Kaieteur News

Four prison officers, two others charged over escape of mass murderer ‘Smallie’

Four prison officers as wellasaVenezuelanwoman and a Parika man were on Thursdayremandedtoprison overtheescapeofdeath-row inmate,MarkRoydenDurant Williamspopularlyknownas “Smallie”lastweekfromthe heavily-guarded Mazaruni PrisoninRegionSeven. Charged with conspiracy to facilitate an escape are: Chief Prison Officer, Alexander Hopkinson, Prison officers: Omar Whitherspoon, Conroy

Hossanah, and Oldfield Romulus.

Theothertwodefendants in the case are a Venezuelan Woman, Frangeliz Jugandry Flores Perez of Alexander StreetKitty,Georgetownand a Parika, East Bank Essequibo businessman, Rajmohan Autar called “Chico”.

They made their court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert. Hopkinson was represented

by his lawyer, Bernard Da Silva. Both him and his allegedco-conspiratorswere not required to plead to the indictable charge and were all remanded to prison until June22,2023.

It is being alleged that they were involved in the May 19 escape of convicted mass-murderer, nicknamed Smallie from the Mazaruni Prison.Accordingtoreports, Williams escaped around 14:30hrs while being escortedbacktohiscellafter

receivingavisit.

The Guyana Prison

Service (GPS) had disclosed that Perez visited the death row inmate.

The GPS said that prison guards were escortingWilliamsbackto hisholdingcellonanATV (four-wheel bike) when theycameunderfirefrom gunmen in a speedboat armed with AK-47 and AR-15 rifles. “The ranks dismounted the ATV and

returnedfireattheassailants.

Atthatpoint,oneoftheboat occupantscameontotheland

and continued to discharge several rounds towards the prison officers,” GPS stated. While the exchange of gunfire was ongoing, Williams still in his foot chains managed to run towards the riverbank and jumpedoverboard. The gunmen helped himintotheboatandthenit sped off in a westerly direction, the Prison Servicehadstated.

The manhunt for the escapeecontinues.

Prison officer, Oldfield Romulus

Chief Prison Officer, Alexander Hopkinson

Prison Officer, Conroy Hossanah

Govt. will take ExxonM to court for compensation in event of an oil spill

Over the years, Kaieteur News has highlighted the plight many countries face to get oil and gas companies to compensate them for losses suffered by citizens and damage to their environments due to oil spills.

On the local front, Guyanahasbeenpumpingoil since December 2019, in the prolific Stabroek Block ExxonMobil Corporation's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of that block which has an estimated 11 billion barrelsofoil.

EEPGLalongwithitscoventures Hess Corporation andChinaNationalOffshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has been operating in the Stabroek Block with a mere US$600 million insurance packagegiventothecountry To complement this, Guyana's Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA)has sinceagreedtoacceptaUS$2 billion parent company guarantee from ExxonMobil and is poised to receive supportingdocumentsonthis frontsoon.

During his press conferenceonThursday,Vice PresidentBharratJagdeowas asked, in the event of an oil spill offshore Guyana, what will the Government of Guyana (GoG) do to ensure thatGuyanesedonothaveto footthebill.

The Vice President responded,“Thethingisthat, you're asking me a hypothetical question ” However, he explained that lookingatwhathashappened globally with other countries when it comes to oil spill, most of the US-billions of dollars that countries get are from taking the oil companies to court and winning the case He continued: “they didn't come because the companies are voluntary, even in the US ( U n i t e d S t a t e s o f America)…and in the UK (United Kingdom). So I see figures quoted (US) $85B

and (US) $50B and if you look at it, it wasn't for the cleaning up of the spill but thecompensationandalotof thosedidn'toriginatebecause of guarantees they emerge fromcourtcases.”

Jagdeo also said: “whatever guarantee Exxon gives at the end of the day it comesbacktowewillpayfor it ” The Vice President explained that he expects therewouldbelitigationsand that is how he anticipates it wouldbedealtwith.

At his press conference, Jagdeo admitted that oil and gas companies are not

- Jagdeo tells press conference

working offshore Guyana –to court for some US$4.4 billion for environmental damages and damages to localsandconsumeroverthe January 15, 2022 oil spill of 12,000,barrelsofspilloffthe courtofPeru.

A

,

particularly Nigeria have seen their fair share of oil spill litigations which took decades to come to an end and for the citizens to be compensated for the cleanup of their environment and for the disruption to their livelihood.

Government recently appealedtheMay3,rulingby High Court Judge Justice Sandil Kissoon who ruled that Guyana's EPA should secure unlimited parent guarantee from ExxonMobil Corporation for a major oil project producing over

150,000barrelsofoildailyin theStabroekBlock.

Vice President Jagdeo had contended that such a ruling could affect investment in Guyana's oil and gas sector and kill the momentum; as such they appealedtheruling.

altruistic. “They are not in this for the good of mankind theyareheretomakemoney andit'sassimpleasthatthey come to make money from thecountry,”hesaid.

Jagdeo highlighted: “On ourownwecan'tputtogether $30,$40BUSdollars.”

HeexplainedthatUS$30 billion which ExxonMobil Guyanahasalreadyinvestted in offshore Guyana is six morethanwhatisavailablein Guyana'sbankingsystem.

The Vice President further explained, “So we needed that to explore these bigopportunitiessoourjobis to get investments in but to getagrowingshareofthepie too and to make sure our people get the possibility of development….”

Just last year, the PeruvianGovernmenthadto takeSpanishoilgiant,Repsol – a company that is also

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at his press conference

CompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Why ExxonMobil shareholders should vote for resolution #10, worst-case spill and response plans

DEAREDITOR

We are so Independent 57 years later, that our elected leaderscannotfacetheGuyanesepeopleandspeaktothem in a simple, honest, and trusted manner about the most important economic endowment that this country has ever received. Guyana’s oil wealth is a taboo subject for His Excellency, PresidentAli who is nowhere around when the interest is in oil. When Vice President Jagdeo, the man leadingthechargewithouroilspeaks,hesoundslikeanecho of Exxon’s President of its Guyana operations, Mr Alistair Routledge. Thequestionisreasonablyasked:whothereal president of Guyana is, if not Exxon’s Routledge, who can speak freely about oil, dictate conditions to us, and be confident that PresidentAli andVice President Jagdeo will toehisline

TheLeaderoftheOpposition,Mr Norton,isnodifferent from the two government leaders. The Independence that Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham fought for, these three national leaders in today’s Guyana give up without a fight. Instead of all three of them leading a concerted charge for betterforGuyanese,theyareconstantlyturningaroundand charging upon their own hopeful Guyanese brothers and sisters. This is the Independence that we live with today, whereourmajorpoliticalleadersareshackledandyokedto theforeignoilcompanies,andcannotopentheirmouthsfor fear of swallowing their tongues. This immense oil patrimony, which should be even more wonderful for all citizens, given Guyana’s small population can provide for economic independence, social independence, and mental independence(emancipation,asBobMarleyexhorted),butonlyif husbandedandmidwifedwell Itrequiresmorethanintelligenceand skill,andcallsformorethanlovelyleadershipsoundbites Thekind ofindependencethatthisoilwealthguaranteescouldonlyresultfrom leadershiphonesty,andpoliticalintegrityofthehighestorder

A truly independent and patriotic leader, a totally uncompromised one, can state his people’s case in the strongesttermsanddrawaline,aboutwhatmovesahead,or what must come to a standstill, if the fair and reasonable expectations of citizens are not fulfilled. Independent and uncompromised leaders do not camouflage truth, do not erectlongverbalsmokescreens,donotclothethemselvesin the garments of concern for foreign investor nervousness. Independent, uncompromised political leaders of caliber, andofsingularprowess,fearlesslyprioritizetheaspirations andinterestsoftheirownpeople We make no claim, cast no aspersions,astowhoisnotmentallyindependent,orwhois compromisedinsomewayortheother Allwedoistoaskon this Guyana Independence Day is who among our leaders have stood up and stood strong in manifesting the kind of unflinchingleadershipwhenthisoilandwhatGuyaneseget fromitmustbetheonlyconversation. Lookatthefactsand circumstances on the ground, as evidenced in their own wordsandpostures,inwhattheyfaceboldly,andwhatthey shrinkfromtimidly

Whenourleadersshouldbeadvancinginastraightline withthisoil,theymakespectaclesofthemselvesbycrawling aroundincircles. Whentheyshouldbetalkinginfrankand authoritative terms, they are constantly hedging, splitting hairs,stonewalling,concealing,andobfuscating. Thebiting ironyisthatastheycarryoninthispatheticmanner,almost halfoftheGuyanesepopulationarescratchingoutanyliving thantheyget. Thereisnotenoughspendingpowertoaccess basicitemstoputfoodonthetable. Thereismoreoftenthan notthesituationwherethechildrenleavehomewithlittleintheir stomachs,lessintheirlunchkits,andnothingintheirpockets.

ThisisthehardandcryingrealityofIndependence2023, whenGuyanaishailedandcheeredastherichestcountryin theworld. IfGuyanese,whoaretherichestintheworldon paper,cannotbuyadequatefood,thenthisoilhasfalleninto thewronghands.Ashistoryhastestifiedeversofrequently, foreignexploitershavealwaysmadegooduseofweaklocal collaboratorsintheleadershipclasstosuppresstheirpeople, and then reduce them to economic slavery Happy IndependenceDay,Guyana!

ExxonMobilwillhaveits annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday May 31st, 2023. During this meeting shareholders will vote on a numberofresolutionsraised. These resolutions were outlined in its 2023 Proxy statement, a copy can be f o u n d h e r e : https://investorexxonmobil c o m / c o m p a n yinformation/annual-reportsproxy Shareholder resolution #10 is concerned with Guyana and seeks additional reporting on worst-case spill and responseplans.ExxonMobil recommends shareholders vote against resolution #10. However, ExxonMobil reasoning as to why shareholders should reject resolution #10 contains a number of questionable statements.

ExxonMobilclaimsthat by resolution #10 using the word ‘fine’ instead of ‘fee’ for the replacing the gas

compressor makes the proposal guilty of mischaracterization.Afee is what one pays for a service or privilege. Example, one pays tuition fees. A fine is paid for breaking the law or regulation Example, one pays a fine for parking illegally Thus, are we to believe that EEPGL (Esso Guyana) pays Guyana for the privilege of emitting CO2 and dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere? Here is what the Ministry of Natural Resources stated on September30th,2020,“Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) willpaytheGovernmentfor thecostofgaswastedduring flaring and will also be subject to fines under the EPA related to emissions fromflaring.”

ExxonMobil’s response toresolution#10claimsthat “above design capacity” relates to investment basis andtheactualvolumethatis

safetoproduceiswellabove the design capacity When w e c h e c k e d t h e Environmental Impact Assessments published for L i z a 1 , s e e h e r e http://wwwoggn website/w pcontent/uploads/2018/01/Vo

lume-I-Liza-Phase-1-EIA1.pdf, it states this on page 28, “The FPSO will be designed to receive the full production wellstream from the development wells and will process crude oil at a design rate of 100,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), with potential to safely operate at sustained peaksofuptoapproximately 120,000 BOPD”.According to the Government of Guyana charts here, https://petroleum.gov.gy/dat a-visualization?tid=203, Liza1hasbeenproducingoil at 150,000 barrels a day for several months now The Liza 1 EIA states nothing related to investment basis.

Liza 1 EIA states that

100,000 BOPD is what should be the target rate of oil production, not 50% above that limit. We fail to locate where in the Liza 1 EIA document it states producing above design capacityissafe.

