Kaieteur News

GTT announces support for Sophia Village

Day and Job Fair, Reinforcing Commitment to Community Strengthening

GTT has announced its played a pivotal role in promoting exceptional customer experiences, sponsorship of the digitalliteracyandempoweringthe the company will also be

upcoming Sophia community distributingfreeSIMcards.

Village Day and Job Fair, According to the press release These complimentary SIM scheduled to take place on the 29th during the Sophia Village Day and cards will enable community and 30th of July 2023 at the Sophia Job Fair, GTT is expected to offer members to stay connected with Community Center Ground on C attendees a unique opportunity to their loved ones and access various FieldRoad. kickstart their careers “The

As part of GTT’s enduring company will conduct on-the-spot effortlessly customer promise to empower and interviews for several currently “We are thrilled to be a part of strengthen communities, the open job listings. This initiative the Sophia Village Day and Job company has been actively reflects GTT’s dedication to Fair Supporting this event is an contributing to the development nurturinglocaltalentandproviding opportunity for GTTto express our and progress of Sophia through employment opportunities within gratitude to the Sophia community several initiatives, the company thecommunity.” for their continued trust and saidinapressrelease.

Additionally, to further support support,” said Kester Abrams,

Notably, the Sophia Night the adoption of high-speed internet Marketing Product Manager at School programme successfully in Sophia, GTT is offering an GTT “We are dedicated to reintegrated early school dropouts exclusive promotion during the empowering communities through intotheeducationsystem,allowing two-dayevent. education, connectivity, and them to complete their secondary Individuals signing up for employment opportunities, and we school education and pursue better GTT’s fibre internet service will look forward to engaging with the opportunities. enjoy10%offtheirfirstbill,aswell talented individuals of Sophia

M o r e o v e r , G T T h a s as free installation, which is a during the job fair.” GTT significantly improved the lives of $20,000savings. encourages all members of the i

ia by Thisofferaimstomake

introducing its high-speed fibre edge internet technology more neighboring areas to attend the internetsolution,whichbridgedthe accessible to all residents, Village Day and Job Fair and take digital divide and enhanced ultimately fostering a digitally advantage of the exciting job connectivity for residents By inclusivecommunity prospects and incredible fibre providing easy access to reliable Furthermore, as part of GTT’s internetoffersavailablethroughout and fast internet services, GTT has ongoing commitment to delivering thetwo-dayevent.

Jasmin Harris, Senior Manager, PR and Corporate Communications at GTT along with Kwasi Edmondson, Sophia Village Day and Job Fair Representative

No definitive timeline yet for completion of first audit of Exxon’s US$1.6B in expenses

our years after swiftlyandwrapthisup.The to review it, the GRA

FThe length of time the contracting a Commissionerindicatedthat ( G u y a n a R e v e n u e audit report is taking to be British firm, IHS- he believes that they can Authority), the technical completed, has caused some

Markit to conduct wrap up the old audit very group and they have to then degree of concern among an audit of oil major, soon and make serious make a (pronouncement). I observers. ExxonMobil’s expenses progress on the new one,” amnotinterfering.”

Some individuals have between the period 1999- Jagdeosaid.

While the findings of the said, for example, that 2017, Guyana is still to The new audit the VP US-multibillion dollar authorities should properly verify whether some US$1.6 was referring to was the review remain unknown, a explain why it is taking so billion in costs were over US$7.3 billion cost oil audit, leaked report of the initial long to complete an audit for stated. awarded to VHE Consulting findings of Exxon’s US$1.6 a company when the Audit Vice President, Bharrat which is a registered billion bills revealed that Office of Guyana takes Jagdeo on Thursday during partnership between some US$214 million could approximately 12 months to his weekly press conference Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, becontestedbythestate. auditandproduceareporton provided an update on the Eclisar Financial, and BackinSeptember2019, thenation’saccounts. process, indicating only that Vitality Accounting & theAPNU+AFC regime had

There are also concerns the Guyana Revenue Consultancy Inc. The Local awarded a contract to IHS about the accelerated pace at Authority (GRA) is likely to Consortium was supported Markit to audit the bills which government is conclude the process soon. by International firms – SGS which ExxonMobil said it approving oil projects and Jagdeo said he met with the andMartindaleConsultants. spent between 1999 and the difficulties that would Commissioner General of Back in April, Jagdeo 2017. ensue for cost regulation and GRA, Godfrey Statia and reported that government

Meanwhile, the review monitoring since it is still Natural Resources Minister, received the final report of the company’s US$7.3 stuck at auditing costs Vickram Bharrat on fromtheteamofauditors.He billion costs was awarded associated with the 1999 to audits to be conducted process, the Contractor must Wednesday when he explained, “The report has sinceMay,2022. 2017 era. Jagdeo previously within two years, from the be furnished with the report instructed that the audits be been concluded and it’s now The Stabroek Block saidthattheseconcernswere end of each calendar year At and its findings within 60 completed swiftly I told withthetechnicalpeopleand Production Sharing justifiable The Vice the conclusion of the days to provide a response. them they got to move I’m not going to…they have Agreement (PSA) allows for President said, “The The response from Exxon criticism about the length of will detail its objection or timeitistakingisfairbutthis acceptance of the audit audit is being done between c l a i m , a l o n g w i t h GRA and the Ministry of explanations thereof The Natural Resources with a contract also allows the minimum of 20 technical subject minister to conduct staff (overlooking the further investigations within process) for two years. It is 60 days of receiving the not secret…It is available to Contractor’sresponse. thetechnicalstaff.”

Draft oil law to be tabled in National Assembly on August 3

Vice President, Dr. deepwaterandshallowwater company or licensee needs under his administrative Bharrat Jagdeo has assured concessions will also be the written approval of the authority. that the draft Petroleum madepublic. minister, to directly or K a i e t e u r N e w s Activities Bill 2023 which I m p o r t a n t l y, t h e indirectly assign any of the understandsthattheminister replaces the Petroleum Petroleum Activities Bill rights under a licence or maymakeregulationsforthe ( E x p l o r a t i o n a n d 2023 proposes to vest the petroleum agreement, purpose of giving effect to Production)Act1986willbe Natural Resources Minister whether in whole or in part, provisions of theAct, and in tabled in the National with sweeping powers over toathirdpartyoranaffiliate. particular, but without Assembly on August 3, thehydrocarbonindustry The minister would also limiting the general power, 2023. According to the draft havethepowertorequirethe maymakeregulationsforthe D u r i n g a p r e s s document, the minister licensee to market abroad on execution of all works conference on Thursday, he would be empowered to competitive terms all or part relatedtoexplorationforand recalled that the passage of administer the licensing of of the government’s share of production of petroleum; the new legislation was one petroleum exploration, crude oil subject to conservation and prevention of the conditions the production, and storage and c o m m e r c i a l t e r m s of the waste of petroleum or administrationsaidwouldbe transportation operations; established under the other natural resources; the in place before authorities cooperate with the relevant petroleumagreement. form and contents of, and acceptedbidsubmissionsfor government agencies

The minister may even conditions with respect to, the country’s maiden oil regarding environmental require the holders of a an application for the grant blocks auction That and safety aspects of petroleum production or renewal of licence; and licensing round will include petroleum operations; and licenceto supply crude oil in the methods to be used for 11 shallow water blocks and oversee the conduct of the domestic market when the measurement of t h r e e d e e p w a t e r petroleum operations to the needs of the domestic petroleum, water and other concessions. ensure compliance with the m a r k e t e x c e e d t h e substancesfromawell.

The Ministry of Natural newlaw,andthetermsofthe Government’s entitlement Regulations can also be Resources announced on respective licences and fromallcrudeoilproduction implemented to address Wednesday that the deadline petroleumagreements. inthecountry safetyandwelfarestandards, f o r a c c e p t i n g b i d The minister is also Hemayalsoexerciseany and the health and safety of submissions was pushed proposed to have the power otherpowersrequiredforthe persons employed in or in back, notably for a fourth to inspect petroleum management of petroleum

connectionwithexploration, time to September 12 operations, seek corrective resources and operations production or conveyance of Jagdeo confirmed that this action and impose sanctions carriedoutunderthisAct. petroleum, transportation, would be the final extension fornon-compliance,develop Importantly,itisnotedin storage and treatment of of the timeline as the terms of reference and the document that the petroleum via pipeline government is hopeful of qualification criteria for the ministermaydelegateanyof underground storage of passing the new law before grant of exploration and the powers related to natural gas, underground Parliament heads into recess production rights, and grant administration of petroleum storage and transportation of onAugust 10. He also noted geological storage licences resources and supervision carbon dioxide, and any that the finalized versions of fornaturalgasandlong-term and inspection of petroleum other matter that may be, or the new Production Sharing storageofcarbondioxide. operations to a department, is required to be, prescribed

wasfurthernotedthata agency or government body bytheminister

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

THE GOVT.’S USE OF THE INFLATION BOGEYMAN ISAMEANS TO DENY GUYANESE WORKERSALIVING WAGE

DEBT AND DEVELOPMENT DEAREDITOR,

More borrowing means more spending, which means more opportunities to drain coffers and citizens. More borrowing is all driven by a single word: development. In Guyana,developmentistheequivalentofdeath,forahigher debt ceiling signifies a greater burden to be placed on citizens, as the magic of development swallows up billions more.

If Guyanese knew what they were getting for their dollarsborrowed,theremaybesomejustificationforsome of the projects in the development schemes of the PPPC Government. But the cunning spokespeople of a cunning government have found the perfect cover for all manner of skullduggeries,anditsnameisdevelopment.

WhethermoreUSbillionstobeborrowed,orthebillion already withdrawn from the Oil Fund, there is this push, at governments insistence, towards development Development of what and for whom, is the burning question? Whilemanyexpensivepublicworksprojectsare announced for roads, bridges, and hospital and school facilities, among others, many citizens remain in a highly underdevelopedstate.

Billions are borrowed, or removed from the Oil Fund, under the disguise of development, and still many citizens fightalosingbattleatcopingonadailybasis. Theneedfor somebalancehasneverbeenmorepressing,especiallywith somanystretchingouttheirhandsandnotgettinganything that helps them to manage. How balanced it would have been for a more thoughtful plan of borrowing, in combinationwithcarefultappingintotheOilFundtopush ahead with some development, while lifting up the lot of Guyanesestrugglingtodealwithhardtimes.

Fromallappearances,theeasyavailabilityofhugeloans, andthemagnetoftheUSmillionsintheOilFund,haveboth proventobeirresistibletotheplannersandschemersinthe PPPCGovernment. Theydroolatthethoughtofborrowing more and accessing oil money to help themselves, through the massive corruptions that have blighted this country They have found the brightest banner to wave. It is called development, and it is as good as any that could be found anywhere.

Moreloanssignifymoredevelopment,atleastonpaper and in front of the cameras, and development generates a positive feeling because of how it glows with promise. When development is managed cleanly and the dollars borrowed give Guyanese the greatest value from the debt incurred,thenthereisneitherconcernnorargument. Given the history, however, of how governments have carried on thebusinessofthepeople,andtheresultsunderthedebtand development flags, most citizens have concluded that they arebeingtakenforaride. Thesoledifferenceisthatitisa new day, and a new government, but with new and better tricks.TherealityofGuyanahasbeenwheredevelopmentis theroofunderwhichadenofcraftythievesfindshelter,with chronicsecreciesshroudinghowthebillionsarebeingspent, orplannedtobespent. Insteadofgovernmentplanninghow toeasethepainandtroublesoftheordinarycitizen,thereis thiscommitmenttocomeupwithmanyprojectsallatonce, withopportunitiestorobthem. Thereisthisgreatbigrushto bingeonborrowing,andleavetheGuyanesetaxpayers(and debtholders)withlastinghangovers.

Development of infrastructure to be ready for the next decades and century has its pluses, but it must go hand in handwiththedevelopmentoftheentirepopulation. Itisan insult, an abomination, when significant segments of the population of the richest people in the world have great difficulty paying the rent, honoring their other obligations and, most of all, feeding their families. In such circumstances,beinglabeledtherichestpeopleintheworld becomesmorethanamockery,itbecomesacurse.

Consideringthefullslateofdebt,plusthemoneytaken fromtheOilFund,theregularGuyanesemanandwomanin the street should have been rising above their tough circumstances. For when they are in such a comfortable economicstate,thenthosehigheruptheladdercouldonlybe doingfarbetter Unfortunately,debtanddevelopmenthave been losers for Guyanese, which looks likely to continue indefinitelyintothefuture.

