Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil invested over $39B in Stabroek Block last year

American oil m a j o r , ExxonMobil invested a whopping $39 billionin2022todevelopthe oildiscoveredintheStabroek Block.

According to financial statements included in ExxonMobil's 2022 Annual Report, a total of $39,210,542,971 was expended in the Block. This amountstojustoverUS$196 million.

Theoilcompanyrecently told reporters that its investments are not made fromloansbutthroughequity

thecitizensofGuyanainthe interest of transparency. He dodged the issue at his most recent press conference hosted at the Office of the PresidentonThursday Itwas reportedthattheVPdeferred thequestionandprovidedan unrelatedresponse.

In prefacing his comments to the specific question,theformerHeadof Stateexplained,“Regardless of whether you make the financing in the form of a loanorequityyouhavetoget aratereturn.

Thereisacostofcapital andthatishowitis.”

company, so this is what can be analyzed even when you lookatthecostbank.”

audit the books of the companiescanseethenation cheating itself out of more revenue from an already lopsidedoilcontract.

Presently, two oil audits conducted to date for the StabroekBlockactivitiesare yet to be finalized. Guyana's first audit of ExxonMobil's expenses between the period 1999and2017,tothetuneof US$1 6 billion is still ongoing.

or financing from the company This newspaper understands that in the previous year- 2021ExxonMobil's equity contribution amounted to $42,259,299,744 or just over US$211million.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has been reluctant to disclose the rate of return on the company's investments despite his responsibility to

However, when he was asked if there is a standard rate of return Guyana is paying the companies, he noted, “We are not paying anything.

The Government of Guyana is not paying anything because they have to raise the financing using the best efforts; the cheapest costoffinancingthatiswhat they are supposed to do as a

He also noted that the questionshouldbeputtothe oil company and he would thenprovideacomment.

According to the financial statements from ExxonMobil, the Stabroek Block generated a gross revenue of US$9.8 billion in 2022 Currently, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana is producing oil from two projects there, the Liza One

andTwo.

From its gross revenue, ExxonMobil deducted a whopping US$7 4 billion towards the recovery of its investmentforthepetroleum related activities Meanwhile, Guyana benefitted from a meager total of US$1.4 billion from the activities in the Stabroek Blocklastyear

While the investments continue to pour in, the country's leaders have been lagging behind on conducting timely audits of thecompany'sexpenses.The failure on Guyana's part to

That review was conducted by a British firm, IHS Markit. A draft report was prepared and leaked to thepress,detailingthatsome US$214 million in costs could be disputed by the country

Meanwhile, a second audit is currently underway for costs totalling US$7.3B which were incurred from 2018to2020.

That contract was awardedlastyearMay Atan engagement with the press lastmonth,ExxonMobilsaid theprocessiscurrentlyinthe comments period which allows the company to respondtothefindingsofthe auditteam.

Itwasalsonotedthatthis was expected to wrap up in anotherfewmonths.

Inthemeantime,Guyana

is yet to commence an audit forthepursuingyears. There has also been no word from the government on when these critical reviews would commence. Instead,VPJagdeohasmade itclearthatGuyanahasgiven itself an extension of the prescribed time limits to conductaudits,asoutlinedin the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the country inked with the oil companies.

The contract stipulates thatthecountryhastwoyears in which it can conduct a reviewofExxon'sexpenses. Be that as it may, the country's chief spokesperson on petroleum matters noted “that it is true that the PSA says that the audit has to be completedwithintwoyears... (but)wemadeitclearwhen we got in to office, no matterhowlongtheaudits take, ExxonMobil and the c o - v e n t u r e r s , t h e companiescouldneveruseas an excuse, the timeline in there.”

H e c o n t i n u e d , “…because if they use that and don't want to comply with the audit, they would haveatonofbricksfallingon their head on other issues on theregulatoryside.”

CANU rank excretes stolen diamonds

A Customs Anti-Narcotic (CANU) rank has reportedly excreted two pieces of diamonds he stole fromaSurinameseman.

TheranksidentifiedasJamineGoddardandoneof his colleagues, Annick Hossanah was arrested for stealingtheman'sdiamondsduringaCANUoperation in Corentyne Berbice. The two ranks had detained the foreign national after finding an illegal gun in his possession When they brought him to CANU headquartersinGeorgetown,thedetaineereportedthat theystolehisdiamonds.

Following an investigation by police, it was learnt thatGoddardhadswallowedhisshareofthediamonds andHossanahsoldhis.

While police hunt the buyers of Hossanah's stolen diamonds, Goddard was taken to a hospital where he subsequentlyexcretedtwoofthepreciousstones.

Meanwhile, CANU's Head James Singh in a press releasestated,“Theseofficersmadetheirchoices,their actions do not reflect that of our organization” while adding that his agency remains committed to carrying outitsmandateandcombatingdrugtrafficking.

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

The diamonds that was recovered

must benefit on returns from financing Stabroek Block projects’

- Jagdeo

...as company walks away with US$7.4B of US$9.8B in 2022 for costs alone

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday told reporters that oil giant ExxonMobil must benefit on returns from its investments intheStabroekBlock.

He was at the time respondingtoaquestionfrom thisnewspaperontheinterest rate Guyana is paying the Stabroek Block partners whenhepointedoutthatthis isastandardpractice.

The VP was however reluctant to reveal the rates attached to the investments beingmade.

He reasoned, “The thing isthatfinancing,soaproject could be financed from equity or loans, so if you make a loan to the local companythenyouhavetoget a return in the form of an interest payment at a particular rate. If you make anequityinjection,yougeta return on your equity so that is it. Regardless of whether youmakethefinancinginthe form of a loan or equity, you have to get a rate return. There is a cost of capital and thatishowitis.”

The former Head-ofState went on to explain that Guyana had an experience with Blackstone, the company that was interested in constructing the Amaila Hydropowerprojectwhereit wanted a 20 percent rate of return on equity Jagdeo said at the time Guyana could have borrowed at an interest

rate between eight or nine percent “so it was in our interest that we co-invest in theequity”.

According to him, this is how the country ended up utilizing the funds from the I n t e r - A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB), s i n c e e q u i t y w a s remuneratedatahigherrate.

Jagdeothentold Kaieteur News that the question of Exxon'sreturnrateshouldbe put to the company and he willthenprovidearesponse.

TheformerPresidentwas however asked to explain if Guyana was paying a standardrateofreturnonthe equity contribution from the companies when he pointed out, “We are not paying anything.

The Government of Guyana is not paying anything because they have

to raise the financing using the best efforts; the cheapest costoffinancingthatiswhat they are supposed to do as a company so this is what can be analyzed even when you lookatthecostbank.”

The subject of a standard rate is particularly significant, given that Guyana has already been warned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the country could lose massiverevenuebyfailingto cap the interest rates on the investments for its oil projects.

The IMF said it is an industry norm that the government of the day disallows interests from being recovered on loans. Even if this is allowed, the administration sets a cap or limit to prevent the full interest amount from being

recovered. The IMF pointed out that Guyana not only allows the recovery of the interestbutalsosetsnocap.

Before further questions could be asked, Jagdeo requested that the press conference“moveon”.

The response from the country's chief spokesperson onthepetroleumsectorcasts agloomypictureonwhatthe truecostofcapitalis,andthe total revenue Guyana could belosingannuallyoninterest payments.

The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) inked with ExxonMobil and

its partners Hess and CNOOC allows for 75 percentoftheStabroekBlock revenues to be recovered by the companies for their investments Guyana then shares the remaining 25 percent profit with the partners, meaning the countrycollects12.5percent of the revenue It also receives a meager two percent royalty on its sweet lightcrude.

This newspaper reported that the 26,800 square kilometer (6.6 million acres) Stabroek block, raked in gross revenue of US$9 8

billion in 2022. Currently, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)commonlyreferred to as ExxonMobil Guyana is producing oil from two projects there, the Liza One andTwo.

From its gross revenue, ExxonMobil deducted a whopping US$7 4 billion towards the recovery of its investmentforthepetroleum related activities Meanwhile, Guyana benefitted from a meager total of US$1.4 billion from the activities in the Stabroek Blocklastyear

‘ExxonMobil

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Stay

guarantee: yay or nay

Did he or didn’t he? Did what John Hess CEO of Hess Corporation said was emphasized to him by Guyana’s PresidentAliaccurate? Thatis,didhehearright,haveitright, onPresidentAli’sreassuranceaboutastayofthejudgmentby theCourtofAppealofanaspectofJudgeKissoon’sruling? If JohnHesspresentedwhatactuallywassharedbyPresidentAli with him, then one of the few remaining planks, check and balance,inGuyanaistottering,nottoofarfromgoingthesame wayasotherconstitutionalbulwarksinthiscountry

According to Mr Hess, PresidentAli emphasized that a stay WILL be granted in the appeal brought by Guyana’s EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,theGuyanaGovernment, and Guyana’s partner in the oil sector ExxonMobil The appeal sought to overturn Judge Kissoon’s ruling involving ExxonMobil providing Guyana with an unlimited (or full) parent company guarantee in the event of an oil spill of massiveproportions AsperMr Hess,whosecompanyispart of the ExxonMobil led consortium operating in Guyana’s offshoreoilfields,PresidentAlitoldhimtheequivalentof‘not to worry, as everything was in place, for Judge Kissoon’s rulingtobereversed,asitpertainstothe30-daylimitgranted toExxonMobiltodelivertheparentcompanyguarantee

How could President Ali be so sure? What could have possibly gone on, been worked out, behind the scenes? It is eitherthatMr HessmisheardormisinterpretedPresidentAli,or whatsomeGuyanesefearedcomingtopast ButifMr Hess speakstruthfully,thenthejudiciarydoesn’tlooksogood,and Guyanaisinaworseplacethancouldbeimagined Wehave alwayshadanappreciationforthetalkativenatureofCEOHess: when he opens his mouth, many stories have jumped out Regrettably,thosestorieshavenotbeenaboutwhatispositiveor good for Guyanese, but what always favours his partners, his company,hisfamily,andhisshareholders.

Incontrast,theGuyanafamilyandGuyaneseshareholders are dumped to the margins, like garbage Their concerns, complaints,andcriesaboutfullinsuranceprotection(andother materialoil-relatedmatters)havebeenminimizedtowhatMr Hessdismissedas“noise”tohislistenersattheJPMorgan2023 Energy, Power, and Renewables Conference Our anxieties aboutsafety,economy,prosperity,anddestinyarewavedaway as “noise” by Mr Hess Did our own PresidentAli, through somenuancedexpressionplantthatword“noise”inMr Hess’s ear,sothatheturnsaround,anduttersitmockingly,merrily,to hisaudience?