Given the above findings, we support the ExxonMobilshareholdersto voteinfavourofshareholder resolution #10 It is imperative that all stakeholders – namely shareholders,Guyanaandits neighbours –are aware of a worst-case spill and responseplanthatdetailsthe economic, human, and environmentalimpactsofan oil spill given that Liza 1 & Liza 2 oil projects are operating well above the safety limits as per their EIAs.

Sincerely

AlfredBhulai AndreBrandli

JanetteBulkan DarshanandKhusial CharlesSugrim

The Mahdia tragedy will help us to understand and test our best intentions

DEAREDITOR:

The first thing I want to do is to give condolences from my narrow circle and myself to the relatives and communities who have suffered as a result of the dormitoryfireattheMahdia secondaryschool.

The unspeakable situation at Mahdia is a challenge and an indictment to all the groups that call themselvescitizens.Thisisa call to all alert citizens, especiallytotheGuyanaBar Association, and Guyana HumanRightsOrganization,

and civil society groups to see to it that the laws of Guyana are no further evaded in the investigation ofthistragedy And in the first place, unlike what has been done with previous fires, guidelines for such investigations should be placed forward, and agreed on a multi-party basis.What I wish to make clear is that our society has laws on the books for investigation of fires, and in my experience, theyarerepeatedlyignored.I shouldbethefirsttosaythat

the existing laws about inquiry into fire are inadequate and need to be upgraded to suit a society aiming at democracy However, the haphazard investigations and explanations applied to fires in recent decades only tend to conceal deep flaws in administration and have not led to assurance of greater publicsafety

Public organisations and associationsmustkindlysee to it that under the rules of this inquiry, including grievance and complaint, no

voiceissilenced.Eachvoice should be recorded and archived so the public can callonthemforreflectionin timeofneed.

This unspeakable tragedyatMahdiahelpsusto understand and test our best intentions.Whilethisisnota time of partisan clashes across the political divide, it isalsoatimeforthenationto make an effort to restore the true meaning of power –responsibility,humanity,and accountability I hope this chancewillnotbewastedin statecraft and manipulation. The responsibility of these burdens falls fully in the lap ofallGuyanese.Itshouldnot be placed in the hands of selected individual politicians but should be placedinthewidecounselof observers.

I have avoided partisan commentsinthehopethatin its approach to this strategy the executive will seize the chance to promote free consultation and include the opinions of all groups, interests, and especially those reflecting ethnicity, occupation, labor, gender, class, age and social status. To blunder on these matters and principles will only worsenthisterribletragedy

Respectfully,

EusiKwayana

A happy, thoughtful, blessed Independence Day to all Guyanese

DEAREDITOR

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I express sincere condolences to the immediate families, relatives, friends and the community of Mahdia as a collectiveonthetragicdeath of 19 young students who were trapped in a dormitory fire. As a community, as a nation,weareallinshock,as we join with you in grief overthisdevastatingevent.

No amount of platitudes and expressed compassion will ever be enough to comprehend the grief and pain you the families are experiencing during this difficulttime.

But despite our inabilities, we offer our deepest sympathy and love tothefamilieswhohavelost their loved ones in this terribletragedy

We truly understand that nothing can ease the pain of losing a loved one, and you will need time to heal and come to grips with this reality

But we want to assure youthatourcommunityand all conscious minded Guyaneseareheretosupport and stand with you during thisdifficulttime.

We offer our thoughts andprayerstothosewhoare grievingandaskthatyoudo nothesitatetoleanonusfor

support. As we process this tragedy,weallmustalsotake proactivestepstoensurethat thisneverhappensagain.

The government and community leaders must take swift action to prevent future incidents from occurring in any part of the country

I believe some of the followingmeasurescanhelp preventtragedieslikethis.It is my humble view that regular inspections to such facilities are needed Government and private officials must ensure that regular inspections of dormitories and other buildings are conducted to detectanypotentialhazards. Additionally,installation offirealarmsandsprinklers: It is critical that we install fire alarms and sprinklers in all student dormitories Theseearlywarningsystems are essential in preventing firedisasters.

The Promotion of Fire Safety Education should be promoted in all learning institutions with a focus on educatingstudentsonhowto safelyexistabuildingonfire and how to use electronic appliances and other hazardousmaterials

The grilling of dormitories windows and doors should be prohibited. Those buildings are usually

infencedcompounds.Those fences should be upgraded with bob wires, security cameras (4) around the building, and a security hut withamonitortoobservethe surroundingarea.

Further, increase public awareness to report fire incidents.

Members of the public should be encouraged to report fire incidents immediately to prevent a minor fire incident from becomingacatastrophe.

Fire extinguishers should be placed in all buildings where people congregate.

The proposed ideas can be along with much more that others will share, can help improve the safety of ourchildren.

We encourage everyone in the community to work together to ensure that our environmentissafeforallto live,work,andstudyin.

We assure you that we will continue to make representation and take all necessary steps to prevent futuretragediesaswemourn thelossofourdearstudents.

Ourthoughtsandprayers are with the families, students,andthecommunity affectedbythistragedy

Sincerely,

H o n J e r m a i n e Figueira.MP

DEAREDITOR

The nation is in Mourning.Thelossofthose children at a tender age is a greattragedy Inthiscase19, a number of others were seriouslyinjuredwhilethose who survived would be traumatised.Isuggestateam of personnel be sent in to counsel the children and parents.

I simply cannot imagine thefeelingsoftheparentsof those children. One of the hardest things in life is to bury one’s own child. I was dumfoundedtolearn,iftrue, that the building had only one door It makes me wonder what role the fire department plays in approving the construction of buildings. What role the Local authorities play? No officials from the government visited the facility? When it was being openedweretheofficialsnot given a tour? Did they not notice there was only one entranceandnoexit?Ifthey did, did they not realise that something was wrong? Did anyeducationOfficerVisit.? Where were the caretakers? Is it true there was only one?Was there no securityinplace?

Iamawarethatdrawings of private buildings are scrutinized to ensure they are in keeping with the respective codes. I am now not sure it takes place with government buildings. This

shouldbeawakeupcalland theauthoritiesmustexercise evengreaterscrutinywhenit comes to government buildings Maybe I am wrong but maybe because it is government buildings suchscrutinyisoverlooked.

Iamwonttobelievethat the authorities do not learn frompasttragedies.Infact,I do not believe the Governmentevenlistentoor simply care. We have the Department of Public Information but in addition, each Ministry has a PR Department.Iamwondering if they read the letter columns to hear what the public is saying and to respond. Recently I called the PR of a Ministry I pointed out that I wrote a coupleoflettershighlighting things relevant to the said Ministry They did not even see my letters much less respond. I wrote a letter discussing the education system.Noresponse.

On the 7th of October 2021 Stabroek News Published my letter captioned, “Position fire extinguishers and smoke alarm in strategic Locations in every government Building”.

This was after the Brickdam Police station fire and a number of fires that burntdownschools.

No action was taken. Well,MinisterofEducation, afterseeingone,andanother

and another school burnt to thegrounddiditnotoccurto her to put some measures in place. Where is she living?

In the clouds? What about the leadership of the education department? I wrote advising on some thingsthatneedtobedoneto improve our performance in mathematics and English andgenerallytoimprovethe standard of delivery of education. No response. I havenotreadanythinginthe pressthatsuggestsshehasa strategytoimprovesame. WhataboutthePresident and his advisors? Where is the VP as he seems to be in all and everything?All they are concentrating on is big infrastructureworksandfast tracking approvals for EXXON. Maybe they have theirreason.YouandIknow at least one. One of the problemfacingthisnationis a divided people, kept dividedtosuitthepurposeof the political parties. Our people need to unite at the bottom. Only such unity of action can hold government accountable. They are not concentrating on general governance.TheMicrolevel and needs are not in their sight.

Listen to the people’s voices. The letter column is one way Be educated by them.

Regards

RajendraBisessar BscSociology,LLB

GAWU:Atime for reflection – GAWU’s Independence Day message 2023

DEAREDITOR

T h e I A A D

unequivocallycondemnsthe actions of candidates of the ruling Peoples Progressive Party who have allegedly engagedinforgerytosatisfy the requirements of their candidacies. We call upon the police to urgently investigate these allegations and institute the relevant charges if these allegations canbesubstantiated.

WehavenotedtheChief ElectionsOfficer’scomment in relation to these

allegations and caution that GECOMhasaresponsibility todelivercredibleelections. Thefacilitationoffraudulent nominationinformationinto the electoral process will inevitably generate a falsifiedoutput.

It is obvious that GECOM is lacking the capacity to deliver free, fair, and credible elections and we, therefore, ask that these elections be postponed and the operations of GECOM be reviewed by a competent body prior to the holding of

anyelection.

The IAAD advises that credible elections are the crux of a stable democracy and demands that GECOM deliver free, fair, and credibleelections.

To do otherwise is an a b r o g a t i o n o f responsibilities with the potential concomitant results of strife and civil disobedience A situation thatthenationcanillafford.

Yourssincerely LelonSaul Secretary

TheGuyanaAgricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends warm wishes to all Guyanese at home and abroad on the occasion of our country’s fifty-seventh (57th)

Independence anniversary

Thesheddingofourcolonial chains now nearly six decades ago marked a monumental achievement for our country and its people. Moving from one colonizer to the next over s e v e r a l c e n t u r i e s

contextualizes the s i g n i f i c a n c e o f independence.

We of the GAWU recollectthatthestrugglefor political freedom began in earnest following the silent pledgeofDrCheddiJaganas he witnessed the outpouring of grief at the funeral of the Enmore Martyrs That struggle ignited that consciousness of the Guyanese people to secure their self-determination and to be released from the

bondagesofcolonialism.

We believe as we observe Independence Day, we must pay tribute to all those who advanced the struggle for independence andanendofcolonialismin Guyana.

Our observances this year are subdued as we still reel from the tragedy at Mahdiaafewdaysago.The GAWU and its thousands of members across the country aresaddenedbythetragic

(Continuedonpage06)

Grilling of dormitories windows and doors should be prohibited

IAAD condemns forgery of citizens’signatures for LGE

Several questions still to be answered about the Mahdia tragedy

Howinthismodernagefiresofthistypecannotbeavoided?

DEAREDITOR

, Probably, it has taken hundreds of thousands and perhaps trillions of words, printed and spoken n a t i o n a l l y a n d internationally, to explain how and why the nineteen school children perished alongwiththeninewhohave been hospitalized as a result of the fiery conflagration thatrippedthroughthegirl’s secondary school dormitory atMahdia,atRegion8.

Death remains a deeply personal experience alongside the use of any postmortem technologies that might have been witnessed.

Thoseofuswho,entered temporarily ‘Death’s World’ (a term describing the wide spectrum of individuals and groupswhoeitherwitnessed death, the dying, or associatedwithdeadbodies) mayhaveconveyedattimes,

acertainkindofassuredness that grief and bereavement are headed out way when a family member or someone closetousdies.

AsIreadmoreandmore about this tragic loss to family and nation, I could not help but wonder how in this modern age of technological advancement, andwheretechnologiestend to occupy a greater part of our daily lives, fires of this typecannotbeavoided.

Further, I wonder whether the parents of the children managed to write down all their logins and passwords and generally, making sure that they knew where all the personal belongings of their loved onesweretobefoundinthe home.

It is quite possible that they may not have had the luxury of time to do such things thus making the loss

not only irreplaceable but numbingandpainful.

From news reports published long before, we know that residents of the communitiesaffectedbythe tragedyhave,overtheyears, experienced social and economic changes of varyingdegrees.

As a consequence, many young Amerindians are opting for professional occupations that require themstudyawayfromhome; toconcentrateandtobemore focused on their academic endeavours.

