Kaieteur News

Govt. looking out for Exxon instead of Guyana-TIGIPres.

...as administration signals move to appeal Court ruling on full liability coverage

By Davina Bagot

that the Environmental Permit

sense,”heargued. as the insurance policy did not imposes no obligation on the

THe said while it is known that bother the American government, he announcement by the Permit Holder to provide an the EPA is being controlled by the since the laws in place were Government of Guyana unlimited Parent Company government, this has been the sufficient to prevent the company

(GoG) to challenge a Guarantee Agreement and/or history of politics in the country, fromevenconsideringtoduckfrom court ruling that seeks to ensure the Affiliate Company Guarantee especially under the present itsresponsibility nation is prevented from having to Agreement. In this regard, we hold regime. To this end, he said, stand the expenses associated with the respectful opinion that the Collins said, “They are not “Regardless of who it was, an oil spill, has been baffling to Learned Judge fell into error in his happy until they can control every whether the person had insurance Guyaneseacrossthemiles. findings. This ruling can have single institution in the country or not, BP had to pay because the

Infact,thestatementthatsucha profound ramifications and Now the problem with that is that polluter pays and if there is to be a parentcompanyguaranteecanhave grave economic and other they can’t control the Court catastrophe in Guyana, whether “grave economic impacts” on the impacts on the public interest because it’s the same Court they there is an insurance to the tune of publicinterest,hasbeendiscounted andnationaldevelopment.” have to go and run to when there whatever it is, we need the by President of the Transparency Weighing in on this response, was the attempt to hijack the guarantee because there is no Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Mr Collins in an exclusive interview electionresults.” law or power that is going to Frederick Collins, who believes with this newspaper on Friday said Telling the regulator make the Guyanese government t h a t t h i s c o n f i r m s t h e it is strange that the administration how to do its job get Exxon or anybody to fork administrationismoreinterestedin hasonlynowrecognizedthatsucha

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo out that amount of money and protectingExxonthanGuyana. guarantee is bad for business. He at his most recent party press that is why we need the guarantee

Collins and another citizen, conferencesharedthatthejudiciary because we need the insurance, Godfrey Whyte had taken the is treading in murky waters by which wasn’t enough in the BP Environmental Protection Agency directing a regulatory agency on case, because if it is not them, (EPA) to Court through their how to do its job and setting a guess who is going to have to do Attorneys, Seenath Jairam, SC, timeframe on when it should it? It is the Guyanese people who Melinda Janki, and Abiola Wong- completecertainorders. would have to face the Inniss on September 13, 2022 over

Collins however reasoned, “Is consequencesofacleanup ” oil spill insurance for the Stabroek the EPA really doing its job? Mr Collins said if Jagdeo believes Blockoilactivities. Jagdeo should listen to himself. this is too much to ask the oil

High Court Judge, Justice What is clear is not just that the companies for, he is essentially

“I can tell you that the conclusion that a lot of people are coming to is that the government is more concerned about Exxon’s business than ours, and it is a strange sight to behold because in no self-respecting business does a regulator even want to appear to be looking out for the interest of the companies he has to regulate, over the interest of the people on whose behalf he is regulating.”

Sandil Kissoon on May 3, 2023 Courtisgettinginvolvedintellinga insisting that this cost must be ordered the EPA to issue an regulator how to do its job, it is in bournebytheGuyanesepeople. Enforcement Notice to Esso factsadthattheCourthastotellthe Dodging responsibility? govern the environment and our Exploration and Production explained that the High Court regulatorthatitisnotdoingitsjob.” The TIGI president said the US rights as Guyanese people to enjoy Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its Judge handed down his ruling in

He said that having listened to oil major is so clever that it acleanenvironment,”Collinssaid. parent company, ExxonMobil to keeping with the laws of the theCourtruling,therewerepartsof constituted an affiliate- Esso He added that the Permits were ensure it provides unlimited country and the Environmental

“You can’t go the states or anywhere in the world and see a regulator actually taking the side of a corporation, and in this case, an entire government.”

the verbal ruling that was not Exploration and Production granted in accordance with those insurance coverage to safeguard Permitsissuedtothedeveloper includedinthewrittenrulingwhich Guyana Limited- EEPGL to laws, which took investment of Guyana against the devastating “We have to ask when did they highlights how “ridiculous” the operate the Stabroek Block which time and Parliamentary debates effectsofanoilspillwithinthenext realize it was bad for business actionsoftheEPAwere.“Youcan’t is a limited liability company- in before it became law As such, he thirtydays. becausethatisthelaw,thosearethe go the states or anywhere in the this case which merely has assets reasoned, “Government should tell Moments after the ruling, the lawsthataresetout.Thosewerethe us how long they knew that it was Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, constitutional clauses that the bad for business. Was it only when S.C in a statement indicated, “The government relied upon. These are Exxon came along, and if so, did EPA and the Government of the clauses which were passed in they not realize, the EPA itself, Guyana are of the considered view Parliament and were passed to when it put that into the Permit, world and see a regulator actually nomorethanUS$8billion. becausethatiswhattheJudgeused. takingthesideofacorporation,and Collinswaskeentonote,“They Sotheymakenosense.” in this case, an entire government,” havedeliberatelydonethatinorder Bad for whose business? theTIGIPresidentstressed. to constrain any amount of damage

The transparency advocate Interpretation of parent doneandcleanuptoacertainlimit. explained that citizens are now guarantee So what they are saying is that we concluding that the administration

Whilegovernmenthasstatedits don’t want our great money to be is more concerned about Exxon’s intent to appeal the Court ruling exposed,sowecandowhateverwe interestthantheGuyanese. since it believes there is no existing likeanddirtytheplace...thatiswhat “I can tell you that the policy such as ‘full insurance these people do so that they can conclusion that a lot of people are coverage’, Collins said the shield their profits and leave their coming to is that the government is administration is wholly expenses to the Guyanese people more concerned about Exxon’s misinformed or plainly acting andwhatthegovernmentisdoingis businessthanoursanditisastrange naiveonwhatthismeans. supportingthatnonsense.” sight to behold because in no self-

He pointed out, “Aguarantee is The TIGI President concluded, respecting business does a saying if he doesn’t pay, I will. Mr “Things are simpler than they are regulator even want to appear to be Jagdeo is apparently concerned being made to appear Firstly, what looking out for the interest of the about the ability of the market to ought to be required of them companies he has to regulate over provide that insurance.” Collins (Exxon) and has been required of the interest of the people on whose noted that when the oil spill them according to the Permit that behalf he is regulating. Let alone, occurred in Gulf of Mexico back in was given, like the Judge pointed not just appear but even to voice 2010, the operator at the time, out, is no more than they are such sentiments so nobody quite BritishPetroleum(BP)didnothave accustomed to in any other understands what is happening. an insurance policy to cover the responsible part of the world; and Nobody can quite figure it out. In damages which were in excess of sowhytheydon’twanttoadhereto fact, there are people who have US$60billion. it is anybody’s guess and why they nicknamed the EPA the Exxon

Heexplainedthattheadditional are being accommodated to that is Protection Agency, because we costs were bourne by the operator anybody’sguess.” can’t figure it out. It makes no

TIGI President, Frederick Collins

ExxonMobil disappointed with Judge’s decision for not acknowledging their financial capabilities

EKissoon reasoned that “If, however, that event occurs and there is no uncapped Parent Company Guarantee in place to indemnify the x x o n M o b i l Guyana and its co-venturers that the Environmental State, then the State is liable GuyanaonFriday to meet their obligations, the Protection Agency (EPA) for all that occurs. It is

afternoon said it insurancewealreadyhavein had shelved its statutory simplynotopentothepermit is disappointed that the High place, and the progress responsibilities in exchange holder to say it is engaged in Court Judge, Justice Sandil towards agreeing to a of a derelict and submissive a frolic of its own, aided and K i s s o o n d i d n o t guarantee that exceeds deposition, leaving “Guyana abetted by the EPA, to acknowledge its financial industrybenchmarks.” and its people in grave unilaterally, arbitrarily and capabilitiesandthatofitsco- The guarantee the potential danger of unlawfully cap its unlimited venturers, when he handed companywasreferringtoisa calamitousdisaster.” liability and financial down his ruling on US$2 billion coverage. The According to the judge, assurance.” Wednesday that the Court however believes that the circumstances of the

J u s t i c e K i s s o o n company must provide the oil spill expenses should not case exposed the existence emphasised therefore that a country with a parent be capped and therefore of an egregious state of Parent Company or Affiliate company guarantee, that ruled that an unlimited affairs that engulfed the Company indemnity or covers costs above the parent guarantee be supplied EPA in a quagmire of its guarantee to the extent of $2 insurancepolicy within30days. ownmaking billion does not fulfill the Esso Exploration and EEPGL nevertheless In his estimation, the obligations of the permit Production Guyana Limited noted yesterday that the judge found that ESSO was a matter of law, fact, and resources, then EXXON, the holder at Condition 14:10 (EEPGL), the subsidiary of company and the Stabroek never in doubt as to what its consequence the norm that Parent Company comes into and, in such circumstances, ExxonMobil, said it is block co-venturers “have liabilities are, as captured prevails which bound ESSO play.” Esso will remain in breach. reviewing the Court’s adequate and appropriate under Condition 14 of the assingularlyandexclusively

The court noted that “There is no hurdle to the decision and evaluating its insurance and proposed renewed permit for the Liza responsible for all liabilities EXXON continues to derive provision of the unlimited next potential steps It guarantees in an amount that P h a s e 1 P e t r o l e u m without restriction ….from a benefit from the operations parent company guarantee however said, “It is exceeds industry precedents Production facility as the its operations at the Liza of its subsidiary and will and the unlimited affiliate disappointing that the court and an estimate of potential stipulations were neither, P h a s e 1 P e t r o l e u m cover the liabilities and c o m p a n y g u a r a n t e e failed to appreciate and liability.” unusual, unique nor

Production facilities, in the obligations of Esso as agreements stipulated at acknowledge the financial In a strongly-worded unauthorisedintheindustry Stabroek Block offshore stipulated at Condition Condition 14:10 of the capabilities of ExxonMobil ruling,JusticeKissoonnoted Hesaid“Itwassimplyas Guyana.”

14:01. As such, Justice Permit.”

No voting will take place in Local Authority Areas (LAA) where there is only one approved list of

candidates, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said on Friday In a statement to the media, GECOM reminded that Section 54 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act provides that if only one List of Candidates for any LAAhas been approved, the persons whose names appear on the List shall be deemed to have been elected as Councillors due to the approvedListbeingunopposed.

This means that the Candidates in the unopposed List shall be declared the winner of the election, GECOM advised. “In this regard, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) takes this opportunity to inform all Stakeholders, that there are thirteen (13) LAAs with a combined total of ninety-eight Constituencies on its website i e (98) Constituencies, and one hundred and www.gecom.org.gy so that eligible persons ninety-three (193) additional Constituencies can check to ascertain whether elections from among other LAAs in which there will wouldbeheldintheirareasofresidence.” be no need for eligible persons to vote due to Alternatively, persons may visit the theexistenceofunopposedLists.” Office of the Returning Officer for the

The Commission said that the “existence Municipality or Neighbourhood Democratic of an unopposed List of Candidates for a Council, in which they reside, to find out LAA/Constituency effectively means that whether voting will take place therein. thereisnoneedfortheelectorstovote.” Notwithstanding, GECOM said that as a “Accordingly, there is no need for the component of its Civic and Voter Education establishment of Polling Stations in such strategy, it will make public announcements LAAs/Constituencies Recognizing that and distribute appropriate literature in all of voters may not be aware of whether the the affected LAAs/Constituencies towards LAA/Constituency in which they are ensuring that the relevant voters are made registered to vote would have been affected aware of why they are not required to vote at by an unopposed List, GECOM has posted the Monday, June 12, 2023 Local the separate lists of the affected LAAs and GovernmentElections.

In concluding the case, the Court noted that Parent Company Guarantee as mandated by Condition 14 should be in place. It was therefore determined that “If the unthinkable occurs, and there is an event in the Stabroek Block resulting in the release of hydrocarbons then Esso, and to the extent that it is unable to do so as it is largely an assetless subsidiary without financial

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

NoVotinginLocalAuthorityAreas wherethereisonlyoneapproved ListofCandidates-GECOM

24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Voices from all over - and against

Something unusual took place in the past two weeks. Guyanese from different walks of life lent their voices to condemn a repugnant development, and they attached their names to public objections over what was dumped on a female journalist, two of them in fact. One was from the State media, the other from the private, independent-owned sectionofit.

Public disagreement and public objection are standing features of a healthy democracy, and both have been noticeablyabsentforawhilenow Indifferencehasbeenone contributory factor, and raw partisanship another restraining consideration. Butmostofall,ithasbeenadeep-seatedand abiding fear, which has blocked conscientious citizens from lifting a protesting voice when the obscene has taken centerstagehere.

