Kaieteur News

MinisterDharamlallgoesonleavetofacilitate probeintoallegedrapeof16-yr-oldIndigenousgirl

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall has stepped down from his ministerial position amidst rape allegations leveled against him by a 16-year-old Indigenousgirl.

President Ali has confirmed that Minister Dharamlall requested administrativeleaveinorder to allow the probe into the sexual allegations made

against him. President Ali has approved the minister’s request, however, it was not madeknownwhentheleave commences.

In light of the news, Opposition Member of Parliament Geeta ChandanEdmond in a statement said in light of the minister p r o c e e d i n g o n administrativeleavepending the investigation, “We trust that this will result in a full, fair, unbiased and impartial

investigation, and that there will be compliance with the ruleoflaw.”

She continued, “We continue to advocate strongly for the rights of women and children. I will also continue to be an unrelenting advocate for the protectionofourindigenous sisters. We must all remain steadfastinourcommitment toensurethatnooneisabove thelaw.”

Moreover, Opposition

MP, Juretha Fernandes for her part said, “You see this cr*p, “...the Minister wrote him requesting to be allowed to proceed on administrative leave, and the request has been granted ” You were supposed to S E N D H I M o n administrative leave Not put him in a positiontobepresented to the public as though he is in total control of thesituation.“

She continued, “There is nothing comforting about this, absolutely nothing! What next? Are you gonna ask him if he accepts the finding of the investigation?Ishegonnabe selecting the people c o n d u c t i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n ? #justiceforourindigenousgir ls.”

In an invited comment, President Ali had told anothermediahouse,thathe hadnotreceivedaformalor official complaint but noted that he saw social media postsontheallegations.

That particular media house had reported that the President emphasised that onceareportismade“itwill be thoroughly investigated bytherelevantauthorities.”

Notably, it was highlighted that President Alialsoreiteratedthathehas “no tolerance for such behaviourandanyonefound guilty of such allegations willbeheldaccountable.”

“As a government, we arecommittedtohavingany factsfullyinvestigatedaswe hold dearly our girls and womenineverycommunity And we will continue to do everything to ensure their safety and well-being,” President Ali told the News Room.

Similarly, on the sidelines of an event on Friday evening, President Ali told Kaieteur News that his government will not toleratesuchactsandthathe has already informed the police that any such report must be thoroughly and c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y investigated.

Asked whether the matter was discussed with the government minister, PresidentAliresponded,“Of course, I reached out to the Minister and he denied any wrongdoingandasIsaidthe allegations are allegations, we have to deal with

Sexual Offences Act andwhenitwaspassed intolawin2010,itwas made clear that “we wantbettertreatmentof complainantsandbetter conviction rates. That hasn’tchanged.”

For her part, Minister of Human Services and Social Protection,Dr Vindhya Persaud said that the Child Care and Protection Agency is carrying out a full investigation into the allegationmadeagainst themaleministerwhile remindingthatnooneis abovethelaw

statement of facts and once any facts is being presented the authorities have to do theirinvestigation.”

The Head-of-State assured that “no one will be held unaccountable.” “So as I said one of the greatest prioritiesinthisgovernment is our girls and women. We will not tolerate anything that will hinder that. So any fact and report I… have already told the police any report must be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated,” President Ali assured.

Amidst the rape allegations, two female ministers issued statements underscoringtheseriousness of the allegations while indicating that a thorough investigation will be conducted.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in a statement on Saturday said that allegations of rape, sexual assault and genderbased violence are not to be made lightly and must alwaysbetakenseriously “I begin by believing complainants,always,every time. Because the statistics areclear Despitethemyths, victims of rape and sexual assaultdonotlieabouttheir experiences any more than victims of any other crime,” Minister Manickchand said noting that the teen has accepted support from the Ministry of Education and willattendameetingsoon.

MinisterManickchandin her statement emphasised thatwhenthecomplainantis a child, the complaint must take on even more urgent dimensions.

She assured that she has alwaystreatedcomplaintsof rape and sexual assault with the urgency it deserves. The minister reminded that she was the one who piloted the

“The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has taken note of the serious allegations made against a Minister by a 16year-old girl. Our women andgirlsmustbesafeandno oneisabovethelaw.”

This publication had reported that in a letter to PresidentIrfaanAli,theteen girl shared gruesome details abouthowshewasallegedly groomed and later raped by theminister.

In her letter, she pleaded with President Ali, the MinisterofEducation,Priya Manickchand and relevant authorities to look into the matter

According to the letter seen by this publication, the girl first met the minister at an event last year, when she was 15-years-old. She said she was raped three months after meeting the minister andatthattime,shewas16years-old. She disclosed in the letter that after continuously harassing her to meet up with him, she eventually agreed to meet theminister

Theteensaidthisiswhen the minister raped her, sodomized her before handingherasumofmoney Notably,KaieteurNewswas reliablyinformedthatthisis not the first time such an allegation was made against theministerinquestion.

Since the allegations surfaced, calls mounted for President Irfaan Ali to send t h e m i n i s t e r o n administrative leave The president spoke to multiple media houses, confirming that he was aware of the allegations made against Minister Dharamlall but clarified that he did not receivetheletterinquestion. However,heassuredthatno o n e w i l l b e h e l d unaccountable.

Minister of Local Govt. and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

Citizens prepared to take fight for unlimited parent guarantee to CCJ

Aftersucceedingintheir bid for ExxonMobil to provide Guyana with a signed parent company guarantee, taking full responsibility for the destruction caused by an oil spill in the lucrative Stabroek Block, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has teamed up with theoilcompanytoappealthe rulingoftheHighCourt.

This however has not shaken the grave need for proper protection in the event of a spill. President of theTransparencyInstituteof Guyana Inc (TIGI), Frederick Collins in an exclusiveinterviewwiththis newspaper recently said the legalteamispreparedtotake the fight for full liability coverage to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the SupremeCourtinsuchlegal matters.

Collins and another citizen, Godfrey Whyte had filed an application in the High Court on September 13, 2022 through their Attorneys, Seenath Jairam, SC, Melinda Janki, and Abiola Wong-Inniss. In the case, Mr Collins, a former insurance professional said, “An oil spill would be devastating for our country and Region as many Guyanese and Caribbean peoplesdependontheocean for their livelihoods. That is

why we have decided that the time has come to take matters to the court for relief.”

On May 3, 2023, Justice Sandil Kissoon ruled in favour of the applicants, ordering Exxon to provide the unlimited parent guarantee within 30 days. Failure by the company to comply would have resulted inthesuspensionoftheLiza OnePermit.

The Liza One project is currently producing about 150,000 barrels of oil per day An appeal of the ruling was filed shortly after the decision was handed down andisongoingintheCourt.

Collinssaidthatwhilehe is confident in the outcome of the appeal, he is prepared to fight for the protection of

Motorcyclistkilled in E.C.D accident, drunk driver arrested

Twenty-five-year-oldOliverCollins,amotorcyclistof Friendship,EastCoastDemerara(E.C.D)wasonSaturday nightkilledinanaccident.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement disclosedthattheaccidentoccurredonFriendshipRailway Embankmentaround20:39hours.Involvedintheaccident wasthemotorcyclistandmotorcarPAE137drivenbya22year-old male who was arrested. The police reported that the driver of the motorcar was under the influence of alcohol.

It was reported that the motorcar was proceeding east on the northern driving lane and the motorcycle was proceeding west on the northern driving lane, when the motorcar drove into the path of the motorcycle where a collisionoccurredcausingthemotorcyclisttofallontothe roadsurface.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist received injuries about his body He was picked up by police in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public HospitalCorporation,wherehesuccumbedtohisinjuries while receiving treatment. His body is presently at Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortemexamination.

Abreathalyzertestwasconductedonthedriverofthe motorcar which found his alcohol level to be 121% and 112%.Hehasbeendetainedpendingfurtherinvestigations andcharges.

Guyana and its Caribbean neighbours at the TrinidadbasedCCJ.HetoldKaieteur News that he does not believe the appeal by government and Exxon has potentialforsuccess.

Nevertheless, he explained, “The CCJ should be very interested in the proceeding, because it is as they call it the apex court of the subscribing countries, includingGuyana.Italsohas an interest from the standpoint of the nature of the ruling. It seems to be ground breaking in terms of the pronouncements on the duties of society and what the Judge saw was at stake and so I would expect that the CCJ would be very interestedinthecase.”

Collins added that he believes the CCJ would be particularly interested in understanding why such an appealwouldbestruckdown

especially considering its worldwideimportance.

He pointed out that the case would be the first in whichanoilcompanywould be held to account up front for incidents from a country inwhichitisoperating.

The GoG has appealed the ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon arguing that it would suffer grave losses if the company’s Permit is suspended.

In its application to join the case as an interested party,attorney-at-lawLaurel Dundas attached to the AttorneyGeneralChambers, explained that the State stands to lose an immeasurable amount of revenue.

The application noted, “ifproductionceasesbythe decision of the court, the GovernmentofGuyanawill be faced with huge revenue shortfalls, which would

h a v e d i s a s t r o u s consequences for the economy, the county’s developmental agenda, and private sector investments cumulatinginimmeasurable damage to the public good andthenationalinterest ”

The Government expressedconcernsatwhatit said would be the crippling and far-reaching effects if therulingwhichwashanded down by Justice Kissoon is allowedtostand.

Similarly, the oil companyinitsappealofthe ruling told theAppeal Court thatitcouldsufferamassive financiallossiftheLizaOne Permitissuspended.

Initsattempttohavethe decision overturned, the Country Manager for Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Alistair Routledge in a document to support the appeal, carefully chronicled

the grave financial loss in which the company will suffer as a result of having thepermitsuspended.

Itnotedthatthecompany has produced 151,000 barrels of crude petroleum perdayfortheyear2023on average, through March 2023.

Itexplainedthat,“Thisis approximately 4.5 million barrelspermonth…themost recent month’s average selling price for the Liza 1 petroleum was more than $US75perbarrel.”

“Thismeansthemonthly revenue loss for the Appellant Esso, the Coventurers, and the State’s projected to be US$337.5m. This would amount to $US337.5m. per month or $US4b per annum that would be forfeit for each year while the appeal is pending,” the company stated.

TIGI President, Frederick Collins

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Mayor Narine’s tenure

When Pandit Ubraj Narine took over as the Mayor of GeorgetowninJanuary2019,hequicklyrealisedthathehad hisworkcutoutforhim.Intime,thegroundwouldalsobe cutfromunderhisfeet.Forbetterorworse,whateverresidents ofthecapitalcityandGuyanesethinkofthestateofthecity,itis inevitablyareflectionoftheworkandlegacyofthemayorand the people he oversees.What has become more obvious with eachdevelopment,Georgetownstandsasaprimeexampleof thecripplingpoliticsofthiscountry Itisthemostsensitive,most populated,andmostproblem-plaguedareainGuyana,withall ofitshappeningsandpoliticsveryvisible

The Mayor of Georgetown presides over a space that stretchesfromCummingsLodgeontheEastCoastDemerarato Agricola,EastBankDemerara Areasofchronicconcernare drainage, roads, garbage collection, markets, and security among many others They are costly to maintain, and one of MayorNarine’sbiggesthandicapswasthatthemoneyrequired torunthecityefficientlywasnotcomingfromanysource He wasbeingheldhostagebypolitics

Hecoulddolittletoaddressanantiquatedratesregime,until the Ministry of Finance completed a comprehensive property valuation exercise Residential and commercial buildings are woefullyundervalued,andthoughtheratelevelsappeartobe high (44% for residences and 275% for businesses), the end resultintermsofratesduetothemunicipalityislaughable,so smalltheyare Intruth,theyhavealmostnorelationtoreality To provideaquickexample,afour-storycommercialpropertyhas been valued at $38,000, and that is in Guyana’s currency, not American One could not buy a dog with the rates collected fromthatbuilding ThishasledtotheGeorgetownMunicipality beingsaddledwithmulti-billiondollarannualoperatingdeficits

Accordingtothemayor,thegovernmentis$13billionin ratesarrears. GPLalonehasanetamountof$7billiondue to the Georgetown City Council. Moreover, the Local Government Commission, setup by central government essentiallycallstheshotsatCityHall. TheMayor’sOffice cannot hire, or fire, or discipline. It does not have enough money to cover its operations. It can do little by way of revenue enhancement, through new rate collection levels, whilenumerouscityresidentsandbusinesseshavestopped payingtheirratesowed.

Unfortunately, the usual destructive partisan politics has intrudedintotheaffairsofthecity,leavingeveryonepoorerforit

ItisadisgracehowGeorgetown,oncehailedastheGardenCity is now closer to a garbage city, with dereliction and decay in manysections,amidtheflurryofmodernbuildings Though partofthemayorshipofPanditNarine,infairness,muchofthis wasinherited,andthesituationworsenedsignificantlywhenthe PPPCGovernmentreturnedtoofficeinAugust2020

The PPPC Government overflowed with anger due to the delays and convoluted shenanigans of the APNU-AFC Coalitiontothwarttheresultsofthefreelyandfairlyconducted general and regional elections Unfortunately, anything and anyonethathadaCoalitionrelationshipbecamefairgamefor the new Government’s pressures and games In effect, this meant that any programme of work, any vision that Mayor Narinehadforthecapitalcityanditsoutskirtsbecameavictim of politics This is what has blotted Mayor Narine’s body of workforthegreaterpartofhistimeinoffice

On its own behalf, the PPPC Government kept up a constant drumbeat about cronyism, corruption, and incompetencerunningrampantthroughouttheGeorgetown CityCouncil,ofwhichMayorNarinewasthehead. Thereis some truth in the Government’s allegations, but the government’s own hands are not clean, given that it has seizedeveryopportunityeithertostifleortounderminethe unfetteredfunctioningofthemayorandhisadministration. Keypeoplewerenottakingordersfromhim,andthefunds thatheneededtogetthingsdonewerelargelywithheld. In many respects, from the time the PPPC Government went back into office, Mayor Narine was reduced to more and moreofalameduckincumbentasthedaysprogressed,with residentssuffering.

Does Guyana need a working class political party?

DEAREDITOR

Aworkingclasspolitical party would work to reduce theeffectsofthehighcostof livingonthepoor

The PPP/C supports big businesses as opposed to workingtohelpthepoor

I expect that they can do moretocushionthehighcost of living on the poor An

example would be a one-off cash grant of $100,000 to every Guyanese living in Guyana.

The APNU and AFC can hardly claim to be working class; not after putting nearly 9000 (7000 sugar workers plus nearly 2 0 0 0 A m e r i n d i a n Community Support

Officers) of the working poor on the breadline

when they were in

Government They had the audacity to preach people before profits yet their performance was more

about profits before people

What about the WPA?

Theywouldturnarmyguns

on civilians and are too busy figuring out if they should be buying black pudding from the Indian Lady

Seriously speaking, more needs to be done to alleviate the high cost of livingonthepoor

Sincerely SeanOri

Power, Politics, Rape and Public Sensibilities

DEAREDITOR, There is a view exemplified by the alleged predatory behaviour of powerful men that power, status and wealth avoid any restraint on their ability to abuse and exploit women. FormerUSPresidentDonald Trump, who has been accused by at least 12 w o m e n o f s e x u a l misconduct, had famously bragged that his wealth and status permitted him to grab womenbytheirprivateparts and touch them sexually without their permission

Incredibly, public knowledge of the multiple rape and sexual abuse allegationsandhisdisrespect for women did not lose him any political support and he went on to win the presidency of the United States.

He did not face accountability until very

recently when a Manhattan juryfoundhimcivillyliable, in one case, for sexually abusing and defaming a female magazine writer and awardedherUS$5millionin damagesbutdidnotfindhim that he had raped her almost thirtyyearsagoasalleged.

Iamextremelysaddened and angered at the report of theallegedrapeandsodomy of a 16-year-old indigenous girl by a named PPP/C Minister and applaud her bravery,amidstherpainand humiliation, in detailing her ordealinanopenlettertothe President, Cabinet, diplomatic community, private sector and all Guyanese.

I do not ask why she did not file a report with the police, if that is indeed what happened, because I can appreciatethatthemannerin which the police concluded last month’s Mahdia

SecondarySchooldormitory fire which claimed the lives of several indigenous children among them nineteen teenage girls and a 5-year old male, cannot inspire confidence in their professionalism.

I am also concerned that while Trump’s accusers appear to be mature women of similar ethnicity and upwardly mobile, the accuser here is a minor, of a different ethnicity – perhaps marginalized – and in d i f f i c u l t s o c i a l circumstances that caused her to approach the Minister forassistance.

Thissuggestsadifferent, and infinitely more dangerous, power dynamic thatourhome-grownalleged predator seeks out the weakestandmostvulnerable inoursociety Her cries for help, protection and justice must

beanswered. Nodoubtthegovernment will offer platitudes hoping todullthesensibilitiesofthe nationinmuchthesameway astheyhaveignoredthecall, made by the Opposition Leader, some weeks ago for theestablishmentofamultistakeholder Commission of Inquiry(COI)intothedeadly May 21 Mahdia Secondary Schooldormitoryfire. Its recent statements of support for an investigation are not particularly comforting in light of its r e c e n t , f a r c i c a l , investigative record –Presidential COI into election fraud and police investigation into Mahdia tragedy

Iurgesteadfastsolidarity withthisbravechildandthe victims of the Mahdia tragedy

Sincerely

OscarDolphin

THE GREAT DEBATE ON ETHNIC VOTING: WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

DEAREDITOR,

The party in power has the momentum, plus it is flush with oil revenues. PPP deserves the credit for winning significant Afroethniccross-overvotestothe Indian-led PPP - and winning 3 townships and several NDC’s previously heldbythePNC.

What does this event portendforthefuture?

First, this is a positive event in the politics of Guyana. Guyana needs to move away from its allconsuming racial voting When only Indians support PPP - or only Africans supportPNC–thatinandof itself undermines the essences and the legitimacy of democracy So, crossracial voting in and of itself

is an extremely good thing forGuyana.

Will this cross-over votingeventbecomeatrend? Willitchangethepoliticsof Guyana for the better? Who gains? PPP, of course. Who loses?ThePNC.

MyadvicetothePNC

You’vegottorethinkthe whole concept of ethnic partyandethnicvoting.Kick this bucket now Transform the PNC into a genuine multi-racialparty Ifitmeans pandering to Indians, embrace it Pandering is good up to a point beyond which it brings negative results I once had this conversationwithMrRobert Corbin (2010), trying to makeapleaandanargument for him to endorse Winston Murray for leader of the

PNC. Corbin lacks vision. He did not see the need for transformation of the PNC. He continued to perpetuate and mold the PNC as an Afro-Guyanese people’s party Granger ran the PNC Gov’t for 5-years. It was a disaster Mr Granger was “controlled” by a bunch of core leaders in PNC. The dark clouds have cleared awaytoday NowMrCorbin andcompanyshouldbeable toseeintothefutureclearlyand be able to make decisions about charting a different course for Guyana intothe21stcentury

MyadvicetothePPP Don’tcrowyetoveryour LGE 2023 victory Afrocross-racial voting is not a given. Not a trend yet. One election, one event-success

couldbereversed.PPPisstill a perceived Indo-ethnic party Don’t count on African-Guyanese voting in sufficient numbers for what they perceive as an Indian party

PPP is on the cusp of transformative changesaway from the disastrous racialpoliticsofthepast65years Don’t lose the momentum Selecting an Afro-Guyanese man for PM who cannot succeed to the presidencyisbadpolicy It’s racist to the nth power It is ugly Changethispolicyand help to move Guyana into a new dawn of non-racial politics End excessively highethnicvotingforethnic parties.

Regards

MikePersaud

The accused minister must step down pending the outcome of an investigation

DEAREDITOR, The daily lawlessness under the PPP/C’s regime continues.

IntheearlyhoursofJune 16th social media carried a painful letter, purportedly from a sexually abused teenager, allegedly another victim of a named Government Minister You mayrecallthatoneyearago social media carried similar allegations against the said minister The previous complainant is still crying outforjustice.

Editor, you may also recall that during the life of this current National Assembly, a government minister made the vilest of comments agains t Opposition Female

Parliamentarians The Speaker,Mr ManzoorNadir failed to discipline the minister Mr Ali, as President, failed to take the necessary action against him His colleagues, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Ms. Gail Teixeira, Ms Priya Manickchand, Ms Susan Rodrigues,Ms.SoniaParag, and other female Members of Parliament on the Government side, have remained muted on this issue Are they by their inaction giving tacit approvaltotheircolleague’s outrageous behaviour in the

NationalAssembly?

The minister, who is usuallyveryactiveonsocial media,isunusuallyquietand has not, at the time of my writingthisletter,deniedthe allegations made by this teenager

The Vice President who holds frequent press conference has also been quietontheissue.However, Mr IfraanAli, to whom the letter was allegedly addressed, issued the statement “No tolerance for misconduct …” (Newsroom online, Friday, June 16, 2023), in response to public outcry The Ministers of Education and Human ServicesandSocialSecurity have also subsequently issuedstatementssuggesting that the matter is receiving theirattention.

Editor, since then, social media is replete with information suggesting that the President and subject Ministers are aware that a deal has been made and that the family has accepted $10 million as compensation for rape,sodomy,andtrauma,at the request of the minister and some of his colleagues. There are no reports of the minister being invited to CID to answer to these allegations,insteadthereisa statement being circulated thatsuggeststherapevictim

THE PPPSEESADEPENDENT POPULATIONASAPOLITICALVIRTUE

DEAREDITOR

has recanted her earlier allegations.