Nowthatlackoffundsis nolongeragoodexcuse,the government’s presentlyfavoured rebuff of demands by public servants and teachers for large salary hikes is that such hikes spur inflation.As this pretext can be used forever, it follows thatnopathwaytoprosperity through paid work exists for manyGuyaneseunderaPPP regime. But is it true that large salary increases would fuel runaway inflation in Guyana, as the PPP claims? Does the PPP truly believe this? Let’s turn to recent history as one source of answers. The best case studies are, of course, the Aubrey Armstrong Arbitration Panel Award for public servants and the Fr Malcolm Rodrigues Arbitration Panel Award for teachers, both of1999. The Armstrong panel awarded the 11,240 public workers salary increases of 31.06% for 1999 and 26.66% for 2000.The Rodrigues Panel awardedteachersanincrease of 10% at the bottom scales and12% at the top for 1999 only As would be expected, thePPPgovernmentraiseda ruckus, predicting that the

awards would precipitate economic calamity through gaping budget deficits and skyrocketing prices To determine what actually occurred (both in terms of economic numbers and government honesty), a review of the PPP Budget Speeches between 1997 and 2001woulddo.Whatdothey tell us? At the end of 1997 and 1998, inflation stood at 4.1%and4.6%,respectively The first payouts to workers were made in late 1999, retroactive to January 1999.At the end of 1999, inflation rose to 8.6%, but the then Minister of Finance inhis2000BudgetSpeechin March 2000 explained that thisuptickwasduetoseveral factors, foremost among which were a weakening Gu

d increasing fuel prices Absolutely no blame was cast on the salary awards. In fact,theMinisterdeclaredto the House that “through careful management the Government was able to neutralisetheadverseeffects these increases might have had on the economy.” So, withinafewmonthsafterthe awards, the apparent government fears over

e c o n o m i c h a v o c mysteriouslyvaporised.

The Minister then announcedthegovernment’s intention to pay the awarded26.66%payhikefor public servants, effective from January 1, 2000, and based on their wages and salaries at December 31, 1999 This payout was extended to teachers and members of the disciplined forces Despite these massive outflows, inflation was projected at 9.5% for 2000, with the wage awards again conspicuously absent from among the three stated causes expected to fuel inflation (high oil prices againbeingoneofthem).

In the 2001 budget, the government reported that inflation in 2000 was actually 5.9%, well below theprojected9.5%.Inflation in 2001 was projected to reach6%.Fromthetoneand content of the 2001 Budget Speech, the arbitration awards were already an economicandfinancialnonissue. The 2001 projected inflationof6%washowever wrong too. At the end of 2001, it was actually 2.6%.

So, after two large cumulative salary raises

covering around 30,000 public employees, and paid outoverashortspanoftime across 1999/2000, inflation in Guyana dropped from 8.6% in 1999 to 2.6%at the end2001.

Othereconomicnumbers belied the predictions of economic collapse The Central Government deficit decreasedfrom8.8%ofGDP in 1998 to an average of 6% over the following2-3 years. In addition, the anticipated “negative”impactonprivate sector wages never materialised.

All the doomsday scenarios turned out to be myths. The unions were therefore correct to then remark that if the Government had the political will to pay the increases, a way could be foundtodoso.Thatremains truetoday

As the historic evidence shows, the government’s repeated use of the inflation bogeyman is a hoax to deny Guyanese workers a living wage and to entrap ordinary Guyaneseinaperpetualstate of dependency on Freedom House.

Respectfully, SherwoodLowe

Accusations against IDPADA-G cannot be proven

DEAREDITOR,

It is now approximately o n e y e a r s i n c e t h e International Decade for People of African Descent A s s e m b l y - G u y a n a (IDPADA-G) has been in the news, continuously; under the microscope; subjected to the suspension of its subvention; and having to stave off malicious accusations ranging from financial impropriety to mismanagement, none of whichhasorcanbeproven.

One is therefore left to wonder what has motivated this persistent onslaught Notably, the commencement of the onslaught coincided with IDPADA-G‘s request to meetwiththePresident.That meeting was intended to engage the President on the State‘s undertakings in relation to the decade, and the community‘s take on the matter It would have also provided an opportunity for the clarification of any concerns. The opportunity to clarify any concerns was specifically mentioned in the thirdlettertothePresident.

I n t h e g i v e n circumstance, it can only be

concluded that there was a determination that there should be no conversation with IDPADA-G about the decade and that all of the shenanigans were intended toveiltheruse,althoughthe President, on three occasions, committed to meetwithIDPADA-G.

The result has been an unresponsiveGovernmentto the representatives of the Guyanese of African Descent and no specific attention paid to the decade asmanifestedinotherways, including the Government‘s non-attendance at the first session of the United Nation‘s Permanent Forum for the People of African Descent;and themeetingof the Working Group of Experts. As a consequence, one of the issues which has not been attended to is the treatmentoflandspurchased by the ancestors of the Guyanese of African Descent. There are myriad problems associated with ownership, occupation and disposal of those lands. The magnitude of the matter caused the previous Government to establish an

entire Commission of Inquiry

However, the currentGovernmenthaspaid noattentiontothematter

The specially declared decadehasfailedtomovethe Government to action, even as issues surrounding the m a t t e r t a k e o n a confrontational and even violentmodeeversooften, a la Mocha-Arcadia,Kingelly, and Golden Grove, ECD to mention a few instances. Worse yet, the Raid Project whichwasintendedtomake some of those lands viable has not been continued, as intended.

For example, the machinery intended for the completionandmaintenance of those works have been removed physically, and from the control of the local committees.However,inthe faceofinactionorretrograde action in relation to lands owned and/or occupied by Guyanese of African Descentandtheircommunal and undivided lands, the Government is intensifying its“landacquisitionefforts”.

With the PPP/C‘s continued control of some local authority areas in

which traditional African villages are embedded, a la Hague/ Blankenburg, Industry/Plaisance et al, and the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission spreading its wings, there is every possibility that the unjust acquisition of lands whichwerepurchasedbythe ancestorsoftheGuyaneseof African Descent might be targeted, as has previously occurred.

Such developments can undermine the goals of the decade and worsen the state of the Guyanese of African Descent. There is need for the recognition of the land ownership of the Guyanese of African Descent; just treatment in relation to such lands; and opportunities for the development of the Guyanese of African Descent based on the utilisationofthoselands.

Clearly the United Nationsappreciatedthestate of the People of African Descent when it declared a decade under the theme: recognition, justice and development.

Yourstruly, VincentAlexander

Slavery represents one of the worst examples of man’s inhumanity to man

DEAREDITOR,

On the occasion of Emancipation Day 2023, I send greetings to all my fellow Guyanese, and moreso, the descendants of the African slaves And while some may care only for the holiday with little or no concern about the significance and meaning of the holiday; I invite you to consider and to focus not only on the holiday(August 01,2023) but also to reflect onwhatthisdaymeansoris intended to mean for all Guyanese.

August 01, 2023 marks 185 years since the approximately 82 000 slaves in then British Guiana were freed by an Act of the British Parliamentpassedin1833.

While the Act kicked into force in 1834, there was a six year Apprenticeship period ( reduced to 4years) to allow for the slaves to be transitioned into a money economy i.e they’d be paid for their labor during that time. History records that in the immediate post slavery period, most of the ex-slaves removed from the Plantation tofendforthemselves.

Our history books record

that some of them pooled their savings during this Apprenticeship period and bought up abandoned plantations and launched what we call the Village Movement. I mention these things to draw attention to the importance of the immediate post slavery period and the meaning / significance behind the Emancipation Day we celebrateannually Let us see today as providingopportunityforus to consider: to what extent are we indeed free? And if indeedwearenot,letustake time to consider where we are as individuals and collectively as a race/as a Nation in this process of emancipating ourselves; moreso, in terms of the way we think; for no one can reallydeclareusfree.Letus togetherviewtheoccasionas a very important National Event More than that, Emancipation must be viewed and observed for what it is here in Guyana; a National Event: a universal event of significance which ought, of national interest to involveallofus.

My friends, recall that

Emancipation Day was declared a National Holiday for the first time on August 01, 1994. It has since grown intoamajorfestivalinwhich tens off thousands of people of various ethnicities in our Country participate in various activities across our Country Comrades! Friends! Slavery represents oneoftheworstexamplesof man’s inhumanity to man. And so, even as we commemorate 189 years sincetheabolitionofslavery in 1834 let our voices of dissent and criticism be heard as we condemn those who continually preach the Gospel of race in our Country

These recalcitrants are indeed guilty of continually trying to drive a wedge betweenthetwomajorraces inourCountryandcouldnot havethegoodofourCountry and its people at heart. We needtostopfocusingonour perceived difference and focus on what we have in common and the common goals we seek to attain; for we do ( the major races of Guyana) share cultural and historical connections and similarities.

Pressed into a Conference

DEAREDITOR,

Itwouldbeinterestingto learn of Mr Nascimento whether he knows if any of the several international c o m m u n i c a t i o n engagements of which he spoke had to be defended as exhaustivelyashislastlocal experience.

Interestingly he assumes that he is not well enough known as a professional by

Lack of internal democracy in PPP

History records that it was the so called civilized ; the early Europeans who asserted that Africans were not civilized and who consequentially captured and enslaved them in the nameofcivilization…oneof theworstexamplesofman’s inhumanitytoman.Iamnot suggesting or saying we must allow ancestral traditions to die To the contrary, we need to reject divisions which are driven byfearandembracecultural differences.

And so my friends, I encourageyoutooncemore, get involved and participate in the various Emancipation activities across our dear Land of Guyana These would undoubtedly include: Cultural programs aimed at informing the Guyanese people about slavery; Africandrumming,dancing, masquerade bands and traditional calypso; learning of the history of various villages across Guyana; display of African attire; African dishes viz: metemgee, foo foo, drinks likemauby,crafts,artwork

DEAREDITOR,

At his last Thursday’s weekly ‘press conference’, Vice President Jagdeo was asked,inlightoftheReuters report that describes the strong link between Irfaan Ali and the controversial Mohameds, about the prospectofincumbentIrfaan AliasthePPP’sPresidential candidate in 2025. The VP saidemphaticallythatIrfaan will be the Presidential candidate. The chief did not say he will recommend or propose Irfaan as the nominee He said Irfaan “willbethePPPcandidate”.

someone who was first a Broadcasting Officer in 1957withintheGovernment Information Services under Arthur J. Seymour, and who workedwithcolleaguessuch as Lloyd Searwar,

graduating from the London SchoolofEconomics.

Let Tuesday August 01, “Emancipation Day”, serve to remind us all that this Nation was founded/rooted onslavery Wehavecomea long way since that time.

Sincerely

In a democratic party, a candidate for office is selected by members, but in Guyana, the members have no right to select a nominee. In the PPP’s case, the candidate is chosen by the Central Committee of 35 members democratic centralism prevails in which one man determines the candidacy As in the Soviet Union and successor Russia Federation,theinstructionof the boss or chief determines who will be the nominee. Perhaps that is why Jagdeo gave the assurance that

Irfaanwillbethenominee. Itwillberecalledthatfor the2020elections,theChief instructed members how to vote. A dozen of those who were on Anil Nandlall’s corner switched over to Irfaan, denying the brilliant legal doyen the nomination. It does not appear that democracywillprevailinthe selection of the PPP 2025 nominee It will be interesting to know the thinking of senior party stalwarts like Nandlall, F r a n k A n t h o n y , Dharamkumar Seeraj, Vindya Persaud, and others onJagdeospeakingforthem on who will be the 2025 nominee.

Like the PPP, the PNC also has a central committee (executive body) selecting the Presidential nominee And the PNC’s central committee is also chosen by delegates. Isn’t it time that both parties empower their members to vote (one person, one vote) to select the Presidential nominee among various potential candidates.

Yourstruly, HemwatieChuraman

Wordsworth

McAndrewand otherstalwartsoftheday

The undersigned was also well respected both by local Bookers Sugar Estates and Booker London after

This professional’s career in the sugar industry and at the Caricom Secretariat consistently involvedthemanagementof ‘Communication’.

During his time Mr Nascimentowaswellknown tohim.

Regards, E.B.John

NormanWhittaker

Former Minister of Local Government & RegionalDevelopment

Govt. to deploy team to probe environmental, human rights abuses at Chinese Landing

Government is expected to send a multi-faceted team to investigate several allegationsofenvironmental and human rights abuses against Amerindians residingatChineseLanding, RegionOne.

This was confirmed by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday. This d e c i s i o n b y t h e administration comes in wake of Resolution 41/2023 whichwasrecentlyissuedby the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) That international body called on Guyanese authorities to implement a series of measures to protect the I n d i g e n o u s C a r i b

Community of Chinese Landing. According to the commission, the Carib community which has approximately210peopleis

currently at serious risk of sufferingirreparableharmto theirhumanrightsbyminers and even some members of theGuyanaPoliceForce.