It is encouraging, therefore, to observe Guyanese men and women coming out against the vileness that was meted out to two women journalists. We hope that it is a signal of more vocal and spirited presences to offer their public support,whenthetroublingrearsitsuglyhead. Inadditionto individualcitizens,therewerewell-knowngroupsthatmade sure everyone knew where they stood, especially those holdinghighpositionsinthePPPCGovernment. Thishasits relevance because the linkage between a shadowy online group and the present government is one that has a long, sordidhistory.

The fact is that groups operating locally, as well as overseas-based Guyanese ones, added to what became a stormofconcentrated,consistentangeranddisgust. Thishas not been seen in Guyana in recent years, which only made it more welcomed. Further, when politicians take it upon themselves to weigh-in on a reprehensible issue, then the degree of broad-based Guyanese alarm and disagreement couldnothavebeenmorepalpable.

Further still, when a figure of the stellar standing of Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharat Jagdeo (himself a former Chief Executive of the nation) could find it timely to condemn what occurred, then clearly a terrible deed was done.

ThoughsomehaveexpressedmisgivingsthatDr Jagdeo was several days late, and his words fell way short of what wastheminimum,thefactisthathedidstepforwardandsign his name in the public record of condemnation. Let that be enough, serve as a starting point of what could lead in other directionsthatmaybejustashigh,evenmuchhigher

The bottom line is that Guyanese voices were as one in deploring what was outrageous and, hence, highly unacceptable. In this particular instance, we at this publication stay away from considerations of underlying motives, and the authenticity of any contributor, concerning the issue at hand. What was impressive was that, in some form or the other, it was one word over and over: No! No! No!Topresentthisinotherways,whatwasheardwasweare against! We condemn! We denounce! We are appalled and wearedisgusted.

Thisinstillsgoodfeelings,andthereisnowthehopethat some light would have been shed, regarding where things could rise, when there is a sufficiency of voices and enough feet to stand against the tides of stealthy destructive forces thatthreatentosweepoverGuyaneselife.

Examining these developments over the matter of a journalist, there is the hope that more Guyanese could be encouraged to engage in the burning issues, the rich and concerning issues, and the nationally significant issues that, once genuinely and satisfactorily resolved, could pave the wayforabetterGuyaneselife.

There is the national oil patrimony at the peak of issues list, which if it attracts a concentration of local energies and passions, could mean the difference between the scratchy poverty lived with for so many lifetimes, and the deep prosperitythatisrightlyours. Theindividual,sectional,and

Let us continue to build upon the ‘sacred relationship’ between India and Guyana

DEAREDITOR, journeys,hardships,travails President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo India as a strategic partner Namaste.Greetingsfrom and perseverance of a to India followed by the visit and we wish to strengthen the High Commission and people We should take of Hon’ble External Affairs our cooperation and thepeopleofIndia. lessons from that unique Minister of India Dr S partnership.

On behalf of the history of journeys and take Jaishankar to Guyana have The High Commission Government and people of bold, pioneering steps to further strengthened our continues to support and India, I extend my best advance the nation of bonds charting a new path encourage active promotion wishes and congratulations Guyana, with hope and forprogress. of the omnipresent, long to the Government and determination It may be recalled here enduring and rich Indian people of Guyana in We are always reminded that both H.E President of traditions and culture which Guyana and across the of the Diaspora’s pioneering Guyana and Hon’ble Vice served our forefathers so w o r l d o n t h e spirit, persistence and Presidentareawardeesofthe well Guyana’s enduring commemoration of the endurance under extremely highest Indian Diaspora vitality is a reflection of its 185thanniversaryofArrival harshconditions. Award - Pravasi Bharatiya people, always strong, Day The High Commission We recognize the SammanAward,recognizing energetic, progressive and of India joins you all in invaluable contributions the achievements of Indian vibrant. paying honored tribute and they have made to the Diasporaabroad. I wish all of you a very homage to those who came diverse social, cultural and We hope that we Happy and SafeArrival Day to Guyana and other economic development of continue to build upon this MayGodblessyouall.Long Girmitiya countries from Guyana. sacred relationship between l i v e G u y a n a - I n d i a I n d i a , w h i l e w e The recent official visits India and Guyana. We wish friendship. commemorate the historic of His Excellency President to assure that the projected Dr K J Srinivasa event which took place 185 of Guyana Dr Mohamed transformation of Guyana in High Commissioner of years ago, recognizing the Irfaan Ali and Hon’ble Vice the coming years will have India to Guyana

Enterprise, Paradise and Enmore

Primary schools will not be closed

DEAREDITOR, school students, usually Strangely, the previous as the best site. Our statistics

T h e M i n i s t r y o f Grades7to9,arehousedina government was unable to also indicate that large Education (MoE) takes note primaryschoolbuilding,and complete a 24-months quantities of students travel oftheconcernsraisedbyMr are taught using the projectin5years. from Enmore and further to SultanMohamedinhisletter secondarycurriculum. The current government schoolsinGeorgetown. cap tio n ed “C lo s in g This department is restarted the construction of It is our expectation that Enterprise and Enmore usually managed by a senior this school in the last quarter this number can be reduced schools ill-conceived”. We teacher within the primary of 2022, and it will now be with the establishment of wish to point out that school This situation completedbyJune30th. Good Hope Secondary Enterprise Primary, Paradise happens if there is not Good Hope Secondary School.

Primary and Enmore enough secondary school School, on completion, will Good Hope Secondary Primary will not be closed. spacetoaccommodateallthe be the best secondary school was built as part of the What will be closed will be students who would have in the country in terms of MoE’s comprehensive effort the Secondary Departments written the NGSA exams. facilities These facilities to expand Universal found in each of these One of the goals of the include all TVET labs, Secondary Education; to primaryschools. current Education Sector science labs, smart ensure universal secondary

It is an unreasonable and Plan is the closure of all classroom,library,alliedarts access Secondary school uninformed assumption to secondary departments in lab (dance studio), theatre students at the schools make that three primary primaryschools. room, music room, visual identified by Mr Mohamed schools will be closed It was recognized by the arts room, 5G internet, SEN are currently doing a because one secondary then government of Guyana access (elevator), large maximum of 5 subjects schoolhasbeenbuilt. in2013-2014thattherewasa discrete classrooms in terms There is no choice because

On the contrary, the need for another secondary of international standards, thereisnospace. movement of the secondary school on the East Coast of agriculture plot, shade A t G o o d H o p e school students from the Demerara and so the house, slaughter area, etc. Secondary, students will be primary school buildings construction of Good Hope T h i s s c h o o l w i l l able to choose from 34 will allow for the primary Secondary School began accommodate nearly 1000 different subject areas; 28 schoolstudentstohavemore The construction of this students. subjects at general space thereby increasing schoolwouldhavemeantthe It is impractical to build proficiency and 5 subjects at comfort. closure of all secondary schools with these facilities technical proficiency It is

We wish to advise Mr departments in primary for only 500 students. Large envisaged that CAPE will Mohamed,asheseemsnotto schools on the East Coast of schools must be built to also be done at this school know, that a secondary Demerara. This would have allowforeconomiesofscale. thereby removing the need department or ‘primary-top’ meant universal secondary Once large schools are built, for students to travel to a in a primary school is a access throughout the entire students will have to travel. Georgetown school to do situation in which secondary East Coast of Demerara Location of schools is such. d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e We hope that this availability of land, census response provides Mr data and school mapping Mohamed with the relevant software. information to make a more

national prosperity that is due will not happen on its own. We, the Guyanese people, are going to have to roll up our sleeves and confront the obstacles in the way to a better future. They can be overcome, and they must be. Guyanese standing together, and with one voice, can be the agency for change,fortherichbenefitsthatareduetoeachcitizenofthis country

As such, we wish to informedjudgement. assure Mr Mohamed that Yours faithfully, this location met all these Saddam Hussain requirements and came out Chief Education Officer

Indians are due their day, give them Indian Arrival Day

LGE-the PNC set for a hard fall

DEAREDITOR, presentedtothecommission.

Justice Kissoon’s ruling should be put in place

DEAREDITOR, conditions were concealed Jan.13th, the arrival of the being agitated with 5th May’2023, denotes and on arrival, the Indians Chinese. West Indians and numerous anomalies, they the 185th anniversary since found out that they were some “others,” were also survived all disadvantages East Indians arrived from deceived when they saw and imported under this context. and oppression to establish India as Indian Indentured experienced the deplorable September month signifies themselves to a forefront to laborers in then British living and arduous working t h e o b s e r v a n c e o f gain the resentment of Guiana. The importation of conditions. Incidentally, 2nd AmerindianHeritage. others. indentured laborers from May, also commemorates Doubt is still entertained With a cultural hallmark India was conceived and t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e about the ambiguity of this of praying, working, implemented, but the Portuguese/Madeirans and day 5th May, whether it is to playing, saving, being c o m m e m o r a t e a n d conservative, investing generalize the arrival of wisely and building slowly people from all races, but surely, this methodology indentured laborers, or, transcended a fusion of specifically, to celebrate the lifestyle to catapult identity of the arrival of suppression to impression. Indians only A transparent Bonded with togetherness pronouncement is yet to be and banded with mutual officially established and compatibility, a primary officials have evaded this generation of simpletons clarification, preferring to converted a despicable shelvetheissue. situation into a promising

DEAREDITOR, will not put us at risk of The recent news on the bankruptcy, we should ruling by Justice Kissoon clearly understand the and the opinions of the financialimpactofputtingin Government and The place Justice Kissoon’s Opposition provide insight ruling. His ruling will also onhowwemaycreateawin- close the gap in the current win outcome The best and future PSAs. This is the practices of the oil industry, best option before us, and it as it pertains to insurance, will also ensure that the continue to be a moving sector’s suppliers place an targetthatkeepsrequiringan increased focus on increase in coverage as the continually improving their track record of the industry operations. continues to show the It should also be noted significant detrimental that currently in the impact of an oil spill. The agreement,wearepayingfor frequency and severity of the assets, which will be which has made it more relinquished to us at the end evident that a change in of the agreement. We should coverageisnecessary consider altering the It should also be agreement to have Exxon rememberedthattheupdated keep the assets and remove proposed PSA for future the cost burden from our suppliers does leave a gap in profit and loss statements. coverage as stated in section This will free up funds to 3.1 (e) (g) Insurance and help cover the additional Losses, “Costs, losses and insurance cost, while also damages incurred to the reducing the future burden extent not made good by on the country if a spill was insurance, are recoverable”. to occur after the assets are The insurance industry can relinquished. provide a risk estimate based We are not experts in the on current and projected operations of the industry, operations, which will be norshouldweseektobe.Our used to propose coverage strength and development options and the associated must first be focused on the premiums. management of the industry

This step is necessary, anditssuppliers. and Exxon must provide the Best regards, country with an outline of Mr. Jamil Changlee what this will look like. Chairman

Based on the nation’s desire T h e C o o p e r a t i v e to have full coverage that Republicans of Guyana

East Indians have generation of prosperity struggled from day one in Today, being the envy of this country and were illusionists, there is the viewed with skepticism by unfounded accusation of others, patronized as “wealth disparity,” being unwelcome and regarded as sourced and funneled by job grabbers. They came propagandists Emerging with countable wealth, from a level playing field, or being, their few pieces of perhaps, an unfavorable clothing, their religious circumstance, not privileged books and their culture by those earlier settlers, the Hundreds died on the false hue and cry of dangerous journey known as favoritism, is being beaten the, “Kala Pani.” Toiling on a drum resounding in a under the hot sun and tastelessmelody enduring much use and Such has been a trail abuse, they had to tolerate a filledwithtrials,traumasand new strain of slavery-ship, tribulations, a journey another form of British saddled with many blocks hardship, and, they quickly and hurdles and a pathway, had to adopt to a different strewnwithholesandthorns. way of life in order to Theypreferredtotoilthesoil accommodate a means of with their inherited cultural survival, losing an proclivities and agricultural a c c u s t o m e d s o c i a l skills, invest in their respectabilityinthelongrun. children’s education and Not deterred by the confineanyexuberancewith presumptuousness of being compassionandsatisfaction. referred to as “Coolies,” A buddy system practiced grindingawayfromMonday from the days of yore, this to Saturday, bearing strain concept afforded the from the whims and fancy of extension of a helping hand the British who enjoyed to take care of and look out punishing them for the fortheseniorandjunior flimsiest of excuses, and, (Continued on page 6)

The PNC/PNCR/APNU, The PNC are now or whatever the terminology engaging a court of law to you may wish to call that somehow stop the June 12th party,areclutchingatstraws, LGE. They will not succeed in their recent nit-picking because all avenues to vent exercise to derail the soon to their allegations have be held Local Government already passed and we Elections. They contend that should be on our way to the the list is flawed and riddled elections. But what Norton with errors; ghosts are on the isnottellingusisthefactthat list. This is not the first in this LGE, his party is just attempt at this strategy, about to suffer the most because you will recall that crushingdefeatever,andthis theytriedthisverysameplan is going to come in the of action in the March 2020 municipalareas. Election. For over five decades

In that attempt when they have held sway in these cornered with sure defeat, constituencies and now, all they resorted to the narrative of that is about to change, that it was a bloated or ghost they are about to suffer an election list that brought the embarrassingdefeat! PPP/C to power But this Last Nomination Day, propaganda theory did not the Leader of the Opposition last long because, it was on gottheshockofhislifewhen that very list The PNC’s he witnessed hardcore Victorywascalculatedon. members of his party cross

So in real terms what the floor to join the PPP/C’s they were saying is that the Team. listworkedwellforthem,but Thatshockerwasenough not for the PPP/C. That base to cause him to mourn on the reasoning strategy could not side-lines. hold much weight, so they The huge problem for arenowrevertingbacktothe Mr Norton and his party is original plan of calling on whether to accept defeat GECOM to either “cleanse gracefully and bow out, or to the list” or postpone the suffer the ignominy of elections. resorting to lies and deceit.

