Kaieteur News

Jagdeo refuses Trotman's help to renegotiate Exxon contract

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has outrightly refused the support offered by former Natural Resources Minister,RaphaelTrotmanto renegotiate the lopsided Stabroek Block deal the country has with an ExxonMobil-led consortium.

Trotman's support for renegotiation is enshrined in his latest book titled, 'From Destiny to Prosperity.'

Trotman noted in the book that he has observed how the demand for renegotiation of the Exxon contract continues unabated. Hesaid,“Myownviewisthat no contract is inviolable, and therefore, it can be renegotiated However, I can't support a renegotiation based on some 'fraud,' which n e v e r o c c u r r e d

Undoubtedly, if Guyana, as a sovereign state wishes to renegotiatethecontracttoget 'better' terms, then I would supportsuchaninitiative.”

Though the People's Progressive Party while in opposition had said it would

renegotiate and review all oil contracts, now that it is in government,Trotmansaidhe has observed how the tune has changed. He said it is clear that the administration isobviouslyfacedwithmany of the same geo-political and geo-strategic realities and imperatives that the former APNU+AFC regime had encountered. “It was easy to make bold statements and promises from the campaign podium, but when in government, realities have to be confronted. Stepping out

andsteppingforwardisnotas straightforward as many believe, and it will be interesting to see how it navigates through this intricate maze of jealously guarded interests,” the formerministerstated.

Based on the foregoing, Jagdeo was asked yesterday at a press conference if the party is willing to take Trotman's help. He said, “No, have you considered this? And I am just s p e c u l a t i n g w i l d l y Trotmans's only purpose for

bringing out that book was to say he didn't commit any fraud; (It was to say) 'I made an error, I did this' etc but I didn't commit any fraud.' If a fraud was committed the contract could be set aside. Buthehasnocredibility.”On that premise, the Vice President said Trotman cannot help his party do anything.

In a previous interview, Jagdeo said the former regime wasted its bargaining chip when the first discovery was announced in May 2015 and the APNBU+AFC regimehadenteredtalkswith Exxon to renegotiate the contract now criticized as lopsided. Jagdeo had noted that before the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was signed in 2016, Exxon had already unlocked 3 billion barrelsofoilattheLizafield.

The Vice President said, “(Former President, David) Granger therefore had a greater bargaining tool (than when the PPP did when the contract was first signed in

1999andnooilwasunlocked but he) didn't leverage it. So really, when you look at the sad state they put us in and then he will come now and say you can renegotiate now because he had a change of heart, how credible could thesepeople?”

While the government will maintain that the contract is lopsided, Jadgeo said there will be no renegotiation. In an effort to claw back some of the value lost through several loopholes in the Stabroek

Block PSA, Jagdeo noted that other mechanisms were put in place. He said these include the strengthening of the environmental permits and now the regulatory framework for the oil sector He said this is the trajectory that will be maintained, adding that Trotman's book and all its revelations are mere “wishy-washy” justifications for the ineptitude that was displayed from 2015 to 2020 by the APNU+AFC faction that has sincepartedways.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

No investment mandate set for Guyana's oil fund

The Board of Directors for Guyana's Natural Resource Fund at a June, 2023 meeting mandated that the oil revenues not be invested into any assets but rather, be maintained in the deposit account held at the Federal Reserve Bank of NewYork.

In so doing, it will earn overnight deposit interest at the prevailing federal funds rate of 5 05% This was outlined in the 2023 second quarter report produced and published by Bank of Guyana. Itwasalsoagreedat theJunemeetingthatBankof Guyana will continue to monitor the overnight interest rate and inform the Chairman, Major General (ret'd), Joseph Givinda Singh ofanychangesbytheFederal Reserve Bank to consider redeployingcash.

During the second quarter,CentralBanksaidthe Fund accounted for inflows amounting to $91 5B (US$438 95 million) comprising of profit oil$80.4B (US$385.69 million) and royalties - G$11 1B (US$53.26million).

Central Bank said higher levels of profit oil and lower amount of royalties were recorded for this quarter in comparison to $33 7B (US$161 86 million) and $12B (US$57 59 million) respectively for the previous quarter These funds were

deposited into the Natural Resource Fund account held at the Federal Reserve Bank ofNewYork.

Since its inception, the Fund has accounted for $489.3B (US$2.3B) from 29 lifts of profit oil and $69B (US$330.92 million) from royalties. Over the quarter, the Federal Reserve also increased its interest rates target range once moving it from 4.75% - 5% to 5%5.25%. As a result of these increases, interest rates on overnight deposits were higher

The higher rates as well as a higher account balance, resultedintheFundearninga higher level of interest income on its overnight deposits than previous quarters.

The Fund earned $4.1B (US$19 94 million) in interest income over the quarter compared to $3.3B (US$15 66 million) the previousquarter

The value of the Fund also amounted to $359.3B (US$1.7B) at the end of June 2023, and reflected an increase of 17.68% from the previousquarter'slevel.

Central Bank also reported that the Fund recorded a profit of $4.1B (US$19 94 million) this quarter in comparison with $3.3B (US$15.66 million) for the preceding quarter solely due to interest earned ondeposits.Thisresultedina

return1 of 1.159% for the quarter compared with 1 059% in the previous quarter TheFundalsoearned an annualized return of 1.097%sinceitsinception.

W i t h r e s p e c t t o withdrawals, the bank said transfers to the Government of Guyana's Consolidated Fund account amounted to $41.7B (US$200 million).

For the year to date, a total of $83.4B(US$400million)has been transferred from the Fund,accountingfor39.92% of the estimated amount budgeted to be withdrawn in 2023 which totals $208.9B (US$1,002million).

Guyana'soilrevenuesare derived from operations in the Stabroek Block. In that offshore concession is the Liza Phase 1 Development Project which began production in late 2019 and reached its peak capacity of

150,000barrelsperday(bpd)

Stabroek Block's Liza Phase 2beganinFebruary2022and the project reached its full production capacity of 220,000barrelsperday(bpd) by the end of December 2022.

On September 30, 2020, the Government of Guyana announced approval of the P a y a r a O f f s h o r e Development Project. With

anestimatedresourcebaseof approximately 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, production of up to 220,000 bpd is expected to begin in 2023.

Plans are also in order for ExxonMobil's 4th project –the Yellowtail Development project-whichisexpectedto start production of 250,000 bpdin2025takingGuyanato aproductionlevelof810,000 bpd.

It is projected that by 2027, six to seven projects will be in operation and that by the end of the decade, Guyana's oil production will increase to more than 1 millionbpd.

The Stabroek Block is estimated to contain resources of approximately 11 billion oilequivalent barrels and is operated by ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production GuyanaLimited.

They hold a 45% interest in the block, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest while CNOOC

Petroleum Guyana Limited holds the remaining 25%.

During April 2023, the Government of Guyana approved the Uaru project –Guyana's 5th development project offshore Guyana Additionally, approval for development of a sixth project-Whiptailisexpected to be addressed later this year

The Government of Guyana had launched its first competitive bidding round for 14 of its existing offshore oil blocks during December 2022 - 11 being located in shallow water and three in ultra-deepwater

The first bidding round was expected to conclude in April 2023 with new contracts to be awarded during the second quarter of theyear

However, this was delayed as the government postponed its offshore licensing round to mid-July so as to facilitate a review of the country's oil and gas regulatoryframework.

Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

FIRES: A SIGN OF SO MUCH BENEATH THE SURFACE

Like water and flooding, fires and dying have been a consistent presence in the lives of Guyanese. The toll is grim:23childrenand7adultsgoneupinflames,theirflesh incinerated,andallthesevictimsinthefirst6monthsofthis year Thegrimreaperhashadafrighteningharvestofour young before the prime of their lives, our more mature adultsregisteringatoeholdinthislife,andevenourelderly passingtheirlastdays. Though20ofthe23childrenwere killed by fire in one harrowing moment, it was still a worryingseriesoffire,fires,andmorefires.

Theusualculpritswereidentified,butthatisnosolace tosurvivorsandgrievingfamilymembersandcommunities trying to cope. It was about young children playing with matches, adults being careless with smoking, and the notso-infrequent mystery, as reported by the Guyana Fire Service,offiresofelectricalorigins. Inatleastoneofthe fiery,lethalincidentsinthisyear,therewasthepointingof fingers to grills. Guyanese should need no reminder, but irongrillsandsteelpadlocksclosedoutanyescapefromthe inferno of Mahdia, with 20 of our indigenous youth consumed by flames, the work of a child arsonist, as alleged.

NottominimizethesterlingeffortsputinbytheGFSto trace the sources of deadly fires, plus those that caused seriousinjuriesand/orseriouslossesofproperty,thereisso muchmoreatworkbeneaththesurfaceofthefiresthatrage and rip through wood and concrete and, most of all, our hearts. Fears for our safety from marauding criminals seeminglyoperatingatwillhavecontributedheavilytothe armor plating of homes and other places of occupancy, whether such functions as dormitories, or for business objectives. Thosewhocanaffordtheexpensesparenoneto secure themselves and their families through steel grills wrapped around their windows and doors. More latticework grills usually mean more padlocks, and more padlocksmeanthattheremustbemorekeys. Inacrunch,in thepressureofpanicinducedbylifeanddeathalarms,with fires imprisoning in a fearsome surrounding wall, what came about for the soundest of purposes, personal and familial safety, transforms into deathtraps. The chronic fears of constant crimes have compelled carrying security precautionstotheextreme,whichmeansthatgrillshaveto be installed. Despite reassurances from officials about dismantling crime, with statistics to match, rare is the Guyanese,ifanyatall,whomakesamovetodismantlehis or her protective grillwork. The fiery results are the numberswithwhichwelive,lament.

Childrenplayingwithmatchescanbeattributedtomore thanthenegligenceofpreoccupiedparents. Theeconomics of family conditions often necessitate both parents being outofthehomeforlongstretchesdaily Youngchildrenleft alone,orlockedupalone,isaninvitationtodisaster,which hastoooftenbeenthesadcase. Whoisleftalone,whoisin chargeofwhom,andwhatmeasureshavebeenputinplace to secure our most precious possessions, are questions answeredinheartbreakandtears. Thestruggleforfinances has ironically, sometimes, fueled fires that come from playingorexperimentingwithmatches,withliveslost,and irreparabledamagedone.

Thoughconsiderablylessinfrequencythanbefore,one fireofelectricaloriginsisstillonetoomany Surgesfrom thenationalenergygrid,orpoorwiring,orlackofbreakers, or illegal connections, could be the problem. If it is not surges, then the last three again point right back to the economics of fires, and how much our older homes, our poorer citizens, lag behind. We have heard about modern codesandfireextinguishers,allhelpfulpresences,butthe hand of demand, once again, reaches for funds that most likelyarenotthere. Inasocietywhereenoughstruggleto survive, electrical protections are a nice to have, but a luxurythatismostlyoutofreach.

Westillhavesmokers,andwewillalwayshavechildren around. Similarly,crimeandgrillsarenotgoingaway,nor themoneycominguptomakelifesaferfromfires.

OUTRAGED OVER $5M COMPENSATION TO THE MAHDIAFIRE VICTIMS

DEAREDITOR,

We are mothers, grandmothers, aunts and cousins who are concerned and outraged by the Government’s decision to give five million dollars to the parents of the children who lost their lives and who were injured in the Mahdia Dormitory fire, without waiting on the findings /recommendations of the CommissionofInquiry

ACommissionofInquiry about which we know nothingotherthanthatMajor General (Retired) Joe Singh hasbeennamedtoheadit.

The newspapers have reported that families received the payout if they agreed to “sign a settlement of all claims and causes of actions on all counts of injuriesresultingindeathsor not resulting in deaths that resulted from the said fire” (KaieteurNews,July19).In a television interview after

DEAREDITOR,

It was John Kennedy, who, in an effort to change the relationship between the President and the press and public, initiated White House live televised press conferences, as Olga G. and EdwinP.Hoyt,intheirbook ‘Freedom of The News Media’, published since 1973, observed that it was” to give the government and particularly the President greater visibility with the American people” Interestingly, they write that Kennedy’s live televised press conferences “brought withthem,tangibleevidence of the importance of the newsmen (media) and selfimportance brought a lessening of humility and humor in relations between the government and the fourth estate. This, in turn, creatednewfrictions”.

The book goes on to point out that Kennedy fought with the press. “He cancelled the White House subscriptiontotheNewYork Herald Tribune, a Republican newspaper that wascriticalofhim.Hisaides liedtothepressontheBayof PigsAffair”. The book also points out that President LindenB.Johnson“disliked the televised press conferencebecauseheknew he was not good at it- the press came to distrust him completely and so did the public,toalargeextent”.The lack of trust between the

the media broke the story (we only know about it because of reporting), the Attorney-General stated, “ W e s h o u l d b e complimented, rather than condemned as I see some attempts are being made to doincertainquartersbythis engagement. You know the Government didn’t have to dothis.Yourealisethat?We didnothavetoofferacentin financialassistance.Thefact is that we have done it,And not because anyone pressured us to do it, but because we felt that it is the least that could have been done and can be done in the circumstances.”

Is Nandlall, on behalf of his government, suggesting that Guyanese must be grateful that they are doling out taxpayers money for the relief of citizens who have suffered because of their negligence? Mr Editor, these are the questions we

wouldliketogetanswersto:

H o w d i d t h e Government arrive at the figureoffivemilliondollars foreachfamilythatlosttheir child or whose child was injuredasaresultofthefire?

Why are families being madetosignalegalcontract thatsaysthemoniesreceived will settle all claims and causesofactionsonaccount of all injuries resulting in death and not resulting in death? Thepressrelease from theAttorney General’s Chambers said that the agreements the families signed (or were made to sign) in no way affect the work of the COI. Are we to understand that when the COIhascompleteditswork, its findings/outcomes/ recommendations would overridethelegalagreement signed by these parents/ guardians? Why is the Government going ahead without waiting for the

findings of the COI to proceedwiththismatter?

One 16 -year-old teenager is in the lockups, charged with 20 counts of murder

No one else has been found accountable. More, in order to get the $5 million, grievingfamilieshadtosign adocument thatreleasesthe Government from any liabilitywhenitcomestothe Mahdia fire. Are officials trying to cover up their negligence in providing a safe learning environment forchildren?

Yourstruly, NormaAdrian

ShirleyAult

SusanCollymore

HalimaKhan

JoyMarcus

JonelPerreira

MaeveRamsay

VanessaRoss

WintressWhite

And others for Red Thread

press and the Office of the President continued under Nixon The Hoyt’s book notes that “freedom of the pressdidnotmean–assome newsmenseemtothinkitdid -thatofficialsorotherswere boundtoloveorevenrespect anysegmentofthepress.But then neither was it ever incumbent on the news mediatoloveorevenrespect any segment of the government. The members ofeachsidewouldhavelove orrespectastheydeservedit; such matters could not be guaranteed.Allthatcouldbe guaranteed was the right of the media to investigate and print the findings without any more restraint than would be imposed on any citizen.Freedomofthepress did not mean the freedom to libel or to commit any unlawful act: newsmen and mediahavetoberesponsible for their actions”. Today, if youlistentoFoxNews,there is little or no trust between them and White House reporting, including the President. If you listen to MSNBC or even CNN, the political bias favours the Biden administration In another book published as long ago as 1968 by Irving Fang of ABC News, he describes a press conference as“akindofcourtshipdance which the interviewer and his subject feint, parry and maneuver around the topic circle gradually coming closer together until the

climactic moment of trust andresponse”.Andsoitis.