In this regard, the secondary schools and separate dorms for girls and boys, as was the case at Mahdia, represent the institutional arrangements thatareofferedtosuccessful graduands of the CSEC to a t t e n d a n d t o b e accommodated with the consent of their parents

CallforFireDrillsorRehearsals atallpublicfacilities

DEAREDITOR

, I write to express my deepsenseofshock,sorrow, and grief over the loss of lives in that terrible fire tragedyinMahdia.

Those affected by this tragedy are in my thoughts andprayers

I am deeply saddened by the deliberately set fire that took the lives of nineteen and injuring several other students and that has disrupted lives in the entire community if not nationally It is incomprehensible that innocent youngsters could be the victims of such a senselessarson

I extend love and compassion to all who have suffered from this very sad anddisturbingevent.

Ijointhegovernmentand others in mourning the dead

and praying for the recovery oftheburntvictimsandthose psychologicallyaffected.

I t h a n k t h e g o v e r n m e n t f o r rendering all assistance to the victims and their families

While feeling and expressing grief and sorrow, there is also anger within me that keys to open escape doors w e r e n o t e a s i l y accessible for emergency situations like fires or flooding.

Lives could have been spared had the caretakers been more responsible in their handling of this kind of emergency and if t h e r e w e r e d r e s s rehearsals or drills of what to do during such calamities There were several fires recently in

and/orguardians.

Notwithstanding the social and economic challenges in the communities where the deceased children came from including; Chenapou, Campbelltown, El Paso, Karisparu, Micobie, Madhia and several other villages in the North Pakarimas, the strength of traditions maintained by villagers derives from the fact that they continue to live where theyalwayshave.

That apart, there is a certain irony for those of us who from time to time contemplate loss and death, inthat,wetoogothroughthe processofgrievingwhenwe utterthewords‘ourthoughts and prayers are with you’ making it well nigh impossible for our thoughts to be easily diverted from grief and sorrow to some otherunrelatedbrainwave.

Those of us who have suffered loses because of deathinthefamilyhavelong come to terms with the physically tangible reality thatdeathwins.Buttodiein the way those twenty children died is at the same time,ahugelosstofamilies, communities and the nation asawhole.

Kudos must be extended to the President for imbuing inthenationatthistime,the need to develop a greater sense of patience, tolerance and perseverance in the search for answers to legitimate questions and concerns the tragedy has broughttothefore.

Moreover, it was pleasing to see the magnificent response by studentsfromschoolsacross thenationwho,throughtheir expressions of public supportandsolidaritysought to help heal the pain and

suffering felt across the country

The extraordinary expressionsofsolidarityand support extended by the GovernmentsofAntiguaand Barbuda and Cuba particularly, and more generally, by governments around the world are timely andmostwelcomed.

As the nation mourns its loss, we need to keep the faith, singing and bonding. And as we reflect on the tragedy at Mahdia we must always bear in mind that we are all living on borrowed time with our family, our loved ones, relatives and friends.Inthefinalanalysis, it is compassion that will s t r e n g t h e n o u r interdependence and that intimate connection with others nationally and internationally

Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee

Criminal injuries compensation

several parts of Guyana; liveswerelost.

The country should have learned from them. Caretakersshouldhavebeen better prepared for fire disasters as well as other emergencies.

A fire or a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere. Fire drills should be a regular occurrence at all multi people’s dwellings as routinelyoccurindeveloped countries.

Hope much is learnt from this latest tragedy

Government should immediatelyholddrillsatall government buildings including schools and tertiaryinstitutionsonhowto escape fires and other disasters.

Yourstruly,

VishnuBisram

GAWU:Atimeforreflection...

Frompage05

loss of nineteen (19) young Guyanese. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends, and the communities as this trying time.Weprayfortheirstrengthandsolacein this difficult period and offer our fullest solidarity

Though the times are certainly difficult weareheartenedbythecollectiveresponseof the Guyanese people. The outpouring of supportfromallcornersofthecountryisyet anotherreminderthatdespiteourdifferences westandtogetherinsupportofeachotherin times of difficulty and challenge. As we celebrate our independence, we take heart that our people remain united and together We must lament too those who, at this

difficult time, have sought to pursue divisiveness, undoubtedly towards narrow selfishends.Attimeoftragedythereisneed to put petty partisan behaviour aside as we seekasacountryandpeopletoheal.

The GAWU remains proud of our independence and looks forward to upward andgreaterdevelopmentinthecomingtimes. Indeed, we remain in exciting times, but we needtoassurethattheboatsofallGuyanese rise together and equitably As we reflect on the journey leading up to independence and after an enduring message remains that as OneGuyanawecanovercomeanychallenge, succeedindifficulttimesandattainnewand highergoals.HappyIndependenceDayfrom GAWU!

DEAREDITOR, There are numerous instances, even when justice has been done by the Prosecution securing the criminal conviction of the perpetrator,wherevictimsof crime are left to fend for themselveswithinjuriesthat arose out of the unfortunate incident.TheMahdiaTragedy appearssettobeacaseinpoint–although it must be noted straightawaythatPresidentAli has pledged that Government will support the bereaved families and the children recoveringinhospitalinevery waypossible Thishoweverisa veryspecialcasebecauseofits magnitude in terms of loss of lifeandtheagesofthevictims that combine to compel a responsibilityinlocoparentis

Most cases will not attract any such Presidential pledge. The victim of a hitand-run driver who was never traced, the bereaved wifeofapassengerkilledina minibus driven by an unlicensed driver, the man injured in an unprovoked attack by an aggressive drunk–itisalistthatcango onandon–willallbeleftto their own devices coping with an amputated limb, young children with no breadwinner husband, a lost eye or maybe some type of post-traumatic stress disorder

Oneofthethingswecando with our oil money to help personsinsuchsituations,isset up a Criminal Injuries CompensationBoardtoassess claims for compensation in respectofinjurysustainedby

victimsofviolentcrime.The Board will have regard to a Schedulesettingoutarangeof awards in relation to specific injuries within categories of injury, and will take into consideration in making awards, the conduct of the claimant as related to the incident and its immediate aftermath If relevant, the claimant’santecedentswillalso beborneinmindtodetermine whether to impose a reduction of the financial aspect of the awardordinarilypayable

The Mahdia Tragedy, according to early findings, was a case of arson by a person who is aged around 15 or 16 – a young person who in all likelihood never thought even for a single moment about the possible, nay likely, consequences of their actions given the extensive security grilles in place Idonotheremakeany pleainmitigationwhatsoever

Imerelyhighlightthefactthat teenagers universally are selfcentred immature beings, in needofguidancebecausethey donotyetthinkaheadwithmuch

clarityTherearesomeadultstoo who do not think ahead with clarity A Criminal Injuries CompensationBoard,ifinplace, wouldconsiderthatnoneofthe victimscontributedinanywayto their demise, and that the bereavedfamilieswouldforall practical purposes ultimately hold the State and not the perpetrator responsible Each bereaved family would duly receivethefullcompensationthe Board could award under the Schedule

As it is, the 19 bereaved families, and several others whosedaughtershavesuffered varying degrees of physical andtraumainjury,willreceive allthehelptheycanreasonably hope for When the President promises in real time to addresspeople-focusedissues he usually delivers – so I will say with certainty that those folksareverywellcovered.I will say with hope and good reason that all victims of criminalinjuriesincasesyet tocomeoughttobecovered too.

Yourstruly RonaldBostwick

Old Age Pension Life Certificate verification

DearSir

Iamdesperatelyseeking yourhelp.Iama72year-old pensioner who is trying to validatemyOldAgePension LifeCertificate

I am trying the WhatsApp Video Call Contact Number 662 1572 but no-one is answering. I have been trying for the last two days at various times in

the morning and afternoon, but no answer I called the Ministry’stelephonenumbers 2231746,2274410and223 6041 for assistance. These numberskeepringingoutor areconstantlyengaged. Idon’tknowwhatelseto do.

Seeking your help desperately

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

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

BLUNT...BLUNT ...BLUNT

BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT ...BLUNT

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

Life and liberty

This flesh can clothe with frailty.

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

This spirit can inspire the lofty liberty of eagles.

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

This Guyana must break from its shackles.

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

This time of dying must be followed by reborning.

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

This time of falling must be graced with starting to live again.

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

It is a different kind of Independence Day today.

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

One of great community travail, one of profound national sadness.

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

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

Let us honour our lost ones.

Let us love them by how we observe this day.

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Local Content Secretariat must explain why

Exxon's figures not matching with theirs –VPJagdeo

VicePresident,Dr Bharrat Jagdeo agrees that there is a huge discrepancy between the local content expenditurefiguresdisclosed by the Local Content Secretariat (LCS) and ExxonMobilGuyana.

Earlier this year, it was reportedbyLCSofficialsthat over US$700M was trapped in country for local content for the year 2022 But ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) recently reported that its local content spend, including that of its contractors, was in the range ofUS$400M.

At a press conference yesterday, Jagdeo said, “Thereisindeedabiggapon thelocalcontentspend…The secretariatneedstosayhowit came up with that (figure). Thatisarealconcern.”

T h i s U S $ 3 0 0 M

difference in estimates is indeedstaggering.

One can argue that oil sectorspendingisnotlimited to ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block. However, operations related to other blocks were minimal compared to that of Exxon's operations, and certainly did not account for more than 40% of local content spendingin2022.

While Exxon drilled 10 exploration wells in the Stabroek block in 2022, the onlyoutsideexplorationwell drilledwastheBeebeiwellin theKanukublockbyRepsol.

CGXEnergyhadintendedto drill Wei in 2022, but had to postponeexplorationdrilling because the rig was in use in Trinidadbeyondthecontract period.ExxonMobilhasalso

b e e n u n d e r t a k i n g development drilling to supportmultipleprojects.

The Local Content Secretariat would do well to

account for this massive US$300M difference, lest it opensitselftoaccusationsof bloated or overoptimistic achievements.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall said the government has commenced a review of the Local Content Act 2021 Announcing this recently, Nandlall said “We continue to receive complaints in relation to the local content framework and the local content legislation. Reports indicate that Guyanese citizensarebeingdeniedfair opportunitiestoparticipatein the oil and gas sector and relatedindustries.”

The government is also lookingtoaddmoreservices to the Act, which currently mandates that goods and services are procured from Guyanese nationals and companiesin40areas.

Accordingtothelaw,the

Local Content Secretariat is mandated to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented.Itfunctionsas the focal point for the monitoring, evaluation, coordination, and reporting of local content in the petroleum operations of Guyana.

In so far as the Act mandates every Contractor, Sub-Contractor, or Licensee toimplementlocalcontentas

an essential component of their petroleum operations, the Secretariat, through the issuance of industry guidelines, aims to provide detailed and specific guidance to Contractors, Sub-Contractors, or

Licensees with regards to theirreportingobligations.

The law allows officials attachedtothatbodytohave unrestricted access to a contractor, sub-contractor or licensee's facilities, records, reports, documents, data, and information. Such access is allowed for the purposes of monitoring, assessing, evaluating, investigating, auditing, and verifying compliance with theAct.

The law also empowers the Secretariat to develop and maintain measures for theeffectiveimplementation

of local content by

Contractors, SubContractorsandlicensees.

The Secretariat can also develop and implement strategies that give preferenceto,orensureequal treatment of Guyanese nationals and Guyanese companiesaswellasconduct market analysis and make recommendations to the Minister

The Secretariat has severalotherfunctionswhich include conducting market a n a l y s i s , m a k i n g recommendations to the Minister,developingformats for local content plans and reporting, and developing guidelines for local content reporting, procurement and bidevaluation.

The Act obligates C o n t r a c t o r s , S u bContractors, or Licensees to submit a local content report to the Secretariat, within 30 daysaftertheendofeachhalf calendar year, which is referred to as the Local ContentHalf-YearlyReport.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

This is one interview you must listen to tomorrow

Guyanesewillbeinfora treat tomorrow at 1.00pm when one of Africa’s most charismatic advocates appears on the Glenn Lall Show He will appear virtually in an event that no person in Guyana should miss.

Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba is a renowned Kenyan lawyer and public intellectual. He continues to captivate audiences with his charisma, brilliance, his eloquencewithhismessage. Hehasbeenoneofthemost vocal voices on issues that are germane to Africa’s development and its governance. And speak he can.Heissaidtobethebest orator on the African continent. Anyone who has heard his speak will find it difficulttodisputethisfact.

He is eminently qualified to speak and advocate on the issues dear to his heart. He has studied lawrightuptothePHDlevel and has acquired extensive legal knowledge and understanding of the sociopoliticalhistoryofAfrica.

Lumumba has been described as a panAfricanist. He subscribes to the belief thatAfricans need to embrace more their diverse cultures, history and languages while seeking greater unity Like others before him, he described Africa, like others before him, as the cradle of mankind.Buthealsoadmits thatAfricaforwhichmuchis expected,continuestopunch belowitsweight.

Like the late Dr Walter Rodney of Guyana, LumumbafeelsthatAfrica’s past injustice, including the trans-atlantic slave trade, c o l o n i z a t i o n a n d exploitation must be understood to appreciate

Africa’s underdevelopment. Forhimforeigninterference in African started with slavery and graduated into colonization As a pan Africanist, he is said to advocate strongly for cooperation among African leaders to address the challenges of poverty, c o n f l i c t a n d underdevelopment.

Butheisnotanapologist for African nationalism. He makesitclearthatcorruption andlackoftransparencyand accountability can hinder Africa’s progress. He has spearheaded efforts to bring an end to corruption in Kenya and has consistently pointed out the dangers whichcorruptionposes.

Lumumba has been particular vocal against leaders who seek personal gain over the well-being of their citizens. He not been restrained in saying that there are leaders that have failed Africa and that the peopleshoulddemandbetter leadership. He once said, “Parliamentarians must always remember that they a r e t h e p e o p l e ’s representatives. They must putthemselvesattheservice of their Nation and not their Nation at their service as theyoftendo.”

According to Lumumba, “The rank of many political leadersinAfricaarethieves. Let’s call them by their names. They are thieves. Theyareindividualswhoare notinterestedintheinterests of their countries.” He went on to add, “As long as we continue electing such individuals into positions of power, they are going to be manipulated. What then is the responsibility of the citizenry? It’s to make demands,”hesaid.

Lumumba wants to see

Dem boys seh...

more equitable distribution of Africa’s wealth. In the Tiro Memorial lecture he called for a “fair deal” for Africa. He has made it clear thatAfrica is rich in natural resources but has been the victim of mismanagement and exploitation. And it is these processes which accountsfortheparadoxthat a continent so rich in resources should have such high and deep levels of poverty Lumumbahasbeen u n s p a r i n g i n h i s condemnation of the exploitation of continent’s vast resources by foreign entities in cahoots with the political elites This exploitation he says is responsible for the cycle of poverty and under development.

Likethepublisherofthis newspaper, he has accused foreign multinational corporations of extracting Africa’s resources without providing equitable benefits to communities or contributing to sustainable development This champion of justice has highlighted to gaping discrepancybetweenwhatis taken out by foreign companies and the alarming levels of poverty in Africa. This year he warned that there is a new scramble for Africa. Guyanese will find his views on ethnic voting most interesting. He once said, “You know one of the things that I find painful is foranybodytotellmetovote an individual because he is from my ethnic group. It is thegreatestinsult.WhydidI go to school?” As Guyanese,ledbyGlennLall, continue the struggle for a better deal from the oil companies, Lumumba’s appearance on the Glenn Lall show should be an

Guyanese house gat its own Bling!

When yuh building houseinGuyana,yuhgatto remember fuh do an estimate fuh de bling wah gan protect de home. Yuh gat to add in de iron grill workfuhdemwindows,de razor-wirefuhdefence,and desteeldoors.

Decostofdemetalgrill for de windows is more than de cost of de window De cost of the grill fuh de door,ismorethandecostof de door When yuh add on labour, de value does up to more than de value of de

things in de house

Guyanese have taken home securitytoanewlevel Weare engaged in overkill, via securitybling Everyhomeis more secure than Alcatraz –dem boys almost go fuh deh Mazaruni Prison It is as if CalvinKlienhimselfdesigned the anti-theft measures Who wouldbelievethatrazor-wire could make such a bold fashionstatement?

Allthisblinghasturned burglary from a career choice into a competitive sport. Our burglars have to

education for all. He should help us better understand what we need to do in the struggle for oil justice. No one should miss this programme tomorrow at 1 pm It promises to be

expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this

high jump and scale razorsharp fencesallinpursuitof thetitleof“CatBurglarofthe Year”LivinginGuyanaisan adventure, a tango with danger where residents leaving their homes have to go through all manner of exercises; setting alarms, ensuring doors and windows are locked tight andensuringthatnocarcass is stuck on the razor-wired fence.And getting back in, isanexerciseinitself.Who needsagymmembership? Talkhalf.Leffhalf

GHK LALL

IndependenceDay: a different one

Wishes for a q u i e t Independence Day is extended to all Guyanese. It may be a forlorn wish, but I must believe that there are still some Guyanese, enough of them,whoknowwhatitisto be living under a cloud of calamity, and who will arrange themselves, and adjust their observation of IndependenceDay2023. In view of current conditions, the word 'observation' is preferred over celebration. May it be subdued with the appropriate level of solemnity gracing this extraordinarynationalday

My choice would have been for the period of nationalmourningtoextend to and end on Friday, May 26.So, now there is this challenge before all citizens relativetohowtheytreatthis particularnationalholidayin this instance, which is the beginning of a 'long' threedayweekend.

The hope is that the sober headed and considerate will prevail, if onlytopayproperrespectto those no longer with us. If only to indicate how much we truly care about those wishing they could switch places with those who departed.

It should be noted that I am avoiding certain words and names, for there have been more than a few homages already paid. A sense of proportion is sought, just that right balance that honors and dignifies, whilst leaving enough space for those impacted so horribly to regroup on their own terms. It is that idea, the same standard, that is tabled on thisnationalholiday There has to be that discipline, that respect, across the narrow and wide spaces of Guyana. I have some trouble as to whether we are capable of handling

such a call, such restraints, with a bow to local celebratory culture. This willbeatestcaseastowhat Guyanese are made of, how well they respond to a stark situation.

Is bottle and glass more irresistible than undeniable grief? Is the sound of uninhibited celebration going to be the order of the day amid the dirges and cries? We shall see, and it willrevealjusthowgenuine we are in all that has taken place.

Already, some wellmeaning citizens have seamlesslyshiftedgears,and have listed what should be

official priorities relative to safety and preemptive precautions. They used to call these contingencies that come from conducting the kind of sweeping examination that covers plenty of territory, and touches every warning signpost. Thepublicspaces have come alive with valid contributions from several quarters about building codes, fire service advice, and policies and procedures as integral aspects of the step-by-step prevention apparatus that should be in place. I think that those are solid. Inaddition,therehave been calls-angry, sharp, and insistent-for ministerial heads to end up in places other than where they are now Those have their merits,whichiswhatIlimit myself to today, and in the spiritoftherecommendation to keep matters subdued. I moveon.

There is another disaster that emphasizes how much we are not independent, confirms how little real liberty we live with re: the deepest, profoundest senses of that spiritually inspiring word (liberty) in this richly saturatedland.

Lookandlistenandread carefully: our elected officers cannot speak freely, are unwilling and unable to carve out a position that is fortheGuyanesepeople,the citizens who elevated them into office The PPP Government and the PNC Opposition are not their usual strident, blustery, aggressiveselves,whenthey havetotakeapatrioticstand and draw a national line for the patrimony gifted to Guyana. There is too much telltale stonewalling, too many instances of overwhelming obfuscating, and too often more dodging about than going at it toe to toe for the benefit of Guyana. The positions of theforeignersareadoptedby our own as their own, as

limiting, if not crippling, as they are to the present and future welfare of all Guyanese. Insum,whenour elected are reduced to parroting and touting the selling points of selfenrichers (to our loss), then there is a yawning void that points in one and one direction.

From my perspective, that is not fully fleshed freedom, but a more subtle form of leadership harnessing and hobbling. It is not liberty in the least on the biggest thing ever to be struck in this country, no matter how nuanced, regardless of how well watered, how sweetly schemed.

It is endowment enslavement, and this stings tosayonIndependenceDay As usual, there are the foreign corporate salesmen topitchtheiranglesandtheir outswingers at Guyanese. I will not assert publicly which political leader confided in them that Guyanese are shackled by dumbness, but that is what comesoutoftheporesofthe foreigners. Whenweshould haveadversariallinesdrawn in neon paint, I have difficultyseparatingmyown Guyanese leaders from foreign self-serving narrativesandstorylines.

Whatisnowcrystalclear on this Independence Day 2023 is that history is repeating itself with foreign operators partnering with local political collaborators. Yesterday it was sugar Today it is that deepwater commodity Reality:weare notfree.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.

Mental Health Unit treated 126 children as part of response to Mahdia tragedy

The Ministry of Health said its mentalhealthUnit has so far worked with 260 persons including 126 children as part of government's efforts in response to Sunday's night tragedy in Mahdia which resulted in the deaths of 19 children.

Providinganupdateofits work and response thus far, theministryinapressrelease on Thursday said under the coordination of the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Lachmie Lall, mental health teams were dispatched to Mahdia comprising one child psychiatrist, one child psychologist, three adult psychiatrists, two general psychologists, six social workers, mental health assistants, and two mental health trained family physicians.

This team, the ministry saidfromdayoneprioritised all children that were in the dorms at the time of the fire, including parents, guardians

andteachers.

“Theywereallevaluated and offered psychosocial support. On day two, the fourteen children who were hospitalized in Madhia and theirparentswereevaluated, including the parents of the childrenwhodiedinthefire.

Auxiliary staff in direct contactwiththefire,andfirst responders, which were inclusive of teachers, police officers and other support staff were also assessed and given psychosocial support. Students who were not hospitalised but were in direct contact with the incident and students that were not in direct contact with the incident but were affected were also assessed and provided psychosocial support,”theministrynoted. It disclosed that thus far, in Mahdia and Region 8 villages, the Ministry's Mental Health Teams have worked with 260 persons, including 126 children. The teams will continue to work in Mahdia and Region 8 villages continuously over

the next three months. “We will review the response at the end of three months and maintain a strong mental health team in the region permanently All the parents and children are under continuous support from the Mental Health Team

including the psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellors andsocialworkers.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it became aware at about midnight Sunday, May 21 into Monday, May 22 morning that a catastrophic

event was taking place in Mahdia (Pataro-Siparuni), Region Eight with a fire that had engulfed the whole Female Dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School.

The Health Emergency Protocols were activated immediately, the ministry said, adding that a team of doctors and other public health officials from both Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC)andthe Ministry of Health (MOH), headedbyaBurnsSpecialist and Plastic Surgeon, Dr ShilindraRajkumar,together with necessary medical supplieswereassembledand departed the Eugene F CorreiaInternationalAirport at about 1.45 am, May 22. Earlier departure was impeded by inclement weatherresultingintheteam arrivingat2:50am.

Accordingtotheministry by that time, the local health team,ledbyRegionalHealth Officer (RHO), Dr Johnaton Dudhnath at the Mahdia DistrictHospitalhadalready been responding to the crisis

and had already prepared three patients for a medevac to the GPHC, with one person's condition listed as critical.

