Kaieteur News

GuyanapaidUS$150Mtoservicedebtsin2022

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US$43.4M alone went towards interests

Caribbean According to the President, even though there is chatterthatGuyanaisborrowinga lot, the country has made it clear that it would only borrow from institutions that are offering loans at a fixed interest rate of no more than3.5percent.

He bragged, “Now our net international reserve has increased by 15.1 percent. And what is the realityintermsofourdebttoGDP ratio? Both domestic and external today, even with the massive transformation and capital investment in Guyana, our combineddebttoGDPratiois24.6 percent, the lowest in the Caribbean. And guess what it, is downfrom39.6percent.”

As the Government of Guyana (GoG) continues to incur more debts with the expectation of servicing these with future revenues from oil and gas, the country has begun paying large annual sums 0n interest payments alone.

The Bank of Guyana (BoG) 2022 Annual Report has indicated that the country paid a total of $31,444,000,000 – approximately

US$150Mtoserviceitstotalstock of domestic and external debt, a m o u n t i n g t o s o m e $ 1 3 , 5 5 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 a n d $17,892,000,000,respectively

According to the 2022 report, “The total stock of government’s public and publicly guaranteed debt increased by 16.9 percent to US$3,655 million and represented 24 6 percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This increase

was due to a 20 percent rise in the outstanding stock of domestic bonded debt to US$2,083 million. Externaldebtgrewby12.9percent toUS$1,572million.”

TheCentralBankalsoreported that the total debt service grew by 23.2 percent to US$150.2 million and represented 7.2 percent of government’scurrentrevenue.The report explains that while Guyana paid $5 25B in external debt interest,itpaidanother$3.872Bon its domestic debt interest. This

means the country last year paid $9 122B in total interests or approximatelyUS$43.4M.

AmidfearsthatGuyanamaybe fallingintoadebttrapthatensnared other oil producing states around the World, the government has beenadamantthatthecountryison the right path. Head of State, Dr IrfaanAliearlierthismonthsought to dismiss any lingering fears by pointing out that Guyana has the lowest debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio in the

Since Guyana commenced oil production, its GDP has tripled, which according to the Minister withresponsibilityforFinance,has placedthecountryinabetterplace to take more loans With the country’s increase in GDP, triggered by its oil sector, Guyana has been adding more loans with the hopes servicing its debt from the finance that would come in fromitsnewfoundwealth.

Former Auditor General, AnandGoolsarranhadwarnedthat while Guyana’s medium-term economicprospectsappearvery

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Table showing Guyana’s Domestic debt (Source: Bank of Guyana 2022 Annual Report)

Table showing Guyana’s External debt (Source: Bank of Guyana 2022 Annual Report)

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

MINIMISING REGULATORY CAPTURE DEAREDITOR,

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Ocean and Natural Resources Advisory Division (ONRA) has done Guyana a huge favor A handbook has been prepared, and it warns about the condition of ‘regulatory capture.’ Simply put, regulatory capture occurs when the institutions of the State thatareinplacetooverseeasectorisimproperlyinfluenced bythosethattheyshouldbetightlyregulating. Agoodwayto thinkofthisisofthetailwaggingthedog.

Oneexampleiswhereanofficiallaboragencygiventhe mandate to protect workers is more attuned (at home) with businesses to be watched, regulated, and held accountable. Relative to oil companies, and others engaged in resource exploration and extraction, proper regulation by host countriesisofparamountimportance,sothatthewealthofa nationisconsistentlymanagedwiththemostexpert,ethical, and credible standards. When the opposite prevails, the inevitable result is that the citizens who depend on their wealthtoliftthemuplose.

TheCommonwealth’sONRAhandbookfocusesonField Development Plans (FDP), and it emphasizes how much needstobeknown,aboutmanagingtheenvironmentalrisks, andwhatisinvolvedinthedevelopmentofanoilfield,among other issues of considerable consequence. The handbook notedthatoneFDPcanbebiggerthantheeconomyofahost country, which has relevance for Guyana. There have been FDPs for projects that are as much as US$10 and US$12 billion. When the size of any of the recent annual recordbreakingnationalbudgetsisconsidered,theguidanceofthe Commonwealth’sONRAtakesonadditionalimportance.

“It is therefore of paramount importance that the government is able to review these plans to ensure that the economic, social and environmental issues are effectively addressed.”To review properly means that the government musthavetherightlevelofexpertiseinplace,withtheskilled regulators selected having the fullest understanding of their roles,andwiththoseofficialpresencespossessingtheproper frame of mind to match. In other words, the interests of a country and its citizens will be served best when those are locked in place. If there is less than that, then both country and people will pay a hard price. Looking again at what ONRA recommends be carefully addressed, clearly a huge swath of territory is covered, viz-a-viz., “economic, social and environmental issues.” Any one of those can make or breakacountry

Thethreat,accordingtoONRA,isthatlackofexpertiseto conductcomprehensivereviewsofanFDPcanbecostly We fully agree, and this is even more glaring in the instance of Guyana,wheretheconstantlamentisoflackofskills,among othervitalcomponents.

Ifandwhenwedonothavethoseskills,thenwearegoing through the motions and pretending to know what we are lookingat,whatwearedoing.Whenthereisrecollectionof the highly compressed times that it had taken Guyana to reviewFDPs,thereisscantconfidencethatourregulatorsare ontopoftheirgameinthecrucialoilsector Knowledgeable peopleintheoilandgasbusinesshavecounseledGuyanathat FDPsdonottakeafractionofthetimetoreviewandapprove, ashasbeenthecasehere. Instead,acarefulandauthoritative review requires multiples of the months in which they were completed. The Government of Guyana and the main local regulatory body over the oil sector, the Environmental ProtectionAgency,havedancedaroundthosewarnings,and dismissedthemasmeaningnothing.Anothercautionarynote from the Commonwealth’s ONRAis how corruption could lead to regulatory capture. When companies pay to play in thelocaltheater,thenthereisanotherlayerofcorruptionthat isaddedtothemanyalreadypresent.

Further,thereistheacuteconcerninGuyanathatcorrupt politicians have spread their powerful toxic tentacles into local regulatory agencies, which heavily influence their decisions. This leaves citizenswith an appreciationof how the bodies that have been established to protect them have gonetheotherway.

This has been the regulatory reality of Guyana, and thoughtheONRA’shandbookhasmuchvalue,itislikelyto beonlygivenlipservicehere.

MYSTORYON NAKEMA DEONAUTH’S DEATH, BASED ON IRREFUTABLE FACTSAND EVIDENCE

I am writing this to tell my side of what transpired on June 12, 2023 when I found my son’s, Nakema Deonauth, aka Damendra or DimitriDeonauthbody,blue on one side and lifeless. Everything written below is basedonirrefutablefactsand evidence.

Damendra was a kind, caring, forgiving and beautiful soul He was accomplished in so many ways – in law, computer science and the humanities. He was born in Washington DC, USA and moved to Guyana when he was nine years old. He studied in Guyana,IndiaandChina.He was fluent in Chinese. He was employed by the Guyana Ministry of Education and was also an international consultant. He was well respected p e r s o n a l l y a n d professionally Hewasatthe pinnacleofhiscareer

DamendralivedinChina during COVID and he struggled under the harsh restrictions there. I urged him to return to Guyana. He continued to have moments ofstresswhenhereturnedto Guyanaabouttwoyearsago. Buthelovedbeingbackand he treasured family and friends.Hewasthecenterof my life and I will miss him greatlyfortherestofmylife.

I usually have breakfast with Damendra every day From Monday-Saturday, I pick him up between 7:157:30 am. We have breakfast then we go together to the shop.OnSundays,Ivisithim at his place. On Sunday, June 11, I went to my son’s place around 9 am. I left about 10 minutes later (Damendrasaidhewastired and not hungry). Damendra walked me to the outside

street door and we said goodbye. The police have videotapes in their possessionconfirmingwhen I arrived and when I left, including showing Damendra saying goodbye tomeatthebuildingdoor

I did not see Damendra again and I did not speak to himagainthatSunday

Monday, June 12, as usual, I went to pick up Damendra for breakfast Usually, I call out to him fromthestreetandhecomes tothebalconytoletmeknow he is coming down. On this particularday,eventhoughI kept calling out to him, he didn’t answer I tried to get into the building to go to his apartment but the outside front door to his building is only accessible with a key, both for entering and exiting.I didn’t have a key I askedtheothertenant,whom IwilldesignateasMr YYto protecthisprivacy,wholives inthebuildingandalsohasa store there, to let me in. I couldn’tgetintoDamendra’s apartment because there is a locked metal gate and a lockeddoortotheapartment. I banged and banged on the door and kept calling his name but there was no answer Mr YY witnessed thisandhasconfirmedthisto thepolice.

I didn’t have a phone, I don’t usually carry one so I went to the store and waited for my wife to arrive so I could use her phone. I then called the landlady, whom I will designate as Ms. XX to protect her privacy I explained that something seemed wrong with Damendra and I needed to getinhisapartment.

Ms. XX said that she would meet me at the apartment in 15 minutes. When she arrived, she did

not have a key to the front door of the building. Again, we asked Mr YY to unlock the front door The police possess a videotape confirming the time of both my second arrival and Ms.’s XXarrivalatthebuilding.

Ms. XX gave me the apartment key and I went upstairs to Damendra’s apartment I went immediately to his bedroom but I was unable to enter although the door was slightly ajar I pushed the door and saw Damendra’s body lying on the floor blocking the door, his face wasindownwardposition.

I panicked with fear of whatmighthavehappenedto him. I turned him over and saw there was blood on his nose and on the floor There was a black and blue bump onhisforehead,hisfacewas also black and blue and his arms and legs were discoloured I wiped the bloodfromhisnosewithmy clothes and my hands and began giving mouth to mouth resuscitation. I was rubbing his hands and feet. There was a bump in the front of his neck and I was massaging it because I thought that was preventing him from breathing The onlythingonmymindatthat moment was to revive my son. I also immediately calledmywife.

My wife arrived around 9:10 am and I asked her to call an ambulance immediately

I ran downstairs to unlock the door for the ambulance, leaving it unlocked.Iranbackupstairs to continue mouth to mouth resuscitation on Damendra.

The ambulance arrived around 9:20 and the police around 9:30 am. This is confirmed by the videotapes

the police have in their possession.

Also, as soon as the police arrived, one of the men who identified himself asasecurityguardandisalso a street vendor, told the police I had killed my son. Heknewnothingofwhathad happened. He was able to rush into the apartment because I had left the front door unlocked for the ambulance. I learned later thatthepoliceseemedtotake hisaccusationseriously This same street vendor took pictures, which he was later selling for thousands of dollarstoanyoneinterested.

The ambulance people were two young female medics Because the buildingdoorwasunlocked, between 10-15 persons also came running in, including employees from the nearby storesandtwomenwhosaid theyweresecurityguardsfor the nearby stores (the police should have videos of this). Oneofthesemenwasalsoa street vendor They began taking photos of me on the floor with my son and probably other photos – I don’t know because I was focused on my son Damendra’s building does nothavesecurityguards.

ThemedicstoldmethatI had to stop the mouth-tomouth resuscitation I begged them to take my son tothehospital.

They then clapped together a small device to give him oxygen and they didCPR.

Theylookedintohiseyes and then said he was dead. The thought that Damendra had died was more than I couldbear

When the police arrived around9:30am,Ikept

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THAT CHRONICLE EDITORIAL

DEAREDITOR,

Normally I find great pleasure and stimulation reading Editorials of the KaieteurNewsandStabroek News.

Today,afriendcalledme quite agitated after reading Editorial 24th July, 2023 in the daily Chronicle The Editorial damned and made ugly the Government up to 1992 stating the wonderful progressmadebythePPPup to 2015 and between 2015 and 2020, the Coalition led

bythePNCmessedthingsup and according to the Editorial after 2020 Irfaan Ali like a knight in shining armor has made our country agreatplace.

After reading the Editorial in question I rememberapopularcalypso, “ yuh hear lie, that is lie.” Theysayeverystoryhastwo sides. What about forms of economic, social and political apartheid being practiced by the PPP? What about the spread of

corruption from top to bottom under this administration?

Whatabouttheinfamous black clothes gang apparently directed by a certain PPP Minister, whose visa the US revoked, a rampage that took the lives of many young men in our country?

What about the starving of funds of local authorities andagencies,notsupportive of the Party in office? What about the PPP failure to

renegotiate,astheysaidthey would the lopsided oil contracts?

What about disrespect shown to the independent media, all they say in the name of democracy? What about the burden of cost of livingonordinaryworkersin thefastestgrowingeconomy intheworld?

They say you can fool some of the people, some of thetimebutnotallthepeople allofthetime.

EricMoseley,MS.

“The Indigenous Peoples:A National Treasure Taken for Granted”

DEAREDITOR,

The Indigenous people, oftenreferredtoasthe“First Peoples of Guyana” are our national treasure who, unfortunately, have been long taken for granted Guyanese ought to be thankful for the indigenous people’s contributions to the formation and prosperity of the Republic. The name of the country “Guyana” meaning “land of many waters” is an indigenous endearment along with our rivers (Cuyuni& Mazaruni), the ten administrative regions, local festivity (Mashramani) and the plethoraoftastydisheshave become a staple for every Guyanese. The natives have cemented a rich history withinthelandinwhichthey arethefirstinhabitants.Even though, many Guyanese are familiar with this rich history, there isn’t much public patrimony paid to the indigenous peoples

Guyana’s first peoples are without a Museum of Indigenous History and few

recipientsofnationalawards have belonged to this sacred group. Often dubbed as the silent minority, the

Indigenous peoples are a major focus of the political spectrum for their ability to influence power shift

However, in the postindependence era, major political parties have taken the indigenous peoples for granted through neglect of basic services such as healthcare, security and economic opportunities

When elections are imminent, parties have resorted to doling out financial and accessory gifts inanefforttowoo10%ofthe populationinordertotiltthe power scales in their favor

Many have called for the Indigenous peoples to recognizethecycliceffectof oppressionanddeceptionby which politicians are utilizing them for power gains and for them to advance a transformation leader since the great Indigenous luminary Steven Campbell.Therecentevents

surroundingtheallegedrape ofanIndigenousteenagerby former Minister breathes disenchantment among the Indigenous communities

The current administration’s heartless, disrespectful and inconsiderate treatment of Guyana’snationaltreasureis evident. The vile in their coveruptofirstdenythatthe incident had occurred is laughable. It followed the President’s lack of leadership in removing the former Minister forthrightly and calling for an independentinvestigationby the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) More recently, social media conversations and a letter have surfaced with the victim denying that the incident has happened. A video published of this alleged victim apparently being coerced to read a prepared statement denying that the rape had occurred and offering sympathy for the alleged rapist is disheartening. Many in the indigenous communities

will watch these events in disgust for the level of disdain it has brought the victim’s family and the indigenous communities. It is evident that evil has no boundaries and will go very far to persuade the populous of its chicanery while violatingthesovereignrights of Guyana’s first peoples. Moreover, these turns of events have demonstrated the ruling regime’s willingness at all cost to make this incident go away without seeking reputable justice and has opened the door to potential future executive and international predators to exercise rape with full confidence of no repercussions The Guyanese pundits, activists and public personalities are to be applauded for staying steadfast to ensure a more just society As Martin Luther King said “the arc of the universe is long but it bendstowardjustice.”

