee,OfficialReceiverandCrownSolicitorof British Guiana; Bernard King, who was Registrar of the SupremeCourtandofDeedsandanactingHighCourtJudge in British Guiana and Arthur George King, who was a

solicitorinprivatepracticeatKingsLawyersonCroalStreet.

Mr KingattendedSt.StanislausCollegeandthenworked at Cameron & Shepherd, Attorneys-at-Law, for 18 months between 1950 and 1951 before joining Lincoln’s Inn in late 1951.HewascalledtotheBarinEnglandinMay1954andin BritishGuiana,inJune1954.

Mr King spent his career in private practice at the Bar between 1954 to date at Cameron & Shepherd, as an Associate,Partner,SeniorPartner,andthenasaConsultanton his retirement from the partnership in 2006. He was Judge AdvocateoftheBritishGuianaVolunteerForceandactedasa High Court Judge between September 1964 and January 1965.

Mr Kingappearedin30reportedcasesintheWestIndian

Reports,manyofwhichestablishedandappliedprinciplesof commercialandpropertylawinGuyana.Onecasedecidedby the Court ofAppeal of Guyana in 1966, Bart v BritishWest Indian Airways, on the carriage of goods by air was, unusually,reportedinLloyd’sLawReportspublishedinthe UnitedKingdomandlatercitedinseveralEnglishdecisions whichwasalsounusualforthetime.

Mr King was also an avid sportsman, competing in rowing, tennis and motor racing. He was the Champion Driver at the May 1980 meeting at the motor racing circuit Timehri.Mr Kingwasnevermarriedandhadnochildandthe BarCouncilexpressesitsdeepestcondolencestohisextended relatives,allofwhomliveoutofGuyana,aswellastothestaff andpartnersofCameron&Shepherd.

Man killed by falling tree branch identified

TheAmerindianman,whowasreportedly killedafterbeingstrucktothechestbyatree branch, has been identified as 26-year-old LeroySandy,aporkknockerofPortKaituma, NorthWestDistrict(NWD),RegionOne

This is according to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who reported that the deceased wasidentifiedbyhisuncle,HubertJeffrey,a

62-year-oldfarmerofPortKaituma.

Kaieteur News hadreportedthattheman waskilledafteratreelimbfellandstruckhim tothechestat42MilesBackdam,NWD.

According to reports, the fatal incident occurred sometime around 08:30hrs on Monday It was reported that the now dead manwasemployedwithadredgingoperation

owned by Diane David, a 34-year-old businesswomanofFallsTop,NWD,andwho wasestablishingaminingoperationatthe42 Miles Backdam Dwayne Fredericks, another employee, told police that Monday morning, he along with his co-worker (now-deceased), wereclearinganareatosetupacampwhena limbbrokeofffromatree,fellandhittheman

tohischestcausinghimtoreceiveinjuries

Fredericks said he immediately sought assistance from the businesswoman, who placed the injured man in a car and rushed him to the Port Kaituma District Hospital. Kaieteur News understands, upon arrival there, medical personnel pronounced him dead.Investigationsareongoing.

“Guyana’s National Development Pathway aligned to focus on food security, climate change, agriculture financing”-Min.Mustapha

DPI - The Government i s n e c e s s a r y w h e n that address the linkages advance food and security in of Guyana has aligned the addressing food and between food production the Caribbean Region,” the c o u n t r y ’s N a t i o n a l nutrition security, which he and food security,” he ministeradded.

Development Pathway to explained, involves the explained. Guyanahasembarkedon focus on priority areas such integration of the health, and Theministeralsosaidthe several initiatives to bridge as food security, climate education sectors along with government has been taking the production gap which change, and agriculture technology, and climate the necessary steps to include the diversification financing as it works changemitigation. advance food and nutrition from traditional industries, towards achieving the “We cannot speak about security in the Caribbean. the development of highUnited Nations Sustainable food and nutrition as if it This,headded,isbeingdone yielding, pest-resistant, and Development Goal (SDG 2), exists as a standalone in the through increases in climate-resilient crop

Zero Hunger, Agriculture policy formulation of the budgetary allocation and v a r i e t i e s ; a n d t h e Minister, Hon Zulfikar different Caribbean collaborations with the introduction of improved Mustapha reiterated on countries. There must be a privatesectortoestablishthe geneticsinlivestock. Tuesday. targeted approach to food necessary infrastructure to There have also been

Minister of Agriculture

The Minister was at the security that involves the supporttheseefforts. several agriculture input time speaking during a integration of the health, “Recognizing the support programmes for meeting with the Director about Guyana’s role in agriculture financing. education, and technology importance of implementing farmers, such as fertilizer, General of the Inter- CARICOM as it relates to Moreover, Guyana has sectors, along with climate initiatives that address food and seeds distribution American Institute for guiding the regional food emerged as a leader in change mitigation, so that and nutrition security, the exercises. Investments have Cooperation on Agriculture andnutritionsecurityagenda CARICOM, being the Lead food security can better Government of Guyana has also been made to upgrade (IICA), Manuel Otero, and andhowtheseeffortstieinto Head with responsibility for enable national and regional increased the budgetary infrastructure to support the other Agriculture Ministers the United Nations Agriculture, Agricultural prosperity We cannot allocation to the agriculture agriculture sector such as and officials from across the Sustainable Development Diversification, and Food confront food security and sector by a 150% increase, drainage and irrigation region. Goals (SDG); particularly Security within the nutritional security without moving from GYD13 3 structures, farm-to-market

The hybrid meeting took SDG2. CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet. simultaneously confronting billion in 2019 to GYD33.2 access roads, laboratories, place in Costa Rica and was “The agriculture and As the Region implements climate change, confronting billion in 2023. We are also andprocessingfacilities. hosted by the Inter- food systems sector in the CARICOM Agri-Food our education system, and working with the private The Inter-American American Board of G u y a n a i s b e i n g Systems Agenda, Guyana h e a l t h s y s t e m a n d sectorso thatwe cancreatea Board of Agriculture Agriculture (IABA) to r e p o s i t i o n e d a n d has committed to playing an confronting sustainable state-of-the-artregionalfood (IABA) is the highest explore cooperation transformed into an integral role in fulfilling the development.Tothisend,we hub in Guyana It is governing body of IICA, opportunities, discuss the expanded, diversified, g o a l o f r e d u c i n g need the support of our necessary that we do consisting of thirty-four visions and perspectives for modernized, resilient and CARICOM’s food import international partners like everything within our Member States, fourteen of the sector, as well as competitive sector As we bill by 25% by 2025. As we IICA as we understand and capacities to ensure we take which are in the Caribbean determine how IICA can work to achieve the SDGs, are aware, the Region has a seektoimplementinitiatives the necessary steps to Region. assist with achieving the particularly SDG 2 – Zero high food import bill which goals set for the sector by Hunger, Guyana has aligned i s e s t i m a t e d a t Member States in the our National Development approximately US$6B per CaribbeanRegion. Pathway to focus on priority annum,”henoted.

Minister Mustapha, in areas such as food security, Minister Mustapha also his virtual address, spoke climate change, and said that a targeted approach

Man struck and killed by lightning at Swan Village

A29-year-old man was on Sunday struck dead in the creek that afternoon after she and killed by lightning at Swan Village, East returned home from an errand. The woman BankDemerara(EBD). went to the creek to wash clothes and Dead is 29-year-old Shawn Eastman of discovered Eastman’s body floating with SwanVillage. burnmarks.

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into utility pole

AmotorcyclistdiedMondaynightafterhecrashedintoa utilitypoleatWales,WestBankDemerara(WBD).

Dead is Immanuel Lamazon of Independence Street, La Grange,WBD.

Lamazon, a security guard with Elite Security Service, was reportedly travelling west along the Wales Public Road when he lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into a utilitypole.

He eventually ended up in a trench alongside the road, policesaid.

Police believe that incident occurred

There was a lightning and thunderstorm during the afternoon hours while Eastman that afternoon in the area and police suspect wasatacreeknottoofarfromhishome. thathisinjuriescouldbefromthelightning. Eastman’s common-law-wife found him Investigationsareongoing.

Driver crushed to death after log truck topples down hill

A driver was on Monday crushed to accident showed that Peters was pinned deathafteralog-truck,whichhewasdriving underseverallogs. toppled down a hill along the Ituni Trail, InvestigatorssaidthatPeterswasdriving Region Ten. Dead is 31-year-old Rodwell his truck north and descending a hill along Peters and severely injured is his porter, the western side of the trail. “The vehicle DamianFraserofCoomackaMines. approachedarightbendatafastrateofspeed

According to police, the accident which caused the driver to lose control, occurred around 16:00hrs but Peter’s body causingthevehicletotopple”,policestated. was only pulled from the wreckage around While Peters was pinned, Fraser was 02:30hrsonTuesdaymorning. picked up and taken to the Linden Hospital

A cell phone video of the scene of the Complexformedicalattention.

“He was picked up by public-spirited persons and the police, then was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctoronduty,”theGuyanaPoliceForcesaidinastatement.

Food prices remain high globally

From page 14 response to the food security vulnerable households, and countries have surged. The crisis, in April 2022 the (iv) invest in sustainable global food crisis has been World Bank announced that foodandnutritionsecurity partially made worse by the it is making up to US$30 The Bank has achieved growing number of food billion available over a its target of making $30 traderestrictionsputinplace period of 15 months, billion commitment for food by countries with a goal of including $12 billion in new and nutrition security increasing domestic supply projects. The financing is to response. and reducing prices. As of scaleupshort-andlong-term Between April to June 5, 2023, twenty responses along four themes December 2022, the Bank’s countries have implemented to boost food and nutrition food and nutrition security 27 food export bans, and 10 security, reduce risks, and commitmentsinnewlending have implemented 14 strengthen food systems: (i) have passed the $12 billion export-limitingmeasures. support producers and mark – with almost half for US$30B consumers, (ii) facilitate Africa, which is one of the Meanwhile, as part of a increased trade in food and hardest hit regions by the comprehensive, global trade inputs, (iii) support foodcrisis.