They arrived at Ogle and w e r e i m m e d i a t e l y transferred to GPHC at a r o u n d 4 1 5 a m Subsequently, two other medevacs brought in six additional patients. By the afternoon of Monday, May 22fiveofthosepatientswere stabilised and admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Another underwent surgery and was admitted into the Burns Care Unit (BCU)andthreeotherswere admitted into the Pediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU).

The ministry said on Tuesday, May 23, 10 more patients were medevaced to the GPHC. Their condition was listed as stable. Only three of these ten children were still patients at the Mahdia District Hospital at the time of Medevac. The othersevenwerehousedat (Continuedonpage22)

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, consoling family members of the students who were killed in the Mahdia tragedy.

Mental Health Unit treated 126 children as part of response to Mahdia tragedy

The Ministry of Health said its mentalhealthUnit has so far worked with 260 persons including 126 children as part of government's efforts in response to Sunday's night tragedy in Mahdia which resulted in the deaths of 19 children.

Providinganupdateofits work and response thus far, theministryinapressrelease on Thursday said under the coordination of the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Lachmie Lall, mental health teams were dispatched to Mahdia comprising one child psychiatrist, one child psychologist, three adult psychiatrists, two general psychologists, six social workers, mental health assistants, and two mental health trained family physicians.

This team, the ministry saidfromdayoneprioritised all children that were in the dorms at the time of the fire, including parents, guardians

andteachers.

“Theywereallevaluated and offered psychosocial support. On day two, the fourteen children who were hospitalized in Madhia and theirparentswereevaluated, including the parents of the childrenwhodiedinthefire.

Auxiliary staff in direct contactwiththefire,andfirst responders, which were inclusive of teachers, police officers and other support staff were also assessed and given psychosocial support. Students who were not hospitalised but were in direct contact with the incident and students that were not in direct contact with the incident but were affected were also assessed and provided psychosocial support,”theministrynoted. It disclosed that thus far, in Mahdia and Region 8 villages, the Ministry's Mental Health Teams have worked with 260 persons, including 126 children. The teams will continue to work in Mahdia and Region 8 villages continuously over

the next three months. “We will review the response at the end of three months and maintain a strong mental health team in the region permanently All the parents and children are under continuous support from the Mental Health Team

including the psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellors andsocialworkers.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it became aware at about midnight Sunday, May 21 into Monday, May 22 morning that a catastrophic

event was taking place in Mahdia (Pataro-Siparuni), Region Eight with a fire that had engulfed the whole Female Dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School.

The Health Emergency Protocols were activated immediately, the ministry said, adding that a team of doctors and other public health officials from both Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC)andthe Ministry of Health (MOH), headedbyaBurnsSpecialist and Plastic Surgeon, Dr ShilindraRajkumar,together with necessary medical supplieswereassembledand departed the Eugene F CorreiaInternationalAirport at about 1.45 am, May 22. Earlier departure was impeded by inclement weatherresultingintheteam arrivingat2:50am.

Accordingtotheministry by that time, the local health team,ledbyRegionalHealth Officer (RHO), Dr Johnaton Dudhnath at the Mahdia DistrictHospitalhadalready been responding to the crisis

and had already prepared three patients for a medevac to the GPHC, with one person's condition listed as critical.

They arrived at Ogle and w e r e i m m e d i a t e l y transferred to GPHC at a r o u n d 4 1 5 a m Subsequently, two other medevacs brought in six additional patients. By the afternoon of Monday, May 22fiveofthosepatientswere stabilised and admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Another underwent surgery and was admitted into the Burns Care Unit (BCU)andthreeotherswere admitted into the Pediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU).

The ministry said on Tuesday, May 23, 10 more patients were medevaced to the GPHC. Their condition was listed as stable. Only three of these ten children were still patients at the Mahdia District Hospital at the time of Medevac. The othersevenwerehousedat (Continuedonpage22)

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, consoling family members of the students who were killed in the Mahdia tragedy.

CANU nets large quantity of ammo in South Ruimveldt raid

Seized Ammunition on Display

Court of Appeal orders retrial of child rapist

The Guyana Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered a retrial of accused child rapist, Sheldon Lynch who is seeking to have two convictions for rape overturned.

The Appeal Court ruled that Lynch's conviction was faulty, since his defence in relation to the rape of two girls was not put to the jury Chancellor of Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwardsinhandingdownthe decision, noted that Lynch's alibiwasnotconsideredwhen thejurywasbeingdirectedon theevidencebeforeit.

As such, Justice Cummings-Edwardssaidthat Lynch's case will be returned to the High Court for a fresh trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. The man whose last known address was given as Plaisance, East Coast Demerara,wasconvictedbya 12-member jury of engaging insexualpenetrationofan11year-old girl on August 22, 2015,andwasimprisonedfor life,withoutthepossibilityof parole.

Itwasreportedthatonthe day in question, Lynch, knowntothechild,hadforced himself on the then 11-yearold. Following the incident, the girl told her mother what had transpired, and the motherreportedthematterto the police. Thus, Lynch was arrestedandlatercharged.

In a separate matter in 2018,Lynchwasfoundguilty ofrapinga10-year-oldgirlon two different occasions between December 2010 and November 2011 He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, and must spend a minimum of 35 years in prison on each of the two convictions, before being paroled.Inhandingdownthe

Sheldon Lynch

sentences following the trial for the 10-year -old victim, Justice Simone Ramlall took into consideration the nature of the offences and the circumstances under which they were committed. From the victim's evidence, the judge told Lynch that the young girl trusted him and was also very fond of him. However, the judge said to Lynch that he treated the underage girl like his “woman”.

Lynch has however maintained he is innocent of bothcrimesandhopesthatthe court will grant his appeal to have the conviction and life sentences overturned. In his notice of Appeal, he said among other things that the judges who conducted his trials erred and misdirected the jury on the law and elements of sexual conduct. He is arguing, among other things, that the trial Judge misdirected the jury, and that the imposed jail terms are excessive. His contention is that the judges failed to adequately direct the jury on thelawandrequirementofthe danger of relying on the unsworntestimonyofachild.

Lynch was convicted of engaging in sexual penetration of two underage girlsin2018.

ACustoms Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU)raidinSouthGeorgetown on Thursday resulted in discovery of a large quantity of ammunition of various types.

Inapressrelease,CANUsaidonthe25thof May2023,ranksconductedanoperationatan abandoned house located at Avocado Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown which led to the discoveryofvarioustypesofammunitions.

The ammunition discovered include: Six hundred .40mm rounds, three hundred and thirty .380mmrounds,thirty-three(33).45mm rounds and one hundred and seven .22mm rounds.

TheammunitionwastransportedtoCANU headquarters.

Friend of Mahdia fire victim hospitalised

Afourteen-year-old boy, who is a friend of a Mahdia fire victim, is currently hospitalised in Georgetown afterreportedlyconsuminga poisonoussubstance.

Confirming the reports with Kaieteur News yesterday was the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Eight, Mr Peter Ramotar,whosharedthatthe child was admitted at the MahdiaDistrictHospitalina

stable condition receiving treatment Mr Ramotar could not say when the teen ingested the poison but mentioned that information reaching him is that the hospital is making preparation for the child to b e m e d e v a c e d t o Georgetown for further treatment.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the teen is not a student of the male

dormitory, but from another community in the area. The m a t t e r i s u n d e r investigation In a press briefing on Thursday afternoon,NationalSecurity Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia said that the child has been brought to the city fortreatment.Hesharedalso that a plane had just landed in Mahdia for an additional six children who are experiencing suicidal

Discussions continue with Brazil on advancing road linkage in Lethem

Discussionsforthefurtherexpansionof the Guyana to Brazil road link will be advancedattheupcomingmeetingbetween President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,comeMaymonthend.

President Ali announced made the announcementwhilespeakingattheTourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Annual Awards Gala and Auction recently,wherehenotedthatthiswillmakea hugedifferenceforthelocaltourismindustry

Lastyear,theheadofstateheldtalkswith former Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro on the proposed road link “At the end of this month, I am meeting with President Lula (Brazil’sPresident)tocontinuediscussionson the further expansion of this road,” Dr Ali stated Speaking on the tourism industry, he said the government has an integral role to playintheindustry’sdevelopment,whichis why the administration has taken a deliberate approach to advance local

infrastructure.

Government is spending US $190 million to construct the Linden to Mabura Hill Road, which will eventually expand to the township of Lethem, providing a 24hour road link to commuters and the business community That same thoroughfare is expected to link with neighbouring Brazil The road link between the two countries is expected to bring major economicbenefitstothetownshipofLethem and Guyana, opening up markets and expanding Guyana’s tourism product “We havetakenaverydeliberateapproachtothis, that is why we’re building out the infrastructureofthiscountryinsuchaway,” Dr Ali stressed Additionally, the administration is developing a model that will see the Lethem airport being transformed into a major municipal transport hub, unlocking massive opportunitiesfortheregionandthecountry (DPI)

thoughts following the devastating fire to be flown tothecity.

This publication had reported that nineteen children–18ofthemschool girlsandone5-year-oldboy diedSundaynightwhenfire swept through a heavilygrilled dormitory which housed students of the Mahdia Secondary School, Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni)

Information reaching thispublicationrevealedthat of the 19 children, 14 children died at the scene, whilefivediedattheMahdia DistrictHospital.Amongthe casualties were twin sisters. The names of the children who died on Sunday are as follow: Adonijah Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards,

Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana

Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha D'Andrade,(andtwin)Mary D'Andrade, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniel, Eulander Carter,Andrea Roberts, and RitaJeffrey

Inapressbriefingon

(Continuedonpage22)

WANTED VACANCY

One able- bodied male and female to work in a store. Call: 225-2313, 226-1497, 658-8559.

TM Truck Drivers for Interior, Canter Drivers and Porters for Georgetown. Contact: 223-5273, 621-5907.

Canter Drivers needed, must have car, van & lorry license and atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 644-7088/ 624-7248.

Hauler Drivers required, must have atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 644-7088/ 6247248.

Live-in or live-out Domestic needed. Must be honest & mature. Call: 623-6383.

Taxi Drivers needed at Princess Taxi Service, Ramada Hotel. Must have hire car licence. Call: 265-7075/ 76 or 616-5419, 690-2242.

Cooks and Domestic Workers needed. Preferably from East Coast Demerara. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

One female needed for domestic work, residing on WCD/WBD. Call: 624-0239.

One Housekeeper/ Cook needed to work at E.C.D residence. Call: 685-1735.

Wanted! Male & Female workers for packaging pasta and sweets, required to work shift hours. Call: 611-7839.

Machine Operator needed. Apply to RP'S Enterprise Area "K" Le Ressouvenir E.C.D. Call: 220-2818.

No voting required in 291 constituencies for LGE-GECOM

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has disclosed that voting is not required in 291 constituencies for Local Government Elections (LGE) slated for June 12.

One Clerk needed for TSI Eccles office. Must have English & Mathematics. Email application:techserigy@ yahoo.com or call 615-9132.

Experienced Hair Colorist, Receptionist/ Massuese, Nail Techs, Barber and Domestic needed. Call/ WhatsApp: 649-5005/ 226-6705.

One male Porter/ Warehouse Assistant needed. Experience will be an asset. Apply at Mike's Pharmacy, Lot 1 Bel Air or Email: mikeswholesaledepot@ yahoo.com

Driver/ Coordinator needed, must have a mini bus license, ages 30-55 yrs. Call: 685-1735.

One experienced Worker needed to work in Boutique. Call: 698-7152.

Garment factory Worker needed. Attractive benefits offered and no experience needed. For more information Call: 226-2621.

Accounts Clerk needed. Must have a sound secondary education and 1-2 years Accounting experience. For more information Call: 2262621.

Male Engineer needed, Must have atleast 10 years experience in road & building construction. Email CV: rbinvestmentinc@gmail.com, Call: 613-0855.