What takes place in the US is mirrored in Guyana and has led to the controversy over the recent pressconferenceheldbythe President, which I moderated. I have worked bothintheUSand,ofcourse, Guyana, asIhavesaid,asa reporter and Newspaper Manager Because I served as moderator at the President’spressconference, Ihavebeentargetedbythose inthePressAssociationwho disliked the press conference. So be it, but, it did not give Nazima Raghubir, either personally or in the name of the Press Association,therighttolibel me, nor the Kaieteur News whichpublishedit.

All sorts of people, without knowledge or experience, have suddenly become experts on Presidential press conferences,themostrecent in a letter to Stabroek News by someone who signs his name E.B John. I believe I canclaimtohavemoderated more press conferences on theonehandandattendedas a reporter on the other hand, more press conferences than anyone else in the media today in Guyana. I have lectured on Planning and Conducting a Press Conference at UG’s Center of Communications Study and elsewhere. The last I remember was in 2021. In

that lecture I made the following points, to which I remain professionally committed:”The press conferenceisthebestmeans of establishing face to face communication with the massmediaandforreaching the general public. Many people make the mistake of annoying the journalists at a press conference by making too long an opening statement Confine your opening statement to no more than ten (10) minutes. Don’tpreachanddon’tmake a s p e e c h A l w a y s programme to start on time.

T h e C h a i r p e r s o n (moderator)will brief the conference on the governance of the press conference For example, asking every reporter to identify him or herself and organization before asking their first question. Do not allow a press conference to last any longer than 60 minutes. Facilitate as many questions as possible within the time. Make sure that as many reporters as possible are afforded the opportunity to ask questions within the timelimitavailable”.

The press conference is, however,moderatedtoserve the directions of the person delivering the conference.A professional moderator facilitates that purpose.This is the last statement which I willmakeonthismatter

Yourssincerely, KitNascimento

All sorts of people, without knowledge or experience, have suddenly become experts on Presidential press conferences

An idea for mobile markets

DEAREDITOR,

OnCanadaDay,July1st, I had the pleasure of attending a Guyanese diaspora event in Woodbridge,Ontario.

The place was packed. Wewereaddressedbyahigh powered team from Guyana and, later, by President Ali himself As usual, he knocked it out of the ballpark,withoutreferringto notes.Inthequestionperiod, hewasaskedwhathethinks hislegacywillbe.

He immediately responded by saying that he does not think in terms of a legacy and for him to do so, wouldbepresumptuous.

All he hoped for is that people would say that he gaveithisbest.

We took the measure of the man. Then we blinked and he was in Trinidad, attending the CARICOM meeting.

When President Ali mentioned the shade houses and mega farms that are coming on stream in Guyana, I remembered an idea that popped into my headdecadesago.

Manywillrememberthe ice cream vans and their distinctivemusicaltonesthat we grew up hearing as they very slowly drove on our streets; stopping every now andthentoservecustomers.

Those vans provided a template for my idea of having mobile markets These vehicles would be roughly patterned on the ice cream vans and would also have distinctive musical tones.

However, instead of vending ice cream, they would be specially configuredtosellfarmfresh produce. The coffee and food trucks that are used in NorthAmerica also come to mind.

I am simply planting a seed, putting the idea out there. Maybe some enterprising person or entity (in Guyana or abroad) willrun with this idea and makeitareality

If the investor is based abroad, “Go invest” could shepherd the establishment ofthebusiness.

A pilot project with two specially equipped vans might be the way to start, testing the waters so to speak With today’s technology,itwouldbeeasy for the base of operations to track the location of each vehicle, and also to be in touchbyphone.

Target areas would be residentialandrural.

As demand grows, the number of vans could increase to a sizeable fleet. Suppliers would be small to

mid-size farmers and also the shade houses and mega farms.

Some cooked meals could also be sold in biodegradable containers

For example, breadfruit and stewisagoodcombo.

Herearesomebenefitsof havingmobilemarkets:

1. Convenient taking the markettotheconsumer

2.Cutting out the time and gasoline expended in drivingtothemarkets.

3.Easing the hassles of congestion and parking at the existing markets.

4.Stimulating and growing the market for local agriculturalproduce.

The mobile market business itself can get involved in agriculture, thereby attaining what economists call vertical integration.

Now, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well, to a level of excellence.

Everything should be first class; accurate scales, cleanliness, well paid, honest, uniformed employees etc. What would be a good name for this business?

Thelogicalchoiceforthe name that appears on the vansis“Themobilemarket”.

Yoursfaithfully, SieyfShahabuddeen

No water in Garden of Eden in three weeks

DEAREDITOR, We have not had GWI water in Garden of Eden for three weeks despite many callsfromneighbours.

We are asking for GWI portablewatertruck.

Alltheykeeptellingusis

that the problem has been corrected.

We had low pressure for thepast10yearsandnowno water in the line to pump evenatmidnight.

Guyana is the land of many waters but no water

fromGWI.

Please investigate all of their excuses – we need water or the portable truck waterfromGWI.

Weneedyourhelp.

Regards,

SammyNarine

DEAREDITOR,

I wish to refer to the unfolding saga of the recent Press Conference held by His,PresidentDr IrfanAli.

I do so because I share theoptimismofonewho in defense of the handling of that conference adverted to the belief that the pen is mightierthanthesword.

How much this has impacted on human history is of course another matter and how much it is allowed to in Guyana is the mighty hurdle.Inhisdefense,ofMr Nasciemento’s handling of this Press Conference, Honourable Minister Kwame McKoy apparently in an attempt to burnish the image of Mr Nascimento made reference to the fact thatheisinhis89thyear

Onthatscore,thoseofus as part of that generation grew up learning and accepting the importance of respect for ladies and we were taught to be careful in criticizingfemales.

First,thePresidentofthe Guyana PressAssociation is a female and the generation to which Kit and I belong must show a high regard for theladies.

Second, to the Press Conference itself, any Press Conference organized for the Head of State should have comfort and adequate space, whether the Press Conference is held at Leonora, Georgetown or BabuJaan.

Failureinthesetwoareas

constitutes a disrespect for ourHeadofState.

If a building is not available, tents, chairs and tables are today available in abundance.

The contention about a lack of space or excuse is ludicrous and unworthy of Prominent Presidential Personalities.

With so many things happening locally and internationally, it behooves our Head of State to give guidance on topical matters whether it be oil and gas, school fires, cost of living andamiscellanyofmatters.

The non sequitur by referring to the immediate Past President David Granger and what takes place at the White House is of course not relevant to the issue at hand. I can forgive Minister McKoy but Mr Nascimento and the older folksareawareofushosting press conferences where reporters and journalists

were able to field questions for in excess of ninety minutesnon-stop.

One ought not therefore as happened, restrict the number of questions a journalist/ reporter can ask oftheHeadofState.

Mr. Nascimento, for whom I have a high regard shouldknowthisandbeable to advise the younger brigade.

Sometimes,onewonders withallweseehappeningin our country today including a not too subtle form of neocolonialism that behind thescreenmaybethelureor luster of a little lucre. The challenge of a democracy and the viability of our country require that organizations such as the Guyana Press Association (GPA) and its leadership be neither throttled, trampled, threatenednortrivialised.

Sincerely, HamiltonGreen Elder.

,

was last seen in early 2005,if anyone know of his whereabouts, kindly contact his Sister Joy on

#699-0654

Behind the screen in today’s Guyana may be the lure or luster of a little lucre

Artificial Intelligence and the Development of Agriculture and Food Sectors in Oil Rich Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

The Caribbean, indeed, the world, is prioritising the use ofArtificial Intelligence (AI)in the modernisation of their national economies This is associated with the proliferationofdevices,such as, IoT, IIoT and Instruct GPT with its sibling, ChatGPT, and Microsoft’s AIforEarthProgramme.

Theagriculturalsectoris part of this transformational processwiththeuseofAIin agriculture globally projected to increase from US$1.1 billion in 2019 to US$3.8billionby2024.This favourable projection is linked to AI use in agriculture being associated Interalia with increased efficiencyandeffectiveness, resulting in increased profitability and industry sustainability

These beneficial outcomes are primarily due to the plethora of associated devices that are grouped as (1) algorithmic and (2) a u t o n o m o u s T h e algorithmic devices can collect,analyseandinterpret gigantic quantities of data andmakeprojectionsand/or predictions that exceeds human capacity and reliability improving with increasing data range and use.ThishasledtoAIbeing usedinteraliato:

· In crops, (i) forecast weather and hence best timing of planting; (ii) determine fertiliser, pesticide and irrigation water use; (iii) optimise supply chains; and (iv) forecast market peculiarities

andreadiness. In livestock, (i) determine feeding patterns; and (ii) management of endemicdiseases.

There are many autonomous devices, including drones and robots, conducting precisionoperations,such as:

In crops, land management and agronomic practices, including pest control,andpollination,.

· In livestock, milking, feeding and general husbandry

· In farm administration and management, transport, haulageandsanitation.

W h a t a r e t h e implications for the agriculture and food sectors in an oil rich Guyana and, by extension, CARICOM? Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, CARICOM’sLeadHeadfor Agriculture, recently stated that the “Caribbean market mustbepositionedasahighvalue specialised one”.It is now well demonstrated that t h e Wo r l d T r a d e Organisation’s requirement for globally produced commodities to have relatively free access to national markets of developing countries, such as,Guyana,hashinderedthe growth of indigenous agriculturalandfoodsectors. Nonetheless, because of potential geopolitical pressuresandtheestablished trading patterns for food commodities prevailing in Guyana and Caricom, this status quo will not change

significantly soon Therefore, achievement of the position identified by President Ali, that is, food supply to a “high-value specialised”market,mustbe generally done with global competitiveness. With the abundance of stated benefits associated with the use of AI in agriculture,thepotentialuse i n a c h i e v i n g competitiveness required of Guyana’s agriculture and food sector needs to be examined.

The use of AI in agriculturewouldnotposea mentalblocktopractitioners in Guyana’s agricultural sector who have historically introduced innovative practicesandtechniques.For example, the sugar industry has utilised aircraft for fertilising and pest control and drones for assessing the state of its available lands. Similarly, the rice industry has “adapted”caged wheels for tractors operating under waterlogged conditions, utilized aircraft for seeding and fertilising and a land leveling “machine” which could be considered as a precursorwithintheconcept of Machine Learning Systems. Further, at a basic algorithmic level, farmers have established their timingsforlandpreparation, planting and, hence, harvesting with traditional knowledge of the climatic seasons. Within that broad canvas, they determine best timestoplanttheirshortterm and tree crops with the advent of the “full moon”.

More recently, they have become aware that long droughts, associated with climatic changes, are followed by severe pest infestations. Consequently, theymakeearlypreparations toeffectcontrol.

Agricultureisacomplex social, economic and environmental system that responds to the particular and peculiar metrics of Guyana; these metrics are/willberobustlydynamic with the impact of climate change. Consequently, the uses of AI in agriculture in Guyana can’t be transferred wholesalefromthecountries inwhichtheyarebeingused successfully They must be tested, adapted and customised to ensure fit for purpose in Guyana. This process,whichistantamount to being a “living laboratory” , requires enhanced numbers and specialties technical and financial capacities With respect to finance, Guyana can use some of its substantial current and projected oil and gas revenues. Once used wisely, this will be a profitable investment in the development of the country’s sustainable agriculturalandfoodsectors of the future. At the algorithmic level, particularly as it relates to dataonweatherpatterns,the Caribbean Institute for M e t e o r o l o g y a n d Hydrology, in association w i t h n a t i o n a l Hydrometeorological Services, like Guyana’s, is making available Numerical Weather Predictions to the public,includingthoseinthe agriculturalandfoodsectors. With support from the Extension Services, this information could then be

usedbyindividualsmalland large agri-entrepreneurs to plan, with a level of precision,forfarmactivities. Thesewouldincludetimeof land preparation, planting, weed control, husbandry practices and harvesting

This is particularly critical for the agriculturally important, but difficult to manage,heavyclay/siltsoils of Guyana’s coastal and riverineareas.

Small farmers currently dominate the country’s food productionsector Withtheir limited technical and instrumental capacity, the template of institutions (ministries or parastatals or agriculturally based associations) collecting and analysing data and developing projections must b e p r o m o t e d a n d strengthened As stated previously, the use of AI, at both the algorithmic and autonomous levels, will require“livinglaboratories”.

It’s recommended that these be located at the various ecological zones within Guyana. This will enhance possibilities of minimising risk whilst optimizing possibilities for sustainable enterprise development. Thisismademorenecessary because of the current high costs of autonomous devices. A strong, innovative, visionary and responsive institutional model is essential Notwithstanding the above, therearesomepotentialuses for AI in the developing agriculture and food sectors in Guyana. Firstly, at the algorithmic level, weather and soil data could be collected and analysed to project with significant statisticalaccuracytimingof critical agronomic practices and approaches to various

marketplaces This will require the Government to enhance its soil collection and analytical capacity to include in the first instance selected crops within specificecologicalzones. A further possibility is the collection of appropriate activitydatathroughout(but particularlyattheproduction segments) selected value chains, to facilitate the d e v e l o p m e n t o f “traceability” models: a prerequisite as Guyana expandsitsproductionforits robustly expanding hospitality sector and for CARICOMandotherexport markets.At the autonomous level,asGuyana,forclimate change reasons, is moving southwards, away from the “threatened”coastlands, there is need to rapidly regularise occupancy to facilitatedevelopmentplans. Drones are appropriate for this activity However, the appropriatelegalframework must be established, operationalised and institutionalised Drones may also be used for planning the layout, including planting densities, of medium to large sized farms, growing corn, soybeans, rice, sugar, tree crops, and pasture grasses. Similarly, they can be used for pest control. In the Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs, whose topography is generally flat and/or undulating, appropriate planting, fertilising and harvesting autonomous machines can be adapted used. Naturally, this will depend on the capitalcostandtheabilityto maintainanacceptablelevel of Return on Investment. These activities could serve as pilots for similar enterprises in Belize and Suriname and, in a more limited way, Jamaica. That is,withitsfavourableoiland gasrevenues,Guyanacanbe theleaderintheuseofAIin Agriculture in CARICOM. Clearly, there are challenges to its use and these will be addressed in a subsequent article.However,sufficeitto saythatthesuccessfuluseof AI,in ensuring long term resilient and consequently sustainablefoodsystemsand food security in Guyana, dependsontheadequacyand competency of its HI, HumanIntelligence.

Regards

H.ArlingtonChesney

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JAGDEO’S CONTRADICTIONS

Yesterday at 2PM the NationalAssembly convened for the 65th sitting of the twelfth Parliament.

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At the same time, Member of Parliament and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo was at Freedom House hosting his weekly news conference.

It is not the first time Jagdeo has shown his disregard for the NationalAssembly.

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Since his election as a MPback in 2020, he has probably attended only three sittings.

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The fact that he could be hosting his weekly ranting at a time when he should have been in the assembly, is indicative of how low value he places on the work of that body.

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No wonder most Guyanese do not pay any attention to what happens there, much to their detriment.

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At a previous occasion, the said Jagdeo was dismissive of Cabinettelling reporters he doesn’t go, although he is the second vice president and the third ranked official in the cabinet.

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Cemetery road project delayed by supernatural forces – Min. Edghill

Supernatural forces have reportedly delayed the completion of $475M Cemetery Road, Georgetown upgrade, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill disclosed on Thursday a NationalAssembly

Minister Edghill was at time responding to questions posedbyOppositionMember of Parliament, Annette Ferguson.