IfMr Hess’srepresentationtotheJPMorgandeep-pocketed gatheringisevenpartiallyright,thenitisatestimonytohowour ownelectedleadershaveputtheinterests(andcashpriorities)of theoilcompaniesveryfaraheadoftheinterestsandrightsand safetyofGuyanaandGuyanese. Inthelocalpoliticalschemes, Guyanesedonotcountformuch,otherthanbeingnoiseinfected peopletobeatthebeckandcallofpoliticians Politiciansthen approveofthembeingtakenadvantageof,andpushedaround byExxonMobilandothers Couldthatbehowjudicialrulings that are not “predictable” are thought of, dealt with, as in defeated? Thisdoesnotspeakfavourablyaboutthejudiciaryas awhole,andthosewhositinjudgmentofwhatcomesbefore them Preciousandsacredindependenceofthejudiciaryisnow on the line, with possible inroads being made, and political topplingthreatened VicePresidentJagdeohadmadeblindingly clear his troubling anger, his impatience, and his dismissal of Judge Kissoon’s ruling What was just as clear was that the PPP/CGovernmentandleadershipwerenotgoingtoleaveany stone unturned to upturn the ruling that was against ExxonMobil.

This is Guyana’s Government; this is the kind of leadership that Guyanese have. Guyana’s EPAis a PPP/C Government puppet and global laughingstock, Guyana’s Police Force is a PPP/C Government toy on a string, and Guyana’svastnon-independentmediastandsasnothingbut PPP/C Government messenger boys and girls. What Mr Hessproudlyputsonthetabledoesnotshedacleanlighton either President, government, or the believed untouched independenceofthejudiciary

Hegemonic power in Guyana

DEAREDITOR

This piece was first published in January 1993, as part of a series in the SN when the new PPP government was already b e i n g a c c u s e d o f “authoritarianism”.

David De Caries and I hadagreedthatthepremises ofthestilldominantMarxist paradigm ignored noneconomicsourcesofangstat ourperil.

“Applying concepts formulated by the Italian theorist Antonio Gramsci, we should note there is a reservoir of power in civil society, which may be relatively autonomous from thestate.

This power is exercised through the cultural hegemonythatthedominant group within civil society establishesoverthemindsof thepopulace.Thisdominant group may, but does not necessarily always, also controlthestateoreconomy

We m a y d e f i n e hegemony as the moral and philosophical leadership, which a group seeks to establish in a society, throughtheactiveconsentof the major groups in the society

These moral and philosophical ideas control people’s perceptions and consequently, their activities.

Theseideas,inanutshell, formthebasisofthepopular culture, which the populace

further accepts as “common sense” These ideas and values form a discourse disseminated by religious groups, schools, political groups, cultural activists’, thelawandthemediaandall of the other socialisation mechanismsofsociety

We can understand how this process of hegemony operates by looking historically at the post amelioration period when our now dominant “Creole culture”wassolidified.

The British White Colonial Bureaucracy controlled the State, while theplantersandotherWhites controlled the economy and civilsociety

Viewing their interests, vis a vis theAfrican masses as coincident, the three power centers cooperated in imposing a unified transformist hegemony We had at this time an Integral State, the goal of which was to make the slave or free African/Coloured actively accept his condition of subservience - thus sparing the funds, and anxiety, of more direct coercion mechanisms.

It was the substitution of mental slavery for physical slavery The African had to be convinced that he was a still “savage” being civilized.

Weusethedissemination of religious beliefs to illustratetheprocess.

The approved religion

was Christianity and its activities were funded by a combinationofstate,planter and private resources. The problemwasnotChristianity per se, but the manner in which it was interpreted by Whites and taught to Africans.Firstly,theAfrican indigenous religions in which the Divine was worshipped in its creations suchasriversandtrees,was derided as “animism”

Secondly, even the avowed intent of the salvation of ‘souls” of the Africans was actually to create a pliable workforce.

Thirdly Christianity was transmuted into a “white” religion in which the Black African would always be second class; Jesus would always be blonde and blue eyed and hewasintheimageofGod!

The fact that Africans h a d a l i n k w i t h Christianity, which preceded that of the British, or of Western Europe for that matter, was ignored The fact that Africans had a greater legitimacy in asserting that Jesus was Black was ignored Egypt was denied as being part of “savage”

Africa Rewards of the hereafter were stressed and the blessedness of the meek and poorwereextolled.

Never mind that the White preachers and their sponsors were neither

noticeably meek nor poor Even though the British a d m i t t e d t h e accomplishments of Islamic cultureinSpainforinstance, they would not concede that this was an African achievement, and that Africans were exposed to Islam even before Indians andthatmanyAfricanslaves wereMuslims.

Now, once the main purpose of the hegemon has been achieved [the willing acceptancebythedominated of the unequal power relations], the hegemon will be willing to make innocuous compromises depending on the specific circumstances.

T h u s a f t e r t h e Christianizing experience wasduplicatedinallaspects ofculturebytheschoolsetc. and the framework of the debilitating Creole Culture discoursewascreated,pliant coloured and Black exslaves were accepted on the lowerrungsof“society”.

AsRexNettlefordnoted, thisculturewasverymuchin place by the time the indentured Indians arrived. RetentionsofAfricanculture - drumming, dancing, some food etc. – were seen as “lower class” But these were valorised in the post independentgovernmentsas “national culture” in which Indian culture was defined outas“ethnic”.

Sincerely

RaviDev

The Other Side to Teaching

DearEditor

For many persons, teaching is an occupation that is concerned with facilitating pupils in the learning experience. So, many individuals think it is justajob.Andyes,itisajob butthereissomuchmoreto t e a c h i n g t h a n accommodating the academic needs of the students. Honestly, it is hard for a teacher to do just that. Teachers give so much of themselvestotheprofession that many ponder why the salary is often so poor in several countries. So, let us take a look on the other side ofthecoinwhereit’snotjust a9to5.

AnAgentofChange

From very early, educators are taught to be agents of change and many goontodojustthat.Theytry to instill the very best in the students that they meet and therefore do everything for these young minds to reach

their full potential Sometimes, they have to go way beyond the call of duty So,it’sverycommontofind teachers offering extra lessons for free so that students can excel in the required subjects that they need for their career paths. Many of these extra lessons are even held on weekends and during holidays to maximize the potential of learners.

There are many occasionstoowhereteachers often pay for these subjects out of pocket or have fund raisers to finance many of theseexaminationcosts.The same teacher will spend endless hours on the School Based Assessment making suggestions and providing guidance to ensure that their pupils get the best grades ever

TheBanker

This one may come as a surprise. The reality is that many teachers actually give

from their salaries to benevolent fund initiatives within some schools so that students can be provided with additional help such as money for transportation

The truth is while there are s o m e g o v e r n m e n t programmes in place to offset some costs it is not always enough so many teachers choose to shoulder this responsibility from a placeoflove.

There are times you will find teachers even taking on the roles of entertainers and putting on a show to raise funds to assist the students based on their different needs.

Thecounsellor

Teachers even serve as ‘counsellors’ for students that are hurt or experiencing trauma Educators spend hours listening and comforting their charges And when these cases get a little beyond their professional realm they

stand beside their students while they undergo the professional help that they sometimes have to seek for them.

Many will say it comes with the job but remember everydaythesecivilservants choosetoextendthemselves tothenation’schildren.

So, as they enter negotiationsorevenexpress theirchallenges,theleastwe can do is show them the respect that they are so deserving of. Give them the support that they have given tomanyofusandcontinueto giveonadailybasis.

There are many of us who are where we are today because of that one teacher that believed in us and went beyondthecallofduty

They saw us, they listened and they gave all theycould.

Weallcanrememberthat oneteacher

Regards

Kalehia

Johnson

DEAREDITOR, Firstly, I would like to say that I could hardly find words to extol President Dr IrfaanAli’s government, for the Yeoman service to Guyana, and the people of our country The list is enumerable and actually in myopinion,cannotbelisted. The number of roads, lands, bridges, agricultural expansion, cash grants, medical facilities and support that the government has been working on, all for the benefit of the people are trulyexciting.

Hence, my incessant applausetothePresidentand his Government. All of Guyana should join in applauding them. We know for a fact that whatever a goodGovernmentdoesthere are always some who will alwayscritiqueandwhowill neverbesatisfied.

However,themainthrust of this letter is to call on the governmenttomakeGuyana truly internationally recognized. Please note the following:

1 I recently had cause totraveltothehistoricland oftheOttomanEmpirethat is Turkey I had acquired the necessary visa for this purpose of this travel in order to join a muchanticipatedcruisewhichwas set to happen since preCOVIDdays.

2 On arrival in Turkey withallmyexcitementand joy I could not have enteredthecountry,simply because the visa I obtained online was not meant for a Guyana Passport, only for a US and other countries’ passports’.

3 Beingshockedand disappointed all kinds of enquiries commenced I was told I needed to return to New York and re-apply, t h i s w o u l d h a v e jeopardized the entire cruise.

4.IwastoldIcouldbuya visa as is usually done in Dubai.Iwasthendirectedto athousand(1000)ftwalkto asmalloffice,toshockingly be told that Guyana Passportsarenotrecognized there.

This was very humiliating. Not because I was inconvenienced but becauseoftheprideIfeelfor mycountryGuyana.

The cost of the new visa would have been about $90 USD but the disrespect for theGuyanapassporthurtme much. No amount of money

couldgetyouthevisathereI was told. See number 5 hereunder, for the shock of mylife.

Theyshowedmealiston thewallofthecountriesthat could purchase that visa on spot Remember I had already acquired a visa online.Also on arrival, they refused that visa and now they were refusing my passportbecausetheGuyana Passport means nothing in Turkey and from what I see even in Europe. My heart raced when I saw the list of countriesthatcanpurchasea visaattheairportofTurkey Numberonethatisapproved is Haiti! Yes Haiti! Haiti! Haiti! The Caribbean warzone nation and most impoverished nation in the Caribbean could purchase a visaonthegroundinTurkey Next was little Grenada, followed by Barbados, Trinidad, Suriname, St Lucia and tiny babies Nevis andAntigua.

So Mr President, imagine my hurt and shame to know that our passport in theworldisconsideredweak and fragile despite our numerousresources.

We are now one of the largest producers of oil and gas, blessed with gold, diamond, manganese and a plethora of other minerals and agricultural prowess Yet, we are looked down upon by the government of Turkey. We are recognized by the United Kingdom and over 80 other countries, I havebeentold.

Yetwecannotevenbuya visainTurkeybutHaitican.