Here again their Mr Norton has chosen the reasoningclauselacksmerit, latter;inthatcasehisfallwill as the cleansing of the list begreat! was already done in the Respectfully submitted, claims and objection period Neil Adams which saw the PNC not producing a single evidence of fraudulent names on the list.

T h e G E C O M Chairwoman attested to the fact that no evidence was

Try something else; “shared governance” is a ploy, does work

DearEditor, ensure that the oil wealth is the blessings of shared I write with reference to shared equally, equitably, governance of the sort he Hon Jermaine Figueira fairly, and just (sic) among envisages. And, may I ask (MP) article published in the all Guyanese, regardless of why Republicans and media (May 4, 2023). The race or political affiliation.” Democrats in the US do not piece makes a number of These are just glittering put their heads together and claims and propositions generalizations concocted work out something in a r e g a r d i n g “ s h a r e d for mass consumption. It country that is deeply governance.” I should state, offers no meaningful way of divided along the lines of forthwith, that shared realizing these aspirational race and class As an governance is not a well- values. Mr Figueira cannot American citizen, I can tell intended mechanism for imply that some groups you that many lay persons buildinggoodgovernmentin based on racial identity are want the political elites in Guyana,butanongoingploy getting more, while others Washington to arrive at a by the APNU-AFC to take are getting less without constructive modus vivendi. power by any means. Mr providing at least a minimal Instead,wehadanassaulton Figueira should know that empirical analysis of the theCapitol. political parties that have a extant condition that obtains

Cosmopolitan liberals long record of stealing intheoileconomy (scholars, entertainers, elections cannot be trusted It is deeply troubling that philanthropists, and some with any kind of shared the Hon. MP would publicly fromthepoliticalelites)love arrangement. If they were as urge the media to push to recommend that people in brazen in trying to steal the ‘shared governance’. Is that the Third World to get along 2020 elections, why would the job of the media? Or better. In this instance, there the APNU and AFC should journalists be more is a pre-analytic, cognitive suddenly stop being bullies focused on reporting the disposition in assuming in a shared governance news. Incidentally, would something primordially arrangement? Mr Figueiraandothersthink saccharine about people in Mr Figueira’sentirecase that critiquing this call for developing countries is built on the bogeyman themediatopushtheagenda Shouldn’t the focus instead calledrace.Insteadofawell- of the Opposition, an attack be on encouraging those grounded analysis based on on journalists? Without a interested to engage in therelevantpoliticaltheories shred of disrespect for vigorous debate? The and empirics of the country, journalists, I do have to say American constitution with he descends into the that yes, journalists have a l l i t s f l a w s a n d customary grand rhetorical been pushing shared contradictions emerged out performance of dividing the governance for years. That of lengthy debates Why worldbetweenthesavedand shouldnotbetheirbusiness. shouldn’t the same be the dammed. There are too MPFigueria needs to tell expected of us, as a young many throw away lines like us which countries in the nation?Why boil everything “thechallengenowishowto world have been enjoying downto‘sharedgovernance’ which is basically based on t h e e a r l y c o l o n i a l anthropology of backward peoplesneedingtogetalong.

Mr Figueira has done well to put some ideas in the public realm. Yet, he must stay away from the WPA’s mantra that some suffered more and, therefore, deserve more.Thatdogduden’thunt.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

UKcourtjailsNigeriansenator andwifefororgan-harvestplot

- Ike Ekweremadu sentenced to nine years and eight months and wife Beatrice sentenced to four years and six months

Aljazeera - A wealthy Nigerian Senate–onbehalfoftheSenate. politician, his wife and a doctor have been He said, “It was the first time our jailed by a London court for trafficking a colleague is getting involved in this kind of street trader from Lagos to the United thing.” Kingdomtoillegallyharvesthiskidneyfora Prosecutors said the couple had brought transplantfortheirseriouslyilldaughter the man to the UK in February last year with

The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service the offer of a few thousand pounds for his (CPS) said on Friday that Ike Ekweremadu organandthepromiseofworkintheUK. had been sentenced to nine years and eight The case came to light when the man, months in the UK’s first illegal organ- who had made a living in Lagos selling harvesting prosecution, while his wife telephone parts in a market, went to police Beatrice,56,wassentencedtofouryearsand saying he had been trafficked and someone sixmonths. wastryingtoharvesthiskidney

Nigerian doctor, Obinna Obeta, 51 – Theproposedtransplantdidnotgoahead described by prosecutors as a middleman – as a consultant at London’s Royal Free was jailed for 10 years, the CPS said. All Hospital became suspicious about the three were convicted in March of conspiring circumstances surrounding the proposed to arrange the travel of a man in order to donor, aged about 21 who cannot be named harvesthisorgans. for legal reasons, who the family had tried to

President of the Nigerian Senate,Ahmad passoffastheirdaughter’scousin. Lawansaidearlierintheweekhehadwritten Sonia Ekweremadu, the intended to the British judicial authorities seeking recipient of the organ and who has a serious clemency for Ekweremadu – an opposition and deteriorating kidney condition requiring senator and former deputy president of the dialysis,wasfoundnotguilty.

Indians are due their day, give them...

From page 5

whereby, everything must be relished with members in the family. This principle has reservation. At each turn, a perilous trap is adumbrated the successive genealogy for anticipated and nothing can be accepted as successandhasmanifestedhighdividends. granted.ManyhavesoldouttherightsofEast

With the passing of time, inclement Indians for personal greed, employment economicsituation,enforcedbydictatorship, opportunities, financial satisfaction and side lining of unilateralism, prejudice, racial social advancement, all at the demise and discrimination, political favoritism, social expense of the struggling class. No wonder upheaval and religious suppression, Indo Indo Guyanese are spectators and not Guyanesewithotherethnicitiesnotfavorable consumers with the celebration of Republic supporters of the then demeaning Day, Mashramani and Independence Day administration, were unavoidably migrating Not being fooled or tranquilized by to greener pastures. They were all escaping magicians, circus performers and dirty, from the devaluation of the dollar, the dangerous and devious ring leaders, they restricted foreign exchange system, the fashionaheadontheirshoulderandcansmell banningoffooditems,nationalizationandits a rat from a mile. Arrival Day should be repercussions, the paramountcy of the PNC renamed as IndianArrival Day to underscore party, Burnhamism, the party card passport, thereflectionofthesacrificesoftheancestors the political domination in the ministries, of East Indians from India and, their publicsectorandagencies. contribution towards the peace, progress and

With the turning of the tide, Indo prosperityofallGuyana.

Guyanese have proliferated, persevered and Yours respectfully, propelled to a stage of predisposition, Jai Lall.

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

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

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

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

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

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

God Save the King

PresidentAliisofftoKingCharles’scoronation.

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

ItwouldbebetterifthatmoneyisspentonpoorGuyanese.

Whywastetaxpayers’dollarstoattendthecoronation?

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

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

HowaboutgivingstrugglingGuyaneseahelpinghand?

HowaboutsomeGuyanesecaringforGuyanese?

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

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

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

WhynotGodSaveGuyana?

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

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

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

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

More nurses, other healthcare to be trained - Min. Anthony

DPI - The Ministry of healthcare professionals, as systeminGuyana. recent sod-turning exercise Health is looking to train it seeks to drastically Minister, Dr Frank for the new $6 6 billion more nurses and other improve the healthcare Anthony, speaking at a hospital in Region Five, noted that more persons need to be trained from the region to adequately staff the facility when it is completed

“Region Five needs quite a lot of nurses and we want you to come on board, identifythoseyoungpersons who are interested and we will make sure that through “Right now, we are will train them, and when the Ministry of Public working to ensure that we we’re finished training you Service, that we can provide equip each of these health and you pass the exam, we MathandEnglish.” centres with the right type of have a job for you,” Dr The ministry is aiming to equipment, with the right Anthonystated. train at least 1,000 nurses type of diagnostics kits so

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (DPI photo)

While noting that the annually through the that we will be able to general requirement is five introduction of online provide these types of CSEC passes including training. interventions,” the health English and Mathematics, “So, people can study ministerpointedout. the health minister said, nursing at home and when This also comes with the ”There is no barrier to you are ready to do the recognition that a lot more education, if you want to practical component you peopleneedtobetrained. becomeanurseandyouhave will come into a simulation “One of the things that the aptitude, you have a centre in your region,” the we have been doing is couple of subjects, we will ministerunderscored. working to expand training work with you to bring you Primary healthcare has so that we can have more intothesystem. been brought into focus over pharmacists,morepharmacy

“We don’t want to the last few years and the assistants, we want to have compromise our entry ministry has identified 216 more laboratory technicians, requirement, but what we services that should be x-ray technicians, CT Scan will do once we identify provided at all primary technicians, ultrasound people with these gaps, is healthcare facilities such as technicians, and so forth,” that we will bring you in, we healthcentresandposts. MinisterAnthonyadded.

Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says

A huge wave of infections hit countries around the world in 2020 (Reuters)

BBC - TheWorld Health Organization “Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no for the 15th time and recommended to me that I longer represents a “global health declareanendtothepublichealthemergencyof emergency”. internationalconcern.I’veacceptedthatadvice.

The statement represents a major step It is therefore with great hope that I declare towards ending the pandemic and comes Covid-19overasaglobalhealthemergency,”Dr three years after it first declaredits highest Tedrossaid. levelofalertoverthevirus. He added that the decision had been

Officials said the virus’death rate had consideredcarefullyforsometimeandmadeon droppedfromapeakofmorethan100,000 thebasisofcarefulanalysisofdata. people per week in January 2021 to just over3,500on24April. But he warned the removal of the highest

The head of the WHO said at least level of alert did not mean the danger was over sevenmillionpeoplediedinthepandemic. and said the emergency status could be ‘Great hope’ reinstatedifthesituationchanged.

But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “The worst thing any country can do now is saidthatthetruefigurewas“likely”closer tousethisnewsasareasontoletdownitsguard, to20milliondeaths-nearlythreetimesthe to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send official estimate - and he warned that the themessagetoitspeoplethatCovid-19is virusremainedasignificantthreat.

(Continued on page 15)

Multiracial policies cannot flourish in majoritarian political parties

Years ago, a prominent Indianpersonalitydecidedto join the PNCR. It was his hope that he could make a contributiontotheparty

His experience turned out to be far from pleasant. Thoughheenjoyedtheearof the then leader of the party, he ended up in loggerheads withotherpersonsincluding a party commissar The Indian personality was eventuallywasforcedtoquit the party because he could not influence its direction and he felt as if he was in a racialparty

Yearsago,alsoanumber ofAfricanGuyanesecrossed overtothePPPaspartofthe civiccomponentoftheparty They too were sidelined from decision-making and made little or no impact on thepoliciesofthePPP

But the PNCR and the PPP are mass-based parties. They both pretend to be national parties even though both accept that the bulk of each support base is drawn from one or the other of the country’s two main ethnic groups.

Indians who go over to the PNCR find that they are often subsumed by the d o m i n a n t e t h n i c membership of the party ThesameappliestoAfricans in the PPP These parties have majoritarian decision making models in the sense that the majority of the leadership decides but since the majority of the leadership is invariably drawn from the dominant ethnicgroupofthatparty,the majoritarian decisionmaking model translates to ethnicdominance.