“This project started on timeshortlyaftersigningof the contract but the evidence is there and it is now known around that the contractor has had to change several teams because of the location of this project and superstitious nature of our country When certain members started falling sick, there some interpretationbysomethatithadto do with some supernatural force that was at work and the rest of the workers started staying away”, Edghillsaid.

FergusonaskedtheMinisterfor

the reasons for the delay in the completionoftheroadproject.The project was scheduled to be completedbyJuly20,2023.

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill addressing the national assembly on Thursday.

Additionally, the Public Works Minister also said the weather played a role in the delay of the project. “Secondly, the other cause of the delay sir was rainfall,”

EdghilltoldtheHouse. The Minister said that the drains along Cemetery Road have been consistently overflowing during the rainy season, causing

A section of Cemetery road

water from the Le Repentir Cemeterytofloodtheroadandstall the works Edghill said that ministry has sought engineers' interventiontoidentifyareaswhere

the excess water can be drained out duringheavyrainfall.Henotedthat several avenues have already been usedtorelievetheproblemand

(Continued on page 19)

WHY IS JAGDEO SO CAUTIOUS ABOUT A PETROLEUM COMMISSION?

Guyana’s oil and gas regulatory f r a m e w o r k remains weak When commenting on this at his ‘pressconference’yesterday, Vice President Jagdeo made comments which suggested that he effectively distinguish between the regulatory framework and themanagementframework.

When one speaks about the governance framework, it is not limited only to the regulatoryframework.

The governance framework also includes the measureswhichgovernment has instituted to better manage the sector A useful guide for assessing a country’s governance framework is the Resource Governance Index This index ranks countries in terms of their governance performance in the oil and gas sector For 2021, the N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e Government Institute (NRGI) published damning findings concerning Guyana’s performance on the index. It categorized Guyana’s governance of its oil and gas sector as being weak, with a poor score of only55outof100points.

The NGRI identified weakness in value realisation, revenue management and the enablingenvironmentforthe sector The institute noted then that the legal framework governing the licensing process is a cause forconcern.

Commentators have pointed to this problem, averringtherapidhastewith

which licenses are being approved. The report also haspointedtoproblemswith transparency It noted that the government takes considerabletimetodisclose contracts and observes that negotiations takes place behind closed doors, criticisms which Jagdeo are yettoaddress.

Instead of doing so, he remains flippant about the absence of a Petroleum Commission.

He says that this will follow later: but why later and not now? Why have a revised Petroleum Bill without a Petroleum Commission? There is only one answer: the government ishell-bentonmonopolizing the management of the sector and is paranoid about oversightofitslicensingand otherdecisions.

Jagdeo’s failure to immediately institute a Petroleum Commission will h a v e d i s a s t r o u s consequences for the country Guyana’srankingin the natural resource governance index will plungeevenfurther.

Instead of bringing the Commission into being immediately, the Vice Presidentisreportedtohave announced some time ago thatanadvisorybodywould be established to advise the President This advisory body will be a toothless poodle.Itislamealternative toaPetroleumCommission.

The Commission was supposed to have been in placeoneandhalfyearsago.

But nothing has happened There is no

Dem Boys Seh...

reason for not having a Petroleum Commission in place. Draft legislation is alreadyinplace.Theformer APNU+AFC had tabled legislationwhichdefinedthe f u n c t i o n s o f t h e Commission. But it may be precisely those functions which provide oversight overtheactionsofMinisters which have paralyzed Jagdeo and the PPPC from bringing a Commission into being.

Itisvitallyimportantthat thisCommissionestablished before any decisions are made regarding the auctions oftheoilblocks.Bydelaying the establishment of the Commission, the awards at anyauctionofoilblockswill be at the behest of politicians.

The NGRI has also flagged Guyana for a weak enabling environment and a problematic regulatory quality It has also pointed out to the issue of open data standards where the government has scored a failingscoreof12outof100. Another major criticism by the NGRI concerns the absence of fiscal rules. This is not an isolated criticism. The IMF has also raised concernsinthisarea.

LastSeptember,theIMF advised the government to setitsannualbudgetswithin a medium term fiscal framework so as anchor fiscalpolicyinasustainable way

TheIMFwarnedthatthe amendments to the Natural Resources Fund Act do not provide such an anchor It claimedthatthegovernment

When yuh borrow, yuh muss pay back

We gat some barefaced people in Guyana. Dem doescometoyouwithsome sad story about dire needs a n d u n e x p e c t e d developments. Dem does tellyouhowdemneedsome money fuh borrow Out of de goodness of yuh heart, yuh does lend them your hard-earnedcash.Butwhen times come fuh repay, dem doesdoadisappearingact.

And when yuh run into demonderoad,islikedem suffering from amnesia Demdoesbringupanyand every topic under de sun, except dat dem owe yuh money. Dem borrowers whodon’tlikerepayshould

tek up acting because de performance dem does put onwouldwindemanOscar

And when yuh ask dem fuh yuh money, dem does vex.And dem does gat and even sadder story fuh tell. Dat is why dem boys does gatfuhplayarole.

Once dem boys suspect datsomebodycometodem fuh borrow money, dem boysdoesaskdemfussfuh a loan before dem ask dem boysfuhaloan.

Itreminddemboysofa storyaboutaladywhowent to her uncle fuh borrow some money. She told him how she wanted the money to pay she rent. De uncle

lacks a medium term fiscal framework To date the government has not indicated that it has since d e v e l o p e d s u c h a framework. This makes a mockery of the regular announcements by the government that it is spending billions here and billionsthere.Thefactisthat for 2022, the IMF

anticipated that 3 out of every ten dollars of Guyana’s capital budget would not be spent. But do nottellthattoJagdeo.Asfar asheisconcerned,Guyanais making progress with the governanceoftheoilandgas sector and the spending of the oil revenues. The truth howevercanbealittlemore liberating.

(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.)

told her to give him some timetothinkaboutitandhe wouldcallher

Before he could, he received a call from de lady’s father, who warned him not to give her any money since she wanted it to use fuh bail money fuh herboyfriend.

Butdeunclestillcalled deladyandtoldhertocome and collect the money She did.

About two hours after she called him from the policestation,claimingthat she was locked up and asking him how he could givehercounterfeitmoney. TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

GHK LALL

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS?

Thoughinthethousandspublic servants are dying by a thousand cuts. Despitetheirnumbers,Isay theyareadyingbreed,definitelya speciesoflimitedutility Itismore accurate to describe the condition ofpublicservantsinGuyanaasthat of suppressed utility, convenient photo opportunity, particularly when the color scheme supports PPP Government claims. The questions stir, settle down, and then slip into the consciousness again:whathappenedtoourpublic servants,seniorones?

To where have they disappeared unwillingly? To where have they been consigned smartly? Thesequestions,andthe concernssurroundingthem,arenot going anywhere. I look around, read, note the developments occurring,complimentsofvarious ministerial portfolios, some of which are vast, and which are usually in tens, or hundreds, or thousandsofmillionsnowadays.

Theprojectsinvolveroadsand bridges, schools and examination results, hospital facilities, equipment, and medicines, or securityandfiresafety Thoseare only a snapshot of the business of government (and the people) that hasbeenstartedwithmuchfanfare,

Technicolor, and surround sound. Bose and Nakamichi would be proudoftherangeandeffects. But thequestionspersist,inthisblurof majordevelopmentsandactivities, where are the senior public servants?IcastaboutfortheChief WorksorChiefHydraulicsOfficer, and there is only the Minister of Public Works When he is consumed by other attractions, there is always the able junior minister They make a good tag team. But where is the Chief RoadsOfficer(or21stcenturytitle nowused)?

Why is it almost always the mug of this minister or that, all honorable servants of this superrich society, of course? It would be a positive to see, hear, andlearnfromtheChiefEducation Officer, or the Permanent Secretary of this or the other ministry appearing and blessing natives. With words of wisdom when one of the mega projects in thepipelinemakesitswayintothe media. It would be more than a positive to confirm that they are still around, can speak, actually think,andaregainfullyemployed. Emphasis on gainfully, meaning, working in the interests of the people I have a decent

understandingofhumannature,so there is appreciation for the ego andself-loveofmenandwomenin high offices. Need I mention the narcissism of the king of them all ? But microphone and camera are not pigsties to be hogged by ministers to reinforce politicalmessages,suchasitiswe, the PPP, who are doing our duty, while dealing with the money for the citizenry I urge all to pay the closest attention to that little constructionofmine:‘dealingwith the money….’ This is where public servants, and the more senior the better, the more comforting,areworththeirweight in platinum and rare earth minerals. Combined.

No more ‘Yes, Minister’ we willfindaway[somehow]tomake what is demanded work’. Rather, the chief technician, the chief statistician, and the chief administrative and Chief accounting and chief operating officers of ministries are duty boundtoministerstosteerthemin the right direction. These are the rules. No, no, it can’t be to hell withthem,sir(ormadamminister). Ministers can be their own worst enemies, need to have their hands held, their feet slowed, and their

heads straightened. This is where permanent secretaries come into their own, actually delivering the best service to the people. In so doing, they protect thepublicpurse,theyobserveboth letterandspiritofwhatiscleanand lacking corruption. It would be appalling, the depths of official depravity for any Permanent Secretary to be a participant in schemes that harm the reputation of the PPP Government, or another; most of all the dignity of thepeople. Whetherheorshedoes thatfromtheoffice,ontheroad,or online, is irrelevant: it is still criminal, either as an author, or as an aider and abettor, and a protector In my book, senior public servants have a huge, very vital role to perform, many of them;andalmostallsuchrolesisto guide the minister to righteous pathways. Unfortunately,frommy own observations, the conclusion is that ministers are permanent secretaries, ministers are engineers, and ministers are educators, though many of them aredumberthanoildrums.

As rich, yes; but mostly, definitely denser I recall a nationally known medical practitioner,whoistightlyaligned

with the PPP, saying to me that there will be many young people and they will not stick any nonsense I point to the environment as it is, and all I can present are the impotent, the willingparticipants,andthosewho have lost mind, hearing, and truth that they were maybe once theirs. When the PPP Government, meaning the one supreme master, brought in the young, something cunningwasdelivered. Therewas lowering the age of senior public servants, and simultaneously loweringtheIQlevel,degradingof levels of conscientiousness, and destroying the levels of needed principles. It is why the only principals seen parading around projects are the panjandrums pretending at ministers Oh, Guyana!

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

Lawyer, activist want transparency in selection of new judges

...urge JSC to advertise widely; say practice not in keeping with constitution

The traditional p r a c t i c e o f a p p o i n t i n g Justices to sit at the Guyana Court of Appeal and High Court by way of invitation is setbethesubjectoflitigation.

According to a letter written by the law firm, 'SatramandSatram'onbehalf of attorney, Arud Gossai and public commentator, Ramon Gaskin, the move is in the interest of transparency and ensuring the newly constituted board of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC)actsincompliancewith theconstitutionintheprocess of appointing judges by advertisingthevacancies.

Theletteraddressedtothe newJSCboardconstitutedon 14th July, 2023 notes that while the practice of having the Head of the Judiciary

invite suitably qualified persons to apply for the position is rooted in the traditionsofEngland,itisnot consistentwithArticle129of theGuyanaconstitution.

In the letter, the law firm stated it is expected that the Commission will soon commence its work, which includes the appointment of qualified persons to hold or act in the office of Judge. As such, the JSC should be c o g n i z a n t t h a t t h e continuation of its current method of appointing judges can lead to legal action taken against it. “Our clients have an interest in ensuring that there is compliance with the Constitution in the appointment of Judges. The Commission may be aware that its decisions are subject to Judicial Review This

means that in the exercise of any discretion, the Commission must act reasonably, rationally and fairly…,”theletterstated.

GROSSVIOLATION

It further went on to explain since the invitation only method is not consistent with the Constitution; the vacancies for judges should therefore be advertised. The law firm said a refusal to advertise to fill the vacancies would amount to “a gross v i o l a t i o n o f t h e Constitution,” for the Commission and limit the number of applicants for any vacancyofJudge.

The provisions of the Constitution and good a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d transparency dictate that all persons eligible for appointment should have an

opportunity to be considered fortheposition.

“Particularly Article 129 o f t h e constitution…stipulates that all persons qualified for admission as Attorneys-atLawinGuyanaareeligibleto be appointed as a Judge. For this reason, we urge the Commission to advertise, within Guyana and in the wider Caribbean, all vacancies for the position of Judge.

Persons holding the Legal Education Certificate from the Council of Legal Educationarebysection4(1) oftheLegalPractitionersAct entitled to be admitted as Attorneys-at-Law in Guyana,” the law firm explained.

Satram and Satram said unless the vacancies are advertised, the Commission can never be properly satisfied that it has attracted the most suitably qualified candidates.

The firm stated, “Article 129(1)(a)oftheConstitution providesforthepossibilityof persons who are or were J u d g e s w i t h i n t h e Commonwealth to be appointedasJudges.

Assuch,theCommission should advertise the vacancies within the Commonwealth Every person who meets the requirements specified in A r t i c l e 1 2 9 o f t h e Constitution and section 5 of the High Court Act enjoys a right to apply for and be considered for appointment. The Commission has no powertocurtailthisright.”

COMPETENCE

In the letter, the firm statedthatinadditiontoneed for independence and impartiality, the Constitution also guarantees that judicial officers shall be competent. “The Commission's attention is drawn to Article 197 (3) which provides for the removal of Judges for 'persistently not writing decisions or for continuously failing to give decisions and reasonsthereforewithinsuch time as may be specified by Parliament' ” It explained

that the Commission has to be therefore satisfied that the persons they intend to appoint or recommend for appointment are capable of giving written decisions within the time-limits stipulated by Parliament. “It would be a violation of the Constitution for the Commission to appoint or promote sitting Magistrates and Judges who have a history of not delivering timely judgments In the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e C o m m i s s i o n h a s a Constitutional duty to request and consider, from potentialapplicantsandother sources, evidence of their compliance or ability to comply with the Time Limits for Judicial Decisions Act. The appointments must be doneonthebasisofobjective criteria.”

TRANSPARENCY

In the interest of transparency, 'Satram and Satram' said that their clients demand that the criteria which the Commission

intends to utilize should be m a d e p u b l i c T h e Commission ought to be aware that its decisions will impact thousands of litigants and potential litigants who will not be consulted in the appointment process. As a result, the Commission has a h e i g h t e n e d d u t y o f t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability in any appointment process it embarks upon or employs. “Our clients will challenge any decision of the Commission, which does not enjoy immunity from suit. Because of the public nature of these appointments and its potential impact on public life, our clients demand that the list of potential appointeesbepublishedprior to their appointment and that members of the legal profession and the general public be invited to make s u b m i s s i o n s t o t h e Commission on the suitability of potential candidates,”theletteradded. Further, it emphasised that “the Applicants do not e n j o y a n y r i g h t o f confidentiality when applying for a Constitutional office.

The right of the public to ensure compliance with the Constitution displaces any s u c h n o t i o n o f confidentiality, if it does exist.

Theappointmentsarenot private in nature.” The law firmstressedthattheneedfor this form of transparency is a legal necessity because once appointed; Judges enjoy security of tenure and immunity from suit, making it virtually impossible to removethem.

Assuch,thefirmsaidthat it expects to hear from the Commission on the modalities it will apply with respect to advertisement, the objective criteria to be applied, and the other steps it will take to assure transparency prior to making anyappointments.”

