Kaieteur News

Deceased: Mark George

Deceased driver, Davin Daniels also called ‘Scalpy’

Mother of Adriana Younge and other relatives at her casket

No oil wealth, infrastructure project can succeed without human capital - GPSU

In a message to mark World PublicServiceDaybeingobserved globally today, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said no oil wealth, infrastructure project, or policy reform can succeed without the human capital, institutional memory,anddailyserviceofpublic servants.

This year's theme, “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,”reflects,theGPSUsaidthe growing urgency to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the limited time remaininginthisglobalagenda.

TheGPSUsaidpublicservants are the heartbeat of the state, providing extraordinary care and service in healing, educating, protecting, guiding, policymaking, competent collection and managing revenue, monitoring air, sea and ground transports, and administering on behalf of every citizen, in every region, every day “For over a century, the Guyana PublicServiceUnionhasremained steadfastinitsmissiontochampion the rights and dignity of Public Service Workers. The Union has consistently worked to improve working conditions, ensure decent work and job security, while

upholdingtheprinciplesofjustice, transparency,andaccountabilityin public administration. In addition, theGPSUiscommittedtofostering the next generation of public serv

continuity, professionalism, and excellenceinthedeliveryofquality publicservicesacrossGuyana,”the unionsaid.

According to the GPSU, in Guyana, the task ahead is twofold, to keep pace with global transformation while safeguarding the integrity of our public institutions and the well-being of those who serve. “This requires a firm commitment to ensuring fair compensation, adequate training, safe working environments, and institutional autonomy It also involves investing in digital capacity and innovation to enable more responsive and efficient servicedelivery Equallyimportant also is the need to uphold the Rule ofLawbyrespectingCourtRulings and protecting labour and human rights,therebyreinforcingtrustand accountability within the public service,”theunionsaid.

The United Nations' Day was adoptedonDecember20,2002,by the United Nations General AssemblyunderResolution57/277

President of GPSU, Patrick Yarde

tocelebratethevalueandvirtueof Public Service in advancing community well-being and national development. It also calls on institutions to embrace innovation,strengthengovernance, andempowerthenextgenerationof publicleaders.Italsohighlightsthe needtorecognisetheextraordinary contributions of Public Servants, those who stand at the center of nationalprogress,socialequity,and publictrust.

Alluding to this year's theme, theGPSUsaid,withonlyfiveyears lefttoachievethe2030targets,and

amid global shifts such as climate change, digital transformation, health crises, and other emerging challenges, the call to action is clear,governmentsandinstitutions must move swiftly, embrace innovation, and strengthen the capacityofpublicadministrationto deliver quality public services that are relevant, essential, sensitive, humane, efficient, inclusive, and future-focused.

In this context, the GPSU said events such as the United Nations PublicServiceForum2025,which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 23-25 June 2025, will bring together representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, and frontline public servants. These forums, the union saidaremorethanceremonial,they are strategic platforms for identifying concrete actions to transform governance, strengthen collaborative frameworks, and accelerate innovation to close service gaps and reach the most underservedcommunities.

“We are proud that the mission and values of the Guyana Public Service Union align closely with the objectives of United Nations Public Service Day This

observancecelebratesthevalueand virtue of Public Service to communities, recognises the tirelesseffortsofPublicServantsin advancing national and global development, and promotes responsive, transparent and accountable governance. It also serves as a call to action to inspire and encourage young people to consider public service as a noble, meaningful, and impactful career, one that contributes directly to the betterment of society,” the GPSU statementread.

“Aswelookaheadto2030,the GPSU calls on all stakeholders, government, civil society, and developmentpartners,torecommit to strengthening the capacity, security, and status of Public Servants Their role is indispensable and their service is not only essential but also transformational. To every Public Servant across Guyana, from Ministries,Agencies, Departments and Regional Administrations, along the Coastland to the Hinterland and Riverain Communities, we honour your service Your daily acts of dedication, even when unseen, form the bedrock of this nation's progressandresilience.”

VP Jagdeo not admitting sugar is dead

-saysdiversificationofGuySuColandswillreducefoodimportbill

Despiteyearsoffailures, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has refused to admit that the sugar industry is dead, instead he has talked upthepresident'spromiseof the diversification of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) saying that such a move will reduce the country'sfoodimportbill. It is important to note that despite millions of taxpayers' dollars being pumped into GuySuCo, the corporation is yet to make a profitasithasfailedtomeet target time and time again.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo told the media that President's Irfaan Ali's speech at the Enmore Martyrs' activity earlier in the week on how GuySuCo will fit into the vision for a diversified economy, was met with “a healthy dose of s k e p t i c i s m a n d mischaracterisation, or we want to know the numbers, how you're achieving 25 by 2025.”

The VP explained that the concept was birthed when CARICOM leaders got together and set an

aspirational goal, to address theskyrocketingfoodimport bill in the region. There it wasdecidedthattherewould be an enhanced focus on agriculture to determine if morefoodcanbesuppliedto theregionaspartofthefood securityagenda.

“Whenthiswaslaunched hereinGuyanaandtheheads made their speeches, the president pointed out and I spokeintheafternoonofthat verydaytoatechnicalgroup of people at the convention center, and I said for us to achieve this, we will need about $7 billion US of investment in the four, three or four remaining years, the three years to achieve that target, and it has to be done acrosstheregion,”hesaid.

Jagdeo highlighted that hehadlamentedthefactthat inmostCaribbeancountries, agriculturedidnotfeaturein their budgets majorly and therewasnomajorincentive scheme for agriculture

“…we looked at the region and we examined the incentiveregimefortourism or the financial sector or other services, and there wereverylucrativeincentive

regimes but very little for agricultural investment

There was very little budgetary support for agricultureandsoweargued thatthecountrieshadtohave arethinkoftheirbudgetsand also their incentive regime, and then we may witness a change in the region. We havenotseenamajorshiftin that pattern across the region,”headded.

On the other hand, Guyana has been a net food exporter with the exports traditionally higher than imports, hence there has always been heavy investment into the things necessaryforagriculture,the VPnoted.

He stressed that instead offocusingonthepresident's speech in its entirety, focus was instead placed on the president saying that GuySuCo can be a hub for ruraldevelopment.

The plan is to focus on crop diversification as a country with things like roses, turmeric, cocoa, onion,corn,soyaetc.

Last week President Ali announcedplanstodiversify the GuySuCo beyond sugar

and its by-products by producing rice, corn, and cassava. “We have to think strategically of how we will expandtheroleofGuySuCo. Andperhapsitistimeforus toreimagineGuySuCo'srole altogether Why must its mandate stop only at sugar? GuySuCo can and must become a hub of rural economicdevelopment,”the presidentsaid.

President Ali said that G u y S u C o ' s l a n d , infrastructure and knowledge base can support theproductionofothercrops as well as livestock operations, agro-processing hubs, farmer trading and extension services, fabrication and engineering services “The global machinery industry historically recruited machinists and fabricators from GuySuCo. We have to leverage this human capital andhumanpotential.Andin embracing this future that I speak of, there will be some exciting opportunities. Crop diversification, skills diversification, income diversification, ” the presidentannounced.

PresidentAlisaidthatthe plan to diversify GuySuCo will benefit sugar workers.

“We don't only want the sugarworkerstorelyontheir incomefromsugar Wewant to convert acreage of land into high-yielding production, high-value production, but production that is owned by the workers,”hesaid.

President Ali also revealedthatthegovernment plans to co-invest with workers to establish new economic activities and that more than 20 business proposals have already been submittedformanufacturing and other ventures in Enmore.

“That is why we have to put in this infrastructure so

highlighting the urgency of these de

m

nts Lookingahead,thepresident also announced that an additional 3,000 hectares of land will be converted to support mechanisation in 2025.

This is in addition to the more than 5,000 hectares already converted The President's proposal to diversifythesugarcompany co

S

Co continuestooperateataloss.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Justice For Adriana

YesterdaythefamilyofAdrianaYoungesummonedthe strengthtolayhertorestaftertwomonthsofagonyoverher mysteriousdeath.

A sizeable crowd accompanied her body from the Sandy's Funeral Parlour on the West Demerara to Vergenoegen on the East Bank Essequibo where a church service was held before she was interred. Family members buriedhernotfullyconvincedthatshediedbydrowningas wasdeterminedbythepoliceinvestigationandtheirpursuit for an independent investigation on their terms has been stymied by the reluctance of the Guyana Police Force to cooperate.

In the first place, when the family demanded an independentinvestigationintothechild'sdeath,theGuyana Government hired a retired Canadian police officer who conducted a lightning probe and concluded that the police had done an excellent job. When they pursued their own second autopsy and requested a copy of the first one supervisedbytheGuyanaPoliceForce,theyweretoldthat theyhavetogotothecourttogetsuch,asitwasnotstandard practicetogiverelativesacopyoftheautopsyreport.

Theneedforacopyofthefirstautopsywasuponthatof the United States forensic pathologist Dr CarolTerry, who conducted a second autopsy onAdriana's body in the U.S. Attorney, Dr Dexter Todd had said that the pathologist cannot proceed with her report unless she receives informationfromthepolice. Aswereported,Dr Terryhad submittedasix-pagedocumentcontainingover100detailed questions related to the police investigation. Among the pathologist's concerns was a peculiar marking found on Adriana'sbody Dr ToddhadalsoreaffirmedtheneedforDr Terrytoaccessthepost-mortemexamination(PME)report that was completed onApril 28 by a team of international pathologists.

Alittlegirldiedinmysteriouscircumstances,andpolice andpoliticiansarequibbling,playingtheirusualtricky,selfservinggames. Thiscountryhasfallensofar,thatitmaybe past the point of salvaging. Unquestionably, those now in charge do not even have the basics on how to comport themselves in a period of loss.Aperiod that has provoked national outcries, and while the family is still struggling to make sense of the fate that has befallen their little girl, and they,thesurvivingrelatives.ManyGuyaneseareashamedof what has happened. An attempt at coverup was the first actionfromthosewhoarethenation'sprotectors,theleading agentsforthefindingoffacts,whatreallyhappened.

Commonsense emphasizes that it could not have been thefirstsuchcoverupwhenothersituationsdeveloped. But thisisGuyana,wherethereiscoveringup,insteadofdrilling down to get to the truth in a matter that all would like to forget,pretenddidn'thappen.Andjustmaybe,thatitwasall a hoax, or a product of the imagination. When the community erupted in public rage and public protest, President Ali dropped what he was doing and shared his presence and sympathy with the grieving family This is whatpresidentsdoinacrisissituation,andwhathappenedin Tuschen to that 11-year-old child, brought out the positive side in Guyana's president. He showed that he had some light still left in him. But there is uncertainty about that, givenwhathethenproceededtodo,nottoolongafterward. Unfortunately,thenationalleaderinaperiodofnational trauma went down the usual slippery track that is now so much a part of the national culture. He found the time to recordhisconclusionthattheprotestshadelementsofwhat is“politicallyinstigated.” Wehavetroubledetermininghow any of that helped the situation that was so raw and distrusting. In the height of a crisis, the last area that presidentsshouldcasttheirmindstoispolitics. Butthisis thecalibreofnationalleadershipthatGuyanesewitnessday inanddayout.Citizensarefastlosinghopeoneventhemost routineofissues,andwhentheheavilyfreightedhangsover the nation, then the last dregs are lost, given national leadershipreactions.Wejoinonceagainwiththefamilyand allothersincallingforjusticeforAdriana.

‘Memory

DearEditor

The coalition effort between the PNC and the Alliance For Change (AFC) appears to be at an end and the excessive media attentiontowhichitgaverise hasallowedthepopulationa greater insight into notions of political propriety and helpedtoseparatethosewho prioritise the holding of publicofficefromthosewho are interested in the wellbeing of the Guyanese people.

The level of 'victim blaming' that Mr. Aubrey Norton has had to withstand for winning a free, open and transparent election within his party is unprecedented, even by the standards of Guyana's turbulent political history Victim blaming is the tendency to attribute the behaviour of others to their internal and personal characteristics while ignoring the external issues and forces that are playing a significant, and perhaps a decisive,roleintheprocess. I t i s c o m m o n l y associated with violence against women where they

is everything Ms. Walton-Desir’

are regularly accused of encouraging the perpetrator by wearing revealing clothes, making no attempt tofightback,etc.Oneofthe common accusations that Nortonhashadtofaceisthat he is not living up to his historicalimageasamilitant whocanbringhissupporters onto the streets. There are substantial historical and structural reasons why the street approach has not been sensible or necessary, but these were ignored, deliberatelyinsomecases.

Norton has attempted to explain that for over two decades, PPP rule, which was directed at the suppression of African activisms had left too many Africans vulnerable to a rampant discriminatory regime. But importantly, the PPP's support base is now also a minority, and it is not forloveor'OneGuyana'but for this reason that the regime is expending a substantial amount of the fundsthatitissurreptitiously extracting from the African community(by,forexample, over two decades of

suppressing the income of public servants) to now win African votes! Therefore, whatisasimportantasstreet protest at this juncture is enhanced organisation and mobilisation. Yet, as if context means nothing, the message coming from his foesisthathewasdoingnext tonothing.

Consider that when the Coalition came to government in 2015 one of its first acts (that still reverberates today in the behaviour of Ms. Asha Kissoon and her PPP benefactors)wastocovetthe deputy speakership of the National Assembly amid protest from the PPP that in k e e p i n g w i t h t h e Westminster tradition and practise in the 'dark days' of the Forbes Burnham's autocracy, that position usually went to the official opposition. What could and did the PPP do? Apart from the usual Westminster type oppositionprattle-nothing!

Unconcerned about the precedent their behaviour was creating, the Coalition government began to drag

former PPPministers before the courts in all manner of ways for sometimes petty or fabricated infractions. What could and did the PPP do? Again nothing! One of the Coalition's crowning miscalculations was its decision to retrench thousands of sugar worker, largely PPP supporters, at Christmas time, with the explanation that the sugar industry needed reform What could and did the PPP do?Nothing!

The ineffectiveness of the PPP in opposition was being heard in their constituencies but not, as in Norton's case, being vigorously expressed in the media, over which the PPP still had an overwhelming influence Indeed, Charrandas Persaud, who crossed the floor and voted withthePPPclaimedthathis behaviour was motivated by the economic hardships beingfacedandexpressedin the PPP's traditional support base. Some would say that the PPP's answer was to organisethenonconfidence (Continueonpage5)

Freddie Kissoon's folly

DearEditor, I am compelled to respond to Frederick Kissoon's June 20, 2025, column in the Guyana Chronicle titled, “Aubrey Norton, James McAllister andArthur Koestler.” It was an amusing little read to see Kissoon's feeble attempt at an intellectual philosophical analysis. He attempted to invoke Koestler's argument about human frailty to highlight what he considers to be moral inconsistency or hypocrisy in the position I took regarding Amanza Walton-Desir and others within the People's National Congress Reform. This was the limit of his intellectual t h o u g h t b e c a u s e everything went downhill fromthere.