Editor, the accused minister should be made to step down from office pending an investigation of the two allegations brought to the attention of the government The PPP/C cannot continue to cover up the alleged crimes of their cabalandendangerthelives of our children and women. Theymustnotbeallowedto continue bullying and paying off the vulnerable in an effort to silence them. I am outraged that the President did not order an immediate investigation by the police, and offer the victim protection from this allegedpredator

IcallonthePresidentAli to ensure that this matter is not swept under the rug and toordertheaccusedminister to step down from office pending the investigation. Further, help should be requested from the FBI or Scotland Yard since the Guyana Police Force’s RSS’s track record for investigating crimes associated with public figures provides little comfort. You must protect our children and women from predators in and out of publicoffice,Mr Ali.

YoutsTruly,

AnnetteFerguson,MP

Time to walk the talk

DEAREDITOR,

It cannot be business as usualfortheGovernmentor theministerembroiledinthe damming and revolting sexual allegations by a femaleteenstudent.

The minister, if he has nothing to fear and is a personofworth,shouldstep aside,onhisownvolition,to allowaclearandunhindered investigation.

Reports circulating suggest the victim is from theindigenoussectionofthe population (KN June 17) and the teen is flip

flopping on the levelled allegations(Demerarawaves June16).

The indigenous community is still reeling from the horrific Mahdia fire, in which nineteen female teenage students horribly died, and several were injured, to be visited nowwiththissordidaccount involving another of its femaleteen.

Further, the perceived flip flopping should not prevent a full out

investigation as the despicable details are out in

In election campaigns in normal countries, political parties make pledges and offer inducements to win or retain the support of voters. Parties then depend on the free will of the people to decide which candidate best meets their demands or servestheirinterest.

The PPP/C has corrupted this time-honored social pact Intheprocess,ithasdisfigured our democracy and dehumanizedourcitizens.The PPP/C government feels no guilt in using its status as the country’s largest employer, largest awarder of contracts, land, social assistance, and otherstateresources,andasthe soleholderofcoercivepower to repress the free will and conscienceofvoters Forthe PPP, citizens can’t have free choice when, as the government, it is providing theirmainearnings

The PPP believes dependency must mean bondage This is dependency politicsatitsmostcallous Thisdoctrineisrootedinthe DNAof the PPP Dependency politicsgoestothecoreofthe PPP’s self-identity, self-worth, andself-preservation

With Cheddi Jagan, this

DEAREDITOR, CRGfullysupportsthecall for a thorough investigation intotheallegationsofrape

politics was paternalistic and benign With the current PPP crop, it has become heartless

and dehumanizing

Dependency politics so definesthePPPthatshouldall G u y a n e s e b e c o m e economicallyindependent,the PPP would implode into pointlessness

During this LGE campaign, the PPP shamelessly bared itself. It abused its State power to threaten the livelihoods and lives of Guyanese, by using cashtransfers,contracts,jobs, and other opportunities as blackmail Iwasoutragedthat thePPPputmanycitizensina situation where they had to choosebetweentheirsouland their survival That is the dehumanization of which I speak

Nosuchpartydeservesto rulethiscountry!

As such, I join in applauding those APNU candidates and campaigners who, despite the risk, fearlessly followed their principlesandspirit.

I applaud those voters who stood up to the PPP’s coercion and those who votedasaformofprotest.As regards those who jumped ship, I call on APNU

supporters not to denounce them, but to empathize with them. Let us still embrace them as members of the family Let us not allow the PPP to divide us as we seek to build a country where people can enjoy a good life and feel free to vote their conscience.

Noticeably, more and more Guyanese are realizing that the PPP and its DNAdriven politics of dependency will not eradicate poverty, economic insecurity, i n e q u a l i t y , a n d marginalization PPP-ismwill not lift our standard of living, whetherweareatthebottomor in the middle of the income ladder

The PPP is hardwired to maintain the status quo underasmokescreenofrosy talk, one-off cash grants, bonuses, and paltry salary increases Lots of bad things couldbesaidaboutthePPP(its corruption, discrimination, disrespect for women, etc) But among the worst is its convictionthatadeprivedand dependent population is a political virtue, exploitable to feedintoitsownwarpedselfidentityandself-esteem.

YoursRespectfully,

SherwoodLowe

thepublicdomain.

This episode will not go awayanditistimetowalk

(Continuedonpage06)

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the MinistryofHomeAffairs,the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and the Chambers of the Attorney Generalneedtobetheteamto address this very serious matter TheMinisterwhohas

beenaccusedofwrongdoing should be placed on Administrative Leave effective immediately to avoid any perceived and actual interference into the

investigation. Withconcern, Mr JamilChanglee Chairman T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

Theremustbenofurtherdelay

Gov’t investing $2.2B to expand Eccles to treatment plant

(DPI) Some 40,000 residents from Eccles to ProvidenceontheEastBank Demeraraarebeingprovided with an increased level of water supply following the completion of the new well and expansion of the water treatmentplant.

Close to $200 million wasinvestedtocompletethe Eccles well, while some $2 billion is being expended to complete ongoing works at thetreatmentplant.

Thedisclosurewasmade by GWI’s Executive Director of Projects, Marlon Daniels during an interview with the Department of PublicInformation(DPI)on Friday at GWI’s Shelterbelt,

VlissengenRoad.

Additionally, residents willreceivewaterservicefor aminimumof18to20hours daily

With the expansion of the plant, close to 7,000 residents will have an improved level of treated waterandservice

He further noted that the well, which was completed about a month ago, is capable of delivering approximately 240 cubic metres of water perhour

Some $17.7 billion was allocated in the 2023 budget to further improve access to potable water across the country

6 firms submit design & build proposals for reconstruction of Brickdam Police Station

construct an 11-storey buildingtoreplacethepolice station.

Some $400M was allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the 2022 budget for the construction ofthenewcomplex.

M e a n w h i l e , i n September last year, the Ministry had conducted a geotechnical investigation (soil testing) which lasted fourdays.Inapressrelease,

the Ministry had stated that the investigation is to aid in the selection criteria for the foundation of an 11-storey building, approximately 120ft by 80ft. The building will be used as the new headquarters of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Ministrynoted.

“The objectives are to performgeotechnicalteststo acquire information on the ground strata and

engineering properties

These objectives are to determine the classification of soil at each layer and the depths of the layers, the cohesion and adhesion of each soil stratum, the angle offrictionofthesoilateach soilstratum,andtherateand magnitude of soil consolidation groundwater condition and permeability ofthesoil,”thepressrelease hadstated.

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently received six proposals from firms interested in the design and build contract for a new BrickdamPoliceStation.

The six firms who submitted technical and financial proposals for the contract at the National Procurement and Tender Board(NPTAB)officeareas follows: Shandong High Speed Dejian Group Company Limited, China Railway Construction

Limited, Adams Project

M a n a g e m e n t & Construction Limited, BM Property Investment Inc., R. Bassoon&SonConstruction in joint venture with Qing Jain Group Company Guyana Inc., and Nabi ConstructionInc.

Kaieteur News had reported that on October 2, 2021 a devastating fire flattened the Brickdam Police Station, along with two vehicles and a business place close by According to reports, the fire reportedly beganaround11:06hrsinthe upper part of an eastern building and spread to

severalotherbuildingsinthe compound.

I m m e d i a t e investigationsledtotheroot of the fire, which was found to be caused by arson. A prisoner, who was arrested earlier for robbery under arms,confessedtothecrime.

Minister of Home Affairs,RobesonBennatan event in December that year had said that several discussions were held with stakeholders, along with engineers on the rebuilding of the Brickdam Police Station.Hedisclosedthatthe government intends to

We cannot build this nation on Immorality, Cover-up, Bribery and Corruption

DEAREDITOR

A complaint has been lodged,thecryofa16-yr-old femaleindigenousstudentto the President of this nation. Agutwrenching,ballbyball documentation of how she wassexuallyviolated,raped & sodomized, her virginity takenfromher

Andallthis,allegedlyby aGovernmentMinister

Ipenthisletterontheeve ofFathers’Day,appealingto the head of State, himself a father, to consider this

heinous offense on a daughter of this nation , a serious crime and worthy of his immediate priority action. This matter must NOT be pushed under the carpet. Mr President, your ministers MUST know that they too are subject to the lawsofthisland.

The law is for the lawless A thorough investigation must be done and if indeed the minister is found guilty he is to be removed from the Cabinet

Time to walk the talk...

From page 5 the talk on ‘nothingthatisdisrespectful to girls and women will be tolerated’.

Itwouldberecalledthata prime minister was forced from office and recently resigned as an MP over a partygatescandal. The constant rolling

from one scandal to another damages the image of the government, and the perception already out there is that this is a continuation ofpastsituations. It’sanew day, same story, different players.

Regards ShamshunMohamed

and Parliament as seen as unfit to be part of the Government and brought to justice.

You claim your heart is for all Guyanese and your aim is for Oneness of the GuyanesePeople.

Nowproveit.Wecannot build this nation on Immorality, Cover-up, BriberyandCorruption.

That child needs help. You will not be helping the minister if he is guilty, by shieldinghim.

The Word of God declares: “Righteousness EXALTS a Nation. Sin is a REPROACHtoanypeople”

(Proverbs14:24)

Do what is RIGHT THING, Sir! Lest you be judged by the Righteous Judge of all the Earth, AlmightyGod.

Eccles Treatment Plant

GWI’s Executive Director of Projects, Marlon Daniels

The fire which destroyed the Brickdam Police Station back in October 2021.

Guyana increasing natural resource potential, minimising deforestation – Through expanded mineral mapping

DPI - Guyana has expanded its mineral mapping capacity beyond trackingmajormineralssuch as gold, diamond, and bauxite, to look for critical minerals, including gallium, hafnium, iron, rare earth elements, copper, limestone mud, scandium, tantalum, andneodymium.,

Thesearchforthesenew commodities will add to Guyana’s natural resource potential.

This information was made available to the Department of Public Information (DPI) by the Guyana Geology and Mines

Commission (GGMC) Fridaylast.

Mineral mapping is a low-impact mining technique that refers to the process of identifying and mapping the distribution of minerals in a given area or region.

It involves the use of various techniques and technologies to detect and analyse the presence and abundance of different minerals within the earth’s surfaceorsubsurface.

Thepracticewillalsoaid intheprotectionofGuyana’s forests.

Mineral mapping in mining districts helps to identify economically exploitable deposits as a means of improving

productivity within the miningsector

It also significantly reduces deforestation by avoiding the clearing of forest cover from lands that contain only marginal mineraldeposits.

That information will thenallowGGMCtoupdate its geological maps and be better able to use the information to more efficiently identify and plan for the extraction of gold or othermineraldeposits.

Mineralmappingplaysa crucial role in forest protection for several reasons:

Environmental Impact

Assessment: Mineral mapping helps in assessing the potential environmental impactsofminingormineral extraction activities near or withinforestedareas.

By identifying mineral deposits and their distribution, it becomes possible to evaluate the extenttowhichforestsmight beaffected.Thisinformation is vital for making informed decisionsregardingland-use planning, conservation, and mitigatingpotentialnegative impacts on forest ecosystems.