I am not going to curse my government, nor any Government in the past. I know this Government of Excellency, President Dr IrfaanAli has been working steadfastly for us to acquire

easyvisainGuyanaitselffor theEuropeanUnion.Weare recognized by no other than the United Kingdom, by the Russian Federation for Visa –Free travel, many other nations like Japan, China, Indiaetc.areeasytoacquire avisawithourpassport.We are now members of the United Nations Security Council and therefore, even more recognized. I recall Turkey was building an agricultural and social relationship with Guyana and associated with the C e n t r a l I s l a m i c Organization of Guyana (CIOG).

Ithereforewishtoputto HisExcellencyandhisHon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Mr HughTodd,tobuildthekind of relationships that our passports could at least be recognizedbycountriessuch asTurkeyandothers.Sothat we do not have to be disrespected and told that our passports are not acceptable.

They wanted me to return to the US and apply for a visa that would be manually stamped in my passport, so that they could see my face and take my fingerprints.

I let it go and continued on my trip in another directioninEurope.

President Dr Ali, now over to you and your government to continue to take Guyana to the highest levelsofrespectintheworld, sothatTurkeyandsuchother countries where our passportsarenotrecognized would be educated to recognize us, especially since we are now a member of the United Nations SecurityCouncil.

Sincerely,

HajjiDr RoshanKhan

DearEditor, The prompt, on-the-spot and swift decision to align NIS and Old Age pensions payments on the first working day of the month effective July, is being described as: ‘leadership is aboutlistening’,‘Welistened

and we acted’ While the moveisagoodoneforthese categories of pensioners, it has to be wondered though, how the alignment of payments of these pensions will aid and assist with the steady rise in cost of living and the daily fight to make

ends meet and fulfill obligations? More needs to bedoneforthesecitizens. This listening and acting with alacrity must transcend all aspects of national life. Ifonly

Sincerely

An open letter to His Excellency IrfaanAli Keep up the School Nutrition agenda

DearEditor,

Iamhappytoreadabout the ongoing and expanding Government’s Breakfast Programme in our land. I received a news snippet that “Over 13,000 pupils (are) benefittingdailyfromGovt’s Breakfast Programme,” and I was quite pleased. Where thecountryisconcerned,this is not new in any way at all, as school feeding programmes are universal and have always proved beneficial for the physical, mental, and psychosocial development of school-age children and adolescents, particularlythoseinlow-and middle-income countries (LMICs).

My email explained that “More than 13,000 Grade Six pupils are benefitting from the programme, which provides them with a nutritiousmealeveryday,to improve their attentiveness in class.” And yes, nutrition andeducationgotogether

Advocatesofchildhealth have been experimenting with students’ diets in the United States for more than twenty years, and it is well established that improved nutrition has the potential to positively influence students’ academic performance and behaviour

According to the plethora of existingdata,betternutrition allows for students to be better able to learn, have fewer absences, and improves students’ behaviour, causing fewer disruptionsintheclassroom.

In terms of actual cognition, nutritional status directly affects mental capacityamongschool-aged children. For example, iron deficiency, even in early stages, can decrease dopaminetransmission,thus negatively impacting cognition. Deficiencies in othervitaminsandminerals, specifically thiamine, vitaminE,vitaminB,iodine, andzinc,areshowntoinhibit cognitive abilities and mental concentration

Additionally,aminoacidand c a r b o h y d r a t e supplementation can improve perception, intuition, and reasoning There are also a number of studies showing that improvements in nutrient intake can influence the cognitive ability and intelligencelevelsofschoolaged children So, this programme is indeed a worthyone.

On the local scene, MinisterofEducation,Priya Manickchand,notedthatthe

ShamshunMohamed

programme also provides regular income for persons within communities capable ofdistributinghealthyfoods. She revealed that “We hired individuals from the community and gave them a menu prepared by the Carnegie School of Home Economics.Itismeasuredin termsoffoodvalue.Andwe paythemtoprovidethefood as well as for their labour.” So on one hand, it is about nutrition and education, while at the same time, employmentisenhanced. In terms of the national and long-term plan, things are seemingly on the right path.Aquick look back will show that the year’s budget allocated a total of $2.1 billion to expand the programme to benefit over 85,000 pupils across the country And this is not all, there is also the ministry’s HotMealProgramme,which serves meals to primary and primary top students in Regions One, Two, Three, Five,Seven,Eight,Nine,and Ten.

Editor, poor health is the antithesis of education

Every day, millions of childrenaroundtheworldgo to school on an empty stomach,andhungeraffects

(Continuedonpage06)

How does aligning pensions payments assist with steady rise with cost of living?

Five civilians killed, some ‘beheaded’, in southeast Kenya

The attack by al-Shabab occurred in villages that border Somalia, an area wherethegroupoftencarries outraids.

(Al Jazeera) Five civilianshavebeenkilledby armed assailants who

attacked two villages in southeastKenya,policesaid. The attack on Sunday occurred in the villages of Juhudi and Salama in Lamu County, which borders Somalia, the police source said.

Theattackersalsoburned houses and destroyed property

A 60-year-old man was bound with a rope and “his throat slit, his house was burnt with all belongings”, police said. Three others

were killed in a similar manner while a fifth victim wasshot.

Resident Hassan Abdul said that “women were locked in the houses and the menorderedout,wherethey were tied with ropes and butchered”.

A secondary school student was among the five people killed, Abdul said, adding that “all those killed were slashed and some of themhadbeenbeheaded”.

Another local resident, Ismail Hussein, said that the fighters stole food supplies before leaving, firing their armsintotheair

Police described the incident as a “terrorist attack”, a phrase they typically use to refer to incursions by Somalia’s alShababgroup.

Lamu is near Kenya’s border with Somalia and fighters from al-Shabab frequently carry out attacks in the area in a bid to push Kenya to withdraw troops from Somalia, where they are part of an international peacekeeping force defending the central government.Kenyafirstsent troops into Somalia in 2011 to combat the al-Qaedaaffiliatedgroupandisnowa major contributor of troops to an African Union (AU) military operation against thegroup.

But it has suffered a string of retaliatory assaults, including a bloody siege at theWestgatemallinNairobi in2013thatclaimed67lives and an attack on Garissa

Universityin2015thatkilled 148people.

In Somalia itself, alShabab has continued to wage deadly attacks despite a major offensive launched last August by progovernment forces, backed by the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

ATMIS, which has 22,000 troops, has been assisting Somalia’s federal government in its war against al-Shabab since 2022, when it replaced the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Last week, four people were killed in northeast Kenya,withpolicesayingalShababwasresponsible.The incident took place when a vehicle was escorting a convoyofbusesbetweenthe towns of Banisa and Mandera. Another security team from Banisa was attacked when it responded, policesaid.OnJune14,eight Kenyan police officers were killedwhentheirvehiclewas destroyed by an improvised explosive device in a suspected attack by alShabab,policesaid.

In the last two weeks, attacks linked to al-Shabab have killed another 10 people, according to police reports.

Keep up the School...

Frompage05 their concentration and abilitytolearn. There are also millions of children, particularly girls, who simply do not go to schoolbecausetheirfamilies need them to help in the fields or perform domestic duties.

In conflict-affected countries,childrenaretwice as likely to be out of school than their peers in stable countries-2 5 times more likelyinthecaseofgirls.

I think readers get the

gistofmycomment.Itisthat ourGovernmentisreallyon a good drive here. School meal programmes can truly help address many of these challenges.

They are a multisectoral gamechangerthatimproves children’s education, health andnutrition.Morebroadly, they support the whole community by providing an important safety net, and by strengthening food systems andeconomies.

Yourstruly, HBSingh.

Al-Shabab fighters sit on a truck as they patrol in Mogadishu, Somalia [File: Mohamed Sheikh Nor/AP Photo]

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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Victory and thank you rallies

The two major parties have been hosting meetings to celebrate their victories at the recent Local Government Elections. We at this newspaper are questioning what kind of victory they are claiming, when half of the voters stayed away.

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It is also curious as to what these politicians are really telling their followers at these meetings.

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They have been blatantly refusing the vexed issue of the lopsided ExxonMobil contract and doing good for the Guyanese people.

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So what are they celebrating, when there is nothing really to celebrate?

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New Petroleum Bill includes no requirement to notify public of oil block giveaways

The new Petroleum Activities Bill includes several

new provisions to ensure effective regulation. Be that as it may, there is a clear

absence of requirements to telltheownersofoffshoreoil blocks-theGuyanesepeople

-whentheseconcessionsare beinggivenaway

It therefore means that blocks can be issued or experienceachangeofhands without the public knowing thatthisoccurred.

The public also has no sure way of knowing when the operatorship of a block haschanged.

In the past, companies havesoldsharesinoilblocks without the public being notifiedbythegovernment.

Itisonlywhencompanies make announcements throughpressstatementsand investor reports that the mediafindsoutandreportsto thepublic.

Now that the Bill proposestoofferlicensingin new different regards, this state of affairs will now also apply to the issuance of licences for carbon storage andpipelinelicenses.

Theprovisionsofthenew Bill which speak to disclosures in The Official Gazette only refer to notifications made by the Ministerinthelead-uptothe awards.

The Minister has the

authority to invite applications for exploration licenses through a notice publishedintheGazette.The notice specifies the block or blocksforwhichapplications areinvited.

The Minister can also specify the period within which applications must be made.

Additionally, the Minister can specify the conditions that need to be fulfilled for submitting an application.

TheMinisteralsohasthe power to require applicants for a license to fulfill certain obligations.

Applicants may be required to publish details of their application in a manner specifiedinthenotice.

Applicants may also be requiredtoprovidedetailsof their application to specific persons and in a manner specifiedinthenotice.

The Minister is authorised to prescribe regulationsorissuenoticesin the Gazette to determine certain aspects related to the awardingoflicenses.

Theseprovisionsinclude:

the establishment of an account for the deposit of bonus bids untiltheMinister announces their decision on accepting or rejecting the bids;andthespecificationof awardcriteria.

Thelattercanincludethe signature bonus, exploration workcommitment,aswellas othercommercial,climate,or s o c i a l i n v e s t m e n t considerations that the Ministerdeemsappropriate.

While these provisions a l l o w f o r s o m e notifications, in the interest of investors, the absence of transparency provisions with respect to the award of blocks and changes in ownership can leavethedooropenforshady transactions.

The draft Bill is now available for public consultation and is available at the following websites: www nre gov gy and www.petroleum.gov.gy

All comments should be s e n t v i a e m a i l t o jmckenzie@nre gov gy during the period and by close of business on Monday, 3rd July 2023

Nocleardividebetweenlegalrightsandmoralobligations

It is always important to distinguish between legal rightsandmoralobligations. Therighttosilenceisalegal right of all accused persons but what about the moral obligation of those holding public and political office? Do holders of such offices have a moral obligation to answer questions on matters which are the subject of a criminalinvestigation?