Zulfikar Mustapha

Killed in a motorcycle accident, Immanuel Lamazon

WANTED

Porters,DriverandSalesman needed.Attractivesalaryoffered, experience will be an asset.Call:226-9800.

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

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

OfficeClerkneeded,ages1725 years. Must have CXC Maths & English and must becomputerliterateresiding onWCDorWBD.Call:2540087.

1ConcretepumptruckDriver /Operatorand6MixerDriver Contact:650-0402/665-3880.

One experienced low bed Driverneeded.Mustbeable to load and off load equipments.Call:644-7088.

One Cashier/ Clerk to work inanelectricalandhardware store.Musthaveexperience. Call:619-0900/712-2736.

Wanted urgently Electricians. Must be able to work in both domestic and industrialsettings.Call:619-0900/ 712-2736.

One male and female ablebodied Staff needed to work inastore.Call:225-2313,2261497,658-8559.

Wanted:ExperiencedPuri Maker, Cashier, Counter Person, Labourer and Cleaner ApplyatShanta's, 225CampandNewMarket Sts.

One decent, live-in Domesticpartner,lighthousework. Salary60,000.Call:603-9085.

Male office Assistant & night Guard needed at LowerEastCoast.Call:6189186,627-9945,227-5222.

Wanted person to pluck chickenandtopurchaselive chicken.Call:618-9186,6279945,227-5222.

Wanted: Cook and Kitchen Assistant needed for food businessonEBD.Call:6432090.

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

WANTED

Receptionist needed for hotel.Contact:223-5273/74.

Diesel Mechanic wanted. Attractive salary offered. Contact:688-0417/677-9010.

Jagdeo and his PPP ministers think...

Farm Workers needed to workatHauraruni.Call:6748723.

VACANCY

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

One Salesman, 3 subjects cxc, experience in writing bills,stocktaking&cashing. ApplyatKeyfoodMcDoom village next to the post office.

GeneralDomesticneededto work 4 days per week, must know to cook. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

AulicioMiningIncishiring Accountant, Database Administrator, Hr Assistant, Truck Driver, Human Resource, Operations and Security Manager. Email: ve@officegy.com

Sales Clerks, Delivery Clerks and Porters needed. ApplyatLens136SheriffSt, next to Buddy's/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486/227-1511. Email:lensgy@outlook.com

Drivermustbeabletoassist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50,Car/Vanlicence.Call: 615-9132or645-8443.

ExperienceAccountsClerk. Must have passes in Maths, English &Accounts.Apply in person to Alabama Trading.

Receptionist, Room Attendant,MaintenanceGuy,Laundry Attendant & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown, ages 25-50 yearsold.Call:225-2304.

Accounts, Office & Bond Clerks,LorryDrivers,Sales Rep & Supervisor, Cashier and Porters needed @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173SheriffSt.Call:609-2995, survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

CNQC is now hiring ConstructionWorkers.Emailresume:xu0wying@163.com

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office.Must have grade 1or 2MathsandEnglish.Email: techserigy@yahoo.com or Call:615-9132.

VACANCY

TruckDriver,ExcavatorOperator, Loader Operator, Motor Grader Operator, pick-up Drivers, Flagman and Labourers required. Call:700-8131/600-6073.

Chainsaw Operators and Labourers needed for wood concession.$5000-$6000per day.Call:626-0936.

Masons,Labourers, Carpenters & Skilled men needed. Wages $7,000-$10,000 per day & Labourer 5-6K per day.Call:650-1394,692-7110.

Immediate vacancy exists forDrillHelpersatLandStar DrillingCo..Call:231-1408/ 642-9191.

FOR SALE

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

Used Nikon D700 DSLR+ Tamronlens+manyaccessories. Pristine condition, $170,000 neg. WhatsApp: 625-0044.

Over 500 lbs plantain for sale.Call:688-0417.

From page 6 dollars of taxpayers’ money estimated to have being pumped into it over the decades, not including the $40 billion wasted by Jagdeo alonewhenhedisregardedall advice against investing in the white elephant Skeldon factory All of this money Jagdeocouldhavesharedout to sugar workers and provided support and land until they became financially independent.JagdeoandhisPPPadministration in their unmistakable ‘nut job’ mentality facilitated the transfer of $8.4 billion (US$42 million) on the road-tonowhereAmaila Falls project to Fip Motilall and whoever else was willing to sign up for the completion of the road https:// demerarawaves.com/2015/08/ 21/amaila-falls-road-to-becompleted-although-hydropower-station-scrapped/. This was a project the IDB wouldnotlookatbecausethere was no feasibility study. Jagdeo and his PPP administration facilitated the rape of the national treasury by running a scheme where their acolytes fed themselves on government contracts whichlackedadequateoversight, so that roads especially almost always fell apart almost immediately after completion, requiring never ending, continuous repairs and neverendingflowoffundsfortheir acolytes and themselves.

Jagdeo and his PPP administrationhavewasted$40 billion dollars in taxpayers’ money on the Skeldon Sugar

factory. Jagdeo and his PPP administration facilitated the financial incapacity of the National Insurance Scheme through glaring regulatory breaches of the institution’s frameworkregardingmanaging of its investment funds in whichapproximately$5.7billion was lost in the busted CLICO investment scheme, and $X millions was channeled into building the Berbice Bridge, allowing the bridge’s investors to turn around and charge Guyanese apoundandacrowntocross, greatly incapacitating economic activity in New Amsterdam and the rest of Berbice east of the Berbice River.JagdeoandhisPPPadministration facilitated the rapeandrobberyofricefarmersandtheirfamiliesoverthe years. Jagdeo and his PPP administrationhaveoverseen the abuse and impoverishment of public servants and theirchildren. Jagdeoandhis PPP administration have maintained a failed discriminatory education system where schools continue to be maintainedtoenforcehissystemofeconomicdegradation the masses, with children in outlyingareasbeingtheworst off. Jagdeo and his PPP administration continue to maintain sugar workers like cattle to vote for the PPP

FORRENT

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

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

One and two bedrooms furnished apartments for rent inProvidenceandDiamond. Call:604-6664,682-6238or 216-2299.

LANDFORSALE

Idealforapartmentbuilding or residence, located at Vlissengen into Lamaha street.Call:223-6218,6565544,623-7805.

Today Jagdeo continues to orderIrfaanAliandGovernment todisregardcivilsociety’sclaims tohavetheridiculousExxoncontract which makes Guyanese liable for Exxon’s income taxes and sets up a framework for probably the greatest economicpiracyeverintheworld since slavery and Indian indentureship, scrapped/renegotiated on better terms.

Wehaveagovernmentwhere our president is a puppet of Jagdeo. Jagdeo and his government ministers maintain thattheyarenottakingbribes, there is no corruption. These are hard facts. Deny, deny, deny. Under Bharat Jagdeo andhisPPPgovernmentministers, Guyana is a plundered nation. They will continue to use terror tactics to ridicule our professionals who vehemently stand up to them, frightenandkeepusignorant as they throttle persons who exposetheirlawlessandcorruptbehaviour Whydidthat innocentlittlegirlreverseher claimsonDharamlall?Under the oversight of the Child CareandProtectionAgency? We need nothing else to provethisgovernment’slawlessness.Biggrownmentakingadvantageofourgirlchildren.Needweaskwhatnext? Jagdeo and the PPP continue to think as they did in 2015 that Guyanese people are stupid, that he and the PPP can continue to bully, con and lie to Guyanese forever Wehavealreadylostin excessoftwodecadestotheir economicdebaucherandtyranny What do we do with a government that thinks we arestupid?Aswedidin2015, we throw them out of office. Only this time, we install a better government. Guyana has just about two years to get twenty people to form a fullgovernmentfortheDNC, start a campaign and win 50 percent of the votes in 2025. It‘s time to step up and offer Guyana better leadership, better government than Jagdeo and his acolytes. Guyanese need you now!

Regards, Craig Sylvester

SERVICES

VisaApplication to Canada andU.S.A,graphicsdesign, advertisements,USA passport application forms &i130application.Call:6267040.

Elevateyour brandwithour professional Graphicdesign services.Call:619-0007,6295526.