Details of those risks wereoutlinedinapetitionto theinternationalbodywhich was filed by the village council of the indigenous CaribcommunityofChinese Landing, the Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana and the Forest Peoples Programme The petition notes that a mining permit granted to Mr W.V backin1995istherootcause of the harassment and discrimination being inflicted in the indigenous residentsforyears.

The petition notes that the permit was granted

without the consent of the community and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) subsequently issued a cease work order in 2010. The miner was able to get this order overturned with a judgment from the CaribbeanCourtofJustice. In March 2021, the Amerindian beneficiaries brought their case to the judiciary again, claiming that the mining activity was in direct contradiction with the Amerindian Act and the protectionsitoffersfortitled land. That matter is still engagingtheattentionofthe court In the meantime, mining in the area has accelerated, in tandem with environmental and human

- Jagdeo

rights abuses hence the petitionforinterventionwas madetothecommission.

Jagdeo said yesterday that the government will respect and adhere to the commission’s resolution which calls for a thorough investigation and report on their findings and proposed solutions. Jagdeo was keen to remind however that the governmentthroughGGMC did stand with the people of Chinese Landing by issuing aceaseworkorder

The Vice President recalledalsothatlastyear,he spoke with the Toshao of Chinese Landing who did communicate to him, that there are several cases of illegal mining. Jagdeo also noted that government even

attempted to do raids but on each occasion, the miners in the area were warned and were able to stop works ahead of time and hide their equipment.

D e s p i t e t h o s e challenges, Jagdeo said governmentwillobeyruling ofthecommissionandsenda multi-faceted team into the areaandasubsequentreport willbeissuedtotheIACHR. “Sothatiswhereweare.We havenotedtherulingandwe areconcernedaboutthisand the community is our primary concern and we b e l i e v e t h a t a n y transgressions of a social, environmental mining nature should be penalized heavily , ” the Vice Presidentconcluded.

Govt. seeks 15 acres of land to build modern shopping centre at Charity

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday disclosedthatgovernmentis currently looking for 15 acres land to build a “highend market and “shopping mall”forvendorsatCharity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

Jagdeo made this disclosure at his weekly press conference and two

weeks after Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn proposed a new market for the vendors following a fire that destroyed a section of the existing structure on Thursday July 6 last. Asked atthenewsconferenceifthe vendors had reached out to hisgovernmentforanyhelp, J a g d e o w h i l e acknowledging that the

vendors have indeed asked the government to rebuild them a shed, said, “we are lookingtoacquiresomeland therebutitisverydifficultin Charity, so I actually flew over the area on the way to Moruca and then I asked Collin Croal (Minister of Housing) cause we are building a new housing scheme, if we could get 15

acres of land adjoining the new scheme that we can develop for commercial purposes because ultimately they will need a high end market and shopping malls andthingslikethose”

Jagdeo pointed out the land on which the current structure sits is too small to accommodate any modern type infrastructure of that scale. “…and even if you look at the part that is burnt out, it will not facilitate the growthofamodernmarketit is a narrow strip, less than a quarter of an acre of land”, Jagdeoexplained.

He related that while his government has committed to rebuilding the burnt out shed of the existing structure, vendors were notified that they should shift to “something major.”

“I spoke with the people, withsomeofthevendorsand I said that we should do something major now, let’s shift to a market of the future, you know modern facilities, parking and everythingelseforthearea,” Jagdeo said while adding, “sowearelookingtoseewe

can identify 15 acres there that will allow us to do that like leave out plots for commercial growth in the area”

The Vice President also notedthatthegovernmentis looking for an area that will notbefarawayfromcentral Charity and where vendors will be willing to move. On Saturday, July 8 Kaieteur News reported Benn proposingthatanewmarket be built for vendors at Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a statement detailed the engagement, adding that Benn had “noted fire safety issues within the structure and encumbrances that contributed to the fire and hinderedfirefightingefforts, respectively”.

As a result, Minister Benn reportedly suggested that a new market be built with all fire protection systems.

“Hesuggestedthatanew marketbeconstructedthatis fullyequippedwithwetriser systems and other means of protectionagainstfires,”the

GFShadstated. Promiseswerealsomade toassistthevendorsaffected by the fire. The Charity Amazon Market housed some 83 stalls. The fire resultedinthedestructionof 40 percent of the market.

“Twenty-nine (29) stalls were severely damaged by the fire, while eleven (11) suffered water damage due to firefighting,” GFS detailedinitspressrelease.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

An overhead shot of the damaged Charity Market

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

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JOIN THE FIGHT

On Monday July 31, 2023 all Guyanese are called upon to join the fight against exploitation by foreign investors aided by the government and the opposition.

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The Kaieteur News team will not be working on that day. 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 commemorates the abolishment of slavery some decades ago in 1838.

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.

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.

67daysnoCoIintodeadlyMahdiafire

- Opposition slams Govt. for delays, says mischief afoot

Today will mark 67 days awarded $20M or more since the tragic Mahdia dollars for libel and Dormitory Fire that took the defamation. It is therefore lives of twenty young r i d i c u l o u s f o r t h e PPP Cabinet are held outstanding issue,” the reportedly started the fire fire. The Ministry of Legal Guyanese on 21st May and governmenttooffer$5Mper accountable Until all Presidenthadmentioned. because her cellular phone Affairs, in a statement said governmentisyettolauncha person for the loss of life. corrective measures are Following the fire, was taken away by the dorm that the families were Commission of Inquiry ( Lifecannotbethatcheapina identified and implemented President Ali had signaled mother, and a teacher She requested to sign an COI) although President c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e acrossthecountryforsimilar the government’s intention was later charged and agreement having received Irfaan Ali said a chairman government squanders facilities.Untiljusticeforthe toestablishaCommissionof remanded to a Juvenile independent legal advice. It hasbeenidentified. billions of tax payers’ dead Mahdia children and Inquiry (COI) to investigate Holding Centre The 20 was noted that while the

On Thursday the main money.” their parents is served. We the tragic fire at the Mahdia children who died as a result process of providing this Opposition- A Partnership Additionally, the owe it to the dead and to the dormitory, which claimed of the fire are, Adonijah financial assistance is for National Unity (APNU) Opposition said to date, the wider society to hold the the lives of 19 young girls Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa ongoing, as part of the raised the issue during a government has failed to government accountable for and a 5-year-old boy. During Roberts, Delecia Edwards, agreement, the government news conference, noting that constitute the long-awaited what is clearly their his Independence Day Lorita Williams, Natalie pledged to continue to offer following the fire, the commission of inquiry into incompetence and lack of speech, he had said, “We are Bellarmine, Arriana such support as may be government deployed the fire. “There can be no care for the nation’s a l s o c o m m i t t e d t o Edwards, Cleoma Simon, necessary to the victims’ several “devious and excuseforthedelay Several children.” establishing a Commission Subrina John, Martha families. heartless ploys to avoid organisations, including the Back in June President of Inquiry to investigate the D’Andrade,(andtwin)Mary Also, the ministry said takingfullresponsibilityand Parliamentary Opposition, Ali announced that Major causes and circumstances of D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, too that thus far, all the to brush the matter under the have publicised detailed General (Ret’d) Joseph the fire which destroyed the Loreen Evans, Omerfia affected families engaged carpet ” The opposition TORs and there are several Singh will chair the dormitoryandtoinquireinto Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, have signed agreements added: “most recently, w e l l - q u a l i f i e d a n d Commission of Inquiry related issues. This will be Sherlyn Bellarmine, Importantly, it was stated Guyanese across the social professional Guyanese and (COI).PresidentAlihadsaid done soonest. The findings Eulander Carter, Andrea that the Commission of andpoliticalspectrumjoined Caricom nationals who can that he would have been of that inquiry will inform Roberts, Rita Jeffrey and Inquiry (COI) as promised in condemning the insulting sit on such a commission. meeting with Singh and his thewayforward”. SheranaDaniels. by President Irfaan Ali, will act by the government to Guyanese must see the delay team before shortly “We are On the night of May 21, M e a n w h i l e , o n l y be established, and that COI offer the parents the stingy for what it is: an act by a finalizingtheTOR[Termsof 2023, a fire swept through a recently this newspaper will, if it considers financial compensation and governmentthatisinterested Reference] right now I have heavily-grilled dormitory reported the announcement necessary, review all the to coerce or intimidate them in its own political self- a meeting before the end of whichhousedstudentsofthe by Government that it has facts and circumstances into signing documents preservation at any this week with the team. I Mahdia Secondary School, commenced the process of relating to the events, in absolving the government cost—one that has no sense can tell you I identified Region Eight (Potaro- givingfinancialassistanceto accordance with itsTerms of from any future potential of morality, integrity, and Major General (retired) Joe Siparuni). the relatives of the 20 Reference “Given that claims for liability and duty but to itself,” the Singhtoledthatteam;Ihave Deputy Fire Chief (ag) children who died as a result public monies are being injury Guyanese must Opposition asserted “We a meeting with him before Dwayne Scotland on May of the May 21 fire expended, and recognising continue to reject these acts will not relent until an theendofthisweek.I’malso 22, 2023 disclosed that the According to a document that these expenditures will by the PPP It should be independent commission of having a meeting with the f i r e w h i c h t o o k seen by this publication, have to be transparently noted that in the judicial inquiry is established. Until family members of the approximately three and a each family will receive, if a c c o u n t e d f o r, t h e system Guyanese are all those responsible in the Mahdia fire to discuss some h a l f h o u r s t o b e agreed,thesumof$5million agreements were reduced e x t i n g u i s h e d , w a s in financial assistance, intowriting.Needlesstosay, maliciously set It was which constitutes a a full report of all monies confirmed by the Guyana settlement of all claims and expended in respect of this Police Force (GPF) on May causes of actions on account tragedy will be made public 23, 2024 that a female of all injuries resulting in in due course, as the process student of the Mahdia death and not resulting in is a continuing one,” it was S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l death, that resulted from the stated.

REMEMBER WHAT CHEDDI AND FORBES SAID!

Gu y a n a ’ s foremost anticolonial leaders, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, understood the dangers of foreign control over Guyana’s natural resources This type of understanding is totally lackinginthepresentcropof leaders and no doubt accounts for the pursuit of model which allows for Guyana’s gold, diamond, manganese, bauxite and now, its oil and gas, to be plundered by multinational a n d t r a n s n a t i o n a l corporations.

Cheddi Jagan once linked the problem of underdevelopment to the operations of foreign multinationals He bemoaned the country’s dependence on primary production and the exploitation of irreplaceable

natural resources by foreign interests.

The present crop of political leaders have become so immersed in the neo-liberal order and so lacking in any alternative vision of development that they fail to appreciate the dangers of having foreign companies plunder Guyana’s natural resources. In the process, these companies expropriate the country’swealth,shipoutits raw material and profits and offerapittanceinreturn.

Despite clonal ruling ending more than 50 years ago in Guyana, certain principles remain infallible. Foremost amongst these is that developing countries should safeguard their natural resources, and for manyreasons.

The concentration on natural resource extraction

Dem Boys Seh...

can lead to resource curse. This occurs when a country when a nation’s heavy reliance on extractive industries stifles the diversification of its economy This overdependence leads to volatility in economic growth and a lack of resilience during economic downturns, as witnessed in several resource-rich nations.

Guyana claims to be diversifying its economy Buthasitnotalwaysclaimed this.Yettoday,ifgoldandoil weretocollapse,thecountry would fall into dire economic straits. And this happenifGuyanaexploitsit oil too quickly at the behest of foreign multinationals which now totally decide how much oil and produced andatwhatpace.

W h e n f o r e i g n

Whatever happened to zero-tolerance fuh squatting!

Dem boys chucking it rude today! De government keep claiming how it gan be having zero-tolerance for squatting. It has been saying this fuh a long time now But insteadoftakingactiontopreventsquatting and to enforce the so-called zero-tolerance edict,degovernmentdoesenduprewarding de wah breaking de law and trespassing on statelands.

Dem wah breaking de law and de rules does get reward,while de law-abiding citizenswahapplyingfuhhouselotandland doesgattobeputondeawaitingline,sodat desquatterscanbeattendedto.Thisishow Topsy-turvydesituationbecome.

Whiledesquattersgettingfullattention, delaw-abidingcitizensqueueuplikecattle attheslaughterhouse,clutchingtheirneatly filled application forms Some people

askingwhatisthepurposeoffollowingthe process when those who break de law, jumpingdequeue.

It leff law-abiding citizens to question whydemshouldbuildahouseonpurchased landlikearesponsiblecitizenwhenyoucan simply erect your castle on state lands and grounds, and have the state regularize your unlawfuloccupancy

De government might soon start fuh introduce a new award: “Squatter of de Month”.

Dem might soon be asked to give dutyfreeconcessiontosquattersandtosubsidize delotswahdemallottingtodesquatters.As for the government’s grandiloquent promises of zero-tolerance, well, these are butemptywords.

TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

corporations exploit such as ExxonMobilcomeintoyour country, they are more interested in their profit margins that in national development. And by the time,theyleave,thecountry remainspoor

Another reason why countries have to assume greater control over their natural resources has to do with the damage to the environment.Asmall group of Guyanese have been demanding that there be greater protections in the eventofanoilspill.Buttheir pleasarefallingondeafears. And our leaders ought to know that the history of multinationalcorporationsis that they give priority to profitsoverprotectionofthe environment.Countries,like Guyana, must therefore assert greater control over their natural resources in order to safeguard the environment.

We hear our politicians speaking a great deal about protecting Guyana’s sovereignty. But while they mouththeserhetoricallines, theyareallowingtheerosion of the country’s economic sovereignty by selling out our resources to foreign companies A former Minister claimed that he

wasadvisedbyanexecutive of a foreign multinational company not to respond to critics of the oil deal. This shows the sort of indirect political influence that multinationalscanwield.

One of the strong arguments which both Burnham and Jagan used to make was that maintaining ownership and control over naturalresourcesallowedfor a country to set fair terms in their agreements with foreign multinationals

Localownershipandcontrol

does not necessarily translate to an absence of foreign participation in the natural resource sector and this is something that our present crop of leaders does not appreciate This Monday, Guyanese have an opportunity to let their leadersunderstandhowthey feel about the raping of the country’s natural resources by foreign companies. They have a chance to let their leaders understand their mistrust of them. They have anopportunitytosignaltheir

c o n c e r n o v e r t h e shortchangingofthecountry throughthedealswhichhave beensignedbyourleaders.

Monday July 31st is a ‘Day of Standstill’ Those who care – and everyone

should care – should play theirpartinensuringthatour leaders get the message that Guyana’s natural resources wealth is sufficient to provide for a decent life for every citizen and for future generation.

Butwhentheseresources are handed over the foreign multinationals on unfair terms,thenthereisonlyone outcome:thecountryandits peoplewillremainpoor

All Guyanese therefore should support the ‘Day of Standstill’.Thisisnotabout Glenn Lall. It is about the future of every citizen, their children and grandchildren. Stand up on Monday by supporting the ‘Day of Standstill’ Donotmakeany purchases and no work on thatday!

(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

GHK LALL

CHINESE ICTR AND D-GET SOMEBODY ELSE PLEASE

I have great regard for the Chinese people. They have a history of celestial insight, innovation, and inventiveness. TheChinese know about struggle and sacrifice, and success coming the hard way But China has also had a long anddarkhistoryofwarlords, and untold wretchedness inflicted on its own people. EntertheRedChinese.

I have scant regard for the Red Chinese. Yes, they are still alive under their bannerofcapitalistgreen. If that has an eerie familiarity about it, this is because Guyanese have a PPP Government (and its warlords) that masquerade under similar capitalist pretenses, but with the Stalinist tendencies towards t o t a l c o n t r o l a n d domination. The Chinese at the top in mainland China are too secretive, have too much of an anything goes mentality, and culture, where the law is concerned. Theymaynotspeakthebest

English, but there are few better than them at splitting the lingua franca of the Western world, maybe the whole world, to suit their ambitions and fabrications. Thisgeneratesaspecialkind of regard for them, which goes like this: the less that can be done with them, the better Thus, I have problems with this business being broadcast around Guyana about a Chinese tech giant setting up a research and development centerinthistown. Asmuch as there is huge recognition of Chinese prowess and capabilities, there is the stoniest of receptions for them to be leading the way with ICTmatters. The PPP Government already spies on its citizens. I know one. So, to open the door to a giant Chinese technology presence in this country under the guise of a ‘research and development’ center is asking for trouble, opening the floodgates of infiltration into, and

collection of, sensitive Guyanese issues of every colorandvariety

Do we really need this, another layer of potentially damagingspyingnetworks? Do we know what we are doing? Mostrespectfullyto His Excellency Ali, this is crossing swords with the Americans. Though the PresidentisnotaBibleman, I remind of that truism: no onecanservetwomastersat the same time. ‘Somebady gungetvex.’ ThePresident himself should be familiar with this, considering the inroads made into his own authority and standing with the leadership two-man tag teamofwhichheisthe,shall I say gently, the lesser piston. My objective is not to skewer the nation’s head of state, but to layout the state of this sealed Chinese union.

Please don’t do it, Dr. President. TheYankees are already unhappy about the waythingsare(sansExxon) in Guyana. Why bait them

with this R&D center by a Chinese firm of all things, andmakingthemseered? if thereisoneGuyanesewhois honest enough to say publicly that they trust the Red Chinese, that Gang of One in Beijing, with the noblestvisionsandpractices to match, then I invite them to do so. I am sorry, but when I seek honest Guyanese, I am compelled to exclude almost all of the president’s men, and for good measure, those who fawn in obsequious prostrationundertheheelof theformerpresident.

The first and last conclusion is that a Chinese R&D center in Guyana has teeth. If the Chinese don’t turn around and bite us, through unexpected arrangements, then the Yankees are going to get us for failing to make up our minds about who our real friendsare. Infact,whoare our only genuine friends, andtheyareneitherChinese nor Indians, neither British

nor French, but good oleAmericans. How is that for being antiAmerican? By the way, I hope that no Guyanese harbours the idea that I like what Exxon is doing here, how it has been allowed to throw its weight around, without restraint and withoutrecourse.

To be brutally frank, there is high disregard for global powers that coerce little peasant places with panjandrums for leaders. I do not worship Chinese or Americans, but recognise their place and power, and the all-conquering nature of their objective, geo this and geo the other But, as said before, if forced to choose betweentheChinesedragon andtheAmericanbarbarian, there is no hesitation. The eagle must be flown with, and sheltered under its wings. Now this is going to upset a ton of folks, but it must be said.TheAmerican can,attimes,betheworstof barbarians, but there are

other times when they are themostcivilisedbarbarians around. I do not think that that qualifies to be an oxymoron.

To His Excellency (MIA), I say this most humbly: there has to be an R&D center in Guyana for ICTand other purposes, but please do us all a favor and get somebody besides the Chinese.TheAmericansand Europeans are rough characters (barbarians), but theyareofalesservariety,a slightlylightershade.Ithink that that has to count for something The Yanks already are alarmed by the broad (and deep) Chinese presence in Guyana. This R&D center is throwing gasolineonwarmcoals.

(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.)

100 migrant students benefit from the Big Sister Mentoring Programme

As part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to integrate migrant children into the education system, the Ministry’s

n collaboration with the Disaster Risk Prevention and Migrant Unit and

UNICEFhostedaBigSister MentoringProgramme.

The programme which commenced on July 10, 2023 will conclude today, the Ministry of Education said in a press release. It is aimed at helping adolescent girls to navigate the challenges facing them

living in a new country Although the programme wasintendedtotargetyoung girls,anumberofadolescent malesshowedinterestinthe p r o r g a m m e a n d participated. Over the last few weeks, approximately one hundred migrant students from Regions

Three and Four benefited from the programme which helped them learn English. Thestudentsalsoengagedin arts and craft and were introduced to Guyanese culturethroughfood,games, and socialising Vickram Mohabir, Chief Schools’ Welfare Officer, stated that

the goal is to ensure the migrant children complete secondary school He further expressed gratitude to the teachers and students who participated in the programme. He noted that there are plans to roll out a Big Brother programme whichwilltargetadolescent

boys. The programme also saw First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali showing her support by donating personal care hampersfortheyounggirls. The second round of the programme is scheduled to commence on August 15, 2023 at the Leonora SecondarySchool.

Graduates of the Siter Monitoring Programme

$1.2 Billion ‘Span 9’ fully installed, DHB opened to vehicular traffic

The Demerara timeahead.”

Harbour Bridge F o l l o w i n g t h e (DBH) which installation of the span nine,

was closed from trucks not exceeding 18 Monday night to facilitate tonnes will be able to theinstallationofanew$1.2 traverse the bridge. Kaieteur billion span nine retractor News had reported that has been reopened to during the first day of the vehicular traffic as per closure,workerswereableto normal The bridge was get the new structure closed for three days from installed and the old span July24to27tofacilitatethe nine removed ahead of time. works. Providing an update Duringaninterview,General on Thursday morning, Manager of the Demerara Minister of Public Works Harbour Bridge Corporation Juan Edghill announced (DHBC),WayneWatsonhad that works were completed mentioned that beside the aheadofthescheduleandas installation the new span such the bridge was ready nine, other works are being for opening at 6pm on doneonthebridge.

Thursday Watson said that works

The new $1.2 billion Span Nine which was installed at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

In a live video yesterday, costingsome$85millionare installation of the new $1.2 feet long and 40 feet wide Panamanian flagged vessel, Repairs to Span Nine were the minister said, “we have being done to the High Span billion Span Nine retractor and is valued at $1.2 billion, MV Tradewinds Passion, undertaken by a local completed our task and we of the bridge, while internal onthebridge. will result in a much crashed into the bridge company, Industrial will be opening the bridge rehabilitation on spans 12 to Minister Edghill had smoother operation during a retraction period Fabrications Inc (InFab), six hours ahead of schedule 29 and spans 39 to 60 are stated previously that the (retractability) in the future and rendered the bridge which was completed in late so in as much as we gain that beingdoneexecutedatacost government understands the and will also enable wider inoperable for several days. 2022. advantageonthefirstdaythe of $60 million It was significance of this vessels to pass through the Since then, that damaged In May this year, Span men did not slothfully reported that the DHB will replacement and is channel. section of the bridge had to Nine was transported from approach it, they kept the be closed from 23:59hrs on committed to seeing this Last September, the be repaired several times, the dockyard to the bridge same momentum and we July 24 to 23:59pm on July project through, as this new bridge’s Span Nine was whileplanswerebeingmade for the perfect time and tide were able to maintain that 27 to facilitate the retractor which spans 170 d a m a g e d w h e n t h e toreplacetheunitaltogether tofacilitateinstallation.

Collaboration is the only way forward, Commonwealth Secretary -

General tells World Tourism Organization’s Africa Summit

deliver an inclusive, sustainable, which can support the efforts of General, Patricia Scotland has and resilient tourism sector This is African countries. The first tool, emphasised that collaboration is imperativefortheeconomyofeach ‘Common Pool Asset Structuring needed more than ever before to country which depends on it in Strategy,’ consolidates individual build a resilient tourism sector that Africaandbeyond.” finance applications into countryworks for people, prosperity, and Describing the meeting as a wide opportunities, while the theplanet. pivotal opportunity, Secretary- second tool, the Political-

Commonwealth Secretary-

Speaking at the United Nations General Patricia Scotland invited Economic Resilience Index, World Tourism Organization countries to work together on an provides credible data on the Regional Commission for Africa array of innovative legal and economic and vulnerability levels meeting in Mauritius on 26 July financial solutions for the tourism of small states, making inward 2023, she highlighted the intricate sector She continued: “We already investments more attractive. This vulnerability of the tourism have the knowledge, the ideas, the work,sheadded,wasbackedbythe industry and the collective action innovation and the technology to Commonwealth’s ongoing needed to address it, the develop and deliver these advocacy on the reform of global CFommonwealth Secretariat said solutions What we need is financing rules to make inarelease.Themeetingcomesata leadership and a shared development and climate finance time when the global tourism commitment not to go alone, but to more accessible to small states, industry is on the path to recovery gotogether.” enabling them to invest more in after suffering a crushing blow The Secretary-General sustainable development, climate from the COVID-19 pandemic. In expressed confidence in actionandtourismresilience. 2020 alone, the sector faced a

Commonwealth Africa’s ability to Speaking at the opening severe setback with 1.1 billion show that leadership and set the ceremony, Prime Minister fewer international tourist arrivals continent on a path of sustainable Jugnauth said: “The global tourism and the loss of over 100 million and resilient tourism industry To industry is set on its way to fully jobsworldwide. support this effort, she outlined recover, to reach pre-pandemic

In her address to more than 100 how the Commonwealth’s work levels. We need to think together senior officials, including the could assist countries in addressing about building on the success and Prime Minister of Mauritius, the tourism challenges through alsoaddressingthechallengesright tothetourismsector.” two-thirds of the world’s small HonPravindJugnauth,andAfrican knowledge exchange, data-sharing ahead of us. We have to work hand S h e h i g h l i g h t e d t h e island developing states are part of ministers responsible for tourism, and capacity-building In in hand to ensure we are prepared disproportionate impact on small the Commonwealth, the Secretary- the Secretary-General said: particular, Secretary-General for future crises.” The Regional island developing states (SIDS), General emphasised that