The PPP has entered

nationalelectionssince1992 asthePPPCivic(PPPC).But isthereanindependentCivic component within the PPPC? Has the Civic grouping ever met for any sustained period of time to developitsownpoliciesand positions and to negotiate these with the PPP leadership?Itisdoubtfulthis has ever happened and it doubtful now that the Civic members of the PPPC even meet to develop their own positions. The members of the CIVIC component within the Cabinet are not widely known to the public. This is how farcical has becometheCivicappendage tothePPP

Given the political polarization in the country and the fact that the respective bases of each of the country’s two main political parties are drawn from either the Indian or African communities, it needs to be asked how minorities within these political parties be able to avoidbeingsubsumedbythe larger ethnic groups. How, for example, would an IndianleaderinthePNCRbe able to demand that Indian demandsbetakenseriously?

And how would an African leader be able to agitate for African concerns within the PPPgiventheoverwhelming majority of Indians in that party? Indeed, how would the Civic component of the PPPC be able to influence policieswithinthePPP?

These are not academic questions They are concerned with multiracial representation within our political parties and, specifically, how minorities

Dem boys seh...

can be influential in these parties.

The answer may lie in a recent development within the PNC Within that development may lie the seeds of a model that can lead to promote multiracial representation within the PNCR, and, hopefully, this model can be replicated withinthePPP

A few weeks ago, a person made some obnoxious comments on a political platform that included the PNCR and the WPA. The distasteful and jaundiced comments were roundly condemned by a group of four PNCR members, all of Indian ancestry

In condemning the comments,thegroupsaidthe comments were hurtful to the East Indian community The group expressed disappointment that none of the others speakers at the meetingsoughttoaddressor clarifytheallegeddistasteful remarks.

This was a novel development in local politics. It can hardly be recalled any instance of a group of persons within a political party openly expressing disgust at remarksmadeatameetingin which their party participated. It showed that there were persons within the PNCR were prepared to take independent positions onirksomematters.

It also points to a possible model, within the country’s mass-based p a r t i e s , t h a t c a n accommodate multiracial politics This model can address the constraint posed

De winner appeal de judgment

Legal history is being rewritten in Guyana

Imagine a court case was decided in de government favor and de government decide it gan appeal de judgment.

Ifthatisnotbizarrethen itcanonlybehigh-comedy Howcanyouwinacaseand stillappealit?Don’taskme, askdegovernment.

Court case decided in favourofdecountryandyet de country decide it nah wantwin.Itwanttolosede case. What sort of thing is dat?Datishowthiscountry

does run? It remind dem boys of de time a man appeared in de High Court charged for a double murder De judge tuned to the accused and said, “You are charged with beating you wife to death with a shovel.”Avoiceattheback ofthecourtroomyelledout, “Youbastard!”

The judge continued, “You are also charged with beating your daughter to deathwithashovel.”

Again, the voice at the back of the courtroom yelledout,“Youbastard!!!”

tomultiracialpoliticswithin each of the country’s two main political parties by virtue of the fact that they each draw the majority of their support from each of themainethnicgroups.

So how can multiracial politics in promoted in parties are perceived as ethnically-dominated parties?Theanswertothatis to reject the majoritarian decision-making model in

each party Instead, the PNCR and the PPPC can each promote a plural decision-makingmodel.

In this plural model ethnic caucuses should be established in each party

caucus and within the PPPC anAfricancaucus. In this model, minorities in each party need not feel emasculated. They can have a voice and demand greater influence in decisionmakingwithintheirparties.

The judge stopped, looked at the man in the back of the courtroom, and said, “Sir, I can understand yourangerandfrustrationat this crime, but I will not have any more of these outburstsfromyouorIshall charge you with contempt! Nowwhatistheproblem?”

Demanatdebackofde court stood up and responded, “For fifteen years I lived next door to thatbastardandeverytimeI askedtoborrowashovelhe saidhedidn’thaveone!”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

EAB - men with baskets tryingtobatheducks

I noticed a media picture will be a tattered, pyrrhic would not want to be in their much of them re what angle they are incensed ofmythreebrothersfromthe victory, for their side is still shoes Individually and istaken(defineissues),what at being taken for Environmental Assessment going to lose the war The collectively, they have been stand they take (decide), and granted, dismissed Board, and the look on their people have a cause to fight given baskets with big holes whose interest is prioritized a s s i m p l e t o n s , faces was what could have forinfrontofthem;infact,it to bathe ducks Their (defended). disdainedasdolts. Ithink launched a thousand ships. is hanging over their heads: problems are manifold. The I discard defending the that the Vice President It was of a picture of those in safety, continuity, life’s ducks are loud in their indefensible Guyanese overplayed his hand; in torunfailedrescuemissions. a losing battle It is quality objections; the ducks are want cheap energy; would typical fashion, he hands off Now it has been judicially meaningless to me whether As I assess the efforts of unruly and uncooperative; love more a steady supply of the ticking grenade to the insulted and slapped: they consider me a brother, CEO, Dr Mahinder Sharma, and the ducks are up to the what is now an elusive EAB’s Sharma, Cummings, “submissive.” but they are so to me, and I CHO Dr Gavin Cummings, games, and ready for a household and commercial andMcKenzie. Considering Now,itisthesethreefine feelforthem. Torepeat:they and PS Mr Joslyn fight.The trio already used commodity locally (I do, the troubled circumstances, Guyanese gentlemenare in a war, and even if the McKenzie, two of whom are up a month to review what is would support). But what the sketchy foundations, of Sharma, Cummings, and Battle for Wales is won, it known fairly well to me, I beforethem. Itwouldreveal Guyanese do not want, and this much-hailed, much- McKenzie-from the EAB whatGuyanesedonotloveis cursed, witches brew in coming to grips with the more of the skips and skates Wales, even the Magnificent dirty job that they have been and songs of the Hon. Vice Seven would have failed at given to do. Their salvaging President and his ball of overcoming the growing duties amount to this: clean yarns. I urge EAB brothers resistance to the skimpiness up the mess left by the Vice (Sharma, Cummings, placedbeforethem. President in his passage. McKenzie) to pass on the Guyanese are no longer Even the decorated and message to President and impressed with Cousin doctored President is smart Vice President (brethren, Winston’s PowerPoints, enough to steer clear of the too): “de people aint tekking spreadsheets, and slide snake pits in which the itanymuh”. Depeoplewant rulers. Not when he makes master magician creates for fuh get the true story and the uphisownrulesofthegame, himself, but is slick enough whole story The local lingo is suspect. Like Rodney jump out and dump others should register better than KinginLosAngeles,hegoes into, while smiling sweetly the more formal vocabulary alongtogetalong. TheEAB Take one on the chin for the of studies that stand up to sentinels should learn from comrade leader Better days public scrutiny Studies that their pal, and become are ahead, for as the Vice are credible because of invisible; they should study President knows, he who completion by trustworthy Justices Sandil Kissoon, conjures, usually endures people. Updated documents Gino Persaud, Nareshwar and secures very, very from expert sources about Harnanan. Of conspicuous rewarding futures, of which financial underpinnings, and note is how this oil wealth he himself stands a environmental truths, of and its management have remarkable Guyanese which Guyanese dismiss e s c a l a t e d i n t o o n e successstory whatisfedtothem. overheatedpotato. That may all be so, but

T h e E A B t h r e e The Vice President more and more furious musketeers have to face the lateraling to Vick, and Vick citizens have their backs up, fire and ire of the people passing it right back to the and they are not backing because the main man big man. Nobody wants to away These ducks are not behind theWales caper (gas- be left holding the bag takingwelltobathing,which to-energy) has lost his once Consistent with his is strange given ducks and hallowed gloss. The real longstanding practices, the their known likeness for thing, the real man, is now Vice President of Oil and water coming to light, and Gas(andtherestofGuyana’s Mustbesomethingtodo Guyanese don’t like the goodies that grow too hot to withitscleanliness,itssmell, alarming apparition. The handle), the poor, powerless, taste. Something about that more they think of what they pathetic EPA has been Wales project is not adding could be getting, the more repeatedly called into action up.

Man 65, walks from #57 village to #32 village on day 2 of walk against ‘barefaced’ Exxon contract

On the second day of his and Dave Martins “Not a blade a walk against the barefaced and journey from Berbice to grass” as well as tik tok videos done lopsided contract by the unrelenting

E s s e q u i b o , R a y byLall. efforts by Businessman and Daggers, the 65-year-old man, who Along the journey, some Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn is walking against the oil contract villagers stopped Daggers and gave Lall. the Guyana Government signed him money to purchase water and “Mr Lall has been putting forth with ExxonMobil back in 2016, other fluids while others provided the facts and he has done so without coveredatotalof25villages. casesofwater anyhelpfromgovernmentagencies, Daggers walked from Number ApartfromkeepingDaggersand but with the help of his staff, and he 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice his team hydrated, some Berbicians hasbeenprovidingagreatserviceto (Region Six) to Philippi Village, also formed a motorcade with their thisnation,”Daggerssaid. also on the Corentyne (also known vehicles to accompany Daggers On the issue of government’s asNumber32Village)onFriday untilhecompletedtheseconddayof reluctance to renegotiate the Exxon Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn his journey They also tooted their contract, Daggers said, “When the Lall, some of his staff and a small hornsalongthewayandencouraged government of a nation allows groupofmenaccompaniedDaggers theirfellowBerbicianstoJointhem. foreign corporation or foreign ontheseconddayofthejourney

Daggers has committed to governments access to the people’s

Despite there not being a large walking from Berbice to Essequibo resourceswithouttheirapproval,it’s turnout of walkers, like the first day, Coast for a change of what calls “A a hostile act and in the process of Daggers received overwhelming bare-facedExxonContract”. extracting those resources, if you support from Berbicians as he He began his walk on Thursday destroy and pollute the bravedtheheattoachievehisgoalof at Moleson Creek, East Berbice– environment, it’s another hostile act not only walking against the Corentyne and so far, Daggers has andbothofthesearetreasonous.” contract but educating persons completed a total of 30 miles in two Meanwhile, Lall in an earlier about what is occurring in the oil days. commented on throwing his support sector

Born in Mahaicony, East Coast behindDaggers,andsaidif65-year-

Many villagers cheered him on Demerara (ECD), Daggers lived for old Daggers is ready to walk across from their homes as he passed quite some time overseas, but kept Guyana: “I want to go beyond my through their communities with a in touch with current affairs in talk, and join him in this fight for a speaker blasting songs such Bob Guyana. betterGuyanaandabetterfuturefor Marley’s “Stand up for your rights” Daggers said he was inspired to all.”

- continues today at 9am

Scenes from Daggers's ongoing walk against the lopsided ExxonMobil Contract.

High Court Judge rules EPA acted illegally by failing to suspend/cancel Liza 1 Permit in view of Exxon's 11 months of non-compliance on insurance

Arecent High Court From the time the Liza Phase take any meaningful step or any withSection26oftheAct”. breached.” judgment has revealed One Permit was modified and step whatsoever to assess what was Hesaidthereisnoevidencethat Section 25 of the Act also sets

that ExxonMobil’s issued on May 31, 2022, Justice provided to it by Esso, the Permit anyEnforcementNoticewasissued out the procedure under theAct for affiliate, Esso Exploration and Kissoon stated that the EPA, at H o l d e r, p u r p o r t e d l y a s to EEPGL notwithstanding its cancellation, evocation and/or Production Guyana Limited every juncture thereafter, engaged environmental liability insurance prolonged non-compliance over 11 suspension of the Permit by the (EEPGL) is in breach of its Liza in a course of action that when it was not in fact in keeping months. Justice Kissoon said too Agencyinthepublicinterest. Phase One Permit, specifically as it undermined and eroded the strict withCondition14:05.” that there is no evidence that the In all of the circumstances, pertainstothoseclausesthatcallfor terms and conditions of the very “This is notwithstanding that agency took any step whatsoever in based on the evidence, the Court theprovisionofinsurance. EnvironmentalPermititissued. the Permit Holder has, through its relation to the Permit Holder’s found that in accordance with the According to the ruling handed JusticeKissoonsaidtoothatthe public pronouncements, compliance. Judicial Review Act, Chapter 3:06, down by Justice Sandil Kissoon, Agency in its filings before the communicated its intention to Citing Regulation 15(1) of the the Agency is, by its acts and Guyanese authorities should have Court, through its Officer, deposed increase production levels in its EPA Act, Justice Kissoon said it omissions, in breach of its statutory had in their possession, two forms on oath that EEPGL was indeed petroleum production facilities,” provides that “Where an duty of insurance coverage: a parent compliantwithobligationsoutlined thejudgesaid.