1 Male Project Supervisor (construction field), ages 35-50 years. Must have atleast 5-8 yrs managerial experience. Email CV: rbinvestmentinc@gmail.com, Call: 613-0855.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward provided the information during Tuesday’s edition of ‘GECOM in Focus,’ aired on the National Communications Network (NCN). While she did not list the constituencies, she noted that persons can check to see whether they are required to vote on elections day by visiting the GECOM website, gecom.org.gy.

“We created a tool on GECOM’s website to allow persons to check to verify that they will, or may not have to vote on elections day. They can go to [the website], go to the query tool, put in their in-

formation, whether it’s a combination of your name, date of birth, and your constituency or local authority area, and first of all, check to ensure that there will be voting in your local authority area, or your constituency on June 12,” she explained. She stated that persons were not required to vote in these constituencies because they had unopposed candidate lists. As such, an ‘auto-

matic election’ will occur, whereby the unopposed candidates automatically win the election without the need for a vote.

“As you move forward, once you have done that, in due time we will also publish a list of the polling stations on our website. Countrywide, we have established a total of 1,574 polling stations for election day. And so, we will have that similar query tool on our

website, that persons can put in some basic identifiable information so that it can tell them where they have to vote on elections day,” Ward explained. She reminded voters that once they have identified their polling stations, they will need to be present between 6 am and 6 pm to cast their ballots. An information clerk will be present at each location to assist voters with the process. (DPI)

Jumbo Jet subsidiary signs agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group

FOR RENT

Two bedrooms apartment at 266, New Market St ( opposite Medicare Pharmacy) with parking space and residential area. Call: 682-0304, WhatsApp: 718-564-3909/ 663-5429.

Bobcat Operators and Truck & Canter Drivers needed. Ages 30 years & older. Must have atleast 5 years experience. Email CV: rbinvestmentinc@gmail.com, Call: 613-0855.

Male Personal Assistant needed. Must have atleast 5 years experience, driver's license & diploma in Business Management. Email CV: rbinvestmentinc@gmail.com, Call: 613-0855.

SERVICES

For low cost repairs for AC units, refridgerators, freezers, gas stoves, washing machine, dryers, etc. Call: 6294946, 225-4822.

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

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

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

Subsidiary of the Jumbo Jet Group, NM Trucking Auto Sales & Agri Machinery, has recently signed the final binding agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG). Rated as the third largest supplier of heavy-duty equipment, XCMG is eager to enter the vastly growing Guyana Market, Jumbo Jet said in a press release. NM Trucking and by extension Jumbo Jet has been responsible for importation of over 80 percent of the heavy-duty machinery and trucks for the past Twenty-Eight (28) years. The company has established a solid foundation in the mining and construction sector with their sales and efficient after service.

Mr. Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamed and other representatives of the NM Trucking journeyed to Brazil and signed the initial MOU on February 9, 2023 at the office of XCMG Brazil Industrial LTDA, the South American headquarters. After all the necessary preparations were

made locally to accommodate a first shipment of machines form XCMG, Mr. Mohamed then travelled to China to close the deal and take a tour of the factory located at No. 1 Industry Area, Xuzhou Economic Development Zone Jiangsu, Mainland China. With the value of the three-year term contract set at $90,000,000 USD, NM Trucking has assured Guyana construction of a state-of-the-art facility and showroom has commenced. Special attention and emphasis will be placed on heavy-duty construction, asphalt paving, mining and lifting equipment, and machinery.

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group was founded in 1943 and has since stood at the forefront of construction machinery and has grown significantly into one of the world’s largest and most influential enterprise groups with its global annual sales exceeding US$14B for three consecutive years. Representing XCMG Group were General Manager and Head of

XCMG South American countries, Mr. LiHanguang, Commercial Director of XCMG South American Group, Mr. Wu Shuxin, and Manager of International Business Department and NM Trucking Director, Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamed, Mr. Sanjeev Caimraj and associate Nishant Sudhakar.

When contacted via mobile phone Mr. Mohamed indicated, “NM Trucking and Jumbo Jet has been in this business for quite some time and continues to stay current. We understand the needs of the Guyana market and is willing to make the investment to boast the standard and quality of projects in Guyana. After singing the final documents NM Trucking can focus heavily on the completion of their new showroom. The first three (3) shipment is expected to arrive in Guyana in the month of May, June and July with Forty-One (41), Thirty (30) and FiftyFour (54) pieces of equipment respectively per shipment.

Friend of Mahdia fire victim hospitalised...

From page 16

Corporation (GPHC).

TO LET

33ft X 11ft bottom flat apartment @ Mon Repos, E.C.D. No children, $34,000. Call: 234-0965/ 706-8908 between 7am-7pm.

Vacancy exists for Porter Apprentice and Carpenter to work on a Construction site. Contact: 225-5818, 624-9507, 624-0713.

FOR SALE

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.

Monday afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief (ag) Dwayne Scotland confirmed that the fire which took approximately three and a half hours to be extinguished, was maliciously set. It was confirmed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday that a female student of the Mahdia Secondary School reportedly started the fire.

The police in their report said investigations so far revealed that a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away by the dorm mother, Carletta Williams, and a teacher.

There are three (out of twelve children) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at GPHC, and nine is in the Pediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU), while two are still critical in the ICU, the others are listed as stable. Their conditions are improving and discharges for some are possible in the shortest possible time, the Minister noted.

In addition, after arriving in Mahdia, the Ministry reported that the President requested that 11 children who had gone home without seeing a doctor be medically assessed.

These children arrived in Georgetown at about 15:00hrs on Wednesday. They are presently being assessed by the special team in the ER of GPHC assigned to see all the children from Mahdia.

Mental Health Unit treated 126 children...

TOURS

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

The Ministry of Health in a press statement said that as of Thursday there is no child from the dorm still admitted to the Mahdia District Hospital.

The Ministry shared that twelve girls, however, remained patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital

From page 14 the hospital because it was the most convenient accommodation at the time, the statement read. The MOH, out of an abundance of caution, decided to medevac the ten children for further general, medical and psychiatric examination at GPHC. Upon arrival in Georgetown, during the afternoon of Tuesday,

May 23rd, the three children who were hospitalised at Mahdia Hospital were assessed and admitted into the PHDU, while the other seven were admitted for further observation and subsequently discharged into the care of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human and Social Services and Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Local Govt. Ministry to spend $75M to build two primary schools in Reg. 7

Govt. to spend $79M to build three teachers quarters in Reg. 8

uring the recent

spend approximately $79 million to build and furnish three new teachers living q u a r t e r s i n t h r e e Amerindian communities in Region Eight At the opening of bids, it was disclosed that a livingquarter is slated for

which

is estimated to cost

million, another is to be built for the primary school at Campbelltown

MinistryofEducation

Constructionandfurnishingofteacher’sliving quartersatParamakatoiVillage,RegionEight.

Inaddition,anumberof projects were opened for electrical infrastructure o

Upgradingofelectricalsystemphase3at UpperCorentyneIndustrialTrainingCentre.

works for several learning institutions across the country S o m e o f t h e institutions include: Upper C

and St Angela’s

PrimarySchool

Rehabilitationofelectricalinfrastructure atEssequiboTechnicalInstitute.

Constructionandfurnishingofteacher’sliving quartersatCampbelltownPrimarySchool,RegionEight.

Rehabilitationofelectricalinfrastructure atQueen’sCollegecompound.

Rehabilitationofelectrical infrastructureatSmithMemorialPrimary

Rehabilitationofelectricalinfrastructure atSt.Angela’sPrimarySchool.

Constructionandfurnishingofteacher’s livingquartersatChenapouNurserySchool,RegionEight.

Constructionofroof,raisingoffloor andelectricalworksatTucvilleSecondaryHome Economics,IndustrialArtsandStaffroom.

Independence messages vice Union

Patrick M. Y President/CE

G u y a n a ’ s 5 IndependenceAnniversary

Happy fifty-se Independence Anniversary Guyana.Asapeople,it desiretoimprovethequality of our lives and relationships with other Thiswasmanifested the National Mot unanimous consent, People, One Nation, Destiny”. But over post-independenceyears, realfruitsortruevalue laboursstillseembeyond mortalreach Theabsen living wage, evenhand and real employ opportunities are stum blocks to betterment, c with the cost-of-l juggernautthatisrelentl unforgiving LifeinGu challenging, with dependency on remi fromabroadtosustainth for food, housing, rec andloanservicing,amon needs When nothi forthcoming from “f sources”, life is a hell-like experience So muc independence, d dependency

The Guyana P Service Union (GPSU) for decades rem Governments of the need to have a national policy on wages and salaries and for the minimum wage to be upwardly reviewed Governments, to the detriment of the workers, have avoided collective bargaining for wages, salaries and allowances, and in preference instituted a n n u a l u n i l a t e r a l impositions of miniscule increases at the end of the year, which does nothing to liftworkersoutofthemorass of economic difficulties that have entrenched them over the years. On the discovery

single Guyanese and every singleGuyanesefamily.”

“This, for me, is the important project, changing the mindset, changing the way we relate to each other, community by community, household by household And I assure you I will not rest until this country is unified.”

The GPSU, because of itsinterestsinnationalunity, as a necessary basis of national development and the harmonious existence of Guyanese with each other, had always advocated that Government should take the

in others there were more substantialpayouts.

Nevertheless, these “titbits”wereallinsufficient to have meaningful impacts on the livelihoods of the population of Guyana. In effect, the disproportionate payouts sensitized all concerned of the real divisions that existed, nationally

Further, in anticipation of large oil revenues, Government embarked on substantial borrowings from international financial institutions, significantly raising the public debt per

ERC MOURNS WITH GUYANESE THIS INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

The Chairman, Commissioners and staff oftheEthnicRelationsCommission,(ERC), shares the grief the Guyanese nation is experiencing as a result of the Mahdia Dormitory fire and at this time of our country’s 57th Independence Anniversary

Following the loss that night, families, Mahdia, neighbouring communities and our countryaredeprivedof19ofitsveryyoung, bringingunimaginablepainandgrief.

Cognizant of the tragedy, the ERC is pleased that the traditional celebrations associated with Independence have been redesignedtoanightofreflectioninkeeping with the somber atmosphere that has engulfedthenation.

The Commission is encouraged by the signs of compassion, maturity and spirit of

brotherhood displayed by all during this horrifictragedy.

The ERC wishes to also recognize and commend the show of unity and outpouring of support that manifested through expressions of empathy demonstrated by concerned citizens from all sides demonstratingthat,asanation,wecanunite foracommoncause.

The Commission reiterates on this Independence Anniversary that its prayers are with the grieving families and friends who are currently suffering unimaginable traumafromtheirrecentloss.

Let’s embrace solemnly this Independence Anniversary in peace and hope!

EthnicRelationsCommission

an on, tand of its demand that serve as the The ation oved d for r,the ofthe and edby over hown ment, othe ched be vanquished must nce, inclination to to world of ship morassof new allowfor upon the of beliefs new mindsets.

Summon the strength and independence to stand for what is just and right. Our minds must dispel all things thatthreatenharmonyand/or strive to make the achievementofthevirtuesof our national motto, a myth. Asapriority,thelaw-abiding citizens of Guyana must stand in defense of each other, recognizing that power residesinthepeople.It is only with such unity that positive development can be achieved in Guyana for the benefitofallandtoachievethe timelyemergenceaseither“El Dorado” or “Dubai of the Caribbean” Therefore, with the expectation of a unified stanceinfavourofrootingout systemic corruption and piloting Guyana on a correct course as an independent nation, I would like to extend bestwishesontheoccasionof the 57th Independence Anniversary to all Guyanese, on behalf of the Executive Council,Members,andStaffof the GPSU, and myself and myfamily Togetherwemust aspire to achieve a bright future, working and living together in love, unity and harmony

Guyana Trades Union Congress

May God save Guyana andgiveherpeoplestrength to stand against antiprogressiveforces This 57th year of Guyana’s Independence finds a people torn by grief anddeepreflectionaboutour abilitytoholdittogetherand build a nation that would be great and for all to see. This anniversary finds a people weeping the loss of 19 of their children, the injuries suffered by many, and the trauma inflicted on a community, the result of a fire that gutted the female dormitory of Mahdia SecondarySchool.