ThankYou,

Collin Haynes, MPH, MBA

GTUC calls on President Ali to uphold Municipal Act and swear in newly elected mayors and deputies

DEAREDITOR,

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) calls on President IrfaanAli to honour the Laws of Guyana, and in this specific case, the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01.

Cap 28:01, Section 18

‘Oath of Office’ stipulates:

“The Mayor and the DeputyMayorshall,before performing any of the functions of their respective offices, take before the President an oath of office in form set out in the Second Schedule.”

It is a shame, disgrace and violation that so many weeks after the Local Government Elections (LGE), which were held on June 12, 2023, and results declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that the mayors and deputy mayors, who were elected, have not yet been sworn in and therefore cannotlegallyfunction.

GTUC calls on the elected mayors and deputies nottoallowthemselvestobe lured in acts of lawlessness and to be mindful that they have no legal instrument to perform duties in said roles. Those who have taken it upon themselves to function without said instrument are being urged to cease such function immediately and demand that they be legally sworn in to perform their duties

Remaining silent and/or participatinginthisillegality that has been foisted on this nation by President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime, would beencouragingandsettinga dangerous precedent, and communicatingtosociety

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MYSTORYON NAKEMADEONAUTH’S DEATH, BASED ON...

Frompage4 begging them to take Damendra to the hospital. They refused I was o v e r c o m e w i t h uncontrollable pain and anguish.

I was so desperate that I didn’t want to believe that they could not save Damendra.IknownowIwas behaving irrationally But I didn’t realise it at that moment. The only thing I realised then was that I wantedmysontobealive.I didn’twanthimtobedead.

I asked the police if they had kids and, if so, they would know how I was feeling. I was experiencing levels of stress so far above what I had ever experienced in my life of 70 years. And noonewaslisteningtome.

So, I lashed out at the police. One policeman then told me, “ok, big man I will show you what a little boy cando”andtheygrabbedme and took me downstairs. As soon as we got outside, they puthandcuffsonmeinfront of all the passersby and onlookers, and put me in a police car That was around 10 am. I was kept in the car until about 2:30-3 pm, after when the police took me to the Alberttown Police Station. It was a very hot in the car and passersby and people around all saw me in

the police car. It was humiliatinganddegrading.

Itisimpossibleformeto describe the pain and anguishIwasfeeling.Itwas overwhelming. My son was intheapartmentwithpeople who refused to take him to the hospital. I couldn’t hold him.Icouldn’tcomforthim, I couldn’t see him because I was handcuffed in a police car on the street outside his apartment. I was a suspect andIdidn’tunderstandwhy I felt dehumanized. I have experienced death, my parents, two sisters and a brother But the emotions I was feeling were more powerful,especiallybecause my only son was lying upstairsintheapartmentand Iwassohelpless.

I had lost my son and I was being treated like criminal. It was completely devastating.

I didn’t know how to grieve because I didn’t understand what was happening to me and why I wasbeingtreatedthisway.I vacillated between mourning my son and fearing what would happen to me. I was at a loss to understandit.Theonlything I had done was finding my son in such a terrible condition and trying to revivehim.WhenIarrivedat the Alberttown Police

StationonMonday,June12, I was asked to give a statement,whichIdid.Ithen sat on a bench at the station until Wednesday, June 14 around 7 pm when I was takentotheBrickdamPolice Station and placed in a cell with five other persons. No police had spoken to me duringthattimeonthebench orinthecell.

An autopsy was performed on Damendra on Wednesday, June 14. On Thursday, June 15 around 5 pm,mylawyerarrivedandI wasallowedtoleavethecell afterpostingbail.Sincethen, I have met with the Alberttown Police twice concerningmystatements.

The media ran with the story labelling me a murdererduetothefactthatI hadbeendetainedrelatingto thedeathofmyson.Thishas cost me my reputation, not only in Guyana but abroad. People in the US, Canada, theUKandIndiahaveasked aboutthis.Ihaveneverhada problem with the law in my life.PeopleIhaveknownfor 30 years and people who I thought knew me, now question me. My reputation that I have guarded all my lifeisnowtarnished.

AndallIdidwasfindmy son dead and tried to revive him. I know now that I was irrationally hopeful that fateful morning in not wanting to believe that Damendra was dead. But I feltIwasfightingforhislife andIhadtodosowithevery core of my being. I was a father, shocked that my son was gone forever I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t accept it. I would have traded my lifeforhis.

It is also shocking how my wife and I were treated even though it was obvious, orshouldhavebeenobvious, even to a lay person,that it wasclearfromthecondition of Damendra’s mostly blue body that he had been dead forquitesometimebefore9 am when I entered his apartment.

According to the government’s own expert, Damendra’s body was blue on one side because he had been dead for hours and the blooddrainedonthesidehe waslyingon. So,wearestill reeling from the experience and trying to recover from how we were treated like criminals.

We, who had just lost a son,justbecausewewerethe firsttofindDamendra’sblue body This memory will foreverhauntusaswemourn his loss for the rest of our lives.Itisanexperiencethat

we would not wish on our worseenemies.

My wife arrived about 9:10 am, about 10 minutes after my arrival. She will explainherexperience.

YASMIN’S EXPERIENCE

I arrived at Damendra’s apartment around 9:10 am. The front door was locked andMr YYopenedthedoor formebecauseIdidn’thave akey.Iranupstairsandfound Rajendra (known as Rudolph) in Damendra’s bedroom. Damendra’s head was on the mattress (which was on the floor) and Rudolph was giving him m o u t h - t o - m o u t h resuscitation, and rubbing hisbody

Damendra’s face, his hands and feet were blue. I didn’t recognize my son. Rudolph screamed at me to call the ambulance. I found Damendra’s keys so Rudolph could open the street front door for the ambulance Rudolph ran downstairs to open the door He came back upstairs and started again mouth-tomouth resuscitation on Damendra.

I b e g a n t o r u b Damendra’s neck, chest and stomach because I thought this might give him back a pulse in a few minutes. I desperatelywantedhimtobe alive and okay Two young women medics arrived with the ambulance They stopped Rudolph from giving mouth-to-mouth to Damendra They used a clapping device to give Damendra oxygen One medic opened Damendra’s eyes, jumped back and told the other medic that Damendrawasdead.

Rudolph was still there and he was screaming that they should take Damendra tothehospital.

Theydidnotlistentohim and he became angrier and more upset. Rudolph was telling them that they didn’t knowwhatitmeanttolosea child and to be a father and that they will never have children One policeman thentoldhim,“okbigmanI will show you what a little boy can do.” At that point, about 8-10 policemen came into the bedroom and grabbed Rudolph and took himdownstairs

About10-15personshad also come rushing in when theambulancearrived.

Two men said that they were security guards but Damendra’s building does not have security guards to the best of my knowledge. These men began taking

pictures of Damendra and Rudolph.

I don’t know what else they took or did because there were so many people and it was confusing. The police also arrived soon after One of the men who said he was a security guard asked Rudolph why he had killed his son in front of the police. I chased the people away who did not belong there.

The police then held me standing in the stairway for about 1 ½ hours. Then they tookmeoutsidethebuilding in the hot sun and kept me there standing guarded by many police until about 2:30-3pm when they put me in a police vehicle and took me to Alberttown Police Station.

This is a busy area with lots of people coming and going.Therearemanystores and street vendors. I felt so ashamed and so humiliated. Andthiswasbadnotonlyfor my personal reputation but also for my business reputation because I am a businesswoman.

I stayed calm even thoughIhadbeenstandingin the sun for hours and was in pain because my son was dead and I saw how my husbandwastreatedwhenhe became emotional The police made me give a statementatthestation.Iwas allowed to leave around 11pm.Ididnothavecontact withmyhusbandduringthis time.

I was worried about him because I knew he was devastated by Damendra’s deathandIdidn’tknowhow hecouldcopewiththelossof ourson.

I was a suspect and I didn’tunderstandwhy Ihad just lost my son. I was very close to Damendra. I also didn’t understand why Rudolphwasstillincustody I knew how much he loved Damendraandthathewould be feeling sad, broken and scared. I knew that he had screamed at the police but it was a natural reaction because he wanted them to save Damendra and he thought they didn’t want to help.Hecouldn’tunderstand that there was nothing anyone could do because Damendra was gone. Rudolph refused to believe thatevenafterthemedicsaid Damendra was dead. It was toomuchforhimtobear.

The police took many items from the apartment. We don’t know everything they took but we know that the items included Damendra’s laptop, phone,

his backpack and personal itemsandelectronicdevices.

They also took my phone.Theapartmentisstill labeledacrimesceneandwe cannot access it because the police say they are still conducting an investigation.

Ihavemetwiththepoliceat thepolicestationonceafterI was detained. We still don’t understandwhatisgoingon. We still do not know the causeofdeathandthepolice are still investigating. Every day,wehopetohearthatthis nightmareisoverandwecan mournDamendra.

We are still trying to understandwhyweretreated in such a degrading and humiliating manner while we were tryingto acceptthe cruel fact that our son was dead. Our lives have been turned upside-down, especially my husband because he was detained by the police for 72 hours. Every day was torturous because my husband was a suspect. We didn’t know what the next day would bring.

The coroner has told us thatitwasimpossibleformy husband to have killed Damendrainthe10minutes he spent with him before I arrived and 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived. One entire side of Damendra’s body was black and blue. His face was blue. His feet were cold. The coroner told us rigor mortis hadbegun.Ittakeshoursfor rigor mortis to begin. Also, thediscolorationonhisbody would take hours The coroner said outright that “the father did not kill his son.”

Thepolicehavealsotold me, my husband and other family members that my husbandisnotasuspect.But we still live in anguish and fear because we know how weweretreatedjustbecause wefoundoursondead,who according to medical evidence, had been dead longbeforemyhusbandand I entered our son’s apartment.At this point, we want this nightmare to be over

We want to grieve our son in a normal and human way without clouds hanging overus.

The police have not yet made a statement because they say that they are investigatingthematter.

In the meanwhile, we wait in fear, sorrow and grief.

Yoursfaithfully,

Rajendra Deonauth (akaRudolphDeonauth) YasminDeonauth

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JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

On Monday, July 31, 2023 the Kaieteur News team will not be working. It is the day before all of Guyana join in celebrating freedom from the dark age of slavery.

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Emancipation as we know it commemorated the abolishment of slavery some decades ago in 1838.

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Today, our politicians are allowing this depressing crime against humanity to slowly slip its way back into Guyana, with our people being treated as second class at the hands of foreigners.

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What we are witnessing presently, is our wealth being reaped, and our people being robbed with our politicians silently watching on, allowing the rape to continue.

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The oil contract that has been dubbed the worst agreement on Earth still shackles this nation, as our people toil to put food on their tables.

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We call on all of Guyana to join the revolution as we demand a change from our government on July 31, 2023.

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ExxonMobil tells High Court it Cour should not interfere with EPA’s job

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),theoperatorofthe Stabroek Block, which was awarded an Environmental Permit for the 12-inch naturalgaspipeline,hastold the High Court it should not make a determination on whether its application met the legal requirements, as this is the Environmental ProtectionAgency’s(EPA’s) job.

The oil company made this statement in its defence application lodged at the CourtonJuly13,2023inthe matter filed by two citizens, VandaRadzikandElizabeth Hughes, challenging the legality of the Permit it received for the pipeline aspect of the Gas-to-Energy (GTE)project.

The project, which will utilise natural gas from the Liza One and Liza Two

fieldsintheStabroekBlock, is geared towards reducing the cost of electricity by 50 percent while also decreasing harmful emissions.

In addition to the pipeline, which will be used to transport the resources, theGTEprojectfeaturestwo othercomponents,aNatural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility to treat the gas and a 300megawatt power plant to

generatetheelectricity EEPGL, the subsidiary of American oil giant, ExxonMobil was granted a Permit for the pipeline and NGL components on

November25,2022.Radzik and Hughes on March 27, 2023 challenged the decision by the EPA in Court, alleging a breach of the Environmental Regulations which require the operator to prove

ownership of the lands through which the pipeline passes.

Exxon was approved by the High Court on June 12, 2023tojointhematterasan interested party and has since urged the legal institution to allow the EPA to conduct its functions rather than interfere with its decisions.

Theoilcompanysaid,“I am further advised by the Second Respondent’s Attorney-at-Law and verily believe that the EPA is the sole authority vested by Parliament with a discretion to grant an environmental permit and to determine

Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram

compliance with the Regulationsinsodoing.”

Therefore, it continued, “The question of any proof required by Regulation 17(2)(C)(ii) is a matter within the remit of the Agency, a specialized body created by Parliament to make determinations of this nature. In this regard, in the absence of illegality, irrationality or procedural improprietyonthepartofthe EPA, the Court should defertothedecisionsofthe administrative body and not substitute its own determination of whether theapplicationforthe

Continuedonpage10

EMPLOYERS ALSO NEED TO TAKE A STAND

Alocal radio station _ I really cannotsay–was reporting yesterday on the front page headlines of the Kaieteur News. And it read thecallwhichisbeingmade byGlennLallfortheretobe a ‘Day of Standstill’ on Monday,July31,2023.

One of the announcers, however,tookituponherself to offer an invited comment onthatparticularnewsitem. She said that she was wondering whether Glenn Lall would be paying those persons who did not work, and what would happen if employers were aggrieved by persons staying from work.

Itwasthetypeofmyopic and misinformed comment that one has to expect when dealing with such issues. One would have expected better from someone who has been put to relay information to the public and, in so doing, influence publicopinion.

Whilethereareboundto be concerns about the financial implications of not working or about job securityifpersonsstayaway from work, the bigger picture has to be recognized andacknowledged.

The call for a ‘Day of Standstill’ is not simply of idleness or a bank holiday from work. It is part of a long-term peaceful struggle aimed at achieving wider societal and economic objectives, namely to raise consciousnessabouttherape

ofourcountry’sresources.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ isintendedtodrawattention to the injustice which has been committed against everycitizenofthiscountry It is an injustice that robs eachandeveryoneofusand o u r c h i l d r e n a n d grandchildren of millions of dollars.

Had Guyana been receiving a fair deal for the exploitationofitsresources, there would have been no need for any ‘Day of Standstill’ No need for persons to be working like scavengers. All would have been entitled to a comfortable life and cheque in the post each month to provide for their needs

Instead, it is the foreign investors who are enjoy the ‘sweet’ofGuyanaresources whileyou,thecitizens,have to savour the bitter taste of the crumbs that are left behindforyou.

One day’s pay is a sacrifice which persons should be willing to make. Glenn Lall will be losing money on that day because this newspaper will not be working and the next day is major advertised day for the newspaper and it will lose out of those revenues. But that is the price which all of us should be willing to pay for a better future for ourselvesandchildren.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ is not only for workers. It is also for employers Employers are also citizens andtheytoohaveaninterest

Dem Boys Seh...

inensuringthatthecountry’s getsafairdealforitsnatural resources.

Indeed, the day can become far more successful ifemployerstaketheleadin supportingthosemembersof theirstaffwhomakeachoice not to work on the ‘Day of Standstill’ Giving moral supportandpaidworkisone wayinwhichemployerscan demonstrate that it remains empathetic towards issues that are of concern to their workers.