Environmental Authorisation is in Justice Kissoon said the EPA guarantee from Exxon that has no at Condition 14 of the Permit. Justice Kissoon added that the force it shall be the duty of the has,inthecircumstances,andbyits cap or limit and an insurance However, despite the oath, Justice EPA also “failed to suspend and/or Agencytotakethestepsneeded-(b) decision and omission, committed package from EEPGL from an Kissoon said, “This was not in fact cancel the Environmental Permit For the purpose of ensuring that the an illegality, acted unlawfully, ultra independentfirm. so.” (Renewed) notwithstanding the conditions of the Environmental vires, unreasonably in the Justice Kissoon ruled that The Judicial Officer said the p o t e n t i a l c a t a s t r o p h i c Authorisationarecompliedwith.” We d n e s b u r y c o n t e x t o f E E P G L a n d i t s p a r e n t , Agency,apublicauthority,carrying consequences to the environment, Section 13(1) of the Act also unreasonableness, in defiance of ExxonMobil, are in breach of out public law functions, failed and citizensandtheState.” provides that, “ each logic, irrationally and without any Condition14oftheLizaPhaseOne omitted to mandate compliance by The Judge further noted that environmental permit shall contain jurisdiction. Permit which speaks to insurance thePermitHolderwithitsFinancial Condition14:17ofthePermitstates thefollowingimpliedcondition:(a) The Judge has given the EPA coverage for 11 months. The Judge Assurance obligations of that, “Should the Permit Holder The Agency shall have the right to until June 10 to ensure EEPGL is also ruled that the regulator’s environmental liability insurance contravene or be likely to c a n c e l o r s u s p e n d t h e compliant with the insurance failure to ensure compliance was together with an unlimited parent contravene any condition of this Environmental permit if any of the provisions of its permit. Failure to fully and effectively met companyguarantee. Permit, the Agency may issue an terms or conditions of the do so will see the permit being constitutedanillegality He said, “The agency failed to Enforcement Notice in accordance Environmental permit are suspended.

Minister Persaud reiterates call for respect, unity atArrival Day celebration

DPI - Minister of Human ServicesandSocialSecurity,Dr Vindhya Persaud on the occasion of Arrival Day, has reiterated the call for Guyanese to respect each other and continue to work together in unity

The minister was delivering remarks at a cultural event hosted at the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra Village, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne)onFriday

“These are cherished region, encapsulating the rich ensure that our children are moments and it gives us an culture passed on by our East engaged in learning and opportunity to explore what Indianancestors. understanding this rich wasthenandwherewearenow To this end, Minister reservoir of culture that we are t o c e l e b r a t e t h e Persaud urged persons to tobesoproudof,”sheurged. accomplishments of those continue to preserve this rich The event also featured a descendants of the indentured cultureforfuturegenerations. wide variety of Indian cuisines immigrants in every sphere of “Iknowyouareenjoyingthe and delicacies, displayed in life and to really acknowledge talent, I know that you’re traditional cooking utensils, as their contributions to the enjoying all that you’re seeing wellasinformativepieces. economic fabric of this here but all of this comes from SeniorMinisterintheOffice country, to the development of the preservation of our heritage, of the President with this country and to continue to our culture and our tradition. Responsibility for Finance, Dr buildonthatstrongfoundation And it is important to preserve Ashni Singh, Minister within Making sure there is respect and sustain these cultural art the Ministry of Housing and and unity for each other,” she formsthatareinhonourofthose Water, Susan Rodrigues, Indian stated The event featured who lead the foundation 185 High Commissioner, Dr K. J. various performances such as yearsago. Srinivasa and citizens of all dances, songs and skits from “Forthistoexistforthenext walks of life were also part of various groups across the 100 years or 200 years we must thefestivity

Justice Sandil Kissoon

- Agency told the court oil giant was compliant when this was not so

Cultural performances by the various groups (DPI)

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud poses with a cultural group (DPI)

Head of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram

Exxon extends contract for drill ships costing about US$420,000 each to rent daily

announced that ExxonMobil “Our first quarter results reflect a strong Guyana has extended their contract for the start to the year from an operational, rentaloffouroftheirdrillships atanaverage financial, and commercial perspective. The day rate of about US$420,000 (GYD$84 steady tightening of offshore drilling million)foreach. fundamentals is affording attractive

The company had explained that market- opportunities to place our fleet into based day rates are resent twice per year improving contracts. We are particularly (March 1, and September 1) to the projected excitedtobeawardedasignificantadditional marketrateatthattime. backlog commitment from ExxonMobil

During the fourth quarter of 2022, Noble Guyana under the CEA, and also to had announced that Exxon awarded an participate in the reemergence of Colombia additional 7.4 rig years for the rental of drill asanactiveexplorationbasinwithtwoofour ships: Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, deepwaterrigs,”Eiflersaid. NobleTomMadden,andNobleBobDouglas He continued: “Integration of our to work in Guyana until November 2025 in business combination continues to progress theprolificStabroekBlock. smoothly thanks to the outstanding and

On Thursday, the company’s President tirelesseffortsofourfantasticoffshorecrews and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert and global shore-based team. With our W. Eifler, was quoted as being excited to refinancing successfully completed, Noble announcetheawardof“significantadditional has a streamlined and efficient capital backlog” from ExxonMobil Guyana under structure that will further enhance our ability their Commercial Enabling Agreement to focus on our priorities, including returning (CEA). capitaltoshareholders.”

The announcement was made in the Moreover, owing to the 2016 Production company quarterly results disclosing that Sharing Agreement (PSA), Guyana signed Exxonhasawardedanadditional6.3rigyears with Exxon – all of the company’s expense of backlog for the four drill ships operating will be recovered. Under the deal, Exxon undertheCEA. receives profits after 75 percent is withdrawn

With the new extension by ExxonMobil to cover operational expenses. As such, for Guyana, drill ships Noble Sam Croft, Noble every day the four drill ships work, Guyana Don Taylor, Noble Tom Madden, and Noble willhavetofootthebill.

Noble’s fleet in Guyana Stabroek Block

American drilling company, Noble Bob Douglas will work in Guyana until Corporation PLC, on Thursday secondquarterof2027.

Covid global health emergency is over, WHO...

From page 8 major turning points in the down many of the tests and nothing to worry about,” he pandemic. socialmixingrules. said. According to the WHO, Dr Mike Ryan, from the

The World Health 13 billion doses have been WHO’s health emergencies Organization first declared given, allowing many programme, said the Covid-19 to be a public people to be protected from emergencymayhaveended, health emergency of seriousillnessanddeath. butthethreatisstillthere. international concern But in many countries “We fully expect that (PHEIC)inJanuary2020. vaccines have not reached this virus will continue to

This signalled the need mostofthoseinneed. transmit and this is the for coordinated global More than 765 million history of pandemics,” he action to protect people confirmed Covid infections said. fromthenewvirus. have been recorded “It took decades for the

It will now be up to worldwide. final throes of the pandemic individual countries to The US and UK, like virusof1918todisappear continuetomanageCovidin many other countries, have “ I n m o s t c a s e s , thewaytheythinkbest. already talked about “living pandemics truly end when Vaccineswereoneofthe with the virus” and wound thenextpandemicbegins.”

WANTED VACANCY

Wanted: Experienced Cashier, Cooks, Counter Person, Supervisor and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts. or WhatsApp: +592-6541361.

One Female able-bodied Staff required. Call: 225-2313, 658-8559.

Head Cook, Assistant Cook and Kitchen Assistant needed. Call: 602-8067.

One Security Guard/ Handyman needed. Call: 623-8300.

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

Excavator & Skid Steer Operators, canter & truck Drivers, Civil Engineer & Foreman needed. Call/ WhatsApp: 613-0855/ 611-0350. Email: rbinvestmentinc@gmail.com

Vacancy exists for 1 Sales Clerk. Apply at Lens 136 Sheriff Street next to Buddys/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486. Email: lensgy@outlook.com

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, ages 23-50 yrs, . Call: 615-9132 or 645-8443.

Vacancy exists for two experienced Dispatcher at Confidential Cabs. Call: 695-1961 / 231-5784.

LEGAL NOTICE 1

Filing Attorney: MS. MICHELLE MATTHIAS GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC

“Maraj Building”

185 Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246

Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIVFD-368 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

Petition No. FD-368

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

COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-553

BETWEEN: -

(WILLIAMS) GAIL ANN nee MARSHALL Petitioner

-and(WILLIAMS) EMIL A/ K COSBERT Respondent

TO: EMIL A/K

COSBERT WILLIAMS

Formerly of Lot 34 Lynk Street Charlestown, Georgetown

FOR RENT

2 and 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments for long and short term rental. Call: 682-2585, 691-1432.

M&T Realty (Vlissengen/ Durban). Professional, Office/ Business (No food retailing) space. Call: 652-9325 /225-0431.

M&T Realty (Vlissengen/ Durban): One bedroom apartment, $60,000. Close to facilites and transportation. Call: 652-9325 /225-0431.

Vacancy exists for Canter/ Lorry Drivers and Porters. Contact: 628-1038.

One Handyman/ Porter and general Domestic needed to cook & clean, 3 days per week. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

Time keeping Clerk, Welder/ Fabricator, Office Assistant, Driver, Labourers, Maintenance Worker & Cleaner. Call: 621-6969/ 615-7784.

Room Attendant, Receptionist and Desk Staff & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown, ages 25-50 years old. Call: 2250198.

Between:(MAJEED) NATASHA nee BARRAT Petitioner/Applicant -v-

(MAJEED) ALFAZ SHAHBUDDIN Respondent

TO: ALFAZ SHAHBUDDIN MAJEED

Address Unknown

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 9th day of June, 2023 at 9:30 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious. Via Zoom meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 30th day of March, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by GAIL ANN WILLIAMS nee

MARSHALL the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

VEHICLES FOR SALE

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

1 BMW 520 I for sale. Great working condition, good miles, etc. Price $4.6 M. Call: 655-2119.

1 Hy-ab Chevrolet lorry/ truck C7H model. Excellent working condition. Call: 2252192/ 691-9691/ 629-1667 during working hours.

FOR SALE

Pure breed Rottweiler puppies for sale. Call: 692-0126, 613-2809.

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

Experienced Cashier, Counter Server, roti/ puri Cook and Cleaners needed. Apply @ Hack's Restaurant 5 Commerce St.

Welder/ Fabricator needed at Steel Pro Guyana, 37 Victoria Rd, Plaisance. Call: 220-3020/ 676-9079/ 672-8353.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 2nd day of March, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by NATASHA MAJEED nee BARRAT the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 30th day of March, 2023 the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web.

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

Dated the 31 st day of March, 2023.

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 13th day of April, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in an around the Republic of Guyana.

AND FURTHER TAKE

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgment of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend

LEGAL NOTICE 2

Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 779 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf.

SERVICES

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

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

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

LEGAL NOTICE 2

Applicant in person: Gail Ann Williams nee Marshal Address: Lot 68 Adelaide Charlestown Georgetown Tel#:614-8769/ 231-1263 2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD553

(Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty- five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 19th day of June, 2023 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 21st day of April, 2023.

Govt. to spend $27M to extend & rehabilitate Kamwatta Primary School

The Government of Guyana intends to spend approximately $27M to extend and rehabilitate the Kamwatta Primary School located at Moruca, Region One.

The $14.5M primary

school was commissioned back in 2021.

At the opening of tenders recently, it was revealed that Bree’s Enterprise is the lone contractor to submit a bid of $24.3M for the contract.

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Construction of health dormitory, Central Rupununi, Region Nine.

The project is being undertaken by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

In Region One also, the Ministry intends to extend the Kwebanna Primary School.

It was reported that the school is be extended to comfortably accommodate its increasing population.

This project is estimated to cost $28.4million. Below are the companies and their bids:

Rehabilitation of building & construction of RC fence & drain at Annandale North Nursery, East Coast Demerara.

UK to contribute to Brazil’s Amazon defence fund, PM Sunak says

- Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who h as promised to end Amazon deforestation, welcomes a $101m pledge to the Amazon Fund.

Upgrading of sections of road at Aranaputa, North Rupununi, Region Nine.

Ministry of Home Affairs

Rehabilitation of Richard Fiakal Training School, Suddie,

Aljazeera - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the United Kingdom will contribute more than $101m (80 million pounds) to Brazil’s Amazon Fund, an initiative that seeks to stop deforestation in the sprawling South American rainforest.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the Amazon Fund contribution during a meeting with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at 10 Downing Street in London on May 5, 2023 [Kin Cheung/Pool via Reuters] A ment in the Amazon and loosened environm ental safeguards.

Extension of Kwebanna Primary School.

Extension and rehabilitation of Kamwatta Primary School, Moruca, Region One.

Reconstruction of Diamond Special Needs School, East Bank Demerara.

Sunak made the pledge on Friday after holding talks in London with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whom the British prime minister said “has exhibited great leadership on climate change”. “There are so many interests we have in common,” Sunak told Lula at the meeting at 10 Downing Street, mentioning higher trade and the fight to combat the climate crisis.

“I’m delighted to announce we will be investing in your Amazon Fund and I pay tribute to your leadership in this initiative,” he said.

The Brazilian president, who is in the UK to attend King Charles III’s coronation at the w eekend, also welcomed the talks. “We had a good conversation about our trade relations, environmental protection and world peace,” Lula wrote on Twitter.

The left-wing leader, who narrowly defeated former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in an October run-off election, has pledged to fight for “zero deforestation” in the Amazon, roughly two-thirds of which lies in Brazil. Deforestation surged under Bolsonaro, who promoted greater economic develop-

In 2019, Bolsonaro dissolved the steering committee that selected sustainable projects to finance through the Amazon Fund, prompting Germany and Norway to freeze their donations.

The rainforest is critical to the global fight against climate change, and rights groups had denounced the Bolsonaro administration’s policies as leading to an uptick in destruction, as well as rising threats against Indigenous communities in the region. But in late January, just weeks after Lula took office, Germany announced that it would make $38m available again to the Amazon Fund.

The German government also pledged $87m in low-interest loans for farmers to restore degraded areas, as well as $34m for Brazilian states in the Amazon region to protect the rainforest. “With the new government and the team of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and [Environment] Minister Marina Silva, we have a great chance to protect the forest and to offer a new perspective to the people who live there,” German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said at the time.

Last month, US President Joe Biden — who met Lula at the White House in February — announced that he would make a request to Congress to contribute $500m over five years to the fund and related activities.

Region Two.

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Rehabilitation of #2 Boilers Chimney Albion Factory. Rehabilitation of bulk storage structure and wharf Rose Hall Estate.

Guyana Energy Agency Supply and Delivery of tools for toolkits under the 30,000 solar home energy systems project.

DonaldTrumpdeposition:NewYork courtreleasesvideoincivilrapetrial

BBC -Avideo of a deposition given by formerUSpresidentDonaldTrumpaspartof his civil rape trial has been released by the court.

The roughly 48-minute video shows Mr Trump, 76, mistaking his accuser E Jean Carroll for his ex-wife Marla Maples in a photo.

It also shows him repeating his denial of Ms Carroll’s allegations by claiming she is “notmytype”.

Lawyers for both sides rested their case onThursday

Mr Trump has not been present in New York for the trial and his lawyers called no witnessesbeforerestingtheircase.

But, on a judge’s orders, the former president formally provided sworn evidence on camera last October over Ms Carroll’s claim that he raped her inside a New York Citydepartmentstoreinthemid-1990s.

Video of the deposition was shown to jurorsonThursdayandpubliclyreleasedfor the first time on Friday after a petition by mediaorganisations.

During the deposition, Mr Trump is shown the leaked Access Hollywood tape, whichwaspublishedbytheWashingtonPost duringthe2016presidentialcampaign.

Mr Trump can be seen shifting uncomfortablyinhisseatasheisheardonthe tapesaying“youcandoanything”towomen “whenyou’reastar”.

The footage also shows him describing Ms Carroll’s allegations as “the most

Honorary doctorate for Dr. Keith Rowley

ridiculous,disgustingstory Itwasjustmade up”.

When he is shown an old photo of him with his first wife Ivana, Ms Carroll and her then-husband John Johnson, Mr Trump misidentifieshisaccuserwiththewords“it’s Marla”. Still looking at the picture, he says “That’sMarla,yeah.That’smywife”before hislawyercorrectshim.

Atanotherpointinthevideo,MrTrumpis unabletorecallthedateofhismarriagetoMs Maples, his second wife and mother to his daughterTiffany

MsCarroll,awriterandlong-timeadvice columnist, is suing the former president for battery over the original incident, as well as for defamation over his adamant denials of theincident.

In the deposition, Mr Trump repeated a commenthehasmadesinceMs Carrollfirst came forward in 2019, saying: “I say it with as much respect as I can, but she is not my type.”

“Physically, she’s not my type, and now thatI’vegottenindirectlytohearthingsabout her, she wouldn’t be my type in any way, shape,orform,”headded.

Lawyers for MrTrump havesaid he will nottestifyinperson,buttheformerpresident told reporters he might cut short a trip to IrelandandtheUKto“confront”MsCarroll incourt.

In light of the comments, the judge grantedMrTrumpuntilSundayafternoonto decideifhewilltakethestand.

Trinidad Express– The HowardUniversityBoardof Trustees today announced thelistofrecipientswhowill receive honorary doctorate degrees from the University in2023.Thedegreeswillbe granted during the 155th C o m m e n c e m e n t Convocation on the main campus of Howard University’s Upper Quadrangle at 10 a.m. on Saturday,May13,2023.

Honorary recipients includeCongressmanJames E Clyburn; education benefactors Martha and

Bruce A Karsh; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Christopher Rowley, health sciences trailblazer A Eugene Washington; and corporate directorBenareePrattWiley

“Our 2023 honorees are among the leaders in their respectivefields,innosmall partduetotheircommitment to our collective humanity andbuildingabettersociety forusall,”saidDr./WayneA.

I. Frederick, president of Howard University “Truth andservicehavebeenmajor elements to their lives both

p e r s o n a l l y a n d professionally,whichmakes this year’s honorary degree recipients exceedingly qualifiedtojointheClassof 2023.

As we celebrate our 155th Commencement Convocation, we want to spotlight our honorees for theirtirelessworkatHoward University and across the world.

They have repeatedly shown and proven their capacity to improve the world, and we honor them fortheirefforts.

Wagner chief says his forces are dying as Russia’s military leaders ‘sit like fat cats’

CNN — Standing in frontofthebodiesofdozens of what he claims are his fighters killed in Russia’s war with Ukraine, the head of the private military companyWagnerunleashed an expletive-laden challenge to Russia’s military leadership, and later blamed defense chiefs for “tens of thousands” of Wagnercasualties.

“We are lacking 70% of the needed ammunition!” Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin says in a video posted Thursday on the Telegrammessagingapp.

Shining a small flashlight on the corpses laying outdoors near what appearstobethefrontlines ofthewar,Prigozhinclaims theyarethecasualtiesofjust onedayoffighting.

“Shoigu, Gerasimov, w h e r e i s t h e ammunition?” says Prigozhin, calling out Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of

the Russian armed forces Gen.ValeryGerasimov

“The blood is still fresh,” he says, pointing to the bodies behind him “They came here as volunteers and are dying so you can sit like fat cats in yourluxuryoffices.”

In another video statement, released Friday on Telegram, Prigozhin said, “The dead and wounded–andthat’stensof thousands of men – lie on theconscienceofthosewho didnotgiveusammunition, andthisisDefenseMinister Shoigu and this is Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov

“For tens of thousands of those killed and wounded, they will bear responsibility before their mothers and children, and I will make sure of that,” he added.

In the same video message, Prigozhin praised the former Deputy Defense MinisterMikhailMizintsev,

who has recently joined the WagnerGroupasitsdeputy commander

Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenary group hastakenonagrowingrole in the Ukraine conflict as Russian forces falter, has been highly visible on the front lines in recent months – where he has claimed credit for territorial gains, particularly in the battles raging around the eastern UkrainiancityofBakhmut.

Amid the public feud, Shoiguinspectedtroopsand military equipment in Russia’s southern military district on Friday, the Russian military said, where he promised military supplies.

The statement said Shoigu has instructed “to keep under special control theissuesofcontinuousand rhythmic supply of the groupsoftroopsintheareas of the special military operation with all the necessary weapons and

militaryequipment.”

Wagner fighters will ‘leaveBakhmut’onMay10 Prigozhin’s call for more ammunition is not new, nor are his methods. He has repeatedly complained of receiving insufficient support from the Kremlin in the grueling fightfortheeasterncity.

In February, he made a similar appeal for ammunition, posting a pictureonTelegramofapile ofcorpses.Shortlyafterthat posting, he made another saying a shipment of ammunition was on its way totheWagnertroops.

Butthesupportdoesnot seemtohavelasted,atleast to Prigozhin’s liking. Last weekend, he threatened to withdraw his troops from the city if Moscow didn’t providemoreammunition.

In a separate statement posted to Telegram on Friday, Prigozhin repeated thethreat,sayinghisprivate military company would

leave Bakhmut on May 10 duetoalackofammunition.

“I declare on behalf of the Wagner fighters, on behalf of the Wagner command, that on May 10, 2023, we are obliged to transfer positions in the settlement of Bakhmut to units of the Defense Ministry and withdraw the remains of Wagner to logistics camps to lick our wounds,”Prigozhinsaid.

“I’m withdrawing WagnerPMCunitsbecause without ammunition, they are doomed to a senseless death,” said Prigozhin, adding that Wagner had fallen “out of favor with envious near-military bureaucrats.”

Known for its disregard for the lives of its own soldiers, the Wagner group’s brutal and often lawless tactics are believed to have resulted in high numbers of casualties, as new recruits are sent into battle with little formal

training – a process described by retired United States Lt Gen Mark Hertling as “like feeding meattoameatgrinder.”

But as Prigozhin’s staturehasincreased,sotoo have his clashes with Shoigu and Gerasimov, prompting speculation about possible elite infighting in Moscow as Russia’s military campaign failstoadvance.

In February, he accused thetwomenof“treason”for their alleged failures to support and supply the WagnergroupinUkraine. His newest challenge to Russian defense officials comes as Bakhmut remains heavilycontested.

“These are someone’s f**king fathers and someone’s sons. And you f**kers who aren’t giving [us] ammunition, you b*tches,willhaveyourguts eaten out in hell!” yelled Prigozhin in Thursday’s video.

The honorary recipients of the Howard University degrees

Commonwealth leaders pledge continued unity and to empower youth

AheadoftheCoronation, Leaders of Commonwealth member states met with HM King Charles III at Marlborough House, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat. After their meeting with the King, leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member states then met privately to discuss issues of mutual interest, including initiatives to support the empowerment of young people, as this year has been d e s i g n a t e d t h e Commonwealth Year of Paul Kagame, in his role as Youth. Chair-in-Office of the

The King has described Commonwealth, also the Commonwealth as a addressed the meeting. He ‘cornerstone’ of his life, welcomed the leaders of the expressing his unwavering two newest Commonwealth support for the values, countries and paid tribute to people and countries of the the new Commonwealth Commonwealth. Head President Kagame

At their Heads of also said, “We appreciate the Government Meeting in King’s lifelong devotion to 2018, Commonwealth Commonwealth affairs, just Leaders decided that he as we remember the role of would succeed Her Majesty her late Majesty, Queen Queen Elizabeth II as Head Elizabeth II, in giving the of the Commonwealth, and modern Commonwealth its he acceded to the role upon shapeandspirit.” herdeathinSeptember2022. H i s H i g h n e s s

DuringFriday’smeeting, Tuimalealiifano Va’aleto’a the King greeted the leaders SualauviII,theHeadofState warmly and posed with them of Samoa also attended the for a commemorative family event as the incoming photograph. Later that day, Commonwealth Chair-inleaders will also attend a Office. reception at Buckingham In 2024, Samoa will PalacehostedbytheKing. succeed Rwanda as chair at C o m m o n w e a l t h the 27th Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Heads of Government

Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, said: thecapitalcity

“I can think of no Alongside the Leaders stronger signal of His M e e t i n g , t h e Majesty’sdeepconnectionto Commonwealth Secretariat our Family of Nations than alsohostedagatheringofthe taking time to meet with spouses, partners and the Commonwealth Leaders at i n v i t e d g u e s t s o f Marlborough House ahead Commonwealth Heads of of his Coronation. Earlier Government The event, this year, the King which was hosted by Mrs h i g h l i g h t e d t h e Jeannette Kagame, the First Commonwealth’s ‘near- Lady of Rwanda, focused on boundless potential as a the action needed to forceforgood’. accelerate the elimination of

DuringFriday’smeeting, cervical cancer and tackle leaders reaffirmed their challenges impeding unwavering and unified progress towards this goal c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e across the Commonwealth. continued strengthening of The spouses and partners in our Commonwealth family attendance pledged to and assuring its future by champion advocacy and investing in the 1.5 billion action in their respective young people across our 56 countries. nations. The year also marks the

The Secretary-General tenth anniversary of the o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e Commonwealth is growing Commonwealth Charter, in size, scale and influence, which reaffirms the values especially as the event also and principles of the welcomed the leaders of Commonwealthaswellasits Togo and Gabon, who aspirations.As well as being attended their first meeting designated the Year of the of Commonwealth Leaders Youth, 2023 is also being today m a r k e d a s t h e

he President of Commonwealth Year of Rwanda, His Excellency Peace.