“Despiteastrongrecoveryin2022, Scotland spoke about the Meeting, focused on ‘Rethinking which are heavily reliant on sustainable tourism is a priority for to almost two-thirds of pre- Commonwealth’s ‘Their Future, Tourism in Africa’, provided tourism In 2020, SIDS theCommonwealth. pandemic levels, the world today is

Our Action’ project, which has ministers and senior officials from experienced a 9 per cent decline in She stressed the urgency of tightly bound by a tangled knot of been enhancing the economic the continent a platform to share their gross domestic product, addressing these challenges crises spanning global economic, resilienceofsmallstates. knowledge, ideas, and good significantly higher than the global collectively, adding: “We need to environmental and security She highlighted two tools practices for building a resilient average of 3.4 per cent. Given that leave this meeting with a plan to systems, which pose series threats developed through this project tourismsector

Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Patricia Scotland

GDF signs pact with US military to strengthen human rights

GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier Khan signs the HRI Framework

Southcom Commander Gen Richardson signs the HRI Framework

Brigadier Omar Khan, withacommemorativeevent from across the hemisphere that currently serves as a is reflected in its values and efforts of 12 countries that Guyana Defence Force hosted by the command and with the aim of developing humanrightsmodel. standards, the press release committed to implementing (GDF) Chief of Staff, and attended by more than 100 comprehensiveandeffective Under the Human Rights stated. human rights programs in U.S. Army General Laura representatives from human rights programs for Framework and through The opportunity to sign their defense or public Richardson, commander of Western Hemisphere defense and security forces membership in the HRI, the on to the regional initiative security institutions, U S Southern Command militaries, governments, that focused on four crucial GDF formalises its intent to demonstrates the GDF’s including the Dominican (SOUTHCOM)onThursday n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l areas: doctrine, education implement the Consensus c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e Republic, which established signed the Human Rights organizations (NGOs) and and training, internal control Documentwithsupportfrom principles and promotion of the first Latin American Frameworkcommittingtheir academia. systems, and cooperation SOUTHCOM’s Human humanrights. military school dedicated to organisations to “human According to press withcivilianauthorities. RightsOffice.

The GDF continues to human rights education, as r i g h t s e n g a g e m e n t , release issued by the United In 2002, with input from Adhering to human improveitsawarenessofand well as Colombia and Peru, c o o p e r a t i o n a n d States Embassy in Guyana, more than 30 democratic rights has always been a respect for human rights. which also established integration.” rooted in SOUTHCOM countries and human rights pillaroftheGuyanaDefence Through its Human Rights militaryschoolsdedicatedto

With the signing of the efforts to promote a culture experts from academia, as Force’s operational and Office, SOUTHCOM has human rights education and Framework,Guyanabecame ofrespectforhumanrightsin well as international and administrative mandate and previously supported the training. the thirteenth nation to join the early ‘90s, the HRI was n o n - g o v e r n m e n t

SOUTHCOM’s Human established in 1997 to bring organizations (NGOs), the Rights Initiative (HRI), together military, public HRI contributed to the which marked its 25th security, government, and development of a Consensus anniversary in December civil society representatives Document on human rights

$75M in contracts awarded to extend two West Dem schools

The contracts for the extension of the Leonora Secondary School and Bagotville Primary School being handed over to the contractors on Thursday.

The Regional Democratic Council whichwouldincludeanumberofclassrooms (RDC) of Region Three on Thursday signed tohousestudents. two contracts worth $75,605,530 which The extension at Leonora is said to take would see the extension of the Leonora about three months to complete, while at Secondary School and Bagotville Primary Bagotvillethedeadlineisapproximatelyfour School In presence of the Regional Executive months. It was reported that educational Officer, Jagnarine Somwar and Regional facilities are being improved so as to ensure Engineer Vaughn Solomon a contract worth children learn in a comfortable environment $25,789,623wassignedwithcontractorTMK and also to address space constraints being 2020 Inc for the works at Leonora Secondary facedinsomeareasacrossthecountry and a $49,815,907 contract was inked with This year, some $94.4 billion has been contractor Hoosein Logistics and Supplies budgeted for the education sector with the forBagotvilleschoolproject. aim of increasing access for all, across all Kaieteur News understands that both levels and at world class standards. Out of projects are being executed so as to that, a sum of $12.4 billion has been accommodate additional students attending dedicated towards the construction, the school. The projects would see the rehabilitation,extension,andmaintenanceof construction of another wing to the schools educationalfacilities.

Ten Guyanese selected for 66th Know India Programme

Ten Guyanese have been Ms Kameshwari Dhanrajh- a ancestors.

Kerala to visit places of historical, group of 18-30 years, from selected to participated for the 66th teacher from Bartica and Ms Theparticipantsexpressedtheir economical, cultural, and religious Girmitiyacountries(e.g.Mauritius, Know India Programme organized MarisaRamotar-aclericalassistant gratitude to the Government of significance. Participants will be Fiji,Suriname,Guyana,Trinidad& by the Ministry of External Affairs with GUYSUCO (West Bank India for the opportunity they were spending over a week in Kerala to Tobago,SouthAfricaandJamaica). oftheGovernmentofIndia. Berbice). granted. They also conveyed their experience the local water metro, Theminimumqualificationthat

Those selected for the twenty- The 66th Edition will be enthusiasmtolearnandexploreand Kalaripayattu (martial arts form), is required for participating in KIP five day programme are: Pt. Ubraj partnering with the tropical state of to experience first-hand about the Cochin shipyard & southern Naval is graduation from a recognized Narine- Former Mayor of Kerala, famous for its scenic fastest growing large economy in Command Centre, Onam university /institute or enrolled for Georgetown (Region 4), Mr beauty, ecotourism initiatives, hill the world The Know India Celebrations, travel by house boats graduation and ability to speak in Latchman Mootoosammi- a stations, backwaters, amazing Programme (KIP) is fully funded and visits to the Chinmaya Vishwa English. The applicant should not technical officer of GNBS from beaches, and mouth-watering by the Government of India. The Vidyapeeth, Kottapuram Fort, have visited India through any Cummings Lodge, Ms. Keshanie cuisine The Know India participants will be visiting New Kumarakom bird sanctuary and the previous programme of Ghansiam of FasGrafix (West Programme (KIP) is a flagship Delhiforanorientationprogramme Nehru boat race event among other Government of India. Those who Coast Demerara), Ms Sophia initiative that was created for along with visits to places of experiences. havenotvisitedIndiabeforewillbe Raghunandan- fisheries officer Diaspora engagement to national importance, interactions The participants will also meet givenpreference. with Ministry of Agriculture familiarize the Indian origin Youth with various governmental and interact with influencers, The High Commission of India (Essequibo Coast), Mr Krishna withtheirIndianRoots. institutions like InvestIndia, Niti leaders and various department urges eligible candidates to be on a Boodram-BankingSpecialist(East Indian High Commissioner to Ayog, Parliament and Election officials to get an overview of lookoutforthenextupcomingKIP, Coast Demerara), Ms. Kimberley Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa met and CommissionofIndia. Indian economy, society, ongoing updates will be posted to the Pyneandy- medical specialist interacted with the participants and They will also attend India’s growth and development m i s s i o n ’ s w e b s i t e a t : (Georgetown),Ms.BritneyBovell- briefed them on the programme 77th Independence Day initiatives.

https://wwwhcigeorgetown govin anengineerwithMinistryofPublic while urging them to make full use celebrations at the Red Fort, visit This programme is organized / & F a c e b o o k a t : Works (Georgetown), Mr Rahul of the initiative to connect to their Agra (world famous Taj Mahal), for Persons of Indian Origin/Indian https://www.facebook.com/indiain Singh- a teacher from Georgetown, roots in India, the land of their and a selected state, in this case Diaspora youth between the age guyana.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa (center) with participants of the 66th Know India Programme

CDB’sBNTFandCDEMApartnertoorganise regionalproposalwritingtrainingworkshops

Fifty-one community Natural Resources Institute collaboration among manage sustainable development professionals (CANARI) and an ongoing regionalpartners,toimprove projects,” explained Mr from 17 Caribbean countries partnership with the Global community awareness, and Murray The July workshop are being trained in proposal Environment Facility Small capacity to access grant will be followed by two writing at a workshop series Grants Programme (GEF resources,” Mr Aiken week-long sessions from funded by the Caribbean SGP) implemented by the added “The CDEMA August 7 – 11, 2023 in Disaster Emergency U n i t e d N a t i o n s Coordinating Unit is quite Jamaica andAugust 14 - 18, Management Agency Development Programme keen on advancing the 2023 in Guyana The ( C D E M A ) a n d t h e and the CCRIF SPC Caribbean resilience agenda Jamaica Social Investment Caribbean Development (formerly the Caribbean and so we welcome the Fund and the BNTF Guyana Bank’s (CDB) Basic Needs Catastrophe Risk Insurance opportunities to partner and Office will provide inTrustFund(BNTF). Facility(CCRIF). collaborate on activities to country support for the

The regional proposal

The CDB is providing buildresiliencetothethreats training in the respective writing series, which began thetrainingthroughitsBasic of climate change and the countries. earlier in July, provides Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) impacts from other natural It is anticipated that the exposure to pre-proposal which is Bank’s main and man-made hazards,” participants will produce planning, structuring vehicle for direct poverty said Mr Clive Murray, fundable project proposal proposals, tailoring reduction interventions Community Resilience concepts during the onepropositions to the needs of across the Caribbean. Mr Specialist and Project week workshops – some of funders, and incorporating R i c h a r d o A i k e n , Coordinator (Norway) at the which will be immediately critical cross-cutting Community Development CDEMA. channelled to the respective priorities such as gender- Specialist at the CDB, “It is necessary that we funders such as the 11th equity and climate change explainedthatarecentthree- support local communities European Development intosubmissions. island pilot assessment by developing their Fund - Building the

According to a press implemented by the CDB’s capacities and provide R e s i l i e n c e o f t h e release from the CDB, the BNTF in Jamaica, Guyana, linkages that help to manage CARIFORUM States to workshop series marks a and Saint Lucia, revealed their risks and increase Disaster Risks and Climate new collaboration with that many community resilience. This workshop Change Impacts (BRICS) funders such as the 11th groups saw a need to for non-governmental and Programme, CCRIF-SPC, European Development improve their proposal civil society organisations is CANARI or the GEF SGP F u n d - B u i l d i n g t h e writing skills to access one such activity that could The communities will also R e s i l i e n c e o f t h e resources for community enhance the capacities of be able to benefit from coCARIFORUM States to developmentinitiatives. local community members funding opportunities where Disaster Risks and Climate “These proposal writing by improving their ability to one or more funders will Change Impacts (BRICS) workshops have emerged access resources and to fund differing aspects of the Programme, the Caribbean from a need for greater successfully implement and sameproject.

collaborate with Govt. in its effort to promote

GCCI wants to greater technology use in businesses

Promoting the use of technology in the development of businesses is a main focus for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in recognising its role as a keystakeholderinthedevelopmentofGuyana’seconomy The Department of Public Information spoke with GCCI’s President, Kester Hutson on Wednesday and he notedthatthebodyhopestobeapartnerwiththegovernment to build out a diverse and advanced private sector Hutson alsostressedthatlocalbusinessesmustbeabletoadapttothe evolvingworldandGuyana’schanginglandscape.

“We understand that there are quite a few challenges when it comes to the use of technology in Guyana. That is what we will be promoting too, digitisation, e-commerce, cybersecurity,thosearetheareasIwillbefocusingoninmy tenureaspresident,”Hutsonsaid.

He noted that there needs to be awareness and a culture change for this to happen. “We have a responsibility as a chamber to provide as much information as possible to our membersandevenournon-members,tounderstandthatthis isgoingtoaddvaluetoyourbusiness,”headded.TheGCCI has been in existence for the last 134 years and has a membership of more than 825 persons. As the membership continues to grow the GCCI is working to help small businesses through the different stages of development by establishing a member-to-member discount programme, mentorship, and collaborations via joint ventures among otherinitiatives.“Wewanttoleadthatsowewillbedoingso in very short order, improving our outbound delegations to other chambers internationally to expose our members to international ways of doing business and looking to partner intermsoftradeandcommerce,”Hutsonconcluded.

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Dead: Dwieve Kant Ramdass Division, Sherwyn Harte and Deon Greenidge were among three tried and convicted for the murder of Dwieve Kant Ramdass, who was killed on 20 August 2009. The third person Devon Gordon did not seek an appeal.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Thursday denied a Special Leave Application made by two former members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who were convicted of a 2009 murder and seeking an appeal.

The duo formerly of the Guyana Coast Guard

From (L-R): (murder convicts) Devon Gordon, Deon Greenidge, and Sherwyn Harte

The trio had appealed their sentences to the Court of Appeal. Harte and Greenidge argued that the death penalty was an unconstitutional punishment.