PROPERTYFORSALE

Newly renovated building with 2 sections, ac and 3 bedrooms each, located at NortonStreet.Call:223-6218, 656-5544,623-7805.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

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

Childhood immunization begins recovery after COVID-19 backslide

Global immunization dose children. The figure are on route to recovery and, said UNICEF Executive the first dose of the DPT “Moreover, while coverage services reached 4 million represents an improvement most concerningly, 34 have Director Catherine Russell. vaccine reached 90 per cent has improved, rates are not more children in 2022 from the 18.1 million zero- stagnated or continued “Until more countries mend compared to 86 per cent in optimal Countries must compared to the previous dose children in 2021 but declining. These concerning the gaps in routine 2021. The vaccination rate continue to invest in their year, as countries stepped up remains higher than the 12.9 trends echo patterns seen in immunization coverage, with the third dose of this immunization programs to effortstoaddressthehistoric millionchildrenin2019. other health metrics children everywhere will vaccine also rose to 83 per reacheachandeverychildin backsliding in immunization “ T h e s e d a t a a r e Countries must ensure they remain at risk of contracting cent compared to 81 per cent every corner of their caused by the COVID-19 encouraging, and a tribute to are accelerating catch-up, and dying from diseases we the previous year All other territory,”hestressed. pandemic, the PanAmerican those who have worked so recovery, and strengthening can prevent. Viruses like vaccines, which protect PAHO continues to work Health Organisation hard to restore life-saving efforts, to reach every child measles do not recognize against diseases such as with countries in the region (PAHO) said in a press immunization services after with the vaccines they need borders Efforts must polio,humanpapillomavirus and partners to strengthen release. two years of sustained and - because routine urgently be strengthened to and rotavirus, have immunization programs and

According to data decline in immunization i m m u n i z a t i o n i s a catch up children who improved their coverage, support the implementation published on Tuesday by the coverage,” said Dr Tedros fundamental pillar of missed their vaccination, withtheexceptionofthefirst of campaigns to regain World Health Organization Adhanom Ghebreyesus, primary healthcare - take the while restoring and further dose of measles vaccine, coverage, as well as to (WHO) and UNICEF, in WHO Director-General opportunity to make improving immunization which dropped from 85 per strengthen the infrastructure 2022, 20.5 million children “But global and regional progress in other, related services from pre-pandemic cent in 2021 to 84 per cent in of national immunization missed out on one or more averages don’t tell the whole healthsectors. levels.” 2022. programs and improve vaccines delivered through story and mask severe and Vaccination against Countries with steady, While countries also epidemiological and routine immunization persistent inequities. When measles - one of the most sustained coverage in the managed to reduce the laboratory surveillance to services, compared to 24.4 countries and regions lag, infectious pathogens - has years before the pandemic number of children who did detectoutbreaksandrespond million children in 2021. In childrenpaytheprice.” not recovered as well as have been better able to not receive a single dose of i m m e d i a t e l y M a n y spite of this improvement, The early stages of other vaccines, putting an stabilise immunization vaccine to pre-pandemic stakeholders are working to the number remains higher r e c o v e r y i n g l o b a l additional 35 2 million services since, the data levels (1 3 million), this expedite recovery in all than the 18 4 million immunization have not children at risk of measles indicates For example, number remains high, regions and across all children who missed out in occurred equally, with the infection. First dose measles South Asia, which reported leaving 1 in 10 children in vaccine platforms. Earlier in 2019 before pandemic- improvement concentrated coverage increased to 83 per gradual, ongoing increases the region unprotected 2023, WHO and UNICEF, related disruptions, in a few countries. Progress centin2022from81percent in coverage in the decade against a range of dangerous along with Gavi, The Bill & underscoring the need for in well-resourced countries in 2021 but remained lower prior to the pandemic, has diseases Meanwhile, 2 3 Melinda Gates Foundation ongoing catch-up, recovery w i t h l a r g e i n f a n t thanthe86percentachieved demonstrated a more rapid million children did not and other Immunization and system strengthening populations, such as India in2019.Asaresult,lastyear, and robust recovery than complete their vaccination Agenda 2030 (IA2030) efforts. and Indonesia, masks slower 21.9 million children missed regions that suffered schedule, although this partners launched ‘The Big

The vaccine against recovery or even continued the routine measles longstanding declines, such number is the lowest it has Catch-Up’ , a global diphtheria, tetanus and declinesinmostlow-income vaccination in their first year as Latin America and the b e e n s i n c e 2 0 1 9 communications and pertussis(DTP)isusedasthe countries, especially for oflife-2.7millionmorethan Caribbean.

“Countries’effortshavepaid advocacy push, calling on g l o b a l m a r k e r f o r measles vaccination. Of the in2019–whileanadditional Vaccination coverage in off, but there are still far too governments to catch up the immunization coverage. Of 73 countries that recorded 13.3 million did not receive theAmericas recovers many children in the children who missed the 20.5 million children substantial declines (5 their second dose, placing In 2022, countries and Americaswhodonotreceive vaccinations during the who missed out on one or percentage points or more in children in under-vaccinated territories in the Americas the vaccines they need to be p a n d e m i c , r e s t o r e more doses of their DTP 2020 and/or 2021 compared communities at risk of managed to halt the decline protected,” Dr Jarbas immunization services to vaccines in 2022, 14 3 to 2019) in coverage during outbreaks. in vaccination coverage that Barbosa, Director of the Pan pre-pandemic levels, and million did not receive a the pandemic, 15 recovered “Beneath the positive the region had been A m e r i c a n H e a l t h strengthen these going single dose, so-called zero- to pre-pandemic levels, 24 trend lies a grave warning,” experiencing. Coverage of Organization (PAHO) said. forward.

CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group recommends continued talks on Haiti

The CARICOM Eminent

Concerned by the extensive would take time, the EPG placed Persons Group (EPG) visited Haiti powers enjoyed by the Prime emphasis on discussing process in on12-15July2023,asagreedatthe Minister, the major political and order to put in place a mechanism end of the meeting of Haitian civil society opposition parties had that would facilitate progress stakeholders in Jamaica on 11-13 proposed a governance framework taking into account the inherent June 2023, to continue its closer to the intent and spirit of the difficulties of negotiations facilitation of inter-Haitian constitution by proposing the involving a large number of dialogue by building on the formation of a presidential college protagonists. The objective was outcomeoftheJamaicameeting. along with a Prime Minister They attainedtosomeextent.

T h e E P G h a s s i n c e had also underlined the importance “The principle of reducing the recommended that talks between of confidence-building measures. negotiating group of government, thevariousgroupswhichhadtaken Tobettersupplementtheirposition, opposition and civil society place since the Jamaica meeting they had coalesced and signed at representatives to manageable size should continue in order to help the end of the meeting in Jamaica wasmoreorlessaccepted,awaiting narrow the differences between the theJointDeclarationofKingston. the outcome of internal protagonists.

During the EPG’s visit, in consultations by one of the three

addition to engagements with the groups on a revised Draft Process importance of trust-building by the Prime Minister and key political Protocol,”CARICOMsaid. government. The EPG informed it and civil society stakeholders, the Further, the statement noted would return to Haiti in the coming EPG members met with that progress was also made in weeks to renew its facilitation representatives of the business reducing the items for negotiation. efforts”, a statement from the community and a group of persons Other positives related to broad CARICOM Secretariat said with expertise in security, human agreementontheissueofenlarging Tuesday. rights and marginalised social the High Transition Council and

cated the

Meanwhile, during the meeting groups whose insights were greater cohesion on security, the in Haiti, emphasis was placed on commitments made by Prime form a government of national helpful. issuebeingnottheneedforsecurity the major proposals tabled in MinisterAriel Henry to enlarge the unity in response to the call for According to the statement, assistance but what form it should Jamaica These included the High Transition Council and to greaterinclusiveness. aware that the mediation effort take.

Mahdia dorm fire victim to return home next month from New York

The Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory School student who was who had to be medically medevaced to the Northwell evacuated to the United Health, Burns Center, Staten Statesfortreatment. IslandUniversityHospitalin Before being flown NewYork two monthsagois overseas, the Health scheduled to return to Ministry had stated that the Guyana next month, girl underwent two surgeries MinisterofHealth,Dr Frank at the Georgetown Public Anthony told reporters on Hospital Corporation Monday (GPHC) and though her

According to Dr condition improved steadily, Anthony, the child has been itwasdeemednecessarythat recovering well after she be transferred to the u n d e rg o i n g s e v e r a l Americanhospital. surgeries.

“This transfer was

“She is doing very well, deemed necessary out of an as you know, she has been at abundanceofprecautionand Northwell [Hospital] for a made in the best interest of couple of weeks and the thepatient,”theministryhad Northwell team they have explained. burns doctor who has been It was reported that the heavily-grilled female approximately three and a was taken away by the dorm Bellarmine, Arriana grafting the skin and putting Northwell Hospital had dormitory which housed h a l f h o u r s t o b e mother, and a teacher She Edwards, Cleoma Simon, itontheplacethatwasburnt. waived all costs for the students of the Mahdia e x t i n g u i s h e d , w a s was later charged and Subrina John, Martha

So,weexpectthatshewillbe child’s treatment and Secondary School, Region maliciously set It was remanded to a Juvenile D’Andrade,(andtwin)Mary dischargedverysoonandshe Guyana’s United Nations Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and confirmed by the Guyana HoldingCentre. D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, will be able to come back (UN) representative in New claimed the lives of 20 Police Force (GPF) on May The20childrenwhodied Loreen Evans, Omerfia maybe sometime next York,CarolynRodrigueshas children. 23, 2024 that a female as a result of the fire are: Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, month,” the Minister been providing all necessary Deputy Fire Chief (ag) student of the Mahdia Adonijah Jerome, Tracil Sherlyn Bellarmine, disclosed. support needed for both the Dwayne Scotland on May S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Eulander Carter, Andrea

The teen was one of two childandherparents. 22, 2023 disclosed that the reportedly started the fire Delecia Edwards, Lorita Roberts, Rita Jeffrey and critical victims of the fire at On the night of May 21, f i r e w h i c h t o o k because her cellular phone W i l l i a m s , N a t a l i e SheranaDaniels. the Mahdia Secondary 2023, fire swept through a

Annandale man wanted for Laing Avenue murder

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) on Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for Carlton NewbourneWaldron.

Waldron is wanted in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Dequan Pyle ofLot4,LaingAvenue,West Ruimveldt, Georgetown Pyle was killed on June 17, 2023.

Investigatorsbelievethat Waldron might be involved inPyle’skillingorcouldhelp them with information to solvethecase.