B i o d i v e r s i t y Conservation: Forests are home to diverse plant and animal species, many of which are sensitive to environmental disturbances. Mineral mapping helps identify areas rich in minerals that may be targeted for mining activities. By understanding the mineral potential of an

area, conservationists can prioritise the protection of ecologically important forests, including areas with high biodiversity or those providing critical habitat for endangeredspecies.

Forest Management

Planning: Knowledge of mineral resources within forested areas can influence forest management decisions. Mineral mapping provides insights into the geological characteristics of theregion,whichcaninform sustainable forest management practices Understanding the presence of valuable minerals can help strike a balance betweenconservationefforts and responsible mineral extraction, minimising the impactonforestecosystems.

Water Resources Management: Mineral mapping can assist in protectingwaterresourcesin and around forests. Mining activities can potentially contaminate water bodies through the release of harmful chemicals or alteration of hydrological patterns.

By identifying mineral deposits and their proximity to water sources, conservationists and policymakerscanimplement measurestosafeguardwater quality and quantity, ensuring the preservation of essential ecosystems within anddownstreamofforests.

ConservationofCultural and Historical Sites: Forested areas often contain cultural and historical sites that are of significance to

local communities or archaeological importance. Mineral mapping helps identify areas where minerals may be present, guidingeffortstoprotectand preserve these cultural and historical sites from potential mining activities that could cause irreparable damage.

In summary, mineral mappinginforestprotection facilitates informed decision-making, promotes sustainable resource management, and helps conserve biodiversity, water resources, and cultural heritage. It allows for the effective integration of mineral extraction activities with forest conservation objectives, ensuring the long-term ecological integrityandsustainableuse offorestedlandscapes. Mineral Mapping is intrinsictothewiderfieldof the geological sciences and has been a technique used since the Dutch first started exploring South America. Thefirstsetofmineralmaps available for Guyana began toappearin1796.

Fortheyear2022,dueto the pandemic, mineral exploration was limited in capacity due to logistical constraints.

However, GGMC notes that the process is an ongoing one, and regular updates and advancements in mapping technologies, such as remote sensing and geophysical surveys, contribute to improving the accuracy and efficiency of mineralmappingactivities.

Mining operations ongoing in Guyana

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

Building castles in the sky

Amini-financial crisis is in the

making The massive investments in real estate and property construction which are taking place within Guyana are being done with the expectation of windfall returns for investors. People are investing in real estate andinconstructingbuildings in the hope of making a financialkilling.

Alsodrivingtheproperty construction boom is the falseideathattherewillbea large demand for highincomerentals.

As such, the bourgeois class,bothlocalandforeign, are investing billions of dollars in buying up real estate and erecting massive mansions and apartment complexes which they hope to then rent to persons from the oil and gas and related sectors.

Guyanese are being sold pipe dreams about the country becoming the next Dubai. This is pure fantasy. Instead of Dubai we might becomethenextDamascus.

These real estate and propertydevelopersareinfor theshockoftheirlives.

The oil companies had long signaled that the local oil industry is capital intensive and that only a limited number of locals would be directly employed intheindustry

The oil companies’ highly-skilled employees from overseas stay at hotels when they come for short stints and most of the top employees who are based in Guyanaalreadyhavesecured rentals.

Thosewhoarehopingfor million dollar monthly rentals will have a rude awakening.

When they complete buildingtheirmini-mansions and apartments, they will find it difficult to secure tenants. Some investors are

already ruining their investments. A check of the realestateadswillrevealthat the market is already saturated.Alarge number of Guyanese are taking loans and building apartments, hoping to cash-in on what they believe and perceive to be an emerging high-income market for rentals. Those investmentsaregoingtoend upinproblems.

Too many persons are buying into the idea that the oil money will create fantasticriches.

It will not First, relatively very little resources are coming Guyana’s way and the government is being forced to borrow and to back these loanswithfuturerevenues.

ThoseGuyanesewhoare overextending themselves, including taking loans to construct buildings in the hope that these can attract high rentals are being deluded by the false impressions being foisted upon the nation by the politicaldirectorate.

The same pipe dreams which the politicians are selling to the nation today were sold in 2007 as Cricket World Cup approached Then, people were told that thehostingofthematchesin Guyana would transform tourismandthatthousandsof tourists would descend upon Guyana after the cricket. Citizens were sold the idea thatthehostingoftheSuper8 segment of the 2007 tournament would bring so much international exposure that tourism was going to takeoffinGuyana.

Persons invested in buildings and the upgrading ofhotels.

However, the tourism boom never happened Ordinary Guyanese were encouraged to upgrade their homes – and many did – to international bread and breakfast standards - since

Dem boys seh...

persons coming for the cricket would be looking for such places to utilize on a short-termbasis.

Those investments went down the drain. The bread and breakfast industry flopped even before it flipped.

One hotel which had hoped to capitalize on the hosting of CWC merely enjoyed 75% occupancy during the tournament even though there were some 16,000 arrivals during the weekmatcheswereheldand 40,000 in the month precedingthematches.

Most of these persons stayedwithrelatives.

The government even brought in 20 BMWS to transport dignitaries. After the dignitaries left, the vehicles were left stranded andunusedandhadtobesold ontheopenmarket.

The great take-off never happened.

Infactbetween2007and 2014, economic growth slowed considerably. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, real GDPgrowthwashalfofwhat itwasin2007.Thedreamof economic take-off became a fantasy

All those Guyanese who arethereforeinvestinginreal estate and propertyconstruction should take stockofreality

Their investments are based on assumptions which need to be re-examined Unfortunately, after some would have sunk tens of millions in building apartment buildings and other properties, there is no way to reverse this process. Guyanathereforeis likelyto havealotofunoccupiedand unprofitableinvestments.

Guyana’s oil industry is offshore and much of the opportunities are related to servicing this offshore industry Where are tenants going to come from to occupy the high-end

In tribute to Glenn Lall

Aremarkable soul, who standstall, Amanwhowillnotfall.

As the publisher of KaieteurNews, He is leaving an indelible mark, ensuring thatwecannotlose.

With passion and courage,hetakesastand, To shine a light on corruptioninhisland.

Fearlessly, he exposes thetruth, Unveiling stories of injustice,uncouth.

GlennLall,abeaconof

pressfreedomwefeel, Championing justice andforafairdeal.

T h r o u g h h i s newspaper’s ink-stained page, He fights for truth in everyage.

Hiswordsresonates,his voicestrong, A relentless pursuit of rightingwrong.

His dedication to journalism,

H a s b r o u g h t accountability to the politicalprism.

apartments that are being constructed?

The building boom which is being experienced in Guyana is going to collapse. And a great many people are going to end up

losingtonsofmoney D i s c l a i m e r : T h e opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or viewsofKaieteurNews.

Inthefaceofthreatsand adversity,

Heholdssteadfast,with unwaveringtenacity

His commitment is to thetruth,

Inspired countless hearts,botholdandyouth.

GlennLall’slegacywill endure,

In the hearts and minds ofthosehedidsecure.

A g u a r d i a n o f democracy, a defender of rights, His unwavering spirit continuesthefight.

AbnerLouima:26yearslater

Abner Louima made worldwide headlines in 1997. Today,26yearslater, his harrowing and riveting story that rocked America, and stunned the world, took moreturns.

There are some rays of lightandflecksofgood. Itis a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit, of what separatesmanfrombeasts.

There is a lesson, more than one, for the citizens of thisrupturedcountry,asthey struggle to cope with circumstancesthatcanbe,at times, inhuman in their oppressiveness, and appear overwhelming in their burdens.

What follows is more than issues of police brutality, or attempted coverup, or whistleblowers, or justice prevailing Indeed, it is about all those, butitisalsoofthegreatness that men and women are capable of, under the most u n i m a g i n a b l e o f circumstances.

In August 1997, Abner Louima was one of many Haitianimmigrantslivingin the Brooklyn, New York. Though trained as an electrical engineer in his native Haiti, the only work hecouldgetwasasasecurity guard; paying his dues he was.

Inthecourseofafighton a fateful Saturday night in August 1997 by a nightclub in Flatlands, Brooklyn, he was arrested for attacking a police officer, with several charges laid; the allegation that he had attacked Police Officer Justin Volpe was laterfoundtobefalse. Butit set in motion a chain of events of seismic proportions.

Mr Louima, a US citizen, was beaten in the police car by uniformed officers, on the way to the precinct. What then followed at the precinct was beyond a horror of horrors, among the absolute worst

that man can inflict on anotherman.

As if to show him who wasboss,asiftoremindhim of his place and color and impotence, Abner Louima had his testicles brutally squeezed by Police Officer

Justin Volpe, and a broomstick shoved up his rectum causing severe ruptures to his colon and bladder

But PO Volpe was not done just yet: he haughtily walked around that Brooklyn precinct house, waving the bloody, feces covered broomstick, as if it were a grisly trophy of war, andthenproceededtoshove

it into the mouth of thehelplessLouima.

Notasinglepolice supervisororpresence

in that precinct thought it fit to utter a word of objection at that heinous and unbelievable barbarity, several in one. It was an earlier version of whose kneewasonwhoseneck.

It took an ER nurse at Coney Island Hospital, Magalie Laurent, to expose the gruesome horror, which ledtouniversaloutrage. Mr Louima’s injuries were so horrible that the police officers’ explanation of “abnormal homosexual activities” was just not believable, could not be. Charges followed, and disgraced Police Officer Justin Volpe was sentenced to30yearsinprison. Hewas released recently after serving 26 years for his crime that is beyond description.

The victimized and brutalized Abner Louima won an $8 75 million settlement and has involved himself in extensive humanitarian work in his native Haiti, and in the US. He has also participated in anti-policebrutalitymarches inNewYork. Inthewordsof Mr Louima: “Maybe God saved my life for a reason; I believe in doing the right thing.”

WhereisGodwhensuch a diabolical atrocity can occur? What is the right thing? I believe that if it were not for some divine intervention, Abner Louima mighthavediedlikeablack dog,andnoonethewiserfor the gruesome crimes inflicted upon him. The right thing was done by the ER Nurse Laurent, whose humanity and conscience, senseofrightandwrongand justice could not hold her captivetosilence.

There is a time for silence,andthereisatimeto speak out There are wrongs, and then there are w r o n g s t h a t a r e unmentionable, so stomach

churningtheyareinthemere contemplation, in the v o l u m e s o f t h e i r compilation. I urge my fellow Guyanese to concentrate their minds on this Some crimes are bloody and feces-filled; many others are lily white andbloodless.

We have our Justin Volpesrighthererunningred hot pokers into our hearts andhopes;theydon’tcarrya broomstick, but the spear of history, the bigotry fostered by feelings of supremacy, and the jackboot of the oppressor There is no whistleblower like Magalie Laurent;thereareonlymany aiders and abettors, and covering up collaborators and comrades. There are insidersandoutsiders.

Now the twists. Justin Volpe is free 26 years later AbnerLouimahasforgiven, thoughthepainandmemory still wracks him daily Disgraced Officer Volpe own words glint with haunting power: he now has “nothing but love” for the sodomized, brutalized Louima.

Westrugglewithdemons inGuyanathatsimplywould not let go of us. We look back and we gain renewed strength to live with even greater rage, greater bitterness.

Meanwhile, the real richnessoflifepassesusby, while the powers of the world take the fullest advantage of our social concussions, our corrosive infusions, our self-inflicted devastations When we refusetorelinquishthepast, we have just sacrificed the promiseofthefuture.

D i s c l a i m e r : T h e opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or viewsofKaieteurNews.

Female regional official allegedly involved in connecting school girl to Minister - Sources

Sources acquainted with the

allegedrape and sodomy of an Indigenous school girl by a government minister, is alleging that a femaleregionalofficialisresponsiblefor settinguptheconnectionbetweenthem.

Kaieteur News understands that the ministermettheschoolgirlataregional competition. According to sources, the minister chosed her because she was the youngest participating in the event. Kaieteur News learnt that he tried to use other female participants in the same event to lure her to him but she had shunnedhim.

“Hewassendingthegirlsthemtocall herandsherefused,”onesourcealleged.

The school girl eventually won the event and the minister seized the opportunity “to groom her into his trap with the help of a female regional official”

“The Region gave her money, remember she win it, suh dem give her

like a stipend but he sent a personal money and additional cash with (the female regional official) for her,” the sourcesaid.

It soon began circulating that the ministerwillbeendorsinghertowinthe next round of the competition so she could compete in the finals which were heldinthecapitalcity

Kaieteur News understands that official had even promised to swing the competition in her favour so that she couldwin.

It is believed that these alleged actions by the minister gained him the school girl’s trust and the two became closeacquaintances.

Monthslaterallegationssurfacedthat he had raped and sodomized her at his homeinthecity

Kaieteur News on Saturday reported, that a 16-year-old Indigenous girl alleged that a government minister has raped and sodomised her The teen

inadetailedlettertoPresidentIrfaanAli said, “Dear President Ali, Cabinet Members, private sector, members of the diplomatic community, citizens of Guyana, I would like to let you know whatMinister[nameprovided]hasdone tome It’sbecauseI’mscaredformylife that I am doing this I see no other way [Name provided] has preyed upon me, groomed me and raped me,” the letter stated She had even written graphic details of rape and sodomy Kaieteur News understands that after the allegations surfaced,theministermetthefamilyand settled the matter, forcing her to recant theallegations.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Sunday stated that Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall has chosen to proceed on administrative leave to facilitate a probe after rape allegations were leveled againsthim.

CelebrationofInt’lDayofYoga-2023inGuyana

Indian Embassies abroad, including the primary event being led by Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the United Nations HeadquartersinNewYorkto celebratethe9thIDY2023.

TheHighCommissionof India in Guyana in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural C e n t r e o r g a n i z e d celebrations of the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY)inGuyanaonSunday, 17 June 2023 at the Muslim Youth Organization premises at Woolford AvenueinGeorgetown.

This follows the curtain raiserYogaeventsheldinthe lastfewdays.Theeventwas organized under IDY 2023 t h e m e “ Yo g a F o r Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” whichveryaptlysymbolizes and beautifully captures India’s shared aspiration for “OneEarth,OneFamily,and OneFuture.”

This year, Prime MinisterNarendraModiwill preside over the global celebrationofyogafromthe U n i t e d N a t i o n s Headquarters in New York, USAon June 21. The entire world will come together to

celebratethisspecialday

ThegoalofInternational YogaDay2023istoincrease awareness of yoga’s allencompassing approach to wellness.Yoga has emerged as one of the most trusted methods of improving both physical and mental health while commemorating the values of mental and physical wellness in today’s society

The day also promotes the development of a consistent meditation routine to promote mental clarity and self-awareness, whicharecrucialforthriving inastress-freeenvironment. It encourages mental, emotional, and spiritual harmony and places emphasisonthenecessityof balance in our hectic, contemporary lives Yoga promotes stress reduction, mindfulness, and general healthandvitality

Honorable Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service,

resident Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from media, members of many socio-culturalorganizations, students from various Universities and schools gracedtheoccasion.

Hon Minister Sonia Parag,inhercapacityasthe Chief Guest representing HE President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, spoke on the importance of Yoga, its philosophyandextolledthe positive and healing effects of Yoga She stated that Yoga and Indian culture are deep-rooted in Guyana and commended the efforts of t h e I n d i a n H i g h Commissiontoholdregular Yoga events which would help to spread it far and widealloverGuyana

High Commissioner, Dr KJ Srinivasa, in his remarks detailed the various Yoga events being conducted in Indiaandacrosstheworldby theGovernmentofIndiaand

Dr Srinivasa also gave details of how at least 250 million people are anticipated to attend this year’s International Day of Yoga celebration in India and across the world and details about some innovative initiatives like Ocean Ring of Yoga (Nine ports around the world will host Indian naval ships that will take part in Yoga Day celebrations from theArctic to the Antarctic), Yoga Bharatmala (chain of yoga demonstration will be performed in unison by the Indian Armed Forces), and Har Aangan Yoga (Yoga in everycourtyard/backyard).

T h e H i g h

Commissioner invited all participants to join future Yoga events being organized by the High Commission in Berbice, Essequibo and those with the GPF and GDF later this m o n t h T h e H i g h

Commissioner especially underlinedtheeffortsofthe High Commission to target inclusion of youth in the Yoga programme so that younger Guyanese could benefit from this traditional Indianscienceofwell-being. High Commissioner also extended his best wishes on the Father’s Day and urged all to continue practice and also encourage their family and friends to benefit from Yoga regularly to achieve physical, mental and spiritualwell-being.Healso mentioned the Yoga Day celebrations held by the

High Commission of India in Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis andAnguilla which were attended by dignitaries and sizeable numberofYogaenthusiasts

This was followed by performance of Asanas based on Common Yoga Protocol by all the invitees presentattheeventunderthe guidance of the SVCC yoga instructorMrMohitMaan.

Yoga volunteers and those who performed 108 Suryanamaskar poses - all hailing from Guyana were also felicitated by the High Commission during the event.

This year’s IDY event attracted over 200 enthusiastic Yoga participants. The event was live streamed on the social media accounts of the High Commission and SVCC to maximizetheYogaoutreach.

Yoga, a gift of India to Mankind and an intrinsic part of Indian tradition and culture for holistic living, has transcended the barrier of race, religion and culture to become a global health movement.

Yoga is essentially a mental and physical discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It has been the e n d e a v o u r o f t h e Government of India under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to promote andpropagateYogaglobally so that the whole world could benefit from this traditional Indian science of mental and physical wellbeing.

Towards this end, due to Government of India efforts United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 177 member nations of the UNGA to unanimously proclaim21stJune,whichis also the Summer Solstice (the longest day in the northern-hemisphere),asthe International Day of Yoga since 2015 and has special significanceinmanypartsof theworld.

Minister Sonia Parag delivering remarks

Participants going through some basic Yoga routines.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. KJ Srinivasa delivering remarks

Guyana wins Miss India Worldwide 2023 crown

Workcommenceson$847M watertreatmentplantatParika

The stunning Miss India Guyana,

Aruna Sukhdeo, was on Sunday crowned Miss India Worldwide 2023, in Pune, India, making it the second Guyanesetowintheprestigiouscrownin30 years.

Aruna,athirdyearEconomicsStudentat the University of Guyana (UG), outshined

her competition and not only captured the crown,butwasalsoawarded‘MissBeautiful Hair’,aspecialtitleaward. Also,MissTeenIndiaGuyana,NetuLall was placed first runner up in the Teen category and she was awarded ‘Miss Congeniality’.Mrs.IndiaGuyanacontestant, ReannaArakhan,madeitintothetopfive.

DPI - Construction has commenced on an $847M water treatment plant at Parika, East Bank Essequibo that will serve some 12,000 residents from Ruby, stretching all the way to St Lawrence when completed in2024.

The project is being fundedbytheGovernmentof Guyanaandisundertakenby Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited, an international multidisciplinary environmental s e r v i c e s c o m p a n y headquartered in India that specializes in providing turnkeyservicesinwaterand wastewater collection, treatment,anddisposal.

Toshiba will also train workersoftheGuyanaWater Inc (GWI) to manage and operatetheplant Theplantis expected to be completed in June 2024 and will have a capacity to supply some 4.5 millionlitersoftreatedwater per day, bringing relief to thousandsofresidentswithin the communities it will serve. Some 40 Guyanese will be contracted to accelerate work in the initial phaseoftheproject.

GWI Chief Executive Office, Shaik Baksh on an inspection visit to the work site on Friday, said he was p l e a s e d w i t h t h e commencement of work on thetreatmentplantandurged the contractor to complete theprojectwithintheproject deadline.

Toshiba Water Solutions

Chief Executive Officer, Rajkumar Gupta said his company is committed to deliveringaqualityprojectto the Government and people ofGuyanawithintheproject deadline.

HealsonotedthatToshiba is extremely pleased to be associated with GWI and in the build of water infrastructure to enable the provisionofwatersecurityin Guyana.

Apart from the treatment plant at Parika, six others are currentlyunderconstruction

T h e s e a r e a t Underneeming, Essequibo Coast;ParfaiteHarmonieand Wales,WestBankDemerara; Caledonia and Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara and Cummings Lodge,GreaterGeorgetown.

Workwillalsocommence on a new water treatment plant at Charity, Essequibo Coast;Leguan,RegionThree;

Wakenaam, Region Three; Bath, Region Five and Adventure, Region Six beforeyearend.

In addition, 12 existing treatment plants are being upgraded and work has started on the laying of transmission and distribution linesacrossthecoastland. These projects are part of the Coastal Water Treatment Project, which is geared at providingtreatedwatertothe population

GWI is committed to providingtreatedwaterto90 percentofthepopulationby 2025, and in support of this vision, the Government of Guyana in recent years has been investing billions of dollars annually in the sector

Meanwhile,GWIhasthus far achieved 97 per cent accesstowaterandisactively working towards achieving fullcoverageby2025

found with firearm arrested

Teen

An 18-year-old boy is now in police custody after he wasfoundwithafirearm.TheGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF) reportedthattheboywasarrestedlastFriday Itwasstated thatbetween12:00hrsand12:30hrsapartyofpolicemenon patrol duty went to Woolford Avenue in the vicinity of Camp Street when they noticed the teen acting in a suspiciousmanner

A search on his person revealed a black metal object suspected to be a firearm with serial number and a magazine found in a haversack he was carrying. He was toldoftheoffencecommittedandcautionedandhereplied, “Alexgivemethisgunofficer”.

The teen was arrested and the firearm was lodged, pendingfurtherinvestigation.