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The men were convicted of the murder on July 2, 2013 and on July 3, 2013, were sentenced to death on a mandatory basis under section 100 of the Criminal Law Offences Act (CLOA) Cap 8:01.

The three soldiers robbed Ramdass of $17 million and threw him overboard where he drowned. They then divided the stolen money among themselves equally. Harte, Greenidge and Gordon were convicted of murder and sentenced to death on a mandatory basis, pursuant to the un-amended section 100 of the CLOA.

Subsequently, the Appellate Court upheld the convictions but agreed that the original death sentences should be vacated and replaced by life sentences with tariffs requiring the two men to serve 18 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

It is against this judgment that Harte and Greenidge sought special leave to appeal to the CCJ, against the oral decision of the Guyana’s Court of Appeal, dated December 22, 2022.

At CCJ, Greenidge sought permission to appeal his conviction and both Harte and Greenidge sought permission

to appeal the sentence imposed by the Court of Appeal upon them and to challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty itself. Greenidge sought permission to appeal his conviction on the ground that the evidence against him consisted solely of the contents of his caution statement, which did not disclose any prior plan to murder or participate in the murder of the deceased.

Harte and Greenidge also sought to obtain an order from the CCJ declaring the death penalty to be “unconstitutional” and, therefore, could not be lawfully imposed in Guyana on anyone.

The CCJ, in a judgment authored by Justice Winston (Continued on page 19)

Gunmen shoot security guard, take away his firearm at Sophia Health Centre

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Two men on Thursday walked into the Sophia Health located at C-Field and shot the security guard to his leg while relieving him of his firearm. The incident reportedly took place around 15:00hrs.

According to the staff members two men attacked the guard and shot him. Four shots were reportedly fired during the process. However, one of the staff related that after the first

shot was fired the men started beating the security guard.

The Ministry of Health employees were forced to seek cover inside the health centre. Luckily the shooters did not proceed to invade the health centre and left after shooting the security guard.

The employees suspect the men might have been bandits because it is not the first time the health centre has

been attacked. Employees alleged that armed bandits invaded the health facility several times robbing them of their valuables.

One of them lamented “the ministry of health is only looking in when patients complain, they are not looking into our wellbeing here.”

Police are yet to release a statement on the shooting incident.

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A Police vehicle can be seen parked at the Sophia Health Centre after the shooting.

US-led military exercise concludes

- as PM Phillips pushes stronger collaboration in combating trans-national crime

Phillips made the capabilities. “Today, more cooperation and stability comment at the than 1,500 personnel from whileimprovingtheefficacy closing ceremony the United States and 21 of responses to security

o f E x e r c i s e partner nations have threats prevalent in the Tradewinds 2023 that completed what will most region.” concluded Thursday. The likely be regarded as a Turning his attention to ceremony was held at the landmark experience in their human rights, the Prime Arthur Chung Convention military careers. What we Minister remarked that the Centre. He said that Guyana haveseeninGuyanaoverthe additional focus and was proud to host the last two weeks is a awareness incorporated into Tradewinds 2023- the multi- reinforcement of 38 years of the exercise aligns with the national military exercise, commitment towards government’s strategy for for a third time, especially strengthening transnational strengthening the country’s since it fosters knowledge- p a r t n e r s h i p s a n d security and defence sharing and diplomatic ties coordination through capacity “The Government among the members of the combined capacity-building of Guyana is committed to work hand-in-hand with member states to address efforts between nations to armedforces. of our military personnel to the overall well-being of its civil society, human rights theseissuesholistically.Asa address security challenges

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips speaking at the closing ceremony. Also on stage are: US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Lynch and U.S. Army General Laura Richardson, Commander of U.S. Southern Command

He said the exercise also build adequate defences people, with a strong focus o r g a n i s a t i o n s , a n d result, the mandate of that transcend boundaries, showcases the nation’s against ever-evolving crises o n c r e a t i n g s a f e r independent oversight Exercise Tradewinds fits such as terrorism, organised military readiness and and security threats that communities for all bodies to ensure that into this goal and the efforts crime, cyber threats, and commitment to regional transcend our borders,” Therefore, the Tradewinds allegations of human rights to pursue effective and trafficking of illicit goods.” securityinitiatives. Phillips was quoted by the 2023 exercise aligns with violations are thoroughly efficient collaborative “Our interconnectedness, The exercise was hosted Department of Public our commitment to investigated and addressed. alternatives will continue. particularly within the by the Guyana Defence Information(DPI)assaying. achieving these goals, They must uphold human Notinghowtheadventofthe C A R I C O M r e g i o n , F o r c e ( G D F ) i n Phillips highlighted the particularly regarding r i g h t s p r i n c i p l e s , digital age has affected the therefore, means that the collaboration with the U.S. support of the US Southern training our security demonstrate authentic security of borders, the safety of our people is Southern Command- Command and expressed personnel and improving leadership, and contribute to Prime Minister pointed out intricately linked, so (SOUTHCOM). appreciation for its o v e r a l l d e f e n c e creating a just and that now more than ever, addressing these matters as a

He underscored the dedication and cooperation capabilities.” harmonioussociety.” collaborative efforts c o l l e c t i v e b e c o m e s i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e on security and defence The Senior Government Prime Minister Phillips between countries are paramount ” The annual multinational military matters. “The Government Official explained that the stated that the Caribbean necessary if they are to Tradewinds exercise, exercise in promoting strong of Guyana commends and inclusion of human rights Community has identified confront the increasingly sponsored by US Southern defence and security extends gratitude to the principles is a promising four critical areas of security sophisticated security issues Command, commenced on relations, adding that over continued sponsorship and indication that our security interest in 2022: firearms effectively “In today’s July 25th with the the years, the Tradewinds stewardship of the US forces intend to be the trafficking, cyber security, world, particularly with the participation of more than have allowed the local joint Southern Command in its forerunnersofoursafetyand human trafficking, and advent of technology, many 1,500 troops from 21 services and partner assurance to work with the champions of the protection maritime security, and has threats no longer recognise nations. This year’s event countries to strengthen their Caribbean Region to of everyone’s human rights. committed to strengthening borders, which therefore beg marked the third time it was military and security strengthen regional “Our security forces must relationships among the need for collaborative heldinGuyana.

Deadly bomb blast near Damascus Shia shrine ahead of Ashura

More than 20 others wounded after the bomb exploded near Sayeda Zeinab shrine a day before Ashura – the 10th day of Muharram

andbannershung. police official said that two people have been killed and In a video shared on social civilians were wounded after a more than 20 wounded after a media, people carried two men motorcycle laced with explosives bomb exploded near a Shia covered in blood and dust off the wasdetonated. Muslim shrine south of the groundwhilecallingforhelp.The Frequent targets Syrian capital Damascus a glass facades of shops nearby had Earlier this week, two people dayaheadofAshura–adayof shattered,whileonewasonfire. were wounded in a separate blast mourning observed by Shia Ashura is the 10th day of the outside the shrine, where pilgrims Muslims, according to the Islamic month of Muharram, have been flocking to mark a interiorministry whichisoneoftheholiestmonths mourningperiodforShiaMuslims.

Aljazeeera - At least six

The blast near the Sayeda for Shia Muslims. It marks the The Sayeda Zeinab mausoleum Zeinab mausoleum, Syria’s martyrdom of the Prophet washitbyseveraldeadlybombings most visited Shia pilgrimage Muhammad’s grandson, Imam during the country’s civil war that site, was caused when a Hussein, and his 72 companions eruptedin2011. motorcycle exploded near a in the battle of Karbala in the Since then, the mosque taxi, the interior ministry said seventh century in present-day complex with its turquoise on Thursday It called it a Iraq.Ashuramarksthepeakofthe ceramics and gold dome in the “terroristbombing”. mourningprocession. Iranian style has been defended by

State television earlier SunniMuslimscommemorate Shia militiamen, mostly Lebanese reported that the explosion the day through voluntary fasting andIraqi,aswellasbythearmy wascausedbya“bombplaced as it marks the day Nuh (Noah) Attacks have nonetheless area.” militias, a key ally of Syrian in a taxi by unidentified left the Ark and the day Musa declined in recent years, with some

He said the explosion took President Bashar al-Assad people”. (Moses) was saved from the ofthesecuritymeasuresrelaxed. place “near a security building alongside Russia in Syria’s

Al Jazeera was not able to pharaohofEgyptbyGod. The Islamic State armed group around 600 metres from the continuing conflict now in its 13th independently verify the casualty They also emulate the Prophet (ISIL/ISIS) said it was behind a mausoleum of Sayeda Zeinab”, year figures and the circumstances Muhammad who used to fast on double suicide attack in February granddaughter of the Prophet Photos shared by Al-Ikhbariya aroundtheblast. Ashura in Mecca, where it became 2016, 400 meters from the Muhammad and the daughter of state TV and pro-government

“We heard a huge blast and a common tradition for the early mausoleum, that killed 134 people, ImamAli. media showed the charred taxi people began to run,” 39-year-old Muslims. includingmorethan90civilians.

The London-based monitor surrounded by large crowds of civil servant Ibrahim told AFP The explosion is the second in The group had also claimed a Syrian Observatory for Human people and men in military newsagency the Sayeda Zeinab neighbourhood triple blast near the sanctuary Rights said that the explosion took fatigues. The area’s buildings had

“Then ambulances arrived and in the days leading to Ashura. On several weeks earlier that took the place close to positions of Iranian green, red, and black Ashura flags security forces cordoned off the Tuesday,Syrianstatemediacitinga livesofatleast70people.

People gather at the site of an explosion in the town of Sayeda Zeinab on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria on July 27, 2023 [Syrian TV/AFP]

Royalty paid on gold stuck for two decades at 5-8%

or the past 20

Jagdeo

Fhave been rushing to cash in occasions. During a press years, Guyana has on the “gold fever” in conferenceinAprilhowever, been receiving Guyana, the country has he publicly committed to

either 5 or 8% miningprojectsinGuyanato been suffering massive releasing the fiscal terms for royalties from the large- investors recently Alerio is declines in its annual all mining agreements. This scale mining companies the same gold company that declarationssince2017. was the second time theVice operatinghere. had told its investors that Kaieteur News has President promised to

This was revealed on there is “gold fever” in requested on several “personally intervene” for

Thursday by Vice President Guyana. occasions the release the thereleaseofthefiscalterms (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo, during According to the m i n i n g c o n t r a c t s , of all large-scale mining his weekly press conference company’s website, some particularly large-scale contracts. held at Freedom House, reasons why Guyana is a mining contracts by the The Vice President made RobbStreet,Georgetown. good choice to invest are GovernmentofGuyana. a similar commitment in

The Vice President was because of: the country’s In 2019 when Guyana August 2022 during an asked whether Guyana’s established Mining Act, it’s became a member of the appearance on ‘The Glenn mining laws are favourable located in a Region with a Extractive Industries LallShow’airedonKaieteur to foreign companies based rich history of economical Transparency Initiative Radio. While appearing on on a story published in the gold deposits, and have (EITI), the country agreed to that radio programme, he

Thursday, July 27, 2023 favorable mining laws and a d h e r e t o s e v e r a l told the Kaieteur News’ edition of the Kaieteur News governmentsupport. requirements. publisher, Glenn Lall, “I titled, “Guyana has Notably, Alerio entered In this case, EITI don’t see the reason why competitiveness. to8%. favorable mining laws, with Guyana’s mining industry in requirement 2.4 (a) of the many of these are not in the

“They(PwC)didareport “So our regime has not govt. support…Canadian June 2021, and had 2019 Standard states that public domain already. I’ll and based on that report we changed,ourfiscalregimein Gold Company tells announced its presence in Guyana should publicly findoutaboutit.” established the mining the gold mining sector has investors.” the country via multiple disclose all mineral When pressed further regime, since then we have not changed in 20 odd years, In his response, the Vice press statements it had agreements entered into Jagdeosaid,“Icanundertake had stability in that regime, it remains the same,” Jagdeo President stated that in the posted on its website. force prior to the reporting to find out with you there, wehavenotchangeditmuch furtherstated. 1990’s the People’s

Notably, while the company period, in this case, 2019. what the GRA [Guyana with the exception of 2010- On Thursday, this Progressive Party Civic was sure to announce its Although the requirements Revenue Authority] is so 2011 I think just before I publication reported that (PPP/C) administration presence in Guyana via its were known to the cagey about that it doesn’t left,”Jagdeosaid. Canadian mining company, c o n t r a c t e d website, the Guyanese administration, it continued want to release… I will

The Vice President Alerio Gold Mines has PricewaterhouseCoopers government made no formal to make excuses to avoid the undertake anything that is explained that it was hailed Guyana as a country (PwC) International announcement to its citizens releaseofthesecontracts. non-propriety,thatyougetit. implemented when the price with favourable mining laws Limited, to review the about the arrival of Alerio In this vain, this Iwillpersonallynowseethat of gold went beyond and strong support from a country’s mining regime, Gold. newspaper reported in thishappen.” US$1000 per ounce, large- pro-mining government and where the country was

SECRECY OF December 2022 that Vice However, despite the scale mining companies’ This was relayed in a globally in terms of gold CONTRACTS President Jagdeo dodged the Vice President’s promises, royalty would raise from 5% presentation on their gold p r o d u c t i o n a n d Whileforeigncompanies matter on four different thecontractsremainhidden.