South Africa says arresting Putin would be ‘declaration of war’

by police,

Waldron’s last known address is 100 Rabindra Street, South Annandale, the brawl and one of them EastCoastDemerara(ECD). reportedly lashed Pyle to his Personswithinformation head with a piece of wood. a b o u t W a l d r o n ’ s The labourer fell to the whereabouts can contact the ground and remained police on telephone motionless.Thesuspectthen numbers, 225-6940, 225- reportedly joined in stoning 8196, 226-7476, 225-2317, Pyle’s sisters with bottles 2258196, 227-1149 or the andbricksbeforeescaping. nearestpolicestation. Pyle was subsequently M e a n w h i l e , picked up and rushed to the investigations have so far Georgetown Public Hospital revealed that Pyle was killed Corporation (GPHC) where after intervening in a fight he was pronounced dead on between his sisters and other arrival. women at Laing Avenue. Hours later according to Reports are that after Pyle reports, the suspect’s house intervened in the fight, the was allegedly set ablaze by women’s boyfriends joined unknownindividuals.

Aljazeera - South Ramaphosa described the current chair of the BRICS to decimate South Africa’s Africa’s President Cyril DA’s application as group, a gathering of international reputation … Ramaphosa said that any “irresponsible” and said economic heavyweights that and decimate our economy, attempt to arrest Russian national security was at also includes Brazil, Russia, it is crucial that government President Vladimir Putin stake According to the India and China, which sees uphold its obligation to be when he visits the country president, South Africa is itself as a counter-balance to open and transparent,” next month would be a seeking an exemption under We s t e r n e c o n o m i c Steenhuisen said in a declaration of war with ICC rules based on the fact domination. statement. Russia. thatenactingthearrestcould Putin is sought by the South Africa has strong Ramaphosa said in court threaten the “security, peace ICC over accusations that economicandtraderelations papers that were released on andorderofthestate”. Russia unlawfully deported with the United States and Tuesday that “Russia has “It would be inconsistent Ukrainianchildren. Europe. made it clear that arresting with our constitution to risk South African Deputy Trade with Russia is itssittingPresidentwouldbe engaging in war with PresidentPaulMashatilehas much smaller, but Pretoria adeclarationofwar.” Russia,” he said, adding that said in recent interviews has ties with Moscow Putin has been invited to this would go against his with local media the dating back decades, to a BRICS summit in dutytoprotectthecountry government has been trying w h e n t h e K r e m l i n Johannesburg next month The arrest would also to persuade Putin not to supported the governing but is the target of an undermine a South African- come – but so far African National Congress InternationalCriminalCourt led mission to end the war in unsuccessfully party in its struggle against arrest warrant – a provision Ukraine and “foreclose any Signed in June and apartheid that Pretoria as an ICC peaceful solution” , initially marked as Last month, Ramaphosa member would be expected Ramaphosawrote. “ c o n f i d e n t i a l ” , led a seven-country African to implement were he to TheICCtreatystatesthat Ramaphosa’s affidavit was peace delegation including attend South Africa’s a member country should published on Tuesday, after representatives from Egypt, diplomatic dilemma is consult the court when it the court ruled it be made SenegalandZambia,totalks playing out in court, where identifies problems that may public. i n K y i v a n d S a i n t the leading opposition party, impede the execution of a D A l e a d e r J o h n Petersburg. the Democratic Alliance request, and that the court Steenhuisen praised the Commenting on the (DA), is trying to force the may not proceed with court’s decision, describing affidavit on the sidelines of government’s hand and requesting an arrest if this Ramaphosa’s argument that Nelson Mandela Day ensure the Kremlin leader is would require a state to SouthAfricariskedwarwith celebrations in the late held and handed over to the break international rules on Russia as “farcical” and leader’s birthplace of Qunu, ICC if he steps foot in the diplomaticimmunity “flimsy”. Ramaphosa described the country ‘Flimsy’argument “When foreign policy case as involving “intricate

I n h i s r e s p o n s e , South Africa is the decisions have the capacity diplomaticissues”.

- Putin’s arrest would undermine SouthAfrican-led mission to end war in Ukraine, President Ramaphosa says

The young girl as she was being prepared to be flown to the hospital in New York.

Wanted

Carlton Newbourne Waldron.

‘Guyana’sIndigenousPeoplesrightsarepromoted throughgovt.policies’ - Min. Sukhai tells UN forum

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline SukhaionTuesdaytoldattendeesatthe16th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the RightsofIndigenousPeoples(EMRIP)being held at the United Nations, Genève, Switzerland that Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples “have an equal and relevant place” notingthattheirrightsarepromotedthrough thegovernment’spolicies.

MinisterSukhai,deliveredastatementon Item 5 of the agenda “Interactive Dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development” and noted that given the historical and geographical challenges that the Indigenous peoples have faced, “the Government of Guyana has remained committed to removing any existing gaps through the promotion of policies and decisions to promote Indigenous Peoples’ rights.”

“Cognizant of the outsized role of Indigenous peoples worldwide in the protection of the forest and its resources, it was only appropriate that the government recognize our Amerindians for their contribution. Subsequently, it is essential to highlight to this Session one of our groundbreaking national development strategies, our Low Carbon Development Strategy whichseekstotransformtheeconomywhile

Minister of Amerindian Affairs,

combating climate change,” the minister said.

She said that Guyana maintains the second highest percentage of forest cover in theworldandispartofthecarbonmarket.

“Fifteen percent (15%) of all revenues earned from our sale of carbon credits has

been allocated to our Indigenous communitiestobeexpendedthroughVillage SustainablePlanswhichareapprovedbythe Indigenous peoples and represents an addition to Government sectoral investments.

Thispolicyistheoutcomeofnationwide consultations which included the full engagementwiththeIndigenouspeoplesand endorsed by the duly elected body of Indigenous Leaders in Guyana, the National Toshaos’ Council, a direct adherence to FPIC,”theministerstated.

Moreover, Minister Sukhai said that Guyana continues to prioritize Indigenous PeoplesdevelopmentthroughtheMinistryof Amerindian Affairs, which provides direct investment to Indigenous Villages and Communities to be utilized in a manner that hasbeendeterminedbythepeople.

“This is done through the provision of ‘Presidential Grants’ & investments funds whichareutilizedforinfrastructure,socialor

economic projects within Villages; capital investmentwhichenhancelongtermbenefits propelling Village economy and infrastructure development to ensure access to amenities and markets, securing land tenure,foodsecurity,incomegenerationand employment and Indigenous Peoples’ sustainablelivelihoods,”shesaid.

Inaddition,theministerinherstatement saidthattheGovernmentembarksonannual capacity building programmes to enhance skills and knowledge of Indigenous leaders and Youths specifically through scholarship programmes, our novel Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme as well as Leadership and GovernanceTraining.

“These are all cumulative efforts by the Government in partnership with Indigenous peoplestoensuringnotonlythepromotionof IndigenousPeoples’righttodevelopmentbut ensuring that their development is informed bytheirdecisions,”theMinisterconcluded.

Pauline Sukhai

Vingegaard pulverises Pogacar in Tour de France Alpine time-trial

AFP - Jonas Vingegaard after Pogacar.The Dane said daythird. seems unable to resist his who described himself as Over the weekend’s two soared to a crushing triumph his heart leapt when he saw “I’m hugely proud of impulses when presented “the best of the ordinary stages in the Alps, on stage 16 of the Tour de his rival’s team car ahead of what I achieved today,” the withachance. riders”aftertherace. Vingegaard stopped the rot France yesterday, winning him. defending champion said. Vingegaard, a former The duelling pair of even scraping a second back the 22.4km time trial by “They (my team) never “But the Tour de France is fish factory worker, has leaders were separated by himself.The26-year-oldhas 1min 38sec from Tadej told me the time gaps, but in not finished yet, we have to insisted throughout his just 10 seconds at the start of been in the leader’s yellow Pogacar,whowassecond. the end I could see his car,” fightallthewaytoParis.” campaign that the Tour the day, and the enlarged jersey since stage six, but Jumbo Visma rider he said “I was really Vingegaard leads the would not be won by a few margin appears decisive, but thiswashisfirststagewin. Vingegaard attacked from relieved when I saw it, overall standings by 1min seconds taken here and Wednesday’s Queen stage Stage 16 was the only start to finish with a win that because that told me 48sec from Pogacar Adam there. tacklesfourhugemountains. timetrialonthisTour,which extended his overall lead in everything.”

Yates, who rose to third, is a “I knew straight away I So far on this 110th wasthechiefreasonVueltaa the Tour de France to 1min The 2020 and 2021 massive 8min 52sec off the was on a great day,” edition of the Tour, the pair Espana champion, the 48sec over Team UAE rider champion Pogacar was far leader Vingegaardsaid.“Thisstage have traded tit-for-tat hits Belgian youngster Remco Pogacar fromslowandalmostcaught V i n g e g a a r d h a s was a major part of what we with the struggle finely Evenepoel decided to skip Vingegaard went down Ineos rookie Carlos employed largely defensive planned, but not just this balanced as the peloton thisedition. the start ramp two minute Rodriguez, who started the tactics against Pogacar, who one.” climbedthroughtheAlps. Today’s stage from Saint

The margin was a Vingegaard fired first, Gervais Mont Blanc to surprise. Ahead of the start taking a 53 second lead over Courchevel features both a of the stage most riders the Team UAE rider in the 20km ascent of the Cormet tippedPogacartowin. Pyrenees, but Pogacar hit de Roselend mountain pass

Wednesday July 19, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You'regoingtogetitalltoday You may not feel especially powerful, and in fact there may be those who try to make you feel incompetent. Realize that this is a passing trend and you will soon bounce back to yourtrueself.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The day doesn't begin until you clear your head and take stock of some pending personal issues, Taurus. You might be making mountains out of molehills. Realize that there'sapathforeverybody

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Today might be a difficult day for you, Gemini. You instinctively will want to escape the situation and explore your horizons, but somethingholdsyoudown.