Wequestion,notwithout merit,whathavewedoneto deserve a government that caresnotaboutallthepeople and would rather seek to dividethanuniteus.

57 years after severing the yoke of colonial domination, committed at the beginning to chart the path of political, social, cultural and economic selfdetermination, there is the desirebysometoreturnusto a path our forebears tread, foughtagainst,anddelivered usfrom.

Our resources no longer seem ours to make the determination, for those entrustedwiththepowerand authority to protect and

defend these, and ensure they are exploited in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the people, are colluding with others to depriveanddenyus.

Lest it be misconstrued, the Guyana Trades Union Congress is not opposed to foreign investments. What theCongressisopposedtois the government abrogating itsforemostresponsibilityto the people in ensuring our resources are exploited in a manner where the interests of both the investors and Guyanesearesecured.

57yearslater,thedreams ofourforebearstoestablisha countryof“OnePeopleOne Nation One Destiny” not only seem elusive but some are beginning to question if such aspiration is still possible.Fundamentalrights that would ensure social, economic and political justice, as prescribed in the Constitution and Laws of Guyana,aredeniedmanyby a few, who though entrusted the people’s power to manage their affairs, continue to trample the peopleinvariousforms.

We mourn this year and fittingly so. We mourn for our children that a government let down, we mourn for lives and dreams cut short by the reckless

decisions of policy makers and the executors (pun intended). We mourn for a nationinthethroesofagony and despair, and wonder if we’ll ever, in our lifetime and our children be able to say,“Yes,wehavecomethis far, and in spite of the external challenges, internally we are a united people charting our own destiny ’ The Bharrat Jagdeo/Irfaan Ali regime cannot ignore their discriminatory, bullying, avaricious and divisive policies and programmes thathavebroughtthisnation to its nadir They have aptly dedicated this year’s Flag Raising and Independence events to remembrance and prayer

We pray for those 19 souls to Rest in Peace and RiseinGlory,forGodtogive theirlovedones,community and all the people the strengthtopullthrough,and our leaders the wisdom to make decisions that put the people,notthemselves,first. We pray God save Guyana and exorcise the demons of hate, greed, intolerance and discrimination, and give her people the strength to fight againsttheseforces.

M a y o u r 5 8 t h Anniversary be better than our57th

Bangladesh ‘A’ stage fightback

against West Indies ‘A’

Close Day 3 on 274-6, a lead of 166 heading into final day

SportsMax - Bangladesh

‘A’ staged a fight back against West Indies ‘A’ on the third day of their four-day unofficial Test at Syhlet International Stadium yesterday.

After bowling the West Indies out for 345, Bangladesh ‘A’, trailing by 108 runs on first innings, reached 274-6 at stumps, for a lead of 166 runs heading into the final day of play today.

The hosts owe their position to half-centuries from

opener Shadlam Islam, Shahadat Hossain and Irfan Sukkur, the latter being unbeaten on 64 and who along with Nayeem Hasan have so far added 65 runs for the seventh wicket.

The West Indies ‘A’, resuming from their overnight score of 268-6 with Joshua da Silva on nine and Kevin Sinclair on one, took the score to 329, a stand of 63 for the seventh wicket that was broken when Sinclair was dis-

Friday May 26, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You're feeling especially loving, attractive, and romantic, so romance is likely to be on your mind. Romantic novels and movies could seem especially appealing. If you're currently involved.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

An increased level of ESP and imagination could have you feeling more creative and artistic. You might want to channel this energy into writing, painting, or adding touches to your living room.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

An attractive neighbor with whom you seem to share a bond could become a friend. A group you're affiliated with could be expressing highly idealized goals and purposes.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Dreams of a new career could fill your mind today, perhaps because of too much stress in your current one. You might even think of becoming a movie star.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Spiritual goals may be at the top of your priority list now, Leo. You may be looking for online metaphysical seminars or meditation workshops, perhaps taking place in a distant state or foreign country.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Lovely dreams could spark your imagination and get your artistic abilities going. You could learn a lot about yourself and whatever has been limiting you.

missed for 32 by Hasan Sakib, who would eventually take all four West Indies wickets.

Akeem Jordan, Anderson Phillip and Jair McAllister all fell cheaply leaving da Silva high and dry on 47.

The West Indies ‘A’ captain was visibly irritated when McAllister went for an ill-advised pull shot and was out caught for a duck first ball of the 97th over, to be last man out thus denying his captain a chance to achieve another

50.

Hasan Sakib’s four wickets came at a cost of 59 runs.

Trailing by 108 on first innings, opener Shadlam Islam made 74 while helping lay the foundation for the Bangladesh ‘A’ fightback.

At 51-2 after losing the wickets of Zakir Hasan for 13 and Saif Hasan for 16, Islam featured in a 56-run third wicket partnership with Mohammad Naim, who was eventually dismissed by Sinclair for 28.

The loss of Naim’s wicket brought Shahadat Hossain to the crease and he and Islam further frustrated the West Indies bowlers while putting on 68 for the fourth wicket.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

A new friend could arrive today, Libra. You're probably going to like this person very much. He or she probably shares many of your interests. You could become close friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

If you've been thinking about a job change or even a new career, a chance interaction could provide the opportunity. However, Scorpio, remember, "If something seems too good to be true.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

A journey by air to a distant place might be on your mind, though you might not make it for a long time. Knowledge is important to you, and you can be insatiably curious. This is likely to be one of those days.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

The desire to beautify your home could hit you full force today, Capricorn. Perhaps you're expecting future visitors or house guests and want to make a good impression.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

A new neighbor could arrive who you feel especially drawn to, Aquarius. You might have high hopes for a friendship with this person. He or she may seem especially congenial and share a lot of your interests.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You could be feeling especially sociable today. Maybe there's a virtual party of some kind you want to be invited to. You could hear some good news.

Sinclair eventually broke through trapping Islam for 74 before dismissing Afif Hossain for four as Bangladesh ‘A’ slipped to 180-5. Sinclair picked up his third wicket when he dismissed Shahadat Hossain 50 with the lead at 101.

That would be the last success for the West Indies bowlers for the day as Sukkur and Nayeem Hasan kept the tourists’ attack at bay until the close.

Sinclair’s three wickets cost 76 runs while Akeem Jordan has so far picked up 2-38.

Michael Jordan Olympic jersey fetches over $3 million at auction

U.S. basketball player Michael Jordan (2nd R) flashes a victory sign as he stands with team mates Larry Bird (L), Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler ®, nicknamed the “Dream Team” after winning the Olympic gold in Barcelona, Spain on August 8, 1992. (REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/File Photo)

(Reuters)-Ajerseyworn by basketball star Michael Jordan while representing the United States during the 1992SummerOlympicswas sold at auction for $3.03 millionyesterday The auction was run by Goldin, an online collectiblesmarketplace.

The U S basketball team, nicknamed “The

Dream Team”, brought together some of the best playersofalltime,including Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, when NBA playerswerefirstallowedto compete at the Olympics. TheU.S.easilywonthegold medalinBarcelona.

The particular jersey worn by Jordan in the semifinalroundagainstLithuania

was included in an auction featuring signed jerseys from all 12 members of the team. Another jersey worn byJordanduringtheopening game of the 1998 NBA Finalswassoldatanauction in September for over $10 million,settinganewrecord as the most expensive piece of game-worn sports memorabiliainhistory

Blue Waters on board with BIG MAN CRICKET 2

Blu e Water s Production Ltd through its local distributor, Massy Distribution jumped on board for the BIG MAN CRICKET 2 tournament being contested among 14 teams from across the country

Blue Waters will be the officialwaterfortheBMC2 tournamentwhichcomprises of 45 matches. Products supplied by the sponsor partner are the Blue Waters 100% Pure Artesian Well Water & The Blue Waters Alkaline Water which has a PH of 8-8.8. Blue Waters Products Limited was established in the year 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago has grown to be an iconic Caribbean brand over the years and is now the preferred brand of bottled purified drinking water in

the Caribbean and BIG MAN CRICKET-GY is proud to be associated with thisawesomebrand.

Local brand manager of MassyDistribution,Kareem Munroewasloudinpraiseof thetournamentandtrustthat all the teams will enjoy the waters supplied by BLUE WATERS. Kareem also

voiced that they were proud to be part of a masters’ cricket tournament in Guyana which is themed after promoting a healthier lifestyle for our senior sportsmenandhastheeffect ofimprovingthelivesofthat section of the Guyanese populace and their respectivefamilies.

Trophy Stall on board with GAPLF for Intermediate/Masters Championships

The Trophy Stall has once again stepped up to assist the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) as the body prepares to host the 2023 edition of its Intermediates andMastersChampionships.

Yesterday, Mr Ramesh Sunich, Manager of The Trophy Stall made a donation of trophies that’ll be presented to the respective overall male and female winners in the Intermediates and Masters, Classic, and Equipped

segmentsofthecompetition.

Making the presentation onbehalfofSunichandThe Trophy Stall, was Graphic Artist,Ms.TanyaCrossman, to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson and Organising Secretary / Public Relations Officer, DenroyLivan.

Ms Crossman shared that Trophy Stall has been a good friend of powerlifting foraverylongtimeandwill continuetobeagoodpartner as this is their way of fulfilling their corporate responsibility

She also said that the development of athletes is important and recognising their efforts by rewarding them can go a long way in motivating them to do even better

Livan,whorespondedon behalf of the Federation, thanked Mr Sunich and Trophy Stall for sticking with the body despite the changeofexecutiveoverthe years He echoed Ms Crossman’s sentiments that rewarding athletes go a long way in motivating them as theireffortsarerecognised.

Berbice Cricket Board congratulates Sinclair and Permaul, wishes Motie speedy recovery

P and P Insurance Brokers takes care of Rugby

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)

through its President and Executives is expressing congratulationstoall-rounderKevinSinclair onbeingselectedtorepresenttheWestIndies ODI Team and Veerasammy Permaul who has been selected to represent the WI “A” teaminBangladesh.

Sinclair,whohasbeenoutstandingonthe cricketfieldoverthepastfewyears,waswith theWestIndiesAteaminBangladeshwhere his performance so far has been excellent.

He has been called to join up with the West Indies ODI squad preparing for upcoming WorldCupengagements.

LeftarmspinnerPermaulhasgonetojoin up with theAteam as a replacement for his fellow Berbician and left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie who has been injured. The BCBsaidthattheirselectionkeepstheBCB flagflyinghighandwishthemallthebest.

The board will also like to wish Motie a speedy recovery and hope he will be in the marooncoloursverysoon.

Women’s T20 Blaze Tournament… Campbell, bowlers help Guyana maintain win streak

A classy half-century fromShamaineCampbellset up an 8-wicket win for Guyana,whocontinuedtheir winnings ways against JamaicaastheWomen’sT20 Blaze continued across St Kittsyesterday

Guyana beat Jamaica by 8wickets

Stefanie Taylor missed out on a vital half-century, but still top-scored with 48 off 49 balls with 5 fours.

Natasha McLean (27) and

Keneisha Ferron (20) were the other top run-getters for Jamaica, who posted 109-6 in20oversbattingfirst.

Guyana’s bowling continued to peak as seamer

Cherry-Ann Fraser bagged 3-18, while Ashmini

Munisar and Flaffianna Millington each returned 1 wicket.

Veteran Shamaine Campbell then cracked 5

fours in her unbeaten 50 off 49 balls, which piloted the chase.

West Indies batter

Shabika Gajnabi hit some goodform,crafting37*from 46 with 3 fours to help Guyanafinishon110-2in18 overs.

Right-armmediumpacer

Celina Whyte continued her godformwiththeball,being thelonewicket-takerforher teamwith2-11.Trinidadand

Tobago beat Leewards by 6 wickets

A solid batting innings earlieronbyLeewardsfailed to do justice to their final score as they only managed 120-5 in 20 overs. Divya Saxena (37), Amanda Edwards (26) and Jhazara Claxton (36) led their team after the Trinidad pair of Anisa Mohamed (2-21) and Kirbyina Alexander (2-12), keptthingsinorder Chasing120,Trinidad& Tobago eased to 121 for 4 after Britney Cooper (21), Shunelle Sawh (26), Shalini Samaroo (20) and Anisa Mohammed (19*) all came tothepartyinabigway Bowling for Leewards saw Amanda Edwards, Rozel Liburd Jenison Richards and Kimberly Anthony each claiming 1 wicket, as their side perished.

The P and P Insurance Brokers Company, which hasbeenaleadinglightinits benevolent activities in Guyana, continue to lend a helping hand. This time the benefactor is the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU).

The company, which has been in business since 1985, is headed by popular businessman, Community and Sports activist and entrepreneur, Bishwa Panday It is well known for its Philanthropy in different spheresthroughoutGuyana.

P&P over the years has beensupportinganumberof educational, sporting and community activities with the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) being a benefactor

Guyana is expected to participate in a number of

u p c o m i n g R u g b y tournaments shortly The GRFUispreparingtosenda male Under-19 team to the Rugby Americas North Senior Women’s 12s and Men’s Under-19 tournament from July 14 – 17 at the UniversityoftheWestIndies inKingston,Jamaica.

“Over the years P&P Insurance has been supporting the Guyana Rugby Football Union and thisyearisnodifferent”,the InsuranceBrokersexpressed in a release to the media on Wednesday

Atasimplehandingover ceremony at the P&P’s Insurance Brokers corporate officelocatedat272Lamaha Street, Director Vikash Panday made the financial presentation to Team ManagerSherlockSolomon. Also in attendance was

GRFU’s treasurer, Troy Yhip.

Solomon expressed his gratitudetothecompanyfor their unwavering support over the years. Mr Panday, was very happy to continue its commitment to Rugby in Guyana and wished Mr Solomon and team every success.

Panday also used the opportunity to call on other corporate bodies to support tournaments such as these and fulfill their corporate socialresponsibility

GRFU President Ryan Deyalsoexpressedthanksto the principals of the supportivePandPInsurance Brokers for their timely and continuous support. He is also calling on others to assist the GRFU in its effort toreturnthegametowhereit wasbefore.

(SamuelWhyte)

KFC Elite League resumes this weekend after National mourning

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hasannouncedthereschedulingofKFCElite League matches this week, in adherence of PresidentDr IrfaanAli’scallforaNational3 days’ of mourning owing to the Mahdia School dormitory fire which claimed 19 young,Guyaneselives.

As such, double headers that were scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this weekhavenowbeenshiftedtoSaturdayand Sunday Round 2 games intended for Tuesday featuring a Western Tigers FC and Buxton United FC clash and a battle between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Den Amstel FC will now be played on Saturday May,27th.

Meanwhile, the Ann’s Grove vs Fruta ConquerorsandGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF) FC vs Victoria Kings games will now be playedonSunday,May28th.Actiononboth days is set for the GFF’s National Training Center, NTC, Providence, East Bank

Demerara (EBD) at 17:00hrs and 19:00hrs respectively,onbothdays.

Other changes to the league fixtures will seeMilerockanddefendingchampionsFruta Conquerors locking horns on Saturday June 3rd at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, instead of Saturday, May 27th. In addition,GPFFcandMilerockwillgotoeto toe on Thursday June 8th at Eve Leary, insteadofSaturday,June3.

SantosFCcurrentlyleadstheleague,with two wins from two rounds. Santos and Milerock FC opened the second round of League action on Sunday last, where the formerovercametheLinden-basedteam3-0.

While Santos leads the points table, WesternTigersFCareinthesecondposition with3pointsanda+10goaldifference.They are followed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC, Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC, andtheBuxtonUnitedFC,whoallhavethree points,withgoaldifferencesof+4,+2and+2 respectively

P and P Insurance Brokers Director Vikash Panday makes a presentation to Team Manager Sherlock Solomon as GRFU treasurer, Troy Yhip is centre.

Verasammy Permaul Gudakesh Motie Kevin Sinclair

Shemaine Campbell

Swag hammer Universal 7-1 behind Charter’s six goals...

Frompage32 shootout.The teams were tied 2-2 when regulation play ended with Sherrylyn Kingston scoring both goals for Super Stars whileforAroiama,CindyAlexanderaccounted forthetwogoalstheysored.In another men’s clash Gunners defeated Golden Stars 2-0

with Rodension Tudor and Denaka Tappin scoringfortheGunners.Tobringthecurtains downondaythreetheCoomackafemalesbeat Pakuri2-0afteradoublefromJadeSimmonsThe competitioncontinuestonightwithmatchesinboth the male and female competitions at the tournamentvenueinMackenzie.

Jamaica to open campaign against Canada today after rain forces Group A postponements

SportsMax - Following

Wednesday night’s washout of the Group A matches in the final round of the Concacaf Women U20 Championships qualifiers, Jamaica will now play their opening match against CanadaonMay26,today

They will then play the USAon May 28 with their final group match against

PanamasetforMay30

Adverse weather conditions resulted in water-logged fields in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night causing t h e g a m e s t o b e postponed

The other Group A fixture between the United States and Panama was also calledoff.

PPP/C Linden ‘One Guyana’Beach Football... Swag hammer Universal 7-1 behind Charter’s six goals, wins also for DC, Kara, Gunners Female sides

Super Stars and Coomacka also win

Jade Simmons

Day three was very entertaining as the People’s Progressive Party /Civic Linden ‘One Guyana’ Linden Beach Football promotionwith$1Mincash andtrophiesatstake. Itsaw Swag Entertainment batter Universal Ballers 7-1, with Deon Charter blasting in six goals while Colwyn Drakes hitintheotherinthesecond gameofthenight.

Playingoutsidetheoffice of the PPP/C Linden branch in Industrial Area, the only reply was from Amanykie Kingston with one for the losing Universal Ballers team.

The first game of the night resulted with a 5-3 victory for DC Ballers who won behind a hat-trick of

goals from Nicholas Gentle and the others from Manny DowandKwesiQuintin.

Tyrese Samuels got the consolation goal for Main Street.

Kara Kara United got past Alya Construction via the penalty route 4-3 after bothsideswerelocked4-4in openplay

Antoine Yansen and DelonGranteachscoredone goal with Teral Backer netting the other two goals, while for Construction, doubles were recorded by Odiga Briggs and Ricardo Estwick.

A s t h e f e m a l e competition began Super Stars prevailed against Aroiama2-1viaapenalty

(Continuedonpage31)

Jamaica will play their opening match against Canada today.

‘Return of the Scorpion’ set to redefine local boxing despite its postponement

Theupcoming‘Returnof the Scorpion’ Pro/Am boxing Card, which has generatedimmenseexcitement amongboxingenthusiasts,with manyexpertsconsideringitto be the most significant fight cardinoveradecade Thecard promises an exceptional display of skill and entertainment Theeventwhich wasinitiallyscheduledforMay21 butwasforcedtoberescheduledfor June3attheNationalGymnasium, following an unforeseen circumstance which arose two dayspriortothecard,resultinginits postponement, due to failure of ColombianboxersRonaldRamos and Luis Carillo to attain the necessarytraveldocumentationto enterGuyana.

However, fans can expectaremarkableevening of fights presented by Briso Promotions in collaboration with the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA). The card will showcase five captivating professional bouts, featuring notable fighterssuchasEltonDharry and Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marquesastheheadlinerand co-headliner, respectively, and an additional amateur sectionboastedtobeequally thrilling.

Elton Dharry, returning to the ring after a year-long hiatus, will face off against Ronald Ramos in an eightroundBantamweightmatch. This encounter will serve as a tune-up for Dharry’s forthcoming July bout on local soil against Hugo HernandezofMexicoforthe World Boxing Champion (WBC) Silver Belt. Dharry, aged 37, who previously contended for the WBA

Superflyweighttitlein2019 but suffered a controversial ninth-roundstoppagelossto AustralianAndrewMaloney inMelbourne,willbeaiming for a victory to reignite his career, while Dexter

Marques will engage in an eight-round Super

Bantamweight clash with LuisCarrillo.

Addingatouchoffemale prowesstotheevent,Abiola and Alesha Jackman, the Jackmansisterswillstepinto the ring for the first time since attaining world rankings They hold the distinctionofbeingthefirstever Guyanese female boxers to achieve world ranking by the International Boxing Association (IBA). Following their remarkable

performancesinNewDelhi, Indiaearlierthisyear,Abiola Jackman secured the 27th spotintheworldrankingsin the Elite Women 81+ kg (Heavyweight division), while Alesha claimed the 58th position in the Elite Women 60-63 kg (Junior Welterweightdivision).

According to GBA PresidentSteveNinvalle,the amateur section of the card has been finalised, with the following matches confirmed: Akeelah

Vancootenvs.TafinaBarker (51-54kg); Isaiah Joyce (PPBG) vs Jamal Jones (VBG) [57-60kg]; Dexter Ray (Police) vs. Shaquain James (FYF) (60-67kg); Alesha Jackman (Guyana) vs Britney MacFarlane (Jamaica) [63-69kg]; and Abiola Jackman (Guyana) vs. Lee Ann Boodram (Trinidad and Tobago) (81+kg).

Thecardwillalsofeaturean exciting Caribbean rivalry as localstarTerrenceAdamsgoes head-to-headwithBlackmanof Barbados, while Anthony Augustin will showcase his skills against Barbadian Emmanuel Anderson Additionally,asix-roundSuper Flyweightfemaleboutbetween Natalya Delgado and Darianis Garcia will captivate the audience. In the marquee encounter, local star Alesha Jackman will face off against Jamaica’sBritneyMacFarlane, while Abiola Jackman, her sister (Alesha) will enter the squaredcircleagainstTrinidad andTobagochampionLeeAnn Boodram In a brief comment, Ninvalle stated, “The amateur section has been officially confirmed and promises several exciting salvos especially those of the international flavour This Fight Card provides a synergistic approachtodevelopment,as amateur fighters, several of whom will be experiencing such a novel atmosphere, and professional pugilists can share the same ecosystem despite the obvious differences in their career paths. That is the immediate tangible benefit ofsuchaFightCard.”

He further said, “While anyformofdefermentcanbe deemed as an unfortunate episode, the additional wait has only added to the anticipation and excitement of the Fight Card. It has

provided an avenue for increased marketing and publicity, an element of importance that should not be understated or underestimated More importantly, it has also provided an opportunity for an increased training window for our combatants

whichonlyaddtoandaidin their performance on the night ” Meanwhile, all tickets purchased remain valid for the rescheduled date at the same venue. Tickets can be purchased at the sole location; Hot & SpicyCreoleCornerlocated at the corners of Albert and

ThirdStreets.Thepricesare: VVIP $10,000, VIP $6,000, Ringside$3,000,andStands $1,000.

The respective Jamaican andtheTrinidadandTobago contingents are penciled to arrive on June 1st, ahead of the June 2nd weight-in and pre-matchpressconference.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

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