Commonwealth leaders with HM King Charles III at Marlborough House, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat (Commonwealth Secretariat)

Mercedes’ Russell fastest in first Miami Grand Prix practice

MIAMI, (Reuters)George Russell overcame steering issues that threatenedtoscuttlehisfirst practice session of the MiamiGrandPrixyesterday toputhisMercedestopofthe timing sheets ahead of team mate and seven-times world championLewisHamilton.

Red Bull’s double world champion Max Verstappen had spent much of the hot and steamy practice at the top of the charts but ended

and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz wasfifthfastestfollowedby Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and the Aston Martins of FernandoAlonso and Lance Stroll.

Russell got his weekend off to a rocky start,

Budhan’s Memorial Sports Complex horserace meet set for tomorrow

The Budhan’s Memorial Sports Complex will be staging a horserace meet tomorrow, Sunday May 6th at the Club’s venue, No 66 Village, Corentyne Berbice, togettheir2023programme offandrunning.

the session fourth fastest behind the two Mercedes

Saturday May 06, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Uncomfortable intuitive impressions from someone close might be troubling, Cancer Is your friend ill or bothered by events out of his or her control? Your friend probably won't want to talk muchaboutit.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Atreasured possession might be missing somewhere in the house today, Taurus No matter where you look, you won'tbeabletofindit.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

A romantic partner might suggest a trip together, Gemini, perhaps to a place you've been anxious to see. This is a possibility, but now your friend is merely kicking theideaaround.Ifyoulikethe idea.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Uncomfortable intuitive impressions from someone close might be troubling, Cancer Is your friend ill or bothered by events out of his or her control? Your friend probably won't want to talk muchaboutit.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Regardless of your gender, why not show a bit more virility in your relationships and actions? If you're dominated by your emotions, the day could be extremely tryingforyou

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Confusionmayreigntodayas you try to glean some information that seems to be totallyelusive,Virgo.Areyou researching a project? Are someofthefactsobscure?For now

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Asiblingorneighbormightbe compelled to move away, Libra. This might be emotionally wrenching, and you could have a difficult conversation with this person. Itisn'talwayseasytoletgoof someoneyoucareabout.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Money matters might seem disastroustoday,Scorpio.You may have had a temporary setback, but you're probably being especially pessimistic and not seeing the whole picture.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Atemporaryseparationfroma romantic partner might have you despairing today, Sagittarius. Your imagination may conjure up all sorts of dreadfulscenarios.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Have you been walking or exercising too much lately, Capricorn? If so, you might experience aching feet and legs today Wear comfortable shoesandstayoffyourfeetas much as you can in order to allowthepainstoheal.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Aclosefriendorromantic partner might be in a negative mood today, Aquarius. You may want to try to lift this personoutofthatmood.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

You might have trouble with your plumbing today, Pisces, particularly if you have a big kitchen.This is too complex a problem to handle yourself. Pay the money to have a professional take care of the problem.

complaining of poor handling early on that brought the Briton into the pits where an experimental steeringrackwasreplaced.

When he returned to the track late in the session, he put down a marker with a time of one minute, 30.125 seconds on the 3.36 mile (5.41km) temporary street circuit around Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the NFL’sMiamiDolphins.

Hamilton was just 0.212 seconds back while Verstappen,thewinnerinthe inauguralMiamiGrandPrix, wasnearlyahalf-secondoff thepace.

Verstappen’s team mate SergioPerez,thewinnerlast week in Baku, was well down the timing sheets in 11th.

Justalittleoverhalfway through the one-hour session, Nico Hulkenberg spun and slammed his Haas intothewallbringingoutthe redflag.

U n t i l t h e s p i n Hulkenberg had been enjoyingalivelypracticefor the U S -owned outfit, sitting second behind Verstappenwhenthesession waspaused.

Hulkenberg would still finish with the ninth best effort.

The only American on the starting grid, local boy Logan Sargeant, who grew up in nearby Fort Lauderdale, could not give the fans much to cheer, the Williams rookie finishing withthe19thbesttime.

There are six races carded for the day with the event scheduled to attract a number of the leadinglower classhorsesinGuyana.

The feature event on the day is for the L class and lower horses over one mile for a winning take of $180,000andtrophy

There is a race for animals L class and lower none earners over six furlongs for a winner’s

money of $90,000 and trophy There are other events for three years old Maiden horses, two years Trial (for two years old horses below Lclass), while therewillbearaceforGroup Onehorses(animalsbelowL class that never won a race) and another for group two horses(horsesbelowLclass thatwouldhavewonbefore). Alltheotherraceswillbesix furlongsaffairs.

Action is set to get underway at 12:30hrs and trophies and other memorabilia will be presented to winners, top jockey, stable and trainer among others (Samuel Whyte)

Berbice River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic

SaturdayMay06,2023

ForOceangoingVessels&Trawlers16:45hrs

SundayMay07,2023

ForOceangoingVessels&Trawlers5:15hrs

For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs

Demerara River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic

SaturdayMay06,2023

ForOceangoingVessels&Trawlers05:00hrs

SundayMay07,2023

ForOceangoingVessels&Trawlers05:30hrs

For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs

Mercedes’George Russell during practice. (REUTERS/Marco Bello)

Messi apologises to PSG for Saudi trip

Paris St Germain’s Lionel Messi with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons during a visit to Saudi Arabia. (Saudi Ministry of Tourism/Handout via REUTERS)

Sinclair bags 5 as Team Weekes wrap up 8 wicket win over Team Headley

All-rounder Kevin Sinclair’s 5-fer starred for Team Weekes who whipped Team Headley by 8 wickets andadaytospareasthefinal match of the series ended at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Ending on 153 all out afterfinishingday2on67-2, TeamHeadleyaddedjust86 runs before being knocked over yet again for a cheap total, having made 177 in their1stinnings.

Guyanese Matthew Nandu who was 26 at stumps, went onto make 36 while Justin Greaves ended on25notout. Sinclairspun webs around the opposition, finishing with 5-48 while countryman, Veerasammy Permaul, chipped in with 220. Needing just 96 for victory, Team Weekes, who made 235 in their opening innings,thencruisedto96-2.

Openers Tagenarine

Chanderpaul and Zachary McCaskie both hit 33 while Raymon Reifer and Captain AlickAthanazebothfinished

notouton19*and10* Inthe end,itwasthedominantWest Indies Academy who emerged as overall winners oftheTri-Series.

Da Silva to lead West Indies

“A” on three-match “Test” tour to play Bangladesh “A”

(Reuters)-LionelMessi apologised to Paris St Germainandhisteammates yesterday after being suspended for making a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week and missing a training sessionasaresult.

French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia when he was supposed to train with the squadthedayaftertheLigue 1leaders’3-1defeatathome toLorientonSunday

“Isincerelybelievedthat Iwouldhavethedayoffafter the game as had been happening in previous weeks I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it, I had already cancelled it before,” Messi saidinavideoonInstagram.

“I apologise to my team

mates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me,” added the Argentinaforward.

PSG boss Christophe Galtiersaidearlieryesterday that he had nothing to do with the club’s decision to suspendMessi,whoissetto missthenexttwomatchesat Troyes and home toAjaccio as they look to keep their Ligue1leadintact.

“We’ll see when Leo returns, we’ll see what happens Obviously there will be discussions with the entire club, but also with Leo,” Galtier had said at a pressconference.

PSGarefivepointsclear of Olympique de Marseille with five matches left in the season.

Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next

season, a source close to Argentina’s captain told Reuters , with a contract renewal at PSG not on the cards for the World Cup winner who turns 36 next month.

The oil-rich nation appointed Messi its tourism ambassador last year and he visited Jeddah in May 2022

HereturnedinJanuaryto play a friendly match with PSGagainstateamofSaudi League stars, when he faced great rival Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz,however,refusedtobe drawn on claims the Saudi clubareattemptingtosign Messi as they are focused on their clash with Urawa Red Diamonds in the second leg of the Asian ChampionsLeaguefinal

ExcitingstarttotheGFF/TigerRental...

Frompage25 while Bartica came from behind to defeat Upper Demerara 2-1. Upper Demerara’s Shaquan Barkey scored the first goal in the 18’beforeZiroDosSantosdoubleinthe40’ and52’setupthewinforBartica.

Georgetown came back strongly in their second match defeating East Berbice 4-2, Macaiah DeFreitas led the way with a hattrick (5’, 36’and 51), Adian Marks also scored one goal in the 10’. While Xamier

Andrews nailed two penalties in a losing effort.

East Demerara held West Berbice to a goalless draw, while Upper Demerara came out on top of Essequibo, Trevon Guilluame double in the 5’and 15’followed by Lareue Georgegoalinthe23’helpedEastDemerara to a 3-2 win. Delion Fredericks and Chavel HeartscoredagoaleachforWestBerbice. Actioncontinuestodayatthesamevenue. Starttime9:30am.

Bowls off 16 May

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel yesterday named the 15-man squad for the West Indies “A” Team tour of Bangladesh, with Joshua Da Silva, the West Indies Test wicketkeeper/batter leading the side.

DaSilvawillcaptainthe team in the three four-day “Test” matches against Bangladesh“A”startingon 16May

Along with Da Silva, the 15-member squad includes other players with West Indies Test match experience: left-handed o p e n e r G u y a n e s e Tagenarine Chanderpaul, left-handed all-rounder RaymonReifer,fastbowler Anderson Phillip and Guyanese left-arm spinner GudakeshMotie.

Thesquadalsoincludes three newcomers to the international level: openers Kirk McKenzie and Zachary McCaskie as well as fast bowler Jair McAllister

All three made their first-classdebutsduringthe West Indies Championship four-day first-class tournamentearlierthisyear

Lead Selector, the Most Honorable Dr Desmond Haynes, stated that the aim wastopickabalancedteam as they look to expose the players to overseas conditions.

“Weselectedagroupof playerswhowethinkcould benefitfromtheexposurein Bangladesh and we also have our eyes on the upcoming Test Series against India in the Caribbean.”

He continued, “Among the newcomers, we have pace bowler McAllister who is fast and strong and has the ability to unsettle batters. McCaskie had a solid start to his first-class career, showed good temperament, and also has theabilitytoplayallaround the wicket. McKenzie was eye-catching during his double-centuryfortheWest Indies Academy in the HeadleyWeekesTri-Series. It was a superb knock and demonstrated that the investment in theAcademy isbearingfruit.”

West Indies “A” Team willarriveinBangladeshon 11 May and play the three four-day “Test” matches at the Sylhet International

Cricket Stadium (SICS) in Sylhet. These matches will havefullfirst-classstatus. This “A” team tour r e c i p r o c a t e s t h e Bangladesh “A” team tour oftheWestIndiesinAugust 2022,whentheteamsdrew both a two-match series of four-dayfirst-classmatches and also a three-match 50over series at the Darren Sammy Stadium in Saint Lucia.

FULLSQUAD

Joshua DaSilva (Captain)

AlickAthanaze

YannicCariah

KeacyCarty

T a g e n a r i n e

Chanderpaul

TevinImlach

AkeemJordan

BrandonKing

JairMcAllister

ZacharyMcCaskie

KirkMcKenzie

GudakeshMotie

AndersonPhillip

RaymonReifer

KevinSinclair

MATCHSCHEDULE

All matches at SICS, Sylhet

16-19May:1st“Test”

23-26May:2nd“Test”

30 May to 2 June: 3rd “Test

-

Kevin Sinclair bowls during the match. (CWI)

Grange says Jamaica intends to launch bid to host games at next year’s ICC T20 World Cup

SportsMax - Minister of

C u l t u r e , G e n d e r, EntertainmentandSport,the Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, says Jamaica intends to throw their hat in the ring in hopes of being able to host matches at next year’s ICC T20 World Cup set to be held in the West IndiesandtheUSAinJune.

“In relation to the World Cup, we are interested. We are looking at the numbers and I’m in discussion with Billy Heaven, President of the Jamaica Cricket Association,” Grange told SportsMax.TV

“A letter was written to the Prime Minister about it by Cricket West Indies and he has referred the matter to me. We’re looking at the numbers and having discussions The bid is coming up shortly so we havetomakeadecisionvery soonbutitissomethingwe’d like to do,” the minister added.

Forcontext,Jamaicahas not hosted a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match since 2019 and will, once again, not host any in the upcoming season. The country last hosted an international game in January2022whentheWest Indies hosted Ireland for

threeODIsandthreeT20Is. As it relates to 2023, “things didn’t quite come together for matches”

according to CPL Head of PR and Communications

Peter Miller “Talks are ongoingfor2024andweare hopeful that we will have matches in Jamaica in the future.” The main problem,

as put by CPL CEO Pete Russell, has been “a lack of s u p p o r t f r o m t h e Government and the private sector.” “We have made no secretofthefactthatwehave lacked support in terms of bringingtheCPLtoJamaica over the years and this has been a challenge,” Russell told the Jamaica Observer

recently

TheCEOemphasizedhis point by drawing a comparison with Guyana, whowillhosttheplayoffsfor this year’s tournament and have also submitted a proposaltohostgamesatthe WorldCup.

“We feel that what CPL does for the host countries

speaks for itself, with Guyana Government’s Cricket Carnival a prime example of what can be achieved if stakeholders work together There was a 9 0 % i n c r e a s e o f international arrivals into Guyana in September 2022 with 31,050 international visitors arriving in the

country Therewerenohotel rooms available, and money was being put into the Guyanese economy,” he said.

“We want to be able to come back to Jamaica but, for this to happen, we need s u p p o r t f r o m t h e Government and the private sector,”headded.

Birthday boy Alcaraz beats Coric to reach Madrid final

MADRID, (Reuters)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his 20th birthdaybystormingintothe MadridOpenfinalwitha6-4 6-3victoryoverBornaCoric yesterdaytostayontrackfor hisfourthtitleoftheseason.

In Sunday’s title clash, thetop-seededSpaniardwill face off against qualifier Aslan Karatsev or lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff whoweretocontesttheother semi-finallaterintheday

“It means a lot to me, playing a final again here in Madrid.

It’s such a special place for me I have great memories since I came here to play Under-12s,”Alcaraz said “Last year it was amazing. I’ll enjoy the final and try to make all of Spain

-

happy Idon’tthinkaboutthe pressure here. I just think about playing great matches and getting good results. I enjoy every single second here.”Alcarazhasenjoyeda spectacular start to his career, becoming the youngest man to top the worldrankingsafterhisU.S. OpenwinlastSeptemberand has already claimed three Masters 1000 titles as a teenager

He took a big step towards another Masters crown and stamped his credentials as one of the favourites for this month’s French Open on a warm afternoon at the Manolo Santana Stadium with sixtimes Roland Garros champion Bjorn Borg watchingon.

World number two Alcaraz heaped the pressure on Coric in their first career meeting and faced stiff resistance from the Croatian 17th seed before drawing first blood with a searing forehandinthefifthgameof aphysicalopeningset.

After wrapping up the first set on serve, Alcaraz grabbed an early break and raced to a 4-2 lead in the next, dictating terms against afadingCoric.

He swiftly wrapped up his 28th win in 30 matches this year and celebrated by cutting a massive cake on court.

Russia’s Karatsev later playsGermanStruff10days after easing past him in the finalroundofqualifying.

Struff was added to the

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in action during his semi final match against Croatia’s Borna Coric. (REUTERS/ Juan Medina)

Sabina Park

-”It is something we’d like to do”

Sha’Carri Richardson upstages Shericka Jackson with WL 10.76

-Camacho-QuinnandPaulinoscorewinsinseason-openingDiamondLeaguemeet

SportsMax - Sha’Carri

Richardson served notice that she might be ready to beat the best in the world in 2023 when she ran a worldleading 10.76 to win the 100mdashagainstastacked field at the season-opening Diamond League meeting yesterday

In the field that included Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the 2022 200m World Champion, Dina Asher Smith, Abby Steiner and Melissa Jefferson, Richardson started well and was on Jackson’s shoulder mid-way the race before pulling away to eclipse Jackson’s previous world leadof10.82.

“I’m so blessed and thankful, I feel at peace,” said Richardson, who broke the previous meet record of 10.80 held by Tori Bowie, whodiedearlierthisweek.

“All I do is the best I do

andI’mexcitedtodoit.Like I said it before, I had to be kicked out from another 100mrace,soIhadtodomy best no matter what. Peace, loveandlife.”

The Jamaican finished secondin10.85whileAsher Smith ran season-best 10.98 forthirdplace.

Earlier, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, continued her impressive from last season when she won silver at the 2022WorldChampionships, winning the 400m in 50.51 ahead of American Shamier Little,whoran50.84.

Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland ran a season best 51.64 for third place. World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams (52 05) and Jamaicans Candice McLeod (53.43) and Stephenie-Ann McPherson(52.93SB)were fourth, fifth and sixth,

respectively By her usually high standards Jasmine Camacho-Quinn wasn’t at her best last season but on Friday,shelookedlikesheis gettingbacktoherbestwhile winningthe100mhurdlesin a season-best 12.48. The USA’sAlayshaJohnsonalso ranaseason-bestof12.66for second place with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali finishingthirdin12.69.

Jamaica’s MeganTapper ran a season-best 12.76 for fourth.

Inthe400mhurdles,Rai Benjamin held off a fastfinishing CJAllen to win in 47.78. Allen ran a seasonbest 47.93 while Wilfried Happio of France finished thirdin49.12.

Thetopsevenathletesall setseasonbestsinthemen’s javelin but India’s Neeraj Choprawasthebestofthem allthrowingaworld-leading 88.67m.JakubVadlejchwas

Warriors sink 21 3-pointers, roll past Lakers to even series

New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson in action during the women’s 100m. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari)

second with his effort of 88.63m. World Champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with an effort of

85.88m. Fred Kerley surged late to win the 200m in 19 92, a season’s best KennyBednarekoftheUSA

was second in 20.11 with Canada’s Aaron Brown of Canada taking the final podiumspotwith20.20.

2023IBAWorldBoxingChampionships… Amsterdam victorious, Allicock outclassed on Day 5

Guyana’s two-member team suffered a mixed bag of fortunes on Day five of the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) 2023 World Boxing Championships, when the event continued yesterday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Intheday’sfirstsession,GuyanaBoxing Association’s(GBA)2022BoxeroftheYear, Desmond ‘Dynamite’ Amsterdam, won unanimouslyagainsthisBulgarianopponent Kristiyan Nikolov, while Keevin Allicock suffered defeated at the hands of the host nation’sAbdumalikKhalokov,inthesecond session.

This means Amsterdam has now progressed to the Round-of-16 stage while the journey has ended for Allicock at the Round-of-32stage.

SportsMax - Klay

Thompson scored 30 points witheight3-pointersandall five Golden State starters reacheddoublefiguresasthe Warriors cruised to a 127100 rout of the Lakers on Thursday.

The hot-shooting

Warriorsbouncedbackfrom Tuesday’scloseGame1loss to tie the second-round seriesatonegameapiece.

Stephen Curry had 20 points and 12 assists, JaMychal Green added 15

pointson6of10shootingin his first playoff start since 2019 and Draymond Green nearly notched a tripledouble with 11 points, 11 reboundsandnineassists.

GoldenState,whichshot over 50 percent overall, set an NBArecord for the most 3-pointers in the first two games of a playoff series with42.

LeBronJamesscored21 of his 23 points in the first half and Los Angeles struggled to keep up, with

AnthonyDavislimitedto11 points and seven rebounds following his 30 and 23 performance in the series opener Thompson’s 3 early in thethirdquarterigniteda144 run for Golden State that extended the lead to 82-64. The Warriors were never threatened thereafter and finishedwith43pointsinthe thirdquarter

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 today, Saturday

FightingoutoftheredcornerintheElite Men75-80KGLightHeavyweightDivision, Amsterdamreignedsupremewitha3–2split decision against Nikolov, who was stacked withalongerreachandaheightadvantage.

However, Amsterdam showed more aggression and threw more effective power punches consistently in the final two rounds after clearly conceding the first, to tip the judge’sscaleinhisfavour

For Allicock, who fought out of the red corner in the Elite Men 54-57kg FeatherweightDivision,hewasupagainstan Uzbekistaniwiththefullsupportofthehome crowd.

Khalokov was taller with a reach advantagebutalsomoreevasiveandtactical than Allicock, which showed for the entire

threerounds. Thefive-judgesystemruled0 – 5 to end Allicock’s campaign after he sufferedaquestionablepointdeductionearly on and had troubles reading the unorthodox movementsofhisopponent,whichaddedto hisdespair

Meanwhile, Amsterdam’s campaign continuesonTuesday,May9,asheattempts toqualifyforthequarterfinalstage. Thetournamentisscheduledtoconclude onSunday,May14.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the Warriors.

Keevin Allicock

Sheriff, Gibson triumph at Regatta Table Tennis Tournament

Action in the Bartica Table Tennis Steering

Committee (BTTSC) Regatta Table Tennis Tournament, played at the Bartica Community Center on Sunday April 30, 2023 saw the likes of atalena Gibson (girl) of Two Mile Primary and Aidan Sheriff (boy) of St John Primary winning in their respective categories.

Heading into the tournament,allplayerswere aiming to bring their best versions of the game to the

tournament.

They had their game faces on, and only the bestof-the-best would emerge victorious In fact, the anticipatedmatchupsawthe 11 years and under boy’s battle, with names such as Abar Ishak, Christopher Edmond, Seeffo Pollydore, Aidan sheriff, Akeem DaSilva, Joshua James, Selwyn Brown, Jereon Persaud, Adriano Stoby, Upendra Chowtee, Jaden T h o r n h i l l , J a d e n Williamson. Girls match up

saw the names such as Kaylean Charles, Nicola Gennie,Alanea Moe, Jelena Atkinson, Allia Hassim, Annalise Jardine, Alesha Gonsalves, Arianna Lonke, Nazeema Lewis, Katalena Gibson,SamanthaGarraway andRosannaPatterson.

Aidan Sheriff of St John Primary bested Upendra Chowtee of Two Miles

Primaryinanintensefinalin the 11 years and under boys which ended 11-6, 9-11, 811, 11-2 and 11-8 (3-2) Selwyn Brown of Potaro

Primary finished third and Jaden Williamson of TwoMile Primary finished in fourthplace.

In the semi–Finals C h o w t e e d e f e a t e d Williamson 3-0 and Sheriff defeatedBrown3-1

Inthe11yearsandunder girl’s finals, Katalena Gibson of Two Miles Primary defeated Rosanna Patterson of Two Miles Primary11-7,7-11,6-11,11-4 and 11-8 (3-2), and third place went to Samantha Garraway of Two Miles

PrimaryshedefeatedAlesha GonsalvesofPotaroPrimary 3-2.

Inthesemi-finalsGibson defeated Garraway 3-1 and Patterson defeated Gonsalves3-2.

Tournament sponsors were Super Gold Mining Bartica, Guyana Committee of Service, Guyana Table TennisAssociation,National Sports Commission and Mr LashonJordanofBartica.

This tournament attractedover30playersand four schools namely St

Anthony Primary, St John Primary,PotaroPrimaryand TwoMilesPrimary BTTSC president Mr Timothy Cornelius and GTTAGeneralSecretaryMr Linden Johnson give words of encouragement to the young table tennis players andtheywouldhavetakenin e v e r y w o r d o f encouragement given to them Presentation of trophies were presented for both the Male and Female Categories for the first, secondandthirdpositions.

Exciting start to the GFF/Tiger Rental U13 Football League star

Bartica and Upper Demerara at the center before the start of the match

TheTigerRentalsUnder-13 FootballLeagueCup commencedyesterdayatthe GuyanaFootballFederation (GGF)TrainingCentrein Providence,EastBank Demerara.

Thefirstroundcontested ten matches with each team playing twice. East Bank defeatedWest Bank, Bartica gotthebetterofGeorgetown

and Upper Demerara, Rupununi defeated both West Berbice and West Demerara, East Coast defeated East Bank, Georgetown came back in the latter defeating East Berbice, while Essequibo sufferedtwolosses.

Early on, East Bank edgedpastWestDemerarain the first match West

Demerara got off to a good start; Ciani Lopez netted the first in 10’ but East Bank camefrombehindtoclincha 2-1 win; Samuel Tasher in the 22’and Michael Correir in the 52’ The electric Bartica later defeated Georgetown 3-2, decorated withabrillianthat-trickfrom Riley Tracey scoring in the 14’, 19’and 57’to secure an

easy win for his side

Micaiah DeFreitas and TravisGroganbothscoreda goaleachinalosingeffort.

Rupununi had an excellentrunonthefirstday defeating West Berbice 3-1 Kevin Dewar scored twice and Joad Hamlett with the other goal in their first match. Keyshan Mingo also scored one goal for West

Berbice. They came back in the latter, thrashing West Demerara5-0thestarplayerJoad Hamlett with a sensational performance; scoring four goals as his scoring partner Craig Allicock contributed one goal to seal another good showing from the Rupununi boys.

East Berbice later

defeatedEssequibo 5-1 with a brilliant hat-trick from XamierArcher (22’, 52’and 59’); the other goal scorers were Taffrel Felix 44’ and TryonCaptain50’. East Coast then dominatedEastBankina3-0 win, with goals from Isan Williams33’,TyrellWalcott 37’andKennardHalley56, (Continuedonpage22)

The top performers of the recently concluded BTTSC Regatta Table Tennis Tournament.

Kevin Sinclair who took 5-48 with the match ball. (CWI)

East Berbice XamierAndrews

his second goal against Georgetown.