CANCER(June21–July22)

The world is wide open to you today, Cancer, so take advantage of all the great things it has to offer Even though you may not realize it, you have a loyal fan club developinginthewings.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Saywhat'sonyourmind,Leo, butdon'ttakeoffenseifnoone seemstolisten.Don'tbulldoze your point through. Whiners aren't popular, either Concentrate instead on your aspirations and push yourself tothelimit.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Get your head out of the clouds, and come back to Earth for a nice visit Mundane tasks and routine chores won't be painful after you set your mind on getting themdone.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Bring things down to Earth today. Get yourself grounded and enjoy the day. The more you slow down and adopt a caring, sensitive, receptive attitude, the more things will naturallyflowyourway

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Todayisafantasticdayforyou, Scorpio, so enjoy yourself fully Your emotions will be stable and you have a very expansive sense of well-being. Your self-confidence is strong, sousethistoyouradvantage.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Today is a good day to simply get things done, Sagittarius. Takecareoftheannoyingtasks that have been accumulating. Youhaveagreatopportunityto accomplishalot.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Your emotions may seem a bit muddy today You might not understand the reason for this. Look to others to share your thoughts. You should find that talking will help you sort throughyourfeelings.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You're going to get it all today, Aquarius. You may not feel especiallypowerful,andinfact there may be those who try to make you feel incompetent. Realize that this is a passing trendandyouwillsoonbounce backtoyourtrueself.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Today is your day to shine, so giveityourall.Besurethatyou get the credit you deserve. Try not to fall into self-pity Be yourself and people will naturally follow your lead. Now is an excellent time to makeplansforthefuture.

“It’s today you win the back three times to reduce anda28kmascentoftheCol Tour! Come on! Come on! thedeficit. deLozeto2,304maltitude. Come on,” Vingegaard’s team shouted to him over their radio as times showed the Dane was crushing Pogacaralongtheway

- ‘This isn’t finished’Pogacar at times appeared as white as the jersey he was wearing. He alsofumbledhisbikechange from the aerodynamic timetrial model to a lighter climbing one at the foot of the steep Cote de Dormancy towardstheendoftheride.

“There was nothing I could have done more. This isn’t finished but he took a lot of time,” Pogacar said at thefinishline.

The Slovenian was blown away by Vingegaard yet was far stronger than anyone else, finishing 1min 13sec ahead of the thirdplace rider, Wout van Aert,

LGC pleased with golfers...

From page 33 breakthrough with the Trinidad & Tobago Golf

Association and the Barbados Golf Association, having invited them to the GTTGuyanaOpenslatedfor October 29, 2023. Hackett furtherdivulgedthattheclub is also expecting a closer cooperation with both associations and exchange visits in the coming months,

development of the sport in GuyanaandtheCaribbean.

The results for the LGC contingent at the Tobago Open were as follows:

Giddings, 4th Shanella London. Men: First FlightRakeshHarry(11th),Second Flight - Panko Ramsundar (14th), Emanuel London (20th),ThirdFlight-Hardeo ‘Curry‘Ganpat(7th).

Lionel Messi takes to the practice field for 1st time since signing with Inter Miami

F O R T

LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)

LionelMessijoggedalap with his new teammates, tookpartinawarmupdrillof players making short passes in a tight circle and before long tapped his left foot at a ball that wound up in the backofanopennet.

Inter Miami’s new star wasted no time fitting right in.

The World Cup winner and seven-time Ballon d’Or recipient as the world’s best player took part in a training session with his new Major League Soccer club for the first time on Tuesday, three days after signing a 2 1/2 year contract that’ll pay him between$50millionand$60 millionayear

A helicopter hovered

Lionel Messi, right, participates in a training session for the Inter Miami MLS soccer team as head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino looks on, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/ Rebecca Blackwell)

Champions Rivers View seeking 4th win tonight

Cu p h o l d e r s seek to maintain the perfect Delroy McIntosh cancelled Rivers View will run. The supporting match out the advantage 5 minutes be looking to set for 9 pm will feature 2nd after the break. Both teams

make it 4 wins in placed Beacons FC against earnedtheirfirstpointofthe a row and stretch the lead at WolvesUnited. season.

the top when the Bartica The results of the latest The night cap served up FA’s Senior Men’s League fixtures played last Monday the first game of the League continuesthiseveningatthe left all four teams with a competition without a goal Bartica Community Centre pointeachafter2stalemates beingscoredasBeaconsand ground. that produced 2 goals Potato Strikers played out a

After disposing of AK Wolves and Lazio, in the dulldraw Galaxy, Potaro Strikers and opening encounter, scored a The 1 point moved Wolves United the goal each thanks to Fenton Strikers to 4 points from 3 Champions next opponent Wessle who gave Wolves games while Beacons will be Lazio at 7 pm in the the lead seven minutes pushedonto7pointsfrom3 first of two matches as they before half-time. Lazio’s gamesaswell.

overhead, drones buzzed home against Cruz Azul. “ We f e e l w e ’ v e around the field and about Someticketsaregoingforas succeeded,” Beckham said. 200mediamemberslinedup little as $275 or so on the “Is it good enough? No. We toward the back of the secondary market; some of want to succeed on the field. complex to get a look at the very best seats are We want to win trophies. Messi. exceeding $19,000. Prices That’s the most important

He, like newly signed have been fluctuating quite a thing We do feel that Sergio Busquets — also a bit and likely will continue succeeded, but short term World Cup winner — went doingsountilgametime. success? We have Lionel through a welcome tunnel as Then again, someone Messi.That’ssuccess. The part of the first practice, might get front-row tickets foundations are there. The which meant jogging past for$1.MiamiMayorFrancis foundations are there to teammates as they lined up Suarez, a Republican succeed.” andclapped. candidate for president, has Messi’s decision to play

“With Leo coming here, asked backers to “consider in the U.S. might be the it raises the bar again,” said makinga$1donation”toget biggest boost ever for InterMiamico-ownerDavid him on the debate stage — American soccer on the pro Beckham, who like Messi sayingallsuchdonorswould stage. had an incredible career be entered in a chance to be Some of the game’s overseas before coming to in the front row for Messi’s biggestnames—Pelé,Franz MLS toward the end of his debutgame. Beckenbauer, Thierry Henry playing career “It has the Such is the power of and Beckham himself — eyes of the world. Not just Messi. Inter Miami hasn’t havecometotheU.S.toward Argentina,buttheeyesofthe won an MLS match in more the end of their careers, but world.” than two months; it has gone landing a player still no

Messi was not made 0-8-3 in MLS play since worse than near the pinnacle available for comment to the beating New England on of his game and just a few general media, nor were any May13. months removed from other players or coach Tata Makingtheplayoffsarea hoisting a World Cup is Martino. long shot for Miami. But simply huge, especially with

“It’s about legacy for there is hope for other partofthenextWorldCupin him,” Beckham said of trophies, such as Leagues 2026settobeplayedonU.S. Messi. “He’s at the stage of Cup a tournament soil. his career where he’s done between teams from MLS “It shouldn’t be lost on everything that any soccer andMexico’sLigaMX,with anybody that the timing is playercandoinasport.He’s both leagues shutting down right,” MLS Commissioner one of the greatestplayers, if regular play for the Don Garber said earlier this not the greatest player, to competition — and the U.S. week. “Copa America will ever play the game. So he’s OpenCup. be here in 2024, Club World stillhungry I’veseenhimon Inter Miami is in the Cup will be here in 2025, the the training pitch. I know semifinals of the U.S. Open World Cup will be here in he’s still hungry Sergio is Cup; it’ll play Cincinnati in 2026 This is not a exactly the same And lateAugust. coincidence, right? It’s all they’re the type of players The final of that partofourcontinualfocusto that we want to bring to our tournament is in September do everything we can to club.”

And Beckham is taking a make our league a league of Messi’s first match is big-picture view of how the choice, not just here, but expected to be Friday, a franchise is defining success around the world and be part Leagues Cup contest at rightnow oftheconversation.”

Lionel Messi, center left, jogs alongside forward Josef Martinez, center right, as the team warms up at the start of a training session for the Inter Miami MLS soccer team Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Shakeel double hundred has Pakistan in command of 1st test in Sri Lanka

GALLE, Sri Lanka improving on the 173-run runs. He added a match Shakeel.