Ifaworkerfeelsstrongly about what is happening to Guyana’sresources,thenthe employer should support thatworker

When employers a c k n o w l e d g e t h e significance of the ‘Day of Standstill’ and allow employees to participate w i t h o u t f e a r o f repercussions, it fosters a sense of trust and loyalty among the workforce. Also acknowledging the ‘Day of Standstill’ shows that the employer values the concernsandperspectivesof its workforce. It creates an open and respectful environment for dialogue between management and employees on various societalissues.

So let us not have a division between employers andemployeesonthisissue. Both employers and employees should be concerned about economic justicebecausewhenthereis such justice, employers will enjoy a stable business

One standard fuh you and me and de odder fuh Exxon

De Pee Pee Pee Cee come in like a hurricane. Dem promise fuh investigate dem land deals wah de Coal-A-Shun did sign. Dem even fire some persons from de landdepartment.

Deminvestigateanddemcomeupwith areport.DePeePeePeeCeeclaimhowde Coal-AShungivethemfriendsandcronies nuffland.Onemanevengetatransportfuha pieceoflandwhichhedidnotpayasyetfuh. Denewgovernmentclaimhowsomeofde dealswillberescinded. Somepersonswere calledinanddemdecidefuhsurrenderdem land. Somepeopleevengettektocourtfuh lands which dem acquire and get transport fuh.

But when it came to de big fishExxonMobil–therewasnotgoingtobeany

rescinding.Degovernmentsuddenlydecide dem gat fuh respect de sanctity of de contract. But what about de santity of de contracts of dem land deals wah dem bin threateningfuhrescind.Howcomenooneis respecting the sanctity of those contracts? Someone should ask de Vee Pee about dis doublestandard.

Exxoncontractisassacredasholysite. ButdempeoplewhatgetlandfromdeCoalA Shun gat to be investigated. Some contracts like fragile eggs, ready to be cracked open and tossed aside, while Exxon’sdealislikeabrickwall.Demboys want know if dat is not more than double standards and whether dem nah gat no law againstsuchdoublestandards.

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

environmentandhigherstaff morale and productivity

Workers on the other hand willbestrugglingforacause that could lead to improvements in their wellbeing.

Employers should support the ‘Day of Standstill’ by closing their business for the day This will ensure that workers do nothavetofearfortheirjobs or any repercussions of not working.

Employers too are being asked to help shut the country down for one day

And the more employers come on board, the more successful will be the ‘Day of Standstill’. And employers should not discourage workers who wish to participate in the ‘Day of Standstill’ by employers indicating to them that a decision to participate in such a day is not mandatory but that the employerswouldrespectthe wishes of thosewho wish to participate.

The ‘Day of Standstill’ is a day for all to make a stand Otherwise, we –

employers and employees –will end up on our knees for theremainderofourdays.

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

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

RENEGOTIATION OF OIL CONTRACT - A SIMPLE SOLUTION

The clamor of calls, and the intensity of pitch, both have the projection and qualityofsurroundsound. I hear and I read of a single word: renegotiate. Then in two words: renegotiate contract. Last in three or four or five words: renegotiate Exxon-Guyana contract. Or,renegotiatethe vile Exxon contract. All have fallen on deaf ears, no matter how strident, or how furious, the push has been for renegotiation of this monstrous, barbaric, and enslaving (my words) Exxonoilcontract.

The Exxon Guyana Country Head, Viceroy AlistairRoutledgehatesany word that sounds like renegotiation, presses for it. This American Maharajah, definitely an oil brahmin, detests and dismisses any callsforrenegotiationofthe Exxon contract. Guyana is getting enough money already, as it is. Thanks for enlightening the heathens, setting them straight Mr Moneyman Routledge, with that beauty of the largest revenue stream of any contract. This is how well Maharajah Routledge has done his homework, how expertly he compares the Exxon pittance to gold and other mineral contract cashflows. So, let’s not talk about renegotiation, shall we? Frankly, it’s a little

tiring,boringalso.

TheheadmaninGuyana, Oil Commissar, Dr Bharrat E. Jagdeo has also walked b a c k h i s p r i o r commitment(s) to renegotiate this diseased oil contract. Investors will be spooked Guyanese are starvinginthishigh-income country,but Oil Commissar

Dr Jagdeoismorepainedby thefearofinvestorsrunning away,orsteeringclearaway, from Guyana, should renegotiation of Exxon’s contract be put on the table.

I am weighing whether Dr Jagdeo is more American than Guyanese today, considering his unmoving allegiance to Exxon, his surrendertoAmerica.

I have some rough news for brother Barry: he can bleach his head blond, and have a skin peel performed, butheisstilllookstoomuch like me to his foreign friends. He can have them, exploiters from the first day on earth,from the first page ofhistory

As for President Ali, a leader of a particular strain of excellence, and Opposition Leader Norton, wherever Dr Jagdeo stands on renegotiation, they are p a r t o f t h a t #metoomovement For Guyanese,thefinalityofour national political leaders condenses to a simple reality: no movement on

calls or cries for renegotiation of theExxon oilcontract. No! Notnow! Not just now! Not anytime soon! Not anytime at all, possibly! Who are their shareholders, Exxon’s millionsof them,or thefew Guyanesepeople?

Where is God, country, family,andoilpatrimonyin this for Guyana’s top leaders?

Clearly, Exxon’s piracy, and the Exxon family, are most important to our political champions. With champions like those, I’ll takeaslaveship’scaptain,or a plantation overseer, thank you. We have them here presently, but today’s overseers are not for sugar, but oil It seems that Guyanesearestuck.

Ihavealittlesolutionto this renegotiation of the Exxon contract. From my perspective,itisaneasyone. Not easy logistically, but whatismosthelpfultogetus past this burning, boiling, dividing issue of

renegotiation or no renegotiation. Here is my recommendation,inwhichI believe,mostfirmly,liesthe solution to this question. It iswhatIseeasthewaythat liftsusoutofthequicksand, that puts an end to the quarrelsome sparring and savaging of Guyanese by Guyanese, and that which helpsustomovebeyondthe infightingandbloodletting.

T H E I S S U E O F RENEGOTIATION OF T H E 2 0 1 6 E X X OG U Y A N A O I L CONTRACT MUST BE PUT TO A NATIONAL REFERENDUM All eligible Guyanese, 16 years and over, with proper credentials, competent or incompetent, get to have their say, cast their vote, for or against renegotiation Guyanese are given the opportunity to prove which c o m e s f i r s t : r a w partisanship, cult l e a d e r s h i p , o r convincingpatriotism.

As an added benefit,

Guyanese are able

to demonstrate beyond any doubt, whether they are more f o r p e t r o l e u m company’s interests, or p a t r i o t i c a n d patrimonial interests

It is well past the time that citizens of this rich countrystopthearguingand sword-fencing, come to grips with the pointless guttingandcastratingofone another It is time that this n a t i o n p u t s t h i s renegotiation baby to bed, and singsa lullaby to it, to help it to drift into deep, undisturbedsleep.

If the verdict of the Guyanese people in any such referendum about renegotiationisdoit,thenlet itbedone,asthoughthewill ofGod. Evenifhellonearth has to be encountered, must be endured Just let renegotiation of the Exxon oil contract be. Or it is begone ExxonMobil and Mr Alistair Routledge et al. Nothing personal, I assure

oneandall,justthebusiness (and dignity) of the Guyanese people. On the otherhand,ifthevoteofthe Guyanese people is not to renegotiate, to leave untouched the Exxon contract, then the people wouldhavespokenloudand clear,andthatiswhatitmust be.

Wemustbowbeforethe willofthepeople,andmove on with the Exxon contract, asis. Whatcouldbeclearer, cleaner, easier than a referendum to close this issue,thisquestion,out?

(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.)

ExxonMobil tells High Court it should not...

Frompage8 environmental permit meets the requirements of Regulation17(2)(C)(ii).”

The litigants outlined that ExxonMobil in its application to the regulator, datedJune24,2021includes detailsoftheprojectsite,the proposed route of the pipeline and the areas to be used and affected by the project, which includes residential properties, commercial properties and state-owned properties. Be thatasitmay,theapplication did not include or provide any proof of ownership, a lease or other agreement with the land owners of the saidarea.

Notwithstanding, the EPA granted EEPGL a

Permit to undertake the project on November 25, 2022 Subsequently, the Minister of Public Works, JuanEdghillinJanuary2023 passed various orders to acquirelandsforthepurpose oftheproject,pursuanttothe Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, Chapter62:05. Regulation 17(2)(c)(ii) oftheRegulationsprovides: “An application for an e n v i r o n m e n t a l authorization…shallcontain t h e f o l l o w i n g information…(c) proof that theapplicanteitherownsthe facilityorhasaleaseorother agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity on the

facilityorhaslegalrightsor ability to conduct the activity without the consent of the landowner or occupier.”

ExxonhastoldtheCourt it has a legal right to pursue the project, as the Government of Guyana (GoG)hasexerciseditslegal authority to acquire private lands to facilitate the initiative. For its part, the state, as represented by the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall S.C has said the applicantsare“busybodies” and have no right challengingtheproject.

In the application of defence, filed on July 14, 2023, Head of the GTE p r o j e c t , Wi n s t o n Brassington gave a sworn

statementindicatingthatthe oil company was granted permission by the government to undertake works associated with the project.

Brassington told the HighCourtthattodate,there has been no complaint by any of the land owners that their lands were entered upon without proof of ownership, lease or other agreement between them and EEPGL- ExxonMobil Guyana-oranyotherperson and/ or entity associated withtheproject.Tothisend, hesaid,“Iamadvisedbymy Attorneys-at-Lawandverily believe that the Applicants are not land owners or occupiers or possessors of any legal or equitable interest whatsoever in respect of any of the lands acquired. By instituting these proceedings, they are notonlybusybodies,butare obstructioniststoaprojectof national importance and fundamentally essential to the public good and interest.”

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the matter is presently before Justice Priya Sewnarine- Beharry Theapplicants,throughtheir Lawyers, Melinda Janki, Abiola Wong-Inniss and JoelRoss,isexpectedtofile their reply on or before July 28,2023.

HARDTRUTHS BYGHKLALL

Court dismisses case against man accused of publicly embarrassing Home Affairs PS on his Whatsapp status

The Georgetown’s Magistrate Court o f Tu e s d a y dismissed a cybercrime charge against a man accused of cyber-bullying the Permanent Secretary (PS) of Home Affairs, Mae ToussaintJr Thomas,onhis WhatsAppstatus.

Thomas had alleged that themanidentifiedasJoseph Rankin publicly humiliated and embarrassed her Accordingtoareleaseissued by Joseph’s lawyer, Dexter Todd, Magistrate Marissa Mittleholzer dismissed the case because there was not enough evidence to convict

themanofanywrongdoing.

“After a heated trial and exchange of submissions, the court ruled today (Tuesday) that there was insufficientevidenceagainst Mr Rankin to even call on him to lead a defense,” the lawfirmstated.

The matter against

Rankin was prosecuted by the police force’s legal advisor, Mandel Moore and his defense lawyer was Dr Dexter Todd Allegations madeagainstRankinincourt stated that on March 19, 2023, he posted that a Guyanese billionaire who physically abuses his wife forcheatingonhimwasseen havingfunwithPSThomas. The former went on to accuseThomasofbeingvery “invested” in wanting the billionairetoleavehiswife.

“In said status it is alleged that Mr Rankin posted that a Guyanese Billionaire battered and bruised his spouse for infidelity,areportwasmade by the spouse of the Billionaire to the Criminal Investigation Department of theGuyanaPoliceForcebut nothing was heard of it thereafter Further, it is allegedthathestatedthatthis said Billionaire was seen havingfunonboattripswith friendssuchas“thePS”ofa Ministry that was deeply invested in seeing his relation with his wife come to an end,” DexterTodd and

Associatesexplained.

Someone had reportedly taken a screenshot of Rankin’s Whatsapp status andforwardedittoThomas. This led to the Thomas reporting him to the police.

Rankin was arrested and subsequently charged for cyber-bullying.

After listening to arguments from Rankin’s defense and the force’s prosecutor the court concluded that the prosecutionfailedtoprovide any evidence of the

registered owners of cell phone numbers involved in thecase.

The prosecution also failedtoproduceorproperly describe the phone used to cyber-bully Thomas and the person who allegedly took a screenshot of the Rankin’s status did not provide any evidence to support the prosecution’s argument in court. As a result, the case against Rankin was dismissed and he was freed from the cyber bullying charge.

Home Affairs PS, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas Joseph Rankin’s Lawyer, Dr. Dexter Todd

GTTsaysover110,000GuyaneseusingMMG

private organizations to simplify everyday service delivery

Among the major governmentpartnershipsare the Demerara Harbour Bridge toll system (Breeze

pass), the Transport and Harbour toll system (Ferry pass), National Insurance Scheme,MinistryofHuman Service and Social

Security’s old age pension and the Guyana Revenue

Authority Ram said that mmg will continue to focus o n p r i v a t e / p u b l i c partnerships and work with the Government to enable more payment options in Guyana.

General Manager

o f M o b i l e Money Guyana (MMG), Bobita Ram on Monday announced that more than 110,000 Guyanese are using mmg to pay bills and conduct other transactions as public confidenceintheinnovative solutioncontinuestogrow

She was at the time presenting on fostering an enabling environment to accelerate financial technology in the Caribbean, at CANTO’s 38th Annual Conference and Trade

ExhibitioninMiami,Florida. Ram said that the hybrid approachofusingbothagents and mobile wallets has been verysuccessful,thecompany saidinapressrelease Adding that customers useboththeirmobilewallets and more than 1000 agent locations across the country to conduct transactions

“Whatwehavefoundisthey use the agent first... trust is built,andtheysignupforthe mobilewallet”.

The General Manager reported that while many persons initially only used

their mobile wallets to pay bills, trends now show that customers are leaving moneytoaccumulateintheir account. “Trust is critical in this business and the bills is wherewestartedtobuildthe trust, the agent model also helped to confirm to the customer that if you put the moneyinthewallet,youcan takeitbackout”.

She added that in addition to bill payments, mmg has diversified the transactions and partnered with stakeholders, including many government and

Bobita Ram pictured with Communication Director of Visa, Catalina Bantula Camps during CANTO’s 38th Annual Conference.

Guyana,18 other countries join India to launch Global Biofuels Alliance

Nineteen countries have joined India as initiating members of the “Global Biofuels Alliance,” as New Delhi’s bid to expand the deployment of biofuels as a low-carbon pathway received support from within and beyondG20.

The Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting has highlighted Fuels for Future (3F) as one of the priority areas, the Indian HighCommissionheresaidinapressrelease. Inthiscontext,onthesidelinesoftheEnergy Transitions Ministerial Meeting, a standalone event on Consultations and Recommendations for the Global Biofuels Alliancewasorganizedon22ndJuly2023in Goa.Thiseventreceivedstrongsupportfrom countries within and beyond the G20 Nineteencountriesexpressedtheirinterestin being the initiating members of the alliance with fifteen countries and nine International Organizations attending the event. This signifies a momentous step forward in advancing the development and deployment of biofuels through a multi-stakeholder globalalliance.

This GBA event witnessed participation from the Energy Ministers of thirteen countries and Heads of nine international organizations.India,Argentina,Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Guyana, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Paraguay, Seychelles, the United

States, UAE and Uganda, and international organisationssuchastheBiofuturePlatform, International Civil Aviation Organisation, International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum, International Renewable EnergyAgency, World Bank, World Biogas Association, and World Economic Forum, who were part of the event welcomed the

initiative. Guyana was represented by a representativefromtheHighCommissionof GuyanainNewDelhi.

