Kaieteur News

students given option to sit CSEC exams in January 2024 - Min. Manickchand

‘Smallie’ cremated by the State in controversial send off

DPI - Students of

o p t i o n s f o r the Mahdia Secondary accommodating those School are being studentsinacomfortable allowed to write their andsafemanner

Caribbean Secondary

“Our insistence is Education Certificate that every single student (CSEC) examinations that was affected by this inJanuary2024. fire, whether directly or

The option was indirectly, will finish providedtothestudents h i g h s c h o o l sincetheywereaffected successfully,” the by the devastating fire ministerstated. at the school’s female

Caribbean Examination

Meanwhile, the dormitorylastmonth.

M i n i s t e r o f Council(CXC)onJune7

Education, Priya via a Facebook post Manickchand made the stated that June 19 has disclosure Wednesday been identified as the during a contract alternative examination signingceremonyather date for Guyanese ministry’sBoardroom. possible options for the students to write Office

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

“Weofferedtheoptionof students of Mahdia Administration (OA) Paper writing in January. Some Secondary. One. This is to facilitate the students chose that option “Those who chose to h o s t i n g o f L o c a l and some felt that they need write it in January will write Government Elections to write it now. I think that in January, that’s for the (LGE)onJune12. was their way of reasserting general population of all the “It’s an exam where a lot their existence. We let it be children of Mahdia of students write. So, we completely a choice as we Secondary The children wanted to make sure that we didwitheverythingelsewith who were directly affected, could cater to everyone the students and their we have begun to talk to writing it comfortably We parents”,theministersaid. them and their parents about do have some exams being

Shenotedthat,“Children what options can work for written on June 12, but the who chose to write it now, them;givenallkindsofother numberoflearnerswritingis we facilitated that with a present circumstances s m a l l a n d c a n b e caveat,butif aftertheresults i n c l u d i n g t h e i r accommodated with other are out, and they want a psychological state of arrangements. The number second chance, they will get mind,” the education of persons writing this that, although we don’t ministeradded. particular subject [OA] is usually do that in public She observed that large. We wanted to make schools.” students have expressed sure that we didn’t have any Minister Manickchand their hesitance and h i c c u p s w i t h also underlined that the incapacity to return to accommodations of the government is working school.As such, the ministry students, ” Minister diligently to provide the best is exploring alternative Manickchandunderscored.

By Shervin Belgrave

Prison Service’s reluctance to hand over the body to the

The Guyana Prison deceased’sfamily Service (GPS) on Friday

However, at 09:50am cremated death row inmate, when relatives arrived at the Royden Williams popularly Memorial Gardens Funeral known as ‘Smallie’ despite Home with the hope of an objection by father. receivingthebody,theywere ‘Smallie’s’ relatives sought told that the State was custody of his remains so proceeding with the that they could bury him in cremation. Upon learning his hometown located in this Hughes said he RegionSix. contacted the Attorney

At a press conference Generalandinformedhimof facilitated by the Hughes, thenewdevelopment. Fields & Stoby Law Firm, “I then said to him that William’s father, Morris thiswouldbemostegregious Williams said, “We don’t especially since we have burndead.Weburyourdead. not be releasing the body,” informed the chief justice That is what I know from Danielstoldreporters. that we are no longer growing up in the family…I Nigel Hughes, the senior proceeding based on what just feel like for him to go lawyer representing the you [AG] represented,” andburypeacefully…thatis family, added that he Hughestoldreporters. allawant”. personally communicated After allegedly asking

Dead: Royden Williams

The elder Williams said with the Attorney General Hughes to “give him a few” that the family is Christian via WhatsApp on the matter the Attorney General later and do not subscribe to and was given the assurance responded informed Hughes cremations. He said requests that the Commissioner of that the State will not be were made to the Guyana Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, handingoverWilliams’body Prison Service for his son’s had no issue with the release as the law dictates that in remains to be handed over of ‘Smallie’s’ remains to his such cases, the state is for him to be buried familyforburial. required to maintain according to his religion and As a result of the possessionofthebody custom, but that request was A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ’s Smallie’s father told denied. statements and assurance, reporters that he felt bullied

As a result, the family Hughes, Fields and Stoby bytheStateafteritsrefusalto sought legal representation discontinued its plans to file allowhimtoburyhisson. from Hughes, Fields & legal proceedings in the high Meanwhile,theman’s Stobywiththehopethattheir court regarding the Guyana (Continued on page 18) request would be granted.

Ronald Daniels, one of the attorneys representing the Williams family told reporters that a letter of action was sent to the Attorney General, Anil NandlallSC.withhisclient’s demands.

“Initially we received a response from the Attorney General indicating that the state had no difficulties in releasing the body for burial but the Attorney General, however, subsequently indicated that the body is in the lawful custody of the state and that the state will

Relatives of Royden Williams at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium awaiting his cremation (NCN photo)

Royden Williams aka ‘Smallie’ father, Morris Williams, during Friday’s Press Conference.

US$100M removed from treasury for Gas-to-Energy project -VP Jagdeo

Vice President, Dr Bharrat However, while discussing the capable of repaying these debts in Jagdeo revealed this week that country’s management of debt, thefuture.

US$100M of taxpayer dollars have Jagdeo made the case that the “…So it’s a combination of been withdrawn from the country’s country’s current debt-to-GDP spending what we have, and a treasury to finance the Gas-to- ratioisverylow judicious set of borrowing, where Energyproject. While he emphasized that the we know based on future capacity

While addressing questions country has historically managed wecanrepay”,Jagdeohadsaid. about the funding for the project, its debt prudently and highlighted Jagdeo noted that, in Dr Jagdeo noted that the the absence of variable interest comparison, European countries government is seeking a loan from loans, it is crucial to consider the and the United States have very the United States Export-Import long-term consequences of such high debt-to-GDP ratios, typically Bank (EXIM) and explicitly significant borrowing While around 100% However, the mentionedthatitisnotseekingany investments in infrastructure, such difference between those countries grant funding. He said the project as roads and power plants, are and Guyana is that much of costs about US$760M. Out of this necessary for development, there Guyana’s GDPis constituted by oil handling the natural gas-fired money to pay Exxon back for this amount, US$100M has been mustbecarefulconsiderationofthe production. The volatility of this power plant and natural gas liquids investment. It hopes to do this with disbursed from the treasury as a capacity to repay these loans industry leaves Guyana’s economy plant, and the ExxonMobil revenues from the sale of natural down payment, leaving the without jeopardising the country’s dangerously vulnerable to its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and gasliquids(NGL). remaining balance government economicwell-being. shocks,toanextentnotfacedbythe Production Guyana Limited KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat hopeswillcomefromEXIM. The Vice President had said developedworld. (EEPGL), handling the pipeline. the Gas-to-Energy is a project aims

Theinclusionofthissubstantial during a previous press conference

Construction on the Gas-to- The pipeline alone is expected to to reduce Guyana’s energy costs loan from EXIM will further that government is borrowing with Energy project is set to begin this cost more than US$1 billion while increasing competitiveness burden Guyana’s debt profile the expectation that it will be year, with CH4-Lindsayca Guyana will also have to find inothersectors.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Matthews Ridge Dam

It was our belief that Guyana’s President word had considerable weight. So, the expectation is that when President Ali gives an order it is followed to the tee and immediately Somehow, it seems that a Chinese company operating in the Matthews Ridge area either didn’t pay enoughattentiontowhatHisExcellencysaid,oritdidn’tcare whathesaidforalltheresponsethatfollowed.

ForaPresident’spubliclyspokencommandtobeignored for two years by the Chinese company is an insult to the national leader, and the high office that he holds. We have difficultythinkingofanyGuyanesecompanydoingwhatthe Chinese have done in Matthews Ridge with that vital dam, and would be allowed to get away with such action. Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI), a subsidiary of Bosai Minerals Group, is reportedly responsible for severely damaging a dam that is widely used by area residents, but has not done anything to correct the situation. Not even when Guyana’s Presidentmadeclearthatthey(theChinese)havetofixit.

Meanwhile, during this long two-year interval, residents have no choice but to cross to the other side by navigating a slippery slope of steps, and across a metal bridge that causes much nervousness and fear because it is not anchored down. It is a dangerous undertaking with some users falling, but escaping serious injury by mere chance. Among those who makeuseofthedamareschoolchildrenandtheelderly This means that schoolchildren have to make their way across a treacherous and dangerous stretch twice daily to get to their places of learning. We think that this is too much to ask of them, and that two years is too long for this to remain unaddressedbyanyone,betheyChineseorGuyanese. When thepoorerandslowerinoursocietyaretreatedinthisshabby manner,itdoesnotspeakwellofourstandards,ourpriorities.

No one should be allowed to get away with what GMI is doing in Matthews Ridge with that unfixed dam. For the company to respond, after repeated complaints from community residents, with a makeshift arrangement is not good enough; neither acceptable. The Chinese have to act responsibly, and since they have not done so, then the Government has to find the will to act, and get this matter closed out. Too many foreigners are coming to Guyana to exploit this nation’s riches at the cheapest cost, and too often to the peril and distress of our hinterland communities. This abomination has to stop, and if not, then the Government has tomakeanexampleofGMI.

PresidentAlidoesnothavetheluxuryofturningtheother cheek, looking the other way His Excellency’s instructions mustnotbegiventhecasualtreatmentthatsuchhasreceived at the hands of the Chinese. It is our position that the President and his PPPC Government have to show the Chinese, and all others who come here with dollar signs dancing in their eyes, who is running this country, and who must do as they are ordered. Guyana wants partners to explore its riches, but it does not have to settle for any and every irresponsible and unhearing newcomer pretending to beavaluedpartner. Wecanpickandchoose,andastartmust bemadeatdoingso,forthatwouldsendthepropermessages tothosewhohaveotherideasthatscornourpeoplesandleave ourcommunitiesseriouslyhandicapped.

It cannot be that much of a challenge to correct the problem, so it is difficult to fathom why the Chinese at GMI have not done so. It cannot be that costly to restore the dam that the Chinese damaged, but which they have balked at doing for two years and counting. For the management at GMI to be this unresponsive, confirms how they think of Guyanese. Though there is some reluctance to table this, there is no choice: when the instructions of Guyana’s Presidentcanbegivenshortthrift,thennothingmoreneedsto besaidabouthowtheChineseviewGuyanese. Ourposition is simplicity itself: get going with fixing the dam, or get going.