AnofficialofANewand United Guyana (ANUG) was recently reported as claiming there is no right of silence outside of a criminal court. As such, the learned counsel contended that the holders of political office have a duty to answer questions which, while not lending towards a conviction, has a bearing on a person’s suitability for office.

Iftheargumentproposed by the learned counsel has validity, it would mean that those persons who were charged with electoral offences have a moral obligation to answer questions about their suitability to hold public office.

Unfortunately, when it comes to criminal investigations there is no clear demarcation between thelegalrighttosilenceand the moral duty to justify one’s suitability for holding public office. In fact, the answers to the ‘moral’

questions posed by the learned counsel are not only material to the criminal investigation, they can also beself-incriminating.

The learned counsel wouldknowthatalegalright against self-incrimination is a protected right provided for in our laws.This right is rootedinthepresumptionof innocence. If the presumption of innocence is to have any legal worth it is only logical that there be a right against selfincrimination.

The right against selfincrimination therefore flowsdirectlyfromtheright to the presumption of innocence. In Gibson vs. Attorney General of Barbados(2010),itwasheld that there is, under common law,arighttosilenceandno obligation of the defence to aidtheprosecution.

The right to selfincrimination means that no one can be compelled to provide evidence that could beusedagainsthimorherin a criminal or legal proceeding. Four hundred years ago a precedent was established that the State shouldnothavethepowerto force persons to incriminate themselves. An accused person has a right to remain silent and to refuse to provide any evidence or answeranyquestions.

Nor should invoking the right of silence be assumed

Dem boys seh...

tobeaninferenceofguilt.It has long been held that an accusedperson’sdecisionto remain silent should not be taken as an admission of guilt.

On the other hand, a moral duty to provide answers relates to ethical considerations. It suggests thatindividualshaveamoral obligation to address relevant questions or concerns posed to them, even if they are not legally requiredtodoso.

However, as mentioned before, there is no clear demarcationbetweenthelegal righttosilenceandtheethical duty to provide answers on issuesthatarelikelytobethe subject of criminal investigations The questions which the learned counsel posed are predicated, it is presumed,onamoraldutyto establish suitability for continuing to hold public office Butthelearnedcounsel who posed those questions oughttoknowthattheanswers to those very questions are of evidential value and can be self-incriminating.

But the issue does not end there because, true to form, Bharrat Jagdeo, has puthisfootinhismouth,yet again. He has implied that the political future of one of the country’s Ministers is dependent on a conviction. These are his exact words: “ there must be a full investigation of the

We gan soon all be talking Spanish

Hold on to yuh sombreros, folks, ‘cause things ‘bout to get real interesting in Guyana. De President done seh dem considering mekkin Spanish mandatory in schools.

Ah tell yuh, dem boys ain’t worry ‘bout a ting. Soon yuh won’t be able to walk a step without hearin’ Spanish flyin’ outta people mouth like parrots in a rainforest.

Picture dis, nah. Yuh strollin’ down Regent Street, and instead ah de usualhustleandbustle,yuh bombardedwidCubansand Venezuelans at every corner Dem boys seh dem Spanish done wukkin’ in mostofdestoresonRegent Street,thebusiestshopping streetindecountry

Yuh want a cigar, mi

amigo? No problemo! Yuh want some salsa lessons on de side? Si, señor! It go be like a Latin carnival right dehondepavement.

But wait, de madness nahdoneyet!Demboysseh even roadside and traffic junction go get in pon de act.

Spanish-speaking immigrants propping up de economy Dem boys seh without these Venezuelan and Cuban compañeros de construction industry would be like a house ah cards We don’t have enoughworkerstodowork in de country Without de Spanish immigrants, de constructionindustrydead.

And don’t even get me started on de bars and restaurants Dem places would be in a state of emergency without dem

allegations and if the minister is found guilty, he faces all the consequences associated with that charge andcourtimposed.”

But what if the Minister is exonerated by the court but the evidence suggests something improper was happening? Would the government and the PPP/C be willing to impose sanctions on the basis of m o r a l o r e t h i c a l considerations? It should be recalled that under the D o n a l d R a m o t a r administration, a Minister was forced to step down following an incident in which there was alleged

threat to a female. Even thoughtherewasnocriminal charge, the Minister was askedtodemitoffice.

Jagdeo therefore has to becarefulaboutstandingon onlyalegallimb.Asisbeing suggested by the learned counsel,thereisalsoamoral obligation to establish suitabilityforoffice.

While this moral obligation must not compromise the rights against self-incrimination, surely after the legal or investigativeprocesseshave beenexhausted,therewillbe amoraljudgmentwhichwill havetobemade.Andsurely, t h i s s h o u l d h a v e

implications on the Minister’s political future. But for now, the Minister cannot answer the questions posed by the learned Counsel from ANUG as these can be selfincriminating.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author They do not purport to reflect the opinions or viewsofKaieteurNews.

Spanish-speaking staff to mix up de cocktails, whip up de tapas, serve de customers and clean de placeafterwards.

Andyuhknowwhatelse would suffer? De oldest professionindeworld. But dem boys nah know too muchaboutthatwuk.

So, meh friends, as we gear up fuh dis linguistic invasion,lehweembraceit with open arms and open textbooks.Insteadof“Good Morning”, we gan soon be greeting each other with “Buenos Dias”, like we born with Spanish in we blood.

So get yuh maracas ready, polish up yuh salsa moves and prepare fuh de ride of yuh life. Guyana is abouttobecomeaSpanishspeakingcountry Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Raphael Trotman writes, speaks

“Itwouldbemosthelpful formetoknowwhatwenton withtheoilcontractbetween Exxon and Guyana, the substance behind the signing ofit. Whatdoyouhavetotell meaboutit?” Approximately seven years ago, I asked that question bluntly of the then Minister of Natural Resources,Mr RaphaelG.C. Trotman. Much hinged on hisanswer,forifIsensedthat there was hedging, or vacillating, or any disingenuousness, on his part, it most likely would have been the last time we

sharedspacetogether,orsaid anotherwordtoeachother We were sitting in close conversational proximity; justthetwoofus. Myeyeswerelockedinto his, and studied him closely; his body language, for hesitation, for any telltale signs of creativity, possible falsity, anything that remotely resembled the slippery, some peculiar human fantasy Former Minister Trotman's response tomyquestioncamestraight, strong, and swift: “I did not take a cent from Exxon, nor

did Exxon offer me anything.”

Thanks were uttered for the clean lines, clarity, and firmness and finality of his answer Ibelievedhimthen; that still stands today I shared my thoughts about neighbouring threat(s) and how vulnerable those left Guyana,aswasplacedinthe public domain before, from my assessment of what I called “premium paid in blood.”

Now he has written this book “From Destiny to Prosperity” which I knew

wasinthemaking. Itisgood thathedid. Thethoughthas long been present that I should do the same with the Guyana Gold Board, with much of its substances now lodged overseas These thingsneedsunlight.

Interestingly, Raphael Trotman(thelawyer)isofthe view that the contract can be renegotiated.

Nothing more is said from this corner Just as interestingly, Mr Trotman, the signatory for the Guyanese people, and on whose head has been showeredmeteorsandUFOs and all manner of visceral revilements, speaks towards ' g e o p o l i t i c a l a n d geostrategic'realitiesthathis Coalition APNU+AFC faced. Whathestoppedshort of saying was how overwhelmingthosecouldbe for a dot on the map like Guyana. PresidentAlisaidit thesweetestwhenfacedwith the bitterest of cups: “superpower.”

Though His Excellency did not know it, that descriptive was more than aboutExxon.

It was who is behind Exxon, no poke, no Lilliputian, itself. There is America.

ItwaswhyMikePompeo camehere;notfordemocracy or some dreadful elections fight between some silly people Primitive and impassioned tribes; who the hell cares about them? Mr Trotman's thinking is repeated: 'geopolitical and geostrategic.'

Thereisirresistibleforce embedded in both, what is existential for Guyana. Yes, he did touch upon the unspoken challenges that he and his political group encountered - the battering that both had to and still

endure.

It explains so much about why the PPP Government runs for cover when the nation's now proven oil wealthistheissueofinquiry ItrevealswhyPresidentAliis now tongued-tied and pointblank refuses to acknowledge properly the existence of this oil patrimony, in mortal fear of stumbling.

It exposes why Vice President Jagdeo is so circular, so wavy, so topsyturvy, so much in reverse gear, so heavily about anythingbutwhatisstraight, when pressed for simple and clear answers and positions onthisoilendowment.

In a sentence, the devils that the APNU AFC Coalitionhadtodealwithare the same ghoulish ones that live with the PPP Government of today, Excellency Ali and Vice PresidentJagdeo. Igoouton the longest, slenderest and shakiest of limbstoday;they took nothing, made no selfservingbargains.

They sold nothing. But theystillhavetofacedemons that cripple, monsters that overwhelm and maim the people of Guyana, and Guyana'sprospects.

What author Trotman penned is what highlights why the man with all the power, Bharrat Jagdeo, is so impotent since 2020. He may mean well, but he cowers before geopolitical andgeostrategicimperatives, fears the political implications of raising his handandvoice.

Mr Nortonhovers,andas much as he is undermined, and registers less than expected, the Americans recognize him, and feature him and his group in their

calculations.

ItishopedthatGuyanese understandalittlebetterwhy Iamsofrank,sofulsome,and so fierce in my views about the handiworks of Her Excellency, Sarah Ann Lynch, and Exxon Country Head Alistair Routledge Their verbal sorceries are seen through, their maternalismandpaternalism discerned for the cheapness and insulting nature of both, andtheravageswreakedona poor, backward nation under democracy and contract sanctity

TheAmbassadorandher people should know why I turned my back on that invitation to break bread. A fewarenotfooled,normake themselves fools for the company of those who exploit and eviscerate all Guyanese, including those turnedintotraitors.

From Raphael Trotman's comments,itisclearthatthe PNC couldn't compete and come out ahead. It is just as clear that the PPP stares at a repeat and similar defeat. This suits the departing and incoming ambassadors just fine. If and when and ever Guyanese are together, it could be a different story American doesn't want that, the PPP has no interest in that, and the PNC is still to make up its mind about whereitstandswithanysuch thought Thanks, Mr Raphael Trotman for the tome.

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.

Speeding teen driver killed in Essequibo accident

A 19-year-old boy was on Sunday morning killed in an accident after he crashedintoautilitypoleonBushLotPublic Road,EssequiboCoast,RegionTwo.Deadis Mario Adams, of Lot 45 Lima Sands, EssequiboCoast.

TheGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)reported thattheaccidentoccurredaround1:15hours.

Adams was the driver of motorcar PAD 5291, while the other occupants of the car were 32-year-old Troy Ross of Lot 52 La BelleAlliance,21-year-oldDeanCortmanof Lima Sands, and another male who fled the scene.

It was reported that the teen was proceeding north along the western driving lane at a fast rate. While in the process of negotiating a right bend, the driver lost controlofthemotorcarandcollidedheadon to a utility pole which is located on the westernsideoftheroad.

Asaresultofthecollision,themotorcar wentupinflamesandwascompletelyburnt. Public-spiritedcitizensassistedinremoving the teen and the other occupants from the wreckedmotorcar

Adams and the other occupants were taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where they were seen and examined by a doctor

Theteenwaspronounceddeadaround01:50 hoursandhisbodywastakentothehospital's morgue awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Moreover, Ross was examined by a doctor and admitted as a patient at the hospital, with lacerations about the body, while Cortman was admitted for trauma to theheadandlacerationsaboutthebody

Guyanese accountant goes missing in T&T

The authorities in Trinidad and Tobago are searching for Guyanese accountant,ReaganReece, who was last seen on Thursday afternoon after a triptothebarbershop.

Reece, 45, lives in the Bon Air community in Arouca. A friend of Reece noted that the man was home all day on Thursday until around 13:45 p.m. when he left for a barbershop which is close towhereheresides.

Family and friends reached out to the Hunters SearchandRescueTeamto undertake search efforts. The police were also notified. Reports are that the man's car was spotted over the weekend and the policewerenotified.When thepolicecheckedthearea, thecardisappeared.

OnSaturdayevening,a

Missing Guyanese Accountant, Regan Reece

member of the public notified Reece's family that his car, a Hyundai Tuscon bearing registration PEC 735, was spotted over the weekend in an area called 'the Bamboo ' People unknownwereattemptingto

sell the man's car there, a familyfriendrelated. The police were notified, but the car had disappearedbythetimethey arrived The search continues for the missing man.

The wrecked motorcar

Dead, Mario Adams

Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2023 Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2023

Twenty-year-old Shemina Peroune was on Saturday evening crownedMissGuyanaCultureQueen2023.

Peroune was among nine young women vying for the coveted crown.ThedelegatesstunnedtheNationalCulturalCentrestagewith theirtalentpiecesandmesmerizingoutfits.

In the end, Peroune was crowned queen and also walked away with other special prizes including best in national dress and best in eveningwear ShewillberepresentingGuyanaontheregionalstage MissCaribbeanCultureQueenonAugust7,inSt.KittsandNevis.

The first runner-up of the Miss Guyana Culture Queen pageant 2023wenttoJasmaineAssanah,secondrunner-upDenicaHenryand thirdrunner-upKeriDuncan.

'LargestHajjpilgrimageinhistory'beginsinSaudiArabia

(Al Jazeera) The pilgrimageofHajjhasbegun as crowds of Muslims donning white robes circle the Kaaba, the cubed structure at the epicentre of Islam's holiest site, their prayers ringing through the air

The annual pilgrimage began on Sunday in Mecca, SaudiArabiawiththetawaf, the circling of the Kaaba, in an event that is expected to breakattendancerecords.

“This year, we will witness the largest Hajj pilgrimage in history,” said an official at the Saudi MinistryofHajjandUmrah.

More than 2.5 million Muslimsareexpectedtotake part, as coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place since 2020 have been fullyrelaxed.

That year, just 10,000 people were permitted to participate; 59,000 in 2021; andlastyeartherewasacap ofonemillionpeople.

“I am living the most beautiful days of my life,” Abdelazim, a 65-year-old Egyptian who saved for 20 years to pay the $6000 cost he needed to attend, told the

AFPnewsagencyatthesite.

On Sunday evening, the pilgrims will begin making their way to Mina, about 8km (5 miles) from Mecca's al-Masjid al-Haram, or the

Grand Mosque, before they gather at Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad isbelievedtohavedelivered hisfinalsermon.

Mina is prepared for the

Pilgrims pray at the al-Masjid al-Haram, or the Grand Mosque, during their Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]

ambulances are on standby to treat cases of heatstroke, dehydrationandexhaustion.

The Islamic ritual is obligatory for every ablebodied Muslim adult who has the financial means to takepart,formingoneofthe fivepillarsofthereligion.

The physically and emotionally challenging experience is meant to cleanse followers of sin and bringthemclosertoGod.

This year, Hajj is held betweenJune26andJuly1, with the celebration of Eid al-AdhatakingplaceonJune 28.

While an expensive ritual, the journey of Hajj often inspires hope for many,eveniftheyhailfrom parts of the world besieged by war, poverty or occupation.

Many save what little money they have for years, tobeabletoaffordit.

pilgrims, with food supplies brought in and security forcesdeployed.

This year's Hajj is a challenge,takingplaceinthe nearly 45-degree-Celsius

heat, the date for the pilgrimagedependentonthe lunarcalendar Saudi authorities said more than 32,000 health workers and thousands of

Four groups of pilgrims left Gaza last week Meanwhile, pilgrims from northwesternSyriastreamed through border crossings with Turkey And Yemenis boardedthefirstdirectflight to Saudi Arabia since 2016 forthepilgrimage.

Thenumberofpilgrimsthisyearisexpectedtobreakrecordsatmorethan2.5million.

Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2023, Shemina Peroune

Guatemalans choose new president after a tumultuous electoral season

(AP) Guatemalans voted Sunday to elect a new president and vice president as well as fill all congressional seats and hundredsoflocalpostsafter one of the most tumultuous electoral seasons in the Central American nation's recenthistory

Many Guatemalans expressed disappointment with their presidential choices after three opposition candidates were excluded by authorities. A large number of null ballots were expected, and experts saiditcoulddepressturnout.

With none of the 22 presidential candidates polling near the required 50% threshold for winning outright, a second round of voting on Aug. 20 between the top two finishers was almostcertain.

At the Mixed Urban School No. 2, a combined elementary and middle school in Sumpango, voters began lining up outside its muralledwallanhourbefore voting began. The town of about 37,000 sits in the mountains less than an hour west of the capital. Voting appearedorderly

Wa l t e r A l f r e d o Hernández, a 61-year-old lawyer and notary from Sumpango, was one of the first to vote. He was in and outinabout20minutes.

He drew a clear line between how he thinks things are going in his town pretty well and nationally—adisaster

Guatemala “is immersed i n m i s f o r t u n e , i n corruption,”Hernándezsaid, beforegoingontolistthecooptedinstitutions,especially in the country's justice system.

“Thecitizenwantstolift himself up and he can't.The richhaveourheads,”hesaid, demonstrating his foot pressing something to the ground. “The powerful, the military officers and the businesspeople,theyarethe ones who have us on our knees and don't allow us to develop.”

Marleny Cabrera, a 29year-old elementary teacher at another school, said she was looking for a change in thedirectionforthecountry

“I believe a less stable emphasis has been given to education and health,” she said.“InmycaseI'mlooking for the good for the children ofourcommunityandIcame to choose Guatemala's wellbeing.” There were some complicationsreportedearly

Sunday Voting never got underway in San Jose del Golfo in central Guatemala. Localsinthehighlandstown would not allow the voting centertoopen,sayingpeople f r o m o u t s i d e t h e municipalityhadbeenbused intovote.

W h e n e l e c t o r a l authorities tried to open a new voting location in the town they were blocked by locals, according to a statement from the Guatemala department electionboard.

NationalPolicelaunched teargasinanattempttoclear the crowd of about 300, which set people running and triggered some rock throwing by locals. There were approximately 100 to 150 police and soldiers and morewerearriving.

Later Sunday, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said voting had been canceled in San Jose del G o l f o d u e t o t h e disturbances The town's citizens will be able to vote Aug.20duringtheexpected secondroundofpresidential voting,thetribunalsaid.

The organization Electoral Lookout said the main election-rlated problems it was aware of acrossGuatemalaconcerned issues of alleged busing of voters from outside municipalities, purchased votes and some intimidation towardjournalists.

InSanMartinZapotitlan, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) west of Guatemala City, locals also reacted angrily to reports that outsiders had been brought in to vote. Local outlet NotiReu showed imagesofwhatitsaidwerea pileofburnedballots.

President Alejandro Giammattei, who could not seek re-election, had said Friday that the elections are “one more sign that we live in a stable democracy, something that is consolidated with periodic, free and participatory elections.”

Accusations from both inside and outside Guatemalathatthevotewas unfairly skewed to favor the political establishment rose after several outsider candidateswereexcludedby the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the highest authorityonthematter

Among those barred from the ballot was Thelma Cabrera,aleftistandtheonly Indigenous woman candidate who allegedly

didn't meet requirements to run.Carlos Pineda, a rightwing populist who was leadinginopinionpolls,was denied a spot due to alleged irregularities in his nomination.RobertoArzú,a conservative law-and-order candidate, was barred for allegedly started his campaigntooearly

The two leading candidates favored to advance to a runoff vote were Sandra Torres, who divorced social democratic President Álvaro Colom in 2011 while he was in office, and diplomat Edmond Mulet. Zury Ríos Sosa, the daughter of the former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, also was considered a contender

Allthreeareonthemore conservative side of the political spectrum and campaigned promising to install tough security measures like President NayibBukeleinneighboring El Salvador and promoting conservativefamilyvalues.

Torres, making her third try to win the presidency, also promised bags of basic food items for those in need and cuts in taxes on basic foods. Mulet said he would give Guatemalans free medicine and support senior citizensandsinglemothers.

RíosSosacampaignedto establish the death penalty, prohibit government posts for those convicted of corruption, protect private property rights and improve thehealthsystem.

No leftist party has governed Guatemala in almost 70 years, since two leftist administrations from 1945to1954.Thesecondof

those was led by President Jacobo Arbenz, who was overthrowninaCIA-backed coup.The vote comes amid widespread frustration with high crime, poverty and malnutrition—allfactorsin pushingtensofthousandsof

Guatemalanstomigrateeach year Thereisalsoangerover official corruption and government moves against anti-corruptionactivists.

“What doesn't allow for free and democratic elections in Guatemala is

corruption and impunity,” a former Guatemalan attorney general, Thelma Aldana, who sought asylum in the United States under the grounds of political persecution, wrote in a Twitterpost.

Voters line up at a poling station during general elections in Sumpango, Guatemala, Sunday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Everything You Need to Know About the Health Benefits of Zinc

This mineral does a lot for your body—are you getting enough?