Work commences on water treatment plant at Parika

Miss India Worldwide 2023, Aruna Sukhdeo

From left, Miss Teen India Guyana, Netu Lall was placed first runner up, Miss India Guyana, Aruna Sukhdeo and Mrs. India Guyana contestant, Reanna Arakhan

DPI - Residents of Region Two will soon see major infrastructural enhancements in several communities, following the signing of three contracts totalling approximately $53.4 million for capital worksonFriday

Ofthethree,onecontract totalling $31.9 million was signed for the construction of a revetment at Golden Fleece.Thisisexpectedtobe completed within four months.

Three contracts were signed for capital works in

Three contracts were signed for capital works in Region Two totalling approximately $53.4 million

Region Two totalling approximately$53.4million

Theprojectwasawarded toR.I.V.AInvestmentbythe National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

A$10.7 million contract was also signed for the upgradingofTomeshStreet, Windsor Castle, and will be executed by A Bacchus Contracting and Trucking Service.

This project will see a new concrete structure coupledwithconcretedrains on both sides, as well as the

constructionofwalkwaysto allow for easy access for residents.Itisexpectedtobe completed within three months.

Another $10.8 million will be expended for concreteupgradestoSecond Cross Street, Old Housing Scheme and Charity, providing residents with improved access to their homes.

This project was awarded to Golden Key Construction and Supply and is expected to be completed within three

months.

A$23.7 million contract

theMashabo NurserySchool

governmentadvancesitsbid

millioncontractwas also

WANTED VACANCY

Wanted Diesel Mechanic, attractive salary offered. Call: 223-5273/74, 688-0417.

Driver needed, must have lorry licence. Call: 2235273/ 74, 621-5907.

Domestic and Cook needed. Call: 223-5273/74.

Cook needed to work at restaurant in Charity. Call: 223-5273/ 74, 688-0417.

Lathe Operator, Welder and Handyman needed at Good Hope on the East Coast. Call: 645-9333.

Skilled Carpenters, Masons & Labourers needed. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385/ 6257642.

Skilled Carpenters needed to work on sheet rock ceiling. Call: 713-1515.

Security Guards needed! Military background will be an asset. Contact: 641-8230.

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

One Security needed. Call: 619-0898.

Farm Workers needed to work in Timerhi. Living accommodation provided. Call: 617-2032 / 661-1585.

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced Chauffeur with mini bus and hire car licence. Call: 645-0025.

One Housekeeper needed from Soesdyke- Timerhi area. Must be able to prepare meals. Call: 698-8225.

Ghana sees agreement with bilateral creditors in coming weeks

(Reuters) - Ghana aims complete its debt restructuring before the next review of its $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finance Minister Ken OforiAtta said on Sunday.

Kitchen Assistant, Supervisor, Chef and Salesperson needed. Call: 659-5559.

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

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

Stock Clerk, Waiter/ Waitress, Cook & restaurant Supervisor needed. Apply at Regency Suites/ Hotel, 98 Hadfield Street, Werk-enRust G/Town. Call: 683-6471, hotelregency3@yahoo.com

Male Porter, Janitor, Butcher, Counter Service, Kitchen & Pastry Assistants needed. Salary $20,000 weekly. Call: 231-1368/ 223-1938.

One Clerk needed for TSI Eccles office. Must have English and Mathematics. Email application:techserigy @yahoo.com or Call:6159132.

Cleaner, Maintaining Worker & Supervisor, Labourers, Office Assistant and Semiskilled Workers required. Call: 621-6969, 615-7784.

Cleaner and Porters needed. Apply at Lens, 136 Sheriff Street next to Buddys/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486/ 2271511.

Hick's Ville Hotel is now hiring Receptionist and Hotel Attendant. Required to work shifts. Call: 6400673, 227-7714. Email: info@vegeworld.net

Ofori-Atta said the West African nation aimed to reach agreement with bilateral creditors in coming weeks, adding that it was in the

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.

SERVICES

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

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

For all land clearance (grubbing), sand fill, housing plan and estimates. Call K. Lakeram Building Contractor: 692-8464 or whatsApp: 622-0267.

Representatives of Ghana’s Finance Ministry, the Central Bank and IMF address the media during a news conference in Accra, Ghana December 13, 2022. REUTERS/Cooper Inveen/File Photo process of getting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the creditors.

The gold, cocoa and oilproducing nation is in talks with its creditors to restructure its debt as it struggles under its worst economic crisis in a generation

Ghana aims to cut around $10.5 billion in interest payments on its external debt over the next three years to successfully implement a $3 billion loan deal from the IMF.

Its debts to countries including China and members of the Paris Club of creditor nations were $5.4 billion of the

$20 billion external debt due for restructuring, as of the end of a 2022, according to a government presentation to investors. The total external debt stock was about $30 billion.

“We’ve successfully worked with the Paris Club and other creditors to determine the parameters for official debt restructuring under the G20 common framework for debt treatment,” Ofori-Atta told journalists in Accra on Sunday.

“In the coming weeks, we will seek to complete the MoU on terms with bilateral debt treatment,” he added.

Ofori-Atta said Ghana will continue discussions with private cre ditors, Eurobond investors on external debt to reach agreement with p rivate creditors in the shortest possible time.

“We expect to finalise these negotiations before the next review, which is in September,” he said.

The minister said the government will approve by the end of June an energy sector reform plan which will enable it tackle debt owed to independent power producers that has risen to $2 billion by May 2023 from $1.58 billion.

Pakistan’s prime minister declares day of mourning for citizens who

FOR SALE

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.

Pure honey, wholesale and retail quantity. Call: 6214273.

died in migrant boat sinking

(AP) — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday declared a national day of mourning for citizens who died when the fishing trawler packed with migrants they were in sank off the Greek coast.

national flag flying at halfstaff.

Accounts Clerk, office Clerks, Sales Supervisor, Cashiers, Sales rep, Porters & Bond Clerks needed. Apply @ Survival, Sheriff St. Call: 2275286-9/ 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2@ gmail.com

Certified Accountant needed, must be 40 years and older. Apply at Agri Parts, 202 Mandela Ave.

Receptionist required, must be 40 years and older. Apply at Agri Parts, 202 Mandela Ave.

TOURS

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

As many as 750 men, women and children from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe. The Greek coast guard has defended its response to the tragedy that left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank on Wednesday.

Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said Monday would be observed as a day of mourning, with the

He previously said that Pakistan’s embassy in Athens has identified 12 nationals who were rescued by the coast guard. There was no official information on how many Pakistanis were onboard the vessel, how many survived or how many perished.

Greek authorities have been criticized for their failure to act more quickly. They say the migrants insisted they didn’t need any help, but nongovernmental organizations say they received a number of calls for help. The sinking was one of the worst disasters of its kind this year.

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

said Sunday they arrested 12 people involved in sending local youths to Libya for the onward journey to Europe. Senior officer Khalid Chauhan said police picked up the suspects amid a crackdown on human traffickers. Police are interrogating them for their alleged roles in luring, trapping and sending locals abroad after extracting huge amounts of money from them.

Around 28 people from the Koi Ratta area in the district of Kotli have gone to Libya for onward travel to Europe, police said. Local official Chaudhry Haq Nawaz said there was still no confirmation on how many young men from the area were onboard the ill-fated boat, or how many are among the dead or missing.

Contracts signed for roadworks, nursery...

FOR RENT

603-6400.

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

From page 15 Nursery School along the Essequibo coast. The contract was awarded to Rose’s Enterprise by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and is expected to be completed within four months.

The design caters for four

classrooms, a headteacher’s office, a kitchen, a sick bay, janitorial closet, and a store room. It will also cater for terrazzo floors and porcelain tiles for the washrooms along with water-resistant sheetrock ceilings.

Currently, the 22 pupils enrolled in the nursery school are being accommodated at

the primary school. Regional Executive Officer, Susanah Saywack, Regional Engineer, Kawan Suchit, Civil Engineer, Harindra Nandalall, Engineer from Anna Regina Town Council, Brian Alves, and Superintendent of Roads, Saywack Persaud were all present at the contract signing.

Jamaica’s best shooter and defender to face-off in Suncorp Super League semis

SportsMax - The semi-final match-ups have been set in the Suncorp Super Netball League after the top two teams lost on the weekend of the league.

The weekend results mean that Romelda Aiken George’s Swifts will take on Shamera Sterling’s Thunderbirds at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday, June 24, the in the first of two semifinal clashes. The winner will face victor of the West Coast Fever/Melbourne Vixens clash at the RAC Arena on Sunday, June 25.

On Saturday, league leaders New South Wales Swifts fell victim to the Adelaide

Thunderbirds who won the electrifying encounter 60-57 at the Ken Rosewall Arena.

Thunderbirds led 32-29 at half-time but by the end of the third both teams were locked on 42 points apiece heading into the crucial fourth quarter.

Thunderbirds edged it taking the quarter 18-15 to seal victory.

Eleanor Cardwell scored 25 goals and Lucy Austin 16 for the Thunderbirds, who moved back into second place with their ninth win of the season and broke a nine-game winning streak by the Swifts for whom Romelda Aiken George scored 27 which in-

Monday June 19, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Sometimes, it's amazing to see how your relationships can spin so easily out of control, Aries. Today you may have to deal with a lot of tension within your group. You'll almost feel as if no one understands the situation.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You sometimes have difficulty making up your mind. You don't always know exactly what you want. Today, Taurus, you'll be at peace with yourself.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Sometimes we all feel a little lost, Gemini. We often want to move mountains and use all our energy and enthusiasm to try to do so.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

You have a natural ability to accomplish a great deal rather easily, Cancer. But today you may feel snowed under with projects. Things around you might be moving quickly.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Your day has finally come, Leo. You have your own vision of life and you like sharing it with others. You're far from thinking that you're any sort of new messiah.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Today you'll have the strange feeling that something is floating in the air. The time is right to try to understand the different needs of your family circle.

cluded her 8000th goal in the league. Helen Housby supported with 11 goals.

Defending champions West Coast Fever slipped back to third after going down 65-62 Collingwood Magpies at the Silverdome to record their fifth loss of the season.

In her last match as a Magpie, Shimona Nelson scored 51 goals which proved to be enough to overcome the 53 scored by Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler and help script the franchise’s fairytale ending.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast Lightning burned the Queensland Firebirds 66-60 and GIANTS defeated Melbourne Vixens 60-57.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

As the dawn of another quiet and peaceful day appears, Libra, you will be in the best disposition to observe and appreciate the lightness of things. Life can seem so beautiful on some days.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

You will find a clean page on the agenda today, Scorpio. You should try to think only about yourself. This will allow you to meditate about your life and be at peace with yourself.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You will wake up today on cloud nine, Sagittarius. Your morale is at a peak. You will feel totally free and be able to clearly perceive the essentials of life.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

The astral energy will have you reminiscing all day long over childhood memories, Capricorn. These memories will take you to the houses and places where you were raised.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You love interacting with people others might consider eccentric. You can't help it. You're simply attracted to them. You will probably encounter one of these people today, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You have always tried to build up your health using traditional methods, and you take great care of yourself.

Romelda Aiken George’s Swifts will take on Shamera Sterling’s Thunderbirds at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday.

Frances Tiafoe wins thrilling Stuttgart final

Reuters - Third-seeded

Frances Tiafoe survived a championship point and outlastedhomefavoriteJanLennard Struff to win the Boss Open title 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (8) yesterday in

Stuttgart,Germany

By winning his third careertitleandfirstongrass in 2 hours and 12 minutes, the 25-year-old American willmoveintotheTop10in theATPTourrankingsforthe firsttimetoday

Tiafoe saved the championship point trailing 7-6 in the third-set tiebreak. He withstood 28 aces from Struff and finished with 36 winners and just four unforcederrors.

Struff ripped 56 winners with 13 unforced errors and recorded the match’s only service break in the seventh gameoftheopeningset.

LibemaOpen

HomefavoriteandNo.6 seed Tallon Griekspoor rallied to beat Australian JordanThompson6-7(4),76 (3), 6-3 to win his second career title in ‘sH e r t o g e n b o s c h , Netherlands.

Griekspoorsavedfiveof seven break points and finished the 2-hour, 35minute match with a narrow 108-107edgeintotalpoints. The 26-year-old Dutchman won his first tournament in January at the Maharashtra

England 28-2 as rain halts opening

Ashes test for second time

OpeninIndia.

Thompson was denied his first singles title Griekspoor recorded the pivotal service break in the sixth game of the deciding set.

(FieldLevelMedia)

from Australia between two rain breaks on the third afternoon. (Getty Images)

B I R M I N G H A M , England (Reuters)England were shell-shocked after losing two wickets in threeoversasAustraliatook advantage of favourable conditions in a brief restart betweenraindelaystowrest back the momentum in the series-opening Ashes test at Edgbastonyesterday

Englandwere28-2when rain stopped play, a lead of 35runs,afterAustraliawere bowled out for 386 before lunch in reply to the hosts’ first innings total of 393. Usman Khawaja scored 141 runs-hisfirsttestcenturyin England.

When play was first halted opener Zak Crawley

wassevennotoutwhileBen Duckettwas on18,butboth departedinquicksuccession aftertherestartasAustralia’s fast bowlers found dangerous movement in fast-fadinglight.

Pat Cummins dismissed Duckett for 19 after Cameron Green pulled off a spectacular diving catch in the slips, his second blinder in as many weeks after his involvementinthedismissal of India’s Shubman Gill in t h e W o r l d T e s t Championshipfinal.

Three balls later, fellow openerCrawley(7)followed himoffthefieldafteredging a Scott Boland delivery to wicketkeeperAlexCarey

With rain falling, their replacementsOlliePopeand Joe Root, both yet to get off the mark in the second innings, headed off gratefully when play was once again halted with dark cloudshoveringmenacingly abovethestadium.

England, who have won 11oftheirlast13testsunder Stokes and head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum, are looking to regain the Ashes against world champions Australia in the five-testseries.

Scores: England 393 for 8 declared and 26 for 2 lead Australia386(Khawaja141, Carey 66, Robinson 3-55, Broad3-68)by35runs.

Bangladesh trounces Afghanistan by 546 runs for its biggest ever test victory

MIRPUR, Bangladesh

(AP) Bangladesh beat

Afghanistanby546runson Saturday to record its biggest ever test victory in termsofruns.

It’s the third biggest victory in test cricket historyintermsofruns,and Bangladesh appeared to do iteasily

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed claimed career-best figures of 4-37 as Afghanistan was dismissed for115onDay4afterbeing setadauntingtargetof662.

Najmul Hossain helped thehostssetthetoneforthe victory with hundreds in each innings, becoming the secondBangladeshbatterto achievethatmilestone.

Bangladesh’s biggest previous win was by 226 runs against Zimbabwe in

2005.ThemargininMirpur was lower only than England’s675-runwinover Australia in 1928 and Australia’s 562-run win overEnglandatTheOvalin 1934.

Bangladesh’s pace attack dominated at the groundwhichhastendedto assist spin in the past. As well as the wickets tumbling, Afghanistan had to deal with two batters being unable to continue their innings after being hit by rising deliveries including last batter Zahir Khan.

“It was amazing to see the way bowlers responded inthisheat,”LitonDassaid afterpickingupavictoryon hiscaptaincydebut.

“Now we can say we have a quality pace attack.

The spinners also bowled well. It was a good team game but credit to Najmul Hossain, Zakir and Mominul. Najmul got two centuries which was not easyinthisheat.”

Taskin led the threeprongedpaceattack,ararity for Bangladesh at home, which claimed 14 wickets inthematch.

Bangladesh broke throughinthethirdoveron Day 4 when Nasir Jamal nicked to the wicketkeeper as fast bowler Ebadot Hossain(1-22)straightened oneoffthepitchtotakethe outside edge. Nasir added just one to his overnight tallytobeouton6.

Amid the resistance of Rahmat Shah, who made a team-high30,Bangladesh’s fast bowlers kept striking

with left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam getting a double breakthrough in consecutiveovers.

S h o r i f u l , w h o returned figures of 328, had Afsar Zazai (6) caught at gully with a short-length deliveryandthendismissed Bahir Shah (7), who was substituted in when skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (13) wasunabletocontinueafter being hit by a Taskin bounceronDay3.

Taskin then got into the act, breaking the defense of Rahmat, w h o w a s c a u g h t b e h i n d w i t h Afghanistanon91-6.

Healsogotthebetterof KarimJanat(18)andYamin Ahmadzai (1) to stand on the brink of his first five-

wicket haul in an innings, but drama unfolded as last batter Zahir Khan survived twice in consecutive deliveries.

Firstly, he survived an appeal for caught behind when DRS showed no evidence of an edge, and then the next delivery rattled his stumps but was calledano-ball.

Two balls later, he was hit on the elbow while trying to duck a short ball andhadtoretirehurt.

“It didn’t go our way from the start of the match butwehadsomepositives,”

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullahsaid.

“The thing was we playedafteralongbreakin tests. We will learn much more as as we play test cricket.”

Bangladesh was dismissedfor382runsinits first innings, after a counterattacking 146 by Najmul.

The hosts decided against enforcing the f o l l o w - o n w h e n Afghanistan, playing its first test since 2021, was dismissedfor146inreply Najmul posted 124 in the second innings, making himthesecondBangladeshi batter to hit centuries in each innings of a test. Mominul Haque ended a two-year century drought with121notout,helpinghis side reach 425-4 before declaring and setting Afghanistan an improbable 662-runtarget.

The teams will play threeODIsandtwoT20sin thenextmonth.

It was a high-intensity short session of play

Frances Tiafoe (left) of the U.S. with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff after winningthe Stuttgart Open. (REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth)

Young Green Machine training camp to intensify as RAN C/ship draws closer

The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is gearing up to send its National U19 Boy’s team to Jamaica for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) championship.Thisexciting event is scheduled to take placefromJuly10-16atthe UniversityoftheWestIndies inKingston.

The team’s preparations haverampedupoverthepast fewweeks,inordertogetthe teamgame-readyandensure a strong performance at this year’s championship Meanwhile,theyoungGreen Machine is currently undergoing an intensive training programme. GRFU Treasurer, Troy Yhip, stated in recent interview: “By the endofJune,atrainingcamp comprising twenty-five members will be selected, from which the final squad forthetriptoJamaicawillbe chosen.”

Yhip also expressed his satisfaction with the current turnoutfortrainingsessions,

stating, “They (the team) were previously affected by the CXC examination. He explained,“Moreplayersare coming to the practice sessions now that the CXC exams are at its closing stage. With the academic hurdles behind them, the t e a m c a n f o c u s wholeheartedly on their training.”

The Treasurer further explainedthatthetrainingis now entering its tactical phase, signaling an escalation in preparation over the upcoming weeks. He remains optimistic that the team will have ample trainingopportunitiesbefore departingforJamaica.

According to him, “The team currently utilizes the National Park for training sessions from Mondays to Fridays, and on Sundays, they engage in practice matchestorefinetheirskills aheadofthechampionship.”

However, prior to the c h a m p i o n s h i p ’ s

commencement, the team is expectedtoarriveinJamaica atleasttwodaysinadvance.

This will allow them to acclimatetotheenvironment and make any necessary final preparations before stepping onto the field to

compete against other regionalcontenders.

The GRFU is actively reaching out to businesses and organisations, calling upon them to collaborate in its mission to revive and elevate the game of rugby

withintheregion.

Yhipurgedtheseentities to consider supporting the union’s endeavors to promoteandupliftthesport, seeking their partnership in restoringrugbytoitsformer glory

West Indies cruise past USA despite Gajanand’s century

ESPNcricinfo - West Indiesleftnodoubtastowho is the big brother in the Americas region, coasting past USA in the first ever ODI between the sides in what was also the first ever ODI staged at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.

USAwere competitive for fits and spurts, but lacked the nous and stamina to maintain pressure for lengthy periods

This became evident early in the first innings after new-ball bowlers Saurabh Netravalkar and Kyle Phillip began with consecutive maidens before two wickets across thenextfouroverspinned West Indies downat14for 2. B u t a 1 1 5 - r u n partnership between

Johnson Charles and Shai H o p e e n s u e d I t highlighted how badly USA missed key strike weapon Ali Khan, who was forced to sit out while serving the first of atwo-matchban

USA’s fielding effort also did not compensate for

Khan’s absence, as four fairly straightforward chances were shelled across the innings. The first came when Charles was on 12 in the eighth over as a topedged heave against Phillip swirled behind slip where StevenTaylor was unable to corral a juggling effort and allowed Charles to topscore.

However, West Indies left the door ajar for USAto stay in the match with some self-inflictedwounds.

The century stand

ended when Hope played a reckless onehanded slap to sweeper cover on 54 to gift a

wicket to left-arm

s p i n n e r N o s t h u s h

Kenjige

With left-hand batter

N i c h o l a s P o o r a n arriving, Steven Taylor was brought on to bowl offspin and he wound up bagging not just Pooran

but two right-hand batters as well - Charles and Rovman Powell to a golden duck - all caught playing overeager shots as West Indies tried to continue bullying their Associate opposition

on 24 and 27, and he stayed untilthefinalovertoforgea momentum-shifting 56 off 40balls.Hislateburstmeant 297wasplentytodefendand was deemed vital enough to garner Player-of-the-Match honours.

USAgot off to a modest start in the chase, reaching 35 in the eighth over before the wheels fell off. Sushant Modani fell for 14 slashing Holder to deep third before Taylor’s impetuous charge down the pitch four balls latertoKyleMayersresulted inanedgebehindfor18toa ballthatseamedaway

USA captain Monank Patel became Mayers’ second victim four overs later for 6, slicing a drive that was intercepted brilliantly by Roston Chase reaching up at backward point, a moment that once again highlighted the gulf in fielding quality between the two sides Saiteja Mukkamalla fell for a three-ball duck strangled down the leg side by Joseph in the following over before Aaron Jones was run out dramatically as both he and Gajanand

Singh ended up at the non-striker’s end after Jones attempted to dab a singlebehindpoint,tomake it97for5.

With201runsstilltoget across the final 30 overs, USAshowed little intent for the remainder of play. Gajanand, who once represented West Indies at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup, lasted to the end to bring up his maiden ODI century, providing a silver lining to the day for USA while also mitigating their net run rate hit in case the tiebreaker comes into play lateron.

Hecelebratedhiscentury inemotionalfashionwithhis helmetoffandarmsaloft.

“I did it for my father,” GajanandtoldESPNcricinfo afterwards.

“I was very emotional because he passed away when I made my ODI debut twoyearsago.Itmeantalot tome.”

Scores: West Indies 297 (Charles 66, Holder 56, Netravalkar 3-53, Taylor 353,Phillip3-56)beatUnited States OfAmerica 258 for 7 (Gajanand 101*, Mayers 230,Joseph2-68)by39runs.

Butat192for6after36, USA’ssloppyfieldingreared its ugly head again as they

committed three drops across the 44th and 45th overs. Holder got two lives

Johnson Charles swings one down the ground. (ICC via Getty Images)

The National U19 Rugby squad going through the paces during a practice session in the National Park.

GRFU Treasurer, Troy Yhip

Golden Jaguars roar to ‘spicy’ win over Grenada

ByRawleToney

in Miami The Golden Jaguars moved one game closer to qualifying for the Main Draw of the CONCACAFGoldCupwith a victory over Grenada on Saturday evening, which wasflavouredwiththefinest spices and a touch of class fromOmariGlasgow,Daniel Wilson, and Kai McKenzieLyle.

Guyana played to a 5-3 win on penalty kicks over Grenada, and advanced to the next stage of the preliminary round where they will play Guadeloupe on Tuesday evening at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Althoughtheteamshave faced each other 17 times in 43 years, Saturday marked their first meeting in the prestigioustournament.

Grenada still has the upper hand in their head-tohead history, having won 10 matches compared to Guyana’ssixvictories.

Intheirlastencounter,in 2017,Grenadaearneda1–0 winovertheGoldenJaguars.

Guyana’s last victory overGrenadacamein2012–a 2-1 scoreline at the Grenada National Stadium inanInternationalFriendly

However, Saturday evening at the Gold Cup providedafreshopportunity for both teams to showcase their talent and make their mark on the international stage, but in the end, it was the Golden Jaguars that marchedon.

Deputizing for Head

Coach Jamaal Shabazz, the Golden Jaguars assistant coach started former

Liverpool keeper, Kai McKenzie-Lyle between the uprights.

Samuel Cox (Captain), Liam Gordon, Emery Welshman, Elliot Bonds, Kadel Daniel, Omari Glasgow, Jonathan Grant, Jalen Jones, Deon Moore, and Neil Danns were the otherstarters.

The Golden Jaguars had the first big chance in the contest; a 17th-minute handball on Grenada’s Mackell Gannes led to a penalty being awarded, but Neil Danns was denied by Grenada’s England-based keeper,ReiceCharles-Cook.

While a saved penalty

usually generates a lot of momentum for the defending side, Guyana immediatelyrespondedwith a cracker of a goal. In the 22nd minute, Omari Glasgow launched one into the side netting from well outside the penalty area to give the Golden Jaguars the lead. The 19-year-old, who is based with MLS outfit, Chicago Fire FC, scored threetimesforGuyanainthe most recent edition of the Nations League and continuestoprovehimselfas one of the best young

forwardsintheregion.

Grenada hit back in the 60th minute thanks to Jacob Berkeley Agyepong’s fantastic run into the box; goalscorer Kairo Mitchell barely had to do anything other than let Agyepong’s cross bank off his boot into thenet.

The remaining third of the game saw neither team able to muster an additional goal,sothegameproceeded topenalties.

Both sides traded off taking excellent spot kicks, andafterthreeroundsitwas

knotted up at 3-3. In the fourth round, Guyana created some separation when GK Kai McKenzieLyle reached back to stop Agyepong’spenalty Western Tigers’ Daniel Wilson, a second-half substitute,steppeduptodrill thedecisiveshotandgivethe Golden Jaguars a 5-3 shootoutvictory If successful against Guadeloupe, the Golden JaguarswillplayintheMain Draw against Canada, Guatemala, and Cuba in GroupD.

Guyana Basketball Coaches Association elects new executive

The Guyana Basketball Coaches Association, which was dormant for sometime,helditselectionsontheMay 26, 2023 virtually, directed by Mr Andrew Junior Hercules, outgoing presidentofthe(GBCA).

In attendance was the General Secretary of the Guyana Basketball Federation Mr Patrick Haynes. The following officers were elected by way ofslateforthenexttwoyears.

%President….Mr JulianHaynes

% 1st Vice President Mr Mark Agard

%2ndVicePresident Mr Abdula Hamid

% 3rd Vice President Mr Ojay Joseph

%Secretary MrNaylonLoncke

%Treasurer Mr AdrianHooper

% Assistant Secretary Treasurer

MsKeishaCopperfield

% Public Relation Nygil Dreapaul

The Golden Jaguars starting XI.

New Amsterdam Secondary triumphs in first

GCF/MOE

The Guyana Chess Federation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, hosted a groundbreaking chess tournament for students in specialneedsschools.

This event marked the first opportunity for these dedicated students to showcase their chess skills followingtheintroductionof chess in special needs schoolsin2022.

The primary objectives of the tournament were to expose the students to a competitive tournament format and to fuel their passion for the game by nurturing their competitive spirit.

Participants from St Barnabas Special School, Linden Centre for Special Needs Children, New Amsterdam Special Needs School, David Rose Special School, and the Diamond Special Needs School engaged in three untimed roundsofgameplay

The David Rose Special School served as the venue for this memorable event, which took place on Friday, June16th.

Among the eighteen participants, Samuel Foo, a 13-year-old student from New Amsterdam Special Needs School, emerged as

Special Education Chess Meet

thevictor,clinchingthefirstplace medal with an impressive score of 2 5 points.

Meanwhile, the five students representing New Amsterdam Secondary School earned 9 points, securingthemthetrophyfor thebest-performingschool.

TroyScott,a14-year-old from the Linden Centre for Special Needs Children, secured second place, while Deon Smith, also 14 years old,representingDavidRose Special Needs School, claimedthethird-placespot. Additionally, Therisa Anthony (16 years old), Deon Smith, Samuel Foo, Troy Scott, and Kezy Sandford (14 years old), were recognized as top performers for their respective schools St Barnabas, David Rose, New Amsterdam, Linden, and Diamond.

Thesuccessofthischess eventcanbecreditedinpart to the hardworking teachers from Special Needs Schools across Guyana who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their students are giventhesameopportunity asanyotherstudentsacross theGCF’schessinschool’s programme to play the game It is only with their

support that the GCF can grant equal access to the game Some teachers were trained by the GCF who in turntaughttheirstudents.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation Anand Raghunauthwasimpressed with the performances, stating that this event shows promise for talents emerging from the special needsprogramme

The GCF’s initiative in training the teachers to teach the students will

continuetoexpandoverthe comingmonths,notonlyin the special needs programme but in schools acrossthecountry

Itisworthnotingthatthe teachers competed in their chess meet, also hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, in Februaryofthisyear

Supervising the tournament were FIDE Arbiter and GCF Head of Development, John Lee; GCF Company Secretary,

MarciaLee;SeniorSpecial Education Needs Officer,

Nikoya Alleyne; and

teachers from the participating schools

Notably, renowned national chess players

WCM Sheriffa Ali, Anaya Lall, and Jessica Callender lent their support and expertise to the event

C e r t i f i c a t e s o f participation and trophies for the winners were presented

The organizer of this

exceptional tournament was Sabine McIntosh, the Managing Director of the Guyana Deaf Association, who leads the committee responsible for promoting chess in special needs schools within the Federation.

The GCF thanks the Ministry of Education for their support and sponsorship and the management of David Rose Special School for the tournamentvenue.

YBG ExxonMobil sponsored YBG schools Basketball tournament... President’s College A and B teams advance to Female Regional final

On Friday and Saturday, June 16th and 17th last at the Marian Academy and Saints Courts, President’s CollegeAand B teams advanced to an allRoyals Female Regional final after easily beating Marian Academy, and the Bishops High School respectively in play in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Schools tournament sponsored mainly by ExxonMobil.

In game 1: President’s College B dominated the Bishops High School 21 pointsto5.

The Top performers for PC were Tikisha Vanlong 8 pts,3stealsandKrizelWells 5 pts, 5 rebounds. Gianna

Wilson for Bishops had 2 pts,3rebounds.

Game 2 resulted in

President’s College recording 9 points to Marian Academy’s 1 point with PC’s Chrisleyan Richards hitting 6 points and2rebounds.

On Saturday, June 17th at Saints Court, game 1 resulted in The Bishops High pouring in 69pts versus St John’s Collegewhoonlymanaged 6pts For the winning BHS unit, Yaniel Easton had 14 pts, Aiden Doris

10 pts and Colwyn

Stephens 8 pts, while for St John’s College, Joshua

Pitt had 3 points, 4 rebounds In the second encounter, Saints Stanislaus

shot 34

Basketball competition.

Alafin

JoelKing5pts,12rebounds led their charge, while for Charlestown, Kevon Harlequinn 4 pts, 4 rebs, 4 steals.

Over at the Marian Academy Court, GTI 41 pts overcame Marian Academy with 26pts

Leading GTI were, Martin

Edwards 10 pts, 9

rebounds and Peter

Langevine 10 pts 6 rebounds, while Marian responded through Marian

Fiedtkou 12 pts, 2 reboundsandJadenSimon 9pts,8rebounds.

Christ Church scored 20ptsversusSchoolofthe Nationswith11pts Christ Church reached their total through performances from Orlando Monah with

7 pts, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and Renako Solomon 6 pts, 4 rebounds For School of the Nations, Dequan James recorded 4 pts,7rebounds.

QuarterFinalswereset for Georgetown in the male division yesterday at the Saints Stanislaus hardcourt The contests were to feature GTI v Chase Academic, St R o s e s v N o r t h Georgetown, Saints Stanislaus v Queens College and The Bishops HighvMarianAcademy

T h e R e g i o n a l Conference is Powered by ExxonMobil, with support fromEdwardB.Beharry,GBoats GY and the National SportsCommission.

points to beat CharlestownSec. with8points.ForSaints,

Joseph 10 pts, 3 rebounds, 3 assist, 5 steals, Allyn Adams 8 points and

Play from last Friday’s action in the YBG ExxonMobil sponsored schools

All competitors, GCF Officials and Senior SEN officer, Nikoya Alleyne, took a photo op at the tourney.

The Wonder Kid strikes! Omari Glasgow (#7) was joined by teammates after scoring the opening goal of the game for Guyana.

The defending moment! Goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle and Stephen Duke-McKenna, embracing Daniel Wilson after he scored the winning penalty against Grenada.