Ignoring reports is the general outcome of investigations conducted

DEAREDITOR, i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e heard on the outcomes of the an international agency on The UNICEF Report on conducted, with millions investigations. dorms is only now made the state of dorms spent,butnothingisheardof Reports are left to gather public highlighting countrywide was revealing t h e f i n d i n g s a n d dust and successive d e f i c i e n c i e s a n d as it was damaging. The recommendations of these administrations are inadequacies. Failure to act Report’s findings and exercises. No follow up is unmindfuloftheexistenceof on the report has resulted in recommendations, it seems, ever heard about the these investigations and dammingconsequences. from what is circulating in investigations. Of note are reports. It is difficult to the public domain, was not the several investigations Now the horrific Mahdia understand the perceived acted on. This is the general supposedly carried out on fire has revealed that a study indifferencetothereportthat outcome. hospital deaths, maternity in commissioned by the youcommissioned.

S t u d i e s a n d particular,butnothingisever ministry and conducted by Shamshun Mohamed

Hamilton Green’s comments inaccurate

DEAREDITOR, Instead, he has “invited” me ignorance of certain issues

It should go without

My attention was drawn to join him on an excursion which obviously loom large saying that the government toaletterfromMr Hamilton into a number of other in his conception of our of the PNC between the Greenwhichtakesissuewith enquiries, which, with all nationaljourney years 1964 to 1992 did my rebuttal of certain respect due to Mr Green, I While I am well aware of nothing to address specific assertions made by Mr declinetodo. the conventional wisdom issues confronting people of Darren Wade and Mr Nigel The fact is that many of that those who knoweth not Africandescent. Hughes to the Second the issues Mr Green raised, their history are doomed to As for the APNU/AFC Session of the United have been the subject of repeat it, there is an equally government of 2015-2020, Nation’s Permanent Forum fruitless, perhaps even futile compelling wisdom which notwithstanding Mr ofPeopleofAfricanDescent discussions focused on holds that history is capable Hughes’ submission to the held during the period May apportioning blame in some o f e n t r a p p i n g a n d Permanent Forum that the 31-June2,2023. cases for almost seventy imprisoning us in the past. aborted Land COI was the In my original letter, I years. Inthefinalanalysishowever, “only” progress made by the outlined six specific In addressing the I can assure Mr Green that State in addressing African assertions made by Messrs. inaccurate comments made there is one thing of which I issues, their best attempt Wade and Hughes which, I last week, I find little utility am certainly not “blissfully may well have been the maintain were manifestly in referring to contested unaware”and that is of his passage of Act No. 13 of false. In taking issue with versions of events which o w n , n o t 2017 – The Prime Minister my response, Mr Green has occurred as far back as insignificant,contribution to Hamilton Green PensionAct not addressed a single one of 1957 difficulties we continue to 2017. those specific matters Mr Greenascribestome, faceasanation. Hon. Oneidge Walrond

The PPP/C Govt. can do more to hold Exxon to a higher insurance level

DEAREDITOR, and or mitigate impacts, dischargescenarios;” iii. loss or damage to T h e c u r r e n t consistent with the National Specifically, section 14.4 property or bodily injury administration should be Oil Spill Contingency Plan, allows the EPA to require sufferedbyanythirdpartyin a p p l a u d e d f o r i t s t h e O S R P, a n d t h e unlimited liability insurance the course of the Project for improvements to the EPA Environmental Protection coverage if so desired whichEEPGLisliableto; permit However, there Act” Section 14, Financial v EEPGL’sliabilitytoits continues to be areas where Section 10.6 states: Assurance and Liability for employees engaged in the further improvement is “The Permit Holder shall Pollution Damage, 14 4 Project;and required in the execution of bear all costs of the states: v i a n y o t h e r the permit and the resulting restoration, rehabilitation and “Notwithstanding the requirement(s) made by the protectionofourhomeland. compensation required as a above, the Agency may Agency”.

The Liza Phase One resultofdamageincurreddue require such further forms of Some of the questions Renewed Permit sections to an oil spill or other financial assurance, and and items which the current 10.1, 10.6, 10.12b), 14.4 and emergency resulting from the coverage as it considers administration should be 14.5 speak clearly to the execution of the Project. The appropriate”. consideringare: requirements of the operator costs herein referred to shall Section 14.5 states:

1. Whether the planning and highlights the flexibility be independently assessed “The Permit Holder shall for the worst-case scenario that the EPAhas in requiring andevaluatedbyathirdparty have valid and effective requirement in the permit unlimited liability insurance determined by the Agency environmental liability (10.12 b) has determined a coverage. In section 10, Oil Nothing contained herein insurance, of such type and range on the cleanup costs, Spills and Emergency shall prejudice the right of in such amount as is and if so what will be the Management, section 10.1 public and private actors to c u s t o m a r y i n t h e required coverage for such a states: pursue criminal and/or civil international petroleum scenario?

“ThePermitHolder,inthe action against the Permit industry, for petroleum

2 Why is there a eventofadischargeorspillof Holder” operations in relation to this hesitation by Exxon to any contaminant into the Section 10.12 b) states: Permit or equivalent as financially secure their full wateroronlandmustcomply “In satisfying Condition deemed appropriate by the financial assurance coverage with the polluter pays 10.10”, which speaks of the Agency, and shall include, commitment with an principle and is therefore Oil Spill Response Plan but may not be limited to insurance policy that responsibleforeliminatingor (OSRP), “the Permit Holder insuranceinrespectof: matches? The cost of c o n t r o l l i n g t h e shall,ataminimum:

i. loss and damage of all coverage has not been discharge/spill,cleaningupto b) cover a range of assetsusedintheProject; presented, nor has the the extent practicable, and scenarios including, but not ii environmental scenario planning been remediating any resulting limited to, responses to large damage caused in the course published for public damage, monitoring of the continuous spills, spills of a of the Project for which comment The financial impactandtakingappropriate short duration and limited EEPGL will be, jointly and assurance measures to prevent, reduce volume, and worst-case severally,heldresponsible; (Continued on page 6)

AFHP could be back with Brazilians this time

DEAREDITOR, declaring that despite some as many of us seem to forget partnership model should be andquitplayingpolitics.The like “… deepening trade Whatgoodnews!Itisthat hiccups, Government was too conveniently Back then, maintained for the project well-beingofallGuyaneseis relations with the Linden to

“There has been active never going to abandon the the independent assessment implementation An far too important and our Mabura road project, as interest from Brazil to bring Amaila Falls Hydro Project. of the Amaila Falls internationally well-merited leaders must be candid when agricultural activities and Guyana’s Amaila Falls Atthetime,thePresidentdid Hydropower Project investor and operator in the it comes to overall exchangeswillalsobeeasily Hydropower Project (AFHP) reveal that the project was (AFHP) did reveal that the hydropower industry should betterment of the country facilitated; the soya bean intofruition ”Thisistheword currently undergoing a only realistic path for be invited to take the Yes, Guyana has oil, and project, corn project, from Vice President, Bharrat process, and he was most Guyana moving towards an majority position and the even this emerging Oil and agriculturelogistics,moving Jagdeo, who explained that firm, detailing that “… we emission-free electricity driving seat (main sponsor) Gas sector is being fertilizer and limestone into “Guyana has received arenotgoingtoabandonthis sector is by developing its in the project company So, lambasted. I remind all that northern Brazil because proposals from Brazil and project, if we have to go out hydropower potential and irrespective of the means of renewableenergyisgrowing there is a huge demand for it other countries for the 165- again and again, we will.” the fastest way forward is to accomplishingtheAFHP,the rapidlyaroundtheworld,but for their agriculture.” In a megawatt hydropower Andwhynot? maintaintheAFHP bottom line is that Guyana fossil fuels still make up a nutshell, “A huge set of project, a flagship initiative First, I care little for the This report, mind you, mustnotstallfortoolong. majority of the world’s businesstherewillhappen.” under the Low Carbon logistics and minutiae of the w a s c o m p i l e d b y Secondly, when it is all energy use. So, Guyana has Iendbyemphasizingthat Development Strategy Amaila Falls Hydro Project Norconsult, an engineering said and done, Guyana will tobeveryprudent. even if Guyana has to shift (LCDS) ” High on optimism, (AFHP), since for me, what and design consultancy firm be supplied with electricity In terms of where we fromtheBOOTcontracttoan Jagdeoisanticipating“ that isvitalisthatGuyanasimply out of Norway, and which “at a cost not exceeding stand, Jagdeo stated that E P C ( E n g i n e e r i n g , in the near future, move ahead and realise this was contracted by the US$0.07737 per KWH, as “We’ve now gotten at least p r o c u r e m e n t , a n d Government might go out for long overdue ambition. It is Government of Norway, against what currently two proposals from construction-EPC)one,andit another bidding process ” most necessary from a detailed an “objective and obtains,whichisalsolargely companiesinBraziltodothe devolves to the government’s Andwhynot?Andtheearlier financial aspect, and of facts-based” assessment of fossil fuel-based, at $0.32 hydro, and then some lead in having to secure the thebetter course, in terms of being the Project on the agreement per KWH. This must not go companies out of the US. finances for the project, then Editor, not too far back, I climate and environmentally ofthetwoGovernments,and on.Wealsoknowthatpower Soon, you may see us going sobeit Itistheendresultthat recall that our ”Head of wise, it is the way to go. I m a d e s o m e t e l l i n g is not stable in many areas, back out to another [tender] matters, both locally and State, President Irfaan Ali, back up to December 2016, statements. and the current high cost of process. But the Brazilians globally Vice President Essentially, the go-ahead electricitycontinuestoaffect arestillveryinterestedinthis BharratJagdeo,awhileback, f r o m d a y o n e w a s operating performance for regardtoo.” summed it up succinctly, unambiguous, and that was businesses and is a major I can go on and list so statingthepreferenceandthat waybackin2016.Partofthe challenge to the productive many advantages and “ if we can’t get it done statement says that “It is our sector, as profitability is positive spin-offs in terms of under the BOOT, we will opinion that BOOT (Build, severely compromised. My a Brazil-Guyana jointAFHP havetoretender ” Own, Operate, Transfer) hope is that the opposition realization But for now, Yours truly, type public-private andskepticswillbeunbiased readers can envisage things H. B. Singh

PPP/C using public servants for party work, it is worse than the Burnham era

DEAREDITOR, administration Guyana is

Given that the Local sinking daily into worst Government Elections are governance. The PPPC is aroundthecorner,ithasbeen infiltrating all sectors and noticed by many who visit those who are not aligned to Government Ministries that itarevictimized. many staff are missing. This This is why many is affecting service delivery persons who got a job under and contributing to this administration have an frustrations at the different understanding that they got Ministries. their job because of political

Many staff are seen connectionsandnotbasedon leaving early because they theirmerits. have to work with GECOM The PPPC knows this while the majority are on andinanefforttoundermine time off to attend to duties the public sector, it is associated with PPPC stocking it with sheer Party Politics should not be supporters. These are then contaminating our public given time off to do Party service. Sadly, under the work instead of doing civil PPPC, staff have to pledge servants work, of which they some form of alliance before arepaid. they can get promoted or Guyana needs help. Only benefit from Government the international community contracts. This is similar to cansaveusfromPPPC. theBurnhamerawhereParty Regards, politics trumped good A. Khan

DEAREDITOR, of the NDC. All of his have Charles Street in blamedforthem. Recently I was called out assertions are nothing but Mahaicony done, they are Mr Ramphal claims that by Mr Ramphal for doing carefully crafted falsehoods. still holding on to it for more theNDCatWoodlands/Farm what he determined to have When the council decided to than one year Something willseenoAPNUcouncilors been so nasty and disgusting get rid of Cleveland that Minister Hon. Sonia after the June 12 polls. Mr that he painted me with the Ramsammy as Chairman, it Parag should also know Vickchand Ramphal is most disgusting words his washe,VickchandRamphal, before spewing the same disillusionedtothinkthatthe vocabulary could find, for who told the overseer to untruthsatFairfield. people are not educated and poaching bystanders at his disregard the decisions of We, in the APNU, are smart enough to reason for rally in Now-or-never Mr council.WhentheNDCheld committed to service, themselves. Ramphal and the PPPC have it’s several community committed to meeting the The APNU will be for more than a decade been meetings and presented its needs of the people and present at the next council, i n c o n t r o l o f t h e work program for the 5 representing their best and we will, with the development agenda for million subvention each interests. confidence of the people, Region 5. Under he and his year, he held his own For thesereasons, we lead our communities to party’s leadership, the meetings and replaced the have presented four broad unprecedented growth and Region has seen growth that NDC’s work program with areas of interest, found on development. leavesmuchwanting. his own. We never asked for our Facebook page, Real Yours truly,

At the little gathering, on a crusher run, still he People Real Progress; in Trevon Chichester loudspeakers, he defended purchased that for us with contrast all the PPPC speaks the autonomy of the NDCs our subvention from about at their meetings is the and further sought to tell the someone way over the ever capable Mr Norton, people that the NDC at Berbice River for more than never addressing the issues Woodlands/Farm wasted 15 2x the normal price, some of that are plaguing our million dollars. I invite the which is still outstanding. communities, largely public to review the minutes We assigned some work to because they are to be

Mr. Vickchand Ramphal is a power all by himself

The PPP/C Govt. can do more to...

From page 4 eventofamajoroilspill.Thereluctancetodo commitment previously provided must be so and the current administration’s inability legally binding as an added incentive for to pivot towards stronger protection for the Exxon to financially mitigate their risk environment within the region and our exposure with the use of an adequate national financial interests do raise serious insurancepolicy concerns. The position taken by Justice

3. Based on previous US congressional Kissoon was prudent, reasonable and hearings the amount of recommended responsible in light of the aggressive oil coverage is in the double digit ($10 Billion) extraction process underway off the coast of rangeandnotatthelowsingledigitlevelthat Guyana. CRG supports the call for increased hasbeenproposed($2Billion) liability insurance and calls on the current

4. How will the proposed $2 Billion in administration to adjust its position towards coverage cover the asset value for the the sector by strengthening the EPA with exposed assets in the sector, which were those who place the safety of our reported as currently being valued at environment first and foremost in their approximately $6 Billion? Clearly the figure decision making; and by supporting the proposed by the current administration is opportunity provided by Justice Kissoon’s inadequate. judgement to increase the liability coverage Based on the renewed permit, the of the sector. We must ensure that we avoid Environmental Protection Agency of our exposingourNationtobankruptcy! Nation has the needed flexibility to ensure With concern, that the country and the exposed Caribbean Mr Jamil Changlee Region are adequately protected and covered Chairman byaninsuranceinstrumentintheunfortunate The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

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Ourleadersare asleepatthewheel

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Isn’t it a crying shame that the world’s fastest growing economy is yet to revise its petroleum laws after seven years so that it can effectively monitor the sector?

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Isn’t it a disgrace to have leaders sitting in high office who slavishly serve at the pleasure of the oil companies?

Isn’t it even more sickening that we have a political opposition that is waiting until 2025 to tell us their clear cut plans for the oil sector?

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Indeed, this is our reality where leaders on both sides are asleep at the wheel.

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Good governance, transparency and accountability are neglected principles within our oil industry…

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When will we demand better? When will we rise up and vote for a change?

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Trump risked national secrets, US prosecutors allege in 37-count indictment

R e u t e r s - U S “Wouldn’t it be better if concurrently if convicted, prosecutors unsealed a 37- we just told them we don’t the maximum prison time he count indictment against have anything here?” Trump would face is 20 years for Donald Trump on Friday, said to one of his attorneys, obstruction of justice, a accusing the former according to the 49-page charge carrying the highest president of risking some of indictment. penalty the country’s most sensitive Unauthorized disclosure

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., April 27, 2023.

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records being stored on the stage in the White and Gold Ballroom at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP)

“Our laws that protect security secrets after leaving of classified documents nationaldefenseinformation theWhiteHousein2021. posed a risk to U.S. national are critical to the safety and Trump mishandled security, foreign relations, securityoftheUnitedStates, classified documents that and intelligence gathering, and they must be enforced,” included information about prosecutorssaid. U.S. Special Counsel Jack the secretive U.S. nuclear The Justice Department Smith, who is leading the program and potential made the criminal charges prosecution, said at a press domestic vulnerabilities in public on a tumultuous day conference. the event of an attack, the in which two of Trump’s “We have one set of laws federalindictmentsaid. lawyers, John Rowley and in this country, and they Trump also discussed Jim Trusty, quit the case for apply to everybody,” Smith with his lawyers the reasons that were not said in his first public possibility of lying to immediately clear A former appearance since Attorney government officials aide, Walt Nauta, faces General Merrick Garland seeking to recover the chargesofbeingTrump’sco- assigned him to the documents; stored some conspirator investigationlastyear documentsinboxesarounda Trump is due to make a Smithsaidhewouldseek toilet, and moved others firstappearanceinthecasein aspeedyjurytrialinFlorida. around his Mar-a-Lago a Miami court on Tuesday, a Trump has proclaimed resort home in Florida to daybeforehis77thbirthday. his innocence. After the prevent them from being Since Trump would charges were unsealed, he media. year against Trump’s staying found,thechargessaid. serve any sentences attacked Smith on social “He is a Trump Hater - a Trump’s legal woes have power with the Republican deranged ‘psycho’ that yet to dent his popularity base,” said Matt Bennett of shouldn’t be involved in any with Republican voters, the center-left think tank case having to do with according to Reuters/Ipsos ThirdWay.“Butthisconduct ‘Justice,’” Trump wrote on polling. charged in this indictment is hisTruthSocialplatform. But the charges laid out evenworsethanweexpected

The indictment of a against him on Friday could -thatmightbreakthrough.” former U.S. president on give his Republican rivals in Trumpandhisallieshave f e d e r a l c h a r g e s i s the presidential race portrayed the case as unprecedented in American ammunition to attack his political retaliation by historyandemergesatatime n a t i o n a l - s e c u r i t y Democratic President Joe when Trump is the front- credentials.Sofar,theyhave Biden,butBidenhaskepthis runner for the Republican largelysidedwithhim. distance.TheWhiteHouse presidential nomination next “It’s impossible to bet (Continued on page 17)

In defence of nom de plumes

This column does not usuallyrespondtocriticisms because the column is intendedtopromoteboththe right to criticise and the free expression of diverse opinions By constantly respondingtocritics,youcan have the unintended consequence of stifling criticism. With few exceptions, the only instances in which this column will respond to criticisms are where there are misrepresentations of what was written or when factsareindispute.

Ithasalsobeenthepolicy of this column to avoid personal attacks The columnhasstayedconsistent with this rule even to the point where sometimes readers complain that sometimes they do not know to whom the column was referring. The column does not attack people’s children orfamilymembers.Itprefers to deal with issues rather than individuals But at times, it is unavoidable that nameshavetobementioned.

Where personal attacks are alleged, this column has beenquicktoindicateregret. Similarly, if something is saidthathurtsthefeelingsof anyone – even if what was said was justified – this column has adopted the positionthatitispreparedto expressregrets.

This column once expressed an opinion, not a criticism, that at the time of Cheddi Jagan’s death, one person within the leadership of the PPP was not wellknown among the working class.Thepersonsawthisas a “nasty” attack on him and this column responded by

immediately expressing remorse at having hurt the person’s feelings even though it did not share the viewthatmerelysayingthat someone was not wellknown constituted a personalattack.

When this column was conceived it was intended to support the promotion of a diversity of views, to make opinions and analyses central and to avoid character assassinations There is a predisposition in Guyana for some persons to avoid addressing issues and instead attack the messengers Often when someone cannot counter anargument,heorsheresortsto throwing personal invectives and abuse Given this tendency,itwasfeltthatanon de plume would allow for greater focus on the views expressed rather than the person or persons expressing them

There was also a predilection for persons to acceptordismissviewsbased on the ethnicity or political affiliation of the author This factwasanotherconsideration inthe decision to use a nonde plume for the Peeping Tomcolumn.Byputtingona mask of anonymity, the reader is not influenced by ethnicity or political affiliationbutbythemeritof thearguments. Overthepast 25 years, the focus of this column has been on centralizing opinions by removingafaceoraname Itis not about hiding but about highlightingpositions

This is one of the powerful benefits of the use of non-de plumes. It allows for the free expression of a wide range of views. In so

Dem boys seh...

doing it fosters an unbiased marketplace of opinion while prioritizing merit insteadofpersonalattacks.

There is a recognizable difference between legitimate criticism and personalattacks.Evenwhen it comes to persons in positions of power, the lines between legitimate criticism andpersonalattacksneednot beblurred.

Personalattacksfocuson the persons themselves which disregards the merits oftheiractionsandopinions. Personal attacks often involve irrelevant and irreverent references to personal attributes These attacks aim to impugn a person’s character rather thanengageanalyses.

In contrast, when you focus on either praising or criticizing the actions or opinions of someone, this is deemedconstructivecriticism

Constructive criticism centers on evaluating actions, decisions, and leadership without attacking anyone’s character For example, a criticism of a leader’s stranglehold on his power is not a personal attack on the individual It constitutes an analysisofthedangersofsuch domination and its consequences for inclusive decision-making and on the lives of citizens Legitimate criticism remains one of the tried and tested means of contributing to informed debate and perhaps even influencing improvements andchange.

Positional critiques address substantive issues, present evidence-based arguments and analyse the basisandconsequencesofan

Deh gat people afraid of dem own shadow

Nuff nuff people afraid of ghosts Some people don’t like passing by burial ground.Andifdemchildren point to a tomb, dem does tellthemtobitedemfinger

After people attend a funeral,whendemgohome dem does enter dem house backwards.Dembelievedat if yuh face a ghost, he nah gan come in yuh house and hauntyuh.

Dehgatnuffpeoplewah nah only afraid of real ghosts. Dem also frighten phantomwriters.De nonde plumes striking strike fear into the hearts of the intolerant. Imagine merely adopting a pen name can unleash terror It is truly

fascinating how the simple act of adopting a pen name can create panic among de narrow-minded.

But is de intolerants creating dem own fears.

Dem afraid dat someone hidingbehindamaskmight challengetheirstagnantand outdatedworldview

It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword.

And this is what makes the intolerant tremble in fear

But dem nah realize dat the power of the pen is not supernatural but because of de sheer force of the arguments

It is in the invisibility thattheintolerantsfindtheir greatestweakness.Howcan

individual’s actions and policies.Thesearenotaimed at harming the person Instead, they can have the consequence of bringing about improvements, reassessmentsorchanges,or providing alternative perspectives.

Constructive criticism focuses on the actions and decisions of individuals in their roles, while ad hominem attacks target the person themselves, often disregarding the merit of their ideas or leadership.

Thiscolumnhasalwaysbeen about the former rather than thelatter

This column has stayed clear of attacking anyone personally for another reason.Itisnotmorallyright to launch ad hominem attacks on someone while you are shielded from such attacks. And so this column seeks as far as possible to avoid naming persons. But thisobviouslycannotalways be adhered to when addressingissuesofpolitical leadership.

(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.)

they combat an adversary theycannotseeorunmask? How can they silence a voicethattheycannotpinto a person? The non de plumes become a shield againsttheirvitriol,leaving them frustrated, flailing, andultimatelyexposed.

Let us celebrate de non de plumes, those spectral scribes who haunt the nightmares of the intolerants. Let us revel in depoweroftheirwords,for they remind us that ideas can transcend the limitations of names and faces, and that the pen, indeed,canbemightierthan thesword. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

JusticeRishiPersaud’sruling

Guyanese now have greeted Judge Sandil Manhattan and the fights Persaud for he did in 10 h i s m o u t h : another frenzy in which to Kissoon’s original holding over probabilities. I heard minutes and 10 days what a s u b s t a n t i a l sink their teeth. However as must also prevail in this echoes of Exxon’s Super certain B. Jagdeo could not probability of success we may view or react to instance, no matter our ChiefAlistair Routledge and get done beyond some with an appeal For Judge Rishi Persaud’s disappointment, regardless his homily about the rickety and unpersuasive whom,theEPA? LikeIsaid, decision, let us remember to of our thinking and ‘unlikely’ nature of an oil mutterings of a mystery JudgePersaudsoundedmore Persaud’s inclination was manage ourselves well, with conclusionstothecontrary spill. There was a single- ‘acknowledgement from like an actuary than the distinctly towards what is a bow to the lofty space that I listened to Judge barrel spill in September Exxon,forthreeyears. Who venerable member of the multinational, with the members of the judiciary Persaud’s brief live 2022, and Mr Routledge is is pure? Who is a patriot? judiciarythatheis. related heavy odors emitted. occupy I admit that there is appearanceinfull,andheard on the right track, for it is Who embodies what is I urge all to understand Incidentally, when I mention some difficulty with the what he had to say about [highly] unlikely that painful, a panjandrum, please that because it is the multinational, be assured learned judge’s decision “ e s t i m a b l e ” a n d Guyanese will ever know perhaps a most pathetic hallowedjudiciaryinvolved, that I am not speaking about relative to the unlimited “inestimable” in the context more about that supposedly peasant? Incidentally, Iamsteppinggingerly,using any consideration for the parent guarantee aspect of of an “unlimited” guarantee, small offshore oil spill citizensarefreetoattachany words that are delicate. I region. what came before him. And and thought that this was a Separately, I am aware that construction to the ‘B ’ further heard the esteemed So, where do we go from though there is also surprise most curious construction. air transport is the safest of Mineiswellknown. judge speak about “doom” here? There is some light at some of his peculiar It seems that all who breathe all,butthereisstillinsurance But Judge Persaud was and “anxiety” and also still in the tunnel. For when pronouncements from the in Guyana nowadays are coverage up to one’s shoe not done yet; he took the referenced the possible he was questioned by bench, there still is focused on a higher form of soles. Credit cards give it opportunity to hedge his devastating implications for counsel Jairam, SC, the appreciation for the mathematics, statistics, and automatically and for free; intellectual and judicial bets Exxonshouldthesuspension judge limited himself to independence of the actuarialsciences. Thus,asI IATA mandates it; and further(probabilities,again). of operations come into speaking about “soonest”, judiciary, and that the pay tribute to Judge airlines themselves add a When he learned judge effect. Thoughjusticehasto that he will “craft something judge’s decision is the Persaud’s words re third layer. Unlikely -yes. decideditwasokaytodiphis be balanced, it is clear that to that effect” that judge’s decision. All the “estimated” and what is The most insurance - toe into murky water, he was Judge Persaud gave “procedures are available” effervescent excitements “inestimable” I remember absolutelyyes,too. anything but predictable in considerable weight to the and that “he will tie it in to and laudatory reactions that old days in downtown MyhatisdoffedtoJudge what came from his head via significance of Judge the order.” Despite all this, Kissoon’s ruling on Exxon in my estimation, this matter itself. I will hold my fire about a parent company regarding whether it was too guarantee,andhowdoesone muchweight,andwhereelse define and interpret it might have been more “unlimited” will have to wiselytendered. wend its natural way to the

But, from the moment I CCJ. Exxon can cry about heard the Judge’s words like consequences to its heart’s “unlikely” and about the desire, and the PPP absence of “judicial Government can defend the restraint” I felt the matter company’s interests as much falling apart, and things asitwishes,butIthink(andI going downhill. Guyana’s hope) that this case has to be goose was roasting over a the trailblazer, so that some slowfire,nomatterhowwell kind of precedent set, and a couched. At the conclusion final decision is handed of Judge Persaud’s rather down to bring this nasty, but taut oration, what I absorbed altogether necessary, was that while Judge Sandil business to a close Kissoon leaned heavily in Remember, regardless of the direction of what is what we think, let us respect national, Judge Rishi JudgePersaudandhisruling.

Govt.robustlytacklingchildlabour

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud

DPI - The government is Services Minister, Dr continuing to build a robust Vindhya Persaud restated legislative framework to government’s commitment tackle child labour in the to ensuring the security of country thenation’schildren.

Students from various schools participating in the walk

This was emphasised on “This morning I gave the Friday during an awareness commitment through the walk in observance of ‘ E v e r y C h i l d S a f e World Day Against Child Programme’,thateverything that the government will education so that they can be Guyana (FITUG), Carvil He encouraged the Labour hosted by the to do with child labour will continue to work to curb functional in the working Duncan said Guyana is children to say no to any Ministry of Labour in begivenequalimportanceas social issues which worldwhenthattimecomes. leading in efforts to form of child labour and collaboration with the childabuse,”shestated. negatively impact the lives “No child should be eliminate child labour, with childabuse. Ministry of Human Noting that Guyana has of children. “I would like to employed and exploited and themanystrategiesthathave WorldDayAgainstChild Services and Social a strong legislative encourage our teachers, to beplacedinhazardouswork. beenimplemented. Labour will be officially Security framework which ensures ensure that children are The objective is to eliminate “The Ministry of Labour celebrated on Monday, June Following the walk, the safety of all citizens, Dr educatedontheirrights.” child labour by 2025,” Ogle is having over 17 inspectors 12 with a month of activities which occurred along Persaud said efforts to Meanwhile, former noted. looking after the interest of planned It is being Brickdam,aprogrammewas eradicate child labour must Chief Labour Officer, Meanwhile, President of child labour,” Duncan celebrated under the theme, held at the the Ministry of beconsistent Charles Ogle stated that it is t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f posited,notingthatmorestill ‘Social Justice for All. End Labour, where Human The minister pointed out everychild’srighttohavean Independent Trade Unions needstobedone. ChildLabour.”

Black Bush Polder man dies one day after motorbike accident

Injured: Marvin Narine Dead: Navindra Budhu

A Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder while Marvin Narine was riding manwhowasinjuredinanaccident motorcyclewithtradeplatenumber onThursday,June7,2023hasdied. JYT2whentheaccidentoccurred. Kaieteur News understands Narine, 23, of lot 198 Mibicuri that the deceased identified as North, Black Bush Polder, Navindra Budhu was transported Corentyne,Berbice. to Mibicuri Hospital in an wasinjured.ReportsareNarine unconsciousstatebutdiedoneday washeadingnorthalongtheeastern after being transferred to the New drivelaneandwaspassingaparked their bodies. They were both taken he was admitted in an unconscious hrswhentheaccidentoccurred. Amsterdam Hospital and then to motor lorry that was facing south to the Mibicuri Hospital and then state. He died while receiving Shesaidafterrelativesreceived the Georgetown Public Hospital on the eastern parapet when he transferred to the New Amsterdam treatmentFridaymorning. word of the accident they rushed to Corporation(GPHC) collided with Budhu who was Hospital. Meanwhile, Mala Harrichan, a the scene, located in short distance. Reports are that 20-year old proceeding south along the eastern Narine was admitted with relative of Budhu told Kaieteur Whentheyarrived,theysawBudhu Budhu, called Brian of lot 124 drivelane. fractures to his legs and lacerations News that he left home around lying on the street in an Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder Both Budhu and Narine fell to his forehead Budhu was 15:30 hrs to withdraw his salary unconsciousstate. was riding motorcycle bearing from their motorcycles and however transferred to the from a bank in Rose HallTown and A report was filed with the license plate number CK 6914 sustained serious injures about Georgetown Public Hospital where was returning home around 17:30 policeshortlyafter

The scene of the accident

$253.8 million in contracts signed to rebuild St. George’s High School St

St.George’sHighSchool panels. will be rebuilt by the Minister of Education, GovernmentofGuyanaatan Priya Manickchand who estimated cost of $253.8M. witnessed the signing of the The school was completely contracts noted the destroyed by fire in July importance of having the 2022. school built and said that the

On Friday, the Ministry Ministry is keen on having of Education signed six every child across the contracts for the rebuilding country have access to of the school which is secondary education and not expected to be completed in justseatsinaclassroombuta five to seven months. The high-quality secondary contract signing took place education. at the Ministry’s Brickdam

The Education Minister location. briefed that the Georgetown

As is the case with the Education District had reconstruction of Christ serious space constraints Church Secondary, the St. before the fires that George’s High School will destroyed the St. George’s be reconstructed in six lots. High School Fire, the North According to the Ministry’s Ruimveldt Secondary invitation for bids: Lot1 Structure - BM Property Works-SuperiorSupplies& ceremony said that the laboratories. The building School and Christ Church consist of works on the I n v e s t m e n t I n c - General Construction - school will be a two-story when completed is said to Secondary She said that superstructure of the $113,943,900; Lot -2 Block $22,472,560; and Lot -6 building oriented with a accommodate some 300 to with the destruction of those building, Lot2 includes the Works - BM Property Finishing Works - Superior panoramic view of the lower 400students. schools, the situation block works, Lots 3 is the I n v e s t m e n t I n c - Supplies & General flat and will be measuring The school will also becameevenworse. plumbing works, Lot4 is the $59,989,500; Lot -3 Construction-$29,052,600. some109ftx70ft.Theupper feature several fire “We were really in a bad electrical works, Lot5 is for Plumbing Works - A This project would be flat will feature 12 prevention mechanisms and place in Georgetown for theexternalworks,whileLot Ograsein & Sons General supervised by Origin classrooms, while the lower these components of the seats for students so we 6 consist of the finishing Contracting - $9,651,970; Investment consultancy flat will house six school include fire escape really didn’t had enough works. Lot -4 Electrical Works - firm. laboratories including the stairs, escape doors, fire literally space, desk and The companies awarded Cummings Electrical Permanent Secretary of Information Technology, alarms, fire extinguishers, benchinclassroomstofitthe to these lots are as follows: C o m p a n y L t d - the Ministry of Education, Home Economics and limited timber usage, metal childrenwhocometo Lot -1 Construction of Super $18,720,592;Lot-5External Alfred King at the signing Industrial Technology ceilings and fire-retardant (Continued on page 17)

Flashback: Scenes of the fire which destroyed the St. George’s High School back in 2022.

Artist impressions of the new St. George’s High School. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Education)

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand along with officials of the Ministry and the several contractors on Friday.

UK oil and gas tax to remain at 75% for the next five years - Govt.

…Within a year levy raised US$3.5B to date

Wh i l e extraordinary profits made supply and protecting some ExxonMobil by industry following of the 215,000 British jobs Guyana and record high prices of oil and thesectorsupports.

its partners gas driven by Putin’s TheUKgovernmentsaid Hess Corporation and invasion of Ukraine, the it is taking concrete steps to CNOOC, continue to enjoy levy has raised around £2 8 accelerate home-grown tax-free profits in Guyana – billion (US$3 5 billion) to sources of energy to reduce the United Kingdom date, since the introduction the UK’s reliance on foreign Government has decided last year and is expected to imports. that the energy profits levy raise almost £26 billion by Gareth Davies MP, that it introduced last year, March 2028 – helping to Exchequer Secretary to the which puts a marginal tax fund the measures to help Treasury, said: “It is right rate of 75% on North Sea oil with the cost of living, such that we recover excess foregoingmorethanitearns.

Guyana’s Stabroek Guyana has received since and gas production, will as the Energy Price profitsresultingfromPutin’s Exxon’s affiliate Esso Block is 6.6 million acres the creation of its Natural remain in place for the next Guarantee war and use the money to Exploration and Production (26,800 square kilometers) Resource Fund in 2020. As five years while oil and gas While the levy included helppeoplewiththeirenergy Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), is the and has approximately 11 of April, Guyana has prices remain higher than an investment allowance to bills. Thanks to the revenue operator of the country’s billion proven barrels of oil. received some US$2.4B in historicnorms. encourage firms to continue raisedfromwindfalltaxeson richest oil block (Stabroek EEPGL holds 45 percent profit oil and royalty from H o w e v e r, i t w a s to invest in oil and gas energy profits, we will have Block) and continues to interest in the Block. Hess the Stabroek Block explained that the rate will extraction in the UK, helped save the typical enjoy tax-free earnings Guyana Exploration Ltd operations. fallbackto40%whenprices industry has warned that household £1,500 on their owing to the Production holds30percentinterest,and According to the 2022 consistentlyreturntonormal companies are cutting back energybillbyJuly.” Sharing Agreement (PSA) CNOOC Petroleum Guyana financials for Exxon’s levelsforasustainedperiod. oninvestment. Y e s t e r d a y , t h e Guyana signed onto with the Limited holds 25 percent subsidiary and operator for Kaieteur News had This puts the long-term Government also published oilmajor interest. the block, Esso Exploration reported that the Russia- future of the UK’s domestic thetermsofreferenceforthe According to the 2016 For the third-quarter of and Production Guyana Ukraine war has sent oil supply at risk, meaning we oil and gas fiscal regime PSA, Guyana has agreed to, 2022, Exxon announced that Limited (EEPGL), it earned prices soaring and triggering would be forced to import review that was announced u n d e r t h e t a x a t i o n its overall earnings was a $577 7B in profits, a acostoflivingcrisisinmany more from abroad at a time at the Autumn Statement. p r o v i s i o n s , t o p a y record-shattering US$19 7 substantial increase over its countries, including Britain. when reliable and affordable The review will focus on ExxonMobil’s share of billion – whereas Hess 2021 earnings totalling Amid the war, oil and gas energyisafocusforfamilies how the tax regime can Corporation and Income reported that it earned a net $132B. Hess Corporation’s companies have been seeing andbusinesses. support the country’s energy Tax. income of US$515 million 2022 profit was listed as record-shattering profits and In response to this, the security and our net-zero As such it would mean, and CNOOC recording $322.7B while CNOOC was as such, many governments Government on Friday commitments, while that Guyana foregoes each US$5.1billion. $329.8B. have introduced a windfall announced an Energy ensuring the country retains year, billions of US dollars. Recently, Kaieteur News Even though the contract tax on the big profits to Security Investment a fair return in exchange for O n t o p o f t h i s , reported that Exxon and its Guyana signed onto with alleviate the cost-of-living Mechanism to give the oil the use of its resources when documentation to this effect partners made a handsome ExxonMobil is lopsided, the crisis and balance their and gas sector certainty to responding to any future is then provided to the US profit from the Stabroek deal remains untouched as economy raise capital and invest in priceshocks. based company allowing it Block last year totalling the government continues to

The UK Government new and existing projects, On the local front, to not have to pay any taxes G Y D $ 1 2 3 t r i l l i o n approve more of Exxon’s explained that the levy was securing affordable and Guyana has found itself in a in its home country for its (US$5.9B), untaxed. This is US-multi billion project in put in place to tax reliable domestic energy conundrum where it is earningsoverseas. more than double what theStabroekBlock.

Disciplined Services records higher voter turnout at 2023 LGE

- 47% turnout recorded against 30% in 2018

These ballots will be taken to explained. recorded a higher turnout at the the constituencies where the Of the over 9000 members of 2023 local government polls when Disciplined Services’ members thejointservices,manyrankswere compared to the last local elections should have voted, intermixed, and set to participate in the voting held in 2018. This is according counted when the elections run-off process, the GDF’s voting information provided at a press onJune12. population accounted for 2, 799 conference held by officials of the

The Disciplined Services

The CEO said that the process rank. The GDF ranks voted at 23 Guyana Elections Commission was smooth except for a single locationswithintheircompounds. (GECOM)onFriday incidentwhereaballotwasgivento Meanwhile, members of the

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), someone in error As such, he said Guyana Prison Service (GPS) cast Vishnu Persaud revealed that the the affected person will be allowed theirballotsatfivepollingstations. turnout was over 50 per cent for tovoteonMonday Director of Prisons, Nicklon boththeprisonserviceandarmy

On June 2, members from the Elliot said a total of 493 ranks were Deputy CEO, Aneal Giddings, Disciplined Services turned out to expected to vote countrywide. Of provided the overall statistics designated polling places across that amount, 63 will not cast their which showed a 17 per cent the country to cast the first set of vote since there is only one increaseinvoterturnoutamongthe votesinthisyear’sLGE. approved list of candidates in the DisciplinedServices.

Following the close of polls, Local Authority Areas (LAAs) for

According to the DCEO, 47 per Public Relations Officer (PRO) of those ranks. “It was a problem-free cent turnout was recorded in 2023 GECOM, Yolanda Ward told process as voters were able to againsta30percentin2018. KaieteurnewsthatGECOMhadset exercisetheirfranchisewithoutany

“For the Guyana Defence up 84 ballot boxes across the hindrance at each polling station. Force, some 1, 361 ballots were variouspollingstations. As expected, there were no castfromatotalof2,684registered “I would not be able to give a difficulties across the five prison voters, and for the Guyana Police number of voters based on the turn locations,”Mr Elliotsaid. Force, a total of 2, 717 persons outbutwhatIcansayisiftheranks Throughout the day polling voted from a total of 5, 979 didn’tgettovotewiththerestofthe stations had visits from several registered voters; that constituted a joint services, they can still vote at GECOM officials, including Chair 50.7and45.4percentturnout. their respective Local Authority of GECOM, Justice (retired)

A member of the Disciplined Services casts his ballot (file photo)

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Business place for rent at Vreed-en-hoop junction. Call: 603-6400.

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LEGAL NOTICE

as NORMA WILLIAMS Petitioner/ Applicant -and--

(PATTERSON) CEDRIC Respondent

TO: CEDRIC

PATTERSON

4303 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203 United States of America

TAKE NOTICE that on the 10th day of November, 2022 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by NORMA PATTERSON nee DOVER also known as NORMA WILLIAMS, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 10th day of May, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana.

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

Dated the 24th day of May,2023.

FOR SALE

Pure honey, wholesale and retail quantity. Call: 621-4273.

Mixed breed pups, vaccinated and dewormed. Call: 632-0350.

Ready made school uniform from Timheri to Yarakabra. Call: 669-9258/ 686-0005.

Pure breed German Shepard puppies for sale. Call: 6153595/ 665-9140.

Pure breed German shepherd pups for sale. Call: 680-1828, 632-9022/ 639-4966.

VEHICLES

FOR SALE

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

Fully furnished 2 bedrooms apartment in Albert Street, Alberttown. Preferably students, no smoking and no pets allowed. Call 231-5695/ 611-9134.

AND FURTHER TAKE

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

LAND FOR SALE

Suriname tour "Bold Caricom weekend trip" to Suriname. June 30th (Fri) - July 3rd (Mon),2023. Call: 639-2663/ 673-2348.

Prime land for sale at No. 78, Corriverton, excellent location for business. Call: +1 647-282-4646 / 690-4139.

FOR SALE

School & lady's bag, pot sets and vinylay, wholesale and retail at Stabroek Brazzar, Bourda. Call: 669-9258/ 6860005.

Three land in Rose Hall, Corentyne. Contact Bobby Reality: 679 2497.

Large Seaside Land in New Amsterdam measuring 1000 ft x 211 ft. Contact Bobby Reality: 679 2497.

House and Land for sale in Princetown, New Amsterdam, Berbice. Contact Bobby Reality: 679 2497.

Two storey building with large Concrete bond on two lots in Cumberland East Canje. Contact Bobby Reality: 679 2497.

LEGAL NOTICE

Filing Attorney:MS. SHELLON BOYCE GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC “Maraj Building:” 185 Charlotte & King StreetsGeorgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1547 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-1547

BETWEEN:(PATTERSON) NORMA nee DOVER also known

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

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for

Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 12th day of July, 2023 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Fidela CorbinLincoln via Zoom Meeting ID: 817 2463

7445, Password: Courtl2.

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

$809M in contracts awarded to rehabilitate roads in Reg. 4

Continuing its miscellaneous and urban road programme for the year 2023, the Ministry of Public Works on Friday signed a total of 25 contracts worth $809,118,688 for the rehabilitation and construction of roadways in RegionFour.

The signing of the contracts were overlooked by subject Minister Juan Edghill.

Twenty-two of the contracts were awarded for miscellaneous roads and threeforurbanroads.

MinisterEdghillsaidthat the contracts would see approximately 10,642 meters of roads being rehabilitated.

Works are expected to begin within days, and completed in the next three to12months,hestated.

Of the 25 road projects, works are expected to be

done in communities such as, Annadale, Unity, Better Hope, Plaisance, Mon Repos,HelenaallontheEast Coast of Demerara. On the East Bank of Demerara works are slated for Grove and Diamond while roads in Sophia,GreaterGeorgetown willalsoberehabilitated.

Thedesignfortheseroad worksfeaturesrehabilitation of existing alignments to eitherasphalticconcrete,and orrigidpavement-thatisthe concreteroads.TheMinister noted that the building of concrete roads, though costly, proves a good intervention in some communities as opposed to theasphaltroads.

“Every time we have a contract signing or announcement of new projects, interventions in various communities, the light of hope and that flame ofanticipationburnbrighter, something is happening

when you are coming our way,”theministersaid.

He noted that the ministryhastendersforalot of road works and over 20,000 contractors have bid fortheworks.

On Friday, Minister

Murdered Army Officer’s stolen car recovered

Police on Friday found the stolen car belonging to murdered Guyana Defence Force(GDF)officer,Rondel Anthony Douglas, abandoned along Stone Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Douglas, a 32-year-old Lieutenant attached to the GDFCoastGuard,wasshot dead on Wednesday night while trying to fight off two carjackers from stealing his car at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to police Douglas was shot dead around 22:30 hrs at Cul-deSacStreet,NorthRuimveldt, Georgetown He worked part-time as a taxi driver withAlladinTaxi Service at La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD). One of

The Stolen car that was found on Stone Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown

Edghill said that these projects are just the first phase of projects they are beingrolledoutthisyear

“The engineers and the contractors must meet with the community before the jobsbeginsandacopyofthe

bill of quantities must be given to the communities so that the community can monitor the projects,” Edghillsaidwhileurgingthe contractors to execute their tasks professionally and withincontractguidles.

The Public Works Minister also urged the contractorstoemploylabour fromthecommunitieswhere they are executing their contract, as this is an important policy of the government.

$253.8 million in contracts signed...

Frompage13 GeorgetownwiththeSt.George’sfireandthe Christ Church and the North Ruimveldt fires,”shestated.

TheMinistersaidthatunderthefiveyears of the APNU+AFC Administration, no secondaryschoolwasstartedandcompleted. Assuch,shesaidthatalotofthespaceissues arenowbeingaddressed.

The Minister reminded that contracts weresignedtoreconstructtheChristChurch Secondary School and that soon contracts willbesignedtorebuildtheSt.Mary’sHigh School.

forliquidateddamages.

TheMinisteralsomentionedthatwiththe signing of these school contracts, soon the reconstruction of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School, the St. Rose’s High School, extensions at Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High School, the East Ruimveldt Secondary School and the St. Winifred’s Secondary School, will be completed to further address the space issues in the GeorgetownDistrict.

the carjackers posed as a customer and hired him Wednesdayevening.

The carjacker directed Douglas to Cul-de-Sac

Street, North Ruimveldt where his accomplice pouncedonhim.

Investigations are ongoing.

“So, it’s a massive programme to get secondaryschoolsupandrunningandasitis excitingitisequallyworryingbecauseweare depending on so much; on people who are signing contracts with us, honouring their duties and responsibilities under those contracts. So, the Government is clear Our intention is clear We want children in schools. We want to build schools,” the Ministerrelated.

Shetoldcontractorsthatiftheycannotget the work done, the ministry will be firm on implementing the provision of the contracts

Additionally, Minister Manickchand noted that the completion of the Good Hope Secondary School will address space issues alongtheEastCoastwhilethecompletionof the Yarrowkabra Secondary School will addressthesaidissuefortheUpperEastBank Demeraraarea.

KaieteurNewsreportedinJuly2022that the fire which destroyed the St. George’s Secondary school was electrical in origin. That fire displaced some 421 students who are now being accommodated at other secondaryschools.

This publication understands that the school will be rebuilt at its same location in Georgetown.

Trumpriskednationalsecrets,USprosecutorsallegein37-count...

Frompage8 said Biden had no advance k n o w l e d g e o f t h e indictment, and he later declined to comment when reportersaskedaboutit.

BOXESINTHE BALLROOM,BOXESIN THEBATHROOM

Trump kept the documents at Mar-a-Lago and his golf club in New Jersey Mar-a-Lago hosted tensofthousandsofguestsat morethan150eventsduring thetimetheywerethere,the indictment alleges, and it includes photos of Trump’s boxesonaballroomstage,in a club bathroom and in a storage room, where some layonthefloor

The classified materials came from seven federal intelligence agencies, including the Pentagon, the CIA, the National Security Agency and the Department of Energy, the indictment

said One document

concerned a foreign

country’s support of terrorism against U S interests.

Prosecutors said Trump showed someone a Defense Department document described as a “plan of attack” against another country Theindictmentalso alleges Trump conspired withNautatokeepclassified documentsTrumphadtaken from the White House and

hide them from a federal grand jury Nauta, who worked for Trump at the White House and at Mar-aLago,facessixcountsinthe case.

Nauta falsely told the FBI he did not know how some of the documents endedupinTrump’ssuiteat Mar-a-Lago,wheninfacthe hadbeeninvolvedinmoving them there from a storage room, according to the indictment.

An attorney for Nauta declinedtocomment.

Investigators seized roughly13,000documentsat Mar-a-Lago nearly a year ago One hundred were marked as classified, even

though one of Trump’s lawyers had previously said all records with classified markings had been returned tothegovernment.

Trump has previously said he declassified those documents while president, buttheindictmentallegeshe had acknowledged that he lost that power when he left office.

TRUMPAPPOINTEEAS JUDGE

U S District Judge Aileen Cannon has been initially assigned to oversee the case, a source who was briefedonthemattersaidon Friday She could preside overthetrialaswell,saidthe source, who spoke on

conditionofanonymity.

Cannon, appointed by Trump in 2019, made headlineslastyearwhenshe decided in favor of the former U.S. president at a pivotal stage of the case and waslaterreversedonappeal.

It is the second criminal caseforTrump,whoisdueto goontrialinNewYorknext March in a state case stemming from a hushmoney payment to a porn star

Ifhewinsthepresidency again, Trump could potentially try to pardon himself, a legal move that would be controversial and unprecedented.

He would not, however,

haveanypowertoderailthe statecaseagainsthim.

The case does not prevent Trump from campaigningortakingoffice if he were to win the November2024presidential election. Legal experts say there would be no basis to blockhisswearing-inevenif hewereconvictedandsentto prison.

SpecialCounselSmithis leading a second criminal probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020electionlosstoBiden,a Democrat.

Trump faces a separate criminal probe in Georgia related to efforts to overturn hislosstoBideninthatstate.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill (center) flanked by several contractors and officials of the Public Works Ministry at the contract signing ceremony yesterday

Th e G u y a n a

E l e c t i o n s

Commission (GECOM) on Friday made assurances that all systems are in place for the smooth management of the Local Government Elections (LGE) slated for June 12, 2023.

Atapressconferenceon Friday, Chairperson of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh said GECOM is set and ready for the hosting of theLGEsonMonday

“I am pleased to assure youthatGECOMisnotonly fully prepared but is also confident, that these elections, will be implemented in accordance with the electoral laws. As Chairperson, I would surely guarantee that these elections will be conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner,” JusticeSinghtoldreporters.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO),Vishnu Persaud said the GECOM Secretariat is “ahead of the game” with

r e g a r d s t o t h e implementation of its work planfortheLocalElections.

Persaudsaidfortheareas where there is no contest, those results could be declared immediately after the close of polls at 18:00 hrs. “It will not be a tedious thing to put together results for smaller local authority areas and I see no difficulty in Returning Officers declaringtheirresultsbefore mid-night,” Persaud said while noting that this could beaffectedbyobjections.

He explained that there isnocontestinwellover200 of the 610 constituencies. The 610 constituencies are part of 80 larger local authority areas Similar assurances were given by Deputy CEO Aneal Giddings.

Giddings was directly charged with overseeing the packing of containers and thedisseminationofelection materialforElectionDay

The DCEO assured that alloftheballots,Statements of Poll (SOPs) and other

election material have been packed and are ready to be transported to the various LocalAuthorityAreasacross thecountry

Pollingstationswillopen their doors from 6am and closeat6pmonMonday

Frompage2 lawyers argued that there was nothing barring the State from handing over ‘Smallie’s’ body to his family They submitted that the death row inmate had two matters in the appeal court and was not a fully condemned man. They also sharedtheviewthatthestate in its decision to maintain custody of the convicted man’s body shows a total disregard for ‘Nelson Mandela’s Rule for treating Prisoners’.

The Nelson Mandela’s rule states that, “The prison administrationshalltreatthe body of deceased prisoner with respect and dignity the body of a deceased prisoner andshouldbereturnedtohis orhernextofkinassoonas reasonablypossible,atlatest upon completion of the investigation, the prison administration shall facilitate a contrary and appropriatefuneralifthereis

GECOM

All systems in place for smooth, credible LGE -

no responsible party able to do so, and that they should keep a full record of the matter ” However, the MinistryofHomeAffairsin a subsequent statement claimed that ‘Smallie’ family had agreed for the Statetocrematehim.

The Ministry said that shortly after the death row inmate was killed, the GPS engaged his relatives and indicated that the State will not be handing over his remains.

“The Prison Authorities andthesister,onbehalfofthe family, discussed and consensually planned the funeralarrangements.Outof those discussions, it was decided that the funeral will take place at Memorial Gardens, Le Repentir, with an agreed number of family members in attendance and that the family’s Pastor will do the final rites,” the ministrystated.

The ministry added that

those arrangements with the family were also confirmed around08:00hrsonFriday

Withregardstothelegality ofnothandingover the death row inmate’s body, the Ministry said, “The Guyana Prison Service’s position on this matter is that unless the convictions and sentences imposed upon Williams weresetasideorreversedby a court of competent jurisdiction, Williams’body will remain with the prison authorities, as the law provides. Appeals filed and pendingagainsthismultiple convictions and sentences donotaffectthisposition”.

Despitethebackandforth between the State and ‘Smallie’s’family,thedeath row inmate was cremated around 14:00 hrs on Friday at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium.

He was charged with 23 counts of murder and was convicted of nine. He was sentenced to death for the Lusignan Massacre in 2008 and for the murder of a soldier that took place that sameyear ‘Smallie’escaped fromtheCampStreetPrisonin 2017 but was later recaptured On May 19, 2023 he made another escape, this time from the heavily guarded Mazaruni PrisoninRegionSeven. He wasaidedbymenarmedwith high powered rifles. Four Prisonofficersandawoman have since been remanded for conspiring to help him escape. After weeks of a manhunt by joint services ranks, ‘Smallie’ and two men accused of being his accomplices, Neon Howard andOdelRoberts,wereshot dead during alleged confrontations with members of the Joint Services.

‘Smallie’crematedbytheStatein...

L-R: Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Aneal Giddings, Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud.

Cricnation592 Store to be sole distributor for E4 cricket products

Berbice’s premier cricket equipment store, Cricnation592 Store, has signed a major deal to be sole distributor of E4 cricket gear in Guyana. The E4 brand was originated from Ravi Etwaroo at Cricket Zone USA, and is used by international and national cricketers around the globe.

Guyana Amazon Warriors opener Chandrapaul Hemraj has been using the E4 cricket kit and has tasted success, while Guyana Harpy Eagles batsmen, Tevin Imlach and Matthew Nandu are also brand ambassadors. Jamaican Kennar Lewis, Navin Stewart and a host of players in the

United States of America are E4 users.

“We (Cricket Zone USA) have been in business for 17 years. We thought it was the right time to launch the brand. After looking number of names, I decided to use my last name (Etwaroo), and four brothers, and that is where E4 formed.

“At this time we have a lot of players using our brand, starting with Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Tevin Imlach, Kennar Lewis, Odean Williams and Navin Stewart.”

“We are happy to have you on board at Cricnation592, and you will be exclusively carrying the brand in Guyana,” Etwaroo said.

Saturday June 10, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

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

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

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

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

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

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

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

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

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

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

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

Narine becomes third bowler to take 500 T20 career wickets

Sunil Narine entered the history books on Wednesday when he became only the third bowler to take 500 wickets in Twenty20s. The offspinner claimed a single wicket for Surrey at Sophia Gardens to reach the magical mark, as they beat Glamorgan by 65 runs in the English County T20 Blast competition.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

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

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

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

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

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

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

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

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

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

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

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

E4 products should be available at Cricnation592 Store by July 2023.

Cricnation592 Store started operation in October 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic and has provided quality cricket gear for players in the Berbice area.

This premier cricket equipment store in Berbice, Cricnation592 Store, which was founded by Journalist Brandon Corlette, has added a touch of international flavor to local cricketers. Players are exposed to quality cricket gear, mostly from India and the United Kingdom.

Cricnation592 Store is located at Lot 11 B Ulverston Village, Corentyne Berbice. This store provides a unique feature, with delivery services throughout Guyana. Under the management team, Cricnation592 aims to expand and continue the quest of providing quality cricket gear to cricketers in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Cricket Zone USA is the largest cricket equipment store in North America.

The store was founded in 2006 to ori ginally serve the cricketers in the New York Metropolitan area.

However, since then Cricket Zone USA have expanded services to online customers across the United States, Canada and other parts of the world using www.cricketzoneusa.com.

Cricket Zone USA goal is to provide top q uality products and satisfactory service in a friendly atmosphere.

The wide range of products at Cricket Zone USA and competitive prices have made the store one of the fastest growing sporting equipment stores in the United States.

CricketZoneUSA which is located at 1656 Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx, NY.

Narine’s magic moment arrived at the start of his second over – the ninth of the innings – when left-hander Colin Ingram was caught by Sam Curran at deep midwicket, leaving the hosts on

Founder of Cricket Zone USA, Ravi Etwaroo (left), and Founder of Cricnation592 Store, Brandon Corlette.

75-3 in pursuit of a victory target of 237.

Dwayne Bravo was the first bowler to take 500 wickets in this format and he currently has 615.Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has taken 555 to be second on the all-time list. (CWI)

Sunil Narine

Preparations moving apace for KMTC CARICOM Horserace Meet

With race day less than a month away, the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, has ramped up preparations forthemuchanticipatedoneday CARICOM Horserace Meet on Monday, July 3, 2023.

With six races listed for the day and over $4M in cash, trophies and other

incentives up for grabs an exciting day of racing is anticipated.

The feature G3 nonwinners and Lower-event is expectedtobeascorcherand with the distance being over 7 furlongs for a winner’s money of $500,000 and a trophy,anexcitingraceisin themaking.

The horses classified J1 and Lower will see the winner taking home

$300,000andatrophyinthe 6-furlongevent.

There is an event for three-year-old maiden horses, which will see the winner taking home $250,000 and a trophy, in another6furlongsgallop.

Guyana-Bred two-yearoldhorseswillberunningfor awinner’spurseof$250,000 andatrophyover5furlongs.

The race for the L Class Open animals carries a

winning purse of $200,000 over6Furlongs. The final event for J and L non-earners over 6 furlongs, has a pole position taking of $200,000 and a trophy

The Champion and runner-up Jockeys, top trainer and stables will all receive accolades compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall andtheorganisers. The day’s event will be conducted using the rules of

the Guyana Horse Racing Authority(GHRA).

Inaneventwherefewer thanfivehorsesareline-up tostart,theorganisershave the right to refrain from conducting the race and reducetheprizemoneyafter consulting with the horse owners.

Seven horses must start before the 4th prize is paid whilefivehorsesmuststart before the 3rd prize is given.

Where fewer than 4

horses start, the prize money will be reduced by 25% and where fewer than 3horses start.

Interested persons can make contact with Club Secretary Niketa Ross 6624668, Ivan Dipnarine 3310 3 1 6 , B a s i l Bactowar6617815, Fazal Habibulla 6577010 or Isaac Dalloo 6890629 or any member of the KMTC executives for more information (Samuel Whyte)

Quarterfinals&Semifinalsgeared...

Frompage25 project, while the second, third, and fourth place finishers will have to settle for $150,000, $75,000, and $50,000, respectively,allforaschoolinitiative,along withtherespectivetrophy

The tournament serves as a platform for identifying talented players who can

potentially represent Guyana at the internationallevel.

This tournament is sanctioned by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with support from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, DemeraraDistillersLimited(DDL),Guyana ShoreBaseInc.(GYSBI)andMVPSports.

GFF to host physical preparation...

Frompage23 knowledge gained will eliminate a lot of the guesswork and the ‘Hit and Miss’ approach to team preparation.”

The GFF said under President Wayne Forde, they’ve shown continued investment in the

development of players and supporting staff through strategic training programmes sanctioned by FIFA and CONCACAF to ensure the advancement of thegameatalllevels.

AccordingtoJoseph,the GFF has a greater plan to create specialised

programmes for coaches who may have a specific passion for physical preparationforfootball.This programme will be aligned to the GFF’s Coach education pathway and will come into effect after attaining a CONCACAF/ National“B”licence.

GFF to host physical preparation in football workshop

Th e G u y a n a F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) hasannouncedthatitwillbe conducting a four-day workshop on physical preparation in football for Elite League and Academy TrainingCentrecoaches.

The workshop, which will be facilitated by GFF Fitness Coach Wilson Toledo, is scheduled to take placeonJune10and11,and thenagainonJune17and25.

T h e p h y s i c a l conditioning training programme is aimed at improvinggamepreparation andperformanceatacademy and elite club levels, as the workshop will focuses on physical evaluation, training loads, volume and intensity, energy sources and training

methods.

According to GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph, the programme fills “a void that exists in the football fraternity for competence in physical preparationatElitelevels.”

Joseph added that “this aspect of preparation is not delved into on basic confederation licence courses therefore we are providing our coaches with the general hand-rails to enhance this pillar of the game.”

Academy Training Centre coaches will attend thecourseonJune10and17, while Elite League coaches andtrainers’sessionswillbe onJune11and25.

The training programme has several key objectives.

PPP/CLinden‘OneGuyana’BeachFootball... Superstars face Speightland for

Women’s crown

- Swag meet YMCA for Men’s Title

One of them is to provide coaches with the hand-rails to guide how they approach this important pillar of football development Another objective is to eliminate guesswork regarding the physical conditioningofplayers.

Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz fully supports the initiative,notingthat“the (Continuedonpage22)

All roads lead to the People’s Progressive Party Civic Men’s and Women’s Linden ‘One Guyana’ $1M Beach Football finals tonight (Saturday) outside the Party’s office in Industrial AreainLinden. The grand finals will be in the women’s tournament at 10:30 pm and the men’s finalists will feature Swag and YMCA battling from 11:30pm.

According to the organisers, all teams are expected to be at the venue an hour before their scheduled game time. All games will start promptly at

kick-off time No grace period will be given, therefore if a team is not present it will be taken as a No Show and the game awardedtotheteampresent. Onceinbreachofthisruling youautomaticallyforfeitthe assignedprizemoney.

Thegameswillbeplayed fortwoperiodsof20minutes each and the two third-place games and women’s finals will be running time while the Men’s finals will be Stoppagetime.

If games are deadlocked at the end of regulation, two periods of 3 minutes will be played,ifthescoreisstilltied then kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner

The presentation will be done immediately after the men’sfinals.

To start the proceedings will be a men’s game where R9 FC take on Young GunnersFCat6:00pmtobe followed by Dynamo FC facingNursesFCat7:20pm and from 8:15 pm, an exhibition game between Coomacka and Elite Ballers takesplace.

At 8:50 pm, there is a skillscompetitionwhichwill thenmakewayforthefinals.

First among the women at10:30pmwhenSuperstars and Speightland faceoff and at11:30pmasSwagfacethe challenge of YMCA for the men’stitle.

Athanaze’s joint-fastest fifty on debut helps West Indies sweep UAE 3-0

(Cricinfo) - Alick

Athanaze announced himselfwiththejoint-fastest half-century on ODI debut and Kevin Sinclair marked hisreturnwithafour-wicket haul as West Indies swept UAE 3-0 in Sharjah.

Athanaze, who idolises Brian Lara, unleashed some audacious pulls that would’ve done Lara proud, while Sinclair found sharp grip and turn to trigger an UAE collapse of 8 for 42

Though West Indies themselves suffered a mini-collapse later in the evening, they overhauled their target of 185 with four wickets and nearly 15 overs tospare.

Both Athanaze and Sinclair are not part of West Indies’ squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, but

they provided a peek into WestIndies’future.

When Athanze zoomed to a 26-ball half-century, Carlos Brathwaite, who was on TV commentary at the time, even called 24-yearold Athanaze the “future of West Indies cricket”.

Athanaze had been earmarked for the big time ever since he topped the run charts in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in NewZealand

On Friday,Athanaze got cracking immediately, s m o k i n g l e f t - a r m

fingerspinner Aayan Afzal Khanforabraceofsixes.He then took seamer Junaid Siddique for a triptych of fours, racing to 30 off 11 balls.

He then equalled Krunal Pandya’srecordforthejointfastest fifty on ODI debut

withadrilledfouroffRohan Mustafa.

Athanaze looked good for a century on debut, but Aayan cut his innings short on65off45balls.

A a y a n a n d wristspinner Karthik Meiyappan, whose stock ball is the wrong’un, then made West Indies’ middle order toil for the win In the absence of regular captain Shai Hope and vice-captain Brandon King, who were rested among a number of changes, West Indies went 81 balls without a boundary

Stand-in captain Roston Chase, however, closed out the chase along with Keemo Paul without anyfurtherdrama.

As for UAE, they will be buoyed by the

performances of their spinners

Aayan fronted up to bowlwiththenewballand varied his angles and pace well with the old one. Karthik, who had leaked 55 runs in 4.2 overs in the series opener, bounced back so strongly that he was on the verge of a hattrickatonepoint

Reifer averted the hattrick, but Karthik continued to pose a threat withhiswrong’un

But it was Sinclair who was the best spinner on the day

He had started his career as a popgun firing darts but has gained more control over his offbreak inrecentyears

UAE’s top-scorer and vice-captain Vriitya Aravind (70) was done in

by that offbreak, as were AayanandRameezShahzad.

Sinclair dovetailed

b e a u t i f u l l y w i t h

legspinner Yannic Cariah who returned 2 for 34. Chase didn’t get a wicket, but was the most economical bowler for West Indies, conceding only3 87anover

The start had been more promising for UAE after they opted to take the firststrike Aravind and captain

Muhammad Waseem f o r g e d a 9 6 - r u n partnership for the second wicket off just 55 balls Both batters regularly hit over the top, messing with the lengths and lines of WestIndies’seamers

It was Reifer who snapped the stand when he went around the wicket and

hit the top of Waseem’s off stump in the 12th over Aravindwentontobringup a 42-ball fifty, but Sinclair kept striking as UAE’s innings spiralled out of control.

Sinclair’s celebratory somersaults were as eyecatchingashisoffbreaksand sliders.

From 142 for 2, UAE eventually folded for 184, leaving almost 14 overs unused in their innings There would be no way back forthem,despitegood spells from Aayan and Karthik.

Match details: West I n d i e s 1 8 5 f o r 6 (Athanaze 65, Brooks 39, Aayan 2-40) beat UAE 1 8 4 ( A r a v i n d 7 0 , Waseem 42, Sinclair 424, Cariah 2-34) by four wickets

Dover ready, capable of leading Golden Jaguars -

ByRawleToney

With one week to go before the Golden Jaguars roar into action against Grenada in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the team’s assistant Coach Wayne Dover, is buoyed by the enthusiasm of the players during their ongoing encampment.

Speaking at an arranged media engagement from Palm Beach, Miami, where the Golden Jaguars had setup shop ahead of their June 17 engagement against the men from the Spice Isle, Dover believes the final compositionoftheteamwill reflect a side that can progressintheCONCACAF showpiece.

Head coach Jamaal Shabazz is currently in Guyana working on attaininghisvisatoenterthe US, leaving Dover as the de facto leader of the pack of GoldenJaguars.

Shabazz’s two-year

imprisonment for his involvement in the 1990 Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt has hampered his ability to travel to some countries, including the USA, where conditions are applied.

In 2012, when the Golden Jaguars played Mexico at the BBVA Compass Stadium, Shabazz was unable to make the trip, leaving Dover to lead the squad in battle However, accordingtoDover,Shabazzis engaged in the team’s activity on a daily basis, utilizing virtual platforms available forcommunication.

Dover reminded the local mediathathe’s“notastranger beinginapositiontoleadingthe GoldenJaguars,”pointingtohis two stints as the country’s Senior Men’s National Team Headcoachin2009–2010and thenagainin2017

Doverwasatthehelmof the Golden Jaguars last outingagainstGrenadainan International Friendly in 2017 at the Grenada

Guyana to play Martinique today

National Stadium, St George’s, where they lost 10.

“In football, there’s no guarantee, the teams are preparing for the match The gamewillbecompetitive;the teamthatplayswell,makesthe least mistakes and score their chanceswillmost-likelycome outthewinner,”Doversaid

Despite their confidence and preparation, Dover is managing expectations and notmakinganyguaranteesof victory “many times we’ve seen in football, teams don’t play to their true potential becausetheymightscoretheir chances, so in that regards, we’re not saying that we’re definitely going to win the game;thataformofmanaging expectations of the spectators”

Dover continued, “internally,theplayersknow what they’re preparing for andthey’reconfidentaswell in our approach to the game andweknowcollectivelywe candoagoodjob,sothere’s

2023 ExxonMobil Boys & Girls U14 Football Championships...

Quarterfinals & Semifinals geared for the weekend

- Remainder of matches fixed for MoE Ground

As the fourth edition of the ExxonMobil Boys and Girls Under-14 Football Championships continues to motor on, the finalistsinbothDivisionswillbedecidedon Sundaywhenthetournamentresumestoday, Saturday,attheMinistryofEducation(MoE) Ground.

Today, the Petra-organised event kicks off proceedings at noon (12:00hrs) in the Girls’ Division with two of the quarterfinal matches being simultaneously run as Tucville meet Ann’s Grove while Marian AcademytakeonPresident’sCollege.

The other two female final-eight battles commence at 13:00hrs as defending champion, Charlestown, goes up against the impressiveWaramuriTop while Bartica and NewCentralHighlockhorns.

Thewinnersofthesematchesadvanceto the semifinal stage, which will unravel tomorrow,Sunday,atthesamevenue.

Meanwhile, today’s Boys’ Division action gets underway at 14:00 hrs with the first two final-eight knockout battles; Bush Lot and Chase’sAcademic Foundation take centre stage alongside the Waramuri Top versusPatentia-clash.

At 15:00 hrs, the last two quarterfinal matches of this edition will see Christianburg/Wismar go up against Bartica while Westminster and New Central High collideontheopposingpitch.

Part of the Boys’Division Round-of-16 elimination,which took place last weekend at the NIS Ground.

no hype amongst the staff. Weknowthere’saprocessin howwegoaboutthegame.”

BeforeheadingtoMiami, the Golden Jaguars had a camp in Jamaica wherethey wereengagedinhigh-intensity fitnessregimen

The team played Arnett GardensFCandlost2-0,but Dover stated that the game was not about the results, but Dover said the game wasn’t about the results, “players werecomingbackintofitness since the season was finished ourmainfocuswas notabouttheresult,butgetting the players back into game mode We’resatisfied Notthat we didn’t want to win the game,buttheresultwasnotthe mainfocus”

Guyana is making its third appearance at the Gold Cup, but has only once played in the tournament’s Main Draw which came in 2019, while bowing out at the preliminaryroundin2021.

“In the early days, Venezuela were considered the whipping boys of the South American continent, buttheykeptgoinguntilthey

become a formidable force, sothat’souraim,tocontinue to prepare and try to do our best to get the results,”

Doversaid.

If successful against Grenada on June 17, the

GoldenJaguarswillfacethe winner between Guadalupe andTrinidadandTobagofor achancetoplayintheMain Draw against Canada, Guatemala, and Cuba in GroupD.

According to the organising team, Sunday’ssemifinalmatchesarescheduledto beginatnoonatthesamevenue.

At stake for the victors in the two categories are the championship trophies alongwith$300,000towardsaschool

(Continuedonpage22)

Golden Jaguars Assistant Coach, Wayne Dover, during a recent training session in Miami, Florida.

2023 ExxonMobil Boys & Girls U14 Football Championships...

Keemo Paul drew first blood, sending back Lovepreet Singh cheaply(AFP/Getty Images)

Final scenes from the Girls’Division Group stage at the NIS Ground, CarifestaAvenue.

The Golden Jaguars players paying keen attention during a recent training session in Miami, Florida (GFF photos)