“True success of Global Biofuels Alliance will depend on moving this project from a project of the government to the projectofthepeople,”anIndianOilMinistry statementquotedIndia’sPetroleumMinister Hardeep Singh Puri as saying after consultations of the alliance held on the sidelines of the G20 14th energy transition ministerial meeting in Goa on Saturday Minister Puri stated that “The vision of PM ShriNarendraModiisgivingrenewedthrust tocollaborativeefforts&knowledgesharing intheworld’sgreenenergyjourney.”

AnexhibitionatT20inGoaon22ndJuly, 2023, traced the evolution of biofuels from ancient times; to the present era An “interactiveWall”detailedprocessesthrough whichBiofuelsaremanufacturedalongwith

a display of various feedstocks The exhibition also featured an Ethanol Cookstove, while technological models showcasing the production processes of 2G Ethanol, SustainableAviation Fuel, CBG & BiodieselGreenEnergygaveaglimpseintoa sustainablefuturepoweredbyBiofuels.

Several countries including Brazil, Italy, Kenya,&UAEhighlightedtheimportanceof sharing best practices across policy, technology, & implementation. The forum recognizedthatovercomingchallengessuch as feedstock management, standards development, & technological innovations requires a collaborative approach & welcomedtheinitiativebyIndianPresidency to move towards creation of the global alliance Ministers from several other countries also highlighted the appeal of biofuelsasalow-carbonpathway,while Continued on page 20

A section of the gathering at the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting

India oil sector regulator makes suggestions for laying pipeline following crude spill

Followinganinvestigation into the March 2023 oil leakage from a pipeline offshore Nagore in Cauvery Delta, India; the country’s oil sector regulatory body has made several suggestions in itsreportforthesafelayingof apipeline

OnMarch2,aleakinthe pipeline of a refinery that caused an oil spill in Nagore Pattinacherrycoastcausedthe area to be contained - the Indian Express reported In response, unrelenting fishermen from the village, who noticed the oil spill, expressed their agitation demanding the authorities to removetheunderwatercrude oilpipeline

Itwasreportedthattheleak inthepipelineoftheCauvery BasinRefineryoftheChennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) was apparently due to damage to the old pipeline used to transport crude oil to the Karaikal port once in oneand-a-halfmonths.

However, a report by the OilIndustrySafetyDirectorate (OISD),atechnicalagencyof the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, statedthattheprobablereasons foraleakinthecrudeoilwere “shoreerosionleadingtoloss of soil support, health deteriorationofpipelineover the years, and the visible mechanical damage on the pipeline suspected to be caused by the heavy impact ofhulloffisheriesboat.”

Times of India reported, replying to a question, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri,saidnomajorreportable incident of crude pipeline leakage as defined in the Disaster Management Plan 2021 had been reported between 2018-19 and 202122 according to OISD However, two incidents of leakageofcrudeoilpipelines, including the Nagapattinam incident, were reported in 2022-23.

The OISD has made recommendationsinitsreport, includinglayingofpipelinesat a sufficient distance from seashore, re-routing of pipeline if required and conduct of internal and externalsafetyaudittoavoid suchincidentsinfuture

“AfterthereceiptofOISD report on the incident of Nagapattinam, an advisory had been issued to all oil and gas PSUs, including CPCL,” theministersaid

Itwasalsoreportedthatthe

Union Minister maintained thatthecrudeoilpumpingwas not operational at the time of leak and sand bund was

createdinthesurroundingarea duringlowtidethefollowing day Notably,thepipelinewas clamped, and the leak was arrestedonMarch4

“The crude oil pipeline in whichtheincidentoccurredat

Nagapattinam was decommissioned and about 850mofthepipelinehasbeen removed by CPCL on April 16,”Purisaid

The CPCL’s Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam was decommissioned in April 2019, and the crude pipeline wasusedintermittentlyoncein six weeks or so to transfer crude oil from CPCL CBR crude tanks to Karaikal port The last consignment was pumpedonFebruary14,2023 and the crude pipeline had beenidlesincethen

Moreover, Guyana and India is expected to sign a M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the energysectorbeyondcrudeoil exports, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed during an interview with WIONinIndia Jagdeowasin Indiaonanofficialvisitfrom February20to25,2023,atthe invitation of the Vice PresidentofIndia

During the interview, Jagdeowasasked,“Whatkind of energy cooperation exists between India and Guyana? Any plans to export crude to India?”

Jagdeo responded, “So we’reexpectingshortlytosign a Memorandum of Understanding that would go beyond just the export of crude, but we’ll look at the energy sector and its development in its totality” HehadexplainedthatGuyana is now trying to build the architecture for a broader look at the energy sector and enhancecooperationbetween GuyanaandIndia

“And we are also looking tolearnquiteabitfromIndia Inthatprocessaswebuildout ourindustry InGuyana,it’sa fledgling industry We just startedproducingoilin 2019 By 2027, we will produce overamillionbarrels,maybe 12 million barrels per day, that’sasteepramp-up That’s almost 20% of India’s daily use,”theVicePresidentsaid

According to Jagdeo, Guyana is working to ensure that the sector develops in a manner where the oil companies bear their share of responsibilities both from an environmental perspective and a fiscal perspective and thattheindustryisdeveloped inanorderlyway

“So that is why India’s assistance and its great

technicalskills,youhavealot ofsmartpeopleherewhocan helpusindefiningthegrowth oftheindustry,butnotjuston oil, on the gas sector as we movetodevelopagaspolicy and to start utilizing the gas resourcesandthenintermsof environmental management, building capacity across the country,”Jagdeoadded

Tothisend,henotedthat theGovernmentofGuyanais looking forward with great excitement to the development of a strong relationship with India on energy-relatedmatters

Photo credit: AP/Representational

‘CutRose’projectrakesin$4Minfirsthalfof2023

- 12,067 roses produced so far

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s ‘Cut Rose’ project, which was conceptualised to create employment for single parents continues to make significant progress and has earnedover$4millionforthe firsthalfof2023

The project’s production continues to increase with 12,067 roses harvested as of June 2023, with a weekly projection of approximately 500roses Thiswasdisclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha during a

recent interview with the Department of Public Information(DPI)

Minister Mustapha explained that the project contributes to the income of single parents by enhancing their livelihoods The implementation of the projects saw more flowers beinggrownlocally,reducing thedemandforimports

“When we started it, many people thought that this will not be successful Today, we have a lot of young, single mothers who are getting help from this project in terms of purchasing roses at a very lowcostandsellingitback,”

MinisterMustaphastated

The project is being carried out by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara “I think when you look at it now, we are expanding. Forexample, in

Some of the cut roses

government services, bouquets and other gifts come from the cut rose project. We are supplying and giving free roses to a number of areas. This project will help a lot of singleparentsinthefuture. We have scope for expansion,” the agriculture ministernoted Theprojectis expected to reduce rose importsby30percentbythe endof2023

Guyanesestudent studyinginIndiaselected forfully-fundedUNESCO foruminSaudiArabia

Guyanese student Mr Tejyas Dasa Singh, studying in India at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai under the ICCR Scholarship for his MastersinEngineeringDegree,hasbeenselectedforafullyfundedUNESCOWorldHeritageYoungProfessionalsForum to be hosted by the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of SaudiArabiabetweenSeptember2ndto13th,2023.

Mr. Tejyas Dasa Singh, a M. Tech student has been working continuously for the last year on heritage conservation and preservation via consolidative treatments, compatibilityandperformanceofthesetreatmentsonvarious types of heritage construction materials such as fired clay brickandstonesampleswerealsoassessed.

According to a press release by the Indian High Commission in Guyana, Singh’s work could guide decision makers in charge of preserving structures, more so heritage structures, and those who wish to use consolidants to make properselectionofconsolidativetreatmentsbasedonthe

Continued on page 19

‘Cut Rose’in one of the shade houses

Tejyas Singh with his IIT Bombay supervisor (Photo courtesy of the Indian High Commission)

PAHO/WHO to assess Guyana’s progress in achieving International Health Regulations

The government has partnered with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), to conduct an International Health Regulations Voluntary External Evaluation(IHR-VEE).

The assessment commenced Monday morning at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, and saw members of the two bodies initiating plans towards achieving the mandate. Among other things, the exercise aimstoassessgapsinvariousareas of the health sector, and implementing new strategies, wherenecessary

It will measure the national status and progress of Guyana in achieving the IHR core capacities. These 15 capacities include surveillance, health emergency

management, and financing. The team will conduct the evaluation untilFridayandprovideareportat theend.

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, noted that although Guyana has implemented the core capacities, theevaluationisstillimperativefor

the country and its people. “We will use the report of the JEE (Joint External Evaluation) in our plans and programmes. In fact, the timing for this JEE coincides with our budgeting cycleandthereforeonewillseein the 2024 budget specific reference to the JEE report of

GuyanesestudentstudyinginIndiaselected...

Frompage18 severity of deterioration, property of the materials,andwhatisrequiredtobedone.

“In June, 2023 Mr Singh’s paper, currently under review with a reputable journal, was recognized and accepted by the IABSE International Conference in New Delhiforapresentation,inSeptember,2023. Now it has been selected for the UNESCO Forum,”thereleasesaid.

According to the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Singh said he will proudly represent Guyana at the forum and will be presenting on Guyana’s own local natural heritage:the Kaieteur National Park, whichhebelievesdeservestobeaUNESCO

WorldHeritageSiteinthefuture.

During a telephonic interaction with the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, he expressed gratitude to the High Commission, IIT Bombay and ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) for theopportunitytostudyandconductresearch at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions and for the recognition of his achievement by IIT Bombay and the UNESCOForum.

High Commissioner, Dr. KJ Srinivasa congratulated Mr. Singh and urged him to keeptheGuyanaflagflyinghighandalsoto represent the land of his ancestors- India at theForum.

Guyana,andthatspecificbudget willbeallocated,”Dr Ramsammy stated.

Theassessmentcomesatatime when Guyana is exponentially transforming its health system, by building additional hospitals, modernising health services, and providing training for nurses,

doctors, and other health workers. Meanwhile, PAHO Representative in Guyana, Dr Luis Codina noted that the exercise will be farreaching. “It is related to the wellbeingoftheGuyanesepeopleaswe are here to look towards the future and to change some things for the better,”Dr Codinasaid.(DPI)

Representatives from the Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO at the opening of the evaluation

Canadian fishermen threaten protest over Exxon drilling on traditional fishing grounds

A fish harvesting trade unioninCanadahaswarned that its members may carry outan“atseaprotest”overa regulatorybody’sdecisionto allowExxonMobiltodrillan exploration well offshore Newfoundland & Labrador at “peak fishing” time in a zone rich in snow crabUpstreamreported.

The United States super major went through an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process sanctionedbythefederaland provincial governments before spudding an exploration probe a few weeks ago on its Gale prospect in Exploration Licence1167usingthesemisubmersible drilling rig Hercules.

H o w e v e r , c r a b h a r v e s t e r s o n

Newfoundland’s Avalon peninsula, who were consultedontheexploration campaign, said the drilling operation is in “direct conflict with traditional prime fishing grounds” in what is designated the 3L area.

On the local front, an EIA conducted by Acorn International, the ConsultanthiredbyU S oil majorhascautionedthatnot only will marine fish be affected by the degraded water quality within the fifth offshore project site, butfishermenwhoplytheir trade there will also be forced to find new grounds to accommodate the operation Guyanese fishermenhavelongargued that Exxon’s offshore drilling is affecting their

livelihoods

InCanada,theFishFood & Allied Workers (FFAW)Unifor trade union argued latelastweekthatdespiteits vocal opposition to the drilling operation t h r o u g h o u t t h e environmental consultation process, the CanadaNewfoundland & Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) which regulatesupstreamactivities in the province and ExxonMobildecidedtopush aheadwiththeGaleprobe.

“Our members feel this brewing spatial conflict is representative of the continuous disregard for the fishing industry,” said Greg Petty, president of the FFAW-Unifor

“Expansionoftheoiland gas industry needs to be

considered alongside the fishery, not in priority to it.” He said the FFAW-Unifor made the CNLOPB “aware of our objections and the importance of avoiding a multitude of harvesting activities, including crab fishing, occurring in the same region back when the projectwasfirstdiscussedin 2015”.

In a letter written to CNLOPB chief executive, Scott Tessier, Petty noted that Newfoundland & Labrador’s snow crab fisheryisthemostprofitable intheprovince,stressingthat the3Lfisheryonitsownhas thehighestlandedvalueand, in 2022, was worth almost C$500 million (US$380 million).

The trade union, which represents all professional fish harvesters in Newfoundland & Labrador, is now calling for a “dramatic overhaul” off CNLOPB’s planning and procedures.

“Providing little to no advance (notice) of drilling programmes, their precise location and associated safety zones is not considered a mitigative measureandthereshouldbe no expectation that fish harvesters will willingly alterfishingplanstoprevent space-use conflicts,” said Nelson Bussey, a fish harvester and FFAW-Unifor boardmember

“Time and time again, our historical fishing rights have not been factored into the oil and gas growth equation,” he said, adding that the CNLOPB has allowedoffshoreexploration activities to occur in areas with a “significant recent history of intensive fishing effort.”

In his letter, Petty wrote that “union membership is losing faith in the fisheries consultation processes with the board. FFAW- Unifor feelsasthoughweareasked to provide consultation that isthenignoredandresultsin littletonoimpact.”

Inafollow-upstatement, the union boss said: “The continuousdisregardforour industry can happen no more,” and warned that

“harvesters are extremely frustrated and feel an at-sea protestmaybetheonlyway forward in sending the message our membership will not allow the CNLOPB to enable one industry growth at the expense of another.”

In response to these accusations, the CNLOPB said it “appreciates” the importance of the fishery sector and is committed to continuingtoworkwithboth the fishing and petroleum industries to identify and reduce risks through rigorous environmental assessment processes and ongoingdialogue.

The board said on 21 July: “Based on the information currently available to us, (we) can confirmthatExxonMobil hasbeenincompliancewith i t s c o n d i t i o n s o f authorisationtodate.”

TheCNLOPBnotedthat ExxonMobil has been engaged directly with the FFAW and through One Ocean meetings over a numberofmonths.

Upstream was unable to contact ExxonMobil’s s p o k e s p e r s o n i n Newfoundland&Labrador

Guyana,18 other countries join...

Frompage14 underscoring the critical necessity for engaging in clean energy initiatives. The leaders highlighted that despite the huge potential of Biofuels as an important lowcarbon pathway to development, several challengescontinuetohindertheiradoption.

JenniferGranholm,SecretaryofEnergy, US, remarked that the United States recognizes the establishment of a Global Biofuels Alliance as a critical step in their biofuels journey and that they look forward to moving from “test tube to test drive and fieldtofuels”.

Mr Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of State of Mines and Energy, Brazil, highlighted that to meet sustainable energy needs multiple forms of energy will be required and, in this context, reinforced theimportanceofthealliance.

Further, International Organizations such as IEA and IEF reinforced the expansive potential of biofuels for other countriesandhighlightedtheimportanceof

standardization, waste recycling, and investments to build on the untapped potential.ICAOemphasizedthatmorethan 600 Billion liters of SAF are required to replaceallfossilfuels,translatingintomore than USD 3 trillion in investment by 2050. This necessitates the need for close collaboration across stakeholders The World Biogas Association highlighted that only2%ofwasteisbeingrecycledcurrently and absence of recycling to consumable products is contributing to methane emissions. International Organizations also enunciated how they look forward to supportingthealliance.