(AP) Saud Shakeel stand between Sarfaraz defining 94 runs with Mendis finished with a became the first Pakistan Ahmed and Asad Shafiq in Naseem Shah for the ninth five-wicket haul, his fifth in batter to make a double Dubaiin2017. w i c k e t N a s e e m ’ s 13 tests, while Prabath hundred in Sri Lanka as the “When I went in to bat, I contribution was just six Jayasuriya claimed three visitors took control of the wanted to attack,” Shakeel runs. wickets Overall, the Sri first test after making 461 said. “If I had tried to be “When we were eight Lanka bowlers struggled yesterday defensivewewouldhavegot wickets down and Naseem a g a i n s t t h e c l e v e r

Behind by 149 runs on bowled out for 150. That’s Shah joined me, he said that batsmanshipofShakeel. the first innings, Sri Lanka thereasonIattackedandwas there’s a chance for me to go Sri Lanka’s openers reduced that to 135 when it abletotakethegamedeep. for the double hundred,” faced 3 4 overs without was 14 for no loss by stumps “We have been working Shakeel said. “Lot of credit trouble before bad light ondaythree. to play this kind of attacking for him for backing me and forced an early end to play

Shakeel was stranded on cricket back in the camp at notlettingmepanic.” But they have a huge ask at 208 not out, his second home. The coaching staff Sri Lanka was sloppy in theirhandsondayfour century in two tests, when backed me. Pretty pleased the field as Shakeel was “It’s an important day in Pakistanwasalloutaftertea. withtheeffort.” dropped twice, on 93 by the test match,” Sri Lanka

In six tests since his With an unorthodox Nishan Madushka at leg coach Chris Silverwood debut in December, he has batting technique, Shakeel gully and on 139 by Angelo said. “We have to come out scored a double hundred, a used his feet expertly to the Mathewsatdeepmidwicket. and put our best foot hundred and five half- spinners,punishingtheloose The left-handed batsman forward. centuries He has a balls and forcing the Sri reached his double hundred “We have not been our Bradmanesque average of Lankans to spread the field cutting Dhananjaya de Silva best with the ball. Great to 98.5. during his stand with behind square, bisecting the see Ramesh take five

S h a k e e l w a s t h e Salman. fieldersforfour wickets. But as a unit we mainstay of Pakistan’s Ramesh Mendis made When last man Abrar could have done better We inningsbystitchingvaluable the breakthrough in the rain- Ahmedwasdismissedfor10 posed very good questions partnerships with the lower affected morning session with the total on 461, yesterday We missed a few

At 101-5, a first-innings Batting with the tail, 506 minutes, in which he lead was the last thing on Shakeelchangedgears,quite faced 361 balls and hit 19 Pakistan’smind,butShakeel content to farm the strike boundaries. added 177 runs with Agha from the tail and the tactic Only two overseas Salman to rescue his side. worked. players—WestIndies’Chris

Thepartnershipwasarecord After lunch, Shakeel Gayle (333) and England’s for Pakistan for the sixth extended the seventh-wicket Joe Root (228) — have wicket against Sri Lanka, stand with Noman Ali to 52 higher innings in Galle than

Conway hits 74 to fire Super Kings to early lead in MLC

on

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel plays a shot during the third day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Scores: Sri Lanka 312 Pakistan 461 (Shakeel 208*, middle order and the tail when he had Salman Shakeelwasunbeatenaftera key chances as well and that and 14 for 0 (Madushka 8*, Salman 83, Ramesh Mendis afterthetopordercollapsed. stumpedfor83. marathon innings lasting for provedtobecostly.” Karunaratne 6*) trail 5-136) lead by 135 runs.

SportsMax - New Zealander, Devon MI New York’s chase then failed to get Conway, hit 74 to help the Texas Super going after a slow first powerplay where Kings get their second win in three games in theyonlyscored32inthefirstsixovers. Major League Cricket with a 17-run win The innings sauntered along before, over MI NewYork at Grand Prairie Stadium eventually, they were restricted to 137-8 inDallasonMonday after20overs.

TheSuperKingswonthetossandposted Shayan Jahangir top scored with 41 154-7offtheir20overs. whileTimDavidhit21andNicholasPooran

Conway’s innings lasted 55 balls and made19. included eight fours and a six. Conway’s Daniel Sams was excellent with the ball countryman, Mitchell Santner, hit 27 in forTexas,pickingup2-15inhisfourovers. support. Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada The Super Kings are now on top of the eachtookapairofwicketsforMINY. tablewithfourpointsfromthreegames.

Letter to the Sports Editor

Youth’s sports/ Recreational Initiative

DearSportsEditor, sportshasledmetowritethis Alongside swimming Residing in the vibrant piece, as I see the need for spaces and sporting heart of the capital, and lack thereof of facilities, we advocate for Georgetown, Guyana, I have recreational facilities in the inclusion of nonk e e n l y o b s e r v e d a neighborhoods around the traditional options like concerning scarcity of country skating rinks, bowling recreational facilities for our Recently, I had the alleys, and family fun dynamic youth population. unfortunate opportunity to centers These offerings This pressing issue calls for witness the demolition of would provide opportunities proactive measures to two basketball courts — one for our youth, as well as revitalize our community located in South Ruimveldt individuals of all ages in and provide our youths with and another in Prashad Guyana, to connect and the enriching experiences Nagar socialize in person, fostering they deserve. By enhancing This disheartening sight a stronger sense of t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f unfolded as these cherished community beyond the recreational opportunities, spaces, once bustling with confines of computer wecaninspiretheirpassions, sporting activities, screens and social media nurture their talents, and memories, and camaraderie, applications. By embracing cultivate a spirit of joy and were sacrificed to make way this broader perspective, we exploration. for a new road This can create a more tightly-

My name is Josiah King, occurrence has sparked a knit society that benefits the a 20-year-old resident of deep concern within me overall well-being of our E a s t R u i m v e l d t , about the diminishing citizens.

Georgetown, Guyana. I am a availability of recreational As the saying goes, “Idle former student of St. Roses facilitiesforouryouth. hands are the devil’s Highandacurrentuniversity In this paper, we workshop ” This adage student pursuing an acknowledge and celebrate serves as a poignant Information Technology t h e u n i q u e n e s s o f reminder of the potential degree. I am an individual individuals, each with their consequences when with a strong affinity and distinct interests and individuals, particularly the deeppassionforsports. preferences. youth, lack constructive

As an avid sports As a result, we propose outlets for their time and enthusiast with a deep an inclusive approach to energy appreciation and admiration youth recreational initiatives It emphasizes the forphysicalactivities,Ihave that go beyond traditional importance of providing always been a firm believer sporting amenities We engaging and meaningful in the transformative effect encourage the consideration activities to keep them of a healthy lifestyle and of a wide range of engaging positivelyengagedandaway great recreational habits facilities, accommodating fromnegativeinfluences. This positive outlook on diverserecreationalpursuits. Josiah King

Devon Conway made 74 for the Texas Super Kings.

Malteenoes CricketAcademy underway

The Malteenoes also represented the club at personallives. that confidence with hard S p o r t s C l u b the Test level, along with Among the esteemed w o r k a n d s t r o n g ( M S C ) h a s former West Indies U-19 guests present at the opening performances.

o f f i c i a l l y Captain Steven Jacobs, who was Charles Ramson Jr, the The Minister also shared launched the 2023 edition of currently serves as MSC’s Minister of Culture, Youth, exciting news that the the Malteenoes Cricket Vice-President. andSport. government is in the process Academy on Monday at its A t t h e o p e n i n g Minister Ramson of building an elite cricket Thomas Lands Facility This ceremony, Steven Jacobs encouraged the students to Academy at Providence, set two-week academy, addressed the students, aged u p h o l d d i s c i p l i n e , to be operational by culminatingonJuly29,aims between 7 and 18, emphasizing that order is December Recognizing the to provide students with emphasizing the importance essential for the proper challenges faced by West comprehensive knowledge of balancing academics and functioning of the world. Indies cricket on the of cricket, covering topics sports. Drawing inspiration Drawing from his own international stage, Minister suchasthelawsofthegame, from successful Academy experience as a left-arm Ramson stressed, “While we cricket etiquette, essential alumni like Ramnaresh spinner who played first (West Indies) have pegged skill sets, the right mental Sarwan, Ryan Ramdas, and division cricket for Everest back on the international attitude, and the significance NarsinghDeonarine,whoall Cricket Club, he advised the scene, the other teams have offitnessandgoodhealth. impressive, with around 56 including Test players like went on to have successful youngparticipantsnottoshy made investments and have Operating from Monday students already enrolled. Colin Stuart and Indoomatie cricket careers, Jacobs away from excelling and out ‘Scienced’ us. For us to to Friday, the academy’s Notably, the Malteenoes Goordial-John, who became motivated the participants to displaying confidence in get back anywhere close to daily sessions will run from Sports Club boasts a rich the last Guyanese female to aim high and achieve theirabilities. where we used to be means 9:00 hours to 15:00 hours. history of producing play Test Cricket in 2004. excellence in both their

However,heemphasized we have to make sensible The response has been exceptional cricket talent, Berbician Clayton Lambert cricketing pursuits and theimportanceofbackingup investments.”

Goal explosion in Berbice as football resumes

After 2 consecutive at each end, compliments of the back of the net for the securing the 3 points to push weeks of no action in the Carlos Grant in the 14th 3rd consecutive game The themto4points. 2023 Berbice FA Senior minute for the host and former National forward in At the Timehri Red Men’sLeague,playresumed Nicquan Samuels in the continuing his rich vein of ground on Sunday as well, at the Rosignol Community 40th. form scored his 5th goal of Soesdyke Falcons proved Center ground last Sunday Two quick goals in the the competition to lead all too strong for Swan FC, with emphatic wins for 47th and 48th minutes by scorers clipping them 4-0. Nicquan Monedderlust FC and home Nial Reynolds and Michael In the opening game of Hooke produced the only sideRosignolFC. Jordan left the NA side the triple-header Riddim goal of the first period after Double strikes from stunned, but Samuels in the Squad waited for their 3rd breaching the citadel of Tyrone Delph (14' &27') and 66thcompletedhisbraceand match to open their goal Swaninthe15thminute. Kevin Cotty (36' & 63') gavealittlehope. accountandstayunbeaten.A Three quick goals in accounted for half of The home side then treble by Ian Mars elevenminutesgroundedthe Monedderlust’s tally in the added goals in the 72nd and spearheaded the dismissal of Swan side in the last half of 8-1drubbing of Ithaca FC. 90th minutes thanks to Order and Discipline FC. play with Terrence Glasgow Raul Semple started the Anthony Alexander and Mars netted in the 29th, 55th startingthedemolitioninthe goal-rout as early as the 3rd TeriqueBenn. and 59th minutes of play, 50thminute. minute of play, while also Also on last Sunday but while Jermaine Harry Eight minutes on it was netting one a-piece were, in Georgetown, Beacons openedthescoringinthe2nd Gladwin Williams and the Jamal Fraser (43'), Atlin maintained their perfect run minute and Kalvin Gordon final strike came in the 61st Brown (45') and Eli Nurse with an easy 2-0 win over followed up 3 minutes later. minutefromTyroneKhan. (87'). Fabian Thuesday got East Veldt to move do the Riddim Squad now move to In the other encounter, the solitary conversion for top of the table after 3 5points. Timehri Panthers and Ithaca. games. Anthony Abrams The feature game never Herstelling Raiders played

The other match resulted opened the scoring in the came off as internal club to a 1-all stalemate. Kevin ina5-2triumphforRosignol 3rd minute and the inform problems led to the no- Scott was on target for the over NA United. The first Master, added the 2nd 3 showingofCamptownFCin PanthersandOrlandoDickie half ended even with a goal minutesfromtheendtofind their match up with Pele FC fortheRaiders.