Public Commentator, Ramon Gaskin

Attorney- at- Law, Arud Gossai

Amerindians were shut out of final decision on carbon credit sales, payment arrangements - MP says

An Indigenous M e m b e r o f Parliament has called out the government on the disbursement of carbon credits payments and also questioned whether the villagers were properly consulted and gave their consent for the sale of the credits.

Several indigenous groups and organisations have also criticized the administration for the arrangements put in place for the sale of credits as well as allocation of funds to Amerindiansvillages.

In a statement Member of Parliament, Vincent Henry, whoisalsoLeaderofGuyana Action Party (GAP) said although the Indigenous peoplesarethankfulthattheir carbon credits have become marketable, they are not pleased with the concept that theGovernmentisutilisingin bringingittofruition.

“They see the payment of the 15 percent of the Carbon Creditfundsasacontribution to the Indigenous peoples as an affront It is not a contribution it is payment from the sale of some of the carbon credits owned by the

Indigenous Peoples,” Henry noted.

Further, he said the village general meetings of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana, largely, did not get the opportunity to make the final decisions with regards to the sale and amount of remuneration to be received.

“It must be noted that the Amerindian Act of 2006 distinctly spells out that the VillageGeneralMeetingsare the final arbiters in the communities Bearing in m i n d t h e a b o v e discrepancies, the Guyana

Action Party is requesting that the concept be revisited to allow Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) by the IndigenousPeoples.”

“We further request that the money from the sale of Indigenous owned Carbon Credits be paid directly to them via their legally established institutions and systems.

We also propose that the relevant agencies in consultation with the communities develop broadbased guidelines and checks and balances that will ensure that the monies acquired from carbon credit sales are generally utilised in developmental projects that promote and support the LCDS,”Henrysaid.

The government last year struck a deal with Hess Corporation which will see Guyana issuing about 7.5M credits per year, on average from 2021 to 2032. But even before the pact was signed the Irfaan Ali – led A d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a d committed that 15 percent of theproceedsfromanysaleof forest carbon will go to Amerindian communities, in both forested and non-

forested areas. Guyana will receive $187M, as payment for the 'legacy period' (20162020). For the period 2021 to 2025, a payment of $250M is

expected; and for 2025 to 2032, $350M, under the agreement with Hess Corporation.

G u y a n e s e

Environmentalist,Dr Janette Bulkan, in a recent letter said that the sale by the GovernmentofGuyanaof (Continuned on page 19)

Member of Parliament, Vincent Henry

House clears $4.7B supplementary funds for ‘Amerindian development’

More than $4.7 billion of supplementary funds were on Thursday passed in the NationalAssemblytofurther develop and empower indigenous communities nationwide.

This amount was

distributed equitably to the communities in both the hinterland and along the

Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai told the National Assembly, while responding

allocation She explained that this allocation aligns with the government's expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)2030.

“ T h e P P P / C i v i c Government has embarked

since we came into office on developing and expanding the [LCDS]…the fund is legitimate, it is a muchneeded transfer, and the LCDS which speaks about thesaleofforestservicesand 15 per cent to the indigenous

population is exactly what the government is doing,” shedisclosed.

After the seven-month national consultation, it was agreed that 15 per cent of carboncreditswouldbepaid directly to indigenous communitiesacrossGuyana.

In January and February, the National Toshaos' Council, the national body of elected village leaders from across

a l l 1 0 r e g i o n s l e d

engagements, which determined a structure for the allocation of the carbon credit payments The structure centres on the determination of payments based on population, and includes villages (both titled and untitled areas), communities,andsatellites.

Indigenous villages and local communities will define for themselves their

priorities of economic development initiatives on social uplift enter, climate adaptation and mitigation, and food security that need to be advanced for foster villagesustainability

These plans detail how the villages will identify actions that will develop the village economy as it addresses the effects of climate change The intentionofthecarboncredit financing is to ensure that there is a consistent flow of revenue to the indigenous communities. These plans outline how villages, through a process of selfd e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d autonomous management, will identify and implement actions to develop village livelihoods while addressing the impacts of climate change.(DPI)

New Deputy Speaker, Govt. MP sworn in

Deputy Speaker, Dr. Asha Kissoon

Jo i n d e r L i s t M e m b e r o f Parliament (MP), Dr Asha Kissoon from The New Movement party secured a majority vote on Thursday to be elected

Deputy Speaker of the NationalAssembly

The newly elected Deputy Speaker secured 33 votes from Members of Parliament, while 31 MPs voted against. Dr Kissoon's election, won the seat over APNU+AFC, nominated MP Dawn HastingsW i l l i a m s a s t h e Government nominated Kissoonforthepost.

Dr Kissoon officially replaced Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party

(LJP) Lenox Shuman, who previously served as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Dr Kissoon became a MemberofParliamentback in April after Shuman's term under the Joinder list agreement came to an end. Under the Joinder agreement, the Liberty and Justice Party, The New Movement (TNM) and A New and United Guyana (ANUG), are sharing the one seat they secured in the National Assembly Dr Kissoon's TNM is entitled to a three-month stint in the Assembly After that threemonth period expires the other remaining party to serve,isANUG.

Trio gets life sentence for murdering Soesdyke-Highway vendor

Fi f t y - y e a r- o l d C h a n d r a p a u l Persaud, also called 'Raju' or 'Duffy'; 61year-old Harrilall Ramdhan, alsocalled'Baba'or'Roshan'; and 36-year-old Jageshwar Ghanie, also called 'Toto', were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2017 murder of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway vendor, Dhanpaul Dookie, called'Pauline.'

Last month, the trio was found guilty by a 12-member jury that was empanelled for the murder trial. The jury returned with three guilty verdicts for the capital offence. The three accused had denied the charge which stated that between July 24 and 27, 2017, at Uitspa Village in the Demerara River, they murdered Dookie The 51-year-old vendor was reportedly stabbed to death during a robbery

On Thursday, their sentence was handed down by Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry in the Demerara High Court. According to report, Dookie's body was found with multiple stab woundsonThursday,July27, 2017. It is believed that he

was killed three days earlier

The vendor was stabbed twice to his abdomen, one time each on his lower back, hip, forehead, and above his righteye.

It was stated that after committing the act, the trio raided the vendor's home, carting off with cash, jewellery and other items, beforeescaping.

The State Prosecutor asked the court to consider the aggravating factors, and to send a strong message to like-minded offenders. The court heard that the trio premeditated to rob and

murder Dookie after seeing him with a large stack of $5000 bills. The court heard that the men bought 'high wine'toimbibewhilewaiting on the place to get dark beforetheyattackedDookie.

It was stated that the men were armed with knives and an axe After invading Dookie's home, one of the accused reportedly used the axetolashDookietotheback ofhisheadafterherefusedto tell them where the money was hidden They then inflicted more wounds to Dookiebeforeescaping.

Notably, Ramdhan was

Six-month-oldbabycritical afterhittingheadonrock

A six-month-old baby is reportedly critical after he fell off a chair on Wednesday and hit his head on a rock at Enteringbang, Cuyuni River, Region Seven. Up to press time yesterday, the baby's parents were seeking assistance to transport him to a hospital in neighbouring Venezuela for immediate medical attention.

The child has been identified as Josue David Santanillo Kaieteur News understandsthatthechildwasrushedtothe Eteringbang Health Center immediately afterhefell.

A referral note for immediate medical attention in neigbouring Venezuela was signed by the doctor stationed at the health centre.KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatthe doctor stated that there was no external bleeding but the baby's face and head were swollen.

The referral note reportedly noted too thatthebabywascryingcontinuously

Lacking the necessary equipment and with the Eteringbang airstrip still under repairs, the doctor had no choice but to referthechildtoahospitalinVenezuela.

“Patient is being referred toTumeremo HospitalinVenezuelaforfurthertreatment and pediatric specialty care,” the doctor's referralnotestated.

reportedly committed the crime of murdering Dookie while he was on bail for attempted murder In her sentencingremarksthejudge stated that the aggravating factors far outweigh the mitigating factors which are of minimal effect She considered that the men premeditated the crime, noting that they burned Dookie's phone, their bloody

clothes and washed the weaponstodestroyevidence.

She added that the three accused while robbing Dookie bludgeoned and stabbed him repeatedly causing him to die, and the sentencing must reflect the gravityofthecrime.

Notably, the judge also considered the men good behaviour while in prison, the fact that they were not

previouslyconvictedandthat they cooperated with the police. Justice SewnarineBeharry then sentenced the mentolifeimprisonmentand noted that Ramdhan and Persaud are to serve 30 years behind bars before they are eligible for parole.The judge saidtoothatgivenhisageand genuine remorse, Ghanie is eligible for parole after serving25years.

Jailed, Chandrapaul Persaud, also called 'Raju' or 'Duffy' Jailed, Harrilall Ramdhan, also called 'Baba' or 'Roshan'

Jailed, Jageshwar Ghanie, also called 'Toto' 'T

Critically injured, Josue David Santanillo

Govt. to raise debt ceiling to borrow more

In order to be able to borrow more money to finance other projects in the pipeline, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has plans to increase the country's debt ceiling. This is according to Minister ofFinance,Dr.AshniSingh.

During an interview with News Room, the Senior Government Minister said that the government has been m a k i n g s i g n i f i c a n t investments and managing the country's finances responsibly

Dr Singh explained, “given all of these heavy investments initiatives and also ramping up of social programmes, we have of course been incurring a fiscal deficit, this is publicly known.

It'sreflectedinourannual budget every year and so you finance the budget deficit by borrowing and we have been borrowingveryprudently.”

Although Guyana has been repeatedly advised to keep watch on its ballooning public debt, the government believes it has the capacity to take on more loans thanks to thethrivingoilandgassector Theministerstatedthatasthe economy grows, Guyana's capacity to borrow increases, a n d n o t e d t h a t t h e government intends to use that capacity to finance an aggressive programme to modernise and transform Guyana.

Notably,thisisthesecond time in two years the government will be increasing the country's debt ceiling.

In January 2021, the

People's Progressive Party/Civic Government had tabled two Orders at the National Assembly to raise the country's debt ceiling.

The Orders proposed that the domestic debt ceiling be increased to $500 billion from $150 billion and a new external borrowing ceiling of $650 billion from $400 billion.

Both of these increases reflect a 233.3% and 65% increase,respectively

BothOrderswerepassed, following debates by the government and the opposition.

In this vain, the Finance Minister predicted that the opposition will object once again to the increase of the country'sdebtceiling.Infact, he said, “They will object …theywillfirstofallpresent this borrowing more and

characterise that as a bad thing or a negative thing… and the reason for this really is very simple, they are well awarethatwearecontracting this borrowing for the purpose of financing development programmes and they don't want development programmes to be delivered as long as the People's Progressive Party is ingovernment.”

Debtincreasedby2.3%

Meanwhile, the Central Bank recently disclosed that Guyana'stotalstockofpublic and publicly guaranteed debt increased by 2.3 percent or US$ 84.5 million in the first quarter of 2023, a recent CentralBankreportsaid.

The document noted that this sum would take the nation's total debt stock to US$3.7B from the end of December2022position.

According to Bank of Guyana, the stock of total domestic debt grew by 3.7 percenttoUS$2.2B.

It said this is an increase overtheUS$2.1Brecordedat the end of December 2022. It was also disclosed that the stock of external public debt increased by 0.5 percent to US$1.6B.

With respect to domestic debt, Central Bank said this increased mainly on account of growth in the stock of treasurybillsattheendofthe reviewperiod.

This news agency understands that the stock of treasury bills increased by 7.1 percent mainly as a result of higher issuances of treasury bills for budgetary support.

As for the increase in the stock of external debt, Central Bank said this resulted mainly from 1 0 percent or US$9.1M growth in multilateral debt stock from the end of December 2022position.

The financial regulator said this was largely due to increased disbursement from t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development Association (IDA) by 10.6 percent to US$129.9M from the end of theDecember2022position.

Central Bank further noted that there was a 0.1 percent or US$0.5 million reduction in the stock of bilateral debt owed to NonParisClubcreditorsfromend December 2022, which resulted from higher debt servicepayments.

Speaking to domestic debt service payments, Bank ofGuyanasaidthisincreased

by49.8percentorG$283.5M to G$852.9M from G$569.3 million in March 2022 Kaieteur News understands that principal payments increased by 12.3 percent or G$30 million, likewise, interest payments increased significantly by 78.0 percent orG$253.5million.

In terms of external debt service payments, Central Bank said this increased by 27 9 percent to US$34 4 million primarily on account of higher principal repayments to bilateral creditors and higher interest payments to multilateral creditors.

Expounding further, Central Bank said debt repayments to the InterAmerican Development Bank which accounts for 74 9 percent of debt repayments to multilateral creditors and 39.8 percent of total external debt service, increased by 55.5 percent to US$13.7millionasaresultof higher interest repayments during the review period. Likewise,debtrepaymentsto the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) rose by 11.6 percent to US$3.4 million. Similarly, Central Bank said debt repayments to the EximBank of China, which accounts for 73.1 percent of debt repayments to bilateral creditors and 32.6 percent of total external debt service, increased by 5.0 percent to US$11.1millionasaresultof higher principal repayments duringthereviewperiod.

Looking ahead, Central Bank said total public debt is expected to expand to US$4.4B, due to increases in both domestic and external debtstock,whiledebtservice payments are expected to rise.

UN warning

Only last week United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres disclosed that half the world is sinking into a development disaster,

government domestic and external debt– reached a record USD 92 trillion

Developing countries owe almost 30% of the total, of which roughly 70% is attributable to China, India andBrazil.

The report said in Latin America and the Caribbean, developing countries are devoting more money to interest payments rather than toinvestment.

The report noted that across the world, rising debt

some two weeks after Dr Singhhadannouncedthatthe country's total public debt stood at US$3,654.9B an increaseby16.9percentfrom lastyear.

In its report titled, 'Dealing with Debt – Less Risk for More Growth in the Latin America and the Caribbean'theIDBdisclosed that debt has risen and stands at some US$5.8T which is 117 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in theregion.

fuelled by a crushing debt crisis, noting that some 3.3 billion people – almost half of humanity live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on educationorhealth.

Hemadethecommentsas the UN launched a report titled:'AWORLDOFDEBT' lastWednesday

The document was prepared by the UN Global Crisis Response Group and the five UN Regional Commissions: ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP and ESCWA.

According to the report, public debt around the world has been on the rise over the last decades Cascading crises in recent years triggeredasharpacceleration ofthistrend.

As a result, global public debt has increased more than fivefold since the year 2000, clearly outpacing global GDP, which tripled over the sametime.

In 2022, global public debt – comprising general

burdens are keeping countries from investing in sustainable development

“An increasing number of countries find themselves trapped in a situation where both their development and theirabilitytomanagedebtis compromised.

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

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

Excessiveborrowing

Notably, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) in a new report published earlier this year, cautioned LatinAmerica and Caribbean (LAC) countries against'excessive'borrowing and urged governments to bring their debts down to moreprudentlevels.

The report was published

“Given the dangers of excessive debt, the current situation in Latin America and the Caribbean is worrisome,”theIDBsaid.

IDB said public debt serves a critical role for countries to pursue public investment projects, implement countercyclical policies, and provide support to economies in the face of negativeshocks.

However, the IDB warned that if public debt becomes too large or is not managed with sufficient caution, interest costs may balloon, growth prospects may suffer, and in the limit, a costly debt crisis may be provoked.