The forum recognized that overcoming challenges such as feedstock management, standards development, and technological innovations requires a collaborative approach and welcomed the initiative by Indian Presidency to create the global alliance. This consultative process resulted in the Energy Ministers recommending establishmentofGBAtotheG20Leaders.

Exxon CEO, Darren Woods

BIG BUSINESS: Snow crab harvesting is a major industry in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. Photo: FFAW-UNIFOR

New ‘Span Nine’retractor installed on DHB ahead of schedule

The installation of a new Span Nine retractor for the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has been installed ahead of schedule, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said Tuesday morning.

The installation of the SpanNineretractorstartedat 23:59 on Monday and according to the minister works are progressing well and ahead of schedule. The minister along with the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation’s (DHBC)

General Manager, Wayne Director General said that Minister Edghill had Watson and Maritime the preparation for the stated previously that the Administration Department closure of the bridge has government understands the ( M A R A D ) D i r e c t o r movedaccordingtoplanand significance of this

Meanwhile, MARAD’s Nineretractoronthebridge.

General, Stephen Thomas he disclosed that several replacement and is provided an update on the vessels are operating at the committed to seeing this works ongoing at the bridge identifiedlocations. project through, as this new as well as the movement of

Thomas said that at the retractor which spans 170 commutersbetweenRegions GrovetoWalesandtheDHB feet long and 40 feet wide

ThreeandFour crossings, some vessels that and is valued at $1.2 billion, Minister Edghill said the would usually ply the will result in a much workers were able to replace Essequibo River are being smoother operation the damaged Span Nine usedtofacilitatecommuters. (retractability) in the future retractor and replace it with

He added also that they have and will also enable wider thenewone. personnel on the grounds at vessels to pass through the

“We have already been the various locations to channel. able to detach the old Span

ensure the “operation is Last September, the Nine and the new Span Nine seamlessaspossible.” bridge’s Span Nine was is in place and they are

In a press release, d a m a g e d w h e n t h e working to get it aligned. At MARAD stated that the Panamanian flagged vessel, this time having received the water taxi services operating MV Tradewinds Passion, brief from the General between Grove and Wales crashed into the bridge Manager of the DHBC and been smooth, people are recognize that for some that in addition to the and both the eastern and during a retraction period the contractor, we are ahead cooperating and I would just reason or another, the river installation of the new Span western sides of the Harbour and rendered the bridge ofschedule,”hereported. want to thank the people of was very calm and we Nine, other works are being Bridge will be staggered inoperableforseveraldays. As it relates to persons Guyana for their patience. exploit the opportunity doneonthebridge. between 20:00hrs and Since then, that damaged

Watson said that works 05:00hrs. section of the bridge had to Three and Four, through the good,wewouldwanttokeep Though works are ahead costingsome$85millionare

traversing between Regions Today [Tuesday] started off immediately.”

Thevessels,accordingto be repaired several times, MARAD all three crossings itlikethat,”Edghillsaid. of schedule, the General being done to the High Span MARAD, plying these whileplanswerebeingmade have been operationalised. P r o v i d i n g b r i e f Manager explained that of the bridge, while internal routes will therefore depart toreplacetheunitaltogether

The crossings are between comments on the ongoing work would continue as rehabilitation on spans 12 to each location every hour on Repairs to Span Nine were Stabroek and Vreed-en- works, General Manager planned and if the project is 29 and spans 39 to 60 are the hour, from 21:00hrs until undertaken by a local Hoop, Grove on the East Watson said as soon as the completedaheadofschedule beingdoneexecutedatacost 04:00hrs Thereafter, on- company, Industrial Bank of Demerara to Wales bridge closed, works started then the minister will make of$60million. demand service will resume Fabrications Inc (InFab), on the West Bank of immediately Like Minister therequisiteannouncement. “So we are ahead of from05:00hrs. which was completed in late Demerara and a crossing at Edghill, he said the The installation of the scheduleandIwantthankall

It was reported that the 2022. the end of the Demerara engineers were able to get new Span Nine now allows t h e p a r t n e r s a n d DHB will be closed from In May this year, Span HarbourBridge. the span changed and for the alignment followed stakeholders,” he expressed. 23:59hrs on July 24 to Nine was transported from “We have a number of replaced with the new one by the decking and He added that these works 23:59pm on July 27 to the dockyard to the bridge personnel on the ground aheadofthescheduledtime. installation of ramps and are being done so that facilitate the installation of for the perfect time and tide even though since midnight Watson told reporters other control and device traversing along the bridge the new $1.2 billion Span tofacilitateinstallation. we were operational, it has that while working, “we mechanisms. He disclosed canbesafeandcomfortable.

Aerial view of the ongoing works at the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill)

Commuters traversing the three crossings to get to and from Regions Three and Four.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill inspecting works at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

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Govt. seeking consultant to prepare Guyana’s 5th EITI report

The Ministry of Natural Resources has announced thatitissolicitingtheservices of a qualified consultancy to prepare the country’s 5th Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report forthefiscalyear2021.

The specific consultancy services required pertain to the role of Independent Administrator (IA) under the GUYEITISub-Componentof the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP), funded by a $20 million World Bank (WB) loan.

Theconsultant,BDOLLP, prepared Guyana’s last EITI reportforthefiscalyear2019.

The project’s objectives include tackling governance vulnerabilities in the extractive sector,fosteringindustry transparency, facilitating the transition to renewable energies, encouraging disclosure oflicensingandenvironmentaldata,andintegratingtransparency data on social and environmentalimpactsofoil, gas, and mining projects.

Guyana’sextractivessectors are riddled with issues regarding a lack of transparency,especiallyinthemining

sector The country’s EITI membership had been suspendedforfailingtocomplete and submit its report by the deadline.

However,Guyana’smembership has since been reinstated, following completion ofthereport.Thegovernment has committed to giving its support for the diligent completionofGuyana’sEITI reports.

ThechosenIAwillbeexpected to conduct a comprehensivegapanalysis,reviewing all legislation pertaining to the extractive sector, and identifyinggapsbetweenexistingandrequiredlegislation necessary for EITI Standard compliance.Theanalysiswill consider energy transition, genderandwomen’sempowerment, anti-corruption ef-

forts, and beneficial ownership.

Furthermore, the IA will deliveradetailedPowerPoint presentation outlining the methodologytobeemployed inthecompletionofthe2021 Report. This presentation should cover every phase of the reporting process, identifying responsibilities, and definingclearcommunication procedures for each step.

The IA will also provide training and guidance to all reporting entities on how to complete the summary data templates. Furthermore, the IAwill assess Guyana’smining fiscal and legal regime in terms of managing potential demand booms for critical minerals needed for the growth of the renewable energy industry and within the

energy transition process. TheassignmentwillcommenceinSeptember2023and isestimatedtolastsixmonths, during which the consultant is expected to be physically present in Guyana.

Eligible consulting firms are invited to express their interest in providing these services. Prospective consultants must provide evidencedemonstratingrelevant qualificationsandexperience, such as descriptions of similar assignments, experience insimilarconditions,andthe availability of appropriate skillsamongstaff.PriorEITI reporting experience, while not required, is considered beneficial.

Joint ventures are also welcome to express their interest.

PAHO,IDBcelebrate

5yearcollaborationon digitalhealthintheAmericas

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At an event to cel ebratefiveyearsof collaborationininformation systems and digital health between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the InterAmericanDevelopmentBank (IBD),thePAHODirector,Dr Jarbas Barbosa, underscored the crucial role of digital transformation in pandemic recovery and improving access to health.

the pandemic, there were countries of the Americas that were unable to see how many COVID-19 cases they had each day, because their informationsystemsweretoo weak.”

Evennow,“itisunacceptable that some countries in ourRegiondonotevenknow theirmaternalmortalityrate,” he added.

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During the event – ConnectingHealthforall–which tookplaceon24JulyinWashingtonD.C.,Dr.Barbosaalso highlighted the urgent need to ensure that countries have thedataandinformationnecessary to monitor progress towards universal health, identify gaps and ensure that everyoneintheAmericascan exercise their right to health, PAHOsaidinapressrelease.

“The alliance between PAHO and the IDB is crucial because it focuses on problems highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr Barbosa said. “

Duringtheearlystagesof

To tackle these issues, the PAHO/IDB partnership hasdevelopedover40strategicactionstoensurethedigital transformation of the health sector and three regional policies: a Plan ofAction for the Strengthening of Information Systems for Health; a regional Roadmap fortheDigitalTransformation of the Health Sector; and a policy on the application of data science in public health using artificial intelligence andotheremergingtechnologies.

“Most importantly, the partnership has led to more peoplereceivingdigitalhealth services,” Dr. Barbosa said. Digitaltransformation,which

includesinvestinginservices such as health information systems, telemedicine, and electronic prescriptions, as well as other digital innovations in medicine such as artificialintelligence,iscrucial to ensuring a renewed vision of primary health care, Dr Barbosa highlighted. “Technology is completely different today than 45 years ago atAlma-Ata.”

“The population of the Americaswantsbetterpublic services and health is one of them,” IDB President, Ilan Goldfajnsaid.

“Theagendawearebuilding together has elements of what we believe are priorities,”includingregionalintegration,data,efficiency,digitalization and addressing inequality

ThankstothePAHO/IDB partnership, more than 15 countries of the Americas now have improved digital health foundations, and 10 countries have digital health agendas with infrastructure ready for data sharing across borders.

GTUCcallsonPresidentAlitouphold...

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From page 5 support for the decline in good governance, and contemptfortheRuleofLaw

Those whom the confidence of the citizenry of the various towns has reposed musttakeastandanddemand theConstitutionandLawsof Guyana be upheld.

Itmatterswhetherelected on a PPP slate or A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The laws are universal and apply to all and all must treat these as sacrosanct.

The GTUC further calls onMr AubreyNorton,Leader oftheOpposition,andChair-

man of the partnership (APNU) that contested the LGEtomakeaclearandstrident call to President Ali to uphold the Laws.

Theconfoundedillegality must stop.

Regards, Guyana Trades Union Congress

$66 million estimated to build science lab at Santa Rosa Secondary

With some $12 billion set aside to improve the infrastructure of educational facilities across the country, the Ministry of Education is looking to spend some $66,322,508 to build a science laboratory at the Santa Rosa Secondary SchoolinRegionOne.

Thiswasnotedduringtherecentopeningoftenderswhich revealed that eight contractors have applied to do the work. Also the ministry is looking to build an Information Technology laboratory at St. Paul’s Primary School for an estimatedcostof$13millionandtoprocureanewbus.

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids:

Ministry of Education

Construction of Information Technology laboratory at St. Paul's Primary School

Man wanted for shooting porter with arrow & bow at Falls Top

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on misunderstanding, which caused Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for Williamstointervene.

Bernard Dove of Falls Top Village, Reports are that the suspect told North West District, Region One. Dove Williamsthathewasgoingforhisarrow is wanted in connection with attempted and left. Police learnt that the suspect murder committed on Devon Williams, returnedshortlyafter,withhisarrowand aporterofFallsTop. bow in his right hand and ran towards

Anyone with information about the victim where he struck him to his Dove’s whereabouts are asked to abdomen. This caused Williams to contactthepoliceontelephonenumbers receive injuries where his intestine 225-6940, 225-8196, 226-7476, 225- protruded. After committing the act, 2317, 227-1149 or the nearest police Dove escaped from the scene in an station. Kaieteur News was informed unknowndirection. that 31-year-old Williams was injured This publication understands that onJuly19,2023atabout22:00hrs. Williams was rushed to the Port Itwasreportedtothepolicethatboth KaitumaDistrictHospitalwherehewas Williams and the Dove were liming at later medevacked to the Georgetown Boyo’s Shop, Falls Top when William’s Public Hospital for further treatment. sister, Dorona Williams and Dove had a Investigationintothematterisongoing.

Qin Gang: China removes foreign minister after unexplained absence

Supply and delivery of a new bus

Construction of science laboratory at Santa Rosa Secondary School

Construction of Hanger at Linden Technical Institute

Guyana paid US$150M...

From page 3 favourable due to anticipated oil revenues, government shouldneverthelessexerciserestraintinspending,giventhe volatility of oil prices. Goolsarran had made the comments inhisColumn,publishedintheStabroekNews.

DEBT CEILING

Nevertheless, it was announced just last week that government will be increasing the country’s debt ceiling to allowforaccessingmoreloanstoaccelerateitsdevelopment agenda. Guyana’s current debt ceilings stand at G$500 billion for domestic debt ceiling and G$650 billion for external borrowing ceiling. The current debt ceilings were raised by government back in January 2021. Government has since proposed raising the domestic public debt ceiling to $750 billion and the external borrowing ceiling to $900 billion.

During a recent interview with News Room, the Senior Government Minister said that as the economy grows, Guyana’scapacitytoborrowincreases,andhenotedthatthe government intends to use that capacity to finance an aggressiveprogrammetomoderniseandtransformGuyana.

BBC - China has known public engagements foreign minister,” state news foreign policy is formulated removed Qin Gang as were on 25 June. No reason agencyXinhuasaid. by a high-level official, who foreign minister less than wasgivenforhisremoval. “Qin Gang was removed then directs the foreign seven months after he was He had been appointed from the post of foreign ministertoimplementit. appointedtothepost. by China’s leader to his post minister.” The report said Wang Yi, a career Mr Qin had been seen as last December Just over a President Xi had signed the diplomat who speaks acloseassociateofPresident month ago, he met US decreeauthorisingthemove. Japanese, is returning to a XiJinping.Heisreplacedby Secretary of State Antony Legislators also voted to post he held between 2013 veteran Communist Party BlinkeninBeijingasthetwo replace China’s outgoing and 2022 He has been foreign affairs chief Wang sides sought to restore CentralBankchiefYiGang- standing in for Mr Qin and is Yi. diplomatic contacts at the who has reached retirement currently in South Africa

Mr Qin’s prolonged highestlevel. age - with economist Pan attending a Brics national disappearance from public Hisdepartureendsweeks Gongsheng,Xinhuaadded. securitymeeting. view - and official silence of confusion, but leaves The abrupt fall from Observers see the over it - has fuelled furious manyquestionsunanswered. graceofChina’srisingstar appointment of Mr Wang, speculation.

“China’s top legislature

Under the Chinese 69, as a move to stabilise

The 57-year-old’s last voted to appoint Wang Yi as Communist Party system, Chinesediplomacy

Int’l human rights body calling on Guyana to take...