The foundation of any serious intellectual analysis isauthenticdataandaccurate historical material. This is where Frederick Kissoon d e p a r t e d f r o m intellectualism, academia, and intellectual honesty WhatisclearisthatKissoon decided he wanted to use Koestler's arguments and fabricated stories to suit the conclusions he wanted. Let us take a look at Kissoon's fabrications.

Kissoon claimed that as soon as Corbin assumed leadership of the PNCR he “… had to contend with

guerrilla warfare led by Norton, Alexander, and McAllister.” That claim is demonstrably false. It is not possible that someone who claimstobeanacademicand researcher could get facts thatarepubliclyavailableso wrong When Desmond Hoyte died in 2002, Robert Corbin, who was then Party Chairman, assumed leadership as per the constitution. Within weeks, Corbin convened a weekend retreat of the entire Central Executive Committee, at which he spoke extensively about his crucibles. He was convincing and impactful, and we emerged from the retreat united behind Robert Corbin as Party Leader So much so that when Corbin decided he did not want the GeneralCounciltoratifyhis position as Leader and instead wanted to be elected ataCongress,hesummoned a Special Congress, where thesinglecontestantwasArt Ricknaught Norton, Alexander, and McAllister werenotinthemix.

Corbin went to the 2006 elections with the full support of all in the Party I was the Campaign Manager in Region 3, Alexander was the Campaign Manager in Georgetown, and Aubrey Norton was actively involvedaswell.Despiteour fervent support and efforts,

thePNCRemergedfromthe elections with the poorest results ever since its formation Internally, we advocated for a full review, but this was resisted, and this, I believe, was the beginning of the unraveling of the coalition Corbin built withintheParty'sleadership.

In 2007, several members of the Central E x e c u t i v e Committee including Deborah Backer, Dr Dalgleish Joseph, and Hamley Case—requested a meeting with the Party Leader and informed him thatweintendedtochallenge him at the congress scheduledforthatsameyear Hisresponsewastothreaten disciplinaryactionagainstus if we made our intentions public Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against us after we did. The irony is that many who supported those actions againstusarenowdefending those whose actions underminethePartytoday If Kissoon had done adequate research, this is where he would have been able to apply Koestler's arguments. Kissoon did not do—or was not interested in any researchonthis.

The important point is that Aubrey Norton was not one of the executive memberswhometCorbin.In

fact,hearguedthatitwasnot therighttime,thatweshould notmakethemanfeelthathe wasbeingturfedout;thatwe hadtheCongressof2009,by which time he would have been more amenable to leaving office Aubrey Norton supported Robert Corbin,notTeamAlexander, at the 2007 Congress of the PNCR. It boggles the mind as to where Frederick Kissoon got his claim that

“As soon as he succeeded Desmond Hoyte after the latter's death, Corbin had to contend with guerrilla warfare led by Norton, Alexander and McAllister.” It is a total fabrication intendedtodistorthistory

Kissoon's claim

“While McAllister migrated andAlexanderresignedfrom the PNC, Norton carried the fight to Corbin, and it reached the High Court. It wasaninternecinebattlethat almostkilledthePNC,saved only by the birth of APNU”—isalsoadistortion ofthefacts.Iwassuspended from the PNCR in 2008 for myparticipationintheTeam Alexander campaign, and Vincent Alexander, in protest, did not renew his membershipwhenitexpired in 2007/8. I migrated to the United States in 2010, two years after I was suspended. AubreyNorton'scaseinthe (Continueonpage6)

Vote in Tuesday Primary in New York

DearEditor,

GuyaneseAmericansare urged to vote in this Tuesday's Primary election.

Primary (voting) Day in New York City and in most cities or localities in USAis for members of a party to choose a nominee to

represent it in the general election in September Only members of the party can vote. One must vote within theparty UnlikeinGuyana, when one is registered to vote,thevotermustchoosea party or opt to be i n d e p e n d e n t T

Democratic and Republican are the largest parties in USA. Both are of almost similar membership The independents and members of other parties usually decide the outcome of a closely fought election in battlegroundgroundseatsin

‘Memory is everything Ms. Walton...

Frompage4 motion that brought down the Coalition government. I doubtit,butevenifthatwas so,arewetodependonsuch subterfuge to acquire responsive democratic governance?

I hold that the Coalition government was brought down because it failed to deliveronitscoremanifesto promise to establish an inclusive national government within months of taking office The signature approach of those who require regime change is to contact the opposition andthisfortuitouslyreleased the PPP from the existing Westminster-typedonothing structural dilemma The autocraticPPPregimewitha one seat majority is now in the vulnerable position and so encourages and supports the usurpation of the deputy speakership by Ms. Asha Kissoon.

I only gave a few of the Coalitioninfractionsthatthe PPPcouldhavedonenothing about to suggest that Mr Norton's behaviour was also similarly affected by the nature of the political system. And a few weeks ago, I commented on the Vpact,arecentlysmallparty's message that adequately conceptualised and focused our attention on what it consideredtheproblemwith Guyanese politics and suggested how it may be overcome(VV:18/05/2025) But the approach that eschewscontextandtendsto focus praise and blame on the individual is a dominant feature of Guyanese politics and dominates the core messageofAPNU+AFCMP

Amanza Walton-Desir (SN: 19/06/2025) She is

interested in a wider coalition,sothepartyhasnot yet settled down and it is as goodatimeasanytobriefly consideritspositionings.

Walton-Desirtellsusthat for 'far too long, our politics has been reduced to a false choice,eitheror,betweenthe twodominantpartiesthatdo not necessarily strive for performance, ideals or vision' and this has 'stifled realprogressandhaslefttoo m a n y G u y a n e s e d i s i l l u s i o n e d , disenfranchised and voiceless ' Her party 'ForwardGuyana'isbornout of a hunger for change and aims to present 'a real alternative[thatis]rootedin clarity and in bold conviction' committed to fighting 'every day for the poor, the single mother, the frustrated youth, the undervalued teacher, the nurse, the doctor, the discouraged farmer and the discouraged local businessman.Itis'abridgeto a better future, built not of concrete, but of courage, of conscience and collective will'.

'Forward Guyana' aims to move away from the politics of division, corruption and favouritism, towards unity, integrity and realresults. (It)pledgesto operatewithcorevalueslike service over status, courage and conscience, and transparency, with leadership defined by responsibility, not right… action and putting the country first and before the party ...No one party or movement holds all the answers, Unity cannot be basedonexpedience.Itmust be grounded in shared principles, coherent policies

and a common vision for a just and inclusive Guyana. Collaboration must be rootedinclearcommitments to justice, service and long overdue transformation of ourtoxicpoliticalculture.... The people of Guyana deserve more. They deserve arealchoice.Onewherethey can vote with their head and their heart and not just with hermemories.'

Sincethe1950s,wehave been hearing these kinds of platitudes from every political party that solicited our votes, and Guyana is as dividedtodayasiteverwas! V-Pact did what parties are supposed to do; attempt to locate the problem and suggest solutions After nearly 75 years of disappointments; what precisely are we voting with ourheadsandheartfor? Asa mattrroffact,thereisno'just withmemories!' Memoryis everything: it is what makes you a conscious human being able to manipulate the past, present and future to protectanddevelopyourself, your loved ones and community Itiswhatmakes your head and heart operate as they do 'Those who cannotrememberthepastare condemnedtorepeatit.'

Sincerely

Dr.HenryJeffrey

thegeneralelection.

Unlike in Guyana, all political parties are mandated by law to hold primariestoselectanominee with rare exception in the case of an emergency where a nominee cannot be chosen becauseoftime.Theprimary and general election dates arefixedbylaw

Several Guyanese are in the primary this election cycleinNYC.RomeoHitlall is running in greater Richmond Hill No Guyanese has ever won a NYCseatfromQueens.

Awinningcandidatewas required to win at least 40% oftheballotscastinorderto goontothegeneralelection. If not, there was a run off between the top two contenders Since 2021, ranked choose was introduced to do away with runoffs.

Voters rank the candidates in a party list in order of preference. In this

way, second or third or fourthpreferenceisaddedon to the candidates if no one gets40%ofthefirstrank.In 2021, Eric Adams won on theranksofsecondandthird having failed to win 40% amongfirstrankformayorin theDemocraticprimary The Republican Party has nobly one candidate and therefore he has won the primary There are also other parties notholdingprimaries.

In current election for nomination for Mayor, AndrewCuomoisinthelead in opinion polls with 43% with Zorani Mamdani, grandson of an indentured from Uganda, is at second trailing by about 10%. He has been moving up in the polls.

There is an outside possibility that he can upset Cuomo if the latter fails to garner 40% first rank Besides the mayoral race, there are contests for nomineeforcitycounciland otheroffices.

Thereare51citycouncil seats Guyanese Romeo Hitlall is seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party from the GreaterRichmondHillarea. He has the endorsement of community organizations, unions,andpartygroups.

Most Guyanese in Queens are voting for Cuomo for Mayor and Hitlall for City Council seat in the district of Richmond Holland surrounding area. It isadifficultseatinwhichall Guyanesewhotriedlostover the last two decades. The area, with tens of thousands o f G u y a n e s e , i s gerrymandered in four districts, preventing a Guyanesefromwinning.All Guyanese, Caribbean people, and immigrant citizens are urged to vote. If not, others will select the nomineeforthem.

Yoursfaithfully, VishnuBisram

Guyana will break the record in history with its first female prime minister should APNU win the 2025 polls

DearEditor, I want to congratulate Miss Juretha Fernandes on her nomination as the Prime MinisterialCandidateforthe A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), as recognised by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Aubrey ComptonNorton.

Should APNU be successful at this year's elections under the leadership of Mr Aubrey Norton,MissFernandeswill emerge as Guyana's first Indigenous female Prime Minister.

This will continuously break the barriers of the misogynyandstigmaagainst Women of Indigenous Descent especially those who occupy such a highlevel portfolio in government.Additionally, it willalsoserveanimpetusto youngIndigenousWomenin leadershipknowingthatthey canexcelandexecuteinany positiongiventothem.

While others may question, the competence and capabilities of Miss Fernandes, it is important to note that this young lady f

om the outset has demonstrated fervour and passionespeciallyduringthe Budget Debates and presentations. Miss Fernandes is

l analysis,duetoheracademic background in Economics and her ability to disaggregate current and capitalexpenditures. The former Alliance For Change (AFC) member, categorically cited her party'sfailuretoreacha (Continueonpage6)

Caribbean leaders to headline Afreximbank's

32nd Annual Meetings in Nigeria

(Caribbean News

Global) The 32nd Annual Meetings (AAM2025) of AfricanExport-ImportBank (Afreximbank) will bring together an influential coalition of global, African and CARICOM leaders in Abuja, Nigeria from 25–27 June 2025. This high-level forum will focus on advancingtrade,investment, and innovation across the continent, with Heads of State, Prime Ministers, top business executives, academics and acclaimed academics confirmed to speak.

H E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of the FederalRepublicofNigeria; former Nigerian president H E chief Olusegun Obasanjo and ambassador Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for economic development, tourism, trade, industry & mining, are among the confirmeddignitaries. They will be joined by ministers, central bank governors, investors, and industryleadersfromAfrica, theCaribbean,andbeyond.

Held under the theme “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”, AAM2025 will focus on accelerating trade opportunities, driving investment and fostering innovation.

Professor Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of the board of directors of Afreximbank, remarked:

“AAM2025 comes at a pivotal time for Africa. As the continent confronts global uncertainties, it is doing so with renewed resolve.

Followingthesuccessful 31steditionofAAMheldin The Bahamas last year, we are back on the African continent for this year's meetings which are about catalysing practical action building stronger institutions to strengthen trade integration and unlocking the full potential of African innovation. We thank H E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria forhissupport.”

The speaker lineup inc

economists and industry leaders including Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Columbia University and Dr Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Inst

UniversityofSingapore.

A

business innovation leaders such as Aliko Dangote, president&CEOofDangote Group and Tony Elumelu, ChairmanofHeirsHoldings, will also participate. The speaker lineup further includes Professor Ghulam Mufti of King's College London, former prime minister of Jamaica PJ

influentialfigures.

Afreximbank's 32nd

(AAM2025) in Abuja are expected to deliver strong economic benefits, both in theshortandlongterm.The main anticipated impacts include the trade and investment mobilisation, policy and institutional a

strengthening South-South cooperationandtradeflows.

AAM2025isexpectedto facilitate significant trade and investment deals, including Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and public-private partnerships. Themeetingsareexpectedto catalysebillionsofdollarsin funding over the next 5–10 years for key strategic sectors.

Frompage5 consensus for a coalition with APNU, and has taken a decisive stand to join the APartnership For National Unity as a candidate with thesupportofMessrsSherod Duncan and Deonarine “Ricky”Ramsaroop.

As a young man, I am e l a t e d a b o u t t h e

Frompage4

HighCourthadnothingtodo with a challenge against Robert Corbin's leadership but was related to other proceduralmattersatalower levelintheParty

In 2009, Aubrey Norton managed Winston Murray's campaign to unseat Corbin.

This effort, while unsuccessful, was strong enough,inmyview,tocause Corbintoconcludeheshould notcontestthe2011General andRegionalElections.Asa result, we had the PresidentialPrimaryProcess that resulted in David Granger being elected Presidential Candidate for thePNCR.Beforethis,itwas either the Congress or the General Council that made thisdecision.

Kissoon's attempt to compare recent actions to what transpired in 2007 and 2009 is flawed. In fact, his argument that from 2002 to 2007 there was some internecine conflict in the PNCR is a total fabrication. Vincent Alexander was the loyal Party Chairman to Party Leader Robert Corbin duringthisperiod.

Kissoon stated that “It is unadulterated hypocrisy of McAllister to chastise Walton-Desir and others for internal fighting when McAllister and Norton almost gave Corbin a heart attack.” This is to suggest thatwedidwhatthelikesof Walton-Desir, Geeta

opportunity afforded to Miss Fernandes and eagerly await to see her promising energy and a

Indigenouswoman.

To this end, I urge our young people to showcase yourunrelentingsupportto Miss Fernandes, since we are the future leaders of

Chandan,andDanielSeeram did That comparison is unfounded. I was suspended from the Party, and I sat out quietly I never encouraged anyone to leave the Party, and all but four or five personswhowerewithTeam Alexander continued to function in the Party We never declared we preferred thePPPtoCorbin.Wenever encouraged anyone to down arms and stop doing Party work,evenastheycontinued to occupy office as elected Party officials. Instead, we quietly, in the background, provided guidance and our expertise to further the Party's interest And of utmostimportance,wedidn't form political parties, encouragememberstoleave the Party, defect to the PPP, or try to undermine the foundationoftheParty Geeta Chandan defected to the PPP, and Amanza Walton didn't only down arms for years—she formed a political party to compete againstAPNU, of which the PNCR is a part. In recent days, certain known actors have been contacting PNCR members, soliciting their assistance to do political work for the preparation of theirlistofcandidatesunder theguisethattheirpartyand the PNCR are working together against the PPP—whileatthesametime statingtheirintentiontopull theyouthvoteawayfromthe PNCR.

tomorrow,anditisimportant to recognise that, like any political figure, Miss Fernandes is not infallible and may indeed make mistakes, but we must be there to hold her hand and push her towards greatness andexcellence.

Regards AntonioDey

It is astonishing how Frederick Kissoon could conflate these two things. The actions of Norton, McAllister, and Alexander wereinkeepingwithwhatis provided for in the Party's constitution.

The actions of these recentactorsareself-serving efforts to promote their own interests to the detriment of the Party Another blatant untruth is Kissoon's assertion that Dr David Hinds was, and is, close to me. I have met Dr David Hinds once or twice in person, and it was just the exchangeofpleasantries;we never communicated by telephone, nor do we communicate on social media.

Ye t K i s s o o n i s challenging Dr Hinds to refute that he reported a conversationheandIhad. In the final analysis, Kissoon'scolumnreliesona litanyoffabricationsusedto support the baseless conclusion that my actions align with Koestler's argument about human weaknesses and moral contradiction. In truth, it is Kissoon's pseudoi n t e l l e c t u a l method abandoning evidence, logic, basic truth, and accuracy in pursuit of narrative that best illustrates the very flaws Koestlerwarnedabout.

Thanks JamesK.McAllister

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

Adriana laid to rest; can Ali find the same?

PresidentAlipromisedjusticeforAdriana,thenwentoff-track. Hedisappeared,washedhishands,andlast,turnedhisback.

Shefoundrestonaforlorn,grim,memorableSunday. CanPresidentAlieverfindpeacetherestofhisdays?

Aleader'spromiseshredded(byhimself).

Aman'sconsciencebludgeoned(byhimself).

Whatrestforthepresident,whenfamiliesweep,achild sleeps?

Whatpeaceforhim,whenhisweaknesscrawls,thenfalls?

Apresidentchoking,agovernmentdrowning.

Aleadertrappedbybumbling,anationcrumbling.

Amanlost,pretendingatbeinganationalboss…

Achildgone,apeoplemourn,aleaderlosinganothertoss!

PresidentAli,aleader,aman,whofailedeverytest!

Adrianahasgonetorest,forAli,therecanbenorest!

'Resignations, defections will not impact PNCR'-Granger

…says

“there is no shadow of turning in his support for the party”

As the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) prepares to contest the General and Regional Elections in September under the banner of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), it does so with the full backing of former President David

Granger “I affirm, unhesitatingly that there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning in my support for the People's

National Congress, ” Granger told the Kaieteur Newsinarecentinterview

H i s r e n e w e d commitment to the party comes at a time when the PNCR is facing a wave of resignations and defections. Grangeremphasisedthatthe PNCRhadplaceditstrustin him—not only to lead the party but also to govern the country and he has no intentionofturninghisback on the organisation. “I had the honour of having been elected and re-elected as Leader of the PNC for a decade until I reached the ageof75yearsin2020when I chose to cease competing forpoliticaloffice.

I led the PNC in a coalition which gained nearly 218,000 votes by GECOM's count and earned 31 seats in the National Assembly in GRE 2020. I

stillsupportthethousandsof faithful followers in every region who supported APNUandthePNCthrough the last three general elections. I have never, and shall never walk away from the hardworking members, especially the women and young people,” Granger said.

The party's recent challenges include the defectionofGeetaChandanEdmond, who served five yearsinParliamentunderthe APNU+AFC Coalition before publicly endorsing President Irfaan Ali for a second term.Adding to this, PNCR was rocked by the endorsements of President AlibyRegionFourRegional Chairman Daniel Seeram and Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy Inanotherblow,Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir resigned from Parliamentandlaunchedher ownpoliticalparty,Forward Guyana, citing alleged marginalisation by the PNCR leadership. Another MP, Natasha Singh-Lewis hasalsoresigned.

Willhavenoimpact Granger compared the current situation with past political realignments in Guyana'shistory,notingthat while some defections had m a j o r h i s t o r i c a l

Man stabbed to death at Port Kaituma

…suspecttellspolice‘themanviolatedme”

PoliceareinvestigatingtheallegedmurderofRayonLall, a 23-year-old 'truck porter' at Port Kaituma waterfront on Sunday LallresidedatPortKaituma.Policeinapressrelease statedthatatapproximately05:00hrsSunday,Lallwastaken tothePortKaitumaPoliceStationbyEwartMingo,a26-yearoldporter Lallsustainedastabwoundtotheleftsideofhis chest.Accordingtothepolice,arankpromptlyescortedLall tothePortKaitumaHospitalformedicalattention.However, whilereceivingtreatment,hesuccumbedtohisinjuries.The body was subsequently placed in the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary,awaitingapost-mortemexamination.

Acting on information received, police said ranks proceeded to Train Line, Port Kaituma, at around 16:30hrs Sundaywheretheyarrestedthesuspect,MarkJuniorGeorge, also known as 'Killa', a 24-year-old gold miner of Albouystown, Georgetown who had previously served a three-yearsentenceforanarcoticsoffence.

The suspect was informed of the allegation against him, cautioned,andinformedofhisrights.Inresponse,hetoldthe police:“Themanviolatedme.”Hewasarrestedandtakento thePortKaitumaPoliceStation,wherehewasprocessedand placed in custody. He was wearing the same clothing with which he allegedly committed the act. The investigation is ongoing.

significance, the present developmentsareunlikelyto undermine the PNCR's foundation.

Granger said except in the cases of Guyana's grand historic schisms, such as those of Forbes Burnham's separation from the PPP to establish the People's National Congress in 1957, and Hamilton Green's and Raphael Trotman's defections from the PNC to establish the Good and Green Guyana (GGG) in 1993 and the AFC in 2005, respectively, solitary defections, such as Brindley Benn's departure from the PPP to form the Working People's Vanguard Party in 1969,remainjustthat.

He argued that recent defections, though newsworthy, are driven more by personal ambition andinternaldisputesthanby ideologicalshifts.

“Defections, despite theirshort-termshockeffect, tend to be driven by private desires and personality clashes rather than by the determination to fulfil the legitimate expectations of the people from whom they expect electoral votes and money

The notorious defection of an AFC parliamentarian who voted with the PPPC Opposition in the National Assembly in December 2018, however, was extremely damaging. It not

onlytriggeredthecollapseof the government and precipitated fresh elections in the short-term but also fomented the lingering, long-term distrust between the parties to this day,” Grangersaid.

Still, he acknowledged that the resignation of the threeyoungfemalecoalition MPsisamatterthatmustnot b e i g n o r e d

“The opposition parties needtoaddress,notdismiss, the internal 'push factors' that triggered their decisions.

Desertions are always likely to occur in Guyanese politics and, though undesirable, should not be unexpected. Elections are not won by splendid defections, however notorious and well-timed. Equally, they do cause uneasiness in the wider electorate,especiallyamong womenvoters.Itwouldbea serious error to discount the possibility of the 'copycat' effect of the departures Guyanese have endured turbulent weeks but more shockingeventsarelikelyto occur over the next ten long weeks ahead until E-Day,” Grangersaid.

Grangeralsotooknoteof leadersfromseveralsmaller parties switching allegiance to the governing People's Progressive Party (PPP), suggesting that their exits have left their voter bases

without representation. At thesametime,hepointedout thatnewparties—suchasthe Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), Forward Guyana (FG), The People's Movement (TPM), and We

I n v e s t i n G u y a n a (WIN)—have emerged to fill that vacuum “Small parties can play a role in offeringvotersawidermenu ofchoicesandtheircollapse is regrettable,” the former leadersaid.

Reflecting on recent developments, Granger acknowledged the damage done, but insisted that the party's foundation remains intact Granger said the eventsofthepastweekhave been damaging, but not destructive.

Notingthat“…aweekis a long time in politics,” he said it is likely that the chaotic events over the past week may have altered affiliations and allegiances and may be repeated. He u r g e d G u y a n e s e citizens—especially young andfirst-timevoters—notto be swayed by rhetoric and emptypromises.

“ T h e y h a v e a n opportunity to bury the 'winner-takes-all' practice that has been smothering their neighbourhoods, villages and households and demand inclusionary solutions to their problems. It is said that 'all politics is local'and,inessence,theact

of voting for parties, even small parties, indicates that constituencies want to be involved in making decisions that affect their well-being,” the former presidentsaid. Granger concluded by emphasising the importance ofvoterparticipationandthe need for voters to support candidatesandpartieswitha trackrecordofdeliveringfor theircommunities.

He noted that voter turnoutalsosendsasignalto thebigpartiestocompetefor their support with a promise toprotecttheirlivelihoodsin local matters such as safety, sanitation, social cohesion, sports, schooling, flooding and fires Voters should strengthen the solidarity of their constituencies and supportcandidateswhothey knowandthinkthattheycan trust, Granger said, adding that they should vote for parties which have a record or reputation for supporting theirconstituencies.

IndianfirmsecuresUS$67 million contractforphasetwoofEastCoast toEastBankRoadlinkageproject

Indian construction company, Ashoka Buildcon Limited has secured a US$67 million contract from the Government of Guyana to execute phase two of the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to East BankofDemerara(EBD)roadlinkage project.

According to a media report from CNBCTV18datedJune19,2025,the companyonThursdaysaidithassigned the contract with the government to execute phase two which will see road works being done from Eccles to ProvidenceontheEastBankarea.

“The international contract is valued at $67 25 million (approximately ₹562 core) and will be executed over a period of 18 months. The company had earlier received the letter of acceptance (LoA) from

Guyana'sPublicWorksDepartmenton June18,2028,”CNBCreported.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News reported back in June 2022 that the Guyana government through the Ministry of Public Works and Ashoka Buildcon Limited had signed a US$106.4 million contract to initially commence works for a four-lane road link between Ogle, ECD and Eccles, EBD.

It was reported that the project is beingfinancedthroughaloanprovided bytheIndianExportImportBank.

The new highway road which is in itsfinalstagesofcompletionmeasures approximately7.8kilometres.

At the signing and turn sod ceremony in 2022, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill said the project was the first phase connecting theEastCoasttotheEastBank.

“Theintentisthatthismustbeable to get all the way, linking the Ogle International Airport with the Timehri InternationalAirport.

This is just phase one and, in that linkage,thereisanumberofconnected roads bringing to us to what is now commonly known as the East Bank Road,”hehadstated.

Theroadwhichwillconnectthetwo areas,andopennewlandsforhousing, agricultureandindustrialdevelopment, MinisterEdghillpointedout.

FormerPresident, David Granger

Guyana and the vanishing 50-50 profit sharing

Guyana finds itself lookinglikeafoolintheface of the rising profits being d e c l a r e d b y t h e

E x x o n M o b i l - l e d consortium. The agreement betweenthegovernmentand the oil companies was supposed to be simple—a equal 50-50 split of profits derived from oil Plus Guyanagets2%royaltieson top. In short Guyana, gets 14.5% profit oil and the oil companies12.5%.

But like most things concerning governance in Guyana, the reality bears little resemblance to the promise. The oil companies appeartobeenjoyingprofits that eclipse Guyana's share manytimesover.Thisisnow headlinenewsandiscausing not simply concern but consternation.

This different is not a minor accounting hiccup Thisisnotamisstatementin afootnote.Thisisthemother of all illusions. And the government, instead of removing the illusion, has become the magician's assistant—wavingthewand, drawing the curtain, and smilingastherabbitescapes the hat with the nation's wealth in tow.What's most astonishing is that the government appears more annoyed by the public's questions than it is alarmed by the possibility of being swindled Rather than confront the arithmetic, it obfuscates it. Rather than provethatthemathaddsup, it dismisses or ignores those whodaretocount.

The core issue, as many rightfully observe, is that Guyana'sshareofprofitoilis calculated after expenses. The companies first recover

their costs—costs that they themselves declare and only then does Guyana receive its sliver of the remainingpie Andletusnot forget we get an additional 2% in royalties that is not cost-recovery

Thisstructure,moreakin to a reimbursement scheme than a revenue-sharing agreement, has proven a reliable mechanism for international oil companies to inflate expenses, delay meaningful payouts, and walk away with the lion's shareofthekill Ineffect,the companieseatfirst,eatmost, and then hand the governmenttheleftovers.

Ifthisisa50-50split,itis onlyinthewaythatamaster and his servant might split a feast: the master eats, the servantwaits,andattheend of the night both are said to havedinedtogether

And yet, faced with g r o w i n g p u b l i c skepticism economists, activists, accountants, and laypersons all asking how such a vast gulf could exist between Guyana's earnings and the oil companies' profits—thegovernmenthas not produced the detailed reconciliationsortransparent explanationsthatwouldquiet the uproar Instead, it has adopted the posture of the imperial scribe: deferent to power,dismissiveofcritique, a n d i n c a p a b l e o f acknowledging its duty to explainandclarify It would seem that the governmenthasforgottenthe primary obligation of a d e m o c r a t i c administration to its people, not to its extractive patrons The citizens are not unreasonable. They are not

Dem Boys Seh...

calling for retroactive nationalization They are asking why, if the contract says “fifty-fifty,” the reality says“fiveandfifty.”

They are asking why the government, which was so eager to trumpet the arrival of the oil age, is now so reluctanttoexplaintheterms of its bounty They are asking, with increasing volume,whetherthiswealth is truly theirs or merely somethingleasedouttothem in symbolic gestures while the real beneficiaries board private jets and count barrels inboardrooms

This issue, unresolved and festering will not die a quiet death. It is not an accounting error that can be amendedinthemargins. It is a question of trust, and with elections looming, it may well become a referendum on whether the government can be trusted at all When profits disappear likesmokeandthepeopleare toldtobegratefulfortheash, resentmentbuilds Andwhen that resentment grows unaddressed, it metastasizes intopoliticalconsequences

Here is Guyana, a small state, rich in resources and rhetoric,ensnaredbyitsown illusions, governed by men who confuse silence with strength and ambiguity with strategy But if the accounting is wrong then this could well be a case of double jeopardy Guyana got abaddealandnoweventhat baddealisnotaddingup

Beyond the flawed oil agreement itself, the government bears a solemn responsibility to assure the Guyanese people that the nation is not being further pickpocketed of even the

Cinema turn luxury like Marriott

Back in de days, cinema use to be fuh poor people. A man use to walk in wid a dollar, buy a pit ticket fuh 50 cents, get a sweet drink and a lil sponge cake, and still got change fuh buy a Chinee brush later

Now?Yuhneedawholepayslipandasmall loanfromdebankjustfuhwatchonemovie. Dem boys remember when you coulda walkinwidplantainchipsandsoftdrinksin yuh bag. De ticket collectors didn't care.