Horse racing issues...

From page 33

According to some, things are done in a haphazard manner so the opportunity to cheat and apply unfair tactics will pervade.

The talk of the passage of the much needed Legislation by August is unreal. Parliament goes into recess in August forafewmonths,sothatisoutofthewindow

When the Cricket Legislation had to pass there were wide spread consultation and submissions. There were discussions with various entities including with lawyers. Someevenwenttocourt.

But why all this fuss when a number of draft copies and submissions were made to the government a long time ago byanumberofmagnatesofthesport.

Thosedocumentsweredraftedby imminentlegalminds who were stalwarts in the horse racing industry The late Senior Counsel and Horse Racing Entrepreneur Marcel Crawfordspearheadedonesuchlegislation.Therewerealso inputs from other horserace stalwarts including the late Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice, Cecil Kennard, and the lateInsanallyHabibulla.

There is also the Rules of Racing 1993 available. This document explains everything to do with horse racing in Guyana. It just needs updating. Why isn’t it being used, is anybody guess, persons are enjoying the ride. No one wants to be associated with confusion except if they are benefitting. The government and the players are equally culpable.

The government needs to break their deafening silence and get off their hands. A number of persons are willing to assist but there must be rules, enforcement and monitoring. Thecountryiswaiting.

Minister Charles Ramson shares group photo with participants of the Malteenoes Cricket Academy.

MSC Vice President Steven Jacobs

FourtitlesforGuyanaatCASAJuniorC/Ship

G u y a n a i s w e l l -

16-14,11-8,11-7. demonstrated his dominance I n t h e U n d e r- 1 5 positioned to defend the In the boys’ Under-13 in the boys’ Under-19 gold category, Avery Arjoon overall title at the ongoing category, Barbadian Ben medal match, securing a displayed her prowess, Caribbean Area Squash Shepherd demonstrated his comfortable victory over taking only 16 minutes to Association (CASA) Junior class with a convincing 18- Barbadian Alex Stewart in claimthetitlewithastraightChampionships, having minute victory against the straight sets, with scores of sets victory of 11-7, 11-5, already secured numerous US Virgin Islands Ethan 12-10,11-1,and11-6. and 11-6 over Bermuda’s individual medals in St Mohamed, securing In the third-place match, SomersStevenson. VincentandtheGrenadines. comfortable wins of 11-1, Michael Alphonso, who lost Josie Thong of Trinidad

L o o k i n g f o r t h e

11-5,and11-3. his semi-final contest to and Tobago secured the championship for the first J u s t i n Te n P o w Stewart, bounced back to bronze medal with an 11-6, time since 2015, despite registered an 11-5, 11-6, 11- defeatBritishVirginIslands’ 11-3, and 11-2 triumph over conceding the 2017 and 8winagainstLeviJackinthe Jace Jervis in an exciting Guyana’sEmilyFungAFat. 2019 editions to Barbados, third-placeencounter five-set encounter, with In the girls’ Under-17 the Guyanese team is now The host nation also scores of 12-10, 11-7, and final, Barbadian Eboni eager to secure their 14th displayed its strength in the 11-7, after losing the first Atherley emerged as the overallvictory boys’ Under-15 category, twosets13-15and8-11. comfortable winner,

So far, Guyana has with Jayden George In the girls’ events, defeating Jamaica’s Sanjana clinched individual gold emerging as the champion, Trinidad and Tobago’s Gia Nallapati with scores of 11medals through Nicholas defeating Bermuda’s Owen Ghuran claimed the Under- 7, 11-4, and 11-4 in just 25 Verwey in the boys’ Under- Rosorea in a three-set match 11 gold medal with a 14- minutes. 19,LouisDaSilva,theboys’ with scores of 11-5, 11-3, minute victory over Delilah Another Jamaican, Under-17 champion, and and11-1. Grace Pease of the British Mehar Trehan, won the Under-15 queen Avery D a n i e l S e a l y o f VirginIslands,withscoresof bronzemedal,overpowering Arjoon. Barbadossecuredthirdplace 11-5, 11-7, and 11-5 her opponent Safirah

Additionally, Kaylee with an 11-4, 11-2, 11-8

Bermuda’s Taylor Kyme Sumner of Guyana with Lowe in the girls’Under-13, victory over Charlie Makin securedvictoryinthebronze scores of 11-6, 11-7, and 11Mohryan Baksh in the boys’ ofBermuda. medal match, defeating 5inunder20minutes. Under-17, and Kirsten Theboys’Under-17final Barbadian Peyton Marshall- Finally, in the Under-19 Gomesinthegirls’Under-19 proved to be a pulsating Brancker with scores of 11- category, the crown also category have all secured battle, where Louis Da Silva 1,11-2,and11-9. went to Barbados, courtesy silvermedals. and Mohryan Baksh Lenna Hamati of of Sumairaa Suleman, who

Furthermore, Ethan showcasedtheirskills.

Barbados emerged as the rallied to beat Kirsten Bulkan in boys’ Under-11, Da Silva claimed victory winnerinthegirls’Under-13 Gomes of Guyana with Justin Ten Pow in boys’ inthealmosthour-longfour- category, prevailing in a scores of 11-8, 11-9, and 11Under-13, and Michael set showpiece, prevailing four-set match against 6, after losing the first set 6Alphonso in boys’Under-19 17-15,9-11,11-4,and11-7. Kaylee Lowe, with scores of 11 in a final that lasted just contributed a bronze medal Padmore of the host nation remarkable comeback, Before that, Da Silva 11-7,11-7,10-12,and11-2. overhalfanhour tothecountry’stally andBulkan. winning the next three sets defeated Jaydon Williams of Bermuda’s McKenna The bronze medal went The individual finals Mason comfortably 11-9, 11-3, and 11-5 in a St Vincent in a thrilling five- Kyme won the bronze medal to Savannah Thomson of commenced with Bermuda’s defeated Padmore in three matchthatlasted28minutes. set match, and Baksh withan11-8,11-5,and12-10 Jamaica, who came out on Mason Smith and Benjamin sets 11-3, 11-0, and 11-3, In their subsequent emerged as a comfortable victory over Guyana’s Tiana top in an entertaining 49Sherratt earning gold and while Sherratt required four encounter, both Smith and victor in less than half an Gomes, who showed great minute five-set contest silver in the boys’Under-11, setstoovercomeBulkan. Sherratt required 23 minutes hour against Andrew Cox of resilience, winning the against Katherine Risden, following their contrasting After losing the first set to determine the victor, with Bermuda. second and third sets 11-2 withscoresof12-14,11-7,9victories against Savante 11-8, Sherratt made a Smith ultimately prevailing Nicholas Verwey and11-5. 11,11-7,and8-11.

Milex National Junior Chess Championship…

Couchman, Sandiford extend the lead

The Milex National Junior Chess Championship is now officially past the halfway point, with only three more rounds to determinetheNationalJuniorChampion.

On day three of the Junior Nationals, Kyle Couchman and Keron Sandiford continue their strong showing: holding a steady lead as the tournament heads into its penultimate day. They both leadthepointstableby5pointseach.

RoundsixsawRonanLeeholdingreigningchampionRicardo Narinetoadrawandfurtherdampeninghishopesofretainingthe title. Mathew Singh, after a steady start, could not hold off Ethan Leeandconcededamuch-neededpoint.

Nevertheless,Singhisnowon4pointstotakethirdplaceinthe current standings. Ethan Lee and Oluwadare Oyeyipo trail close behindby3.5points.Narinefollowswiththreepoints.RonanLee has2.5points,whileNicholasZhanghas2andbrother,Alexander Zhang,has1.5.WhileKishanPuranfoughthard,hehassofarbeen unsuccessfulinearningavictory

If Sandiford and Couchman continue winning, this year’s Nationalscouldresultinarepeatoflastyear:wherethetopplayers finished on the same points and entered a play-off to decide the eventualchampion.

SandifordandCouchmanclashedinroundsixwhenthematch resulted in a draw With three rounds remaining, anything could happen. Yesterday, Sandiford faced off against the defending champion, Couchman was billed to take on Singh, who only trailedhimbyonepoint,alongsideotherexcitingfixtures.

Nicholas Verwey is 2023 Junior Caribbean U19 champion.

Kyle Couchman and Ricardo Narine were locked in on an intense battle.