From page 16 proper tailings ponds or activities, the applicants Carib Community of getting rashes after bathing dams,minershavebeenseen alleged that there have been Chinese Landing identified intheriver c r e a t i n g t e m p o r a r y no investigations into the as beneficiaries, with a The commission was structuressuchasamudwall incidents of violence and cultural, gender-based, and also told that the increased to divert the water Miners threats against village age-appropriate perspective and visible pollution of the have also sometimes members, nor there has been t o p r e v e n t t h r e a t s , rivers and health impacts dumped tailings directly into any assessment of the harassment,andotheractsof villagers are experiencing the creeks, the resolution environmental, health, and violence against the from use of the rivers outlined. social impacts of the mining. beneficiaries. testifies to that expansion of The applicants also It was also alleged that It also called for the miningactivity indicated that they have miners “appear to have Guyana Government to For example, the reported the situation to a d v a n c e n o t i c e o f consult and agree upon the proposed beneficiaries different State authorities, g o v e r n m e n t t e a m measures to be adopted with reported that the use of the both verbally and in written inspections, allowing them the beneficiaries and their Huri Creek water causes communications In time to conceal unregistered representatives; and report rashes, vomiting, and addition, the situation of the equipment”. on the actions taken to diarrhea. C h i n e s e L a n d i n g Additionally, officials investigate the events that Accordingtotherequest, Community was also from the Environmental led to the adoption of the residentsofChineseLanding reportedtotheCommitteeon Protection Agency allegedly commission’s precautionary are most concerned about the Elimination of Racial informed the proposed measure, so as to prevent mercury pollution, as they Discrimination (“CERD”), beneficiaries, in August s u c h e v e n t s f r o m are aware that miners in the w h i c h i s s u e d 2022, that they did not take reoccurring. area use mercury to recover recommendations to the water samples from Huri TheIACHRisaprincipal gold in a process called State of Guyana In Creek to test for mercury or and autonomous body of the amalgamation. The mining accordance with the otherpollutantsbecausethey Organization of American area allegedly currently applicants, there have been had not come prepared for States (OAS), whose lacks any specialized no effective measures taken any equipment for water mandate stems from the equipment to ensure the safe todate. testing. OAS Charter and the useofmercury After widespread media COMMISSION’S American Convention on T h e p r o p o s e d attention to the situation the DECISION HumanRights. beneficiaries also noted that State met with the Chinese Taking all points into The Inter-American therearenoadequatesettling Landing Toshao on July 14, account, the Commission Commission has the or tailings ponds in the 2022,andpromisedtosenda requested that Guyana take mandate to promote the mining area, with tailings teamtoinvestigate. the necessary measures to observance and defense of ponds that do exist While the Guyana protect the rights to life and human rights in the region overflowing into the Huri authorities have sent teams personal integrity of the and acts as an advisory body Creek. Instead of building in to inspect the mining members of the Indigenous totheOASonthematter

Wanted: Bernard Dove

Man arrested in connection with son’s killing claims innocence

A70-year-old city door unlocked for the Damendra (Nakema) and I devastating. I didn’t know businessman Emergency Medical Team needed to get in his how to grieve because I w h o w a s on board the ambulance to a p a r t m e n t , ” w r o t e didn’t understand what was

detained by enter Deonauth. happening to me and why I police for questioning in “I learned later that the The landlord reportedly was being treated this way,” connection to son’s killing police seemed to take his gave him a spare key to his Deonauth said while adding has written a letter to accusation seriously,” stated son’s apartment and he went that it has also tarnished his Kaieteur News claiming that thebusinessman. ahead opened only to find reputation. he has nothing do with his Deonauth claimed that Nakemadead.

“This has cost me my son’sdeath. he had last seen his son alive Deonauthsaid,“Ipushed reputation, not only in

The businessman, on 09:00hrs on Sunday, June t h e d o o r a n d s a w Guyana but abroad. People Rajendra Deonauth also 11, 2023. The businessman Damendra’s body lying on in the US, Canada, the UK k n o w n a s R u d o l p h claimed that he would the floor blocking the door; and India have asked about Deonauth, was detained on normally pick his son up in his face was in downward this. I have never had a July 12, 2023 after he had themorningsforbreakfast. position”. The man claimed problem with the law in my found his son, Nakema “On Sunday, June 11, I that he turned over his son’s life.PeopleIhaveknownfor Deonauth also called went to my son’s place body and immediately tried 30 years and people who I Damendra or Dimitri dead at around 9 am. I left about 10 to revive him with mouth to thought knew me, now an apartment building on minutes later (Damendra mouth resuscitation after question me. My reputation C u m m i n g s S t r e e t , said he was tired and not seeingbloodoozingfromhis that I have guarded all my Georgetown. hungry). Damendra walked nose. life is now tarnished,” he

According to reports me to the outside street door “There was a black and wrote. what I had ever experienced Police Station and was then received by Kaieteur News, and we said goodbye,” blue bump on his forehead, As it relates to Nakema’s in my life of 70 years. And taken to Brickdam Police the senior Deonauth was claimedDeonauth. his face was also black and death police are still no one was listening to me. Station and reportedly arrested at the scene for He recounted that that on blue and his arms and legs conductinganinvestigation. So, I lashed out at the police. lockedupfor72hoursbefore behaving disorderly, June 12 he went to pick up w e r e d i s c o l o u r e d , ” Anautopsyconductedon Onepolicemanthentoldme, beingreleasedonstationbail however, in his letter, the Namekaforbreakfastbutdid recountedthebusinessman. hisremainshadrevealedthat “Ok,bigmanIwillshowyou following his lawyer’s businessman wrote that a notgetanyresponsefromhis Heaskedhiswifetosend he was beaten to death. what a little boy can do” and intervention. Deonauth said security guard and street son after calling out for him ambulance to the apartment According to the autopsy theygrabbedmeandtookme he was called back to station vendorhadallegedlytoldthe and banging loudly on his and unlocked the door for results, Deonauth died from downstairs,” Deonauth twice since his release for police that he had killed his apartmentdoor them to come as he tried to brain hemorrhage (bleeding alleged. questioning in relation to the son and the ranks reportedly The businessman said revivehisson. in the brain) due to blunt

“As soon as we got statementhegave. took the accusation that he did not have a phone Shortly after the

forcetraumatothehead.The outside, they put handcuffs As he claimed his seriously onhimandlefttheapartment ambulance arrived and the fatal hit to the head was on me in front of all the innocence, Deonauth in his

“As soon as the police building and headed to his EMT pronounced his son further compounded by passersby and onlookers, letter said that being treated arrived, one of the men who store to wait on his wife so dead, the police arrived to compression injuries to the and put me in a police car as a criminal by the Police identified himself as a that he could use her phone takeovertheinvestigation. neck meaning that his killer That was around 10 am. I Force which resulted in the security guard and is also a to make contact with his He added that he asked might have choked or was kept in the car until media labeling him a street vendor, told the police son’slandlord. the ranks to take his son to a attemptedtostranglehim. about 2:30-3 pm, after when murderer is a very I had killed my son,” “I then called the hospital and after they

Police told Kaieteur the police took me to the devastating experience Deonauth wrote while landlady, whom I will reportedly were not News that the doctor who Alberttown Police Station,” especially while mourning adding that that the accused designate as Ms. XX to interested in doing so he performed the autopsy continuedthebusinessman. hisson’sdeath. rushed into the apartment protect her privacy I “lashedoutatthem”. opinedthathis“fatalinjuries

Accordingtotheletterhe “I had lost my son and I and found him with his son’s explained that something “I was experiencing were caused by either cuffs wrote,hewasaskedtogivea was being treated like body because he had left the seemed wrong with levels of stress so far above orahitwithahardobject”. statement at the Alberttown criminal. It was completely

U.S. Southern Command General to visit Guyana this week

U.S. Army General Laura Richardson, CommanderofU.S.SouthernCommand(US SOUTHCOM), will visit Guyana July 2527,2023 to meet with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), U.S. Embassy, and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to discuss the U.S. defense partnership with Guyana andCARICOMpartners.

Gen. Richardson is returning to Guyana nearlyayearafterherfirstvisittothecountry in August 2022, and comes as Guyana hosts Tradewinds, a Caribbean-focused multinational exercise aimed at increasing the region’s security capacity, strengthening partnerships among participating defense and public-security forces, fostering international cooperation, and promoting humanrights.

AccordingtoaUSEmbassypressrelease, climatechangeandcyberdefense. during her stay, the General is scheduled to The U S and Guyana enjoy a meet with Brigadier Omar Khan, GDF Chief longstanding security partnership marked by of Staff, CARICOM Secretary General, Dr strong collaboration between SOUTHCOM Carla Barnett, and Ambassador Sarah-Ann and the GDF that is focused on disaster Lynch, and will observe Tradewinds events preparedness, humanitarian assistance, andparticipateinitsclosingceremony Gen. maritime security, human rights, Richardson last met with Brigadier Khan in professional development, furthering the June during the Caribbean Nations Security integration of women in peace, defense, and Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where public-security missions, and countering Caribbean leaders gathered for talks on trans-nationalcriminalorganizations.

Shade houses being procured to boost hinterland food production

Some 21 Amerindian villages will few villages that will be benefitting from the benefit from shade houses to boost food shade houses, which are currently in the production, as the government advances an procurement stage at theAmerindianAffairs aggressive agriculture programme to boost Ministry productionnationally,aspartofeffortstocut The new agriculture method will change theCaribbean’shugefoodimportbill. the way it is historically done in the

It also aims to make the Amerindian Amerindian villages and according to the villages more food secure In 2022, minister, developing and using new President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali technologies in the sector is imperative. announced a $3.1 billion supplementary “Amerindiansaremostlikelytofarmvery fund, following vigorous discussions with farawayfromtheirhomes,wheretheycan leaders at the last NationalToshaos’Council findlandsthatarerichtothem.Theshade (NTC)Conference. houses can be located in any part of the

The leaders were tasked with identifying village,closebyandsoitwilltakealotout priority areas and agriculture was one of the ofthetimethatisspentwalkingtofarms,” coreissues.Fundsofover$3billioncaterfor theministerexplained. theprocurementofshadehousesforvillages The government is also rolling out an that have listed agriculture as a priority. innovative agriculture programme that is Minister Pauline Sukhai during an interview intended to bolster the agriculture sector with the Department of Public Information locally, by incorporating more youths in the (DPI), recently explained that the sector. communities benefitting would have Under the programme, shade houses will requestedtheshadehouses. beconstructedinvariouspartsofthecountry,

“We have two, one request came in providing employment opportunities from Monkey Mountain and one from Overall, the aim is to make Guyana selfKurukabaru and in Region One, we have sufficient and by extension, CARICOM to five: Hosororo, Barabina and Canal depend less on imported foods by growing Bank,”shenoted.Thesearejustsomeofthe theirownfood.

Murdered: Nakema Deonauth

U.S. Army General Laura Richardson, Commander of U.S. Southern Command

High Court sacks top brass of Public Service Credit Union over contempt

High Court Justice Navindra Singh on Tuesday stripped three officers of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) of their rights, duties and responsibilities within the Credit Union after they failed to show up in a contempt of court matter

Citingtheirbarefaceddisregard forthecourt,thejudgeorderedthat Chairman of GPSCCU Karen Vanslyutman-Corbin, Secretary GillianPollardandBoardMember, Ruth Howard no longer hold their positions or perform duties within the credit union until the hearing and determination of the matter in September

He also ordered that former Chairman of the Credit Union, Trevor Benn, Vice Chairman, Patrick Mentore and Treasurer, Rajdai Jaggernauth fill their positions and perform their functions.

Justice Singh made the order after attorneys representing the threerespondentfailedtoprovidea plausible explanation for their absence.

The lawyers explained that their clients were out of the jurisdiction; that they had left the country to attend a conference. However,JusticeSinghdidnotfind theexcusegoodenough.

Instead, a livid Justice Singh threatened to have VanslyutmanCorbin, Howard, and Pollard arrestedand detainas soon as they returned to Guyana. The judge noted that given the serious nature of contempt of court proceedings, thethreerespondentsoughttohave beenpresentforthehearing.

Inaddition,itwasnotedthatthe respondents failed to pay the $1 million cost imposed during a previousoutcomeofthecase.

The judge therefore stressed thattheabsenceoftherespondents at the proceeding and lack of compliance showed a blatant

disrespectforthecourt.

As such, he upbraided Attorneys Leslyn Noble, Adrian Smith,andPaulaJones-Nicholson for their clients’ behaviour and noted that since the three respondentsseembentonviolating hisorder,theywillremainordinary members until the hearing and determination of the Court matter onSeptember13,2023. Thethree persons were also ordered to pay theoutstanding$1millionincourt onorbeforethatdate.

Back in September, Justice Singh ruled that the Committee of Management must issue a new

noticewithin10daysofthedateof the Order, scheduling a Special GeneralMeeting(SGM)tobeheld no later than the 24th October, 2022.

This was not done and the noticewasissuedthreedaysbefore themeetingandbackdated.

Last March, Attorney-at-law Mr. Roysdale Forde, SC, filed Contempt of Court proceedings against the Committee of ManagementoftheGPSCCU.

The action was filed on behalf ofMehalaiMcAlmont,andothers.

Theypetitionedthecourttodeclare that members of the GPSCCU

CommitteeofManagement(CoM) unlawfully failed to comply with the principal orders made by Justice Singh on September 30, 2022.

As such the lawyer is seeking several orders including a declaration that the GPSCCU, Noble,Howard,andVansluytmanCorbin, have unlawfully failed to comply with the principal orders madebyJusticeNavindraSinghon September30,2022.

Thatmatterwasscheduledtobe heard on Tuesday but the Court could not proceed given the absenceofthethreerespondents.

Attorneys and representatives of GPSCUU following the hearing on Tuesday

Cuba’s high jump king and international idol Javier Sotomayor reacts during an interview beside a sculpture of himself leaping over the bar at his Restaurant & Bar in Havana, Cuba, June 20, 2023. (REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini)

Cuban high jump king Sotomayor holds onto crown after 30 years

HAVANA, (Reuters) - 2.44m spring in San Juan, theworldorOlympiclevel,” Records are made to broken, Puerto Rico, the following Sotomayorsaid. world high jump king and year Two younger athletes international idol Javier While his record has haveneverthelessthreatened Sotomayor said, smiling gone unbeaten since his title: Qatar’s Mutaz Essa behind dark glasses as the Salamanca, it has not been Barshim with a 2.43m leap fierce Caribbean sun beat for a lack of rivals hoping to in Brussels and Ukraine’s down on Havana’s Pan- snatchhiscrown. Bogdan Bondarenko, who AmericanStadium. “There was very strong jumped2.42minNewYork-

At 55 years old, competition between us at bothin2014,nearlyadecade however, the lanky, every stage,” Sotomayor ago.

unassumingCubanathleteis told Reuters in an interview Now secretary of Cuba’s now celebrating the third “They were the ones to athletics federation, decade that his record- blame for my jumping 2.45 Sotomayor also advises his breaking 2.45-metres leap metres.” son Jaxier, who leapt 1.99m over the outdoor high jump The culprits include in Spain at 15 years old, and bar in Salamanca, Spain, in Sweden’s Patrik Sjoberg, organises an annual 1993,remainsunmatched. who once set the world children’s high jumping

Wednesday July 26, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Today is a terrific day, Aries, and you can get a lot accomplished using your quick mind and sharp wit. Information is flying quickly Grab what resonates with you anddiscardtherest.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Why me? You may feel like you ask yourself this question more than anyone else, Taurus. Your life may seem like an intense roller-coaster ride that never stops. But deep down you realize that you wouldhaveitnootherway

GEMINI(May21–June20)

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

CANCER(June21–July22)

Don't automatically assume that you can work out all your problems alone, Cancer Just talking things out with others may help shed light on a situation that baffled you earlier

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Get up early and get working, Leo You have a lot of emotionalandphysicalenergy that should help you accomplish whatever you need to do. The planetary energyisonyourside.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Speak up today, Virgo Perhapsnoonehasheardyour point of view in a while. More than likely, it's incredibly important for them to hear it. Just because people don't ask for your opinion doesn't mean thatitisn'tvalid.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Someonehasjustturnedonthe fan and papers are flying everywhere, Libra. The pace is picking up and you're scrambling to pick up the pieces.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Nooneisgoingtocatertoyour needs today, Scorpio, so get up and do things on your own. There's little sympathy from others, and strong opinions are adimeadozen.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Listen closely to the wind, for the answers are blowing right in front of you, Sagittarius. Make contact with people you haven't heard from in a while. You can be quite productive todayinunexpectedsituations.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You might be sidestepping in order to avoid a commitment today, Capricorn. Don't keep givingsomeonetherunaround. Be strong and let people know yourthoughtsevenifyouthink theirfeelingswillbehurt.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You're at a dramatic climax in your monthly emotional cycle today It's quite possible that you will erupt like a volcano. Don't be ashamed about releasing these emotions. Your feminine and masculine naturesareconnected.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Your philanthropic side may want to come out and do good works today, Pisces Your default mode is to care for others. This is fine, but make sure it doesn't deplete your vital life force. The key is to offer advice and then walk awayfromthesituation.