16 countries approve creation of regional tax cooperation platform for LatinAmerica and the Caribbean

Tr e a s u r y , Economy and Finance ministers

and high-level officials from 16 of the region’s countries approved the instrument establishing governance of the Regional Tax Cooperation Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean.

This was the main outcome of the First Latin American and Caribbean Summit for an Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable Global Tax Order, taking place in Cartagena, C o l o m b i a t h r o u g h tomorrow,July28.

This was contained in a Commission for Latin addressing the region’s tax to contributing with In the document, the centeredonacombinationof j o i n t d e c l a r a t i o n America and the Caribbean p o l i c y c h a l l e n g e s analyses, exchanges and countries support the new increased permanent (“Cartagena de Indias (ECLAC) – seeks to create a Furthermore, they seek to technical guidelines to body’s pro tempore revenue and improved Declaration”) signed on permanent forum for tax build in a participatory way m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s ’ Presidency being held by quality and allocation of Thursday in the framework coordination between Latin and through consensus a fulfillment of the SDGs, in Colombia for the next 12 spending. Both elements are of the event, which drew American countries that can space for integrating a c c o r d a n c e w i t h months, and they thank essential for being able to government authorities, become a space for Treasury, Economy and international experiences ECLAC for serving as the m o v e f o r w a r d o n p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s , discussing the tax matters Finance ministers to foster and the needs of the region platform’s Technical transforming development r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f affecting the region’s dialogue with the aim of andofeachcountry,andthey Secretariat. “It is critical that m o d e l s i n t o m o r e international, regional and countries. ensuring that international welcome the voice and fiscal policy be devised and productive, inclusive and multilateral organizations as In the declaration, the and regional tax policies be contribution of academia, designedinawaythatmakes sustainable ones,” indicated well as members of civil signatory countries affirm inclusive, equitable, civil society, the business the requirements of short- ECLAC’s Executive society their commitment to environmentally and sector and multilateral term stability compatible Secretary, José Manuel Thesummitorganisedby generating knowledge, socially sustainable and organizations in sharing with those of long-term Salazar-Xirinachs, who Colombia’s Ministry of sharing experiences, favorable to growth, the t h e i r k n o w l e d g e , growth and well-being. The actively participated in the Finance and Public Credit contributingtotheforgingof reduction of inequalities and contributing ideas and region needs a profound debates of this First Latin and promoted by the shared positions and non- the achievement of the identifying unresolved revision of its fiscal American and Caribbean governments of that country, binding concrete solutions Sustainable Development problems and potential compacts, on the basis of Summit for an Inclusive, Brazil and Chile with that would guide ministerial Goals(SDGs). solutions on matters of frameworks of public Sustainable, and Equitable support from the United decision

making in In addition, they commit taxation.

sustainability but GlobalTaxOrder

Family photo of the First Latin American and the Caribbean Summit for an Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable Global Tax Order, held in Colombia (photo: ECLAC).

Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo

Close to 50 Lindeners receive steel, cement subsidies

A s p a r t o f t h e $25 million, the government finally received the call to ahead and proceed to the government’s support for will provide two slings of acquire her cement and steel banktogetaloan…Teaching homebuilders, close to 50 c e m e n t S e v e r a l voucher or working for so long and persons residing in Linden, beneficiaries commended Whinfield said, “I feel stilllivingwithmymotherat Region Ten received their the administration’s timely great because it’s a real start this age is not nice,” Pellew steel and cement subsidies distribution of the vouchers, for me… Every day, I think pointedout. Ministerwithin on Thursday to commence which will help to fast-track about living in my own the Ministry of Housing and constructionoftheirhomes. theirconstructionprocess. house… It will be a new Water, Susan Rodrigues

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues handing over a voucher

The distribution exercise CloreneBowenspeaking environment and a great underlined that the washeldattheChristianburg with the Department of opportunity for my children programme has been Wismar Secondary School, Public Information (DPI) toliveintheirownhouse.” progressing well, as it duringanoutreachledbythe expressed appreciation, “It Meanwhile, 47-year-old continues to cushion Ministry of Housing and has been years since I have teacher, Pamela Pellew, who infrastructural costs for Water-Central Housing and received my land. And so, resides with her mother, told h o m e b u i l d e r s T h e PlanningAuthority(CHPA). I’m happy today, to be given DPI she feels extremely programme, which was Persons constructing some assistance and be able independent since the announced by President, Dr homes costing $6 million or to start [construction] in the voucher is a stepping stone Mohamed Irfaan Ali in July less, will be given the steel near future. So, I’m happy towards getting her own 2022, is among many government to provide while improving their needed and one sling of for the help right now.” house.”Asateacher,Ifindit policies implemented by the support for homebuilders, livelihoods. cement for the construction Mother of three, Julissia difficulttofindthemoneyor of the foundation For Whinfield, could not contain means to start. I’m very homebuildersspending$6to her happiness, when she relieved that I can now go

Friday July 28, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Thisisn'tadaytofocusonfun and games, Aquarius. In fact, you may feel an annoying weightiness about your emotions, making you feel lessenergeticthanusual..

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

There's a squeeze on your emotionstoday,Taurus,which might leave you feeling like a pot of boiling water Just by knowing there's a lid on things, you're likely to heat up evenfasterthanusual.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

It may be hard for you to feel connected to anyone today You're probably better off keeping to yourself. If you're feeling sad or depressed, it's best to work through these feelingsonyourown.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You may feel a restriction to the day, but in truth, this is for your own good. Your sense of discipline comes in handy as you tackle your work with enthusiasm. Your goals aren't farfromyourreach.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Find comfort in your work today, Leo. Although it may sound ridiculous, checking things off your list is the most rewarding activity today Try not to be too critical of others. Focusonyourtasks.

VIRGO (Aug 23–Sept 22)

Getyourheadoutoftheclouds, Virgo Nitpicky details you failed to attend to earlier may now come back to haunt you Don't postpone your work any further Thetimetotakecareof the job is now Balance your checkbook and do your laundry

CCJ rejects application by ex-soldiers who...

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Whatever you didn't get done yesterday, Libra, you need to finish today. Discipline and attention to the sand slipping through the hourglass are the journey'sthemes.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Put aside frivolity for a day, Scorpio. This is an important time to prepare for the future. Don't take another step before you know you're on solid ground.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

People may be a bit critical of you today You would do well to listen to what they say Be receptive of feedback so you can establish a healthy ego. Keepyoursenseofhumility

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Keep up your psychic shield, Capricorn, because you will need it. People's comments may seem harsh even if they may mean well. Your best defenseagainstthecriticaltone of the day is to use other people's criticisms as constructivelyasyoucan.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

This isn't a day to focus on fun and games, Aquarius. In fact, you may feel an annoying weightiness about your emotions, making you feel less energeticthanusual.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

There's little comfort in your emotions today, Pisces. You may want to stick to business. Concentrate on getting things done in your regular routine. Create a plan and stick to it. This isn't a day to deviate from the norm, nor is it a time in which you will find much sympathyfromothers.

From page 16 offenders were members of highlighted that the Court of Anderson, took the view in the Defence Force who Appealhadimposedthatthe relation to Greenidge’s robbed and murdered an offenders must serve a conviction, that Greenidge innocent citizen, found that sentence less than the did not establish any there was no ground for minimum of 20 years. realistic possibility that regarding the sentence Therefore, the Court stated there had been a miscarriage imposed as excessive or so that the applicants had no of justice. It was stated that manifestly outside the basisforcomplaint. there was ample evidence in mainstream of sentences as On these bases, the the caution statement and would merit granting leave application for special leave the circumstantial evidence toappealit. was dismissed, with no on which a jury, properly Furthermore, the CCJ ordersastocosts. directed,couldhavereached the conclusion that Greenidge was party to the joint enterprise to rob and murderthedeceased.

TheCourtalsonotedthat therewasnoevidenceofany attempt by Greenidge to assist the deceased when he was in distress or otherwise to disassociate himself from participating in the heinous crimeagainstacitizenofthe Republic whose safety he hadsworntoprotect.

R e g a r d i n g t h e constitutionalityofthedeath penalty, the CCJ said that Harte and Greenidge faced nothreatofexecution,sothe arguments raised on this issue were purely academic in nature The CCJ reaffirmed that the Court will only hear academic appeals in exceptional circumstances.

Harte and Greenidge also took issue with some of thereasoningoftheCourtof Appeal regarding the death penalty being a “saved law” from the colonial era. As such, the CCJ reminded that it had expounded clear views on the issue of the savingsclauseandnaturally, if there is any variance betweenthoseviewsandthe reasoning of the Court of Appeal,theviewsoftheCCJ mustprevail.

Harte and Greenidge also contended that the Court of Appeal did not adhere to the proper sentencing methodology in vacating the death penalty and imposing life sentences with tariffs The CCJ, bearing in mind that the

National Women’s Chess Qualifier Tournament... Queens of the Board head to battle

The National Women’s Championship, faced off for girls of all ages to test Chess Qualifier Tournament against former Women’s their mettle against seasoned is scheduled to be held from champion Sasha Shariff, a competitors,especiallythose tomorrow July 29th to seasoned competitor with slatedtorepresentGuyanaat August 6th, 2023, the multiple international the Youth CAC Games in tournamentissettoignitethe representationsforGuyana. Trinidad and Tobago from minds of women and girls However, it was Lam August20thto27th. passionateaboutchess. who emerged triumphant To be a part of this

Proudly sponsored by after a thrilling match that exhilarating journey, Diamond Fire and General lasted over four hours. This interested players must Insurance,theeventwilltake year,Shariffisdeterminedto register online through place at the prestigious reclaim her title and will be Guyanachess gy by July School of the Nations in competing in the qualifying 28th. The registration fees Georgetown. event. are set at $2,000 for non-

Designed to serve as the T h e N a t i o n a l GCF members and $1,000 qualifying event for women Championship, scheduled to for all GCF members, and girls striving for the be played in a round-robin payablethroughMMG+. coveted title of National format, will undoubtedly be The Guyana Chess Women’s Chess Champion, a spectacle of skill and Federation extends its thetournamentisexpectedto determination, showcasing heartfelt gratitude to witnessfiercecompetitionas the impressive talent that Diamond Fire and General participants engage in seven Guyana’s women and girls Insurance for their generous rounds of classical Swiss possessintheworldofchess. sponsorship of this systemmatches. With more than a dozen p r e s t i g i o u s e v e n t

With each player allotted women and girls already Additionally,theGCFwould 90minutes,plusa30-second r e g i s t e r i n g f o r t h e like to acknowledge School increment, the battles will be tournament, it’s evident that of the Nations for graciously intenseastheyarethrilling. the efforts of the Women in providing the venue for the

One of the main Chess Committee in Guyana tournament As an avid highlightsofthistournament have had a profound impact supporter of chess in is the opportunity for the top on the growth of female Guyana, School of the nine players to advance to participation in competitive Nationsalsofacilitatesthe the Nationals, where they chess. GCF’s Chess Club every will challenge the defending The formation of the Saturday from 10 am to 12 champion, Pooja Lam, for committee has resulted in an pm. thetitle. exponential increase in The National Women’s

Lam, despite having female players, and the Chess Qualifier Tournament played chess for only three organizers are optimistic 2023 promises to be an years, has already earned a about the large turnout for unforgettable display of w o m e n ’s t i t l e a n d theupcomingChampionship s k i l l , p a s s i o n , a n d represented the country at Qualifier, building upon the camaraderie among the the FIDE Olympiad in 2022 success of other recent participants. Join us as we inChennai,India. tournaments. celebrate exceptional

Last year, participants in This tournament also women and girls shaping the the National Women’s offers a unique opportunity futureofchessinGuyana.

Lindsey Horan rescues USWNT with 2nd-half equalizer for 1-1 draw vs. Netherlands

Yahoo Sports - WELLINGTON, New around 50 minutes, the symbolic Zealand — The U.S. women’s national significancewasclear teamhadbeenfalling,tumblingfromthetop The Americans briefly lost touch with of the women’s soccer world, when Lindsey the game. For an agonizingly long first-half Horandartedtotherescue. stretch, the Dutch outclassed them and

She sprinted toward the near post with frustrated them They seemed to be the USWNT trailing the Netherlands by a careening from the soccer mountaintop, goal, and with decades of dominance towardEarth. imperiled She rose above the Dutch “It’s tough going down a goal to a really, defense, and earned the U.S. a 1-1 draw in really good team,” Sophia Smith said after yesterday’s World Cup group stage the match. “But, we didn’t let that take over headliner And she kept the Americans on our whole momentum and attitude. So, we stable footing here at the Wellington talked a lot, we figured little things out here RegionalStadium—fornow and there that weren’t working for us. And

The U.S. had spent a majority of the yeah, we turned things around, and the game trailing. In the 16th minute, Lieke secondhalfwasalotbetter.”

Martens had turned unopposed in midfield The second half was better because and skipped by Andi Sullivan. The Dutch Horan, the U.S. captain and classiest player, had flowed forward. Jill Roord had powered changedthenarrative.Minutesearlier,she’d herrightfootthroughaballthatwaswaiting been clattered into by Dutch midfielder to be hit, and lifted the Netherlands into an Danielle van de Donk, her club teammate at earlylead. Lyon. Moments after reentering the field,

InthegrandschemeofthisWorldCup,a she leapt to meet a Rose Lavelle corner, and loss would not have been disastrous. But for noddeditintothebackofthenet.

ORSCA/Imran Alli Real Estate 15-overs knockout semis, final on this weekend

The 2023 Ontario

R o u n d - A r m

Softball Cricket

A s s o c i a t i o n

(ORSCA)/Imran Alli Real Estate 15-overs knockout competition reaches its semi-finalandfinalstages.

OnSaturdayinthesemis, at Hanover Public School g r o u n d , B r a m p t o n , defending champions Masters will tackle Enterprisefrom09:00am.

And at the same venue and also from the same time, Sunshine will compete with exciting cricket both on their respective teams and BramptonGladiators. Saturday and Sunday; among them is former

Then the next day, the everything is in place and Guyana first-class captain two winners will clash in the these softball players will be Damodar Daesrath who is a Grand Finale from 09:00am out there to put up some key player for Brampton as well but at a different thrilling performances,” Gladiators. venue, the Dixee-407 Park, Bacchusstated. Other high-profile Brampton. He also took the players including: Riaz

According to Canada- opportunity to thank Realtor Kadir, Anil Etwaroo, Azib based Guyanese and Imran Alli for coming on Alli Hanif, ex-Guyana President of the ORSCA, board again for the second wicketkeeper/batsman, Mitch Bacchus, everything year in succession. Alli is Ricardo Peters, Imtiaz Ally, is set for this big weekend also a Canada-based Jeetendra Beharry, Mark and definitely softball Guyanese and a veteran Nazir, Royston Crandon, a enthusiasts both in Canada softballplayer former Guyana and West andGuyanaareinforatreat. Some famous softball Indies cricketer, Chien

“We [are] anticipating players will be representing GittensandZaheerAllard.

Guyana seal empathic 5 wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago

Sublime bowling from Guyana helped 155 all out despite Kyle Ramdoo hitting 52 setupacrushing5-wicketwinoverTrinidad fortheTwinIslandRepublicside. and Tobago on Day 3 of the CWI Rising Guyana then retaliated with 179 for 6 StarsU193-Daytournament. batting in their 1st innings after Shamar

The Trinidadians posted 95-6 in the 1st Yearwoodledthewaywithacomposedhalfinnings Guyanese all-rounder Joshua century The Trinis then faced with a task Rampersaud spun webs around the keeping Guyana out the game, asYearwood oppositiontogiveGuyanaa50-plusrunlead stroked40off32with3foursand2sixes. heading into the final day, grabbing 5 OpenerRampertabRamnauthhad15but wickets. it was all it took to see Guyana home with

JeremySandiathenpickedup5-42inthe ease, gaining more momentum going 2ndinningsforGuyana,keepingTrinidadto forwardinthecompetition.

PotaroStrikerswinbiginBartica

Potaro Strikers brushed Ballersinthe76thminute. At a General Council aside Mil Ballers 5-1 in the The other game of the meeting held last Tuesday latest match of the Senior double-header gifted AK night at the GFC pavilion it Men’s League (SML) of the Galaxy3vitalpointswithout wasdecidedtoseekasecond Bartica FA played last kicking a ball as Agatash look by the GFC executive Wednesday night at the Unites failed to show up. on the current ground rental Bartica Community Centre Galaxy now improve to 7 arrangements which ground. points after 5 matches, while according the GFA is

A treble by Daniel Agatashremain2ndfromthe proving too costly to Gardener and a brace from bottomonasinglepointafter continue playing at the Deon Hall secured the 3rd 4 games. Meanwhile in the Bourdaground. win in 5 outings for the Capital City, play will Matches slated for Strikers who occupy 3rd resume this weekend with 2 Saturday beginning at 2pm place in the table on 10 double-headers over the will see East Veldt oppose points. Gardener netted in weekend in the Georgetown OrderandDisciplineandat4 the 2nd, 50th and 61st FA’s SML, however, the pm it will be Beacon FC minutes of play, while Hall action has been switched against Camptown FC. On scored in the 4th and 7th from the GFC ground to the Sunday, GFC tackle Black minutes. Amano Williams National Training Facility at Pearl at 2pm, then Vengy got a late consolation for Providence. meetRiddimSquadat4pm.

The respective winners with their trophies.

Heywood and Bacchus tops Draughts tournament

The Draughts tournament which was Trophieswereawardedtoallthewinners’ playedlastSundaycameoffwithabangafter compliments of the National Draughts the suspension during Covid 19. Steve Association.PresidentoftheAssociationsaid Bacchus with 17 points was the winner in the that the next tournament is scheduled for A class. A tie breaker between Jiaram and October when the Annual National Godfrey George, who ended on 14 points Tournament would be played. He promised each, saw Jiaram taking the nod for the that this is going to be a big event and the second place In the B class, Lyndon games would be contested for theAand B on Heywood emerged the winner with 19 points the8X8andthe10X10internationalboards. while Aubrey Rowe took the second place Gratitude is extended to the ISA Islamic with 18 points. Navin Meighbarran occupied school and Elias Gentle attorney-at-law for thethirdpositionwith14points. theircontributions.

Damodar Daesrath

Teams ready to entertain, as Kares ‘One Guyana’ T10 Blast bowls off tomorrow

All 32 teams are ready sponsors and organisers something Kares pledged to Thisyear,thetournament

The President also $300,000 The two losing and raring to go as the were upbeat ahead of this support. Bristol lauded the has 32 teams, who have unveiled the specially-made semi-finalists will walk highly-anticipated ‘One weekend’s start to the organisers for designing a comefromallregionsexcept hand-crafted winner’s away with $100,000 each. Guyana’T10Tape-ball Blast competition. well-organized concept and Region Nine. President Dr trophy Prime Minister, There will also be prizes for prepares to bowl off its Tourney sponsors, Tasha indicated that, as a company, Irfaan Ali, the tournament’s Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark outstanding individual action from July 29-30 PersaudofKaresInc.andGT they have big plans to do p a t r o n , r e c e n t l y Phillips was also present, performances. across popular Grounds in Brand Manager Dwayne furtherpartnerships. recommitted his support for and he, too, pledged his Additionally, there will Georgetown. Bristol, said they hope to The team captains all the tournament, noting it is support towards the be a celebrity match before

During yesterday’s witness the growth of the expressed confidence in aneventthatwillbringmany tournament. Several active the championship match conference held at the t o u r n a m e n t w i t h doing well, noting they had people together from and former national players where the winning side will Montra Restaurant and participation from more been long in preparation for varying communities under will feature for their teams be rewarded $200,000, Lounge the tournament’s teams in the future; theevent. the‘OneGuyana’banner o v e r t h e t w o - d a y which will be donated to a extravaganza. charityoftheirchoice.

Preliminarymatcheswill Star Rentals, Avinash bestagedatthePoliceSports Contractingand Scrap Metal Club, the Guyana Defence Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery Force, Queen’s College and Computer Centre, Ground, YMCA, and Trophy Stall, Premier TransportSportsClub,while Insurance, Cricket Zone the finals will be held at the USA, Beacon Café, Everest Cricket Ground on Continental Transport, July 30. To progress to the Ministry of Culture, Youth championship match, a team and Sport, National Sports must win three matches on C o m m i s s i o n , R S 5 3 day one and their semi-final RestoBar and Lounge, ondaytwo. Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn

They will then qualify to Shop, First Change Builder compete for the first prize of Inc. Impressions Inc. and $1M cash and the specially Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM crafted One Guyana Trophy FM, Assuria Insurance, The first-ever champions Montra Restaurant & will pocket $1M, while the Lounge, Gafoors and Hard losing finalist will collect RockCafé.

Yadav, Jadeja send West Indies crashing to 114 all out in first ODI

AFP - Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja masterminded the rout of an abject West Indies team who were brushed aside for just 114 off 23 overs in the opening One-Day International of a three-match series at KensingtonOvalinBarbadosyesterday

Yadav, the sixth bowler used by captain Rohit Sharma, triggered the capitulation which saw the last seven wickets cascading for 26 runs as he finished with the outstanding figuresoffourforsixoffthreeovers.

Jadeja,akeymemberoftheTestsidewhichprevailed10 in the two-match series prior to this assignment, claimed three for 37 after seamers Hardik Pandya, debutant Mukesh Kumar and ShardulThakur had done the early damage with awicketapiece.

Only captain Shai Hope, who was ninth out for a top scoreof43,seemedcapableofcopingwiththevariedIndian attackaftertheywereputinonasurfacewhichofferedsome encouragement for the bowlers but could hardly be describedasaminefield.

India are counting down to the hosting of theWorld Cup in just over two months’ time while this latest West Indies batting display will only deepen the gloom in the Caribbean aftertheteamfailedtoadvancetotheWorldCupfollowinga disastrousqualifyingcampaigninZimbabweinJune.

Scores: India 118 for 5 (Kishan 52, Motie 2-26) beat West Indies 114 (Hope 43, Kuldeep 4-6, Jadeja 3-37) by five wickets.

Gudakesh Motie struck twice in the chase. (AFP/Getty Images)

Barbados and Guyana Golf Associations announce partnership

Guyana and Barbados Golf Associations have announced their partnership aimed at further development of the sport in the two countries.

The Guyana and Barbados Golf tremendous growth potential ” He also Associations today announced that a emphasized the potential for golf to be a partnershiphasbeenformedbetweenthetwo major source of tourism revenue since many countries to facilitate and promote the people were choosing Barbados as a holiday development of Golf, especially amongst destination because of its growing reputation womenandyouth. forhavingworld-classgolfcourses.

The two associations will share As an opening gesture of goodwill, Mr information and player development Philips extended an invitation to Guyanese strategies, plan and host inter-country and golfers to attend the Barbados Golf Open regional championships and work to build scheduled for September 15-17 at the golf tourism packages that will benefit both BarbadosGolfClub.“WewantourGuyanese countries. brothers and sister to experience Bajan golf

“Just as Prime Minister Motley and hospitalityatitsbest!” President Ali have forged strong relations in Barbados has been a strong force in golf other areas of interest, our mutual golf tourism with world class facilities and associations feel this is just another step in tournamentsandgolfissettotakeonahigher strengtheningtiesbetweenourcountries. profile in the island’s tourism marketing.

“This is a great initiative since Guyana Since the island country’s independence in can learn a lot from our counterparts in 1966, the economy of Barbados has been Barbados on how to promote sports tourism transformed from a low-income economy and operate golf tournaments at the highest dependentuponsugarproductionintoahighlevel. Similarly, Guyana can share our player income economy based on tourism and the development strategies and school offshoresector programmes in which we are now the leader, TheGGAinpartnershipwiththeMinistry with Barbados,” said GGA president Aleem of Education and the Guyana Tourism Hussain. President Irfaan Ali has indicated Authority will host the first ever Savannah thatsportstourismisimportanttoGuyanaby Milk National Junior Golf Championship. implementing a hospitality service industry Regional competitions will be hosted in training program with Barbados and Essequibo (Aug 10); West Coast (Aug 11); announced that a golf course is included in Georgetown (Aug12);Rosignol andAlbion the massive Silica City development (Aug 13) with the National Finals onAugust designed to transform the landscape of 19th at the Nexgen Golf Academy on Guyana. WoolfordAvenue.

According to Vice President of the BGA The competition is open to ages 10-22 at David Philips, “With our knowledge, all skill levels with Coaches on hand to assist facilities and years of experience in first time players. Top performers will be Barbados, coupled with Mr Hussain’s drive selectedtorepresentthecountryinBarbados, and programmes, golf in our region has TrinidadandSuriname.