Now?Yuhtrywalkinwidonecheesestraw and see if you getting past security Dem looking fuh see if yuh bag bulging – a sign thatyoumayhavemorebeveragesandabox offriedchickeninside.

Is one movie yuh getting now, and yuh still paying close to $1,000 fuh de ticket. Backthen,wasdoublefeature—twomovies plus some newsreel wid Queen Elizabeth shakinghandwidsomebody

And don't talk 'bout de snacks inside de cinema now It expensive. Two small popcorn, two drink, and some chips done reach $3,000. If yuh gat an average-sized

meager pittance it is due. Transparency isnotafavour tobegrantedbutadutytobe discharged If Guyana must live with a lopsided deal onethathistorywillno doubt judge harshly then it must, at the very least, be assured that the crumbs left for it are not being quietly

sweptintothedeeppocketsof multinational auditors, contractors, and costrecoveryloopholes

Itisnotenoughtosaywe aregettingwhatweareowed; thegovernmentmustproveit, openlyandunambiguously

(The views expressed in this article are those of the autho

necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

family that can add up to rent money And before de movie start good, popcorn done eat,nachosdonedone,andyuhstillhungry

Poor people now avoiding de cinema like it got COVID. Dem rather go seawall, sitondejetty,andgetbreezefuhfree.That breeze more entertaining than some of de moviesthesedays.

Dem boys seh is only people who get bonus or working Exxon contract going cinemaregular Derestofwewaitingfuhde bootleg man come round or fuh de movie reach cable in three months. Is now a poor man got to choose—go cinema or buy lil groceries.Anddempopcorngotmorebutter thansense.

Cinemawasoncefuhdemasses.Nowis fuhdeclasses.

Dem boys seh de only thing that ain't change is how dark de place does get. But now, instead of holding yuh girl hand, yuh holdingyuhheadfuhhowmuchmoneyyuh spend. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

The President must speak for himself

During the public contributions

a b o u t t h e presidentofthisRepublicin the matter of his alleged proximity to the taxes to be paid or not on some luxury

vehicle(s), a strange development occurred Strange because it may not have been pondered, hence unintended Strange becauseitisnotthefirsttime that it has occurred in the furnaces and freezes that saturate this land that is so

gifted, yet so much ground intothedust. Itwasassertedwithsome considerable conviction that bringing up and continually highlighting the president's i n v o l v e m e n t , o r noninvolvement, in the Lamborghini tax matter was not fair to the holder of the highestofficeinGuyana. It just should not be, and encapsulated some level of disrespect to the leader, his dignity, was the position taken by his defenders

Thus,theystrovevaliantlyto circlethewagonsaroundhis woundedperson,givehima much-needed breather to recover his equilibrium Equilibrium, I am fine with, buthowandtowhere?

Thequestionsurfacingis simple. Did those who rose uptoruninterferenceforthe president, to steer the discussion away from the issue, to retaliate with elbows-sharp or soft-pause long enough to fathom what they are doing to the

president? And also, to the integrity of the presidency? When Guyanese, those who sift through the vehicle tax d i s p u t e , t a k e t h e conscientiouspositionthata smokinggunlookspalpable, with presidential fist probablywrappedaroundit, are baselessly skewered, then his helpers inflict a wrong on the president?

T

injustice.

When what gives persuasive appearance of m e e t i n g t e s t s o f reasonableness in this unnerving tax business is scorned, then I contend that the president is served poorly. It'snotassensiblyas his advocates fool themselves into believing. And,mostofall,whenwhat gives off a powerful aroma

o f d e f e n d i n g t h e indefensible, then his own

P a l a c e G u a r d i s disrespecting him rather thoughtlessly I ask, whetherthoserunningtothe rescueofthepresident,beit reflexively or the call of duty, have thought about this:thedamagethattheyare doing to him by their own blindness, their unctuous fawning. The presidency is due honesty The president isnotduehomage. Homage is for the infallible and the immortal. Here is a bold, broad one: not a single president of Guyana has even approached within an inspiring nearness to either Theoppositereigns.

When a shroud of immaculacy is hung around the president, his people disparage him. As gleaned from the public record, the president is neither a juvenilenoranimbecile. No andNo! So,whycoddlehim asthoughheisadaintychild, atongue-tiedward,someone incapable of standing on his ownandstatehiscasebefore the Guyanese people? This isn't about a policy defence. It is above his advocacy for his name For sure, Guyana'spresidentisnoton trial. Helaboursundertrials of doubt. The first is recoiling -is this so? The second is disbelief - this cannotbeso. Ordidit,inthe manner of nocturnal operatorsfinalizingbusiness insomedarkalley? Thelast ordeal for balanced, honest citizens is what now to do regarding trust for the president? To trust still, or not to trust now, that is the question?

These questions should have been deeply concerning, enough to be accorded the probity and prudencethattheyweredue. To disagree on what really took place was and is the president's duty To deny thattherewasevenawhiffof the underhanded or improperinwhatlookedlike dealingintheunpresidential isaroleforthepresidentand the president only And, at any time that the president wasofthebeliefthathehad what was truth and justness

on his side, then only his s t a n d i n g t a l l a n d unflinchingly before all challengers would provide the exoneration now so elusive to this matter To hurry to get in front of the president does him a disservice. No president worth his salt, should be comfortable with others serving as his standardbearer, sword carrier Once again, I state that when the president - any presidenthas the light of what is right ashisfullbodyhalo,thenno centurion is needed, and for one reason only He is his ownlegion.

What I layout at length for the president of this Republic applies also to Prime Minister Phillips, Vice President Jagdeo, and Opposition commanders, Norton and Hughes. They mustalsostandontheirown feet in times of test. To the president, who though unnamed is not unknown, I extend this priceless gift: though the court of public opinion ranks large, there is one that's bigger It is that highest, most demanding of tribunals - the conscience of everymanandwoman.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Adriana laid to rest …amidrenewedcallsforjustice

ByShaniaWilliams

Ne a r l y t w o months after her

demise, the bodyof11-year-oldAdriana Sueria Younge was finally laid to rest on Sunday at the VergenoegenBurialGround, EastBankEssequibo.

The solemn farewell marked the end of a deeply emotional and public period ofmourningforayounggirl whose mysterious death captured the attention and heartofanentirenation.

Adriana, a resident of Hyde Park, Parika, was

theinvestigation.

F o r w e e k s , t h e investigation into her death was marred by questions, inconsistencies, and heartbreak. Two autopsies were conducted before the family finally made the painfuldecisiontolayherto rest. Despite the delay, the public support never faded, instead,itintensified.

Onthedayofherfuneral, hundreds of mourners gathered, many dressed in brightredandwearingshirts adorned with Adriana's image.

The funeral proceedings

crowdofmourners,whohad been waiting anxiously outside, were soon allowed toviewthebody Aspersons walked around the casket to view the body, many wept openly, sharing words of comfort and solidarity with the grieving mother The public viewing lasted for an hour,from10:00to11:00hrs. However, the father Subrian Younge and grandmother werenotpresent.

Following the viewing, Adriana's body was taken to herhomeinParika,onefinal visit to the place filled with her memories. The hearse

discoveredinthepoolofthe Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, Essequibo Coast, on the morning of April 24, 2025, nearly 20 hours after she was reported missing. She was last seen by her grandmother around 13:01hrs on April 23 while swimming in the hotel's pool.

Her lifeless body was retrieved by her father, Subrian Younge, when she was found floating in a standingpositioninthepool, prompting a national and international outcry Her death has since attracted widespread attention, with manymourningherlossand calling for transparency in

beganat10:00hrsatSandy's Funeral Parlour, with an overwhelming crowd assembling long before the official start. Police were deployed across the West Coast Demerara and at the Demerara Harbour Bridge for precautionary security, though they kept their distance from the actual service.

Adriana's mother, AmeciaSimon,andheraunt, Ameka Lewis, arrived early toanemotionalscene.Upon entering the parlour, Simon collapsedintearsbesidesher daughter's casket Visibly broken, she remained there for an extended period, unwilling to let go. The

then proceeded to the Vergenoegen tarmac, where the official funeral service was held. By the time the procession reached the venue,thecrowdhadtripled insize.

The tarmac was beautifully decorated in pink, Adriana's favourite colour, with her photos and tributes displayed throughout. An additional public viewing was conducted at the tarmac. As mourners gathered to pay theirrespects,anunexpected and tense incident unfolded.

Adriana's grandmother arrived to view the body but was chased by Lewis, and several members of the

Tensionsflaredasthe grandmother was escorted away, accused of not being truthful about the events surrounding Adriana's disappearance at the Double DayHotel.

Beforeshewasremoved fromthevenue,shecriedout in anguish over Adriana's casket, wailing, “Oh my granddaughter… I will see yousoon.Grannycomingto see you.” The confrontation sparked a brief disturbance during the service, with Lewis heard shouting, “You havenoshame!”

Order was eventually restored, and the service continued. At 14:oohrs, the formal programme began.

crowd.

The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow but also filled withloveandremembrance.

Adriana's former classmates from Grade 6A of Parika Salem Primary School presented a moving acrostic tribute, and her siblings delivered heartfelt poems.

The crowd chanted, “Justice for Adriana,” a common refrain throughout the service. The pastor while delivering the sermon, read excerpts from Adriana's personal diary, where she (Continuedonpage15)

Adriana's father burying his face into her casket at the burial ground.

Amecia Simon, a grieving mother sitting beside her daughter's casket

Adriana Younge dressed in a pink dress inside her decorated casket

Scene captured during the funeral service s

Exxon poised to push ahead with 7 oil project in Guyana this year – IEA

The International Energy Agency(IEA)initsOil2025report highlighted that a seventh development offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block is scheduled to be sanctioned this year by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) pending regulatory approval.

The agency noted that this milestone is part of ExxonMobil's broader plan to sustain production growthinoneoftheworld'sfastestemergingoilprovinces.

The report highlighted that the ExxonMobil-led consortium continuestomakenewdiscoveries intheprolificStabroekBlock,with estimated recoverable resources nearing 12 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The IEA noted that following the anticipated sanctioning of the seventh development phase called Hammerhead in 2025, an eighth project, Longtail, is projected for approvalby2027.

IEA forecasts that, with its current pipeline of sanctioned projects, production from the Stabroek Block will double from about600,000barrelsperday(bpd) in2024to1.2millionbpdby2029. TheagencystatedthatGuyana'soil

output is a key driver of the Americas' non-OPEC+ supply growth, which is projected to rise by 3.1 million barrels per day (mb/d)by2030.Itwasunderscored that production from Guyana, alongside Brazil and Argentina, will continue to offset declining output from mature fields across

LatinAmerica.

Moreover, it was stated that G

development places it among the top contributors globally Together with the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina, these five countries are forecast to deliver nearly one-third of the world's oil supplyby2030.

Despite strong growth in Guyana, the IEAindicated that the pace of production expansion across the region is expected to

slow after 2028 as the number of sanctioned projects begins to decline unless additional developmentsarefast-tracked.

In April 2024, Exxon sanctioned its sixth project named Whiptail. Shortly after, Exxon began its work to seek regulatory approvalfortheseventhprojectand earlierthisyear,theEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Hamm

s submitted.Thecompanyhadmade apartialsubmissionoftheproject's Field Development Plan (FDP) backin2024.

Hammerhead was announced as Exxon's ninth commercial discovery in August 2018. The Hammerhead-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately197feet(60metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir The well was safely drilled to 13,862 feet (4,225 metres) depth in 3,773 feet (1,150 metres) of water The project will target between 120-180 thousand barrels per day (kbd). Exxon is aiming to commence production activities by 2029, following the requisiteapprovals.

Notably, the daily production capacity being targeted is

significantlylowercomparedtothe last three projects sanctioned, which each target over 200 kbd.

Hammerhead-1 is located approximately 13 miles (21 kilometres)southwestoftheLiza-1 well and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block at Liza, Liza Deep, Payara, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora and Longtail.

Stabroek Block measures

26,800 square kilometers or 6.6 million acres. To date, six projects have been sanctioned for development. These include, Liza One,LizaTwo,Payara,Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail. The first three projects are already in operation, producinganaverage650,000bpd, which is likely to be increased beforetheendofthisyearwiththe startup of the fourth development, Yellowtail.

Stabroek Block

Citizens should be able to vote for

25% royalty from oil - reiteratesplanstoengageExxononceingovt. - Norton

Opposition leader, Aubrey Norton said if Guyanesewantthechanceto vote for a 25 per cent royalty from Guyana's oil, they shouldbeabletodoso.

“The Guyanese citizens have the right to vote for anythingtheywant.Ibelieve manyissuesareontheballot. Adriana Younge is on the ballot, the murder of those boys in Berbice is on the

ballot, the level of i n c o m p e t e n c e a n d corruption on the ballot, and if people want to put 25 per cent royalty, it should be done,” Norton told Kaieteur News Friday

He reminded that his party has made it clear on many occasions that it will engage ExxonMobil once in office to ensure citizens receivemaximumbenefits.

Moot issue

In stark contrast to Norton's position, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo could not be bothered by suchamove.

K a i e t e u r reported Sunday that despite some 94 per cent of Guyanese s u r v e y e d l a s t y e a r

demanding a change to the lopsided ExxonMobil contract, Jagdeo dismissed the issue and said that calls for the matter to be put to a voteisamootone.

A survey conducted by Ram and McRae in October last year, found that an overwhelming number of Guyanese are in support of a renegotiated oil contract between the Government of G u y a n a ( G o G ) a n d ExxonMobil Since the terms of the 2016 deal were made public, citizens have been calling on the government to engage the c o n t r a c t o r f o r a renegotiation These calls have, however, been shut down by politicians, with some even describing citizens as “low lives” for demanding more out of their resources.

At one of his most recent media briefings, Jagdeo was asked: With elections coming up on September 1, willvotersbegivenachance to have their say if they wouldlikearenegotiationof the contract or not, or will thatbesometimeoff?

He responded, saying that he had seen the AFC campaigningontheissues. “ I s a w t h e m campaigning on that now, and it's a question of believability too. So, it's not just about what you say It is aquestionofbelievability.”

Dismissing the question of a referendum on the contract, Jagdeo said the call is coming from a party whose leader is on Exxon's payroll. “So, I'm not wasting time, I think, those are moot issues.”

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, had said that the survey provides compellingevidencethatthe government's “sanctity of contract” position is at odds with public sentiment. The survey, conducted by Ram and McRae, using the Google Forms platform, attracted135responsesfrom a diverse group of respondents, including professionals, academics, students and citizens. Revealing statistics from the survey, Ram explained, “An overwhelming94percentof respondents believe the

government should seek to amendthecurrentPetroleum Agreement, with only 6 percent either opposed or unsure.”

Ram, who is also a lawyer, reasoned that these stark statistics alone should give pause to those who continue to defend the status quo of the lopsided oil deal.

“The survey revealed that only 3 8 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the existing provisions of the agreement The remaining 96 2 per cent identified multiple areas requiring modification,” he added.

A whopping 83.2 per cent of participants said they wanttheroyaltyraterevised, while79.4percentcalledfor changes to tax payment arrangements Presently, Guyana receives 2 per cent royalty from Exxon on all petroleum produced and sold, whereas Exxon and its contractors are not required to pay taxes. To this end, the survey found that 66.4 per cent seek modifications to taxcertificates;66.4percent want the revenue guarantee

revised and another 61.8 per cent support ring-fencing provisions.The GoG has not implemented a ring-fencing provision to prevent Exxon fromusingrevenuefromone field to develop another In this way, Guyana's share of profits is significantly reduced until all costs have been recovered by Exxon anditsco-venturers.

Since the release of the findings of the survey, there have also been calls for a referendumonthecurrentoil contract. Businessman and advocateforabetteroildeal, Dr Glenn Lall, said that the referendum must allow citizens to vote on the demand for a 25 per cent royaltyinsteadofthecurrent 2 per cent, which the p r e v i o u s c o a l i t i o n government had negotiated with ExxonMobil back in 2016 Last year, some citizens had also called for themattertobeputtoavote, but this was resisted by the government. A referendum is a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a

direct decision. Jagdeo had said then that while there might well be issues

ExxonMobil to the table even with a successful referendum, he would prefer to deal with the matter after the general and regional elections.

He had said then, too, that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should focus on preparing for the 2025 general elections, and that any discussions on a referendum could be postponed until after the elections. “We have timeenoughtodealwiththat after the elections. But right now,GECOMmustfocuson one question, which is holding elections within the constitutionally prescribed timeframe,”Jagdeohadsaid.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

ExxonMobil targets US$30 breakeven by 2030

A

m

erican oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation is working to reduce its global breakeven oil production cost to US$30perbarrelby2030,aspart of its broader strategy to boost profitability and operational efficiency This was disclosed by the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, during the company's latest earningscall.

“Ourquarterlyearningspower by US$4 billion at current prices and margins Our ongoing transformation to become a more efficient company, with a lower cost of supply, is driving lower break-evens with firm plans to improvethemtoUS$35perbarrel by 2027 and US$30 per barrel by 2030.” Breakeven is the point at which cost and income are equal and there is neither profitnorloss.

ExxonMobil Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods

Woods outlined that these improvements are being achieved through earnings growth and cash flow rather than by slashing capital investments Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) operation in Guyanahasconsistentlypraisedthecountry's projects for its high returns and low-cost structure Similar to Woods statement, EMGL's Vice President and Business Services Manager, Phillip Rietema, previously highlighted that Exxon Guyana's operations in the Stabroek Block remain profitableevenamidmarketvolatility

Rietema had said that Guyana's deepwaterprojectsaredesignedtowithstandprice fluctuations having an average breakeven price of around US$40 per barrel across developments He stressed that cost efficiency is central to Exxon's approach in

–CEOWoods

Guyana, noting the importanceofdrivingdown costswhereverpossible.

Heexplainedthattheoil and gas industry is a very volatile market which results in limited control over revenues by oil companies As such, he notedthatExxonfocuseson beingasefficientaspossible andhavingthelowestcosts.

Rietema had elaborated ontheconceptofbreakeven, which refers to the average oil price required to pay back the investment and achieve a return. He stated that ExxonMobil aims to have the lowest cost projects, positioning them advantageouslyonthecostofsupplycurve.

“The projects here in Guyana, they competeinternationally,theyaresomeofthe best deep-water projects in the world,” Rietemasaid.

Addressing the price fluctuations, he pointed out that the projects are designed to withstand market volatility, adding that, “in 2020, it was down to US$40. So, these projects, they all have costs of supply under US$40 a barrel…as a team look to optimise theprojectswetryanddrivethatdownaslow aspossible.Again,everydollarcounts,every dollarmatters.”

ExxonMobil Guyana operates the Stabroek Block with a 45 per cent stake, alongside Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. (30 per cent) and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (25 per cent). Production offshore Guyana has been a major driver of Exxon's global output, with over 650,000 barrels per day(bpd)dailyproductionrate.

Two dead after car slams into bus shed

Deceased driver, Davin Daniels also called 'Scalpy’

An early morning accident at Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice has left two persons dead, after the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a bus sheddestroyingitcompletely,killinghimself andanothermanintheprocess.

Thedriverhasbeenidentifiedas29-yearold-Davin Daniels also called 'Scalpy', of HopetownVillage,andwhiletheoccupantof thebusshedwasidentifiedasMarkGeorge, 49 also called 'Chateo,' of Lot 2 Belle Vue, WestCoastBerbice.

Georgewasreportedlywaitinginthebus shedtobepickedupbyhisemployertogoto work. The incident reportedly occurred around05:30hrs.

According to police, the car was proceeding east along the northern side of BelleVuepublicroadatafastratewhenthe driverlostcontrolofthevehicle,swervedto the southern side of the road, and collided with a 'greens (vegetable) stand'. The car continuedfurthereastandcollidedwithabus shed where George was sitting. The car continued further east and collided with a utility pole on the southern side of the road, wherethevehiclecametoahalt.Asaresultof thecollision,thelightpolebrokeandfell,in theprocesscrushingawashbayshed.

Reports are that the impact caused George's entrails to pop out, and his body

appeared limp, and, according to eyewitnesses, may have suffered multiple brokenbones.

Videos of the scene show the bus shed totally dismantled, with crumbled walls and bent sheets. George's body was observed amongtherubblecladinabluishgreyT-shirt and black three-quarter pants.Ayoung man wasobservedpickinguphisbodytoplaceit on a white sheet on the ground, while relatives and friends wailed in agony

Multiplewoundswereobservedontheman's remains.Another video showed the driver cladinablackT-shirtwithagreylongpants lying motionless, with cuts on his swollen face.Furtherdowninthevideo,hisbodywas observedwrappedinasheetatthebackofan ambulance.

The men were transported to Fort Wellington Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival. The bodies are currentlyatBailey'sFuneralHome,awaiting apost-mortemexamination.

George was described by family membersasajolly,quietandhelpfulperson. “My uncle was a hardworking, friendly person. Jovial and making jokes but at the same time when it was serious time, it was serioustime.UncleMarconeverusedtojoke aboutworkandthemthingsbuthewasagood soul,”hisnephewtoldthispublication.

Gold miner nabbed with 101.8 grams

A gold miner was nabbed, on Saturday, with a quality of marijuana when police stopped and searched his vehicle at the Itaballi Checkpoint, RegionSeven.

Police said in a press release the man'scar#PMM1186wasenrouteto PuruniLanding,inRegion#7. At the time, the was being driven Errol Roberts and had passengers Winsley Danardo Richards, a 36year-old gold minerfromFarm Village, East Bank Essequibo, along with Carl Alleyne Wren and Terrianna Nedd

police inspe searched the car but found nothing illegal. A subsequent search was conductedonCarlWrenandTerriannaNedd, and similarly, nothing illegal was found on their persons or among their belongings. Richards, who was observed to be acting

suspiciously, was found to have two transparent parcels containing leaves,seeds,andstemssuspectedto be cannabis concealed in the crotch areaofhispants.

Police took possession of the narcotics and informed Richards of the offencecommitted.Hewasarrested,andthe suspected narcotic was weighed in his presence, amounting to 101.8 grams. The suspect was thereafter escorted to Bartica Police Station where he is currently being held.

Deceased: Mark George

Winsley Richards

The ganja seized by police

21 contractors bid to reconstruct Mabura Police Station

The Mabura Police Station in Region 10 will

soon be reconstructed, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB)officedisclosedduringarecentopening ofbids

Twenty-one contractors have since applied for the contract bidding between $89 million and $215 million fortheworks

Kaieteur News understandsthatthisprojectwillform partofthe$4 7billionwhichthegovernmentsetasideto bridge the gap of the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) infrastructuralneeds

It was reported that the reconstruction of the police stationsandotherfacilitiesareaimedattransformingthe

decades-old buildings and their environment into ones thataremoremodern,accommodatingand'user-friendly' tovisitorsandranksthatarestationedatthefacilities.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News understands that the Ministry of Home Affairs plans to construct a fence at theTactical Services Unit (TSU) building located at Eve Leary Theseworksareestimatedtocost$40 1million

Below are the companies and their bids:

MinistryofHomeAffairs

ReconstructionofMaburaPolice Station,GuyanaPoliceForce.

AmountTendered

Bidder

DundasConstruction

RA&JPContractingServices

CivilecEngineeringSolutions

CIConstruction

STPInvestmentsInc

Ele’sTrading&Hardware

AndrectEngineering&Construction

SovereigntyInvestmentConstructionServices(SICSBuilders)

SOCConstruction

$166,706,695

$168071,400

$165,865,182

$118,068,783

$161,786,415

$170,375,773

$171732,593

$170,705,871

Frompage11

had written about her dream of excelling at her

National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and attending Queen's College, Guyana's top secondary school.Shewasdescribedas a bright, spirited girl with a passion for learning and a heartfullofambition.

Heraunt,theonlyfamily member who addressed the audience formally, remembered Adriana as a beacon of light and innocence, an ongoing church girl with big dreams. Adriana'steachersandpeers also mourned her absence, paying tribute to the empty chair and desk she once occupiedintheirclassroom.

Theservicealsoincluded hymns such as “Jesus Loves theLittleChildren”and“We

Adriana laid to rest

Are the World,” alongside stirring dance performances and poems. One of the most emotionalmomentscameas the entire crowd joined in singing “How Many More”, a song that echoed the broaderpleaforjustice.

Her classmates and teachers also paid tribute to her, mourning at the empty desk and chair where Adrianaoncesat.

Hymns were also sung duringtheserviceincluding, “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” and “We Are the World ” Screams by Adriana's mom, Amecia were heard, still unable to grasp the tragic death of her firstborn.

Among the attendees were several opposition politicians, including Amanza Walton-Desir,

opposition leader Aubrey Norton, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes and his wife Cathy HughesalongwithWPAcoleader, Dr David Hinds and socialactivist,ApostleNigel London No government officials were present at the service.

After the service and final viewing, emotions reached a breaking point. Adriana's mother, Amecia Simon, collapsed in uncontrollable grief, falling to the ground in tears as family members rushed to her side to provide support. Just a short distance away, Adriana's father, Subrian Younge, sat silently on a chair, his face buried in his hands,visiblydistraughtand still struggling to come to terms with the heartbreaking reality of his

daughter'sdeath.Thedeeply emotional scene unfolded moments after the hearse departed the tarmac, carrying Adriana's body to the Vergenoegen Burial Ground, where she was finallylaidtorest.

At the burial, Adriana's casket was gently placed inside her tomb, bringing a solemnclosetoalifethathad touchedtheheartofanation.

As the tomb was sealed, enclosingalittlegirlwholeft anindeliblemarkonsomany lives Mourners stood in respectful silence, each reflecting on the profound loss of such innocence Though the family and nationheavilygrievedather funeral, they remained hopeful that one day justice will be served for little AdrianaYounge.

Iran warns US of consequences after strikes, says Trump betrayed his voters

(AL-JAZEERA) Iran

saystheUnitedStateswillbe “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences” of its attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, adding that US President Donald Trump has “betrayed” American voters by submitting to Israel's wishes. During anaddress to ameetingoftheOrganisation ofIslamicCooperation(OIC) in Istanbul on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas AraghchisaidtheUScrossed “a very big red line” by attackingIran's three nuclear facilities.Speakingjusthours after Trump announced that US warplanes had “obliterated” the nuclear sites, Araghchi condemned the strikes and called on the United Nations Security Counciltoact.

“Itisanoutrageous,grave and unprecedented violation ofthefundamentalprinciples of the Charter of the United Nations and international law,”hesaid,addingthatthe “warmongeringandlawless” US administration will be “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and farreaching implications of its act of aggression”. “The US military attack on the territorial integrity and

nationalsovereigntyofaUN member state carried out in collusion with the genocidal Israeliregimehasonceagain revealed the extent of the United States' hostility towards the peace-seeking peopleofIran.Wewillnever compromise on their i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d sovereignty,”hesaid.

“TheIslamicRepublicof Iran continues to defend Iran's territory, sovereignty, and people by all means necessaryagainstnotjustUS military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actionsoftheIsraeliregime.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who escalated the Middle East conflict by launching strikes on Iran on June 13, praised Trump's “bold decision” to hit Iran's nuclear sites, and saidIsraelandtheUSactedin “fullcoordination.”

After the strikes, Trump saidIran“mustnowagreeto end this war” and that under no circumstances could Iran possess a nuclear weapon. But Araghchi said any demand to return to negotiations on the country's nuclear programme was “irrelevant”.TheUSandIran wereengagedinnucleartalks beforeIsraellauncheda (Continueonpage18)

WANTED VACANCY

Driverforcantertruckand Porters to work in warehouse, experienceisanasset.Call:673-7373.

Jobopenings:truckDrivers, AC Technician & Health & safety Officer Apply via Whatsapp: 689-1111/ 6082114.

Cashier(9pm-6am),Inventoryclerk,pastrymaker,roti cooks. send applications to Roti Hut, 18 North Road Bourda. Call: 227-4949 ext 1137/656-7686.

Wanted One person skilled in Welding and Fabrication from8:00amto5:00pm.Trainingwillbeprovided.Contact 621-7861formoreinformation

WantedoneMaid.Call:6801282.

Aracari Resort crystal clear pool,familyfun,safekids& adult sections, music & food.W.B.D.Call:264-29469

One Unregistered Nissan X-Trail 2016 model, Mode Premiere.FormoreinformationCall:649-0956.

1HondaCRV,includesTV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage PUTT Series (first owner).Call:649-0956.

295/ 75R22.5 $40K EACH. CALL/WHATSAPP:+592688-3201.

House and Land for sale. Contact:645-9805.

Sale

contact Mr Vino on661-3030or626-8918

OneClerkforTSIEcclesoffice English 1, Maths 2 call 615-9132oremailapplication to techserigy@yahoo.com

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age23-50,Car/Vanlicence. Call:615-9132.

MaidforEastBankarea.Call: 615-9132.

One (1) Male cleaner for Ecclesoffice.Call:615-9132.

One(1)Painterneeded.Call: 615-9132.

GeneralDomestic,Applyat Keyfood Mc Doom village nexttothepostoffice.5day work.

One night watchman call:

ExcavatorOperatorforInterior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 672-9383.

GOALGraduates!Startyour careeratAracariResort-great pay, growth, perks. Apply now!Call:264-2946-9.

Vacancy for one Kitchen assistance (Monday to Friday)$5000perday.Call:6962520.

Regular&Punctualworkers neededtoworkinBoutique atSoesdyke,35k.Call:6699258/664-3411

Pump Attendant / Cashier (6am-2pm & 2pm10pm).Mobil Providence E.B.D, Call: 265-7306. Email:Mobilramsburg@gmai.com

VISAApplicationforUSA, Canada, UK, ETA, ETC. Natrualisation guidance + applicationfilling,ECT Tel: 626-7040.

Elevateyour brandwithour professional Graphicdesign services.Call:619-0007,6295526.

FOR RENT

One Business place to rent 183 Quamana Street, South Cummingsburg. Tel : 6122125.

Police probe shooting near Minister Edghill’s home

- 19 spent shells recovered at the scene

Police on Sunday said thattheyareinvestigatingthe shooting incident which occurred Saturday night next to Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill’shome.

In a press release, police said the incident occurred at about20:10hrsatSugarCane Road in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, by an unidentified man who was in a black MercedesBenzvehicle.

Investigations revealed Representatives from the Government of Guyana and theUnitedKingdomcametogetherthisweektolaunchthe next phase of joint work to address marine pollution and support the sustainable development of Guyana's Blue Economy

thattherewasa‘social’atthe homeofRichardAustin,a69year-old businessman of Sugar Cane Road, South Ruimveldt, with several students who had written the CXCexamination.

According to the police, the students were invited by Austin’s 16-year-old son, a student who also wrote the CXCexams.

According to eyewitness reports,a15-year-oldfemale

student who was at the ‘social’ and the suspect were standing next to a black Mercedes Benz vehicle parked on the road, and they were hugging. Shortly after, the suspect entered the car and drove off at a fast rate. As the car was moving, the suspect pointed a handgun throughthedriver’ssidewindow, discharged several rounds in the air, and continued to drive heading west

untilthevehicledisappeared. The scene was processed by detectives, and nineteen (19) 9mm spent shells were found at the scene.

The registration number of the car was not seen. Whenquestioned,the15year-old female student refusedtomentionwhowasthe male (suspect) that she was with. Efforts are presently being made to locate the suspectandthemotorcar.Investigations are in progress.

GuyanaandUKdeepenpartnership totacklemarinepollution

Thevisit,heldfrom16–20 June, is part of the “EnhancingWaterQualityforSustainableBlueEconomyDevelopment” project—an initiative supportedbytheUKGovernmentthroughtheSustainable Blue Economies Technical Assistance Platform. The project is being implemented by the UK's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and AquacultureScience(Cefas), in collaboration with Guyana'sEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andthe United Nations Cartagena Convention Secretariat.

Akeyhighlightofthevisit wasatwo-dayNationalWorkshop on the Blue Economy and Marine Pollution (17–18 June),hostedattheEPAHead Office. The workshop brought together officials from various ministries and agencies to exchange knowledge and perspectives on national Blue Economy goals, pollution risks, and priority actionsforpollutionmanagement and investment.

In her address to participants, British High CommissionerJaneMillerhighlighted UK's support to Guyana to develop its Maritime Economy Plan (MEP) which was launched in 2021. This plan,partofGuyana'sbroader Low Carbon Development

Aracari Hotel, WBD (Versailles,Vreed-en-Hoop) -A/C,allamenities&breakfastincluded.From$78US. Call:264-2946.

Seeking female for companionship ages 1825.CallorWhatsapp6865377

Strategy (LCDS) 2030, focusesonidentifyingkeysectorswithinthemaritimeindustry and creating tailored action plans to address gaps, overcome obstacles, and build capacity She noted that the MEP wasdesignedtolaythefoundationforcontinueddialogue andactiontosupportGuyana in advancing work towards the development and protection of its ocean resources.

High Commissioner Miller said,“togetheryouwillbrainstorm ways to strengthen Guyana'snationalcapacityto assess and manage marine pollution,therebysafeguarding the country's marine and coastal resources.”

EPA Executive Director Kemraj Parsram emphasised the significance of the collaboration, “Our partnership withtheUKGovernment,the British High Commission, Cefas, and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is

morethantechnicalcooperation—it is a model of meaningful collaboration. Together, we are building the scientific capacity, institutional strength, and regional alignment necessary to protect our marine and coastal ecosystems. This initiative is helping to ensure that all Guyanese—from coastal communitiestonationalagencies—are equipped to lead, respond,andinnovateinsafeguarding water quality and advancingourBlueEconomy goals.”The workshop was followed by two days of stakeholder engagement and planning meetings (19–20 June), involving community representatives,technicalexperts and project partners.

The project, which will continuethrough2025,iscurrentlyfocusedonconducting a national situation analysis to map existing knowledge andidentifyprioritypollution risks.Thisanalysiswillinform

thedevelopmentoftechnical solutions and investment strategies aligned with Guyana's sustainable ocean and coastal development ambitions.Dr.WillLeQuesne, Director of the International Centre for Ocean Protection andUseatCefas,added,“Protecting the health of the marineenvironmentiscriticalto Guyana'sdevelopmentgoals. This partnership with Cefas and the UK Government strengthens the international collaboration needed to ensure the world's oceans continue to support our people and economies for generations to come.”

Thisinitiativemarksasignificant step in the UK's support for climate-resilient development in Small Island DevelopingStates(SIDS),leveragingworld-classUKmarine expertise to co-develop practical tools and strategies for sustainable marine resource use. (DPI)

Guyana obtains highest food production

Guyana has become the leadingmemberoftheCaribbean Community (CARICOM)infoodproduction, mainly because of its consistently high output levels in the region.

These targets were set to advanceCARICOMsgoalof reducing the regions food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. Although the overall target has not yet been met innominalterms,theemphasisonimprovingagricultural production across the region has yielded tangible results. This was highlighted in a statement issued by the Ministry of Agricultures CARICOMAdvisoronAgriFood systems Dr Richard Blairearlierthisweek.

“The extension of the CARICOMs 25 per cent by 2025initiativeto2030reflects a strategic shift towards

achieving concrete production targets rather than relyingonreductionsinthenominal food import bill,” the advisorexplained.

Between 2022 and 2024, the region recorded an overall growth of 23.1 per cent in food production. Dr Blair stated that tangible progress has been achieved in food production,privatesectorinvestment,andagriculturalinfrastructure in support of the initiative. Guyanas growth is a result of billions of dollars ofinvestmentpouredintothe localagriculturalsector

Using the same time frame,Guyanaexperiencedan overall production growth rate of a whopping 40.2 per cent, nearly doubling the regional average. “Guyanas performance was nothing short of exceptional, exceeding the regions average

achievement rates. Thats despite consistently having the highest targets and output levels in the region,” the ministrys advisor pointed out. These achievements, he said, stem from deliberate policyandsignificantinvestments between 2024 and 2025. Blair explained that “These outcomes did not occur by chance, but were primarily driven by robust supply-side interventions, underpinned by a comprehensivestrategy[toimprove]infrastructure, technology, and policyreform.”

Key contributors to Guyanasstrongperformance include the rapid growth in rice, brackish water shrimp (which saw an increase of more than 1000 per cent), corn, soya, and prawns, among other strategic areas. (DPI)

Hot air balloon incident kills eight in Brazil

Brazil Hoy-air Balloon: Crashed At Least 8 Dead After Hot-Air Balloon Catches Fire Mid-Air in Santa Catarina (By Lokmat English Desk)

(BBC) At least eight peoplehavediedinahotair balloon accident in southern Brazil,thegovernorofSanta Catarinastatehassaid.

Therewere21peopleon board the balloon in the city ofPraiaGrandeonSaturday morning, Jorginho Mello postedonX.

Thirteen people, including the pilot, survived and no one is missing, the state government press officereported.

Brazil's National Civil AviationAgency(Anac)said it was taking "all necessary

steps to investigate the condition of the aircraft and thecrew".

"According to the pilot, whoisoneofthesurvivors,a firestartedinsidethebasket, so he started to lower the balloon, and when the balloonwasveryclosetothe ground he told people to jump," officer Tiago Luiz Lemos, from the Praia Grande police station, told reportersatthescene.

"They started to jump, but some people did not manage to The flames started to grow and because

Brazilian police and firefighters work at the crash site

of the weight, the balloon begantoriseagain.

"It later fell because of a lossofsuspension."

The victims were two couples, a mother and d a u g h t e r , a n ophthalmologist, and a figureskater

Thesurvivorsweretaken tonearbyhospitals.

Balloon tour company Sobrevo

Turísticos, which operated the

suspended its activities indefinitely

It said it had complied with all regulations set by Anac and had had no prior historyofaccidents.

"Unfortunately, even with all necessary precautionsandtheeffortsof our experienced pilot - who followed all recommended procedures and tried to save everyone on board - we are now faced with the pain caused by this tragedy," the

companyadded.

Inavideoalsopostedon X, Mello, who is on an official mission in China, said he had sent "the entire state structure" to "rescue, help and comfort the families"andwascontinuing tomonitorthesituation.

"We are in mourning, whathappenedisatragedy," headded.

"Wewillinvestigatewhy this happened But the importantthingnowistodo

everything possible to reach out to the people and the families."

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted on X expressing his "solidarity with the families of the victims".

He said he had placed "the federal government at the disposal of the victims" andthat"stateandmunicipal forces"wereworkingonthe rescue and care of the survivors.

Israel recovers bodies of three Gaza captives as it kills 33 Palestinians

(Al-Jazeera) Israeli forces say they have recoveredthebodiesofthree captives held in the Gaza Strip since Hamas's 2023 attack, the military said, as itsbombardmentandattacks inthebesiegedenclavehave killed more than 30 Palestinians, according to hospitalofficials.

The military on Sunday said the bodies of Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson were recovered from Gaza “inaspecialoperation.”

Samerano's father had announcedearlieronSunday that his 21-year-old son's body, which was taken into Gaza after he was murdered onOctober7,2023,hadbeen recovered by the Israeli army

Keidar, a 71-year-old mother of three, was also killed on the day, while 19year-old tank commander Levinson “engaged and fought terrorists on the morning of October 7 and fell in combat”, a statement fromthemilitarysaid.

More than 1,100 people were killed and about 250 taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on southernIsrael,accordingto Israeliauthorities.

At least 50 of those captives remain in Gaza, with20reportedlystillalive, Israelimediasay Hamas has repeatedly said it is ready to release all Israeli captives in exchange for a permanent end to the war on Gaza, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave, and the release of all Palestinian prisonersinIsraelijails.

But Netanyahu has rejected the terms and continued his war on the

Displaced Palestinians receive hot meals distributed by aid organisations in al-Mawasi, Gaza, June 20, 2025

[Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu]

Strip,whichhaskilledabout 56,000 Palestinians, most

offensive that the United Nations,mostgovernments, and rights groups call a genocide.

More recently, starving Palestinians desperate for food and other essential items are being shot, with more than 400 people killed and nearly 2,000 wounded since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a shadowy group backed by the United States andIsrael,begandistributing aidlastmonth.Israeliforces killedatleast33Palestinians sincedawnonSunday,sixof them while seeking aid, hospitalsourcesinGazatold Al Jazeera. Gaza's Ministry of Health said at least 51 Palestinians were killed in thelast24hours.

Since March 18, when Israel broke a fragile twomonth ceas

fire and launched a massive assault on Gaza, at least 5,647 Palestinians have been killed and 19,201 wounded, according to the ministry An Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza on Sunday said at least six peoplewerekilledovernight during an Israel-imposed internet blackout that lasted five hours and was accompanied by heavy Israeli artillery firing targetingareasineasternand central Gaza. Three of them were killed after a rocket hit a tent housing displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi to the west of Khan Younis city A man and his wife were killed in another strike targeting an apartment to the north of Nuseirat.

IranwarnsUSofconsequencesafter...

Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills 20, authorities say

broken glass and a bloodied floor

Frompage15 surprise strike on Iran –publiclybackedbytheUS–earlier this month Iran denies its uranium enrichment programme is for anything other than civilian purposes, rejecting Israeli allegations that it is secretlydeveloping nuclear weapons Netanyahu has pledged to continue the attacksfor“asmanydaysas it takes” to stop Iran from developing a “nuclear threat.”

“The world must not forget that it was the United Stateswhich–inthemidstof a process to forge a diplomatic outcome –betrayed diplomacy by supporting the genocidal Israeli regime's launch of an illegal war of aggression on theIraniannation,”Araghchi

said “So we were in diplomacy, but we were attacked. They gave a green light to Israelis, if not instructed them, to attack Iran'snuclearfacilities.They haveprovedthattheyarenot men of diplomacy, and they only understand the language of threat and force.”

US Defense Secretary PeteHegsethonSundaysaid hestillhopesIranwillreturn to the negotiating table. “I can only confirm that there are both public and private messages being delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table,”hetoldreporters.

(BBC)Atleast20people havebeenkilledand52others wounded in a suicide bombing at a church on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria's interior ministry has said The attacker entered Mar Elias Church in Dweila during a service and opened fire with a weapon before detonatinganexplosivevest, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that he was affiliated with the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). There was no immediate claimfromthegroupitself

TheSyrianCivilDefence -whoseemergencyteamsare

widely known as the White Helmets - posted photos and video from inside the church showing a heavily damaged altar,pewscoveredinbroken glassandabloodiedfloor

One person told AFP news agency outside Mar Elias that "someone entered carryingaweapon"andbegan shooting "[People] tried to stop him before he blew himselfup,"headded A worker at a nearby shopsaid:"Wesawfireinthe church and the remains of wooden benches thrown all thewaytotheentrance” Security forces have condonedofftheareaaround

investigating the attack, according to the interior ministry Itwasthefirstsuch attack in Damascus since Ba

Assad was overthrownbyrebelforcesin December

InterimPresidentAhmed al-Sharaa - whose Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syriahas repeatedly promised to protect religious and ethnic minorities

However,thecountryhas beenrockedbytwowavesof deadly sectarian violence in recentmonths.

The bodies of Yonatan Samerano, Ofra Keidar and Sgt Shai Levinson were retrieved on Saturday, the IDF confirmed

Pictures from inside Mar Elias Church showed a heavily damaged altar, pews covered in

'One Guyana' King and Queen of the Sand Football Teams for knock-out round confirmed following end of group stages

The line up for the knockout rounds are now confirmed following the completion of the group stages of the third-edition of the One Guyana Kings and Queens of the Sand football competition in the Bauxite MiningTownofLinden.

Goal IQ ahead of their final group 'D' game was

languishinginthethirdplace on6-pointsbehindBomberz (9 points) and YMCA (6 points) in that order and put in a blistering display to trounce YMCA 3-1, knocking them out of the next round and taking over thetopgroupspotbasedona better goal difference of +6 to+4aheadofBomberz,the

twoendingon9pointseach. Also booking a place in the knockout round having found themselves in third going into their final group match was HH Ballers who shovedoutOneSydealsoon goal difference, +4 to +3.

Turf President were scheduledtofaceHHBallers in their last match but failed

to show up which handed Ballers3pointsand3goals, this was enough to upstage OneSydeandsendthemout ofthecompetition.

Thefinaltwomatchesin thequeenscompetitionwent as anticipated with the GDF ending as the top side in Group 'A' with a perfect record of three wins from as many matches whilst defending champions Speightland have also gainedtheirplaceinthenext round as the second place teamingroup'B'followinga huge11-0 hammering of Rockstone.

The quarter finals will kick off on Friday and this will see only winners advancing from this stage. The semifinal lineup amongst the queens has already been confirmed and willbeplayedonJuly5th.

Iconic Ballers will take on Hururu while defending champions Speightland will facetheirtoughestopponent yetintheGDFastheyseekto earnaplaceinthefinal.

Following are the results of the final group stagematches.

Game1

Young Gunners 6 vs Lil Ballers2

Game2–Queens

GDF6vsCircuitville1

Game3

HH Ballers were awarded a walkover from TurfPresident

Game4–Queens

Speghtland 11 vs Rockstone0

Game5

UDK Victors were awarded a walkover from Spaniards

Game6

LA Ballers 8 vs Team Minerals3 Game7

YMCA1vsGoalIQ3

Person (2nd

Lakeisha

right) who scored 5 goals along with the other scorers for defending Speightland.

C.V. Nunes Primary celebrate their title success

C.V. Nunes crowned Essequibo Champions

CV N u n e s P r i m a r y showcased a dominant performance with both bat and ball to emerge asthenewchampionsofthe Essequibo Zone in the FutureWarriorsTapeballfor P r i m a r y S c h o o l s tournament.

The event, powered by ExxonMobil Guyana, saw young cricketers display

immense talent and sportsmanship despite persistent rain at the Anna Regina Community Centre GroundonSaturday

The newly laid outfield at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground proved its worth, allowing all 16 participating teams to compete safely and with greatenthusiasm.

The persistent rain did littletodampenthespiritsof the young cricketers, who played with remarkable vigour and camaraderie throughouttheday

In a tightly contested final, C.V Nunes Primary held their nerve to successfully defend a competitive total of 52-0 from their allotted eight

overs. The foundation for their total was laid by skipper Vidal Narine, who led from the front with a wellcompiled 33 runs from 30 balls, an innings that included three fours and a six.

Narine's impressive batting set the stage for the bowlers,whothendelivered a masterclass in tight bowling.

Jadan Alan (3-8) and Zach Madholall (3-9) were the chief destroyers, ripping through the opposition batting line-up to seal the championship for C V Nunes C V Nunes Primary's path to the final was equally impressive. In their semi-final clash, they comfortably chased down a target of 57 runs, reaching 60-1injust4.3overs. Zach Madholall continued his excellent form, top-scoring with an unbeaten 20 runs, ably supported by Kavory Garraway (10)* Their opponents, Fisher Primary, hadposted56-4intheireight overs, with notable contributions from Matthew

Peters (15) and Julian Singh (11).

Kaysean Doodnauth was the standout bowler for C.V Nunes in this match, claiming an impressive 3-8 from two overs. The other semi-final proved to be a n a i l - b i t e r, a t r u e "humdinger"asdescribedby spectators. Mainstay Lake Primary showcased

WESTINDIESvAUSTRALIATHREE-TESTS...

Frompage22 runs @ 17.57 avg; 99 F-C games, 401 wickets @ 20.54, batting avg. 13.78, are not nearly acceptable returns. Shamar Joseph (Guyana): After 2024's heroics in Australia, he is now a “powder puff” – no stingandnopace. Whatthe hell has happened? He needs serious bowling help right now. I was very embarrassed seeing how badly he bowled in UK three weeks ago. Against SA-Alast week, he bowled morerubbish. Ifnothingis done now, this guy will disappearsoon.

Alzarri Joseph (Antigua & Barbuda / Leeward Islands):

Acknowledged as WI's fast bowling leader, he looked tired and jaded in UK for

ODIs and T-20-Is; no pace generated. Has served WI fast bowling history and fraternity well but would need much help from fast bowling and spinning associates v Australia, to become as effective as he hadbeenin2023/24.

Anderson Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago): WithonlytwoTests,heisa late bloomer who needs much more work. His recent exploits for my old county,LancashireCCC,in 2025,willstandhimingood stead for fitness and readiness to bowl long spells, but he needs more pacetoo.Hadagoodouting v SA-A last week - a first innings five-wicket haul –andisagoodreserve.

J a y d e n S e a l e s (Trinidad & Tobago):

Presently WI's most productive and on-form faster bowler Reminds all of former LI & WI faster bowler Kenny Benjamin. 18 Tests, 75 wickets @ 22 26; 153 F-C wickets from44games@24.89;are indicative as to how effective Seales can be. Wo r k s h a r d a n d understands bowling well. Will have to work much hardervtheAussies. So, Test cricket still needs boosters, despite that excellent ICC WTC Championship 2025 Final at Lords last week Hopefully, West Indies and Austr

play enterprisingly The series will probably end 1 – 1, which would be a great result for West Indies Enjoy! Cheers!

incredible resilience to defendamodesttotalof37. Their success was largelyduetoanexceptional bowling effort from Colin Jacobs, who claimed a remarkable 3-4 from two overs, restricting Suddie Primaryto31-8.

Meanwhile, Narine endedwith60runstobethe tournament's leading runscorerwhileJadenRobinson of Charity Primary had five wickets, for the leading wicket-taker.JohnRamsingh of FL Sport, the organising group, lauded the success of thetournament,emphasising thecorepurposeoftheevent.

“The enthusiasm and interest from the children here today is what this tournament is all about,” Ramsinghstated.

He added, “We had fun, and today, we are all

winners ” His sentiments encapsulated the spirit of participation and enjoyment that permeated the day's proceedings.

C.V NunesPrimarynow joins Grove Primary (Demerara) and Cropper Primary (Berbice) as the county champions, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Champions of Championstournament.

This ultimate showdown is tentatively scheduled for early August, promising another exciting display of youngcricketingtalent.

Thetournament'simpact extends beyond the immediate competition. The Most Valuable Player from each zone – Roles Melville (Demerara), Kenny Ishmile (Berbice), and Julian Singh (Essequibo) – will have the unique opportunity to

participate in activities related to the Global Super League, which runs from July10-18.

Furthermore, the zone championswillbeinvitedto attend day matches, a generousgesturecourtesyof ExxonMobilGuyana. Theultimateprizeawaits the winning team of the Champions of Champions tournament,whowillbepart oftheactivitiesforthehome leg of the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year's Caribbean Premier League (CPL), scheduled from September6-14.

These initiatives underscore ExxonMobil Guyana's commitment to fostering cricketing talent at the grassroots level and providing aspiring young cricketers with invaluable experiences.

SLINGERZ RACING'S “GALO WHITE” FINISHES 5TH AT HISTORIC BRAZIL GRANDE PREMIO DEBUT

Guyana's Slingerz Racing Stable made history as their standout colt, Galo White, crossed the wire in fifth place at the 93rd runningoftheBrazilGrande Premio (Grade 1), Brazil's most prestigious horse racingevent.

Breaking from post position 15 in a highly competitive international field, Galo White showed early speed and took command from the break, setting the pace through the openingstages. H o w e v e r , w i t h

approximately120metresto the finish, the Guyanese runner began to tire, ultimately holding on gamely to secure a respectable fifth-place finish. This marked the first time a horse representing Guyanacompetedintheelite South American classic; an historic feat for the nation's racingfraternity

The Brazil Grande Premio annually attracts world-class entrants, and Galo White's qualification andperformanceunderscore the rising prominence of the

Vergenoegen-basedSlingerz Racing Stable on the global stage.

The stable, fresh off dominating the guyana Horse Racing scene behind Olympic Kremlin and John Bull, continues to build a formidable reputation both athomeandabroad.

Galo White is expected to return to Guyana following his impressive internationaldebut,wherehe will headline the 2025 GuyanaCuponAugust17at the Rising Sun Turf Club, alongwithlastyear'swinner, OlympicKremlin.

Matthews, Fletcher star in series-levelling win

(ESPNCricinfo)Hayley Matthews' unbeaten 63 and two wickets each from Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack helped West IndiesbeatSouthAfricaand level the series 1-1 ahead of the decider on Monday Six of SouthAfrica's batters got to double figures but no one scored more than 21, which helped West Indies keep the score down to 113 before Matthews iced the chase at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados.

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got South Africa off to a good start after being put into bat. Wolvaardt hit Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector for boundaries in a

30-run opening stand before being dismissed for 16 Matthews, who had opened the bowling, returned in the sixth over to knock over MarizanneKappforaduck. Fletcher,thepickofWest Indies bowlers, bowled five dots in her first over and dismissedBritsfora21-ball 14 in the seventh, as South Africalost3for10.Shekept NadinedeKlerkquietbutthe battergotthetempoupatthe other end. De Klerk hit the only six in the innings off Aaliyah Alleyne and put on 29off26ballsforthefourth wicket with Karabo Meso, takingSouthAfricato69for 3inthe13thover Fletcher got de Klerk's wicket in her final over,

whichcausedanotherslump of3for10asRamharackgot wickets in successive overs. Annerie Dercksen joined Meso and they had an

Hayley Matthews led West Indies home with 63* (PA Photos/ Getty Images)

unbeaten34-runstandwhich picked up pace gradually. Bothboundariesinthestand came in the final two overs that went for 18, taking

SouthAfricato113for6.

Qiana Joseph started the West Indies chase with two boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba.Matthews,with9off 17,wasslowtostartbutsaw off Kapp's three-over opening spell. Ayabonga Khakacameonintheeighth to get Joseph for 17 and end the41-runopeningstand.

Matthews was stable in the middle overs but her partners either got stuck or fell cheaply Mlaba and Khaka contained Shawnisha Hector before she was dismissed by Masabata Klaas for 3 off 12 balls. Matthews hit three fours in the next six balls before Mlaba, the pick of South Africa's bowlers, got

Sparta Boss, Back

ShemaineCampbelle(7)and Chinelle Henry (3) in successive overs to leave West Indies on 77 for 4, needing37off35balls. Jannillea Glasgow and Matthews kept West Indies ticking despite there being no boundary between overs 13 and 18. With 16 needed off12,Matthews-freshoffa run-a-ball 50 - whacked Khaka for a six and a four. The 13-run over was the most expensive of the innings.Glasgowthenhitthe winningrunsoffdeKlerk. West Indies 116 for 4 (Matthews63*,Mlaba2-17) beat South Africa 113 for 6 (Dercksen21,Fletcher2-13, Ramharack 2-25) by six wickets

Circle 'A', Road

Gold Is Money to battle for the C/ship spots

Avocado Ballers in control against Pouderoyen in their 6-2 win.

An a l m o s t capacity crowd

at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall got morethantheybargainedfor whenthequarterfinalsofthe inaugural June Madness Futsal championship were contested on Saturday night intoSundaymorning.

Two very close encounters and an equal amount of not so nerve racking wins permeated the night's proceedings as Gold IsMoney,SpartaBoss,Road WarriorsandBackCircle'A' booked the four semifinal spots and are assured of

earningfromtheprizepotof overfour-milliondollars.

The night also saw the continuation of the female segment of June Madness, and saw Iconic Ballers recordingtheirsecondwinin as many matches in the round-robin competition amongst six teams, the top fourmovingontothesemis.

IconicBallers,assuredof a final four slot, defeated Tucville Terrorists 30,AkeeelahVancooten(9th), Shanic Thornhill (11th) and Tynesha Thorne (17th), the payers on target for the winners. The other female

match ended with Avacado

B a l l e r s t r o u n c i n g Pouderoyen6-2. leading Avacado Ballers was LezandraHenritowith a helmet-trick (4th, 7th, 14th, 15th)withoneeachforAnna Frank (1st) and Gabriela Jimenez in the 6thminute. Pouderoyen'sresponsecame from a well-executed free kick off the boot of Sasha Johnsonwiththeyellowball inthe16thminuteofthe20minuteencounter

The night's main attraction between Gold Is Money and giant slayers BombSquadsawthelatter's

dream run coming to a screeching halt with the former winning 4-1. For all of 25 minutes of the 40minute clash, Bomb Squad and their supporters were in high spirits as the score was locked1-1.

Gold Is Money took the leadafter11minutesofplay, WilliamEuropehittinginthe first of his hat-trick. Six minutes later, Kemar BeckforddrewBombSquad level as the first half ended with much hope for both sides.

Three minutes into the second half, Gold Is Money restored their advantage when Randolph Wagner converted. It took a yellow ballstrikeinthe26thminute to seal the win and a final four place for Gold Is Money, Europe slotting home what can be termed a goldenstrike.

Back Circle 'A' rolled over ZTekk 5-1, thanks to a Chris Macey double (13th, 33rd) and once each from Stephan McLean (19th), Ravin Naughton (29th) and Simeon Moore (38th). Z TEkk'sconsolation goal was scored by Neron Barrow in the 35th minute. The other two matches were humdingers in their own rights. First up, the highly fancied Road Warriors whichhasranovertheirfirst two opponents were held

tightlythroughouttheirclash with Bent Street 'B', which lostbyasinglegoal,4-3.

Road Warriors were virtually sailing to victory having enjoyed a 3-0 cushionformorethanhalfof the game Mattheus De Souza (10th, 15thpenalty) and Arckson Andreazzain th the 26 minute laid the platform for what was looking like an easy walk in thepark.

But things changed an got scary for them when Bent Street 'B' scored their first in the 32nd minute through Tyric McAllister, but seconds later, Road Warriorsrestoredtheirthreegoal cushion when Ricardo Silva found the back of the nets.

The game was a very physicalencounterwithboth teams finding themselves in foul trouble. Two late goals from Orin Moore (39th penalty)andSamuelGarnett (40th) made the Road Warriors players and fans sweatbuttimewascertainly not on Bent Street 'B' side with the final whistle being blown moments after Garnett'sstrike.

Sparta Boss, once a popular unit seems to be losingtheirflairandsupport butsomehowstillfindaway to notch up wins. A classic case was their showdown with North East which they

wentontowin4-3.

Like the Road Warriors game,SpartaBossracedtoa comfortable 3-0 lead by the 15thminutewithgoalsfrom Curtez Kellman (6th, 15th) whohasscoredinallthreeof their matches so far, and Kelsey Benjamin in the 8th minute.

The busy body Lennox Cort reduced the advantage ofSpartainthe22ndminute whenhescoredNorthEast's first.Aboldmovewasmade bytheNorthEastCoachwho requested the yellow-ball around23rdminute.

Themovepaiddividends with Tyler Lyle scoring a hugegoalinthe24thminute which sent the crowd into a frenzy underscoring the level of support North East enjoyed amongst the majority of fans, the goal leveledthescore3-3.

When it seemed like the game was headed for extra time,theNorthEastsidelost their focus in the final minute and paid the price when Ryan 'Bum Bum' Hackett was left unmarked in front of goal, accepted a crisppasstoslothomeinthe 39th minute, sealing their semifinal place and a date with Back Circle 'A' on Tuesday night. The other semifinal clash beings together RoadWarriorsvsGoldIs Money

WEST INDIES v AUSTRALIA THREE-TESTS SERIES –AMASSIVEOPPORTUNITY!

West Indies Head Coach and sole main selector Darren Sammy has spoken. WI will this week start taking on not-so-mightyanymoreAustraliafortheSir Frank Worrell Trophy, in three Tests - Kensington Oval,Barbados,followedby Grenada National Cricket Stadium, then finally at Sabina Park, Jamaica. Here is hoping for continuing entertainingTestcricket.

H a v i n g p l a y e d successfully in three such series;(8Tests,32wickets); I can attest that WI v AustraliaTest Series always entailseriouslyhardcricket. Those selected have a massive chance of beating slightly deflated Australia, after their come-uppance v South Africa last week, in I C C W o r l d T e s t Championship 2025 Final.

Cricket aficionados everywheremusthavereally enjoyed that unbelievable game.

TESTCRICKETIS STILLTHEBEST

JudgingfromwhatIsaw in UK of WI ODI & T-20-I teams, WI Test team must improve 500 % to challenge recently SA-vanquished Australia, for whom one of two things will occur in this importantseries.

Itisaspot-lightingseries for the usually extremely arrogant tourists, whose over-hypedhuffandpuffdid notslowdown,muchlessto blow away SA. Aussie confidence was badly shaken, stirred, even destroyed, at Lord's last week. SAplayedbrilliantly! Test cricket brings out thoughts, words, deeds and imaginations. ICC WTC Final 2025 was one of the best Test matches ever played since Test cricket's 1877inception.

IlikeT-20sandODIsbut Test cricket is the best form of our game. It allows five long days to steep, mix, settle and permeate, like ground fruits and nuts (currants, dates, raisins, almond nuts, pecans, walnuts, cherries, slight molasses or burnt sugar), of “Old Sylvia's” darkmix,set andsoakedinseverealcohol for six months, before becoming Christmas “Black Cake”!

Test cricket, like “Old S y l v i a ' s ” resulting inebriating black cake, overpowers minds and bodies with calculations, confusions and perplexities. Test cricket has the best taste!

AUSTRALIAON THEREBOUNDAND REBUILD

The Aussies can come out, v WI, with 'Beelzebub' anger blazing, eyes and nostrils glowing fire and brimstone, 'Exocet' and 'ARM' missiles booming, blasting,highlyexplosive,to destroy anyTest team in the immediatesurrounds.

If so, as happens when usually successful sports teams somehow lose, WI could expect violently blowinghurricanesandvery torrid days these next three weeks.

Conversely, with utterances of “rebuild”, and “Ashes Series” v England, slated for later in 2025 in Australia, our tourists from 'Down Under' could be tentative in approach in Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica,givingWIaserious chance of a surprise series win.

That vanquishment in London last week shook Australia to their very spurious spines and could have been the start of sprinkles, even becoming showers, of depression for the Antipodeans but do not expectthat. ProudAustralia willhitbackhard.

Whatever happens, it will be instructive as to progress of WI Men's Test team under the new dispensation of Head Coach Darren Sammy and Captain RostonChase. ARETHESEWI BESTTEST CRICKETERSNOW?

Having seen all WI players selected first-hand, my assessments of those representing us eight million, v Australia, are as follows:

ROSTON CHASE (Barbados - Captain): On form, Chase is WI's equivalent to India's Ravindra Jadeja. Seldom doesChasefailwithfielding, catching, frugal bowling or face-saving batting. Only timewilltellhowhereactsto new responsibilities but it could be a tough baptism of fireforhiscaptaincy

K E V L O N ANDERSON (Guyana): Product of 2020 WI Under 19's, this is an interesting selection. He debuted in First Class cricket in 2023 andisatoporderbattingallrounder Played 23 First Class matches; healthy 44.44battingaverage. Ifhe debuts, his “Medium Dobblers” bowling might remind of Viv Richards' in

my1970s/1980sWIteams.

K R A I G G

B R A T H W A I T E (Barbados): Former captain and elder statesperson,muchwilldependon 98-Tests experiences and starts that he could bring. Recent innings have been poor, but his selection is necessary for stability in an uncertainteam. Aswansong for100Teststoo,buthemust scoreheavilyimmediatelyor bequicklydiscardedwithout sentiment.

J o h n C a m p b e l l

(Jamaica): What has this nearly 32 year old opening batter done to deserve inclusion? It indicates how extremely poor WI cricket has been recently 20Tests, notyet1000runs,onlythree half-centuries, no centuries. 98 F-C games, only nine centuries; avg 32 00 Campbell is the poster boy for WI's poverty-stricken battingfailings.

Keacy Carty (St

Marteen / Leeward Islands): Could have played for Netherlands, v whom he debuted in ODIs, aged 25. Another 2016 WI Under-19player,hetookhis timedevelopingtobecalled “potential”. 5Tests, batting avg. 17.90; 59 F-C games, three hundreds, avg., 27.42. Nothing lends solidity or confidence but good luck to himanyway

Shai Hope (Barbados): Despite work-load, Hope should play all Tests, ODIs andT-20-Isavailable,evenif he does also wicket-keep. WI best batter, he is the proverbial light-house's bright light trying to guide blinded WI away from bewildering blows 38 Tests, 2 centuries, five 50's, avg.25.01;70F-Cgames,9 centuries, 15 half-centuries, avg. 34.95, are not nearly goodenoughforabatterwith such skills Much improvement is required v Australia.

T e v i n I m l a c h (Guyana): Another from WI'svictorious2016Under19 World Cup team. One wonderswhyittakesplayers almost 10 years afterwards to play Tests. His wicketkeeping is good, but with only two Tests; 55 runs; Imlach and Hope will probably not play together, especially with WI's very suspect, seriously underwhelmingbattinglineup.

B r a n d o n K i n g

(Jamaica): If John Campbell's inclusion is questionable, King's is just plain scandalous. What has

COLIN CROFT –Former Guyana, Lancashire CCC & West Indies International Cricketer

he done to warrant this inclusion? Isthisrewardfor being an abject failure over 10 years? 42 F-C games, 3 centuries, avg. 34.53; 52 ODIs, 3 hundreds, avg 29 16; 63 T-20-I's, avg

26.76. EveninODIsandT20-Is, King's swiping has beenfoundout,abatterwith no proper technique whatsoever No-oneswipes successfullyinTests.

Mikyle Louis (St. Kitts & Nevis / Leeward Islands): May be an investment for a few years, but, at nearly 25, now is the correct time for this stylish but seriously underproducing opener to come good. Nine Tests, just two 50s, avg. 19.88; 23 F-C games, four centuries, avg. 34.66; suggest that much more is still to be achieved. Test batting is for sessions, notforovers.

J u s t i n G re a v e s (Barbados): Poverty of Caribbeanregionalcricketis highlighted in supposed allrounders like Greaves. Six Tests, one century, avg 21.00; six wickets @ 34.16 aresuchpoorreturns. 52FC games, only four

centuries,avg.29.67,and97 F-C wickets @ 25.71 (less than two wickets per game), suggest serious mediocrity; somethingofabitplayer

J o h a n n L a y n e (Barbados): Nearly 22, Layne can be a “dark horse' for WI's cricket future Generating steady pace for his still developing stature, and good as a lower-order batter,thisnaturalmovercan be inWI teams for a decade if coached and properly caredfor 19F-Cgames,66 wickets,avg.22.28;495runs at 20 00 avg , suggest potentialformuchbetter Jomel Warrican (St Vincent / Windward Islands): Played in 2010 Under-19 World Cup. Now 33, his longevity has been rewarded with vicecaptaincy, a move that will stifle younger orthodox legspinners 19 Tests, 73 wickets@27.56RPW,334 (Continueonpage20)

Celebration of Olympic Day 2025… Archery Guyana is always in motion. So, Let's Move?

On this Olympic D a y 2 0 2 5 , Archery Guyana proudly stands with the I.O.C. the Global Olympic Movement in issuing an important question to all Guyanese.Let'sMove?

In a world facing growing challenges of inactivity, isolation, and declining mental and physical health, sport remains one of our greatest tools for unity, strength and resilience.

This year, under the International Olympic Committee's theme, “Let's Move?”, we invite every Guyanese citizen, from the coastland to the hinterland, over all 83000 square miles andeventhoseinoffshorein Guyana's economic zone, to rediscover the joy, energy, and connection that movement and sport can bring.

PresidentoftheNational Federation, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon states; “Whether you are young or old, able-bodied or differently abled, whether you've held an arrow and boworneversteppedontoa field... Today is your day to move. Today is your DAY #1.Thefirstdayyoucansay toyourselfI'lltakeoneextra step, one deep breath, one

stretch, one arm rotation, it will be YOUR moment for action. Should you have the privilege of tomorrow, you canbeproudofyourselfand double the movements of today.”

Let us remind ourselves and each other that movement is not just physical, it is mental, emotional, and communal. Movement is resistance Movement is progress Movement is health. And movementishealing.

The Board of Directors ofArcheryGuyanaurges:

Our children: Run, climb, swing, play, dream boldly

Our elderly: Stretch, breathe, chat, stay connected.

Our communities: Support each other in all thingstokeepmoving.

Our leaders: Open channels for us to have in clean safe active spaces for all.

Our athletes: Lead with action,determination,dothe right thing Inspire with heart.

Let this Olympic Day 2025 spark a national shift for a Guyana where every village, every region, every person moves forward together Let us not be counted among the silent

Archery Guyana President, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

statistics of inactivity and disconnection Let us be knownasanationthatrises, aims, and moves with purpose.Let'sMove?

From the archery range to the open road, from the creeks to the savannah— Let's Move, Guyana Together, for joy, for health, Foreachother

In this regard, all are invited to come out today, OlympicDay,June23,2025 at 5:15pm to the Kingston Seawall with your comfortable exercise shoes and favourite team jersey or tee shirt and bring a flag if youcan.Let'sMove?

ExxonMobil Boys' and Girls' U14 Football Championship… Inclement weather forces rescheduling to June 28

The tournament is also part of the School's TVET development programme.

The sixth annual ExxonMobil Boys' and Girls'

U 1 4 F o o t b a l l Championship which was scheduled to kick off on SaturdaylastattheMinistry of Education Ground, CarifestaAvenue,suffereda huge blow from inclement weather

As such, the organiserPetraOrganisation,decided to postpone the opening weekend of the highly anticipated tournament

However, they have tentatively rescheduled the commencement for the weekendapproaching(June 28-29).

Thetournamentwhichis also part of the School's

TVET development programme promises three weeks of thrilling rivalries, budding talent, and spirited competition.

Teams from across the countryincludingnineoften regions are set to battle for early bragging rights and ultimately championship glory

Once the weather is favourable, the Girls' division starts the action as

Chase's Academic Foundation take on East RuimveldtSecondary,while MarianAcademy clash with Bush Lot Secondary, and St

J o s e p h H i g h f a c e Charlestown Secondary, all scheduled to kick off simultaneously

AlsocardedfortheGirls' segment areAbrams Zuil vs Yarrowkabra Secondary, Bartica Secondary vs Christ ChurchSecondary,Wakapoa Secondary vs New Central High, President's College vs

Secondary, Waramuri

Secondary vs Annandale Secondary and St John's

S

RuimveldtSecondary

T his prestigious tournamentismadepossible

West Ruimveldt Secondary, WaramuriSecondaryTopvs N

Secondary, Do

phin Secondary vs Vryman's Erven Secondary and Good Hope Secondary vs Vreeden-HoopSecondary

The Boys' action begins immediately after and is expected to feature another

set of high-energy matches First up, see; South Ruimveldt Secondary going up against Cotton

F i e l d S e c o n d a r y concurrentlytothat;Charity Secondary will take on President's College and AbramsZuilwilltackleNew CentralHigh.

Following these, several more key matchups are slated, including; Three Mile Secondary vs Vreeden-Hoop Secondary, Bush

Lot Secondary vs Yarrowkabra Secondary, Mackenzie High vs Dolphin Secondary, Christ Church

Secondary vs New Amsterdam Secondary and Marian Academy vs St Joseph High, a potential e a r l y t o u r n a m e n t blockbuster

After a brief break, the day's proceedings will conclude with a flurry of eightexcitingBoys'division

fixtures; Belladrum

Secondary vs Bygeval

Secondary, Leonora

Secondary vs Lodge Secondary, West Demerara Secondary vs Charlestown Secondary, West Ruimveldt

Secondary vs Hope

Secondary, Brickdam

Secondary vs East Ruimveldt Secondary, Chase's Academic Foundation vs Good Hope

through the generous support of title sponsor

ExxonMobil Guyana, alongside partners such as SkyTec,MVPSports,Banks DIH (under brands I-Cee SoftDrink,MantaSupreme, Rainforest Water, Qiin and Duetto Biscuits, and Tastee Snacks), Demerara Mutual, andStenaDrilling.

Theeventalsoenjoysthe continued backing of key g

s including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of AmerindianAffairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, all of whom play vital roles in the tournament'sannualsuccess.

Inclementweather forcesreschedulingtoJune

Matches

“Gallo White” from Slingerz Racing Stables