Lewis is the GTA One Guyana Open Men’s Champion as tourney concludes

The GTA One returned to the court on excuses and champions Guyana Open Monday afternoon to never give up. Champions 2023 Tournament compete for the chance to be find a way to win, and that’s

is a pillar of the thefirstplayertolifttheGTA whatIdid.” emerging National Sports

One Guyana Open Men’s Lewis is projected to Academy; an initiative singlestrophy retaintheMen’s#1ranking. which is funded by the Servingat3/1,Lewislost At Monday’s closing NationalSportsCommission the first two points after ceremony at the National (NSC), the Ministry of Squires showed off his Racquet Centre, the Culture, Youth and Sport, versatility and shot-making inaugural GTA One Guyana and by extension the abilities. Lewis didn’t seem Open came to a successful Government of Guyana perturbed and continued to conclusion Director of concluded on Monday at the advance, winning 13 of the Sport, Mr Steve Ninvalle NationalRacketCentre. last 15 points of the and executive members of

Gavin Lewis stormed to championshipmatch. theGTApresentedtheprizes his third Men’s singles title

“It was really tough out tothewinnersandfinalists. with a 6/1 – 5/7 – 6/1 win there physically and TheawardeesoftheGTA over Phillip Squires on mentally I was one game One Guyana Open 2023 are Monday at the GTA One way from bringing it home asfollows: Guyana Open 2023 before the muscle cramps Men’s Open Champion: Tournament. got the better of me. I was in GavinLewis

“This tournament was lotsofpain,Icould’vebarely Runner-up: Phillip really special for me, not walked, let alone run,” the Squires only because it’s my first Men’schampsaid.

Ladies’OpenChampion: Men’s title since winning tournamentforus.” after suffering from muscles attemptedtocapitaliseonhis “I even thought about AfruicaGentle GBTI in 2019, but also P r i o r t o t h e cramps. Squires built some opponent’s injury with both giving up, but I couldn’t. I Runner-up: Paula becauseitwasthefirsttimeI championship match, Lewis momentumandwiththehelp players trading breaks of wasn’t thinking about the Kalekyezi invited my family and a few had only conceded 10 games of his supporters, won five serves to level the match at money during the match. I Men’s 35 Champion: friends to watch me play,” in 8 sets. He seemed poised straight games to take the one-all. Lewis, who was in was thinking about having PhillipSquires Lewis said “After the to maintain that dominance second set over an ailing pain, showed great grit and my family, friends and Runner-up: Aubrey pandemic, I went through throughhistitle-winningrun Lewis. shot accuracy to sprint out to clubmates out there Younge some difficult times, but I whenheledSquires6/1–5/2

Momentum shifted from a 3/1 lead before play was supporting me. My four- Men’s 45 Champion: alwayshadthesupportofmy inthechampionshipmatch. player to player in the suspended due to some year-old niece is a swimmer, AubreyYounge family, friends, and Roraima Lewis failed to close out opening two games of the lightingissues. andIwantedtoshowherthat Runner-up: Sunil clubmates I won this the match in straight sets decisive set Squires Lewis and Squires champions don’t make Bianchini

Deosaran, Mohamed pilot Leguan Warriors to OSCL’s 15-overs B Division championship

Former Guyana youth player

Krishna Deosaran

a n d F o a u d

Mohamed helped Leguan

Warriors beat Ramblers Cricket Club by 91 runs last Saturdayinthe2023Ontario Softball Cricket League’s (OSCL) 15-overs final at E l l e s m e r e g r o u n d , Scarborough,Canada.

T h e l e f t - h a n d e d

Deosaran hit a polished 71 to see Leguan Warriors reach a respectable 176-5 from the 20-overs while Mohamed grabbed 3-10 from his maximum three overs as Ramblers Cricket Club was left stranded at 85-8 when the 15-overs ran out

Deosaran clobbered The veteran Lall Gaznabie who finished off for being the Most Valuable participation Trophy Stall of Bourda seven sixes and four fours “Dingo” Singh, who with 2-8 from three overs as Player on the runners-up He echoed similar Marketing Ramesh Sunich during his enterprising, 35- instigated an early well. side. sentiments to his fellow for donating the winning ball knock while he also breakthrough, finished with At the post-match President of the League executives for their trophy shared an attacking 100-run 3-16inhisthreeovers. presentation, both teams a n d C a n a d a - b a s e d continued work of help According to Persaud, fourth-wicket stand with In Ramblers Cricket receivedatrophyeach,while Guyanese Shiv Persaud was runningtheaffairsofsoftball the tournament was played Mohamed who contributed Club’s reply, only Paul Guyanese-born Mohamed on hand to witness the cricket in Canada’s popular in honour of former an elegant 46 which Shivrattan with 23 not out was named player-of-the- action and he congratulated Province. President of OSCL Albert included four sixes and two offered a fight as Mohamed matchandhetookhomeone. the winner and thanked all He also expressed his Ramcharran, who is also a fours got good support from Javed Singhwasgivenatrophytoo six teams for their gratitude to Proprietor of Canada-basedGuyanese.

Men’s Open Champion Gavin Lewis (right) collects his prize from Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle.

The victorious Leguan Warriors strike a pose after the game. (photo: courtesy of Ravendra Madholall)

Delroy Tyrrell Rewrites National Swimming Records

LGC pleased with golfers’ performances at Tobago Open

…Eureka Giddings emerges victorious

When the curtains came down on the TobagoOpenovertheweekendattheTobago Plantations Magdalena Golf Course in Tobago, the Guyanese contingent was able to walkawaywithvaluableexperience.

According to Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) Vice President, Brian Hackett, the club is extremely proud of the players, especially Eureka Giddings who emerged victorious in theLadiescategory

“The executives of LGC first would want to thank all the golfers from Guyana for showinggreatsportsmanshipandinitiativein taking a bold step to participate for the first timeintheTobagoOpen.”

Guyana’s swim sprint king broke and set records books. He returned the Saturday four records at the recently concluded evening to prove his dominance in the National Age Group Short Course backstroke by destroying his competitors in Championships held at the National Aquatic the100backstrokebreakingtheoldrecordof CentreinCouva,TrinidadfromJuly12to16, 1:01.12 seconds held by Orlando Thom. The 2023. backstroke master set a new record of 56.28

Delroy Tyrrell, swimming under the seconds.

DoradoSpeedSwimClubwasscintillatingas Tyrrell qualified for the Pan Am 100 hedominatedtheboys18+category backstrokebutwillnotbegoingtothegames

Tyrrell’sfirstrecordcameonthefirstday to represent Guyana since his change of Swimming out of lane 4 the sprint king sportingnationalityisinlimbo. impressively shattered the 50M fly record in HewillshowcasehistalentsinGuyanaat a time of 24. 84 seconds. The old record was the Police Force Interdivisional Swimming heldbyNaillRoberts25.28. and Athletics Championships on Sunday, Delroy, who was only allowed to swim July23attheAquaticCenter heats because of his status as a foreign Delroy Tyrrell, who is a second year swimmer, executed his favourite stroke student at the College of Saint Rose In artfully Hebrokethe50backstrokerecordin Albany New York, plans to return to his a time of 26.22 seconds.The old record, held studiesasabuddingvirologist. bySekhelTzedeqwas27.53seconds.

Delroy Tyrrell is the younger brother of Injured and missed the Friday events; Dominic Tyrrell, Guyana’s 74 kg Delroy was more determined to rewrite the powerliftingchampion.

Horse racing issues continue and needs to be addressed

By Samuel Whyte days and no coordination horses and sponsors on between the two entities is board.

The revelation that three anothertalkingpointandthe We remember the days and four years old horses need for proper rules and of Durban Park and all the had entered to compete in a regulations to govern the glowing tributes that were two years old event only sport. The agreement is, accredited to that facility serves to emphasize the there should be at least two Guyana was once the top needforacoordinatingbody weeks before races. The destination for horseracing like the Guyana Horse limited number of horses in the Caribbean and South racingAuthority(GHRA)to availableisanotherpoint. America Horses would be in place, hence the need Whilst there were two come from foreign to race forLegislation.Anumberof day race meets before those whilst horse from Guyana owners entered their horses programmes were well used to go overseas and fully well knowing that they structured and coordinated. competewithsuccess. wereold. There should be different How did Guyana get to

To have a doctor on races and distances etc this stage? Is it the lack of standby to check horse’ Instead the organisers are Legislation,theabsenceofa mouths and so forth to fighting, hence the functioning GHRA, ascertain their age is confusion. enforcement of the rules, backward. This should not The chaotic way in and indiscipline on the part be the case if stud books, which things are done has ofthoseinvolved,orisitthat registers, other records and forced sponsors and owners Guyana is just sliding down an Independent GHRA is in to walk away If things the abyss?To me the answer place. continuelikethis,promoters is all of the above, as been

The recent staging of and organizers will have articulatedinarticlesbefore. two horserace meets in two their work cut out to get

(Continued on page 28)

“I am particularly proud of the Lusignan Club representatives namely Pope London, Shanella London, Hardeo Ganpat, Eureka Giddings who emerged as the ladies’ champion and Rakesh Harry who made LGC proud. I am happy to say that some of the LGC members, after experiencing the Tobago open are excited to explore more regional and extra regional tournaments,” Hackettposited.

The LGC Vice President further noted thatfromtheslopeofthecourseinTobagohe knew it would prove to be more difficult than theLusignanGolfCourse. shared that LGC ambassador for the tour,

However,heisproudthatthechallenging PopeLondon,madesomesignificant course did not deter the golfers. Hackett also, (Continued on page 27)

Tobago Open 2023 Ladies Champion, Eureka Giddings.

Dominic Tyrrell

Delroy Tyrrell