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(Men’s Health) The last time you thought about zinc was probably in high school chemistry class when you studied the periodic table. This mineral is more than just a chemical in a textbook, though—it plays a vital role in a handful of our bodily functions. But, it often gets looked pasted since you don’t need very much of it to reap its benefits.

“Even though you only need a small amount, it’s involved in many important reactions in the body,” says Perri Halperin, M.S., R.D., clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Health System. The mineral plays a role in the growth of cells, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune

system. It even plays a role in the senses of taste and smell, says Erin Kenney, M.S., R.D., founder of Nutrition Rewired.

Without it, we would be in some serious trouble. Below, a full recap of everything you need to know about zinc.

What Is Zinc?

Zinc is an essential mineral that our bodies utilize to support our immune system and cellular function. Here, the word ‘essential’ “means the body can’t make it—you need to get it from an external source like food or supplements,” Halperin says.

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Even though zinc plays an important role in several life-supporting bodily functions, you don’t actually need that much of it. According to the Mayo Clinic, for men, about 11 milligrams will do. The need is also dependent on what’s going on in your life, though. Zinc plays a crucial role in multiplying cells, so it’s needed in times of rapid cell growth—think adolescence, pregnancy, and wound healing.

What Are Some Benefits of Zinc?

The two most notable benefits of zinc include supporting the immune system and helping heal damaged cells. “The greatest benefit of zinc appears to be in people who are deficient also have severe wounds (a form of damaged cells), so they have very high needs,” Halperin says.

out the list of fish friends that provide a decent amount of zinc. A few land neighbors— including beef, pork, and turkey—are all good sources.

Non-meat zinc sources include fortified breakfast cereals, oats, pumpkin seeds, cheese, and lentils.

How Do I Know if I’m Low on Zinc?

may benefit from zinc supplementation, especially those with diagnosed zinc deficiency or those at risk, such as vegetarians, vegans, and individuals with certain medical conditions.”

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It’s also been shown to assist in immune system health. In fact, zinc lozenges have been found to actually shorten the duration of a cold when taken within 24 hours of onset symptoms. Halperin says the severity of the cold has been shown to go unchanged, but the length of time the cold persists is shorter.

What Foods Contain Zinc?

If you’re a person who eats shellfish, odds are you’re getting enough zinc in your diet. The sea creature that contains the most is Oysters, with a whopping 291 of the recommended daily value of zinc in one serving. Crab, shrimp, and sardines round

In the United States, about 15 percent of the population is low on zinc, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Nutrients. This can happen because of inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption issues that come with diseases like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, or other medical conditions. Those who have recently undergone bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass, may also be at risk of zinc deficiency.

Because the foods with the highest amounts of zinc include several meats, vegans and vegetarians are likely to go low on zinc. “Signs of deficiency include loss of taste, or smell, poor appetite, depressed mood, immunity, delayed wound healing, hair loss, and diarrhea,” Halperin says.

Are Supplements Safe?

“It is generally recommended to obtain nutrients from a balanced diet,” Kenney says.

“However, certain individuals

Be careful when supplementing, though. Zinc toxicity can happen, and has been shown to come “almost exclusively” from supplements over food, Halperin says. That said, it’s not recommended to eat more than 40 milligrams per day (for reference, a three ounce serving of oysters has about 30 milligrams in it). Having too much zinc can cause vomiting, poor appetite, stomach pain, headaches, and diarrhea. Zinc also interferes with the body’s ability to uptake other essential minerals and nutrients like copper and iron. Similar symptoms may appear with copper and iron deficiency.It’s important to speak with a doctor, too, about what medications you’re taking before you begin a zinc supplement. “Zinc may interfere with the absorption of antibiotics like tetracyclines, so it’s generally recommended to separate the doses by a few hours,” says Kenney. “Zinc supplements may also interact with medications used to manage rheumatoid arthritis or Wilson’s disease.”

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‘Guyana is open for business’ – Minister Dr.SinghtellsFrench officials

Minister of

Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh during his recent visit to Paris,heldbilateralmeetings with officials from the French Ministry of the Economy

TheDepartmentofPublic Information (DPI) reported thatthediscussionswereheld on June 23, following the Minister's attendance at the “Global Summit for a new GlobalFinancialPact”which was convened in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron.

ItwasstatedthatMinister Singh's interactions with the FrenchGovernmentofficials covered a range of issues –

i n c l u d i n g d e e p e r government-to-government relations, as part of the Government of Guyana's

overall strategy to expand relations with member state governments within the EuropeanUnion.

The Minister and the

French officials also discussed improving private sector opportunities for

French companies in

Guyana, as well as partnershipsbetweenthetwo Governments on climate actionandbiodiversity They discussed Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy and President Macron's emphasis on the global agenda to preserve rainforestsandbiodiversity

Speaking after the meetings, Minister Singh said: “I emphasised that Guyana is open for business and that we welcome high quality private investment and private companies from

Lethem woman busted with $3M worth of marijuana

all countries. I outlined our pro-business policies and highlighted that one of the biggest private sector employees in Guyana –Teleperformance–isFrench. We agreed that diplomatic, trade and business links between our countries can continue to deepen and strengthen – especially now that Guyana is an increasingly visible participant in global

marketplaces.”

Minister Singh's meeting followed a recent mission to Guyana by several French companies and the Minister commended the efforts of French officials who have been working to strengthen suchbusinessinteractionsas well as broader bilateral relations The Minister encouraged further scaling up of French diplomatic presenceinGuyana.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday busted a Lethem woman, Lorlyne Nadine Jefferys with $3M worth of marijuana.

A CANU release stated thatthebustwasmadeduring an operation at the woman's home at Tabatinga Lethem,

Region Nine. Ranks found nine plastic wrapped parcels ofsuspectedcannabis.

She was arrested and the drugs tested positive for marijuana,“andamountedto approximately 10kg (about 22 lbs) with a street value of approximately GUY $3M”, CANUstated.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

Lorlyne Nadine Jefferys

Noah Lyles ties Usain Bolt record for sub-20s; new 100m world leader at NYC Grand Prix

NBC Sports - Noah Lyles tied Usain Bolt‘s record by breaking 20 seconds in a windlegal 200m for the 34th time in his career, winning at the New York City Grand Prix on Saturday.

Lyles clocked 19.83 seconds, distancing the field by 42 hundredths. Lyles, who broke the American record in winning the 2022 World title in 19.31, is the world’s fastest man this year at 19.67.

“It’s not perfect, but it was very fun,” Lyles said of the 19.83 to Lewis Johnson on NBC.

Lyles is the third-fastest 200m sprinter in history behind Bolt (19.19) and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake (19.26). But he is now even with Bolt in number of times breaking

20 seconds, 10 more times than retired Namibian Frankie Fredericks and 11 more than 1996 Olympic champ Michael Johnson.

Athletes are preparing for the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in two weeks in Eugene, Oregon, where the top three in most events qualify for August’s world championships in Budapest.

Lyles has a bye into worlds in the 200m as reigning champion and plans to race the 100m at USATF Outdoors.

The track and field season continues Friday with a Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Earlier Saturday, Zharnel Hughes ran the world’s fast-

Monday June 26, 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.

est 100m of 2023, 9.83 seconds to break 1992 Olympic champion Linford Christie‘s British record of 9.87. The only European to run faster is Tokyo Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy.

Hughes, 27, was a teen phenom from Anguilla who came within three hundredths of a second of Usain Bolt in a 200m in New York City in 2015. His previous personal best in the 100m was 9.91 from 2018, which up until now was the lone year that he broke 9.95. Hughes is coached by Bolt’s longtime coach Glen Mills.

Now, he enters the mix for the world title that’s led by reigning champion Fred Kerley, who was not in Saturday’s field but is undefeated at 100m for the last year

and ran his personal best of 9.76 exactly one year ago.

Sydney McLaughlinLevrone won the 400m in a personal-best 49.51 seconds to become the second-fastest American woman this year and since the Tokyo Olympics behind Britton Wilson. McLaughlin-Levrone plans to race the flat 400m at USATF Outdoors since she has a bye into worlds in the 400m hurdles as reigning world champion.

She is expected to choose either the 400m or the 400m hurdles for worlds.

On June 9, McLaughlinLevrone ran the flat 400m at a top-level meet for the first time since 2019, went out near world record pace and clocked 49.71, getting passed late by Olympic and world silver medalist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.

West Indies punished for slow over-rate in loss against Zimbabwe

Sports Max - As if to run salt into the already gaping wound of an embarrassing 35run loss to Zimbabwe in the ICC World Cup qualifier on Saturday, the West Indies have been fined 60 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate.

Muhammad Javed of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after the West Indies were ruled to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Ar-

ticle 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Captain Shai Hope pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Ravindra Wimalasari, third umpire Roland Black and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar levelled the charge.

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.

“Much better execution [in New York City than Paris], still things to work on,” McLaughlin-Levrone told Lewis Johnson on NBC Sports. “Happy overall.”

Athing Mu comfortably won the 800m in 1:58.73 in her first race since capturing the world title last July. Two-time world bronze medalist Ajeé Wilson slowed in the last 200 meters and was 11th in the 11woman field, 5.25 seconds behind the penultimate finisher.

Aleia Hobbs won the women’s 100m in 10.98. Hobbs ranks second among Americans this year with a best time of 10.86, trailing only Sha’Carri Richardson, who ran 10.76 on May 5 and was not in Saturday’s field.

Abby Steiner won the 200m in 22.19 over Tamara Clark and Jenna Prandini in a repeat of the top three from last year’s USATF Outdoors.

Keni Harrison edged Alaysha Johnson by one hundredth in the 100m hurdles, a repeat of their tight finish at last year’s USATF Outdoors.

Harrison ran 12.29 to Johnson’s 12.30 with a 2.8 meter/second tailwind. The Olympic silver medalist Harrison remains the U.S. leader this year with a best wind-legal time of 12.35.

Maggie Ewen won the women’s shot put with a 19.68-meter throw, beating a field that included world champion Chase Ealey (third, 19.25).

Ewen, 28, was the top American at the 2019 Worlds (fourth place), then missed the Tokyo Olympic team and placed ninth at the 2022 Worlds. She is ranked No. 1 in the world this year by more than a foot.

Ducati ‘rocket ships’ reign supreme in MotoGP as Honda, Yamaha fall behind

(Reuters) - After eight rounds of the 2023 MotoGP season, riders on Ducati bikes have won seven races, underlining the dominance of the Italian constructor as theyfinallyemergefromthe shadow of their Japanese counterparts.

Since 1975, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda have had premier class championship winningridersinallbuttwo seasons when Casey Stoner dominated in 2007 andlastyearwhenFrancesco Bagnaia famously erased a 91-point deficit to win the title.