Including his prior record at 2.42m, as well as event in honor of his late 2.43m indoor world record Kazakhstan’s Igor Paklin coach,JoseGodoy in Budapest five years and American Charles “I feel very happy and earlier,Sotomayorcounts35 Austin, with personal bests proud to still have the glory yearsasworldrecordholder, of 2 41m and 2 40m of being the world record thoughtheweather-sensitive respectively holder after so many years,” outdoor title carries more “Today with 2.33 or 2.34 Sotomayor said. “I will live weightinternationally metres you are a gold with that pride, and it will Sotomayor first hurled medallist and a medallist in carry on even after someone himself to the world’s top any competition, whether at surpassesme.” high jump spot in 1988, before beating this with a

Crandon inspires...

From page 32 displayed dominance with the ball to support Crandon picking up 3-26 in his four overs Ryan Dhoray and Khemraj Harrinarine added their names to the wicketcolumn having claimed two wickets apiece as Masters struggledcontinually Samad stroked a topscore of 42 which included five towering sixes and 22 from Ejaz Mohamed Masters had a dreadful start by losing Azam Haniff for one, Rajkumar Budhram for 11andthenthekeywicketof Chien Gittens (03). Another seasoned campaigner Kumar Doothnot also became an early victim making11.

However, Samad, a player with international experience in representation for Canada, provided brief entertainment along with Mohamed but once they were separate, the innings declinedrapidly

With Azib Alli Hanif coming at number 8, it underlined the strength of the batting but only resisted momentarily

Meanwhile, the 18-team round-robin competition is settocontinueSundaywitha series of matches across the Greater Toronto Area. Detailsfromtheothergames inasubsequentpost.

Teen star Caicedo helps Colombia beat South Korea

BBC Sport - Colombia Colourful Colombia Caicedo doubled the got their 2023 Fifa Women’s make their mark Colombian lead in a horrible World Cup off to the perfect This could have been momentforkeeperYoon. start with victory over South Colombia’s World Cup - Real Madrid winger KoreainSydney they bid to host the 2023 Caicedo was allowed too Catalina Usme put the tournament and were only much time and space to run SouthAmericansaheadfrom narrowlybeatenbyAustralia at the defence down the left, the penalty spot, before andNewZealand. she cut inside and her tame teenager Linda Caicedo, 18, While they might not be curled effort should have doubledtheleadthankstoan at home, a very loud army of been saved but Yoon error from Korean keeper fans made up the majority of mistimed her jump and the YoonYoung-geul. the 24,323 crowd at Sydney ball slipped through her

That was enough to give Football Stadium - and were glovesandintothenet. Colombia their second ever rewarded. South Korea did YetCaicedo’s drive,skill winatthetournament. their best to make the and foresight demonstrated

For South Korea, history C o l o m b i a n s f e e l why, at only 18, she is one of was made as Casey Phair comfortable, handing them a the most hotly-tipped young became the youngest-ever two-goal first-half lead starsofthetournament. player at a Women’s World through a duo of defensive Her goal made her the Cup. errors. second-youngest player to

Theforward,agedjust16 On 28 minutes, a frantic score at a Women’s World years and 26 days, was passage of play with several Cup, after Brazil’s Marta, introduced as a 77th-minute deflections and mis-hit shots whodidsoaged17in2003. substitute. ended when Shim Seo-yeon Colombia came close to

The Asian nation, who blocked a goalbound effort extending their lead after havenowlostallfouroftheir with her arm. Usme calmly half-time when Mayra

Women’s World Cup rolled home the result spot- Ramirezheadedjustwide. opening matches, next face kick, sparking wild

The victory boosts their Morocco on 30 July in a celebrations among the chances of qualifying from must-win Group H match, yellow-shirtedfans. Group H, moving them level before Colombia play The worst was yet to on points with favourites Germany come for South Korea, as Germany

Texas Super Kings secure MLC playoff berth with three-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns

Pakistan takes 12-run lead over Sri Lanka at stumps in rain-hit 2nd test in Colombo

COLOMBO,SriLanka the day and resume 15 48.4 overs to dismiss Sri (AP) Pakistan took a 12- minutesearlyonWednesday Lanka on Monday’s opening runleadoverSriLankainthe Resuming on the dayafterthevisitorsoptedto second test yesterday with overnight score of 145-2, bat first having won the toss. eight first-innings wickets Pakistan moved past Sri Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed left after only 10 overs were Lanka’s first-innings total of claimed four wickets while bowled on the rain-hit 166 before a downpour Naseem Shah and Shaheen second day Pakistan was forced the players off the Afridi shared four wickets 178-2 at stumps at the field. betweenthem.

SinhaleseSportsClub. Pakistan scored 33 runs Pakistanwonthefirsttest

All the play was in the during the 43 minutes of in Galle by four wickets and morning session with an play Opener Abdullah needs only a draw to clinch early lunch taken because of Shaffique has reached 87 thetwo-matchseries. heavy rain. The rain had whileCaptainBabarAzamis Stumps: Pakistan 178 stopped by the afternoon but 28 not out in a 57-run for 2 (Shafique 87*, Masood the outfield was wet and, unbroken partnership for the 51, Babar 28*, Asitha 2-51) after tea, the umpires thirdwicket. lead Sri Lanka 166 by 12 decided to call off play for Pakistan needed only runs.

18

SportsMax - The Texas Super Kings Daniel Sams hit a whirlwind 18-ball 42 advanced to the playoffs of the inaugural includingtwofoursandfoursixestohelpseal seasonofMajorLeagueCricketafterathree- qualificationtotheplayoffs. wicket win over the San Francisco Unicorns Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan each took a in their fifth and final league phase game at pairofwicketsfortheUnicorns. the Church Street Park in Morrisville, North TheSeattleOrcas,TexasSuperKingsand CarolinaonMonday Washington Freedom have all confirmed

The Unicorns won the toss in the winner- theirspotsintheplayoffs. take-allencounteranddecidedtobatfirst. The final spot was to be determined MatthewWadeledthewaywith49while yesterdaywhentheOrcasfaceMINewYork. Chaitanya Bishnoi made 35 as the Unicorns MI New York and San Francisco both have posted171-8offtheir20overs. four points with New York ahead on net run

Pacer Gerald Coetzee took 4-31 off his rate.MINewYorkwouldsealtheirspotinthe fouroversfortheSuperKings. playoffs with a win or by avoiding a heavy Texas then reached 172-7 with five balls defeat. tospare. If they lose by at least 130 runs, they Milind Kumar set the foundation for the would finish fifth and the Unicorns would successful chase with a 42-ball 52 before advance.

Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam drove Pakistan into the lead. (AFP/Getty Images)

Colombia’s Linda Caicedo celebrates scoring their second goal with Leicy Santos. (REUTERS/Jaimi Joy)

Daniel Sams hit 42 off

balls for the Super Kings.

World Cup win but Norway

Philippines in historic suffer double blow

West Indies recall Shimron Hetmyer and Oshane Thomas for ODIs against

India

- Pooran and Holder are unavailable for selection, while Keemo Paul is out injured

(Getty Images)

give a longer run to the players who had performed well in the series leading up to it. West Indies failed to qualify for the main event after losing four out of seven games in the Qualifier Hetmyer last played for West Indies in the home T20I series against New Zealand inAugust 2022. His last ODI was in July2021,againstAustraliainBarbados.

Fast bowler Thomas, meanwhile, last playedforWestIndiesinDecember2021and has been out of contention in recent times with fitness issues He last played competitive cricket in 2022, when he turned upforFalconsintheLankaPremierLeague.

“We welcome Oshane and Shimron back ESPNcricinfo - West Indies have into the group,” chief selector Desmond recalled Shimron Hetmyer and Oshane Haynes said. “Both have played at the Thomas into the ODI squad for the three- internationallevelbefore,withsomesuccess, match series against India. According to a and we believe they will fit well into the setCricketWest Indies release, Nicholas Pooran up. Oshane brings pace and is a potential and Jason Holder are unavailable for wicket-taker with the new ball. Shimron’s selection,whileKeemoPaulisoutinjured. style of batting will offer a lot especially in FastbowlerJaydenSealesandlegspinner themiddlestageoftheinningsandheisalsoa Yannic Cariah are also back following their potential‘finisher’.”

rehab after surgery, while left-arm spinner Kensington Oval in Barbados is set to Gudakesh Motie returns having recovered host the first two matches on July 27 and 29 fromhislower-backinjury respectively, while the third and final ODI Hetmyer was left out of the West Indies’ will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in ODI World Cup Qualifier squad in May Trinidad on August 1. A four-day camp was despite having made himself available for heldatKensingtonOvaltopreparethewhiteselection because the management wanted to ballplayersfortheseries.

Eighteen-year-oldstriker favourites to topple holders

AFP - The Philippines have achieved,” said tearful Under-20 World Cup and on won a World Cup match for Philippines midfielder Sara thebiggeststageofall. the first time as they stunned Eggesvik. Assistant Angelo co-hosts New Zealand In contrast, the New Marsiglia, standing in for yesterday but former Zealand players were left in Colombia coach Nelson champions Norway suffered tears. Abadia who was a double blow to leave their “It’s so heartbreaking for suspended for the game — hopesinthebalance. everyone in this team,” said c a l l e d C a i c e d o Philippines coach Alen their Czech coach Jitka “extraordinary”. Stajcic said on the eve of the Klimkova, whose side beat “She wants the ball, New Zealand match his side Norway 1-0 in the opening never hides, she’s from wanted to “crash the party”, gameofthetournamentfora another planet, entirely and they did just that with a first-ever World Cup win of unique,”hesaid. gutsy 1-0 victory in front of theirown.“Wewerefighting Colombia move onto 32,357fansinWellington. until the end, but it wasn’t three points in Group H with Sarina Bolden scored the enough.” Germany, who thrashed onlygoalwithaheaderinthe - ‘Another planet’- Morocco 6-0 on Monday first half for a famous In the first game of the Germany and Colombia Philippines win the day, Colombia were too meetnext. country’s first at either a goodforabluntSouthKorea - ‘Up for the challenge’men’s or women’s World witha2-0victory Spain, one of the Cup.

Switzerlandandthe1995 Linda Caicedo, who the United States, headline champions Norway — who overcame cancer three years today’s action in Australia lost star striker Ada ago, was the beneficiary of a andNewZealand. Hegerberg moments before glaring goalkeeping error

The Spaniards were easy kickoff with injury — then when Yoon Young-geul 3-0 winners over Costa Rica drew 0-0 in the Hamilton allowed the striker’s shot to in their opener and will be rain, leaving the Swiss in the squirmthroughherhands. looking to rack the goals up drivingseatinGroupA. Catalina Usme had oncemoreagainstZambia.

Switzerland are top with scored a penalty to put the

The African side are the four points, one ahead of SouthAmericans in front on lowest-ranked team in the New Zealand and debutants the half-hour in bright competition and were the Philippines Norway sunshine in Sydney before thrashed 5-0 by Japan in have scored no goals and Caicedo got the second nine their opening match, but garneredjustonepoint. minuteslater captain Barbra Banda said

Switzerland just need to SouthKoreacoachColin they were “up for the avoid defeat against New Bell brought on US-born challenge”againstLaRoja. Zealand on Sunday to reach attacker Casey Phair as they

“We started with a loss thelast16. chased the game in the butthatdoesn’tmeanthatwe

The Philippines could second half. At 16 years and have to look down on join them for a fairytale 26 days, she made history as ourselves,”shesaid. place in the knockout stage, the youngest Women’s Also on Wednesday, the but no matter what happens WorldCupplayerever 2011 champions Japan play next up against Norway at But it was all about Costa Rica in the same the weekend, beating the Caicedo and one of the best group. Women’s World Cup hosts young attackers in women’s Canada clash with willlivelonginthememory football has now scored at Irelandinthelastgameofthe “I can’t believe what we theUnder-17WorldCup,the day

Sarina Bolden (L) celebrates scoring her team’s winner (Marty MELVILLE)

Shimron Hetmyer last played for West Indies in August 2022.

GMMAF announces 6-member team ahead of PanAmerican Championships in Colombia

- President Singh says Federation/fighters confident ahead of competition

TheGuyanaMixed Martial Arts F e d e r a t i o n

(GMMAF) on Tuesday announced their six-member team ahead up the upcoming PanAmerican Championships.

The competition will kick off in Bogota, ColombiafromAugust7-14 and during yesterday’s press conference at the Palm Court Sports Bar, Main Street, president of the GMMAF Gavin Singh, announced the team members

GMMAF president Gavin Singh and Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Federation president Jason Fraser (center) alongside executives, fighters including Guyana Team captain Corwin D’Anjou (first from left) during yesterday’s press conference at Palm Court.

Captain Corwin D’Anjou (welterweight rigorous training under the Some of the fighter’s contributed to the success of to be part of these games, Martial Arts President Jason division), Carl Ramsay direction of experienced recently returned home with this project. The Guyana from the inception of MMA Fraser, who delivered the ( l i g h t h e a v y w e i g h t coaches and CrossFit at 2 silver medals from their Mixed Martial Arts in Guyana, we were the secondfeatureaddressofthe Division), Christopher ExodusGym.” invitationalcompetitionheld Federation (GMMAF) pioneers that brought press conference, said the James (heavyweight

“The squad is getting inMexico. wishes its competitors the Guyana this sport. We are decision by the local division), Ijaz Cave ready for the task with the “The Guyana Mixed best of success and is proud to support the last federation will for the (middleweight Division), assistance of Technical Martial Arts Federation convinced they will do trajectory of the Federation competing athletes to have Shenese Bobb (lightweight Director Roland Fanfair and ( G Y M M A F ) i s a n Guyana proud” , he and will continue to support their fights certified on the division) and Anevia Frank renowned coach Troy Bobb. organization that is explained. the admin body especially internationalstage. (bantamweigh division), In order to protect the health committed to developing Meanwhile, the private whenithastodowithfighter Fraser further stated that willrepresentGuyana.

Singhduringhisremarks

of the athletes, the and fostering local talent in entity Fight Central was improvement. Fight Central while other promotions are

GYMMAF has engaged the the sport of mixed martial appointed as the official is supported by its sister also eligible to acquire the aboutthetournamentandthe assistance of Maria Roberts- arts. The federation would promotional organization by companies, WRSI [W sanctioning rights and fighter’s expectations, he Perriera, and Dr. Sawan like to express its most theGMMAF. R a m b a r a n S e r v i c e s status, Fight Central is the said,”Toensurethattheyare Jagnarian, who will give sincere appreciation to all of Rebecca Ganesh Fight Incorporated], and Sublime official promotion to stage well-prepared for the essential medical and thesponsors,supporters,and Central executive member SecurityServices.” events under the IMMAF grueling competition, each advisingsupport.” stakeholders who have said, “Fight Central is happy Pan American Mixed umbrella member has undergone

Mohamed’s Enterprise sponsors $1M first prize for the Kares One Guyana T10

Mohamed’s Enterprise Guyana’banner continued its overwhelming Thisyear,thetournamenthas32teams,

support for sport in Guyana who have come from all regions except by funding the $1M first prize for the RegionNine.

inaugural Kares One Guyana T10 set for Several active and former national July29and30inGeorgetown. playerswillfeaturefortheirteamsoverthe

Thebenevolencewasextendedtocover two-dayextravaganza.

thetransportationcostoftheMorucateam, Preliminary matches will be staged at whowillcompeteinthetournament. the Police Sports Club, the Guyana

Managing Director at Mohamed’s Defence Force, Queen’s College Ground, Enterprise, Azruddin Mohamed, YMCA, and Transport Sports Club, while indicated he was happy to be part of the thefinalswillbeheldattheEverestCricket tournament that he believes will spark GroundonJuly30.

immense grassroot involvement in The first-ever champions will pocket cricket. $1M, while the losing finalist will collect

The organizing group – FL Sport – $300,000. expressedimmensethankstoMohamedfor The two losing semi-finalists will walk his support, noting that Mohamed was one away with $100,000 each. There will also of the first to quickly pledge tangible be prizes for outstanding individual support to give youths a massive platform performances. toexpresstheirtalent. Additionally, there will be a celebrity

More so, President Dr Irfaan Ali, the match before the championship match tournament’s patron, recently recommitted where the winning side will be rewarded his support for the game, noting it is an $200,000, which will be donated to a event that will bring many people together charityoftheirchoice. from varying communities under the ‘One Admissionisfreetoallvenues.

Azruddin Mohamed collects his tournament jersey from Co-Director of the tournament Akeem Greene.

Raekwon Noel shows off his impressive five gold medals, won at this year’s CARIFTA Aquatics Championships.

Tropical Shipping Drag Wars 2.0

Noel impresses at World Aquatics Championship

…GASA hails performance

By Rawle Toney theCARIFTAGames.

Speaking to Kaieteur

Itwasanotherimpressive News yesterday, president of performance for the rising the GASA, Dwayne Scott star in the pool, Raekwon showered Noel with praises, Noel, this time while while stating, “It’s representing Guyana at the unfortunate how he was ongoing World Aquatics placed in the Heats status, ChampionshipsinJapan. but that has to do with

The17-year-oldhasbeen FINA’s qualification times on his plateau, ever since and how they categorized it making a splash at the during their qualification

C A R I F TA A q u a t i c s period We’re extremely Championships this year, appreciative with first, FINA where he had the most allowing him to be in the impressive performance by games and we’re extremely any Guyanese since the e c s t a t i c a b o u t h i s inauguraleventin1985. performances.”

In Curacao, Noel Scott said the GASA grabbed a historic five gold expects Noel to continue on medals,whileresettingafew his positive climb in the national records in the sport, pointing out that “it’s process. extremely important for him

The Guyana Amateur to rack up positive FINA Swimming Association points at major events which (GASA) named Noel, along bodes well for him in his bid with Olympian Aleka fortheParisGames.” Persaud and Leon Seaton Jr He believes Noel’s a s t h e c o u n t r y ’ s achievement sets an representatives at the inspiring example for other championships in the city of athletes aspiring to excel in Fukuoka, located in Japan’s swimming, demonstrating KyushuIsland. the potential for success

South Dakota drag strip record may be under threat

There is no room excellence locally, holding andTeamMohamed’shasno shattered records. Confident for complacency the track record with a jaw- shortage of adversaries after rigorous testing and

in the heart- dropping 7.036 seconds set vyingfortheirthrone. substantial upgrades to his pounding world of drag justlastAugust. One such rival, Team rail car, he sets his sights on racing, where split-second And, Team Mohamed’s Daby, has stepped into the spoiling the Guyanese party decisions and blistering will definitely be gunning to limelight with the recent and seizing victory at the speed can make or break break into that 6 second acquisition of a Toyota Tropical Shipping Drag champions. barrier in what many would Solara that once conquered Wars 2 0 Bissessar’s As the excitement describe as a race against the tracks in the United convictionisbolsteredbythe reaches a fever pitch for the time rather than the States with a stunning 6- track’s exceptional grip and Tropical Shipping Drag competition. second performance immaculate preparation at Wars 2.0 on Sunday at the Team Mohamed’s cars Determined to etch their South Dakota, a perfect South Dakota Circuit, are no ordinary contenders – name in Guyana’s drag battleground for his daring Timehri, all eyes are on the their GTRs are meticulously racing history, Team Daby quest. battle of the titans – Team prepped by the renowned T1 has enlisted a skilled team to As the countdown to the Mohamed’s, the reigning Race Development based in fine-tune and drive the big event ticks away, the drag racing champions, and the United States and Solara with a single-minded intensity of the rivalry their hungry rivals ready to maintained by a team of focus – breaking Team between these racing giants snatchthecrown. seasoned Guyanese experts. Mohamed’srecord. ispalpable.

Team Mohamed’s, with This deadly combination of However, the plot This Sunday’s drag race their formidable fleet of four American engineering and thickens even further with meet promises to be a day of Nissan GTRs, are definitely Guyanese finesse has the entrance of Trinidadian excitement, with multiple the team to beat. All capable t r a n s f o r m e d Te a m Sheldon Bissessar into the cars having the potential of of running 7 seconds and Mohamed’s into an fray No stranger to high- breaking into the 6-second arguably faster, their GTRs invincible force, feared and stakes competition, barrier, the stage is set for an are a handful. However, the respectedbyall. Bissessar boasts an electrifying display of speed team’s fastest car, the But as every racing fan impressive racing resume, andskill. Mustang Pro Mod, stands as knows, there’s nothing more having competed in IHRA Tickets cost $3000 for the epitome of drag racing thrilling than a fierce rivalry, World Championships and adultsand$1000forkids.

The BHS basketball team arrives in the USA for training programme

The Bishop’s High School (BHS) Basketball Team arrived in the USA yesterday ahead of their stint at the prestigious DT Elite Basketball Training and Cultural Exposure Camp in WashingtonDC.

Aleka, the youngest

Noel finished with two through dedication and first-place finishes his commitmenttothesport. impressive times were not Meanwhile, attention fast enough to see him now shifts to Persaud and through to the next round of Seaton. competition.

The Guyanese won his Olympian from Guyana, heat of the Men’s 400m aims to improve her times at Freestyle with a time of the World Championship in 4:05 70, just shy of his the women’s 100m and 50m nationalrecordof4:03.57set freestyleevents. attheCARIFTAGames. On the other hand,

In the 200m butterfly, Seaton,supportedbyaFINA Noel set a new national Scholarship,isdeterminedto record with a winning time demonstrate his progress in of 2:05.65, surpassing his the sport during the men’s previous benchmark of 100m and 50m freestyle 2:05.85whichwasalsosetat events.

The team is being accompanied by Coach Deborah Solomon at the camp which is scheduled to runfromJuly27-August6.

While in the USA, the BHS players will be immersed in daily training sessions from 9:00 am to 12 only to elevate the students’ pursuits. newheights. noon. basketball skills but also to It is stated, that the The students’ trip was

c c o r d i n g t o fostertheirsocialgrowthand sessionswillbemeticulously made possible by their information reaching raise awareness of their full tailored and designed with parents, and the school Kaieteur News, the potential, both on the court the sole purpose of honing through various fundraising opportunity promises not and in their academic their basketball prowess to initiatives.

Sheldon Bissessar’s Rail Car (Ameer Sattaur’s photo)

The Bishop’s High School basketball team.

Winning team Blue Strikers.

Blue Strikers out strike Super Strikers to win Nigel Bully Barnes memorial three a side football competition

The inaugural Nigel minutetosealthewin.Thewinning Eachgamelasted20minutes. byEngineering592. football and was a regular fixture “ B u l l y ” B a r n e s team was made up of Mickel Trophies and other incentives Others donors included from the U16 level up to first

memorial three a side Georgeson,RandySearsandTravis wereawardedtothetopthreeteams Charlie Humphrey, Ivor Fraser, division. small goal football competition Flatts. plus the outstanding individual Ian Carter, Okeema Humphrey, Barnes also represented the came off with a bang last Sunday Thethirdplacewinnerhadtobe players. Trevor Hooper and Joan New Amsterdam/ Canje District at The activity which was organized decided from the penalty spot with The players from the three top Humphreyamongothers the national school athletics bytheOverseasDisturbanceGroup Dream FC edging past Red Devils teams were all presented with Nigel ‘Bully’ Barnes was a championship on a regular basis was held at the Vryman’s Erven 3-2. The other two teams that trophies. Travis Flatts of Blue former resident and sports withsuccess. B a s k e t b a l l C o u r t , N e w participated in the competition Strike walked away with the MVP personality of New Amsterdam He subsequently migrated to Amsterdam,Berbice. wereBulliesandGreenFlash. and most goals award. The most Berbice. Canada where he lived with his

The competition saw six teams The teams were divided into promising player on show was He was also a former student of family taking to the arena with the two two groups made up of three teams RoyonCaptainofSuperStrike. the Berbice High School where he The day’s activity was strikers clashing in the finals. In each. The first and third place participatedinanumberofsporting coordinated by former national the end it was Blue Strikers that The packed arena saw a good trophies were donated by Robert andextra-curricularactivities. footballer and athlete Owen defeated Super Strikers 1-0 with brand of football being played in “Buntin” Carrington. While the He represented the County and Humphrey Travis Flatts striking in the 8 the well organised tournament. second place trophies was donated the Cougars Football Club at (Samuel Whyte)

Crandon inspires Sunshine to victory in Canada

Royston Crandon produced an epic allround performance for Sunshine against Masters on Sunday at Thackeray Cricket ground in Etobicoke leading his team to a commanding 57-run win in the continuation of the 2023 Ontario Round-Arm Softball Cricket Association (ORSCA) Regular SeasonT20.

Known for his typical pugnacious style, the power-hitting right-hander Crandon clobbered eight nonchalant sixes and four fours to slam a pulsating 84 as Sunshine reached a formidable 172-8 from the 20overs.

Masters,inreply,onlymade115alloutin the 16th over with Crandon proving his allroundcapabilitytosnare3-15from3.5overs. The decision by their nemesis Masters

BeaconsandRisingStarswin

Former champions, Beacons FC registered an emphatic 6-0 triumph over bottom team Lazio on Monday (24yhJuly)tomovewithinapointof cup holders, Rivers View, at the top of the 9-team Senior Men’s League (SML)pointstableoftheBarticaFA.

Clint Kellman opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and Whitney Welcome doubled the lead 3minuteslater

Thirteen minutes into the 2nd half, Kellman netted again in to increase the advantage to 3-0. A 5minute 3-goal blitz initiated by Jermaine Christian in the 65th minute ended a humbling night for Lazio.Alsogettingonthescoresheet were Oswin Joseph in the 69th secure a second victory for Rising Stars who minute and Shameer Mentore sixty seconds moved to 8 points and remain in 4th position later after6games.

Abdool Samad grabbed 3-25 from four

The 40-year-old Crandon arrived at seemed fully justifiable. Sunshine lost Imran number 5 with the reigning champion in a Ali (05), Anil Etwaroo (18) and Fazil Gani spot of bother at 56-3. Undeterred with the (00). However, Jeetendra Beharry offered fall of early wickets, the former Guyana and great resistance with a fine innings of 28 West Indies player began to flay the attack to whileCrandoncametothefore. allpartsoftheParkinswelteringconditions.

Hebattedwithsuperbconfidenceandwas overs while skipper Mark Nazir also sent engaged in a productive 48-run sixth-wicket down their maximum four overs but he stand with Ricardo Peters (10) who was conceded20runs. forced to play second fiddle. Crandon had Ali, who has become a versatile allcapitalisedontwochancesaswell. rounderinthelasttwentymonths,onceagain Sunshine was asked to take first knock.

(Continued on page 27)

It was the 3rd win from 5 matches and Wolves,whotooktheleadofthegamein helped Beacons to 11 points and 2nd place, the 2nd minute thanks to Ivelaw Ramsdeen, overtaking Potaro Strikers by one point. For have played a game less and were left on 3 Lazioitwasthe3rdlossastheyremainatthe pointsin6thplace. bottom of the table with a solitary point after Another double-header is slated for 4outings. tonight (Wednesday July26th) at the Bartica

The other game was highlighted by Ian Community Centre ground where Potaro Gomes whose hat-trick singlehandedly Strikers meet Mil Ballers at 7 pm, followed disposedofWolvesUnited.Gomesfoundthe by AK Galaxy against Agatash United at 9 target in the 32nd, 55th and 57th minutes to pm.

MVP Travis Flatts of Blue Strikers receives his trophy.

Hat-trick hero for Rising Stars, Ian Gomes.

Royston Crandon

Phase #1 to be completed later this month of GFF Durban Park Project

The Guyana Football featuring a regulation-sized Federation (GFF) has pitch, seating stands, as well provided an official update as a few mini pitches, and a on the Durban Park Project spaciouscommercialarea.” yesterday, at its Hadfield The funding for this Streetprojectsite.Duringthe ambitious project comes press briefing, GFF from the CONCACAF fund, President Wayne Forde shed and the GFF is actively light on the project’s involved in the design and progress; phase one of the engineering aspects The project was initially first phase itself has incurred scheduled to be completed a cost of approximately 23.6 earlier this month, but million The sand-filling encountered a slight delay of process serves as essential threeweeks. groundwork for the

Thisdelaywascausedby stadium’s construction, a scarcity of sand, a valuable which is expected to resource with significant commence over the next few demand due to the ongoing months/years. With the first extensive development and phase nearing its conclusion, infrastructure projects theGFFDurbanParkProject u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e remainsabeaconofhopeand government. Consequently, promise for local footballers the availability and delivery and football enthusiasts of sand were hindered alike. temporarily Meanwhile, during his Forde had visited the briefing Forde expressed his project site a few weeks ago satisfactionwiththeprogress and observed that the land achieved so far, considering was in a low-lying area and the challenges faced by the plagued by flooding and soft contracting company that ground However, despite contributedtothebriefdelay these challenges, the first The GFF is optimistic about phase has made considerable the project’s future, with strides over the following plans of hosting a grassroot weeksthereof. development programme as

The project entails the oneofitsfirstsetofactivities sand-filling of half of the planned for the site seven-acre land space, A d d i t i o n a l l y, u p o n generouslyleasedtotheGFF completion of this phase, the by the government of sitewillalsobeopenedtothe Guyana. According to him, local community for “ T h e l a n d w i l l b e recreational activities, transformed into a FIFA benefitting the residents of standard Football Stadium, surroundingareas.

Ongoing works being done at the GFF Durban Park Project site.

GFF President Wayne Forde (right) along with Representative of Contracting company at the site yesterday.