Kaieteur News

Remanded, Alexi Ponce

Remanded, Jose Iguardo

Govt. investigating gold smuggling - Jagdeo

An investigation into the steep decline in gold declarations made to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) over the past six years is underway, as authorities here believe the resources are being smuggled into neighbouringBrazil.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Thursday told reporters at Freedom House that the noticeable decline in gold declarations, as first reported by Kaieteur News, could be as a result of the country's resources being smuggledintoBrazil.

He explained, “I see a big thing about gold smuggling now too and its absolutely right Kaieteur News has (reported) a drop in declarations of gold from 2017...it'sabsolutelytruethat we have noticed, especially the last couple of years a significant deviation and the story coming out from Brazil now we realize it may be diverting(there).”

T h e formerHead o f S t a t e noted that thegovernmentwasformerly of the view that gold from Venezuela was coming into Guyana to bypass the sanctions, then head North through a legal route However, it has now realized thatitisGuyana'sgoldthatis beingsmuggledintoBrazil.

“When we saw an article recentlyinBrazil,wehadnot been officially notified before that all of this gold wasgoingintoBrazil.Infact, we found it strange that our goldwouldgothere;wewere thinking that Venezuelan gold was coming in but it doesn't seem so,” Jagdeo noted.

It was reported that the Brazilian Federal Police in Boa Vista, Roraima are investigating a Guyanese businessman, for allegedly laundering some US$16.5M in smuggled gold, through shellcompaniesinBrazil.

According to the Brazilian Federal Police (Policia Federal), the investigation was launched onJuly7,2023.

“On the morning of this Friday (7/7), the Federal Police launched Operation Vanglória, with the aim of investigating suspects using shell companies to move more than R$80 million (US$16 5M) that would originate from the purchase

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

this activity to avoid paying the five percent royalty owed to the State, along with the twopercentfinaltaxattached to the mining activities

According to him, “That might be one of the reasons, so we, there is an ongoing investigationintothatandwe are gonna take tough measures against people because we are gonna track also those who are b e n e f i t t i n g f r o m concessions.”

beendecliningsince2017.

According to the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Annual Report for 2022, the total gold declarations last year declined by 2.5 percent to 486,415troyounces(oz).

Meanwhile, in 2021 and 2020, declarations were 499,054 oz and 585,433 oz respectively

In 2019, the gold sector had performed better with declarations amounting to 641,828oz.

and sale of illegal gold,” the Federal Police announced on itsofficialwebsite.

“The investigations began after receiving information linking a Guyanese businessman, who would work in the mining industry in his home country (Guyana), to suspicious activities in Brazil,” the Brazilianauthoritiessaid.

Jagdeo said he believes that miners are engaged in

The Vice President pointed out that medium scale miners operating in the mineral-rich acreages in the interior locations that benefit fromconcessions,grantedby government, will face the consequences if they are found involved in the racket to export the country's gold illegally An analysis of available statistics, done by this newspaper, found that even with foreign gold companies announcing mega goldfinds,declarationstothe Guyana Gold Board have

Further, for the years 2016, 2017, and 2018, notable decreases were recorded; a total of 712,706 oz, 653,753 oz, and 613,073 o z w e r e r e c o r d e d respectively

Notably, in the first quarter of this year, the trend continued with the Bank of Guyana reporting a contraction of 5.3 percent in declarations when compared with same period last year This publication understands that the declarations were approximately 110,000

Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

GECOM HAS OFTEN REVIEWED THE OPPOSITION’S FOUR DEMANDS

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

US$1B IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT

OnebillionUSdollarsisaworldofmoneyforGuyana. One billion US dollars is 1,000 million American dollars. OnemillionAmericandollarsistheapproximateequivalent ofGY$200million. Itfollows,therefore,that1,000million USdollarsis200,000million(GY$200,000,000,000)or200 billioninGuyanacurrency

In whatever way anyone feels comfortable bunching it into–millionsorbillionsofGuyanesedollars,itisafantastic amount for a once poor country like Guyana. But it is a billion US that has been withdrawn from the nation’s Oil Fund in less than two years, and however counted; the citizensofthiscountryshouldhavesomesignificantthings toshowforit,anabundanceofsuchdevelopments. Mostof all,thosehadtobeintheirhands,intheirpockets,inthenew strength that allows them to navigate with dignity the challengesofcost-of-livinginaninflationaryenvironment.

The unfortunate reality is that many Guyanese are scratchingtheirheadsandaskingthemselveswhathappened toallthatmoney,wherediditallgo. Familieswithschoolage children received over US$100 per child last year, and US$200 in 2023. Guyana’s 15,000 plus pensioners collected close to an additional US$200 (GY$36,000) last year, with US$300 (GY$60,000) approved for all of 2023. Therewassubsidyforgas,water,andelectricity,whichgave poorer Guyanese a breather. Still, when taken together, these were only a fraction of the GY$200 billion that was withdrawnfromthenation’sOilFundinNewYork.

Inatimeofplenty,thiscouldbeunderstood,inasociety well-set in its different tiers, it could be rationalized, even excused. Before oil Guyana was a land of many poor, and with oil, it is still a dirt-poor place for too many in its population. Undoubtedly, there is more money coming in hugetorrentialdownpoursintothiscountry,butthereisalso nodoubtastowheresuchendsup,andintowhosehandsthey maketheirway Itisthesmallbrigadeofthesuperrichand theregularrich,whocapitalizeandgrowricherstill. Those are the inner circles and closed cabals of citizens with the right political connections, who know the powerful people whosewordislawforthosefavouredbythem.

ThisiswherethebulkofUS$1billionofOilFundmoney that belongs to every citizen of this country settles: in the hands of the men now known as mega contractors who are awarded megaprojects involving hundreds of millions of dollars in either American or Guyanese money Mega contracts and mega projects possess the clever and creamy advantage of being the conduits for which massive corruptions occur, and almost at will. We are supposedly richwithoilmoney,butwhatisnowundeniableisthatonly some in Guyana are enriched by the withdrawals from the precious Oil Fund. Last year, it was US$607 million and change, and when the fresh withdrawals from this year are added to that amount from 2022, the Oil Fund is now over US$1billionless.

Whocouldbeagainstmorenewandmodernhospitalsto helpoursickandsuffering?Certainlynotus. Whocouldbe againstmoreandbetterschools,sothatourchildren,therich promiseofthefutureintowhichsomuchmustbeinvested? Certainlynotus. Wecanbeforallthoseworksofurgently needed infrastructure, but only when Guyanese get the fullestvaluefortheircontractdollars. Thisbecomesdoubly important,whenitisthepoorinthiscountrythatareforced to make unwilling sacrifices, so that the machinery and velocity of infrastructure could happen at the rate that they do.

One billion American dollars (GY$200 billion) could have,shouldhave,meantmoreforthoseGuyanesewhostill don’tknowwherethenextfullmealisgoingtocomefrom, notwithstandingtherangeofreliefmeasuresandsubsidy,as stuntedasthosewere. Someinfrastructureprojectshaveto bedonenow,andthehungryandweakinourcountrycatered for better, given more. It is revulsion that with so much moneywithdrawnandhandled,solittlewentintothehands ofthoseGuyanesewhoneededitthemost.

It was on the following note, ‘GECOM is comatose as of 2020 when it comes to reviewsandinnovation,’that

Commissioner Vincent Alexanderendedhisletterto theeditorrecentlypublished in mainstream media Comatose people are known to be both asleep and unresponsive.

In that regard, while Commissioner Alexander holds to his view that GECOMappearstobeinthe situation he so described, at the same time, he failed to recognize that his demands areineffectonlifesupport.

T h e b a s i s f o r

Commissioner Alexander’s labeling of GECOM’s fresh approachtoitsconstitutional mandate since 2020 is essentially, because the Commission has rejected, for the time being, the political opposition’s four demands namely: electronic fingerprint identification, use of electronic biometric identification at the place of poll and abandonment the

so-called ‘bloated voters’ list.’

C o m m i s s i o n e r Alexander’s criticism is without merit, but more importantly, has no basis in law

The Commissioner ignores completely the majority view advanced at commission meetings that any acceptance and implementation of the opposition’s four demands would be unconstitutional andillegal.

Were the Commission to agree to the opposition’s demands, in effect it would mean embarking on a fresh house-to-house registration, the abandonment of the extant National Register of Registrants and the passage ofnewlawstogiveeffectto the APNU’s ‘innovative’ measures to enable persons to be qualified to vote at an election.

Furthermore, it is not true, as Mr. Alexander claims, that the commission has been unresponsive or asleep in respect to these

matters.

The records will show that the Commission discussed, time and again, each of the four opposition demands fully and exhaustively without reaching any agreement on anyofthem.

Yet Mr Alexander persists, not only in pushing the envelope containing the four demands, but insisting that they be adopted and i m p l e m e n t e d , notwithstanding the legal and other arguments advanced against their acceptance and enforcement atthistime.

In this regard, it is disingenuous to claim that the Commission has refused to review or innovate in respect to matters that are consistent with its constitutionalmandate.

There have been several instances at commission meetings in preparation for the successfully held LGE, w h e n o p p o s i t i o n commissioners called for a reviewofcertainmattersthat

were eventually acceded to bythecommissionfollowing advice received from the CEO, the DCEO, the Legal Officer and ultimately the Chair

As far as innovation is concerned, while the Commission is free to consider innovative measures at an operational levelitisnotfreetoinnovate within the legally and constitutionally mandated framework.

It is for parliament to innovatebytheenactmentof new laws to guide the work oftheCommission.

In that regard, as a result of recommendations adopted by the Commission since2020,someinnovative operational measures were initiated by the Commission with a view to ensuring the general conduct and supervision of free and fair elections in Guyana as was demonstrated in the just c o n c l u d e d L o c a l GovernmentElection.

Yoursfaithfully, Clement

J.Rohee

KN’S EDITORIALAND THE RESPECT DUE TOALLGUYANESE

DEAREDITOR, “Respect is just not due to the President and his Ministers. Every ounce of respect that BOSAI can summon is due to all Guyanese. From the workers they allegedly squeeze and then penalize fortalkingtothepress.”

The above extract from Kaieteur News Editorial of July17th,speaksvolumesto both Guyanese and expatriates who pay attention to how our Government treats its peoples–ofOneNation.The

factisthatalmostround-thec l o c k , observers/commentators of everyperspectivelamentthe conflictive environment in which so many, including public employees and families,havetosurvive.

Andwhiletherearebuta few protests in the streets, more are registered by attentive observers in the daily press and other social media – from whatever distance.

Meanwhile the latter are compelled to report on deaths, whether by accident

or crime, frequent devastatingfiresandarange of other stressors, personal and/or organizational, leaving minimal pause for celebratoryoccasions–even atsports,sodemoralisedare our own youths. The adults, in turn mesmerised by the confusion over oil and gas contracts, complain of the uncertain safety of inferior structured roads, albeit controlled by compromised traffic commandantsunderpaid, unable to cope, likesomany,withincreasing costofliving.

Then there are teachers questioned by students who relate indifferently to the former stressors – both searching for exemplars to emulateintheprayerfulhope that sometime in the not too distant future themselves will grow to be ‘leaders’ whose morality/spirituality willbeacclaimedinthevery publicationtheynowread.

Hopefully by that time, BOSAI would have arrived at paying respect to Guyaneseofalllevels.

Yourstruly, E.B.John

HINDU LETTER WRITERS MORE FOCUSED ON DEFENDING THE PPPTHANABOUT HINDU ISSUES

DEAREDITOR,

The Guyanese Hindu community is increasingly being marginalized. The community has faced a deepening crisis since the change in political administration in August 2020.Almost all the Hindus voted for the PPP Yet the community has no one championing or advocating fortheirinterests.

The regular respected andwell-knownHinduletter writers(theyknowwhothey are)arenotwritingaboutthe

predicament of the Hindus.

T h e y d e f e n d t h e government’s track record and go to great lengths to critique those who chastise the government, but they write nothing on the challenges,likesocialissues andrisingpoverty,facingthe community

Hindus are in a most vulnerable state not dissimilar from their pioneering ancestors during the period of indentureship andBritishcolonialrule. In some respects, they are

worse off today than under colonialruleandthe33-year tenures of the PNC. The PPP’s tenures have not significantly improved their overall lifestyle Some scholarsIinteractedwithsay Hindus are worse off under thePPPthanunderthePNC. Under the PPP, Hindus, females in particular, have been directed to embrace creolization. Over the last three years, Hindus have faced enormous difficulties in accessing resources for members of the community

and for infrastructure work surrounding mandirs Members of other religious groups have been given preferences. There has been selected distribution of wealth based on religious following.Hinducontractors increasingly complain they are sidelined from state contracts Some Hindu contractors are toying with the idea of changing their names reflecting those of anotherfaithtoimprovetheir chancesofgetting

Numerousquestionsaboutalleged rapevictimnowbreakingsilence

DEAREDITOR,

Reference is made to a releaseonsocialmediafrom the alleged female Amerindian victim in the Nigel Dharamlall matter in whichthegirlisdissociating herself from the accusations against the minister She refutes the allegations accusing the minister of rape.

The latest release raises several questions: Why now –morethanamonthafterthe allegations broke? Why didn’tshecomeforwardand

address the public when the news broke and with the difficulties that the minister had to endure? That would havebroughtthemattertoan end! And why didn’t the minister come forward and address the public refuting the allegations? Why the need to hire a high paid celebrity lawyer (firm) to defend him and to bring about a resolution of the matter? Why was the house where the minister was staying and where the allegedrapetookplacesmell

of fresh paint when police and child care investigators visited? Did the alleged victim meet with police and child welfare investigators, and if so, what was stated in the initial meeting (investigation) with each group?

Isthereanycontradiction of statements of what was complainedtothepoliceand child welfare then and the latestrelease? Could she not have issued a press release at the beginning when the news

APAwill continue to

for respect of Indigenous peoples’rights

DEAREDITOR,

broke and saved the public and country of this embarrassingsaga?

Was there a financial settlement relating to the allegations and if so how much?

Insimilarallegationslike this one, $60 million should be demanded as fair settlement.Theyoungladyis encouraged to seek compensationwhichshecan donate to combat sexual abuseofAmerindians.

Yourstruly,

JeffreyDaSilva

Who will trust a genuine victim in the future?

DEAREDITOR,

I’ve seen a video of the alleged victim of the recent rape matter giving a public lecture, to whom it may concern,inthewiderpublic.

Firstoff,weknowit’sillegal to show the likeness of an underaged complainant or accused in the media. Now the young lady’s rant raises more questions than

answers. If as she claims, there was no rape, that it was a fabrication in some people’s minds,thenwhydidn’tsheat the first instance just plainly sayso.Sheallowedherselfto visit the locus in quo, allegedly made relevant statements to the CID and allowed herself to be interviewed exhaustively by

both Help and Shelter and BlossomNGO.

Now, editor, one becomes very curious to haveaglimpseoftheresults of the two interviewing sessions.Couldtherebeany proof that the statements circulatinginthemediawere false? If there is any truth in the original statement that wascirculated,andcouldshe

HINDU LETTER WRITERS MORE FOCUSED...

Frompage4 government contracts; this was not needed during the 33-year PNC tenures when contracts were given based onmeritandcompetence.

Manyfemalesareforced to compromise themselves in order to acquire funds to getby,andnotdifferentfrom or even worse when sugar estateswereshutteredduring thetenureofthecoalition.

The leadership of the Hindu community has let

themdown. No Hindu in the cabinet or parliament champions their causes or addresses their predicament Some atheist Indian members of the cabinet visit mandir dressed in traditional Hindu attire when in fact a Hindu lifestyle is far from their thoughtprocess;theydonot embraceanythingHinduand are publicly known consumersofbeef,apractice anathematoHinduism.

These atheists and fraudsterswithHindunames aredeceivingthepubliconly forvotes.

Who has the courage to address the problems faced byHindus? Will the letter writers speakup?

Who within the administration will champion causes for the Hinducommunity?

Yourstruly, Hemwatie

Churaman

not now be brought before the Court for incitement to commitafelony?Iwonderif this girl understands the firestorm that has now been ignited. If she is eventually proven wrong, who would want to support genuine cases in the future? The family allegedly engaged two lawyers who were denied access to her during her supposed inquisition Howarewetofactorthisfact into the whole mix? We the people demand an impartial inquiryintothisentireaffair Mr Joe Singh does not have the tools to tackle this mess. We need a legal forensic experttosortitout.

Regards,

CyrilWalker

TheAmerindian Peoples Association (APA) takes note of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent attempt to sully the r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e organisationaspartofefforts to distract the public about t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s shortcomings in the carbon crediting process At his press conference on Thursday,July20,2023,the VicePresident,saidthereare claims that “resources being disbursed to these villages b e l o n g t o a N o ngovernmental Organisation (NGO).” He went on to say, “Now, many of them are telling the communities that thisisNGOmoneythatthey arereceiving.

Well, it’s not NGO money,itcameasaresultof hard work by the Government of Guyana ” APA, in response, wishes to point out that the Vice President’s insinuations carry no merit and appear to be all made up stories of someone’swildimagination. They represent a poor attemptatdamagecontrolas the true nature of the carbon crediting process continues to unravel. The consistent attacks against the APA by the Vice President, more recently with his claim that the APA lacks credibility to engage with Indigenous communities is tantamount to his fear that theAPAwill further expose the

Government’s disregard for IndigenousPeoplesrightsto Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Just last week, during a meeting in SantaRosaVillage,residents again pointed out that the “consultations” done under the carbon crediting process were very “poor.” As the Vice-President rightly said, the money belongs to Guyana; therefore, all must be done to ensure that Indigenous Peoples, the demographic that will directly benefit from this process, effectively participate in the decisionm a k i n g p r o c e s s Notwithstanding, the APA reiterates its position that contrary to the VicePresident’s misinformed view, it does not oppose the development of Guyana’s Indigenous communities. In fact,thecommunitiesshould be getting even more than is currentlyallocated,yetatthe same time, development should not come at the cost of Indigenous peoples’ full and informed participation andfreedecisionmaking

The APA stands firm in its belief that the carbon crediting process violates Indigenouspeoples’rightsto their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) TheAPAfurther commits to utilizing the mechanisms that are in place to highlight our concerns, all in the best interestofourpeople.

APA

advocate

IsAzruddin Mohammed seeking an endorsement, popularity, or public sympathy?

DEAREDITOR,

Since the conclusion of the March 2020 elections, Mr Azruddin Mohammed has been on a social media and public relations offensive advertising the numerous construction and infrastructural projects, charitable donations and sponsorships he is overseeingandhasfinanced. Is it that Mr Mohamed is bored with his abundantly wealthy lifestyle and wants to be a social media personalityandinfluencerat this point in his life or are there other reasons why he

decided to hire a social media manager to post images of himself handing over donations, inspecting on-going infrastructure and construction projects, traversingtheDemeraraand Essequibo rivers with the Guyanese Critic, Mikhail Rodrigues and some other questionablecharacters? Why the sudden desire and interest to showcase his w e a l t h , f i n a n c i a l contributions and excursions? What is he hoping to achieve? Is it public endorsement, sympathy or is he just doing

all this because he recently discovered that he wants to be a social media personality?Aretheytohelp raise his profile and the profile or that of his father, Nazar Mohammed as a possible presidential candidateinthenearfuture?

The latter was listed as a local government candidate for the PPP in the EcclesRamsburg Neighbourhood DemocraticCouncil.

Mr Mohammed was relatively quiet for so many years prior to the PPP winning the March 2020 electionsandthepumpingof

oil from Guyana’s shores. Perhaps he donated to the electoral feat the PPPpulled offorhadinterestintheparty winning the elections. I’m wondering,however,didMr Mohamed not donate to the less fortunate and make financial contributions prior to the year 2020? Still, I cannotwrapmyheadaround his sudden social media blitz. What does he have to gainfrompromotinghimself as a wealthy charitable and caring person who is investing in several highprofileprojects?

Since Mr Mohammed’s

recent efforts to promote himself and his good deeds, he has found himself at the c e n t r e o f a f e w controversies The most recent controversy is the Reuters investigative report thatallegesthatoneormore thanoneofthecompanieshe overseeswithhisfatherhave been involved in facilitating international gold and drug smuggling. Tothinkthatan officer of the Guyana Police Force implicated him in the alleged cover-up of the assassination of Ricardo Fagundes.

Perhaps Mr Mohamed

could enlighten the public because there seems to be more questions than answers. Yet, despite the swirling questions and word on the street, because is ‘Guyana we deh and bad man ah run things’, I encourage Mr Mohammed to continue his social media blitz, financial contributions and investments. I think by now he has taken over the title of king social media influencer from the disgraced and toned-down GuyaneseCritic.

Yourstruly, B.Bacchus

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EXXON HAS GOVT.’S FULL-THROATED SUPPORT

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The Government of Guyana has demonstrated time and again, that no matter the consequence to the economy, ExxonMobil will always have its full-throated support.

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has said he is willing to support the renegotiation of that abomination for a contract governing 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources in the Stabroek Block.

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But the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has declined.

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He refuses any opportunity to give Guyanese more benefits from its oil resources.

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Surely, our political forefathers must be turning in their graves to see how the current leadership is throwing away our future.

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Fast-tracking of Guyana's oil without a clear plan for gas raises risks of failure -IndustryExpertswarn

Though Guyana has received global recognition for leading a record pace of oil development offshore, it could fall prey to economic disasterifcautionisnottaken ateveryturn.

This cautionary piece of advicewasofferedinapolicy paper titled: Left behind: emerging oil and gas producers in a warming world. It was authored by Dr Valérie Marcel of Chatham House, Deborah Gordonc

attached to the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs at Brown University, Naadira Ogeer at t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h Secretariat, and Ekpen

O m o n b u d e a t t h e International Institute for Sustainable Development in Canada.

In the report that was prepared for nations like Guyana,Suriname,andother relatively new producers, it was noted that rapid oil

development without a wellthought-out plan for the gas that will be unlocked simultaneously could spell trouble

The report said rapid revenue streams are attractive to oil companies and the political leadership, hence the push by some nations for fast approval of projects.Bethatasitmay,the report warned that fasttracking for the sake of more revenues can undermine the

needforthedualsystemsthat needtobebuilttocaterforoil aswellasgas.

It said too that the infrastructure that is needed to support oil has a different timeline than that which is neededforgas,hencerushing could spell trouble for authorities. “Whilst an oil field can be brought to production in less than five years, associated gas development can take twice aslong,”thereportsaid.

To further underscore the foregoing, the experts noted the case of Ghana where oil development was also moving rapidly with no care for what becomes of the associatedgas.Asaresult,oil production continued with gas being flared or burnt in Ghana.

With this lesson in mind,

t h e e x p e r t s s a i d , “Developments of various discoveries in Guyana are being fast-tracked, which raises risks of similar failure todealwithgasandflaring.”

I n G u y a n a ' s c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e government has contended thatitwillavoidthemistakes made by Ghana and others. Towards this end, it has asserted that a gas-to-energy project will help to put some of the gas found in the StabroekBlocktoproductive use. Simultaneously, it is reviewing a gas utilization study that was prepared by ExxonMobil Corporation's affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) That study is expected to inform a National Gas Master Plan whichwilldeterminethebest uses for the country's gas reserves which stand at 17

trillion cubic feet Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is the chief policy maker for the country's hydrocarbon sector and is on record stating that the government has opened lines of communications with some of the leading gasproducing nations such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for key advice on a range of matters. He has insisted that the country's resources would be wellmanagedevenascertain key legislative and regulatory mechanisms are stillbeingpulledtogether The government also recently gave Exxon approval to pursue a 35 multi-well exploration and appraisal programme in the Stabroek Block That is expected to unlock more resources which currently stand at 11 billion oil equivalent.

Exxon which leads a consortium in the Stabroek Block also has five sanctioned projects in the block, two of which produce anaverageof400,000barrels of oil per day Preparation is ongoing for a sixth project to be reviewed and possibly approvedbyyear-end.

THESE WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCES ARE AN ABUSE OF PRESS FREEDOM

Apractice has developed in G u y a n a whereby the country’s two main political parties resort to press conferences to respondtotheircritics.ThisI believe distorts the purpose and utility of a press conference and converts the mediaintoatoolforpartisan purposes.

The mainstream media should reconsider their participation in the weekly press conferences hosted by thePNCRandthePPP/C. If themediacontinuestoallow itself to be summoned to press conferences that are about responding to criticisms, the media will find itself in a position in whichitwillbeagentsofits owndecay

The country’s two main political parties are now holding regular, almost weekly press conferences.

For the Opposition, their press conferences are held virtually and are used to expresstheirconcernsabout the manner in which the c o u n t r y i s b e i n g administered.

On the other hand, the ruling PPPC uses its press conferences expressly to respond to what was said at the Opposition press conference and other criticisms made against the PPP/C.

Both of the country’s main political parties have a righttodothis.Buttoaskthe presscorpstoturnuportune ineveryweektolistentothe political parties go at the other,constitutesanabuseof thepressconferences.

What the country’s two mainpoliticalpartieshaveto say to and about each other are matters, no doubt, of public interest. But those issues can be ventilated through press releases and statements rather than press conferences. The media should not have to attend weekly press conferences simply to listen to these partiesattackingeachother.

As expressed before, press conferences are usuallyheldtoaddresssome matter of national importance and to provide information on an issue of topicalimportance.Theyare not to be abused by becoming forums for politicking or for merely responding to criticisms of thegovernment.

But that is exactly what Jagdeo has turned his usual weekly press conference into.Andhemakesnosecret of this At his press conference on Thursday, for example, he made it clear that the purposes of him sustaining his weekly press conference was because the PPPC needed to “kill some of the rumours that this country has grown accustomedto[andthatare] being pedaled by the Opposition and their affiliates.”

Just prior to launching h i s w e e k l y p r e s s conferences, Jagdeo had called on his supporters to respond to critics of the governmentonsocialmedia.

The weekly press conferences therefore represented a political blitz of a party and government

Dem Boys Seh...

which under siege by its critics.

Should the media be conscripted to providing a forum for this sort of propaganda from Jagdeo? Andshouldithavetoattend t h e w e e k l y p r e s s conferences by the Opposition?

The media has to demonstrate greater selfrespect.Itcannotallowitself to be manipulated by the country’s two main political parties in this way If those parties want to get out information weekly, they should do so via press releases not via a weekly pressconference.

But one can appreciate also the eagerness of some members of the media to attend these weekly press conferences They do so because they want to be afforded the opportunity to askquestions.

T h e e d i t o r s o f mainstream media need to take a decision on these weekly press conferences. They should strongly suggest that the PPPC and the PNCR submit press statements rather than the mediahavetobesummoned weekly to listen to political exchanges between these twoparties.

When the political parties devote their precious time to mainly countering criticism, as Jagdeo does weekly, it diverts attention from the pressing national issues It provides the appearance of transparency but the press conferences become platforms for politicaltantrums.

Like de Vee Pee gat a crystal ball!

De Vee Pee turn fortune teller De man tunupatapressconferenceand,inresponse toaquestion,announcedatIrfaanAli,ganbe the Pee Pee Pee Cee’s presidential candidateforthe2025electionsandhegan windeelections.

Now dem boys want know how de Vee Pee know dat Ali gan be the Pee Pee Pee Cee’s presidential candidate. Like de man seeing into de distant future. Like he gat a crystalball.

DemboyswaitingfuhseeifdePeePee PeeCeeturnintoaone-manparty.Because as far as dem boys know is de Central Committee of de party which does decide whoganbethepresidentialcandidate,notde GeneralSecretary.Sodemboyswaitingfuh

somebodyfromdeCeeCeetocorrectdeVee Peeandletdepublicknowdatdatdecision hasnotyetbeenmadeandisnotonefuhde VeePeefuhdecide.

Fortunetellersdon’talwaysberightbut dem gat de ability to mek yuh believe dem can see into de future. It mek dem boys rememberdestoryofdemanwahwenttoa fortuneteller

De fortune teller gazed into her crystal ball and told the man, “I see you are the fatheroftwochildren.”

“That’s what you think,” said the man.

“I’mthefatherofTHREEchildren.”

The fortune teller grinned and said, “That’swhatYOUthink!”

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

The sort of broadsides which Jagdeo unleashes against his critics can have the effect of discouraging dissent from the fainthearted. This is disturbing forapartywhichclaimsthat it fought for the return and defence of democracy.

Public discourse is c o n s i d e r e d a s a characteristic of a healthy democracy, and attacking criticisms can undermine public discourse. The media should strongly suggest, through editorial comments, thatthepoliticalpartiesissue morepressstatements.Press

conferences should be reserved for important announcementsandissues.

The media should equally insist on greater access to public officials.

One of the reasons why journalists are so eager to attend press conferences is because such access if lacking. This is a systemic problem within the government and no amount of press conferences by Jagdeoisgoingtosolvethis problem. Many years ago, a gentlemanwaslaunchinghis politicalpartyattheNational Library Only one journalist

turned up. That was not fair to the gentlemen. But perhaps this is the treatment that is needed to be administered to some of our political leaders who feel that they summon a press conference,themediahasto jumpandrushtoattend.

(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.)

GHK LALL

AN INCREDIBLE PRESIDENTIAL SLIP

PresidentAli has a right to make up his own mind, arrive at his own decisions, and choose his own people. In terms of the latter, the knowledgeable may detect the bizarre recently, what insults the President and his people; nonetheless, the Presidentretainstherightto surround himself with the slippery,evenwhatcouldbe labeled as Guyana’s equivalent of US Senator Joe McCarthy of 1950s vintage.

My humble position is that President Ali manifested poor judgment, made one of his most unpardonable blunders with his recent choice of helper and tugboat captain for his lastpressconference. Itwas jawdropping,tantamountto a kick in the teeth to Guyanese, none more than veteran PPP supporters. Any citizen has a right to earn his living in whatever manner appeals to him. It couldbecleanlyorcoarsely in the smoothest terms, or via what causes puking or a rush for the nearest

vaccination center But no President should embrace any of that, or be advised to doso. Civilizedmenshrink from having certain people intheircompany

I bypass one person per media house and one question per media presence, give a pat on the back to the owner of the fertilemindfromwhichthat originated, and now offer this to the public. There is low, and then there is low; and, of course, the president’s time is too precious to squander it over interminable questions about oil, and what is going tobedonewithit.Forsure,it is not Stalin’s or Putin’s Russia (as yet), but it is recordedasAli’sGuyana.

In Ali’s Guyana, I am certain he can be wiser, do better, come out looking cleaner, smelling sweeter. He should have consulted with his former Presidents who writein themedia,and anotherformerministernow a commissioner, and also a mediacontributor

But President Ali didn’t

even have to go to that trouble of bothering men whose eyesight might be poorer, and memory just north of dodderer All that PresidentAli had to do, the furthest he had to look, was right in the Office of the President’s secretariat. He has a pastor, the Right (Most) Reverend Mr Findley. He has Mr William Cox, a mean machine, and a dean of things Christian, all by himself He has Mr Abraham who knows his way around the unpinned grenades and hidden roadsidedevices. Andthere is Ms Marcia NadirSharma, the first leg of whose hyphenated name should not lead anyone astray, as this good citizen fromthedistaffsideisatthe apexofhersenses,wits,and skills. Why go anywhere else for an assistant in the presidential press moment, Dr President, when there is this galaxy of primetime servants and officers of centercourtinattendance?

If the president just had

to have his head and go outside the paddock, then there are those media veterans with their individual pristine standing. For proven PPP stalwarts andcomfortersinthemedia, there is Mr Neaz Subhan, Ms.MichellaAbraham,and Mr Edward Layne Guyanese may not like them,butatleasttheycould stomach them And if President Ali wanted to get really adventurous, with a genuine dab of his vaunted ‘One Guyana’ in it, then therewasalwaysMr Enrico Woolford or Russell Lancaster to do the honors; maybe even an Ariana GordonorKianaWilburgto d e m o n s t r a t e t h e expansiveness of the presidential mind. But the President had to have his head, and now that he went and stuck his nose out, the top of it got caught in a pinch. Learningfromerrors is the best medicine for a young, green (not PNC) President.

The choice of press conference backer had to

h a v e c a u s e d luminaries like Messrs Ramkarran and Ramotar, and the departed Chase and Cheddi, some grim flinching Mister Gerry would be definitely happy that he got oneofhislong-timecronies inside the Presidential circle But, surely, the President can be a shade more choosy, a lot more knowing, about the tortured history of the PPP, and by whose orchestrations some ofthosebatteriestookplace. Better could have been done. Iregretthatitwasn’t, and now there are these ‘guidelines’ to govern presidential press bar-bques. Bash,slash,gash,and mash are now in season, with Guyanese roasted on a slowfire. Thewinterofour discontents multiplies furiously; the summers grow longer, and hotter and hotter

Last, I have a humble recommendationtomaketo President Ali, and it is the essence of simplicity On

the next occasion that there is a need for a helper with p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e coordinates, please come to yours truly I am quite capable of pointing to the right and proper people, eventhoughIhaveonlyjust come back here. These thingshavetobedonewitha little more of what is genuine sparkle, a touch moreofwhatisclass. Don’t descend to the pits, Mr President.

Think of political ancestors, and their ordeals, compliments of newfound mercenaries and allies freshly minted and let loose oncitizens.

(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.)

HARDTRUTHS

Two remanded for Soesdyke Junction murder

Two men, 23-yearold Jose Iguardo of Latchman Sand Road, Soesdyke and 53-year-old Alexi Ponce of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were on Thursday remanded to prison after being charged with murder committed on Yoel Valenzuela which occurred in the vicinity of the Soesdyke Junction, EBD.

Iguardo and Ponce made their first court appearance on Thursday at the Diamond

Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman wherethechargewasreadto them.

The defendants were not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on July16,2023,theymurdered Valenzula, a 40-year-old labourer of Timehri, EBD. The men were remanded to prison and are expected to return to court onAugust 23, 2023.

Kaieteur News had reportedthatValenzuelawas found brutally murdered at

theSoesdykeJunctionaftera barfightlastSunday

Valenzuela's body was reportedly found around 05:30hrs that day by a man who went to urinate at the Junction.

Police were notified and crime scene investigators were sent to the location. Upon arrival at the scene, they noted that Valenzuela's bodyboreawoundabovethe left ear and another to his back. Blood stains were also seenatthecrimescene.

An investigation was

launched which led to the arrest of a suspect. Police learnt that Valenzuela was killed by three men around 04:30 hrs that day following analtercationatabar

Valenzuela, his 17-yearoldsonJohnValenzuela,and two other relatives, John and Ameria Campo ages 21 and 34respectivelyhadgonetoa bar around 20:00hrs on Saturdaynight.

They reportedly began drinking and one of the suspects who is acquainted with Valenzuela approached

Students graduate from SBM, NCC's Youth Students Literacy Programme

him and began arguing with him over a grievance they had.

Va l e n z u e l a ' s s o n reportedly intervened in the argument and allegedly cuffed the suspect to his mouth.Itescalatedintoabar fightwiththesuspectandhis friends attacking Valenzuela andhisrelatives.

Eyewitnesses recalled that the victim and his relatives retreated from the fight by running from their attackers.

“Yoel Valenzuela ran

south of Soesdyke Public Road and turned up the S o e s d y k e L i n d e n Highway while John Valenzuela, Ameria and John Campo ran further southalongSoesdykePublic Road,”Policestated.

Valenzuela's alleged killers and their friends allegedly chased after him and his relatives. Hours later Valenzuela was found dead at the Soesdyke Junction. S u b s e q u e n t l y a n investigation was launched intothematter

Thirty-fourchildrenhavecompleted the first year of SBM Offshore Guyana and National Coordinating Coalition's (NCC) Enhancing Livelihoods Youth Literacy Programme which concluded inJune.

The students benefitted from afterschool tutoring and mentoring in literacy and numeracy to students in the communities of Sophia, Cummings Park and Cummings Lodge. Students from seven primary schools and four secondary schools benefitted from paid mentorship, tutorship and school supplies.

During the close-out ceremony, General Manager of SBM Offshore Guyana, Martin Cheong, commended the NCC for its efforts in empowering

the youth of the community and emphasisedtheimportanceofeducation foryouths.

“Through this programme, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education. It has not only provided essential literacy skills but has also equipped our youth with the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and their communities. By nurturing a love for learning, fostering criticalthinking,andinstillingasenseof curiosity, we have empowered these young individuals to dream big and reachforthestars,”heshared.

Executive Director of the NCC, Simone Sills, extended her gratitude to SBMOffshoreGuyanaforitssupportin executing the programme, and

commended the parents for their support, citing the importance of collaborationandpartnerships.

“We are particularly happy that not only our students are here, but the parents were able to make it, and I am gladtoseeourpartnersbecausewhatwe do is to build on partnership, at every level.Thecommunitylevel,theparents, the children, everyone that can come togethertomakethishappen.”

SBM Offshore Guyana in a statement said that it continues to support projects that nurture the development of Guyanese. The programme is also in keeping with the company's commitment to Sustainable Development Goal Four that speaks to 'QualityEducation'.

The damaged plane ( R. Bessesar photo)

Plane tyre blows out while taking off from

The tyre of a single engine Cessna Grand Caravan on Fridayreportedlyblewoutasitwasabouttotakeofffromthe MabarumaAirstrip,NorthWestDistrict,RegionOne.

The incident took place around 10:00hrs and caused panic among the passengers on board. Luckily no one was injured.

Residents of the community told Kaieteur News that passengersboundforGeorgetownboardedtheplaneandjust momentsafterturningontotherunway,thetyreblewout.

“The engine was on and the tyre burst,” one resident recounted.

Theplane'spropellerreportedlystruckthegroundbefore theenginewentdead.

Investigationsareongoing.

Investigators at the crime scene where Valenzuela's body was found.

The students who completed Year One of the Enhancing Livelihoods Youth Literacy Programme.

Mabaruma Airstrip

Guyana's domestic and external debt ceilings to increase by US$3B

Although Guyana has been repeatedly advised pay attention to its ballooning public debt, the government believesithasthecapacityto take on more loans because of the thriving oil and gas sector Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh tabled two Orders during Thursday's sitting of the National Assemblywhichproposedto increase the country's debt ceilingtoallowforaccessing more loans to accelerate its developmentagenda.

Guyana's current debt ceilings stand at G$500 billion for domestic debt ceilingandG$650billionfor external borrowing ceiling. The current debt ceilings were raised by government backinJanuary2021.

H o w e v e r , t h e government is seeking to increase the debt ceilings to be able to borrow more loans, to facilitate their ambitious developmental and transformational projects.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Finance, the Orders tabled by Dr Singh propose that the domestic public debt ceiling be increased to $750 billion, up from $500 billion, and a new external borrowing ceiling of $900 billion was

proposed, after its last increaseto$650billion.

D u r i n g a r e c e n t interview with News Room, the Senior Government Minister said that as the economy grows, Guyana's capacitytoborrowincreases, and he noted that the government intends to use that capacity to finance an aggressive programme to modernise and transform Guyana.

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's reflected in our annual budget every year and so you finance the budget deficit by borrowing and we have been borrowing veryprudently.”

AccordingtotheFinance Ministry's statement, fuelled by a ramping up of oil production and the resurgence of the non-oil economy, Guyana registered real GDP growth of 62.3 percent in 2022, making it the fastest-growing economyintheworld.

Assuch,itwasnotedthat this appreciable growth performance and the country's robust economic outlook underpin Guyana's sustainable absorption of the new debt In sum, the

Government said it is committed to harnessing Guyana's debt-carrying capacity to accelerate its developmentagenda.

It was highlighted that theGovernmenthasoutlined an ambitious programme of development aimed at transforming Guyana and delivering improved quality oflifetoallGuyanese,which will require new financing including through additional externalanddomesticdebt.

Notably, it was stated that in line with the Government's commitment to maintaining its sterling track record of transparent a n d p r u d e n t d e b t management, the increase in the debt ceilings aims to avert the dependency on utilising the Consolidated Fundoverdraftasameansof financing, which was done b y t h e p r e v i o u s administration.

The Government noted that given Guyana's economic outlook, these revisions to the external and domestic public debt ceilings do not threaten the country's long-term debt sustainability Noteworthy,it was stated that for more than one and a half decades Guyana has maintained a robust debt sustainability position. It was said that this favourable outcome was due to the government's strong

debtmanagementabilities.

It was underscored that the current administration's track record serves as testimony to its ability to achieve and maintain sustainabledebtlevels.

Debtincreasedby2.3%

Meanwhile, the Central Bank recently disclosed that Guyana's total stock of public and publicly guaranteeddebtincreasedby 2.3 percent or US$ 84.5 million in the first quarter of 2023.

According to a recent Central Bank report, this sum would take the nation's total debt stock to US$3.7B from the end of December 2022 position. According to BankofGuyana,thestockof total domestic debt grew by 3.7 percent to US$2.2B. It said this is an increase of over the US$2.1B recorded attheendofDecember2022. 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 review period. This news agency understands that the stock of treasury bills increased by 7 1 percent mainly as a result of higher issuancesoftreasurybillsfor budgetarysupport.Asforthe

increase in the stock of external debt, Central Bank said this resulted mainly

US$9 1M growth in multilateral debt stock from the end of December 2022 position

The financial regulator said this was largely due to increased disbursement from the International Development Association (IDA) by 10.6 percent to US$129.9M from the end of the December 2022position.

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 NonParis Club creditors from end December 2022, which resulted from higher debt servicepayments.

Speaking to domestic debt service payments, Bank of Guyana said this increased by 49.8 percent or G$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 or G$253 5 million.

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$13.7 million as a result o f h i g h e r i n t e r e s t repayments during the reviewperiod.

L i k e w i s e , d e b t repayments to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) rose by 11 6 percent to US$3.4 million. Similarly, Central Bank said debt repaymentstotheEximBank ofChina,whichaccountsfor 73 1 percent of debt repaymentstobilateral (Continued on page 17)

US$1M in illegal drugs seized by CANU

The Customs Anti-Narcotics

ed US$1,067,637 (US$993,000 in cannabis and US$ 74,000 in cocaine) in illegal drugs during the first half of 2023. This represents the seizure of fewer drugs for the first half of the year when compared to same period the last

year,itsmid-yearreportsaid.

According to the Unit's statistical report released on Friday from January to June 2023, CANU seized a total of 677.40 kilograms of narcotics when compared to some2,106.58kilogrammesforthe sameperiodin2022.

“The Customs Anti Narcotic

Unit through the period of January to June 2023 seized approximately 677.40 kgs of narcotics, consisting of 662.40 kgs of cannabis, 14.80 kgsofcocaine,10gramsofhashish and 90 grams of ecstasy,” the CANU report stated.Meanwhile, the Region 4 district remains the drug capital of the country with

CANU seizing some 294 692 kilograms of drugs.Out of that amount 279 kilograms were marijuanawhile14kilogramswere cocaine and 20 grammes were Ecstasy.New Amsterdam followed closely behind with a total of 237 kilogrammes of drugs being seized by CANU with 251 kilogrammes

alone being cannabis.According to the report, of the 30 drug cases before the court, CANU has secured27convictions.

CANU has also assisted police in seizing four illegal firearms along with over a 1000 rounds of ammunition during its operations thisyear

CANU officers destroying a large quantity of narcotics at Home Stretch Avenue.

Head of CANU, James Singh

Drugs being destroyed by CANU

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

Eccles-Diamond four-lane highway to be completed by September

During an inspection of the project site on Thursday, President Irfaan Ali said the highway was projected to be completed by the endofAugust.

Whileexaminingeachlotofthe megaproject,PresidentAliissueda sternwarningtothecontractorsand engineers for all the works to be completed within the specified timelines.

“From the meetings I have had with the internal engineers, they have justified the extension to the new dates that they have. So, liquidated damages will not be charged based on their justifications up to the new dates that we put. Anything beyond the new dates, liquidated damages will be applied. That is the final date,” hestated.

Theroadmarkingsandsignsfor the first lot from Eccles to Peter's Hall is slated to be completed by next week, while lot two is scheduled to be completed by September

The Head-of-State expressed optimism that the contractors and engineers will implement a threeshift system for the works to be completed, since most of the structural and technical works are complete.

“We are not tolerating any excuses for non-completion of works. Both the engineers and

contractors will be held accountable. I am making this very clear We have excellent weather conditions right now We have to make use of weather opportunitydays.Worksthatare behind, I expect to see lights out here.”

Meanwhile, President Ali said that, “By the end of this year,wewillhave10lanesfrom Diamond to Sheriff Street. We will have 18 lanes of highway interconnectorsbetweenthetwo highways. So, you will have 18 lanes that will connect all of thesecommunities.

“I am very proud of this highway all the way from Mandela going all the way to Diamond. One hundred percent

Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway

locally designed, and supervised, and constructed…I believe they have been doing an outstanding job.”

The contract for the $13.3 billion project was awarded to 12 contractorsinDecember2021.

More than 30 reinforced concrete bridges, 8.6 kilometres of reinforced concrete highway road, and two roundabouts are all part of the project, which has been divided into12lots.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during an inspection of the highway

Theroutewilllinkthefour-lane road from Mandela to Eccles and

when completed, the roads are expected to reduce the amount of traffic on the East bank Additionally, it will provide room for the construction of new businessandresidentialzones. Some $54 billion has been set aside this year for important infrastructure projects in the housing sector, of which $7 3 billion will go towards extending the motorways from Eccles to Diamond and another $5.4 billion towards building the Schoonord to CraneRoad.(DPI)

ANSA McAL acquires interest in Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company

ANSA McAL Limited announced on Tuesday that it has finalized an agreement to acquire a stake in the dynamic Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company Limited(BBB).

The Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company is a proud, Bahamianownedbreweryandnonalcoholic beverage producer located in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas A fully integrated company - brewery, distributor,andretailer,BBBbegan its journey towards brewing excellence in 2007 with its first beer,SANDS,namedforitsowner, James “Jimmy” Sands The Bahamian Brewery currently produces nine different brands and also distributes several global beer brandsthroughouttheBahamas.

As the leading independent brewer in the Caribbean, rich in history, culture, and taste, CARIB Brewery has crafted a superior and consistent portfolio across 33 countries from its four breweries in Trinidad &Tobago, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and Florida Through its' Carib trademark family, the Carib brand exists to unleash Caribbean fun into the world.Aspartoftheagreement,the Bahamian Brewery, through its world class manufacturing facility and robust route-to-market system,

is expected to produce beverages from CARIB Brewery's outstanding portfolio of highqualitybrands.

ANSA McAL Group CEO, Anthony Sabga III stated, “We are thrilled about this partnership, and the investment is consistent with our strategy of driving the growth of our appealing beverage brands on a global scale. The Bahamian Brewery is looking to create additional value while also setting up the business for a new phase of growth.”

The CEO noted that the Bahamian Brewery produces some of the Bahamas' favorite beverage brands that are complementary to Ansa's current portfolio. In this regard,henoted,“Weareexcitedat the prospect of working together to support the continued success of theBahamianBrewery&Beverage Company."

AboutANSAMcAL

HeadquarteredinPortofSpain, Trinidad and Tobago, the ANSA McAL Group is a publicly traded diversified company with 74 companies spanning eight sectors and operating in over eight territories.

Jimmy Sands, Executive Chairman and Founder, Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company (left front row) and Anthony Sabga III, Group Chief Executive Officer, ANSA McAL Limited with other executives from the two companies.

Brewery, it operates four breweries located in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and Florida. About Bahamian Brewery & BeverageCompany

& Beverage Company Limited

(BBB) is a Bahamian owned and operated company BBB is a fully integrated company: Brewery, Distributor, and Retailer It commenced its brewing operations in 2007 with its first brew, SANDS Beer named after its charismatic owner, Jimmy Sands.The Brewery rapefruit Radler, Sands

Passion/Guava Radler, High Rock Lager, Strong Back Stout, SixtySix Steps Ale, Bush Crack Malt Beer, and Triple B Malt nonalcoholic.

The Eccles to Great Diamond Four-Lane Highway on the East Bank of Demerara is scheduled to becompletedbySeptember

Guyana imports over 60 truck drivers to support

Ogle to Eccles road project - Min. Edghill

S o m e 6 0 f o r e i g n nationals are employed in Guyana as truck drivers on the Ogle to Eccles road project, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill announcedonFriday

“We are actually importing labour, I can give youoneexampleanditmight shock you. We were left with no choice but to grant work permit for the contractor that is building the Ogle to Eccles road to bring in drivers, drivers, [and] an elementary joblikedriverstodriveheavy duty equipment, trucks,” the Ministerpointedout.

The Minister was at the time speaking at a MultiStakeholder Forum on Guyana's Labour Needs, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's, Diaspora Unit held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

“And I could assure you through the Ministry of Public Works and through

their own advertising, they have been hunting to get drivers locally for those trucks, so that is just an indication of how the demand for labour is becoming,”hestated.

Minister Edghill said the labour shortage has a fected not only the traditional sectors of teaching and nursingbutalsothecountry's booming infrastructure sector

The forum which was also attended by Senior Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh and Minister of Home Affair, Robeson Benn among other stakeholders is to discuss important concerns affecting the local labour market and ways in whichthiscanbeaddressed.

Minister Edghill in his brief remarks said that currently, a number of large projectsareongoingpointing to highway to connect Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) as well as a

road to connect to Silica City and eventually on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and then connecting to Timehri which would eventually give access to the airport.

The Public Works Minister said that in addition to the ongoing road works, a child health hospital is being erected; hotels, a bridge to c o n n e c t G u y a n a t o Suriname, the building of harbours are also on the horizon.

Further, the minister noted that a number of hotels are being constructed and likewise there is a need for skilledworkers.

“So in terms of what are the labour needs in Guyana, in highlighting to Guyanese andthoseintheDiaspora,we needquantities,whichmeans we need more people and we also need more people who are skilled, equipped and trained,”hestated.

Speaking to Guyanese in the Diaspora on Friday, the

minister related that the vision behind giving the 20,000 scholarships through the Guyana OnlineAcademy

o

expansion of the technical and vocational training through the Ministry of Education is to increase the number of skilled persons in thecountry

The US$106 4 million contract for the Ogle to Eccles four-lane road project was awarded to an Indian firm – Ashoka Buildcon Limited.

The project which is being financed through a loan provided by the ExportImportBankofIndiawillsee the construction of a 7.8 kilometres, four-lane highwaywitheachoneofthe lanes measuring 3.6 metres wide.

“We understand that we might need about a 1000 certified welders and that is one of the reason that is why an investment is taking place

in Berbice to establish that training center and I understand in its current design, it will help to train and create the kind of skill sets that are needed for people in the oil and gas sector also to train and equip people that are needed in the hospitality sector as well,” MinisterEdghillsaid.

President IrfaanAli at his July 12, 2023 press conferencetoldreportersthat theGovernmentofGuyanais in talks with the Republic of Cuba to have that country's nurses join Guyana's workforce in a bid to address

labourshortage.

“Up to this morning (July 12), I had a long discussion withtheAmbassadortoseeif he can get Cuban nurses to come into the system now, in the immediate period to help to fill that gap because of the tremendous shortage that we have,”thePresidentsaid.

The President said Guyana is not the only country facing labour shortage and pointed to Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States ofAmericaandEuropewhile adding that the world is on a recruitmentdrivefornurses.

IndianwomensetfiretohouseofsuspectasManipursex assaultcasetriggersoutrage

Reuters- Women in India's northeastern state of Manipur attacked the house of the main suspect in a sexual assault case that has enraged the nation, state policesaidonFriday

The person had allegedly dragged two tribal women onto the streets in May and incited a mob to rape and parade them naked, police saidonFriday

The sexual assault took place over two months ago but it captured national attention after a video went viral on social media this week, triggering unrest in Manipur

The main suspect, a Manipur resident, was arrested on Thursday hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned theassaultas"shameful"and promisedtoughaction.

Three others also were arrested and police are tracing at least 30 others involvedinthecrime.

"Local women pelted stones and burnt some parts of the house belonging to the prime accused in a village," saidHemantPandey,asenior police official in the state capitalImphal.

"We request women to protest peacefully as there is intense unease We understand their rage," he

said.

The police complaint filed in May stated that an armed mob vandalised some houses and burnt them to the ground in a village in Kangpokpi district before a t t a c k i n g m e m b e r s belongingtotheKukitribe.

Women put burning hays in the house of the accused in viral Manipur video case, in Manipur

The mob, according to the complaint, then sexually assaulted two women aged 21 and 19 who were paraded naked.

The assault was reported by the victims in May when the state witnessed intense ethnic clashes. The fighting was triggered by a court order that the government should consider extending special benefits enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people to the majority Meitei population aswell.

At least 125 people have been killed and more than 40,000havefledtheirhomes s i n c e t h e v i o l e n c e erupted

Protests were planned in several parts of India by rights groups demanding j u s t i c e a n d s w i f t investigations into the latest incident to raise

questions about the safety ofwomeninthecountry

"We want to know why police failed to take swift action when they knew that women were raped and paraded naked in Manipur," said Radhika Burman, a student in eastern city of Kolkata who is led a public demonstrationonThursday

H u n d r e d s o f demonstrators in the southern city of Bengaluru marched, with some banners saying; "Women's body is notabattlefield".

Thayalsoquestionedthe failure of authorities to investigate the case registered by two victims belonging to the minority tribalcommunityinMay

“This is gross injustice and neglect," said H J Lakshmi, of Samakaleena Samajik SanskritikVedike, a civil society organisation in Bengaluru.

Similar demonstrations were held in eastern city of Bhubaneswar and in some college campuses across the country

Modi, who had not made any public remarks about the trouble in a state ruled by his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), spoke a day after the videos showing women being molested went viral.

Women put burning hays in house of the accused in viral Manipur video case, in Pechi Awang Leikai, Manipur, India, July 20, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a Handout video. ANI/via REUTERS

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill speaking at the forum on Friday. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Public Works)

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

Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND

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.

WANTED VACANCY

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 Weeders & Canal Cleaners to work on the East Bank. Call: 684-0111.

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.

Wanted! Male & Female workers for packaging pasta and chowmein on the Back Road (Mandela Ave). Call: 611-7839.

One Cleaner (Domestic) needed to work at Providence. Call: 675-5300.

WANTED

Experienced Land Dredge workers and Cook needed for the Interior. Call: 684-1030.

Food restaurant is looking for one experience person to bbq on Outdoor Grill, good pay offered. Call Tonya: 6330102.

One Male needed to work in Hardware store, ages 25-45 years. Must be computer literate residing on WCD or WBD. Call: 624-0239.

VACANCY

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

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.

LEGAL NOTICE 1

Filing Attorney: MS. SHAMEKA TAITT GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC “Maraj Building” 185 Charlotte & King Streets Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/2259246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD241

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 5th day of September, 2023 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 779 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf.

TO: SHANNAH MARISSA RODNEY nee THORNHILL

Formerly of Meadow Bank, Ruimveldt Georgetown

TAKE NOTICE that on the 14 th day of April, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DEON RODNEY the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

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.

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.

Email: lensgy@outlook.com

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

Security Guard needed. Apply in person to 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.

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

FOR SALE

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

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

PETITION NO. FD-241

BETWEEN:WONG (JENNIFER ALLISON) nee PADDY AKA

GRAYES (JENNIFER ALLISON) nee PADDY Petitioner/Applicant -andWONG (COLERIDGE ANDREARTHUR)

Respondent

TO: COLERIDGE ANDRE ARTHUR

Last known address Kuru Kua Soesdyke Linden Highway Republic of Guyana

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on

Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 28th day of June, 2023.

TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 22nd day of May, 2023 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of- her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND

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.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 9th day of February, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by JENNIFER ALLISON WONG nee PADDY AKA JENNIFER ALLISON

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, 629-5526.

GRAVES nee PADDY the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 5th day of June, 2023 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of- her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division

LEGAL NOTICE 2

Filing Attorney: MS.

NIKITA EDWARDS

GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC “Maraj Building”

185 Charlotte & King Streets Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/225-

9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-

615

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION

FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 11th day of August, 2023 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays

LEGAL NOTICE 2

and 8:00am to 2:30pm on

Dated the 14th day of June, 2023.

Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

LEGAL NOTICE 3

Filing Attorney: MS. SHELLON BOYCE, Guyana Legal Aid Clinic “Maraj Building:” 185 Charlotte & King Streets Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246

Email: legalaid@netyorksgy.com2023HC-DEM-CIV-FD-367 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-367 BETWEEN:PATTERSON (ELVIS PETER) Petitioner -andPATTERSON (JUNE ANN NICOLA CARLOTTA nee JOSEPH) Respondent

TO: JUNE ANN NICOLA CARLOTTA·PATTERSON nee JOSEPH

Last known address Lot 136 South Sophia, Georgetown, Guyana

TAKE NOTICE that on the 2nd day of March, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by ELVIS PETER PATTERSON the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 9th day of June, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday_the_28th day_of_August, 2023_at_9:00_am_before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 779 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 30th day of June, 2023.

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16th day of June, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), an Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 28th day of August, 2023 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious at the High Court at Georgetown via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password:5hRiHf.

Guyana’s domestic and external debt ceilings to increase...

From page 13 creditors and 32.6 percent of total external debt service, increased by 5.0 percent to US$11.1 million as a result of higher principal repayments during the review period. Looking ahead, Central Bank said total public debt is expected to expand to US$4.4B, due to increases in both domestic and external debt stock, while debt service 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, 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 education or health.

He made the comments as the UN launched a report titled: ‘A WORLD OF DEBT’ last Wednesday. 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 triggered a sharp acceleration of this trend. As a result, global public debt has increased more than fivefold since the year 2000, clearly outpacing global GDP, which tripled over the same time.

In 2022, global public debt – comprising general 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 and Brazil. The report said in Latin America and the Caribbean, developing countries are devoting more money to interest payments rather than to investment. The report noted that across the world, rising debt burdens are keeping countries from investing in sustainable development.

“An increasing number of countries find themselves trapped in a situation where both their development and their ability to manage debt is compromised. Currently, at least 19 developing countries are spending more on interest than on education and 45 are spending more on interest than on health. In total, 48 countries are home to 3.3 billion people, whose lives are directly affected by underinvestment in education or health due to large interest payment burdens,” the report added.

Excessive borrowing

Notably, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in a new report published earlier this year, cautioned Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries against ‘excessive’ borrowing and urged governments to bring their debts down to more prudent levels.

The report was published some two weeks after Dr. Singh had announced that the country’s total public debt stood at US$3,654.9B an increase by 16.9 percent from last year.

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

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

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 negative shocks.

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, the IDB said in its report, “This pattern of debt increases in the region points to the need for stronger fiscal institutions to establish credible and sustainable medium-term objectives to limit debt spikes, and where they are necessary, to promote periods of debt reduction…”

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD914

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-914

BETWEEN:-

JEWARAM (INDAR DEO) Petitioner/ Applicant -V--

JEWARAM (MAHESHWARIE DEVI)

nee RAMCHARRAN

Respondent TO: INDAR DEO

JEWANRAM

Formerly of Lot 104 De Willem, West Coast Demerara.

TAKE NOTICE that on the

13th day of June, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by INDAR DEO JEWARAM, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court

IN DEFAULT of you filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, an Answer and/ or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 am to 2:30 pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 28th day of June, 2023

UK's 'SMART' Hospitals initiative in Guyana completed

The United Kingdom US$4 2M 'Smart Hospital Initiative', which saw five health facilities across the country being retrofitted, has beencompleted.

B r i t i s h H i g h

Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Jane Miller held a reception to celebrate the completion of the new andimprovedSmartfacilities at her Bel Air Gardens residenceonTuesday

In her address to attendees, the British High Commissioner said that the initiative was aimed not only to retrofit the identified facilities but to develop a blueprint that would enable facilities to be retrofitted or facilities to be built with betterstandardinmind.

The Smart Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean

Project saw Guyana collaboratingwiththeUnited Kingdom (UK) to retrofit five selected hospitals with environmentally-friendly systems, and heightened resistance to natural disasters. The hospitals also utilised colour therapy to lift the spirits of patients, and induce a sense of wellness

andcalm.

The five hospitals that benefitted are Paramakatoi, L e o n o r a , D i a m o n d , MabarumaandLethem.

“We know that the Caribbean is to disasters and many different type of disasters; earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, floods, fires and many, many hazards that make the Caribbean vulnerable and when a health facility gets damaged it is disastrous to communities.Soaboutseven years ago we started this initiative where we said 'how do we make sure that health facilities can come more

resilient to whatever that hazard might be' and this started an assessment of facilities across the Caribbean including Guyana and five facilities were chosen in Guyana to be r e t r o f i t t e d , ” H i g h CommissionerMillersaid. She continued: “But it was never the intention that the end of retrofitting is the end of the project.The whole idea of the project was to develop a blueprint to develop a tool kit that will enable facilities to be retrofitted or facilities to be built with better standard in mind. And the key thing we

were looking out for was firstlybeingresilienttothose disasters, but also it is that making sure that they have greenstandard.”

According to her, throughout Guyana and the Caribbean each individual facility was assessed and then a retrofitting was done to make sure the plans were met.

The British High Commissioner explained too that the initiative is now a toolkit which has not only been adapted by the PanA m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization (PAHO) but also by the World Health

Organization (WHO) but globally

“It was first presented at COP26 as a mechanism for i m p r o v i n g h e a l t h infrastructure throughout the world, we believe it is going to be presented at COP28 comingup,”shenoted.

Expressing gratitude to the contractors and stakeholders who have been part of the initiative, the Commissioner expressed that it was Guyana and other countries in the Caribbean who are the trailblazers for thisinitiative.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony

expressed gratitude for the work done at the five hospitals.

“This project was able to do for us here in Guyana was to assess 71 of our health facilities and we have had a good methodology that allowsustocheckeverything and having done the assessment then we selected five but we are now able to use the information that we have, so that when we do our construction, we will be able to improve these facilities so that they can become more user friendly and be able to meet the goals of being resilient,”hementioned.

Road projects linking East Coast and East Bank pr corridors progressing smoothly

President Irfaan Ali on Friday m o r n i n g i n s p e c t e d t w o infrastructure projects poised to connect the East Coast and East BankDemeraracorridors.

The visit aimed to assess progress, ensure efficient project management, and expedite completion given the favourable weather conditions, the Department of Public Information (DPI)said.

The inspection encompassed twopivotalprojects,eachofwhich plays a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and facilitating transportation between the East CoastandEastBankcorridors.

Thefirstprojectvisitedwasthe four-lane road at Ogle, ECD connecting to the Eccles four-lane

highway Thesecondprojectinvolvesthe upgrade stretching from Sheriff Street to Mahaica and the upgrade of the road from Belfield to Mahaica.

Both of these initiatives hold immense significance, promising to improve regional accessibility and contribute to the overall development of the country's infrastructuralnetwork.

P r e s i d e n t A l i u r g e d stakeholders to make the most of the current weather conditions and direct their focus to areas where necessary approvals were already in place The president was accompaniedbyMinisterofPublic Works,BishopJuanEdghill.

“I thought the president's

intervention was quite useful. He made suggestions about how things can move along faster, improve project management, recapture time that was lost by puttinginseveralinterventionsand I think that was clearly understood by both the contractors, the supervisory firms, as well as the project engineers from the Ministry of Public Works,” MinisterEdghillstated.

Further, the importance of adhering to the specified timelines was emphasised throughout the inspection.

“All the projects got to be done within their time frame.We are not encouraging any delays and that message was very clear,” Minister Edghillnoted.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Minister Edghill and engineers

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali speaking with engineers

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller

Five countries support visa-free travel from Guyana to European states

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday revealed that at least five EuropeanUnion(EU)countriesare in support of Guyana's Schengen visa-freetravel.

The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.

The Schengen Agreement, first signed on 14 June 1985, is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe's Schengen Area All countries in the European Union (EU), except the U.K. and Ireland have since joined. Countries in Europe but outside the EU have also joined, including Switzerland, Norway,andIceland.

The agreement has abolished border checks at the signatories' common borders within the area, allowingindividualstotravelfreely withinit.Itgivesresidentsinborder areas the freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and has harmonized visa policies,

meaning that for short stays of under 90 days, you can get a SchengenVisa.

U n d e r t h e S c h e n g e n Agreement, traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area is done without border controls In fact, the Schengen Visa makes it possible to visit all the countries in the SchengenAreaandtocrossinternal borderswithoutfurtherformalities.

A total of 27 countries have inked the agreement including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden andSwitzerland.

President Ali upon his return from the European UnionCommunity of LatinAmerican and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC)

Summit2023explainedthatforthe visa requirement to be removed,

Guyana must have countries to sponsoritsbid.

He said, “In terms of the removal of the visa, you have to have sponsoring countries, and I'm verypleasedtotellyouthatwehave at least five countries that have agreed to sponsor us to begin the process within the EU itself. But there's a bigger issue that we have to address, and this is our passports and what is required for future travelling.”

The Head-of-State was at the timespeakingwithreportersduring asitevisittotheEcclestoDiamond four-lane highway that is currently under construction, on Thursday afternoon.

Ali noted that for Guyana to be fully equipped to gain Schengen visa-freetravelstatus,thecountry's passport must be improved and upgraded.

“You know biometrics and epassport are very critical for global travellers.So,wehavetonowwork expeditiouslyonhavingoursystem transformed so that we can have

ease of movement and ease of travel,”hesaid.

Additionally, PresidentAli also indicated that Guyana is working on having the Schengen visas processed more efficiently in Guyana. This, he explained, is an immediate need, and Guyana has received strong commitments from at least three countries that are willing to work with the country on this.

Meanwhile, the Head-of-State shared that his attendance at this year's EU-CELAC Summit, held between July 17 and 18 was “fantastic”.

He explained that Guyana was also able to provide strong leadership in critical areas, especially in the areas of forest and climatechange.

“We'reworkinghardtoposition the forests on the agenda at COP28 and to take global leadership on this. Guyana would be hosting a sideeventatCOP28withtheUAE, and we're hoping that the EU will be a partner with that also,” Ali

noted.

The President said that Guyana has already received commitment from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) to be part of the programme in which Guyana will present its leadership on the forest and a formula and strategy through which forests take a leading role on theclimatechangeagenda.

APA hands over donations to victims of Mahdia female dormitory fire

The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), between July 14 and 19, 2023, visited the Region Eight communities of Micobie, El Paso, Campbelltown and Chenapou to distribute donated items collected during the recent donation drive to support those affected by the Mahdia Secondary School Female Dormitoryfire.

Stationery, feminine hygiene products, toiletries, clothing and other school supplies were among some of the supplies distributed to the girls that survived the May 21, 2023 fire that resulted in the deaths of19othergirlsandoneboy.

On May 23, the APA commenceditsdonationdriveinan effort to raise material donations as well as pledges to address some of the needs of the survivors and the familiesofthosewholosttheirlives as well as the communities as a whole.

APA received donations from businesses, private citizens, religious institutions and partners and has been assisting families sincethefire.

Additionally, stationery were handed over to the Mahdia Secondary School and the survivorsofKarisparuVillage.

According to the APA, last week's distribution exercise represents the first large-scale donationtothefamilies.Beforethis exercise, the Association had also provided care packages and minimal financial assistance to some families while they were in Georgetown immediately after the

fire.

TheAPAdonationteamwasled by Executive Director Ms. Jean La RoseandincludedGovernanceand Rights Coordinator Ms Laura George, GIS Specialist/Forest Policy Officer Mr Michael Mc Garrell; Policy and Administrative Support Officer Ms. Don Stoll; Communications and Visibility Officer Mr Lakhram Bhagirat and Mental Health Therapist M ArianneChand.

Ms. Chand, a US trained Mental Health Therapist who provided voluntary support, met with survivors of the tragedy as well as parents in an effort to assess the level of mental health support needed inthelongterm.

Ms. La Rose and Ms. Geor met with members of communities of Micobie

requested a meeting to relay concerns with the

he tragedy

Additionally, Ms. StollandMr Bhagirat met with Chenapou parents and residents where similar concerns wereraised.

The APA said that it has requested an urgent meeting

with Minister of Education, Ms. PriyaManickchandandMinisterof Health Dr Frank Anthony to discuss the issues raised with the team.

The Association is awaiting a responsefromtheMinisters.

“The APA is committed to working collaboratively with the authorities to address the concerns of the families and communities that has suffered as a result of this tragedy,”thestatementsaid.

Some of the items handed over by the APA to the victims of the Mahdia Secondary School's female dormitory fire.

President Irfaan Ali

One Guyana Basketball Premier League set to commence August 12

The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCY&S), in partnership with the Guyana Basketball Federation and the Georgetown Basketball Association, has unveiled the inaugural One Guyana Basketball Premier League, following an official launching which took place yesterday at the National Gymnasium.

The league is set to kickoff on the 12th August and promises to be a thrilling ride until March of next year, culminating in the highly anticipated Grand Conference Finals. The 2023 Basketball Premier League is an historic one

and is geared to be an iconic sporting spectacle, bringing together the nation’s best teams and talents showcasing their skills on the court. This historic occasion witnessed distinguished guests, including representatives from the fourteen participating teams, the esteemed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr, GBF Technical Director, Ms. Sileena Arjune, GBA Vice President, Jermaine Slater, Vice President of the GBF, Sonia Rodney, and Sherman Gonsalves, the title sponsor representative from G-Boat Guyana, among others.

Saturday July 22, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

A heightened level of intuition and understanding of others might catapult you to the center of attention at a gathering, Aries. Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Communication with friends who have traveled widely could have you hankering to make a future visit to a distant place that you've always wanted to experience.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Dreams or visions could put you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have been aware of before, Gemini. This could enable you to release traumas from your past and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Relationships of all kinds are likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer. Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Today your emotional intuition intensifies your mental abilities, Leo. Friends and family members are likely to grow closer to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of their emotional world, Virgo.

Georgetown FA halts football at GFC

MCY&S Minister Charles Ramson during his featured address at the launching of the One Guyana Basketball League.

The 4th round of matches in the Senior Men’s League of the Georgetown FA has been postponed.

According to President of the GTA, Otis James, “An eme rgency meeting of the General Council will be held next Tuesday to decide the way forward.”

The 4th round doubleheader mat ches affected were scheduled for Friday July 21st and Sunday 23rd July at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. The impasse stems from the non-agreement of the 2 parties, GFC and GFA, relative to ground rental costs.

The league will be played every Saturday, at the abovementioned venue, ac-

cording to the organisers of the event; the league will be divided into two conferences: the Harpy Eagles conference and the Jaguar conference. With a minimum of fifty-two games, including exhilarating playoff matches and an action-packed all-star weekend, basketball enthusiasts are in for a treat.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Dealing with the ups and downs of other family members could be easier for you today than usual, Libra. You're less inclined to be logical and more apt to identify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Today your mind is strongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others. You might sense what they need to hear before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You generally like to think of yourself as someone who faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Your intuition is usually very strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Your intuition is heightened almost to the point of telepathy today. Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring about some intense communication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

Meanwhile, adding to the excitement, a whopping $1,000,000 awaits the champions, while the runner-up team will take home $500,000. Outstanding players and teams will also be rewarded with medals, trophies, and substantial cash prizes, recognizing their exceptional performances throughout the league.

This tournament would not have been possible without the generous support of the sponsors: the MCY&S, GBF, GBA, the National Sports Commission and GBoats Guyana.

Kares One Guyana T10 Blast, Everest sign venue agreement

Organizers of the Kares

One Guyana T10 Tapeball

Blast and Everest Cricket Club (ECC) have inked an agreementwhichwillseethe culmination of the mega tournament on July 30th at themodernfacility

Thehistoricagreementwas confirmed at Everest CC on Wednesdaybetweentheclub’s President, Manzoor Nadir and Co-Directorofthetournament John Ramsingh The ground rental agreement secures the use of the club’s lush outfield and new facilities, which the organizers of the OGT10 TapeballBlastplantotransform further to create a memorable experience

“We opted for Everest very early in the planning because no other venue can giveustheexperienceweare looking for The outfield is excellent,makingitidealfor top-class cricket. At the

same time, the spectator experienceissecondtonone from anywhere in the ground, which will give sponsors great value for money, ” Ramsingh remarked.

Somefeaturesavailableon Sunday, July 30, are LED screens for replays, sponsors’ boundary boards, individual dugouts for the four semifinalists,KidzZoneand the GT Beer Party mound. The tournament begins on Saturday, July 29, with 32 teamsvyingforthetopprize of a whopping $1M and the specially handcrafted trophy On day one, matches will be played at the Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary,YMCAground,Queen’s Collegeground,theTransport Sports Club ground and the Guyana Defence Force g r o u n d

There will be the round of

32, round of 16 and quarterfinals which will see 28 teamseliminated.

On Sunday, the remaining four teams will have their semifinal matches livestreamed to the world with international commentators callingtheshots.

Beforethechampionship match, two celebrity sides, Team Kanuku and Team Roraima, will take the field for a feature clash for $200,000donatedtocharity

In his remarks, Nadir notedthatECCispleasedto partner with the organizers and His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for the inaugural cricketextravaganza.

Nadir, the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly, stated, “The rental fees are mainly to maintain the facilities so we can have cricket all year

roundatEverest. Weareacricketclubandto have this grass root form of crickethereisourpleasure.”

Spectators may also win instantprizesonthedayofthe final by participating in novelty events such as bowling,batting,catchingand other cricket-related

challenges Sponsors: Kares engineering, GT Beer,

Mohamed’s Enterprise, Premier Insurance, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Guyana Tourism

Authority, Avinash

Contracting and Scrap Metal, Continental Transport Inc, Assuria,AnsaMotorsGuyana, Star Rentals, E-Net, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, USA Cricket Zone, First C h a n g e B u i l d e r s ,

Impressions, Jacob’s

Jewellery,BeaconCafé,RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Zeus Enterprise, Hits and Jams Entertainment, Montra Restaurant and Lounge and TrophyStall.Actiononboth days begins at 09:00h while at Police Sports Club ground,EveLeary,therewill be the ceremonial bowl off onDayone.

West Indies slow and steady after Kohli century in India’s 438 at Port of Spain

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) West Indies was an uplifting 86-1 after Virat Kohli hit his first overseas century since 2018 for India on day two of the second test at Queen’s Park Ovalyesterday

India was all out for 438 onthestrokeofteathenWest Indiesmadeitsbeststartyet ofthebriefseries.

By the time West Indies had 86 runs in Dominica, whereIndiawonthefirsttest by an innings in three days, the home side was five and sixwicketsdown.

C a p t a i n K r a i g g

Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were slow and steady on a good surface with a sticky outfield. Brathwaite reached stumps on 37 with newcomer Kirk McKenzieon14.

Chanderpaul took on Ravindra Jadeja and miscuedtobecaughtfor33.

K o h l i w a s s o comfortableagainsttheWest Indies attack that he got himselfout.

He resumed on 87; had all night to ponder whether he’dgethis29thtestcentury and 76th century across the formatsafterfallingfor76in

Dominica.

The spectators had to wait only seven overs into thedayforhimtoachievethe milestone after steering Shannon Gabriel past point forhis10thboundary.Kohli faced 180 deliveries He bowed and kissed his weddingring.

In the same over, Jadeja racked up a fifty off 105 balls.

Kohliwaseventuallyout for121off206ballswhenhe tried to squeeze a single off hisownshotandwasrunout by Alzarri Joseph’s throw fromsquareleg.

Kohli would have been in if he dived but his stand with Jadeja of 159 was broken.

Jadeja didn’t last much longer,outcaughtbehindon 61 off Kemar Roach after a review

While India got the milestones in the morning, West Indies removed both overnight batsmen and had an even better session after lunch.

Indiaaddedonly65runs in 20 overs of the middle session and lost its last four wickets.

Ishan Kishan edged Jason Holder behind on 25, and spinner Jomel Warrican

removed Jayden Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj to leaveIndianinedown.

A t t h a t p o i n t , Ravichandran Ashwin smacked three boundaries off Roach to reach his fifty and was last man out in the same over for 56 Roach and Warrican shared three wicketseach.

Ashwin’s 19th halfcentury boosted India to a total that’s unlikely to lose

it the 100th test between theteams B r a t h w a i t e a n d

Chanderpaul, chastened by the poor effort in Dominica, were content to scoreatbarelytworunsper over in their partnership of 71

While Ashwin took 12 wickets in Dominica, the batters were more careful of Jadeja,whotook1-12off10 overs on Friday New

medium-pacer

Mukesh

Kumar bowled four overs andconceded10runs.

McKenziemadeanearly impressionwhenheslogged Ashwin for a six and Jadeja through the covers to the boundary

Scores: West Indies 86 for1(Brathwaite37*,Jadeja 1-12) trail India 438 (Kohli 121, Rohit 80, Jadeja 61, Ashwin 56, Warrican 3-89) by352runs.

Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the Everest Cricket Club, Manzoor Nadir (left) and John Ramsingh signthe venue agreement for the finals of the Kares One Guyana T10 Blast on July 30.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul added 71 for the first wicket. (AFP/Getty Images)

India’s Virat Kohli celebrates after he scored a century against West Indies (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Nexgen/GGA 4th annual Shafura Hussain Foundation

GolFun camp tees off July 24

The 4th Annual Shafura Hussain

F o u n d a t i o n GolFun Camp tees off from July24-Aug5attheNexgen Golf Academy, Scout

Association Ground WoolfordAvenue.

The much anticipated Nexgen GolFun Summer camp will see action on Mon/Wed/Frifrom4-6pm.

Thisyear’sGolFunCamp is expected to raise the standard for fun youth activities as the participants, ages3andup,willpartakein Golfing, Archery by

ProArchersGuyana,Physical Fitnessandwillbetrainedin Self Defense and First Aid courtesy of Praetorian Security Services with Photography by Al Junior Wilson

Players will be provided with equipment, balls, coaching, snacks (Sunshine Snacks), Beverages (Banks DIH); water (CIDI), ice cream (Sterling Products), and will all receive a Certificate of Completion

and take part in a skills competition by age and gender where they will win prizes (Guyana Beverages, V&V Distributors, Survival Supermarket) and trophies (Trophy Stall) from FirstFifthineachcategory

Parentswillhaveachance toplaygolfandarcherywith Coaches Anand Mangra and Narda Mohamed while they’rewaitingforthekidsto finish Asalways,dozensof worthy children will attend theGolFunCampbecauseof generous contributions by long-time supporters Banks DIH; Toolsie Persaud Ltd; CMC Security Services; Sunshine Snacks; Sterling Products Ltd; V&V Distributors;ComfortSleep; Vivaanta Spa; Caliper Drones; Assuria General; GuyanaBeverages;Survival Supermarket Sheriff Street; Ramchand Auto; Praetorian Security Services; Darthan Investments Print; Dr Paloma Mohamed (UG); CIDIBlueLifeWaters;Party Castle; Trophy Stall; and

several other donors who prefertoremainanonymous.

PresidentofNexgenGolf Academy Aleem Hussain thanked the multitude of sponsors, “Those who have believed in our vision from the beginning and the many newoneswhoaresupporting the rapid growth of golf in Guyanaarethereasonforour success Partnershipswiththe ScoutAssociationofGuyana, Guyana Teachers Union, CPCE, the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit, Texas Golf Association and othersportsorganizationshave helped us achieve what many saidwasimpossible Guyanais nowaGolfNation!Butwithout the staunch support of Mr Ramsey Ali, Philip Haynes, Nikita, Andrew Ramcharitar, AlWilson and Steve who are thereonadailybasistoensure oursuccess,wecouldnothave gottenthisfar”

To register for the GolFun Camp (space is limited) stop by the Academy on Woolford Avenueorcall645-0944.

Long awaited West Dem. football starts on Sunday July 23rd

Football fans on the “Westside”cannowbreathe a sigh of relief as finally the muchawaitedkick-offofthe West Demerara FA’s season has been confirmed amid uncertainty following maladministration unearthed severalweeksago.

Swift and intelligent intervention by Wayne Forde, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) resulted in an Interim Competitions Committee being established to run the 9-team Senior Men’s League.

Former President of the West Dem. FA, Kenneth Thomas will spearhead the installed Interim Committee which also includes, Lawrence Griffith and DeniseLovell.

The one-round League will commence on Sunday July 23rd at the Tuschen ground with a grand March Pastofthenineteamsat1pm to be followed by the openinggameat2pm.Itwill be Uitvlugt FC against Uprising FC and in the 2nd gamesetfor4pm,WalesFC face the might of Slingerz FC.

ThehighlyratedSlingerz

are expected to lift the title due to their star-studded squadandexpertguidancein the persons of former National captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pillars as head coach and his assistant is former National midfielder Vurlon Mills.

Captain Jeremy Garnett isoneof3currentNationals in the line-up, the others being goalkeeper Akel Clarke and utility Leo Lovell. Among the recent

Nationals are, Joshua Browne, Sheldon Holder, Clive Nobrega and Quincy Adams.However,theoneto look out for is the former National under15 captain, teenagerShakemWelcome.

The other five teams competing are, Eagles FC, Pouderoyen FC, Crane Rovers Bell West FC and Number One All Stars Matches will be played on SaturdaysandSundaysatthe Tuschenground.

The 4th annual Shafura Hussain Foundation GolFun Golf camp will tee off from July 24.

Jeremy Garnett in trainingwith the National team. (Franklyn Wilson photo)

Switzerland sour Philippines’ World Cup debut with 2-0 win

DUNEDIN, New Zealand, (Reuters)Switzerlandmadeawinning starttotheirWomen’sWorld Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over debutants Philippines at Dunedin Stadiumyesterday,thanksto Ramona Bachmann’s firsthalf penalty and a closerange effort from Seraina Piubel.

Inka Grings’ side were awarded a penalty by VAR after midfielder Coumba Sow was caught by a stray boot from Jessika Cowart in the box late in the first half, with forward Bachmann coolly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.

“I wasn’t that nervous, but I knew it was an important moment, ” Bachmanntoldreporters.

“I knew that it would be importantforourteamtoget to half-time with a 1-0 so I was really focused and I

obviouslytriedtoscore,butI feel quite confident in shooting penalties. So I was reallycalm.”

ThePhilippines,coached byformerMatildasmanager AlenStajcic,madehistoryas they became the first team

from their country - male or female - to appear at the finals of a global soccer tournament.

Andtheyweredeniedan early opener when midfielderKatrinaGuillou’s strike was ruled out for

Crnogorcevic,Switzerland’s top scorer and most capped player,firedoverfromclose range before Bachmann’s penaltyputthemahead.

Switzerlanddominated

the second half and deservedly doubled their lead through midfielder Piubel, who smashed home in the 64th minute after McDaniel denied CrnogorcevicandSow

“If it’s a VAR decision - from my understanding - it’s supposed to be a clear and obvious error,”

Stajcic said of the penalty “I didn’t see the replay

“There’s no doubt they arethebetterteam,andthey should be. I was really

proud of the spirit that our team showed. I think we showed that we can be competitive. “To come to this level and play against playersfromEurope,against a team like that is miraculous.”

There were plenty of empty seats in the 30,000capacity stadium on Friday despite FIFA giving away 20,000freeticketsforgames in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin amid concerns about the slow pace of sales in New Zealand.

SwitzerlandtopGroupA on goal difference ahead of co-hosts New Zealand, who upset Norway 1-0 on Thursday

Overseas Disturbance Group presents Nigel ‘Bully’ Barnes 3-a-side small goal football competition

TheOverseasDisturbanceGroupismade up mostly of former residents and sports personalities from the New Amsterdam and Canje areas in Berbice now domicile overseas. They have been assisting those backhomeinvariousways.

The group has organized a three-a-side smallgoalfootballcompetitioninmemoryof Nigel ‘Bully’ Barnes a former resident and sports personality of Shoe Lane, New AmsterdamBerbice.

Action is set for Sunday July 23rd, beginning at 2pm at the New Amsterdam Basketball Court, Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam.

Six teams are expected to participate in the day’s competition which will see seven matchesbeingplayedwiththematchesbeing of20minutesdurationeach.

Theteamswillbedividedintotwogroups madeupofthreeteamseach.Theteamswill playeachotherintherespectivegroupswith the top two advancing to play the top two in

theothergroup. Thewinnerswillcontestthe final with the losers meeting for the third spot.

Trophies and other incentives will be awarded to the winning teams and outstanding individual players. The players fromthethreetopteamswillallbepresented withtrophies.

Barnes, a former resident of Shoe Lane, New Amsterdam, Berbice was a student of the Berbice High School where he participated in a number of sporting and extra-curricularactivities.

He represented the County and the Cougars Football Club at football and was a regularfixturefromtheU16leveluptofirst division. Barnes was also a competent athlete and represented the New Amsterdam/CanjeDistrictonaregularbasis atthenationalschoolathleticschampionship withsuccess. Hesubsequentlymigratedto Canada where he lived with his family (Samuel

Whyte)

offside Ana-Maria

Trophies, medals and other memorabilia for the Nigel Barnes 3-a-side small goal football competition.

Switzerland’s Ramona Bachmann celebrates scoring their first goal with Coumba Sow and Seraina Piubel. (REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Epic showdown expected as GDF, GPF butt heads

A m o n u m e n t a l showdown is set for tonight at the Guyana Football Federation’s(GFF)National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, as weeks of enthralling football action culminatesinanepicclashof the disciplined forces’ footballteams.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club andtheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) FootballClub willdo battletoday,July22,2023at the aforementioned venue for a chance to lift the spanking new KFC Elite Leaguetrophy

The new trophy was crafted by the Federation’s trusted partner, Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry(BACIF).

Thescenariosfortoday’s finalgameoftheleaguewill see the GDF, who currently have22points,needingonly a draw to claim the trophy While the GPF, currently on 21 points, must win in order to take the trophy back to EveLeary

With both sides of the rivalry planning to bring out their support in musicians and boisterous spectators, thematchcanbedeemedthe most anticipated senior footballclashof2023.

“We’resuperexcited,we

areactuallyprivilegedtobea part of GFF, as always, we are like family So, this is something that I’m super excited for We’re going to trytogetasmuchpeopleout theretoensurethatthisisone of the most fantastic games you’ve ever seen in Guyana,” KFC’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh shared.

Meanwhile, Head Coaches for both teams and players got a glimpse of the League’s Championship trophy during a face off at KFC’s Vlissengen Road Headquarters.

When quizzed about the emotionsintheircampahead of D-Day, GPF FC Head CoachWayneDovershared, “Wefeelveryconfident,asa team going out on Saturday to get a victory, which is much needed We will continue to prepare and the vibes in the camp is very upbeat So, we looking forward to Saturday to get thisresult,tomakethepolice the new champions of the Guyana Football Federation EliteLeague.”

“Well,oh,yeah,wesenta message in our last three games, we scored 20 goals andconcededone.So,thatis a good intimidating factor for them. We hope that they

studythatalotandnotfocus much on what they have to dosothatwecouldcomeup on top,” Dover added about intimidation tactics leading uptothefeaturegame.

Accompanying Dover was an optimistic Jermine Junor who described what a first Elite League Championship would mean tothepolicemen.

“It would mean a lot,” Junorsaid,“Well,everybody is very happy about this game,firstofall,becauseit’s the first time that Police Football club in Elite League, could be the champions And we’re stickingtoourguns,interms of the preparation and everything because everything is going well rightnowinthecamp.”

On the other hand, it was cool,calmandcollectedonthe GDF side. Captain Kenard Simon responded to inquiries about tomorrow’s game,asking,“Biggame?”

Simonfurtherstated,“Well, the feelings in the camp right now is normal. You know, everybodyisjustfocusedon what we have to do on Saturday, what we came in theleaguetodoandthat’sit, notabiggame.”

AnequallycomposedHead Coach,inJosephWilson,noted

Over-40 cricket match on at Blairmont Community Centre today

The newly former Blairmont Hunters United over-40 cricket team will be in action today They will takeontheJaiHindover-40 cricket team in a feature over-40 cricket match at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground, West Bank Berbice. The game which will be played using coloured clothing will be a 25oversaffair

The Blairmont team, which is made up of a number of former first division players, will include former Berbice player Devon Clements and features Shabeer Baksh, Jaipaul Herall, Karamdatt Bissondial, Herall Brigelall, Safraz Omar, Tage Singh, Afzal Haroon, Rajbance Hemraj, Christian France, Mahesh Persaud, and O. Persaud.

TheJaiHindJaguarteam

is a strong one and includes the likes of former West Indies player Sewnarine Chattergoon former Guyana player Imran Khan and former Berbice all-rounder

AnilBeharryandthelikesof

Kemraj Sumair, Orvin Mangru, Imran Alli, Zamin Zakir, John Percival, Verapen Moonsammy and MahendraGurdyal.

Starting time is 13:00 hrs. (SamuelWhyte)

thatitwillbebusinessasusual forthesoldiers.

“Thisbusinessasusual,with the Guyana Defence Force Footballteam,wealwaystreat every game with the same kind of respect, with the same kind of energy, the same kind of focus. I have

noticed that this game is being billed as a final, probably the final game in the league And GDF football club, has been treating every single game, asourlastgameinourlives, that’s how we go about the business.That’sthewinning

mentality that we have,” Wilsonremarked.

Theclashissettokickoff at 21:00hrs. However, the KFC Elite League action on that day will commence at 18:00hrs with a battle between Fruta Conquerors FCandDenAmstelFC.

GFF’s Troy Peters with the GDF and Police captains with the championship trophy.

Sewnarine Chattergoon (ESPNcricinfo)