Stoner’s breakthrough season on the Ducati was seen as a one-off asYamaha and Honda quickly reestablished dominance, but Bagnaia’s championship feelslikethechangingofthe guard.

T h e r e d - h o t ‘Desmosedici’ machines make up nearly half the grid with the satellite teams — VR46, Gresini and Pramac using the Italian manufacturer’sbikes.

Mike Trimby, who leads the International Roadracing Teams Association

( I RTA ) , h a d b e e n apprehensive about the number of Ducatis on the gridatthestartoftheseason.

“Ducati have done a brilliant job in producing a bike... They’ve now got satelliteteamsbeatingthem. The customer teams are beating the factory,”Trimby toldReutersinMarch.

“Hopefully VR46 may go to Yamaha next year so thatwilllevelthingsupabit. Butyoucan’tblameDucatiif they’ve got the best bike for gettingthebestcustomers.”

VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi may beg to differ after a stellar second season in MotoGP where he is b a t t l i n g f o r t h e championship with factory Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia andPramac’sJorgeMartin.

The Honda and Yamaha garages are full of gloomy faces as they struggle to match Ducati’s pace while theirridersareeitherlicking their wounds after multiple crashesoroutofcommission altogether

Ducati’s aerodynamic packages have been key to theirresurgence,withAprilia and KTM following suit to

design bikes with radical w i n g d e s i g n s a n d appendages. But Honda and Yamaha have yet to perfect theirs.

‘ROCKETSHIP’

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo has fared poorly with the 2021 champion nursing injuries and finishing on the podium justoncethisseason

He did not mince his words when explaining Ducati’ssuperiority

“It’s difficult to be calm onthestraightswhenyousee a rocket ship coming,” Quartararo said when he was easily overtaken by VR46’s Luca Marini in Texas

Honda’s Marc Marquez, a six-times MotoGP champion,hasnotfinisheda race this year - either crashing out or sitting out with injuries to his hand, thumb, ankle and a broken rib.

The 30-year-old crashed five times in the weekend prior to the German Grand Prix at his beloved Sachsenring, where he has eight MotoGP wins, before withdrawingbeforetherace.

Fernando Martinez beats Jade Bornea to retain IBF super-flyweight title

Hewasthendeclaredunfitto raceatAssen.

BEYONDLIMITS

M a r q u e z a n d Quartararo are two of MotoGP’s best riders but the fault is not theirs alone as they attempt to ride beyond their machine’s limits.

“On Friday my natural riding was there and I was second fastest,” Marquez hadsaidatSachsenring. “The problem is that

when you use your natural riding you arrive very quickly at your limit.Then theothersarriveatyourlimit and pass that limit, so I’m struggling.”

Marquez has had to dig deep into his bag of tricks and use a tow to set fast times on Saturdaysbyusing slip-streams of his faster rivals, but his race pace on Sundays has been found wanting.

His struggles led many

to speculate that he might split with Honda after 11 years together and despite hisassurancesof‘maximum commitment’ until his contract ends in 2024, team bossAlberto Puig was more direct.

“We have a contract, but every person is free to do what they want in life,” Puigsaid.

“Hondaisnotacompany that wants to have people who’renothappyatHonda.

Two-time champion Kvitova warms up for Wimbledon with German Open title

BERLIN, (Reuters)Two-time Wimbledon championPetraKvitovabeat Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2 7-6(6) yesterday to lift the German Open title and confirm her form on grass just over a week before the GrandSlaminLondon.

The 33-year-old Czech, who also beat Vekicenroutetovictoryat the Miami Open this year, earned her 31st career title

The left-hander looked completely at ease on the surfaceasshecapturedher sixth title on grass, more than any other activeWTA player, in a warning to her rivalsaheadofWimbledon.

BBC Sport - Argentina’s Fernando Martinez beat Jade Bornea to retain his IBF worldsuper-flyweighttitleinMinneapolis.

The 31-year-old opened a gash on the Filipino challenger’s right ear in the ninth roundandtherefereestoppedthefightatthe startofround11.

I t m e a n s Martinez is now unbeaten in 16 fights, while Bornea, 28,

lost for the first time in his professional career “

I j u s t k ept going at the ear and that’swhatendedthisfight,”saidMartinez.

“ T h e s t r o nger fighter won and it wasme,”headded Martinez took the title from another Filipinofighter,JerwinAncajas,lastyearand defendedhiscrowninarematchinOctober

It is the first time Kvitova has won multiple titles in a single season since 2019 and she has now won 12 of her last 13 matches on grass dating back to her title run in Eastbournelastseason.

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates with the trophy after winning her final match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic. (REUTERS/Lisi Niesner)

“I love grass, I love you,” Kvitova told a thinning crowd at the Steffi Graf stadium

“I have to say big congrats to Donna You played amazing tennis Not only in the final but the whole week It was

exhausting yesterday and today,”shesaid.

Kvitova and Vekic had played twice on Saturday after a rain delay on Friday but it was the Czech who did not drop a set in the entire tournament.

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia in action during the MotoGP race. (REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw)

Martinez (left) beat Jerwin Ancajas to win the title last year. (Getty Images)

Karunaratne ton, Hasaranga five-for knock Ireland out

Sri Lanka sail through into the Super Six stage, along with Scotland and Oman

ESPNcricinfo - Ireland wonthetoss,madeadoublestrikeintheninthoverofSri Lanka’s innings, and took 6 for 44 in their last six overs. But so comprehensively did Sri Lanka win the other portions of this match, that theytrouncedIrelandby133 runs, bowling them out for 192aftertheyhadmade325.

This means that Sri Lanka sail through into the SuperSixstageoftheWorld Cup Qualifier, along with Scotland and Oman from their group. Sri Lanka will carry forward their points from their big win against Oman. They play Scotland on Tuesday and the winner of that match will pick up twomorepointsforthenext round.

Ireland,meanwhile,have

been knocked out of contention for the ODI World Cup. They still have one match to play, against UAE, but both those sides havealreadybeenruledout.

For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasarangagothisthirdfivewicket haul in as many matches, while Dimuth Karunaratne brought up his maiden ODI hundred, havingmadefoursuccessive half-centuriesinthelead-up. Both players’ places in Sri Lanka’s top XI were not secure.WhileHasarangaisa T20I star, he had not quite translated that into ODI glory Karunaratne, meanwhile, had been Sri Lanka’smostconsistentTest batter of the last five years but had not excelled in white-ballcricket.

This recent run of halfcenturiesandnowthisrun-aball 103 will make Karunaratne a more serious World Cup prospect, while Hasaranga’s 5 for 79 puts him at 16 wickets in the tournament - easily the top wicket-taker

K a r u n a r a t n e ’ s contribution was arguably more instrumental to the victory After Barry McCarthy took two wickets intwoballsintheninthover, Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama built a 168-run stand This partnership - in which the batters largely picked up risk-free singles and twos and pounced on the loose deliveries,particularlythose that were short - forged Sri L a n k a ’s v i c t o r y

Griner named WNBA All-Star for ninth time

Samarawickrama was dropped on 66, at mid-on, and he went on to make 82 off86balls.

Karunaratne and Samarawickrama came together in the ninth over; whentheywerepartedinthe 36th,with216ontheboard, a score of more than 300 seemed inevitable Their attack, which has not conceded 200 so far in the tournament, will go into the Super Six stage as perhaps thebestonshow

Even if it had been too littletoolate-sothoroughly did Karunaratne and Samarawickrama dominate the middle overs - Ireland’s late charge with the ball did dent Sri Lanka. They could have made 20 more, Dasun Shanaka said in the after-

Dimuth Karunaratne brought up his maiden ODI hundred. (ICC via

innings interview, but the lower order was dismissed cheaply

The top order, though, had got Sri Lanka through once again, and the bowling was dominant enough to make short work of the Ireland chase. Ireland were 57for3inthe11thover,116

for 6 by the 20th, and essentially never had the measureofthechase.

Aside from Hasaranga’s five, Maheesh Theekshana got two wickets, and Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Shanaka took one each Curtis Campher top-scored forIrelandwith39.

Fowler’s 55 goals lead West Coast Fever to 64-57 win over Melbourne Vixens in Super League preliminary final

Fowler scored 55 goals for the West Coast Fever Sunday

NEWYORK,(Reuters)-

Phoenix Mercury center BrittneyGrinerwasnameda WNBAAll-Starfortheninth time yesterday, just a little over six months after being released from a Russian prison.

Grinerwarnedduringthe preseason that she would need time to regain her full abilities after the 10 months shespentinRussiancustody

buthasblownawayherown expectations and was ninth in the league in average points per game as of yesterday

The twice Olympic gold medallist has averaged 19.1 points,6.4reboundsand2.4 blocks per game this season for a struggling Mercury, who are last in the Western Conference with two wins and10losses.

Twice MVPA’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and 2018 MVPBreanna Stewart of the New York Liberty were named the captains for theAll-Star Game, which is setforJuly15inLasVegas. The Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston, who went firstoverallinthe2023draft, becamethefirstrookiesince 2014 to earn an All-Star selection.

SportsMax - Spurred by Jhaniele Fowler’s55goals,defendingSuncorpSuper League champions, West Coast Fever, defeated MelbourneVixens 64-57 yesterday to advance to the preliminary final against NewSouthWalesSwiftsonJuly1.

The winner will the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Grand Final set for July 8.

TheThunderbirdsdefeatedtheSwifts6462onSaturdaynight.

In what was a tough match, Fowler playing before her home crowd at the RAC Arena,missedjustoneshotasFeverledeach quarter 15-14, 17-16, 16-14, before opening

up a seven-point lead after taking the final quarter16-13.

MwaiKumwendaonlymissedoneofher 40attemptstoleadthescoringfortheVixens.

Over at the Qudos Bank Arena, Romelda Aiken George’s 29 goals were not enough to get the New South Wales Swifts against the Thunderbirds, who pulledoffadramatic64-62victorytobooka placeintheGrandFinals.

Helen Housby added 15 goals for the SwiftsbutEleanorCardwell’s18goals,13 fromLucyAustinand11fromTippaDwan were just enough to seal the Thunderbirds’ placeinthefinal.

Getty Images)

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Sky in the second half at Footprint Center.