Moreover,theIDBsaidin its report, “This pattern of debt increases in the region pointstotheneedforstronger fiscal institutions to establish credible and sustainable mediumterm objectives to limit debt spikes, and where they are necessary, to promote periods of debt reduction…”

Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

Banks DIH launches Guinness Smooth

Banks DIH on Thursday officially

launched the newest addition to its exquisite line of alcoholic beverages,GuinnessSmooth.

The Launch was held at Thirst Park, Georgetown.

Like the name suggests, Guinness Smooth is lighter and much smoother than the original Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Brew Master Mathew Kendall said, “Guinness Smooth is a bitter sweet mix of hops, malt and roasted barley which gives it its rich chocolate and coffeeflavour”.

Headdedthatitisbrewedwithrobustyeast and only has one third of the bitterness of the original Guinness. “…It undergoes an early cessationtoenhanceitsfull-bodiednatureand provided a delicate sweetness, ” Kendall continued.

The Brew Master also pointed out that

Guinness Smooth is being brewed locally under the watchful eyes of a Banks DIH's Third Party Officer who ensures that there is strict adherence to the numerous operational and quality in the brand technicalmanual.

Meanwhile, Guinness's Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste related that the new stout was created to attractamarketofitsown.

“The wholesale price for one case of Guinness Smoothis$5,850percase.Thisisthethirdweekof distribution and the feedback has been overwhelminglypositive”,Batistetoldreporters.

Also speaking at launch, Marcela Vargas, head of beer commercialization for CentralAmerica and the Caribbean, pointed that launch of Guinness is a milestone for Banks and her company. “We together, have a strong ambition of growing our business and we are confident that Guinness Smoothlaunchisoneofthemostpowerfulwayswe candothis”.

The New Guinness smooth

The Banks DIH team at the launch of Guinness Smooth

Brew Master, Matthew Kendall

Guinness Brand Ambassador, Lee Baptiste

Marcela Vargas, head of beer commercialization for Central America and the Caribbean.

NAMILCO gets US$8M mixing plant to beef-up products

…re-certified by GNBS 'Made in Guyana' programme

The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) has invested US$8M on a mixing plant that will help the company to improveitsproductsaswellasfood safety This was disclosed on Thursday during a recertification ceremony held by the Guyana National Bureau of Standard (GNBS).

NAMILCO'S Managing Director, Mr Roopnarine Bert

Signing of the re-certification

Sukhai said that, to continuously improve products and customers' satisfaction, the company invested $US8Monthemixingplant.

Operations Manager, Ralf Hemsing said that for the development and improvement of the company, the mixing plant wouldsoonbecommissioned.

Mr Hemsing added that the company has sufficient wheat and ingredientsandwillbereadytomix and blend flours of any kind that

meets their customers' satisfaction.

The company will also be able to createitsownrecipe.

The Operations Manager assured that once an order is made, it will be completed within 24 hours.

The company anticipates that the mixing plant will be set up withinthenextthreeweeks.

Meanwhile, the company was re-certified on Thursday through GNBS's 'Made in Guyana'

Amerindians were shut out of final....

From page 13 forest-based carbon credits was fraudulent. She explained that the Government had no authority to sell any of the resources on the titled Village Lands without explicit Amerindian agreement at Villagelevel.

“This was a sale of stolen property, and Hess Corporation is likewise criminally guilty of purchasing such stolen property, having been informed of the illegality,” Dr Bulkan added. She explained that any Amerindian Village Council can agree to dispose of natural resources of the titled Amerindian Village Lands only through compliancewithsections13,14,34

and 44 of the Amerindian Act cap. 29:012006.

According to Dr Bulkan, these sections require a properly convened village meeting and a vote of at least two-thirds of villagersinfavourofsuchdisposal. To this end she said, “So far as I know, none of the titled Amerindian Villages has convened such a meeting or passed such a vote.” Consequently, she said the sale by the Government of forestbased carbon credits was fraudulent, including the 2.299 millionhectaresofforestonVillage LandssoldonDecember1,2022.

“This was a sale of stolen property, and Hess Corporation is

likewise criminally guilty of purchasing such stolen property, having been informed of the illegality,” Dr Bulkan said. She added that the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat's TREES and Aster Global Environmental Solutions as auditor were informed that their failuretoapplytheAmerindianAct led to these criminal acts. Notably, Aster Global was contracted as the auditor of Guyana's carbon credits scheme to ensure compliance with the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat's T R E E S ( T h e R E D D + Environmental Excellence) Standard.

Cemetery road project delayed by...

From page 8 reportedthattheprojectisprogressingatafasterrate. WhiletheMinisterwaskeennottogiveanewdeadline for the completion of the project, he was quick to tell his colleagues in the National Assembly that the contractorhasbeeninstructedto“speed-upworks.” “…And the ministry has indicated that it has no objections to subcontracting elements of the project since there are two bridges and two culverts to be built along with the road and the widening of the fence that components of this project should be contracted to improvethetime,”MinisterEdghillexplained. The Minister anticipates that the project will be

completed before year end, should all go according to plan.

Avinash Constructing and Scrap Metal Inc. was awardedthecontractfortheroadupgradein2022.

The scope of works for this project entails expanding the road to accommodate four lanes, construction of concrete drains, a walkway, resurfacingoftheroadandreconstructionofculverts.

The Cemetery Road upgrade is part of a $1.4 billion project that includes the enhancement of Independence Boulevard with the road being extended into three lanes and the establishment of a recreationalpromenade.

Some products NAMILCO manufactures

certification programme. The recertification was held at NAMILICO's Agricola, East Bank Demerara(EBD)location.

HeadofCertificationServiceat GNBS, Keion Rankin stated that “the re-certification really shows the criteria and mean in Guyana.A criteria and mean of Guyana focuses mostly on the local content.”

Rankin said that the certificationgivesassuranceoftwo

things: the country's origin and the qualityofproducts.

Back in June 2022, NAMILCO received its certification from the GNBS to use the 'Made in Guyana' Certification Mark on its 'Thunderbolt' and 'Maid Marian Self-Rising'flours.Atthattime,the flour company joined three other Guyanese companies that met the quality requirements of the 'Made in Guyana' Certification Programme.

Investment, implementation key to ensuring primary health care-based systems work for 21st Century

If the Americas is to reverse the impact of t h e C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic, countries must urgently develop and implement primary health care-based systems that consider the changing epidemiologicalcontextsand population needs of the 21st Century, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO),saidonThursday

“We have just been subjected to one of the most devastating events in global public health in the last century

T h e C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic had a profound impact on health and socioeconomic development worldwide and resulted in tremendous loss of life in the Region of the Americas,” he said during his remarks at the Primary Care International Conference in Washington D.C. “I cannot think of a

better moment for us to take collective action on this issue.”

During his intervention, Dr Barbosa highlighted the issues the Region has faced since recognizing primary health care as the principal strategy to address health challenges in the 1978AlmaAtaDeclaration.

These include decades of lackofprioritizationinhealth policy,insufficientallocation of resources in communities, and the development of hospital-centric models of care. All of this “contributed to the concentration of healthcare far from the communitiesandpeoplewho neededitmost.” “Ourhealth systems were simply not prepared for the pandemic,” Dr Barbosasaid.

The PAHO Director underscored that primary health care is key to recovering from the pandemic, preparing for

- PAHO Director says

future health emergencies and reversing pandemic trends in maternal and child mortality rates, increasing vaccination coverage, accelerating the elimination of communicable diseases suchasHIV,TB,andmalaria, and expanding access to healthservicesforthecontrol and prevention of noncommunicable chronic diseasesandmentalhealth.

It is crucial that countries also prioritize a 'localized approach' to primary health care, “developing models of care adapted to the local health conditions and local context to reach the most vulnerable populations and addresshealthdisparities.”

“Health does not start in hospitals or clinics,” added Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DirectorGeneral of the World Health

Organization, “but in homes, schools, streets, and workplaces.

“As the eyes and ears of the health system, strong primary health care has a vitaldualfunction,inhelping to protect communities against both pandemics and

Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

ThespreadofCOVID-19 and the existential threat of climate change underscore how health disasters do not haveborders.”

everyday health threats ”

“We must continue to exchange experiences and learn from global and regional best practices in primary health care,” Dr Barbosa said. “Our world today is more interconnected thanever

To accelerate action, Dr Barbosa urged decisionmakers to “Invest, Innovate and Implement.” While this includes investing the recommended minimum of 6% of Gross Domestic Productinhealthwithafocus on allocating resources to the first level of care, countries mustalsoensurethatfunding reaches the populations that need it the most, the PAHO Director highlighted Countries must also find “innovative ways to ensure therighttohealthforall,”not only through technology and digital health but by rethinking models of care, innovations in governance, a n d i n t e r s e c t o r a l c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h multilateralandbilateral

(Continued on page 22)

GWI to build $540M headquarters at Houston

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will soon build a $540M h e a d q u a r t e r s t o accommodate 111 staff at H o u s t o n , G r e a t e r Georgetown.

This information was disclosed during a recent opening of tenders at the National Procurement and TenderAdministrative Board (NPTAB).

The site is located at Plot S10 Houston, Greater Georgetown.

According to the tender documents the construction is to be completed within 18 months and another 12month defect liability period. The proposed design of the office building caters for three floors of a total of 1 6 , 8 7 5 s q f t t o accommodate all 111 staff of variousdepartments.

The proposed design includes all office spaces for: Hinter Development, Human Resource Department, Water Resource Unit, Projects Department, ICT Support Unit, Cooperate Service, CEO Secretariat, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Public Relations Unit, Business Development Unit, Public Relations Department, Audit Department, Visitors waiting room, washroom facilities, Conference Room, Printing Room, Driver's Room, Electrical Room, kitchen, storage.

The amenities of the building are: asphaltic

d r i v e w a y / w a l k w a y measuring 12,056 sq. ft (first phase).

The proposed building sizeis(75'–0” In ×90'–0”) addition, there would be securitychecksattheexitand entrance, garbage collect point, generator, fence, d r a i n a g e n e t w o r k , landscaping works, waste water collection and treatment, and complete air conditioningsystem.

In this year's budget, governmentannouncedplans for water transmission systems to be upgraded in areasincluding:Pouderoyen, Vergenoegen, La Parfaite Harmonie, Caledonia and Cummings Lodge New wells will be constructed at Onderneeming, Lima,

C e n t r a l R u i m v e l d t ,

C u m m i n g s L o d g e , Caledonia and Amelia's Ward.

In the hinterland and riverine communities, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had said that last year 15 new wells were drilled in areas including Matthew's Ridge, Arakaka, Kamarang, Itabac, Sand Hill, Maikwak, Kamana, and Taruka, benefitting more than 8,000 persons who are receiving service for the first time. Additionally, the installation of distribution network and the construction of an elevated storage unit with service connections also complemented the new wells that were completed As

such, the hinterland's access to potable water supply has now increased to 75 percent, up from 46 percent at the end of 2020, and we are on track to achieving 100 percent by 2025, Dr Singh had said in hisbudgetpresentation.

He said too that in 2023, $1.4 billion will be spent on the further upgrade and extension of water supply systems and construction of wells in several hinterland communitiesofRegions1,2, 7,8and9.

He said government targets an increase in treated water coverage for the coastland from 52 percent currently, to 90 percent by 2025. With this target in mind, in 2022, Government upgraded three existing water treatment plants located at Covent Garden, Grove and Eccles benefitting more than 60,000 residents. In 2023, he said the administration will advance works on the construction of seven new water treatment plants at Onderneeming, Parika, Wales, La Parfaite Harmonie, Caledonia, Cummings Lodge and Bachelor's Adventure Further, 12 existing water treatment plants located at Vergenoegen, Fellowship, Pouderoyen, Eccles, Covent Garden, Grove, Better Hope, Mon Repos, Friendship,

Two teacher’s quarters for Reg. 9 estimated to cost $36M

he Ministry of Education is Tlooking to spend some $36 million to build new teacher’s living quarters at Baitoon and Bashaizon PrimarySchoolsinRegionNine. Theseprojectswererecentlyopenedatthe

GuyanaEnergyAgency

ProvisionofTransportationServicetoRegionaland HinterlandCommunities’StorageFacilitiesAcrossGuyana.

National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard

Itwasrevealedthatthelivingquartersfor

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids:

NationalDrainageandIrrigationAuthority(NDIA)

ConstructionofControlStructureatBurmaMainDrain.

Baitoonisexpectedtocost$16million,while thefacilityforBashaizonisestimatedtocost $20million.

MinistryofHomeAffairs

ProcurementofVehicleSpares-GuyanaFireService.

MinistryofAmerindianAffairs

SupplyanddeliveryofThirteenNewRadio TransceiversetwithAccessories.

MinistryofEducation

ICTEquipmentandOfficeFurnishing.

SupplyandDeliveryofTwoNew DieselGeneratorsLot1-2.

ExternalWorks-ConstructionofFenceand InternalRoadNetworkforConditioningand StroagePlantforCornandSoyaBean.

ConstructionofTeachersLivingQuarters RegionNineBaitoonPrimary

ConstructionofTeachersLivingQuarters Region9BashaizonPrimarySchool.

ConstructionandFurnishingofHome EconomicsandIndustrialArtsBuilding RegionN0.10St.Cuthbert’s.

MinistryofAgriculture

Supply,DeliveryandTestingofArtisanal VesselRemoteMonitoringServices.

WANTED VACANCY

Porters, Driver and Salesman needed. Attractive salary offered, experience will be an asset. Call: 226-9800.

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

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

1 Concrete pump truck Driver /Operator and 6 Mixer Driver. Contact: 650-0402/ 665-3880.

One experienced low bed Driver needed. Must be able to load and off load equipments. Call: 644-7088.

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

Wanted: Experienced Puri Maker, Cashier, Counter Person, Labourer and Cleaner. Apply at Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts.

One decent, live-in Domestic partner, light housework. Salary 60,000. Call: 603-9085.

Wanted: Cook and Kitchen Assistant needed for food business on EBD. Call: 6432090.

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

Farm Workers needed to work at Hauraruni. Call: 6748723.

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

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

Experienced jet, maroc and Pit men wanted for mining operation. Call: 688-6575.

Experienced mechanic, technicians and male Cooks wanted for mining operation. Call: 688-6575.

SERVICES

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

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132.

One Salesman, 3 subjects cxc, experience in writing bills, stocktaking & cashing. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

Jamaica - COUNTERFEIT CRACKDOWN

More than $500 million worth of fake brands seized seven months into 2023

Jamaican ObserverRoughly $200 million worth of counterfeit goods was on Wednesday seized from a store in the West Parade section of downtown Kingston when cops swooped in on the establishment following a formal complaint from a brand owner that fake items mimicking their products were being sold there.

Counterfeit bags were also seized in Wednesday’s raid at a store in downtown Kingston. (Jamaica Observer)

General Domestic needed to work 4 days per week, must know to cook. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office. Sales Clerks, Delivery Clerks and Porters needed. Apply at Lens 136 Sheriff St, next to Buddy's/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486/227-1511.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

Victor Barrett, assistant superintendent of police, who heads the Intellectual Property Rights Unit within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime branch, confirmed the seizure and said that one foreigner had been taken into custody and will be charged with breaches of the Trademark Act.

“This is part of our continued efforts to rid the streets of counterfeit goods. On close inspection of the store, we discovered a large quantity of [fake] Crocs, Nike, Puma and Tommy Hilfiger in all shapes

and sizes. There is a warehouse inside the store that has a massive amount of goods and they are selling them without the authorisation of the brands,” Barrett told journalists shortly after the raid on the store.

Email: lensgy@outlook.com

Person needed to assemble bicycle. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.

Receptionist, Room Attendant, Maintenance Guy, Laundry Attendant & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown, ages 25-50 years old. Call: 2252304.

Accounts, Office & Bond Clerks, Lorry Drivers, Sales Rep & Supervisor, Cashier and Porters needed. Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com Call: 609-2995,

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

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

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 for Drill Helpers at Land Star Drilling Co.. Call: 231-1408/ 642-9191.

Vacancy exists for Bond Clerk and Inventory Personnel to work for a Construction Company. WhatsApp application to 656-0603 or amconguyana@gmail.com

Cleaner, maintaining Worker, Labourers, Office Assistant and Time Keeping Clerk required. Call: 621-6969, 6157784.

Good quality parkay and vinyl with glue. Please Call: 693-1071/ 232-0269.

Used Nikon D700 DSLR+ Tamron lens+ many accessories. Pristine condition, $170,000 neg. WhatsApp: 625-0044.

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

This latest seizure brings the value of fake brands removed from the streets since the start of 2023 to more than $500 million.

They were confiscated during six major raids in different hot spots, including downtown and Half-WayTree.

Barrett explained that for raids to be initiated, a compliant must be triggered from brand owners. He encouraged Jamaicans to be more vigilant when purchasing certain goods and to be concerned that their money could go towards funding criminal enterprises and activities.

on the current letter of the law, we have to wait until we get a complaint from one of the owners of the brand to say that their brand has been infringed at a store and give the location. We would then do what we have to do,” he said.

“I would tell the public to be careful where they buy goods. The prices also might be of concern to you. We understand the issue of disposable income and our citizens want deals, but if the price is too good, think about it. If you check an [Nike] Air Force 1 on the Internet, it is selling for, like, US$150 which equates to about $22,000. If someone is selling an Air Force for $7,500, then something is wrong; I say to customers to be cautious,” added Barrett.

Some of the counterfeit goods seized on Wednesday in downtown Kingston.

“We have a duty under the law to protect our citizens and, more important, there are public health concerns. [To] our countrymen who buy these products - we don’t know what chemicals they use to make these shoes. The law speaks to fines of up to $1 million or 12 months imprisonment. I think that, based on the magnitude of the trade, they can increase the penalty. Somewhere in the world some little boy or girl might have been trafficked to produce these items. You don’t know the component of the dye. You could put it on and sweat, and it goes in your bloodstream and then you have some ailment,” Barrett said.

FOR RENT

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

One bottom flat and storage space available in Vreed-enHoop suitable for clinics, salon/ barber shop, taxi service, office, etc. Call: 683-4281.

“What normally happens is that we would receive certain information from the owners of the brands and do our investigative inquiries. The big brands express concerns every day, but as usual, we have to wait until they give us a statement in relation to any infringed goods. Based

In the meantime, Barrett pointed out that many Jamaicans are unaware that they could be at risk of serious illness by wearing counterfeit products and recommended that the fines and prison terms be increased for people engaged in the sale of counterfeit products.

Stating that he does not want Jamaica to become a dumping ground for counterfeit goods because of its link with human trafficking, money laundering, and organised crime, Barrett encouraged retailers to legitimise their operations by becoming official distributors of famous brands.

“Reach out to the brands and legitimise your operations; become a [certified] distributor,” he said.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage . Contact: 649-0956.

From page 20 partners. Finally, Dr. Barbosa called for action.

“We must go beyond political declarations and aspirational statements and translate theory into practice.”

“Together, we can build resilient health systems that

promote, and guarantee the right to health. By investing, innovating, and implementing, we can learn from history, overcome past challenges, accelerate health gains, and create a happier future for all.”

The Primary Care International Conference, which

takes place at the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, from 19-20 July, brings together high-level health care experts from government, civil society, and academia to discuss the ‘Essential role of Primary Health Care for Health Security and Securing Health”.

Investment, implementation key to ensuring... protect,

ExtensionofPrimarySchool RegionN0.1SebaiPrimarySchool.

SupremeCourtofJudicature ConsultancyServices:Supervision-Construction ofanAnnex,Suddie,Magistrate’sCourt,Suddie.

MinistryofTourism,Industryand CommerceSupplyanddeliveryof OneBrandNewDoubleCabPick-Up.

North Korea threatens nuclear retaliation over U.S. displays of military force

Reuters - North Korea said on Thursday that the deploymentofUS weapons like aircraft carriers, bombers, or missile submarines in South Korea couldmeettheconditionsfor its use of nuclear weapons, state media KCNAreported, citing a statement by the country’s defense minister KangSunNam

Thecommentsraisethe stakesaseachsidestepsup displaysofmilitaryforcein a standoff over the isolated country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The defense minister’s statement also accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions in the region while criticizing the first meeting by their nuclearconsultativegroup.

“The ever-increasing visibilityofthedeployment of the strategic nuclear submarine and other strategic assets may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law,”thestatementsaid. DPRK is short for the

North’s official name, the Democratic People’s RepublicofKorea.

The remark is aimed at the Ohio-class US nuclearpowered submarine which arrived at a port in the southerncityofBusanearlier this week “The phase of a military clash on the Korean peninsula has surfaced as a dangerousreality,”theKCNA reportadded

The report comes after a US soldiercrossedtheborder intoNorthKoreaonTuesdayat a time of heightened tension between the two Koreas and the United States. North Koreahasyettocommenton theincidentinvolvingtheUS soldier Lastyear,thereclusive statecodifiedanew,expansive nuclear law declaring its status as a nuclear-armed state “irreversible” “The utmost significance of legislatingnuclearweapons policy is to draw an irretrievable line so that there can be no bargaining overournuclearweapons,” North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying at that time by KCNA.

Man gets 10 years for stabbing woman to death

Fifty- three-year-old Raymond O'Selmo, called 'Goadie Man' formerly of North Sophia, Georgetown, was on Thursday sentenced to10yearsimprisonmentfor fatally stabbing Nadina Kalamadeen, a mother of fivebackin2019.

O'Selmo was sentenced by Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Demerara High Court He was arraigned for the capital offence but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count which is manslaughter

During the sentencing hearing, O'Selmo told the court that to this day he still cannotrecallwhattranspired the day Nadina was killed becausehewasintoxicated.

Nevertheless, in his addresstothecourt,heasked the deceased's family to forgive him for what he has done and he also begged the court to be lenient with him when handing down his sentence In his plea of mitigation, O'Selmo's lawyer, Teriq Mohamed asked the court to consider that his client has opted to not waste the court's time and pleaded guilty He also noted that the fact that alcoholabusewasinvolved.

InthiscasetheStatewas represented by Prosecutors Mikel Pooran, LatifahElliot and Carissa Henry In his address, Pooran asked the court to consider the aggravating factor which is that the attack involved the use of a weapon, namely a knife which was used to inflict six incised wounds aboutNadina'sbody

The Prosecutor also highlighted that the court should consider the prevalence of violence

against women in Guyana and the natureoftheoffence.

Accordingtothefactsof the matter, on February 27, 2019, Nadina was walking on Second Street, North Sophia, Georgetown when O'Selmoapproachedherand attempted to hold her hand andfollowherontheroad.

Nadina pulled away her andtheaccusedthentookout a knife that he had in his pants waist and stabbed the woman several times about

Dharamlall's replacement sworn in

herbody

While stabbing the woman, the accused was interrupted by some passersbywhoyelledathim. The court heard that this caused O'Selmo to flee the crime scene but he was chased after and intercepted by public-spirited persons.

He was reportedly beaten beforehewashandedoverto thepolice. Accordingtothe post-mortem examination (PME), Nadina died as a result of six incised stab wounds, to her face, neck, cheek, wrist and right and left breast. In his caution statement to the police, O'Selmo reportedly stated thatonthedayinquestionhe was imbibing. It was stated that O'Selmo noted that, he sawNadinaandattemptedto followhertoherdestination.

However, the court heard that he told the police later that he does not know what gotintohisheadafterNadina got him upset because she did not want him to follow her Accordingtothecaution statement,hewasdrunkand couldnotcontrolhispassion sohepulledouthisknifeand chopped Nadina to the face. He told the police that after she started to scream, he stabbed her several times.

O'Selmosaidtoothatbythe time he woke up he was in

the hospital and heard that Nadinawasdead.

The court heard that on July6th,1990,O'Selmowas jailed 15 years for raping a 12-year-old girl and on September14th,2011hewas fined for discharging a loadedfirearm.

Inhersentencingremarks, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry took into consideration the aggravating factors, the nature and prevalence of the offence,aswellasthefactthat the use of alcohol impaired theaccusedjudgment

She was also guided by theweaponthatwasusedand the physiological trauma caused the mother of the deceased as well as her five children, three of whom are minors.

The judge took into consideration that early guilty plea and the fact that the accused is remorseful. ShethensentencedO'Selmo to 10 years imprisonment and ordered that the four yearshespentonremandbe deductedastimeserved.

Newest Member of Parliament for the Peoples' Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Nandranie Coonjah said heradditiontotheNationalAssemblywillbeoneofvirtue.

Coonjah took the Oath of Office before Clerk of the th NationalAssembly, Sherlock Isaacs, during the 65 Sitting of the NationalAssembly at theArthur Chung Conference Centre(ACCC)onThursday Shereplacesdisgracedformer Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall as the Region Two MP Government is yet to name Dharamlall's replacementasaminister

Coonjah was extracted from the PPP/C's Geographic ListofCandidatesforRegionTwo.Afoodcaterer,Coonjah has been recognised for her work with the school feeding programmeandisalsoaCommissionerontheWomenand Gender Equality Commission. Under Guyana's electoral system,25ofthe65MembersofParliamentareelectedfrom the 10 geographical constituencies; the other 40 are pulled fromthenationaltop-uplist.

New Member of Parliament, Nandranie Coonjah

Jailed, Raymond O'Selmo Dead, Nadina Kalamadeen

Imam stands firm on last day for Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in Galle

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan was made to sweat before beating Sri Lanka by four wickets before lunch on the fifth day of the first cricket test yesterday.

Pakistan lost three wickets in the morning but opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq’s unbeaten 50 saw the visitors win a match it dominated from day three.

Chasing 131 to win, Pakistan started the day on 48-3, needing 83 more runs and with memories of the 2009 test at Galle. That’s when the visitors needed 97 runs with eight wickets in hand chasing a target of 168 and were bowled out for 117.

Babar Azam and Imam combined for 41 runs for the fourth wicket and the run chase looked a mere formality, but Prabath Jayasuriya trapped the captain for 24. Imam and Saud Shakeel then shared 43 runs for the fifth wicket. Shakeel, the double-century-maker from the first innings, scored 30 from 38 balls when he was caught behind off Ramesh Mendis. But Pakistan needed only nine more runs.

Jayasuriya claimed his fourth wicket of the innings when Sarfraz Ahmed, attempting to sweep, was caught at backward square leg by Kusal

Friday July 21, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

There's an important lesson to learn today, Aries, so don't shy away from the classroom. It's important to control your attitude now or it's likely to control you. It could be that your ego is a bit too inflated

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Consider the romantic relationships in your life right now, Taurus. It's important to remember that regardless of how hot and steamy a partnership is at first,

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today is your day to become a hero, Gemini. You don't have to be dressed in fancy tights and a cape to make an important difference in someone's life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

There's a great deal of fun to be had today, Cancer. Money isn't always necessary to make this happen, however. In fact, money isn't a great way to keep score.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Remember that the important thing isn't necessarily what you're doing but the people you're with, Leo. There's a great deal of passion in the air today that yo u can latch onto and put to good use.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

You could learn a tough lesson today, Virgo. More than likely, the harder the message hits you, the more important it was for you to hear. It's important that you accept failure gracefully.

Mendis. But Imam was immovable, making 50 from 84 deliveries, hitting four fours and one six in his 11th test fifty. Agha Salman walked in at the fall of the sixth wicket with Pakistan needing four runs and he completed the victory by depositing Jayasuriya over long-off for six.

Sri Lanka won the toss and scored 312 and 279. Pakistan replied with a first knock of 461, including an unbeaten 208 by Shakeel under pressure in his sixth test. “Saud Shakeel was unbelievable.” Babar said. “We lost early wick-

ets in the first innings but the way he absorbed the pressure was superb. His effort helped us to get ahead of the game. Very satisfied with the way he went about things. Galle is not an easy wicket to bat but he made it look easy.”

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne praised his deputy Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 122 and 82. “We have to learn from Dhananjaya,” Karunaratne said. “He showed how to bat when the bowling is on top. If someone had taken responsibility and hung around with him, we could have posted decent totals. To win the toss and not to score big when conditions were best for batting was so disappointing.”

The second test begins on Monday in Colombo.

Catley penalty gives Australia win over Republic

BBC Sports - Steph

Catley’s second-half penalty gave World Cup co-hosts Australia a 1-0 victory over debutants the Republic of Ireland in Sydney.

Catley, standing in as captain after Australia’s star forward Sam Kerr suffered a calf injury on the eve of the game, converted the winner in the 52nd minute.

The Republic of Ireland frustrated the Matildas in the first half but their good work was undone when Marissa Sheva pushed Hayley Raso

and Brazilian referee Edina Alves point to the spot.

Kerr, who is also set to miss Australia’s second game with Nigeria, celebrated on the bench with her team-mates but was restrained as she nursed the injury which kept her out of her team’s opener.

Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn all came close to what would have been a famous equaliser but the hosts held on to start their World Cup campaign with a win.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

There's a great deal of fuel to keep your fire raging today, Libra. Powerful situations are apt to come your way in which you're asked to take decisive action. Don't shy away from added responsibility.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Remember that one wrong move today could cause you to have a headache for a good long while, Scorpio. Don't take uncalculated risks. There's dynamism and confidence in the air.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

It's a long road to becoming exactly the person you want to be, Sagittarius. You can't change who you are. Input from every person you know and lessons from every bump in the road.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You should always leave a loved one with loving words, Capricorn. Each time you exit a room, consider that you're never going to enter that room again. Perhaps you'll never see those people again.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Just when you think you have absolutely no energy left, you're able to kick into a higher gear. Push beyond your limits today, Aquarius. You'll find that you can achieve a great deal.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Regardless of how you feel today, Pisces, it's important to own up to your mistakes. Keep in mind that you're responsible for your actions. No matter how much you might want to shrink away,

Scores: Pakistan 461 (Shakeel 208*, Salman 83, Ramesh 5-136, Jayasuriya 3145) and 133 for 6 (Imam 50*, Jayasuriya 4-56) beat Sri Lanka 312 (Dhananjaya 122, Mathews 64, Abrar 3-68, Afridi 3-86) and 279 (Dhananjaya 82, Madushka 52, Abrar 3-68, Noman 3-75) by four wickets.

Noel, Seaton...

From page 30

Jr., benefiting from a FINA Scholarship, aims to showcase his progress in the sport during the men’s 100m and 50m freestyle events.

Additionally, the World Championships will serve as a qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Dwayne Scott, speaking to Kaieteur News, expressed optimism about the athletes’ performance in their respective events, as they hold national records in these categories. “I think they all have national records in these events and so it is expected that they will do well. We would hope that they can put up times that will allow them to qualify for the Olympics,” Scott said. Scott highlighted the significance of achieving A or B standard times with the Panam Games, with some of the athletes already meeting the requirements.

The GASA president said the presence of two athletes, Noel and Seaton, going neckto-neck in separate disciplines is unprecedented and remarkable for the sport, signalling a positive shift and increased support for Guyanese swimmers. This achievement, Scott said, sets an example for other athletes aspiring to reach new heights in swimming and demonstrates the potential for success with dedication and commitment to the sport.

New Zealand upset Norway in Women’s World Cup opener

A U C K L A N D , (Reuters) - Hannah Wilkinson’s second-half goal gave New Zealand a shock 1-0 win over former champions Norway at Eden Park yesterday as the cohosts kicked off the Women’sWorldCupinstyle by claiming their first ever victory at the global soccer showpiece.

The Football Ferns had failed to win a game at their five previous World Cup appearances but Wilkinson firedhomefromcloserange fromJacquiHand’spinpoint cross in the 48th minute to give them a lead they would notrelinquish.

“Iamso,soproud,”said New Zealand co-captainAli Riley “We have been fightingforthisforsolong.”

Norway, champions in 1995, were disappointing and disjointed and rarely looked as if they would get back on level terms. Their bestchancecamefromTuva Hansen’sright-footedeffort, which ricocheted back off the crossbar in the 81st minute. New Zealand’s Ria

Percival had the chance to put the game out of reach in the 90th minute but her penalty hit the crossbar, settingupanervyfinish.

Norway threw players forward in search of an equaliserbutthestoutFerns’ defenceheldfirm.

“Thisisnotwhatwehad anticipated,” said Norway captain Maren Mjelde. “We woke up the last 25 minutes butitwastoolate.”

The crowd of 42,137 - a recordforafootballmatchin New Zealand - let out a deafening roar as the match came to an end, with Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova buryingherfaceinherhands in joy as her players celebrated.

“There were a lot of doubters because of the (recent) results we had but webelieved-webelievedin ourselves this entire game,” saidRiley

“We showed it and we playedwithconfidence.The finish, this is what dreams aremadeof.”‘SOPROUD’

The win put New Zealand on track toward

their goal of getting out of the group stage of the tournament They face debutants the Philippines on Tuesday in a match that had widely been seen as their best chance of winning in GroupA.

The evening kicked off with a dazzling opening ceremony that featured pyrotechnics and honoured the region’s Indigenous

heritage, though hours earlier a shooting in Aucklandleftthreedead.

“We wanted to bring something positive tonight and we thought of the victims and the first respondersandtheymadeus soproudandwejustwanted to just help bring something amazingtoday,”saidRiley Norwayhavefivedaysto regroup before they face

Guyana’s Verwey and Gomes secure gold in Mixed Doubles event 2023 CASA Junior Championships...

Day Five of the 2023 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championshipscontinuedin St Vincent on Wednesday with the Mixed Doubles events.Guyanaprovedtobe theundisputedchampionsof this event with two thrilling victories, the Guyanese duo consisting Nicholas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes, displayed outstanding skill anddeterminationtosecurea well-deserved gold medal forGuyana.

From the very beginning of the competition, it was evident that the pair was a force to be reckoned with; showcasing their dynamic squash talents on the court. Their unyielding chemistry and seamless coordination set them apart from their opponents.

On Tuesday, Guyana’s Mixed Doubles team of Verwey and Gomes dominated the event with a win against St Vincent’s

Naira-Skye John and De Vere James. However, they faced off against a formidable Dominic Wilson and Joanna Atkins in their

The match was filled with heart-pounding rallies and brilliant shot selections, leavingthespectatorsonthe

Mixed Doubles champion Nicholas Verwey (left) and Kirsten Gomes in St Vincent.

Switzerland in their second group-stage match in Hamilton and striker Ada Hegerberg told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK they had to get their attack going.

“We weren’t there,” she said of their disappointing performance.

“We had some decent chances that we could have scoredon butreallywedid

not manage to create an established attack that could put pressure on them, which wecouldhavedone.”

Co-hosts Australia also opened their World Cup campaign on Thursday in Sydney against Ireland, though they are without captain Sam Kerr, who was ruled out of two games after picking up a calf injury in trainingadayearlier

Verywey’s blistering forehand shots and Gomes’s precise drops and lobs proved to be a winning combination.

The Guyanese duo eventually won the contest 11-9 and 11-6, that win yieldedthemanotherintense battle against the tough

Jamaicans.

In a final match showdown, they were up againsttheexperiencedAlex Chin and Sanjana Nallapati, who had been dominant in previous events. However, the Guyanese remained undeterred and focused on their game plan. The match was an intense and emotionally charged battle that showcased the true essence of squash - speed, agility,andprecision.

Verwey and Gomes’ communication on the court was impeccable, allowing them to anticipate each other’s moves and respond with swift reflexes The Jamaicanswereatoughpick butVerweyandGomestook theleadinfirstgame(11-8), andthenreturnedstronglyin thesecondgametocloseout theJamaicans11-7tosecure awell-deservedgoldmedal.

T h e e x c i t e m e n t continued yesterday with Boy’s and Girl’s team events.

CWIRisingStarsU19Men’s3-Daytournament… Windwards Islands trailby 9 runs as Guyana falter in 1st innings

Windwards Islands trail Guyana by 9 runs after the latter endured a miserable start to the CWI Rising Stars U19 Men’s 3-Day tournament.

Guyana yet again imploded during their batting outing, being rattled out for a low score of 69 off 35.4 overs with ShamarYearwood(20)and Rovaldo Phillips (16) the only two batsmen to reach doublefigures.

Windwards Islands were indebted to Theo Edward who returned sublimed figures of 5-4 whileKirtneyFranklinand

KirtMurrayeachsnatched two wickets to help keep Guyana below 100 runs in their1stinnings.

A t s t u m p s , Windwardswere60-5off 28 0 overs with Stefan Pascalgivingthemanice start with 23 andAckeem Auguste (15*), providing some runs in the middle and will resume his inningstoday

Guyana’s bowling saw Joshua Rampersaud picking up 2-8 while Mavindra Dindyal, Aryan Persaud and Joshua Charles all grabbed a wicketeach.

Action continues today

New Zealand players huddle before the start of the second half. (REUTERS/David Rowland)

Kohli, Jadeja stand firm as India reach 288-4 at stumps on day one of second Test

SportsMax - Virat

Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal all scored half-centuries as India reached 288-4 at stumps on day one of the second Test against the West Indies yesterday

The hosts won the toss and decided to bowl first at theQueen’sParkOval.

Basedonproceedingson dayone,thatseemedlikethe wrong choice as India started the day with a 139run opening partnership betweenfirstTestcenturions JaiswalandSharma.

Jaiswal, who hit a magnificent171ondebutin Dominica,madea74-ball57 while Sharma, India’s Captain who hit 103 in the last Test, fell for 80 off 143 ballswiththescoreon155in the39thover Jaiswal’sknockincluded nine fours and a six while Sharma hit nine fours and twosixes.

Shubman Gill (10) and AjinkyaRahane(8)werethe other Indian batsmen to fall beforetheendofplay

ViratKohliandRavindra Jadeja will be at the crease

when play continues tomorrow Kohli, who hit 76 in the firstTest,willresumeon87* searching for his 29th Test hundred while Jadeja will resumeon36*.Kohlihas,so far, faced 161 balls and hit eightfours.

Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel,JomelWarricanand Jason Holder have each taken a wicket for the West Indies.Scores:India288for 4 (Kohli 87*, Rohit 80, Jaiswal 57, Holder 1-30, Warrican 1-55) vs West Indies

Kares One Guyana T10

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken has pledged his full support for the inaugural Kares One Guyana T10 Blast and indicated ranks would be deployed at all venues to ensure a safe environment for the thousands of patrons expectedtoattendonJuly29 and30.

The Commissioner recently met with the organisers – FL Sport – and further committed to being partofthecelebritymatchin which the organisers will donate $200,000 towards charity

More so, President Dr Irfaan Ali, the tournament’s p a t r o n , r e c e n t l y recommitted his support for the tournament, noting it is aneventthatwillbringmany people together from varying communities under the‘OneGuyana’banner

The President also unveiled the specially-made hand-crafted winner’s trophy Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips was also present, and he, too, pledged his support towards the tournament.

Several active and former national players will feature for their teams over thetwo-dayextravaganza.

Preliminarymatcheswill bestagedatthePoliceSports Club, the Guyana Defence Force, Queen’s College

,

,

Crawley’s stunning century puts England ahead in fourth Ashes Test

AFP - Zak Crawley’s quickfire 189, his maiden Ashes hundred, fuelled a dramaticEnglandrunspree yesterday’s second day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

England were 384-4 at stumps in reply to Australia’s first innings 317, a lead of 67 runs in a match they must win to maintain their hopes of regaining the Ashes at 2-1 downwithtwotoplay

Crawley and Joe Root, who scored 84, shared a partnership of 206 runs in just29overs.

That stand came after Crawley and Moeen Ali (54) had previously put on 121forthesecondwicket.

HarryBrookwas14not out at the close, with England captain Ben Stokesunbeatenon24.

captainPatCummins.

England’s rapid runscoring was a potential insurancepolicyamidfears that rain forecast for the weekend could scupper theirpushforawin.

But with Crawley in sight of a second Test double century following his 267 against Pakistan at Southampton three years ago and Cummins running outofideas,hechoppedon to all-rounder Cameron Green.

It was the end of a remarkable innings where the often inconsistent 25year-old scored at better than a run-a-ball, facing 182deliveriesincluding21 foursandthreesixes.

shoulder injury in the second Test at Lord’s, rode their luck against Australia’squicks.

Two successive deliveries on Thursday summed up Moeen’s innings as he became just the fourth England player after Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and current teammate Stuart Broad to complete the Test ‘double’ of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

TransportSportsClub,while the finals will be held at the Everest Cricket Ground on July30.

To progress to the championshipmatch,ateam must win three matches on day one and their semi-final on day two. They will then qualify to compete for the firstprizeof$1Mcashand the specially crafted One GuyanaTrophy

The organisers are grateful for the support of Kares Engineering, who quickly committed to being the title sponsor, a n d M o h a m e d ’ s Enterprise, who funded the first-place prize and offset the transportation costforteamMoruca

More so, Banks DIH, through GT Beer for fueling the weekend, Star R e n t a l s , Av i n a s h Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc , ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance,

Cricket Zone USA, Beacon Café, Continental Transport, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport,

N a t i o n a l S p o r t s

Commission, RS53

RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn

Shop, First Change Builder Inc Impressions Inc and Sicko Mode, 94 1

,

,

&Longue.

There was little hint of the rush of runs to come as England reached lunch on 61-1 off 16 overs after the earlylossofBenDuckett.

Yet at tea they were 239-2, having scored 178 runsinjust25oversduring thesecondsession.

Crawley himself became just the sixth Englandbatsmantoscorea hundredrunsinasessionof an Ashes Test as he advancedfrom26notoutto 132 not out. The runs kept on coming after tea as Crawley extended his fourth hundred in 38 Tests to beyond 150 with two superb straight-driven boundaries off successive deliveries from Australia

England’s 336-3 soon became 351-4 when Root wasbowledfor84byaJosh Hazlewood ball that kept exceptionally low a worrying sight for Australia,biddingforafirst Ashes series win in England since 2001, as muchasthehosts.

Bycontrast,Stokeswas then hit on the helmet by a Hazlewood delivery that rearedoffalength.

Australia’s woes were compounded when Starc, wholedtheirattackwith274 from 15 overs, left the field after landing heavily onhisleftshouldermaking adivingstopatmid-on.

Both Crawley and Moeen, in red-ball retirement until the start of this series and only batting at number No 3 following OlliePope’sseason-ending

Moeen luckily edged fast bowler Cummins past gully for four before driving his next ball for an elegantboundary Crawley had made 20 when lbw to Cameron Green, but the batsman’s review indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.

Part-time off-spinner Travis Head was removed from the attack following an expensive 0-48 in six overs that included being swept for six by Crawley afterAustraliahaddropped Todd Murphy — the first time in 11 years they were withoutaspecialistspinner in a Test. Moeen, having exceeded many pre-match expectations, was dropped on 53 before falling for 54, well caught by a diving Usman Khawaja following afiercepulloffStarc.

Crawleyenteredthe90s with a slashed cut off Starc that sped to the third man rope before reaching 97 with a textbook coverdriven four off the left-arm quick.

Jomel Warrican castled Rohit Sharma for 80. (AFP/Getty Images)

Police Force to ensure safe environment at

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken collects his branded Kares One Guyana jersey from one of the organisers Yusuf Ali.

GCF ‘Olympic Day’ Road Race billed for Sunday

Th e G u y a n a C y c l i n g F e d e r a t i o n (GCF), in conjunction with the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) is set to mark “Olympic Day 2023” with a thrilling Cycle Road Racescheduledfor23rdJuly from Mandela Avenue to Belfield,andback.

Cyclistswillembarkona grueling journey from at 7:00amonSunday;therace commences in-front of the National Gymnasium located along Mandela Avenue, taking cyclists on a challengingroutetoBelfield (East Coast Demerara), before culminating back at thestartingpoint.

The event will feature fourcategories,ensuringthat participants of all ages and skill levels have the

opportunity to take part in this momentous feat. The categories includes; Senior’s, Master’s, Juniors/JuvenilesandLadies events. See some of the nation’s top senior’s and junior’s cyclists on display, also witness the country’s leading female cyclists in battle at this event; celebrating the growing participation of women in sports.

So far, the event has garneredtheinterestofsome of the top clubs such as Kaieteur Attack Racing Club, Evolution Cycling Club, United We Stand and many others. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already intense race Meanwhile,

participants have been preparing diligently for this momentous occasion, and their hard work will soon be

puttotheultimatetest. Theannualcelebrationof “Olympic Day” aims to promote fitness, well-being,

and the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, and respect among athletes across Guyana. This year’s

event also promises to be a remarkable spectacle for sports enthusiasts and the generalpublicalike.

Mercenary retain OSCL’s 15-overs A Division trophy

9.2 overs but once they were separated,therewasaclusterof wickets The right-handed Balwant made 41 which contained three sixes and similar number of fours while Khanfeltfor12.

TheirkeybatsmanRichard Driffield (11), Rishi Samuel (01)andDevoRamsawak(00) failed to make an impression. Extras was quite significant of being36.

Rabindra Diaram, Sookdeo, Amit Rukhram and former Guyana youth player Shaun Deonandan picked one wicket each from their maximumthreeovers.

At the post-match presentation ceremony, both the winner and runners-up teams received a trophy each. Avish Rukhram was chosen as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and he also took home one.

Balwant collected a trophy for being Caribbean Sensation’sMVP Thetrophies were donated by former President of the OSCL Albert Ramcharran.

Mercenary stamped their authority once again at a big-show having surged to a comfortable nine-wicket win over Caribbean Sensation last Saturday at Ellesmere ground, Scarborough and in the process retained the Ontario Softball Cricket League’s (OSCL) 15-overs A Division

trophy Their effort was led by an attractive, unbeaten 64 from opening batsman and Canadabased Guyanese Avish Rukhram.

Mercenarywassetamodest114for victory,withMercenarysurpassing thetargetoff12.1overs.

Earlier, Caribbean Sensation were asked to take first strike and

they restricted to 113-5 at the expirationofthe15-overs.

The pulsating left-handed Rukhramsharedasteady,unbroken 96-run with former Berbice Intercounty player Riaz Kadir who contributed a fine 31. Rukhram, who struck five sixes and four fours, lost his opening partner Avin

Caribbean Sensation had early impetusintheirdefence.

But Rukhram and Kadir ensuredtherewasnofurtherfussto confirm their status as the pretournament’sfavourite.

When Caribbean Sensation batted,theystartedoffimpressively as top-scorer Anand Balwant and SheikKhanputtogether65runsin

Current leader Shiv Persaudwasonhandtowitnessthe grand finale He congratulated Mercenary for their outstanding performance and also winning the championshipforanotheryear Persaud thanked Ramcharran for his contribution as well and expressed his gratitude to all the teams (6) for their participation in 2023.

The victorious Mercenary team strikes a pose after the game

Digicel Schools’ Football Championship… Dolphin excels to win Georgetown title - Region Seven champ to be crowned July 27

Dolphin have secured bragging rights for the Georgetown zone of the countrywide Championship.

Following Wednesday’s RegionFourfinaleinthe eighth edition of the Digicel Schools’ Football Championship,DolphinSecondary have been crowned Georgetown’s Regional Champion after an intriguing showdown with ExcelsiorAcademy Now,onlyone zone remains to crown their Regional Champion before the tournament enters its National

Championship.

In the double header at the Ministry of Education (MoE) GroundonWednesdayevening,the eventualchampiongotthebetterof the opposition 2 – 1 while West Ruimveldtemergedvictorious3–1 against Charlestown in the third placeshowdown.

Jequan Cole and Gerry Burnette both found the back of the net once for Dolphin, to

overshadow the opposition’s efforts Excelsior were without their most valuable forward, Antonio McArthur, after he was dealt a red card in the semifinal round

The third place battle commenced the day’s play, which saw West Ruimveldt put forth a more spirited performance as Donovan Welcome led with a double and was supported by

National Draughts tournament set for Sunday

The National DraughtsAssociation would be holding a national Draughts tournament on Sunday July 23, 2023 at the Georgetown Football ClubPavilion,startingtime10:00amsharp.

The game is now commencing after the suspension of tournaments during thepandemicalongwithothersetbacks

The games would be played on the 8 X8boards

There would be a six-round system consistingoftwogamespermatch

Both A and B class players would participate but would be judged separately Players are asked to walk with their mask and be on time for the draw

The game is made possible through contributions from ISA Islamic School, Gentle Elias Attorney at Law and two otherindividuals

For further information please contact SteveBacchus(Coordinator)on6960998or Mr Jiaram(President)on6146671.

Joshua Sharples, who found the backofthenetonce.Charlestown’s lonegoalbecametheirconsolation.

Meanwhile, this season’s Regional Champions are Santa Rosa (Region 1), Charity (Region 2), Leonora (Region 3), Region 4 (East Coast) – Buxton, Region 4 (East Bank) – Soesdyke, Region 4 (Georgetown) – Dolphin, MahaiconyTI (Region 5), Berbice Educational Institute (Region 6),

Kato (Region 8), St Ignatius (Region 9) and Mackenzie High (Region10).

The focus will now shift to Region Seven, where Bartica and the KFC Goodwill Champion, DC Fox(Waramadong),collideonJuly 27attheMoEGroundtodecidethe RegionalChampion. This edition of the tournament is organised by the Petra Organisation.

Over 25 cars from Suriname for Drag Wars 2.0... Five from Trinidad & Tobago

The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) announced Tropical Shipping, a leading shipping company, as theofficialtitlesponsorfortheJuly29th& 30th Drag Wars 2.0, the highly anticipated dragracingeventinGuyana.

As part of their support, Tropical Shippinghasgenerouslyshippedfivehighperformance drag cars from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana, adding an international flair to the competition that is set for the Timehri’sSouthDakotaDragStrip.

Suriname, Guyana’s neighboring motor racing rival, known for its vibrant Drag Racingscene,willalsobewell-representedat TropicalShippingDragWars20withabig posse

Over 25 cars from Suriname will participateintheevent,andthevisitorswill be keen to showcase their talent and bring fierce competition to the track Fostering friendly rivalries and helping to solidify the regionalmotorsportcommunity Moreover,DragWars20willfeaturethe

topdragracingteamsfromGuyana,whowill be eager to defend their home turf These skilled drivers and their powerful machines are anticipated to push the boundaries of speedandprecision,thrillingspectatorswith adrenaline-fueledperformances

The very large local motorsport fanbase will expect a captivating display of skill, strategy, and sheer horsepower throughout theevent TeamMohamed’svsTeamDaby’s newly acquired drag car will be one of the main attractions on the July 30th race day, while Saturday July 29th, will feature qualifications

Tickets for Tropical Shipping Drag Wars2.0arepricedat$3000foradultsand $1000forchildren,makingitanaffordable outing for families and individuals alike. According to a release from the club, it noted that by offering accessible ticket prices, the GMR&SC aims to attract a diverse audience and create an inclusive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy the excitementofmotorsports.

Mr. Jiaram Draughts Association President

GGA/Ministry of Education to host inaugural National Junior Golf Championships

The Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Ministry of Education will collaborate to host the first ever DDL Savannah Milk Guyana Regional and National Junior Golf Championships teeing off fromAugust10.

The winners from the regional competitions will traveltoGeorgetowntotake part in the National Junior Golf Championship which will be held onAugust 19 at the Nexgen Golf Academy, Scout Association Ground onWoolfordAvenue.

According to the Chief Education Officer Mr Saddam Hussain, “The Ministry of Education granted permission to the Guyana Golf Association to host this Inaugural Golf Event and notified all Regional Education Heads andHeadTeacherstoinform teachersandstudents.”

“Thisisacontinuationof the activities which the Ministry of Education, through the Unit of Allied Arts, has collaborated with theGuyanaGolfAssociation

toimplementGolfnotjustat the CSEC level but with the intent to introduce the sport to all levels of interested secondaryschoollearnersin themonthsahead.”

ThereisNOFEEtoenter and the contest will feature players in various age and skill categories- 10-13; 1417and18-22,offeringprizes for places 1-5 for both male andfemaleineverydivision.

Regional competitions will be hosted at the Anna Regina Multilateral SecondarygroundonAugust 10;Westside Golf Course in Vreed-en-Hoop on August 11; Nexgen Golf Academy, Georgetown on August 12; Blairmont Estate Ground on August 11; and Albion Sports Complex on August 11.

Meanwhile, GGA president Aleem Hussain stated, “The first ever National Junior Chip, Putt and Drive competition has been made possible through theeffortsoftheGGAinjust two years, an amazing fact considering that the sport had been in existence in

Guyanaforover50yearsbut wasnevermadeaccessibleto theaverageGuyanese.”

“The national team that will represent Guyana in the future will be selected from the top players drawn from each region and they will receive free training and coaching from the best coaches in Guyana, Barbados, Texas and Orlando, Florida under a

Noel, Seaton and Persaud to compete at Aquatics World Championship

range of partnership agreements that have been established by the Guyana GolfAssociation.”

NicholasFraser,Headof Allied Arts said, “The Ministry of Education is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the Unit of Allied Arts, Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Golf Association which began in 2021,

leading to over 400 learners taking Golf as a PE elective at the CSEC examinations.

155 PE Teachers have been trained to teach golf in 8/10 Regions around the country and millions of dollars of equipment and balls distributed to various schools This effectively dovetails with the MOE’s drive to ensure that all learners leave the school

system having engaged in a sport.”

Registration for the tournament can be done at the various Education DepartmentsinRegions2,3, 4, 5 & 6 or with the official GGAaffiliatedGolfClubsin Berbice, Essequibo, Rosignol, Georgetown, LeonoraandBladenHall,by calling 706-5965 or Whatsappto645-0944.

Vengy and GFC aiming for

3 points each

The2023SeniorMen’sLeagueof the Georgetown FA will continue this evening with another double-header set for the headquarters of football in the City, the GeorgetownFootballClub(GFC)ground.

Four teams remain unbeaten after 3 rounds of matches with Beacons sitting at the top of the table on maximum 9 points. Theother3unbeatenteamswillbeinaction tonightandwillbeseekingtoclosethegap

tonight

tothetop.

HomesideGFCon5pointsfromtheir3 outingsareyettoloseandwillcollidewith Black Pearl, on 3 points from as many games,intheopeninggameat6pm.

The night cap is anticipated to be excitinglycompetitiveas2ndplacedVengy on7pointscantaketheleadwithavictory while their opponents Riddim Squad, on 5 pointsfromtheir3games,canmoveto2nd positionwithawin.

GCB U13 Inter-county Round 2… Essequibo hand

ByRawleToney

g

swimmingprotegeRaekwon Noel, and FINAscholarship awardee Leon Seaton Jr are Guyana’s representatives at this year’s World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Accompanied by Coach Sean Baksh and Guyana

Association Vice President Yulima Phillips, the trio

arrivedontheislandofJapan yesterday in preparation for t h e p r e s t i g i o u s Championships.

Noel, renowned for his remarkable progress and

plishments, is determined to add a world championship medal to his collection as he competes in the200mIndividualMedley and400mfreestyleevents. All eyes will be on him, given his historic achievement of capturing

five gold medals at this year’s CARIFTA Aquatics Championships – the best showing by a Guyanese swimmer since the competition’s inception in 1985. Persaud, the youngest Olympian from Guyana, is eager to improve her impressive times and secure a World Championship medal in the women’s 100m and50mfreestyle. Meanwhile,LeonSeaton (Continuedonpage25)

Berbice 7 wicket defeat

Essequibo wrapped up a commanding 7-wicket win over Berbice yesterday when the GCB U13 Intercounty tournament continuedatBourda.

TheBerbiceboysmerely managed 111-6 in 39 overs, with little effort coming from their batters with just the pair of Nathaniel Ramsammy (17) and

Tameshwar Deonandan

(15),makingstrides.

Jatnel Nurse (1-7) and Bumesh Lall (1-6), were among two of 4 bowlers to pickupawicketeach,forthe Essequibobowlers.

In response to a lowish total, Essequibo, led by 27 from opener Justin Dowlin and 23 from Makayan Holmes,wasenoughtotake their side to 112-5 in 27.1 overs.

Bowling for Berbice U13 was led by Richard Ramdheol who grabbed 3-7 but it proved futile as his team came up short in the end.

Action continues today at 10:00h, with Berbice battling Demerara at GCC Bourda Ground, while Wednesday’sopeninground whichwasrescheduled,will bowloffonSaturday

GGA/Ministry of Education National Junior Golf Championships to tee off from August 22. of

(L-R) Leon Seaton Jr, Aleka Persaud and Raekwon Noel.

MilexNationalJuniorChessChampionship...

Keron Sandiford claims the title

Keron Sandiford is the new National Junior Chess

C h a m p i o n a f t e r a Comprehensive qualifying tournament and a tense round-robin championship against the best junior chess playersinthecountry

Sandiford is an 18-year old, University of Guyana student,whoalreadywonthe UG Chess Championship and National Junior Rapid Contest earlier this year

Sandifordisnotastrangerto thegame,withmanyyearsof trophies and medals received.

In his final match to secure the title, Sandiford played black against Kishan Puran, who resigned on his 30th move. Puran’s opening was the Scotch Gambit, a

popular continuation to the typical e4, e5 opening moves. While typical lines for black’s response to this gambitareNf6,Bc5,Be7or d6;Sandifordoptedforafar more aggressive approach, launchinghisqueentoF6.

Puranseemedunfazedby this and went ahead and continued developing his minor pieces and castling. Sandiford quickly brought hisbishopintoplaytolaunch an attack on Puran’s king side,threateningmate.Puran managedtosavehiskingbut lost many pieces and was severely weakened in position in process, leading tohisresignation.

Sandiford was elated to secure victory and win the title He ended the

Tournamenton8pointsafter nine rounds, with victories over brothers Ethan and Ronan Lee, brothers: Nicholas and Alexander Zhang, former Junior Champion Ricardo Narine, Oluwadare Oyeyipo and KishanPuran.

He drew in his matches against Matthew Singh and close title contender Kyle Couchman, but suffered no losses throughout the tournament.

Under14 Champion Couchmanfinishedtheevent in second place, just one point behind Sandiford after drawing his final match against Nicholas Zhang Qualifying champion Ethan Lee was third with 6 5 points.

Matthew Singh came in 4th place on 6 points, while Oluwadare was 5th with 5.5 points.

The former Junior ChampNarinefinishedsixth with 4 points. Ronan Lee earned 3.5 points to take the seventhspot.

Nicholas Zhang finished on 2.5 points in eight place. Alexander Zhang gained 2 points for ninth spot and Kishan Puran took the final spot All games were l i v e s t r e a m e d o n

livechesscloud com and youtube com Both the National Junior Qualifier tournamentandtheNational Junior Championship were FIDErated.

The Guyana Chess Federation congratulates Keron Sandiford on his success, as well as the nine other junior players who playedintheChampionship.

The GCF is proud of all the players who have consistently strived for success in chess. Their hard

work,loveanddedicationto chess is an inspiration to many The prize giving ceremonyforthetournament will be held when all the National Championships concluded.

The GCF will host the National Women’s 2023 C h e s s Q u a l i f i e r s commencingJuly29th,from which the top 9 players will face off with the reigning National Women’s Champion.

North & Pomeroon Combined win

ECB Pathway U13 cricket tournament

Makayah Holmes was adjudgedplayerofthematch for the final and he also finishedthetournamentwith the most runs (75) in Four matches.

Tyrese Stephany picked up the most wickets in the tournament (14)infourmatches

Usain Fredericks was the player of the tournament finishing with (8) wickets and (65) runs infourmatches

The ECB thanked the s p o n s o r s o f t h i s competition Silas Heating and Air Conditioning, Kings auto spa and WD’s Hotel and Essequibo CricketBoard

ThefinalRoundof the U-13 Junior P a t h w a y Competition was played on 11th of July, 2023 with the two top teams South Essequibo and North, Pomeroon combined vying forthetopspot.

In yet another exciting

encounter South won the toss and chose to bat first beingrestrictedto90runsin 22.5 overs with Zahir Ramkissoon top scoring with 23(33) supported by Eon Jairam 13(4) with the other batters contributing to securingthetotal. North & Pomeroon’s

bowling was lead by Makayah Holmes 3-8(6), Tyrese Stephany 3-16(5), Joseph Bholo and Wade Ferreira finished with one wicketeach.

Noth & Pomeroon we’re out on the back foot loosing an early wicket, nevertheless opening

batter Holmes played a very composed and entertaining innings of 50(57) to put his team on the path to a significant victory he was supported by Usain Fredericks who playedaquickfireinnings of 11(5) with the other batters chipping in to take

this match down to the wireoncemorewithNorth & Pomeroon securing victoryin22.3overs.

Ravid Fredericks finished with figures of 425(6), Jathaniel Nurse 315(7.3), Zahir Ramkissoon and Arif Singh picked up a wicketeach.

Thanks to all of the a r e a c o m m u n i t i e s North, South, East Bank, Bartica, Leguan and Wakenaam and Pomeroon for organizing and mobilizing all the players, preparing the grounds

They also encouraged other sponsors to come on board so they can have m a n y m o r e s u c h tournamentsinthefuture.

Keron Sandiford is the new National Junior Chess Champion.

The Victorious North & Pomeroon Combined team (red) receive their trophy from tournament Co-sponsor Altina Silas.

Keron Sandiford claims the title

New

Zealand upset Norway in Women’s World Cup opener

The Junior National Competitors took a photo op at the end of the tournament.

Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli steadied India’s ship. (AFP/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson in action with Norway’s Mathilde Harviken. (REUTERS/David Rowland)