(Rick Scuteri-USATODAY Sports)

Bailey missed penalty proves costly, as Reggae Boyz squander lead in 1-1 stalemate with United States in Group A opener

SportsMax - Heimir

Hallgrimsson’s wait to register his first win as Jamaica’s Head coach has been prolonged, as his ReggaeBoyzsquanderedan opportunityfromthepenalty spot, as well as a lengthy lead, and were held to a 1-1 stalematebyUnitedStatesin their Concacaf Gold Cup Group A opening fixture on Saturday

Defender Damion Lowe gavetheReggaeBoyza13th minutelead,whichwaslater cancelled out by substitute BrandonVazquezinthe88th minute to rescue a point for United States in a contest that lived up to its billing in entertainment value for the massivecrowdattheSoldier FieldinChicago.

Though they will be pleased with the point, the Jamaicanswillalsofeelhard donegiventhefactthatLeon Bailey should have converted from the 12-yard spot. But take nothing away from United States goalkeeper Matt Turner, whose save on his birthday proved the difference, thoughReggaeBoyzcaptain Andre Blake was also at his best between the sticks to sparetheirblushes.

Both teams started positively and signalled intentions with a few direct passesfromthebackintothe attacking third to keep their respectivedefensiveunitson theirtoes.

Jamaicafoundabreakin the eighth minute with

Bailey finding debutant Demarai Gray out wide, the Everton winger showed glimpses of his nippy footwork and later played a dangerous pass inside that was cleared by the United Statesdefence.

The host responded almost immediately and caught Jamaica’s defenders flat-footed with Jordan Morris finding loads of spaceinthefinalthirdtoget a shot off from close range that was kept out by Blake whogotdownwelltohisleft.

Still, United States struggled to deal with the pressure posed by the new look Reggae Boyz as again set pieces proved their

undoingwhentheJamaicans eventually broke the deadlock.

After Bailey was fouled by Jordan Morris, Gray delivered a perfectly weighted free kick which was expertly met by Lowe with a diving header that gave Turner in goal for UnitedStates,nochanceata save.

Jamaica should have doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before the half-hour mark when Amari’i Bell’s long throw inside the danger area was headed on by Michail Antonio to Kevon Lambert, whowastakenoutbyAidan Morris’shighboot.

Hamilton Green Inter-Ward set for July 16 kickoff

Following a five-year hiatus, the Annual HamiltonGreenInter-Ward Invitational Knockout Football Competition is set tomakeareturnonJuly16, 2023, at the Georgetown Footballground.

According to Organiser Lennox Arthur, this year’s event will feature thirtytwo teams drawn from across different regions in thecountry.

Arthur, in a recent interview, disclosed that over $1million in prize moniesandtrophieswillbe up for grabs with all matches, including the final, scheduled to be playedattheGFCground. Theformernationalball

weaver and coach said that the winning team will take home $500,000 along with a trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $250,000, $150,000 and $100,000respectively

Among the teams invited to participate are: Mocha Warriors, Gold is Money, Bourda All Stars, Melanie, Beterverwagting, Timehri, Sophia, Back Circle, Festival City, Pouderoyen, Sparta Boss, Bent Street, Stewartville, Belle West Stars, Den Amstel, Stabroek Ballers, AiryHall,Victoria,Buxton and Lilliendaal among others Six matches are slated to be played on

opening day and the matchups are as follows: Tucville go up against Mahaicafrom18:00hrsand thiswillbefollowedbythe clash between BV and Mochaat18:40hrs.

Road Warriors the tackles Two Friends, while Gold is Money square off against Victoria, before Ann’s Grove and Club 45 lockhorns.

Inthefinalfixtureofthe evening Bourda All Stars playhosttoMelanie.

All matches will be played for forty minutes durationdividedintohalves of twenty minutes with the off-siderulenotineffect.

Thefinalandthirdplace playoffissetforAugust27.

Mexican referee Cesar Ramos quickly pointed to the spot and Bailey confidently stood over the ball, but the Aston Villa winger badly fluffed his lines,sendinghispenaltyata perfect height for Turner to save He had a grand opportunitytomakeamends butsteeredthereboundwide aswell.

That missed opportunity gaveUnitedStateshopeand they gradually found their rhythm, though they were

assisted by some sloppy Reggae Boyz defending at times. One such occasion wasinthelatterstagesofthe first half, when Jordan Morris easily waltzed his way through on goal and it took some brilliance from Blaketodenyhim.

With momentum in their favour, United States came out lively on the resumption asHeadcoachBJCallaghan made the adjustments with the introduction ofVazquez, Cristian Roldan and Djordje

Mihailovic, who injected some tempo into their attacking thrust, as they probedfortheequalizer

A gorgeous interplay by United States in the 70th minute paved the way for Roldantogetashotofffrom close range, but Blake again came up big to keep the ReggaeBoyzinfront.

As the game drew closer to its climax, the Jamaicans withdrew into a defensive posture, desperately trying to preserve their lead which would have not only handed Hallgrimsson his first win eight games, but also condemned United States to their first Gold Cupopeningloss.

The victory would have also been Jamaica’s second against United States at this tournament following their semi-finalstriumphin2015.

However, all that went out the window when Vazquez pounced on a poor clearance from a Jesus Ferreira cross to put the ball awayfromcloserange.

Thisstalematerepresents an opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago or St Kitts and Nevis to assume early pole position in the group, provided they separate themselves in Sunday’s fixture.

Belgian shot putter Boumkwo runs 100m hurdles to save team from disqualification

(Reuters) - Belgium shot put and hammer throw champion Jolien Boumkwo displayedgreatteamspiritat t h e E u r o p e a n Championships in Poland whenshesteppedupoutside her event and ran a 100 metres hurdles race to save her team from getting disqualified.

Boumkwo appeared all smiles when she carefully attempted each hurdle on Saturdayinavideothatwent viral, after she stepped in when Belgium’s two hurdlers had to pull out due toinjury

Had no Belgian athlete competed in the event, the team would have been disqualified.

The 29-year-old finished the race without knocking any of the hurdles down in 32.81 seconds, 19 seconds

Belgium’s Jolien Maliga Boumkwo in action during the Women’s 100m Hurdles, Division 1 Heat B. (REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel/File Photo)

after Spanish sprinterTeresa Errandonea who won with 13.22.

B o u m k w o w a s applauded by the audience and congratulated by her

rivals as she earned two pointsfortheteam. The points could be crucial as the bottom three countries will be relegated fromDivision1.

Jamaica’s Leon Bailey tries to escape the attention of United States duo James Sands (left) and Alejandro Zendejas during their Gold Cup Group A opening fixture at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday. (Concacaf Media)

Region nine teachers complete FIFA football for schools (F4s) training programme

TeachersinRegion

Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) this week participated in a two-day FIFA Football for Schools (F4S)trainingsessionwhich wasorganisedbytheGuyana FootballFederation(GFF)in partnershipwiththeMinistry ofEducation.

The group attended theoretical and practical sessionsonJune20and21as part of their FIFA coacheducatorstrainingwhichgives them the responsibility of trainingchildrenfromtheage of four to 14 in fundamental football and life skills GFF PresidentWayneFordesaidthe teachers were taught the technical competencies necessary for delivering coaching sessions and the life skills development component oftheF4Sprogramme.

“The GFF is ramping up the training of school teachers who are actively involved in the delivery of theFIFAFootballforSchool programme(F4S)acrossthe nation’s eleven school districts. The aim of this training is to provide teachers with the technical competencies necessary for

Region 9 Teachers fifa prog - Teachers in Region Nine take timeout for a photo during the two-day FIFA Football for Schools programme held in Lethem. T

deliveringcoachingsessions and the life skills development component of the F4S programme. The training will also cover key elements of the FIFA child safeguarding programme,” GFFPresidentFordesaid.

Football for Schools, which was launched in Guyana May 2022, seeks to makefootballmoreaccessible worldwide to both boys and girlsbyincorporatingfootball activities into the education systemandcontributingtothe

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d empowermentofchildren.

The initiative was developed by FIFA in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and

is being rolled out in all 211 countrieswhich are a part of FIFA. Issuesaddressedinthe curriculum include selfconfidence, teamwork and learningtowinandlose

Teachersarecriticaltothe success of the initiative since

they are positioned to effectively implement the programme in schools across Guyana

Guyana was the first country in the Caribbean region selected to pilot the programme.

Demerara U13 team to be selected following DCB U13 franchise tourney

The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) will host

Under-13Franchisematches to select the Demerara Under-13 Team to participate in the GCB

Under-13 Inter-County tournament.

This tournament is scheduled to commence tomorrow,Tuesday,June27, 2023, at Queens College

Ground and Everest Cricket

Groundfrom9:00am.

These Franchise matches will be played with a pool of players divided into four teams: the Falcons, the Eagles, theHawks,andtheCrows

Tomorrow, Team

Falcon will face Team

Eagles at Queens College

Ground, while Team

Hawks will battle Team Crows at Everest Cricket

Ground All matches will

beginat9:00am

Below are the team list and their management teams:

The Falcons Brandon

Henry (Captain) Lomar

Seecharran Thierry Davis

JasaniCraigTunilSuraj

Namit Balkissoon

Balashankar Narine Jayden

Narayan Persaud Rondel

S e m p l e N a t h a n i e l

Sukhanadan Kristoff Tracy

Nikesh Khan Nicholas

Rukhdeo Shivraj Persaud

SatendraShivdarsan

Manager: Kevin Ross

Coach: Richie Looknauth

The Eagles Riaz Latif

(Captain) Nathan Bishop

Prosper Jacobas Hezenkieh

Hohenkirk GaneshAppanah

Daniel George Shankar

Ramesh Nimrad King

JagdeshLatif HemeshLatif

Joshua Issac Williams

RaheebLatif KaidenSmith

Navin Narine Manager:

Pradesh Balkishun Coach:

Kumar Bishundial The H

Grovesnor Patrice Fraser

Mario Singh Amir Gainda

Makai Dowlin Adrian

Kissoon Samuel Heeralall

Nathasn Puran Brandeis

Rollox Nishant Ramesar

IntafKhanTylerNeedJunior

RuelDindyalJadenKargho

: Av

Ganesh Coach:DarienBest

The Crows Kyle Gibson

(Captain)KadeemCampbell

Noel Madramootoo Aheem

P

Ramkarran Kush Seegobin

Ajay Kisson Arif Isahak

Malcolm Harry Johnathan

Nassir Addinanth Biacham

Imarz Fizool Ethan Persaud

Mickeal Johnson Sanjay

Dindyal Manager: Shaun

Massiah Coach: Vishun

Ramjit

Joshua Bollers and Riyad Latiff

Region nine teachers complete FIFA football for schools (F4s) training programme

Teachers in Region Nine and students from the community participate in a practical session during the FIFAFootball for Schools programme. West

Noah Lyles ties Usain Bolt record for sub-20s; new 100m world leader at NYC Grand Prix

Noah Lyles

West Indies have been fined 60 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate.