Kaieteur News

Mahdiafireupdate…

DNA results received; all

bodies positively identified

Critical Mahdia fire victim

to be flown overseas for further treatment

Lawsuit filed against U.S state regulatory agencies for not upholding their constitutional duties to protect environment, natural resources and citizens

Gas-to-Energy project nearing US$3B with new

of electricity contract to be awarded soon for transmission

ExxonM admits US$7.3B audit may uncover spending in other oil blocks

...as 60-day comments period

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation recently said the ongoing US$7.3 billion audit of its expenses, for the period 2018 to 2020, may uncover spending to develop resources in other oil blocks operatedbythecompany Vice President and BusinessServiceManagerat ExxonMobil Guyana, Phillip Rietema was at the timerespondingtoarequest for an update on the audit process, during a press conference last week, when heexplainedthattheprocess will entail some “back and forth” between the parties,

which may conclude over thenextfewmonths.

Rietema was joined by the ExxonMobil Guyana President,AlistairRoutledge duringtheengagementatthe company's Kingston, Georgetown office. While detailing the steps involved in the audit, the company's Vice President said, “The audit process in its steps is gonna have some back and forth. So an audit kicks off and the auditors come and thereisameetingandwetalk about a scope of work- it takes a number of months, we've provided a lot of information, they work through that, there's clarifications,theythentake the findings to the

continues

government here, GRA ( G u y a n a R e v e n u e Authority) is involved (so is the) Ministry of Natural Resources and then they have a draft report that, per the requirements, is then sharedwithus.”

Thisstage,hesaidallows Exxon to analyze the information and point out anyconcernsthatmayexist. This is part of the 60-days comments period, which is presently ongoing on that particular review Presently, the company's pre-contract costs are still being audited aswellbyaBritishfirm,IHS Markit.

In the meantime, Rietema said ExxonMobil Guyana has provided its

commentstothegovernment on the US$7.3 billion audit, which will be reviewed and sent back to the company withtheaimoffinalization.

Rietema however noted thatitislikelyforauditorsto find that the company may have spent resources to develop other blocks in Guyana,heldbyExxon.

“We are talking, as you notedaboutUS$7billion,so there's an expectation that through the audit process, there will be some areas where maybe they weren't solely for Stabroek operations,theybelongedin one of our other blocks and sowediscussthatinaline,” he explained. As such, the Exxonofficialnotedthatthis

President and Business Service Manager at ExxonMobil

particular multibilliondollar audit will continue to progress over the coming months.

Sofar,hereportedthat“I think the process has gone quitewell,there'sbeenreally good collaboration between our company, the auditors, the government. A lot of transparency, we pride ourselves on this, as I said we'reauditedfrequentlybya number of different organizationsandsothisisa typical natural process and there's always gonna be a little differences of opinion and some of those we agree with.”

Last month, it was reportedthatthegovernment received the final report from the audit team. The

process was conducted by VHE Consulting which is a registered partnership between Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, Eclisar Financial, and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc.

TheLocalConsortiumis supported by International firms – SGS and Martindale Consultants for the 'Cost Recovery Audit and Va l i d a t i o n o f t h e Government of Guyana's ProfitOilShare'.Tothisend, the audit zoomed into ExxonMobil's expenses between the years 2018 to 2020, which have already been billed to the country Thecontractwasawardedby the current administration backinMay2022.

Vice

Guyana, Phillip Rietema

Gas-to-Energy project nearing US$3 billion with new contract to be awarded soon for transmission of electricity

The cost for the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) is nearing theUS$3Bmark,evenasthe feasibility of the nation's single largest financial p r o j e c t r e m a i n s questionable.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference at Freedom House two weeks ago updated that three bids were received by government for the transmission of the electricity

The contract will allow forpowergeneratedfromthe natural gas to be supplied to the national grid, from the generation port at Wales, WestBankDemerara.

Thecostofthisaspectof the project has not yet been revealed as the bids are still being evaluated, according totheVP

He told reporters, “All thebidsareinplace.

Theonlyonethatweare working on now is the bit about evacuating the power, building the substations and we went out to tender, we had three bids for that, we hired Stantec a Canadian company to help us evaluate the bids because it'sverycomplexandweare now in the process of awarding that contract soon.”

He said the contractor willberesponsiblefortaking someofthepowerbackinto West Demerara, but transmitting the bulk to the other parts of the interconnected system Jagdeo noted that this contract is expected to be executedintimetofacilitate theprojectstartupby2024.

So far, government anticipates the pipeline aspect of the project to cost US$1.1B.

It is being financed by American oil giant, ExxonMobil and would be paidbackbyGuyana,overa 20-year period, through purchasingthegas.

Meanwhile, a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility totreatandseparatethegas, along with the 300megawatt power plant, are expected to cost just over US$1billion,consideringa repayment of US$51 million annual payback, over a 20-year period

https://wwwkaieteurnewso nline com/2023/02/19/guya

na-saddled-with-us106myearly-for-20-years/ Governmenthasapproached

the United States Export Import (EXIM) Bank for financing of those components.

Additionally,Headofthe GTE Taskforce, Winston Brassington had announced during this year's

International Energy Conference, hosted at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, that $400million-approximately US$2 million had been set aside to compensate land owners that would be affectedbythepipeline.

This means the project price stands at US$2 3

billion presently, consideringtheknowncosts, sharedbygovernment.

Attempts made by the Opposition in Parliament to ascertainthefinalcostofthis p r o j e c t h a s b e e n unsuccessful.

The project is likely to cost US$3 billion when additional expenditure is considered for the transmission of the electricity and the new substationbeingconstructed at Eccles, East Bank Demerara to support the initiative.

It was explained that the Eccles substation would receivepowerfromboththe new natural gas facility as well as the Amaila Falls Hydroprojectwhichisyetto c o m m e n c e

https://wwwkaieteurnewso nline com/2022/04/24/gplto-establish-control-centreat-eccles/

In addition to those charges, Jagdeo explained thatgovernmenthashireda consultant to assist the nation in evaluating the bids This will attract a separate cost which has notyetbeenannounced

Even though concerns have been raised regarding the escalating cost of the project, the government is reluctant to conduct a feasibilitystudy

In fact, the VP believes the viability of the initiative is a “no-brainer” given his “estimates” on returns from

theproject.

At the end of 2022, the country's total stock of public debt stood at

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

US$3.6B.

This means, with one project, Guyana could be doublingitstotalpublicdebt.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Impact on business sector

Asexpected,thePrivateSectorCommission(PSC)has comeouttovoiceitsanxieties. ThePSCisconcernedabout theimpactofJudgeSandilKissoon’srulingonthebusiness community The PSC is concerned about profits and the businesscommunity,whichisitsright. Meanwhile,thisisa nation in which hundreds of thousands exist on or somewhere below the poverty line. One group making moneyhandoverfistisfocusedonitscontinuedprosperity, while many in the national community are fighting for survival.

Whenwilltherebeanendtothesesavagingassaultson oursenses? WhenwillGuyaneseofstandingandsubstance come to appreciate the horrors of what is going on in this countrywiththepeoplewaybelowthemiddlerungsofthe economicladder,thoseclosetothebottom? Whenwillthey pausefromcountingtheirownrichpickingsandthinkofthe people, of country, and not of their self-enriching, selfsustainingpriorities?

WearetoldofthemanytensofbillionsthatExxonMobil hasinvestedhere. Whatnobodyishonestenoughtoreveal to the Guyanese public is that the American corporate superpower invests those billions to make many times as muchfromeachbillionbroughthereandputtoworkinour richfields. ExxonMobilisnotinacharitybusiness,butone thatassuresit(Guyanaisthebestguarantee)ofthesweetest, juiciest,richestreturns. Sincethecompanysaidthatithas investedUS$45billionhere,thenitmustbegraciousenough tosharewithallGuyaneseitsreasonsforthegreatresistance toGuyanesegettingafewbillionsmoreinroyalties,profits, and taxes. Here we have seasoned, astute businesspeople talking smartly about Foreign Direct Investment, and its stellar positives, but due to some curious handicap, they have not a word to say about the largest nongovernmental entityintheworldnotpayingasinglepennyintaxes.

Thisishowself-servingourownGuyanesecanbe,with thewell-positionedandflourishingPSCnowtakingitupon itselftoexpressalarmabouttheimpactofJudgeKissoon’s ruling. ThePSCisontopoftheworld,anditdoesnotwant toseethatworldtamperedwith,nordoesitcareaboutthat other world of Guyana that exists. It is where Guyanese cannotbuyfood,andparentscannotfeedtheirchildren.

ThePSCisfargone,nowsofarupExxonMobil’scolon that it feels comfortable parroting what ExxonMobil’s PresidentRoutledgehasbeenbusysellingtoanyGuyanese who would give him a hearing. According to President Routledge, his ExxonMobil is ready “at any time to do the rightthing.” WeatthispublicationwillnowtakePresident Routledgeuponthat:goahead,dotherightthing. Justdoit!

Do what is the only right thing by Guyanese: let the contractberenegotiatedandletGuyanagetmoresothatthe Guyanese people can be satisfied that they have been dealt with fairly…So that the same PSC that betrays its fellow Guyanese by standing on the side of ExxonMobil can prosperevenmore…Sothatthereisnoneedfortheretobe allthistrepidationaboutimpactonthebusinesssector

It is a sad day, indeed, when the private sector so engrossed in its own profitable pursuits could be so cheap and so feeble as to be selling ExxonMobil’s lines. In so doing,thePSChasshownitshandmostclearlyanditisone that has a poisoned dagger against its own brethren. The PPP/CGovernmenthassoldoutthepeopleofGuyana. The PNCRandAFChavesoldoutGuyanese. Now,itistheturn of the PSC to join ranks with those who abandon the poor and struggling with their verbal schemes, their gaudy economic platitudes that fool only a few, and their selfpromotingagendasthatfeathertheirownnestsonly

The business sector has been visible and vibrant, and withthatwearepleased. Wewouldbemorepleasedtolisten andlearnfromthebusinesssectorhowmuchtheinterestsof poor Guyanese matter to it, and a little less about what delightsExxonMobilanditsPresident-Routledge.

The PPPGovt cannot silence me

DEAREDITOR, Kindly permit me space in your letters column to clarify…

Mr. Ivor Bumbury, a businessmanwhooperatesa metal works and fabrication shop on Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara has been a friend of mine since 2002. On Thursday, May 18, 2023, I visited his business place to deliver a donation letter for my programme, “Let’s Talk”, aired on HBTV ChannelNineeveryTuesday night. I was warmly greeted by him, and we sat for a while outside discussing several issues, including the u p c o m i n g L o c a l Government Elections and his experiences under the Coalition Government in comparisonwiththoseunder thePPP’s23yrsinoffice.

During the conversation Mr IvorBunburyrevealedto me that his eldest son, Delvor, who has a dredge operation,iswiththePPP/C, because of his friendship with Ms. Ariya Alli. This son, he said, will be

contesting the upcoming LGE for the PPP/C and despite being a supporter of the Coalition; he will be supporting his son in this election.

Prior to Thursday May 18,2023,IhadnevermetMr Bunbury’s children However, while still in discussion with Mr Ivor Bunbury, his son Isaac arrivedandwasvisiblyupset at my presence. He was disrespectful to his father who had cause to reprimand him several times about his manner and reminded him thatIwasknowntohimand his wife prior to my involvement in politics

Isaac Bunbury asked that I leave the premises; whereupon his father told him to desist from his obnoxious behaviour and that I was not his friend nor wasItheretohim.

I then turned to the youngerBunburyandstated, “I am not here to you. I am heretoyourdadandyoucan callthepolice.”

Isaac was careful to caution his dad about my

recording the conversation, butmyphonewasleftinmy vehicle. Unaware to me, he was recording our conversation.

It appears that Mr Isaac Bunbury shared this recording with an online agency “Action News Guyana” and “Live in Guyana” which they released under the caption “APNU/AFC MP Annette Ferguson involved in another confrontation ”

Needless to say, Mr Bunbury did not share the footageofhimattemptingto snatch my donation letter from his father, the contents of which have since been published on Mr Isaac’s Bunbury’sFacebookpage.

Editor,unlikehisbrother Isaac, Mr Delvor Bunbury, the PPP/C’s candidate for a constituency in Plaisance, and I had a very cordial conversation. There was no hostility or aggression as he is clearly more mature than his brother I want to assure my Guyanese brothers and sistersthatIamabuilder,not a divider, I am for all of

Guyana. Mr. Delvor Bunbury and I are on opposing sides but we each have a right to choose.

Despite Isaac Bunbury’s obnoxiousbehaviour,Ihope my friendship with Mr Ivor Bunburyandhiswifehasnot been jeopardized by his publiceffortstocausestrife.

Editor, I will not be daunted by the negative image the said agencies/ propaganda outlets try to portrayofme.

I will not be silenced by thePPP/C.Iwillcontinueto speakoutagainstracistacts, c o r r u p t i o n , a n d mismanagement of our national patrimony What they choose to do with their party’s funds, disbursed at Freedom House, is of no concerntome.

Buttheuseoffundsfrom the Office of the President and other official organs of the government for campaign purposes and slush funds will continue to meet with opposition from me.

Sincerely,

AnnetteFerguson,MP

for

British Guiana’s Independence Day

DEAREDITOR, May 26 marks another year of our Independence and I wish you and all Guyanese a happy and thoughtful Independence Day

For those of us who yearn for a truly viable and united country, we still face the impediment of some folks wittingly or unwittingly distorting andrewritingourhistory

Unless as a people, we can learn the facts which inform the path we will remain the hobbling and wobbly nation and not realize the hopes, dreams and aspirations as contained in our Motto of One People, One Nation, One Destiny

Recently, I have heard the regurgitation of falsehoods about how May 26 was identified as a date for formal Independence in 1966 S o m e o f t h o s e contentions are unworthy of my repeating them What follows cannot be challenged

A s t h e f i n a l Independence Conference waswindingdown,Irecallat a luncheon hosted by a British official, some of us from the PNC Delegation

suggestedFebruary23asthe appropriate date for Independence Peter D’Aguiar, the only other Leader of a political party present, urgedAugust 1, the daythattheBritishissuedthe proclamation for the Emancipation of African slaves.

The PNC Delegation felt our Independence date should not be the same as Emancipation date

The British official pointed out that February would not give sufficient time to settle the physical and other arrangements for the transition

We, therefore, looked for a date between February and August 1 and one British official suggested May 24 Sharp as a tack, Burnham reminded him that that was the Queen’s official b i r t h d a y A g a i n unacceptable.

May 26, therefore, was agreed May 26 had a further significance as is pointed out in Dr Mohamed Shabudeen’s Book Constitution Reform, see page 37

In his acceptance speech intheParliamentofGuyana,

Premier Forbes Burnham in the presence of the representative of Our Gracious Majesty Queen ElizabethIInotedasfollows

“Today is historic primarily because we are indulging in an exercise, the first of its kind by the Parliament of Guyana.Butthereisanother significance about today’s date, for in the Year of Our Lord 1787 on the 26th of May,therewasestablisheda Constitution by the Dutch, much more liberal than the Constitution which was substitutedforitin1928,and Ihaveafeelingthattodaywe are redressing the events of 1928 by opening our Parliament on the same date on which a relatively liberal Constitution, subsequently suspendedwasestablished.”

There could be and there was no other reason but the misi n f o r m e d a n d mischievous continue on their merry ways I give you one other example of the mischief or misinformation which some seemed to prevail and which some innocent folks have bought into as gospel

In a conversation w i t h R e v D a l e Bisnauth, who was then

Minister of Education, I asked him why it was that the PPP seemed to be throwing cold water on the day we celebrated the Republic Without pausing, he said because that date was Burnham’s birth anniversary Burnham’s birthdate is February 20th, and identifying February 23 is only related to the slave uprising at Magdalenenburg in1763.

Dr Bisnauth’s response points to the need for us to relay the whole truth on our past, so all of us can better understand our present conditionsandthereforegive usintellectualvigortomake o u r I n d e p e n d e n c e meaningful and beneficial. Thisismypleatobothsides ofourpoliticaldivide.

This Independence must allow us to heal not hurt, to mend and not rend Happy, Thoughtful Independence!

Yoursfaithfully, HamiltonGreen

The only one alive and live in Guyana who was present at that final I n d e p e n d e n c e Conference held at Lancaster House in November1965.

How May 26 was selected

DearEditor, The Democratic National Congress extends heart-felt Independence Anniversary Greetings on theobservanceof57yearsof Guyana’s Independence Indeed, we also extend sincere condolences to the families and community of Mahdia which endured the loss of 19 young children, plusnumerousothersinjured during the fire at Mahdia. Wordsarenocomfortforthe families of these lost loved ones, but the Democratic National Congress, Guyana, even the Diaspora, commiserate with grieving family members as they grapple with their grief, the impossibility of their tragic loss.

Guyana’s Independence Anniversaries have become an occasion for reflection, education, national dialogue and organizing our national, human,politicalresourcesto meetingthechallengesofthe ever-increasing failures of our governments to implement simple economic solutions to problems which have mired an ever increasing and now approximate 48% of Guyaneseinpoverty Iagain share my book Bringing Guyana Into The 21st C e n t u r y (https://dncgyorg/bringingguyana-into-the-21stcentury-2/) which I suggest can be used as a basis for measuring our political progress, for stimulating national dialogue as we grapple with the bottlenecks createdbyourfailednational politics.

Indeed, we have all witnessed our elected government officials taking sides with Exxon as they hurry to reassure this company that they have Guyana conned lock, stock and barrel. The DNC again wishes to reiterate that the Exxoncontractitselfisbasis enoughforitbeingvoidedby our courts, and the sooner this is done, the better The DNC takes this opportunity to salute our courts which have asserted themselves to

reach international acclaim as countries with similar issues search for valuable references.

The unfolding of events surrounding the Exxon contract between the previous and current administrations are of such outrage that this was explained as follows in my book:“Governmentsaround the world know that they have never seen such stupidity in government. Theyknowthetraitsofinept, corrupt third world politicians selling out their country Because there is no government which would ever agree to paying the income taxes of a multibillion-dollar energy corporation.” Pg vii. This my fellow Guyanese, is our reality,thechallengeweface asanation.

I itemize a number of major issues without going into too much depth which the Democratic National Congress would like to see addressed as a matter of nationalpriority:

1. Nationalizing the BerbiceBridgeandlowering its toll charges to compare with the Demerara Harbour Bridge. This will go a far way in spurring economic activityinBerbice.

2. The closure of GUYSUCO coordinated with grant of a financial packagetoallsugarworkers pluslanddistributedwithina policy framework in which government supports the development of these lands, inclusive of the provision of sheep, goats, other animals which can go a long way to becoming a stable supply of meatnotonlyforGuyanabut theCaribbean.

3. $70,000/month flat adjustment for all public servants not included in the income adjustment implementedbygovernment earlierthisyear

4. Implementation of unemployment insurance along with substantial welfare payments to Guyana’s poor and destitute families/individuals.

5. Increase pensions

to$112,500/mth.

6. Strengthening Guyana’s regulatory frameworktoensurethatour institutions have the legal and regulatory structure to protect Guyana from the vagaries of unscrupulous multinationalcorporations.

Alargermoresignificant hurdle remains African Guyanese doing more to include Indian Guyanese in all aspects of social and economic endeavours, particularly in the civil service which has long been dominated by African Guyanese. Manytraditional PNC supporters who considered that they were doingthenationaserviceby stigmatizingandvictimizing Indian Guyanese have come around to recognizing that the PNC is nothing short of an anti-social organization intentonacquiringpowerin government by any means necessary As much as traditional PNC supporters wouldnotlikethistobe,the PNC’s performance in government from 2015 to 2020 combined with its efforts to return Guyana to dictatorship, a matter for which a number of its underlings are yet to be broughttojustice,isfinished as a political organization. Indeed, the PNC has squandered all hope of Indian Guyanese ever trustingtheminofficeagain. And so it should also be for PNCsupporterstoo,because not one of them would have liked to have Guyana return todictatorshipasweendured duringtheBurnhamyears.

It remains for me to document the base skullduggeryandsubterfuge of Burnham from the early 1950’s when as chairman of the People’s Progressive Party, he sought wrest leadershipandcontrolofthe PPPfromDr CheddiJagan,

(Continuedonpage06)

DEAREDITOR,

The Guyana Institute for Historical Research (GIHR) hosts annual conferences dedicated to the study and preservation of Guyana’s rich historical heritage However, it focuses, almost solely, onAfrican aspects of Guyanese history and heritage when the majority ethnic group in Guyana is Indo-Guyanese.

Indo presenters, topics and history are neglected, and if included, only as a token show of inclusion as illustrated by this year’s conference from June 22 to 24,2023.

The GIHR farcically pridesitselfondiversityand inclusion, and the exploration of all facets of Guyanese history Noteworthy, the man appointed to chair the conference is Eric Philips who has consistently faced allegationsofracism.

In response to the Dutch Government’s apology for slavery, his statement to CARICOM clearly shows hisAfro-centricthoughts.

As Chairman of the Guyana Reparations Committee, Philips champions the black cause only and purposefully neglectsthedeservednessof descendants of indentured Chinese, Portuguese and East Indians as well as the native Amerindian communities.

Philips has also been accused of inciting racial violence against the now-

governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).Ina2017Facebook post, he wrote, “Jagdeo needstobecarefulbecauseif anyone in my family or SOCU or SARA’s families are killed or attacked or placed at risk because of his purposeful racism he needs to understand that he, hiscabinetandtheirfamilies (barnone)willbeatthesame risk the only difference is that the response will be s i g n i f i c a n t l y disproportionate and very cruel.”Aftermonthsofback andforth,oneeditorialinthe Guyana Chronicle (15/09/17) said, “Philips uses charges of racism as a weapon to get out of it. Labelingthosewhodisagree with[him]asracistswiththe hopeofsilencingthem.”

Ofthe12peoplefeatured in the opening proceedings onDay1ofthisyear’sGIHR conference, no one has an Indoname.

To add insult to injury, there is drumming, spoken word and a presentation by thePanAfricanMovementnothing resembling IndoGuyanese cultural performances.Withabout30 contributors, only five have Indian surnames. None of the topics for discussion relates to Indian history or heritage.

It focuses heavily on slavery, the axis of the organizers’ existence. For the GIHR, their worldview, outlook and perspective hinge on slavery, not progressively, but consistentlystuckinthepast. Also included as a panel chair is politician David Hinds,amanwho,onrecord in 2021, encouraged supporters to undermine EastIndianbusinesses.Heis a rabble-rouser spewing, screaming, foaming and shouting ethnic poison at every street corner until he becomeshoarse.

One of the conference’s main advisors is former University of Guyana’s (UG’s) registrar, Vincent Alexander

Heisthechairmanofthe International Decade for People of African Descent A s s e m b l y - G u y a n a (IDPADA-G).HeisanAfrocentrist who champions the cause ofAfrican supremacy As a contributor to the Stabroek News (23/09/20), Ravi Dev wrote: “He has now become a ‘memory warrior’, zealously seeking to impose a single, foundational, historical African “TRUTH” (in caps) while delegitimizing the views of all other ethnic views,especiallyIndian’s (Continuedonpage06)

The world has never known, seen, such stupidity in government

GIHR is aboutAfrican interests only

RasKhafrarepresentsnobodyotherthanhimselfandhisinterests

DEAREDITOR

, Herein, I respond to Ras Khafra, who sought to give legitimacy to his mischief and self-appointment in a response to my earlier letter ofSunday,May21,2023.

First,Khafracontinuesto refer to a dissolved cluster that was established for the specific purpose of identifying nominees of the African Guyanese community to represent the community on the ERC and the Women and Gender Commission.Thelifeofthat cluster ended when those nomineeswereidentified.

In my earlier letter, I acknowledged the right of the former members of that cluster,andinfactanygroup of African Guyanese

organisations to come

t o g e t h e r i n a cooperative/collaborative effort, among themselves and for themselves The clusterthatKhafraisnowthe self-appointed leader of is not such a body, and not made-up of persons

nominated by their organisations for that purpose. He solicited the assistance of individuals to craftapositionpaper/report. He then proceeded to d e s c r i b e t h e m a s

representatives of organizations No request w a s m a d e o f t h e organizations to appoint representatives to a cluster thatKhafrawasforming;nor did the individuals consent to be members of a

representative cluster of the African Guyanese community; nor are they signatories of a letter to the President in any capacity, although their names are mentioned, by Khafra, as representatives of organizations,inhisletter It is by virtue of his appointment as the African Guyanese representative on the ERC that he appointed himself to lead the cluster which no longer exists. The identificationofDr DaSilva and Eric Philips as representatives of IDAPADA-G and ACDA, respectively exposes his scheme. Both organisations and the individuals have distanced themselves from Khafra‘s mischief. In fact,

most, if not all of his proclaimed cluster members haveindicatedthattheywere n o t r e p r e s e n t i n g organizations.

Khafra has no moral ground to stand on, in this matter; and in his attempt to

judge the actions of others. That notwithstanding, I will trash the remaining garbage ofhisletter

Khafra snidely stated that I never attended any of his meetings, true, but I was never invited. In fact, he

contacted me and asked me to remove myself from the WhatsApp group that I had established to facilitate the workoftheoriginalcluster I advised him that the cluster nolongerexistedandthat

(Continuedonpage17)

Theworldhasneverknown...

Frompage5 thentheParty’sleaderatthe time. African Guyanese for themostpartneedtocorrect the truncated notion and misconceptionofthembeing identified as children, descendants of slaves. In fact,itwoulddothemwellto recognizethattheyarekings and queens, princes and princesses whose ancestors ensured that they nurtured their children to the current generation. While many endure poverty even today, this is for the most part a consequence of social

engineering by our governments over the decades Especially more important is that having had ancestors who endured the abuse and indignity of the unjust discriminatory, abusive aspects of slavery, they should rise to every occasion to defend against all forms of discrimination and abuse, even as this has beenencouragedbythePNC against Indian Guyanese. Indeed,forGuyanatoreally move forward, African Guyanese must defend Indian Guyanese from

discrimination in any form that this is identified or detected. This is the surest way they can rest assured that Indian Guyanese will finally have confidence in them,thatwecanallliveand work together, unite in politics to overcome the economic tyrants in our midst.

Once again, Happy 57th Independence Anniversary toAllGuyanese.

Sincerely, CraigSylvester, Democratic National Congress.

GIHR is aboutAfrican interests only...

Frompage5 andIndigenousPeople’s”.

It is essential to foster an atmosphere of mutualunderstandingandrespectinthefield of historical research Recognizing the importance of all Guyanese ethnic groups andtheircontributionstothenation’shistory iscrucialforacomprehensiveunderstanding ofthecountry’spast.

Asanorganizationdedicatedtohistorical research, GIHR should play a vital role in promoting inclusion and advancing

knowledge about all aspects of Guyana’s diversehistoryandheritage.

With Philips as chair of this conference, will there be any academic integrity? It is clearthattheseconferencesarebeingusedto consolidate ethnic power in Guyana Although the Indo-based PPP party is in power, it does nothing to complement or balance this show of Afro dominance in academia.

Yourstruly, FarahAli

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

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Frequentblackouts

The IDB says that frequent blackouts killing Guyana.

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

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Guyanese already know that for themselves!

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Perhaps, the PPP Govt. will 'cuss down and buse out' the IDB.

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

Blackout, brownout, whiteout is the same thing under the PPP!

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

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More millions ending, more covering up, and more 'cussing down'.

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

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Welcome to Guyana, the next Dubai!

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

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

Without proper parent company guarantee, Guyana risks economic wipeout -FinancialAnalyst

International Financial Analyst, Tom Sanzillo believes a recent court judgment ordering ExxonMobil Corporation to provide Guyana with unlimited parent and/or affiliate guarantees for oil spill cleanup by June 10, 2023, is of grave economic significance.

The importance of this ruling he proffered becomes particularly pronounced when considered against the catastrophic risks/impacts facing ExxonMobil's investors, the people, and businesses of Guyana, and theCaribbean.

Without a proper parent companyguarantee,Sanzillo

opined that Guyana risks economic decimation as it would be left to pick up the bill for an oil spill from Exxon'soperations. Expounding the basis of his conclusion, he highlighted key aspects of the ruling issued by Justice Sandil Kissoon on May 3, 2023 in the case of Collins, Whyte v Environmental Protection Agency and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

Justice Kissoon ruled that EEPGL and partners are not meeting the Liza Phase One permit's requirements for unlimited parent and/or affiliate guarantees The effect, Sanzillo said, is that

ExxonMobil's subsidiary is drilling in violation of its permit, and Guyana environmentalregulatorsare not enforcing the insurance terms.

Sanzillo also noted that Justice Kissoon was critical of the ExxonMobil-led consortium and the government of Guyana on the breach of the permit. In fact, it was Justice Kissoon whopointedoutthatifanoil spill or other catastrophic eventoccurredwithoutafull and unlimited guarantee by the parent company—in this case, ExxonMobil then “theStateisliableforallthat occurs.”Sanzillosaidthatthe stark reality is that

ExxonMobil has the resources to clean up a spill. Guyanadoesnot.

Justice Kissoon's court also recalled the US$70

billionindamagescausedby BP's catastrophic 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which clearlyhighlightsthatifsuch were to occur in Guyana, then US$2B would be hopelesslyinadequate.

The foregoing case has nodoubtcaughttheattention o f E x x o n M o b i l ' s shareholders. Two worried shareholder groups have already filed resolutions

demanding greater transparencyontheliabilities Exxon and its investors wouldhavetofaceifthereis aworst-caseoilspillscenario offshore Guyana. The shareholders are hoping that come May 31, 2023, at their Annual General Meeting, other investors will vote to force Exxon to conduct a study on the financial risks theyarelikelytoface.

In ExxonMobil's recent response to two shareholder resolutions asking for better reporting on environmental litigation and oil spill plans, the oil giant called the Guyanalawsuitmeritless.

Sanzillowaskeentonote howeverthatthesearehardly meritless claims “They highlight the Guyanese government's aggressive corner-cutting to provide incentives to ExxonMobil.”

He opined as well that the Guyanese regulators' enforcement of the matter has been lax, as highlighted byJusticeKissoon'sruling.

Sanzillo said too that it should not be lost on all stakeholders that one of the more significant problems the lawsuit unearthed is the record of poor transparency that has plagued the Liza Phase One project from its

inception. He recalled that the judge's ruling called out EEPGLandtheEPAfortheir seeming unwillingness to fullyandcompletelydisclose the details of the insurance/ p a r e n t g u a r a n t e e arrangement.

Justice Kissoon's judgment said, “TheAgency sought refuge in silence, avoidance,concealment,and secrecy notwithstanding the grave potential danger and consequences to the State and citizens if an event occurred at the Liza Phase 1 Petroleum Production facilities in the Stabroek Offshore Guyana in absence of such financial assurances m a n d a t e d b y t h e EnvironmentalPermit…”

Inthewakeofthejudge's decision, Sanzillo said the eyes of the world are now focused on Guyana and the next steps it will take on this matter

He also finds it troubling thatExxon,acompanyworth over US$430B is pushing Guyana to accept a mere US$2Bparentguarantee.

Appeals filed by EEPGL and the EPAare expected to be ruled upon on May 29, 2023.

International Financial Analyst, Tom Sanzillo

PeacefulprotestsmayremovethewaxfromthePPP/C’sears

The PPP/C is continuing from where it left off in 2015. It has proven that it is notinterestedinanyformof inclusive governance and is determined to impose its decisionsonthepeople.

The PPP/C is tone-deaf. Ithasshownlittleinclination torespondtotheconcernsof thepeopleconcerningtheoil and gas sector and gas, the Environmental Assessment Board, and now concerning the sale of the Marriott Hotel.

The PPP/C has failed to take on board the major concerns relating to the oil a n d g a s s e c t o r . Environmentalists have failedtoelicitachangeinthe composition of the Environmental Assessment Board despite pointing out glaring and barefaced conflicts of interest. The Marriott Hotel built with taxpayers’ funds and a syndicated loan is now showing a profit. However, this profitable enterprise is being put up for sale. The governmentisnotlistening.

The people’s only resort toensurethattheirlegitimate concerns are given serious consideration is through peaceful protest. Unless the people take non-violent, orderly, and lawful protest actionnothingwillchange.

RayDaggerswalked180 miles to highlight the flaws intheoilcontractandtocall for a better deal. Along the way, people expressed support for him in various ways. The betrayal by our leaders is being recognized by the public But the government still refuses to reversecourse.

One peaceful means of bringing about change is

through legal action. But legalactioncanforcechange only concerning breaches of the law or the failure of the government to carry out its statutoryresponsibilities.

There have been some victories for citizens’ rights in the courts. But there have alsobeensomelosses.Legal action, however, cannot force the government to apply the terms of the new draft PSA to the Stabroek Block.Legalactionwillalso not likely prevent the governmentfromsellingthe hotelsinceanysuchsalewill notbeinbreachofthelaw.

This is why peaceful protest has to now be given serious consideration by the public and civil society organizations.Theremustbe a concerted attempt to bring together all similar-thinking civilsocietyorganizationsto launch a massive but peaceful protest to prevent thesaleoftheMarriottHotel and to demand the renegotiation of the agreement signed with ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC.

But what form of peaceful protest can be undertaken to prevent the sale of the hotel? One peaceful means of protest which has not been tried much in Guyana is the formationofahumanchain.

It is hoped that our civil society organizations and social activists who believe that the hotel should not be sold will consider forming a peaceful human chain to demandthatthehotelnotbe sold. The human chain can be formed on the seawall behind the hotel so that it does not interfere with anyone’srighttofreedomof

Dem boys seh...

movement.

By linking hands and forming an unbroken chain around the hotel, civil society activists can send a resounding message to the government asking it to reconsider its plans to sell thehotel.

Human chains have proven to be powerful but peaceful means of fighting for justice and bringing about change There are several examples in history wherepeopleformedhuman chains to press their demandspeacefully.

In 1989, more than 2 millionpersonsjoinedhands in what was then probably thelargesthumanchainever. The chain stretched some 400 miles across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This peaceful protest was for independence from the Soviet Union. The rest is history

Four years ago, five million women in Kerala, India,formedahumanchain to demand gender equality andanendtodiscrimination andviolence.Oneyearlater, there was another human chaininKerala,andthistime the number increased to sevenmillion.

Who can forget the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong in 2014? The protest involved human chains and was a form of peaceful resistance against politicaloppression.

The people of India continue to use human chains as a form of protest. Twosuchprotestsaretaking placeinMirmarandGoa.

In 1986, six million Americans joined hands over a distance of 4,000 miles. The event was aimed

De Prezzie using a lot of big words to we pickney

De Prezzie must think highly of we educational system. He write an Open Letter to dem children and fromdewordsheuseinde letter, he must think dat of de children are either prodigies, scholars, geniuses or walking dictionaries.

Even some of dem teacher can’t understand whatdelettersaying,much less dem fourth and fifth graders. Dem children still strugglingfuhdecipherand crack the linguistic codes which are camouflaged in theletter

D e P r e s i d e n t demonstrated his lack of

understanding of the concept of age-appropriate language. HisOpenLetter takes the children on an excursion of multisyllabic mind-bendersandsemantic confusion But if de children do manage to get through de maze of the letter’s cluttered and confusing language and if dem can decipher de message, dem gan do very good at de PHD level. Is like de letter is an entrance examfordemchildren.

Prezzie is taking all the fun out of learning a language.Instead,hewants the children to become engaged in the sport of

at raising awareness about povertyandhomelessness.

In Catalonia, some 6 million persons formed a human chain stretching some 400 kilometers to advocate for Independence fromSpain.

These examples illustrate the impact of human chains as a peaceful form of protest They demonstrate that unity, solidarity,andasharedcause can create a lasting impression,raiseawareness, and bring about social and

politicalchange.

Remember, the strength of a human chain lies in the individuals who link arms andstandtogether,sendinga message that cannot be ignored. Guyanese should come together and form a human chain to pressure the government not to sell the MarriottHotel.Fortoolong, Guyanesehavefeltthatthey were impotent in bringing aboutpeacefulchange.

Butchangedoesnotstart withourleaders;changehas to be triggered by ordinary

citizens who believe in the power of unity and peaceful action.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions and beliefsofthisnewspaperand itsaffiliates.)

linguisticgymnastics,tobe engrossed in lexical extravagance and to grasp the intricacies of polysyllabicverbosity

Demboysgattoremind he about something. When yuh writing a letter fuh children, remember is children and not adults. And stick to de cardinal rule: simplicity is the easiest means of communication.

Andifbysomemiracle somebodycanextractwhat dePrezziewastryingtosay in dat Open Letter, they should enlighten us. We coulduseagoodlaugh. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Guyana's Vice President – a figure skater and flimflam artist in motion

It is always a source of entertainment to observe Guyana's Vice President, the Hon. Dr Bharat Jagdeo, in action.

If it were not for the serious underlying issues involved,Icouldbeamused, maybe even impressed. But when I observe the political figure skater that he has become, and the flimflam manthatheisnowallabout, there is less that is about laughter, and more distaste about what he puts before Guyaneseandexpectthemto swallow barbed hook,

twisted line, and confirmed stinker

My brother, this peculiar Guyaneseleader,Dr Jagdeo, is adamant that political donors could be subject to damaging boycotts by those who are infuriated by their cash donations, and who are thebeneficiariesofthem.

Onthesurface,itdoesnot evenqualifyforgoodtheater, soabsentofsubstancethatis (boycotts)andsuchafallacy that is when examined. My firstquestioniswhoisgoing to boycott whom? The second is who is going to

stand around and allow that to gain traction, spiral into the undesired, the possibly uncontrolled?

The third is where would, could, such targeting and boycotting lead, other thantotheusualpeteringout intothemurkofoblivion?

Tobeginwith,thereality of today's Guyana, is that there is only one segment of theGuyanesepopulationthat hasspendingpower,standing power, and staying power They are the shoppers and buyersandthriversinpresent Guyanese society. Need I

say more? Okay, I will. They do not belong to the ranksofPNCstreetagitators; nor any others from among the barren ranks that are (or pretend that they are) about what is at odds with the PPP Government, PPP interests, PPP businesspeople, PPP skullduggeries. Even those who sometimes assert that they are not so much in favour of the PPP Government, its leading manipulators(pickaname,a good one) are mostly, and usually, keeping one eye open for opportunities to

make themselves right, and one ear cocked for any whispers that could indicategoodthingsfor those who have the good sense to see how and where and whom the winds of goodnessblow

B y p r o c e s s o f elimination, or calculated individual conversion, there are few, if anybody left to boycott any identified political donor They couldn't even stand and boycott if Christmas Day weretobebanned. So,Iurge Guyanesetogetrealwiththis latest clever orchestration fromtheHon.VicePresident about publicizing the names of political donors could trigger targeting and boycotting. Dr Jagdeo's three-legged trick pony just lost another unstable ankle. Heisopenlyrunninghisown witness (donor) protection programme.

Next,forpurposesofthis conversation,Isuspendprior contrarian stances, and encourage citizens to visualize a boycott in action, such as it is. The people boycotted could be among those with the most reach in this society They make a calltoFreedomHouse,anda house falls upon the sorry headsofanyboycottersinthe blink of an eye. The same law enforcement apparatus that can be so, er, slothful w h e n g o v e r n m e n t relationships are involved, would be a roaring lion of bustle and hustle should any elements in the local environment decide to target thosewhogavemoney(nice, sweet, unlimitedcash) to the PPPGovernment.

Any human obstacles making fools of themselves would be sent scurrying for cover, and made to see the error of their ways Disturbing the peace, obstructing lawful commerce, creating a public nuisance,unlawfulassembly, or whatever the Hon Attorney General decides is thelegalflavourthatsuitsthe moment.

To emphasize the frailty andfallacyoftheeruditeDr Jagdeo's porous pawing at spiritsconceivedforhisown slippery constructs, who in the Guyana Police Force wouldbesothoughtlessasto issue any permit for such gatherings?

Even if one were not requiredduetothelow-level andnonthreateningnatureof suchboycotts,itwouldbe,if only to signal official displeasure (meaning Dr Jagdeo's) at any boycott contemplated Here is another substance (legitimate, I assure everyone) for Guyanese pipes: the PNC also gets funding from some of the samedonorsasthePPP,soit is somewhat on the shaky side to believe that it would actuallysteponsuchavisible and viable tetanus nail Again, my good brother, Dr Jagdeo, the figure skater is reduced to the collapsible, whenhecomesupwiththese flimsy and fleecy verbal planks. I suggest that he considers doing what Long John Silver or Sir Henry Morgan would have recommended of their errant fellows. That is, walk the planks that he erects for Guyanese.

I am still suspending reason and ponder a boycott of political donors in action. Towhatpurposeandforhow long? If it is to expose, nobody cares in Guyana. Guyanese are more concerned about KFC and Burger King than they are abouttheiroilmagnificence. So, it is a non-starter for the Brilliantine Dr Jagdeo to even trouble his glittering noggin about where publicizing campaign financedonorscouldlead. In aword:nowhere.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.

forGuyaneseamidst atragedy-KES -KES

By Shervin Blegrave

The Marriott Hotel ParkingLotwasa hive of activities on Thursday night as just over a thousand persons gathered to see soca artistes Kes the Band, Rupee and TamekaMarshallperformat “Stinging Nettles” an Independence Soca event promoted by Hits and Jams Entertainment(HJ).

Stinging Nettles was the first of four HJ events planned for Guyana's 57th Independence Anniversary and after seeing a large crowd,Kes,leadsingerfrom

Kes the Band attributed the large turnout was a sign that Guyanese needed a mental break from last week's tragedy at the Mahdia Secondary School girls' dormitory that claimed the livesof19children.

Asaresultofthetragedy, PresidentIrfaanAlideclared three days of national mourning.

“ G u y a n e s e p e o p l e l o v e music…I believe we needed a mental break from all the tragedythathasbeen

taking place in the country,” Kes said just before his performance.

Meanwhile, President Ali had called on promoters of Independence parties to take into consideration the tragedy which occurred and that the nation is currently mourning the deaths of the 19 children and postpone

their events However, Rawle Ferguson, Chief E x e c u t i v e Officer (CEO) of HJexplainedthat w h i l e h e understands the effect the tragedy has on the country, postponingtheeventswould haveagreatfinancialimpact

onhisbusiness.

“I am very saddened by the events that would have happened last Sunday, I understand the country is in

mourning, I had lost my son so I understand the pain the families are going through,” Ferguson told Kaieteur News

Trinidadian Soca artiste, Kes, during his performance at the Marriott Hotel Parking Lot

Barbadian Soca artiste, Rupee

A section of the crowd that filled the Marriott Hotel Parking lot on Thursday night

Scenes at stinging nettles

A local model show casing Genesis Band Costume for Cricket Carnival 2023

Guyanese artiste, Tameka marshall

Critical Mahdia fire victim to be flown overseas for further treatment

OneoftheMahdia fire victims that is listed as critical at the Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation (GPHC) will be flown overseasforfurthermedical treatment, Prime Minister Mark Phillips disclosed on Friday during an update on the Mahdia Secondary School's female dormitory fire that occurred last Sunday

The victim is being treatedintheIntensiveCare UnitoftheGPHC.

Prime Minister Phillips said “We haven't determine yet exactly where they will go but based on the doctor's work that girl is identified for further treatment overseas and she is being prepared to be sent overseas.”

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday during a briefing in Lethem had mentioned that of the two critical girls, one with a 40 percentburnhasbeenofferedtobe flown to Shriners in Texas, one of thebestburncarehospitals.

“The paper work in relation to their passport and travel document isbeingprepared. Weareworking simultaneouslywithCuba,whohas offered full support for all of these children to get the necessary medical care that may not be available here in Guyana,” the Head-of-Statesaid.

Meanwhile,thePrimeMinister during his media update said that every survivor of the fire and their families are undergoing counselling.Thisisbeingledbythe Ministry of Human Services and SocialSecurityhesaid.

The Prime Minister said that while the majority of the children have been flown to the city for assessment, they have identified four girls who are yet to be sent to Georgetown.

“It is our intention to find out where those girls are and bring themtoGeorgetownbecauseevery person who was in that dorm must undergo an evaluation by the specialistinGeorgetownthatisour directive,” the Prime Minister related.

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat the other girls admitted in the hospital are in a stable condition andareimproving.

Meanwhile, 13 children were burnt beyond recognition and as a result Deoxyribonucleic Acid

(DNA) samples were taken from families and sent overseas for testing.

The Ministry of Health on Friday disclosed that around noon theGovernmentofGuyana(GOG) obtainedtheDNAresultsmatching the names of thirteen bodies from the Mahdia fire tragedy that were previously not visually identified. TheMinistrysaidthatbodiesofthe 13firevictimswillnowbereleased to the families of the deceased for funeralarrangements.

According to the Ministry, the DNA analyses were conducted by the Pathology Laboratory of the internationally - recognised Icahn SchoolofMedicineatMountSinai, in New York City. Dr. Carlos Cordon-Cardo, Professor and Systems Chair, and internationally renowned for DNAanalyses, led a team of experts in conducting the analyses.

Further, arrangements have been put in place by the Guyana Police Force for families to take possession of bodies when and where, in accordance with their wishes.

The Government of Guyana is providingassistanceandsupportto all families for funerals over the followingdays.

As investigation into the fire continues, President Ali on Thursday had signalled the government'sintentiontoestablish a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the tragic fire at the Mahdia dormitory, which claimed thelivesof19children.

During his Independence Day

speech he said, “We are also committed to establishing a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the causes and circumstances of the fire which destroyed the dormitory and to inquireintorelatedissues.Thiswill be done soonest. The findings of that inquiry will inform the way

forward”.

Following the fire, residents and families from villages where the victimsarefromhadmade callstothegovernmentfor compensation, this the President committed wouldbeaddressed.

He stated that the government will support the families of those affected in every way needed.

This publication had reported that nineteen children – 18 of them school girls and one 5year-old boy died Sunday night when fire swept through a heavily-grilled dormitory which housed students of the Mahdia Secondary School, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Information reaching this publication revealed that of the 19 children, 14 children died at the scene,whilefivediedattheMahdia DistrictHospital.

Among the casualties were

twin sisters. The names of the childrenwhodiedonSundayareas follow: Adonijah Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha D'Andrade, (and twin) Mary D'Andrade, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniel, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts,andRitaJeffrey

In a press briefing on 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 PoliceForce(GPF)onTuesdaythat a female student of the Mahdia Secondary School reportedly startedthefire.

The police in their report said investigationssofarrevealedthata female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was takenawaybythedormmotherand ateacher

DNA results received; all bodies positively identified

DPI - The Government of Guyana (GOG) on Friday obtained the Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)resultsmatchingthe names of 13 bodies from the Mahdia fire tragedy that were previously not visually identified. The GOG is in a position now to release these bodies to the families of the deceased for funeral arrangements.

The DNA analyses were conducted on 14 bodies, the 13 bodies of girls from the Mahdia fire and one body of a boy child who died in the fire as well.The samples from the forensic specimens were obtained from the 13 bodies by a Specialist Pathologist through a bilateral arrangement between Guyana and Barbados while another forensic specimen was obtained fromayoungboyandwastaken

byGuyanesePathologist,Dr Nehaul Singh. These specimens (obtained) were compared to DNA samples takenfromparentsandsiblings.

The DNA analyses were conducted by the Pathology Laboratory of the internationallyrecognised Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New YorkCity Dr CarlosCordon-Cardo, Professor and Systems Chair, and internationally renowned for DNA analyses, led a team of experts in conductingtheanalyses.

TheGovernmentofGuyanasaid it is grateful for the forensic examination and analyses that were done by the pathologist from Barbados, Dr Shubhaker Karra Paul,whocametoGuyanaunderthe auspices of the RSS The Government also expressed gratitude to Dr Nehaul Singh for completing the initial set of postmortemsinMahdia.

Further, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that “The Government of Guyana expresses its gratitude to the Mount Sinai team that has been working with Guyana over the last year The Mount Sinai team graciously and generously contributed their expertise to complete the DNA analyses in record time The Government of Guyana is also grateful to the Hess Corporation for providing transportation to air-dash and rapidly transport the specimens and samples from Georgetown to NewYork.”

The DPI said that arrangements havebeenputinplacebytheGuyana Police Force for families to take possession of bodies, when and where, in accordance with their wishes.TheGovernmentofGuyana is providing assistance and support to all families for funerals over the followingdays.

An aerial view of the dormitory which was completely burned down in Mahdia on Sunday.

Some of the survivors of the Mahdia Secondary School's female dormitory fire who were admitted at the Mahdia Hospital.

Scenes from the evening of prayer and reflection held at theTabatinga Sports Ground in Lethem, Region Nine,ontheeveofGuyana's 57th Independence observance.(OfficeofthePresidentandDepartment ofPublicInformation'sphotographs)

‘Robo Cop’ says security training helped him save traffic cop's life

By Shervin Belgrave

For a 53-year-old former policemanandnowownerof a local security firm, his desire was to contribute to Guyana while not in the spotlight. However, Eustace Abraham, popularly known as“RoboCop”wasfrontand centre on May 5, 2023 when heintervenedinafightwhich resultedinapolicemanbeing beaten by two civilians. He rescued the cop from what wasabrutalassault.

Abraham in a recent interview with Kaieteur News said that it was his preference to be out of the spotlight due to the stigma attachedtohisnameoverthe years. Notwithstanding his desire to remain behind closed doors, it was difficult forhimtowitnesstheassault on the policeman which couldhavepossiblyledtohis death and the civilians being chargedwithhomicide.

Constable Harlequin was beingbeatenbytwocivilians Kessee Edwards, a labourer of Lot 62 Friendship, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and former policeman Mark C r o m w e l l , c a l l e d 'Diamond/Demon', a 41year-old businessman of Lot 40 Vigilance, ECD. Both individuals are presently before the court facing multiple charges for assaultingthecop.

Abrahamrecalledthaton the afternoon of May 5, he was heading to the Massy

Supermarket located in the MovieTowne compound at Turkeyen to pick up some groceries with his car when henoticedthatthetrafficwas backed up along the access road.

“...There seemed to be a policecarblockingthetraffic and then I heard someone saying they were killing the police. When I heard that everything came to me, the training and experience, I stepped out”, Abraham told KaieteurNews

The ex-cop continued that he observed two men beating a police officer (in uniform) viciously and decided to intervene immediately by putting his

trainingtowork.

The beating of the policeman and his rescue by Abraham were caught on cameraandarecordedvideo published across the various socialmediaplatforms.

It went viral and showed Abraham grabbing the assailants by their necks and pulling them off the officer after they had bitten one of his ears and cuffed him severaltimesabouthisbody

Abraham explained that what he did was actually the use of a force module he learntduringhistraining,that includes two techniques called the “Touch Tech” and a“de-escalationmethod”.

“I used de-escalation methods and several times, I touched them. So I did what youcallatouchtech.Atouch tech means if they were opposing my touch then I would have to come with somethingelsereflectingbut theydidnotopposemytouch andtheybothcalmeddown”, Abrahamsaid.

Asked why he chose to put himself in harm's way and take on the two men by himself to rescue the policeman, Abraham said thathehastothank“yearsof training” in the security sector-especiallyinthearea of executive protection - for equippinghimwiththeskills to de-escalate hostile and potentially dangerous situations.

The former policeman, who served as a member of

the Anti-Crime Task Force with Guyana Police Force (GPF) from 1995 to 2000 before migrating to Canada, said that he is willing to impart his knowledge with the Force so that policemen can be able to have a more tactful approach when dealingwithiratecivilians.

While some amount of force is needed in hostile situations, Abraham noted thatviolenceisn'talwaysthe first resort and that being tactful is a much better option.

Abraham has 22 years' experience working with renowned North American Security Companies and 16 years working in the area of

executiveprotection.

During his career, he spent some time training in Europe and worked as a bodyguardforhighnetworth individuals and celebrities visiting Canada such as, Flo Rida, Hillary Clinton and Chelsea.

Abraham returned to Guyana two years ago after President Mohamed Irfaan Ali invited the Guyanese Diasporatoreturnandinvest. Abraham has since established a security firm called Cyborg Protection Services, which specialises in executive and VIP protection, extraction of cash,goldandothervaluable mineralsamongothers.

Eustace Abraham during one of his hand-to-hand combat training sessions abroad

The former policeman during his career as a bodyguard.

Abraham and some members of his security company

WANTED VACANCY

One able- bodied male and female to work in a store. Call: 225-2313, 226-1497, 6588559.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

PETITION NO. FD-417 BETWEEN: (MATTIS) PHULMATTIE nee MAHANT Petitioner/ Applicant -and(MATTIS) RUDOLPH DEXTER Respondent

TO: RUDOLPH DEXTER MATTIS

Last known address

Lot 151 3rd Street Craig Village East Bank Demerara

TAKE NOTICE that on

the 9th day of March, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by GAIL ANN WILLIAMS nee MARSHALL the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and

3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 27th day of April, 2023.

Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana.

AND FURTHER TAKE

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

TOURS

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

SERVICES

For low cost repairs for AC units, refridgerators, freezers, gas stoves, washing machine, dryers, etc. Call: 629-4946, 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.

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.

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

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.

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 21st day of April, 2023 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana and on the Worldwide Web.

AND FURTHER TAKE

LEGAL NOTICE 2

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

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.

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

Filing Attorney: Ms. NIKITA EDWARDS GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC “Maraj Building” 185 Charlotte & King Streets,Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD581

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 28th day of July, 2023 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf

FOR

LEGAL NOTICE 1

Ms. NIKITA EDWARDS GUYANA LEGAL AID CLINIC “Maraj Building” 185 Charlotte & King Streets Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD417

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

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

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for

Directions Hearing on Monday the 26th day of June, 2022 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 779 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf. IN DEFAULT of your filing an

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-581

BETWEEN: (WILLIAMS) ANDREW Petitioner/ Applicant -and(WILIAMS) COREEN ANN nee RICHARDS Respondent

TO: COREEN ANN WILLIAMS nee RICHARDS Address Unknown

TAKE NOTICE that on the 5th day of April, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by ANDREW WILLIAMS the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetow, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 11th day of May, 2023 the

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

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

Dated the 18th day of May, 2023.

LEGAL NOTICE 3

Applicant in Person: Cherryann Tatianna Ryce nee Welcome

Address: Lot 56 Track

A. Colidgen, East Coast, Demerara Tel: 592-679-3063

2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD440 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION

FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-440 BETWEEN: (RYCE) CHERRYANN

TATIANNA nee WELCOME Petitioner -v-

(RYCE) CLIVE PAUL Respondent

TO: CLIVE PAUL RYCE

Address Unknown

TAKE NOTICE that on the 13th day of March, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by CHERRYANN

TATIANNA RYCE nee

WELCOME the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 11th day of May, 2023 the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana.

AND FURTHER TAKE

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

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within thirtyfive (35) days from the

US Vice President Kamala Harris to meet with Caribbean leaders

CMC – United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, will meet with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders early next month in the Bahamas.

Government Press Secretary Clint Watson said that Harris, who will be the highest US government official to visit the Bahamas since 1973, will arrive in the country on June 8 to meet with the heads of government.

CARICOM chairman and Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis will co-host the

US Caribbean leaders meetings with Harris. “This gathering will convene leaders from CARICOM and other key regional stakeholders,” Watson said during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing. The agenda for the discussion comprises pressing global concerns including climate change, energy management, food security, and the process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watson said that the dialogue will continue to highlight the

Ras Khafra represents...

From page 6

I would dissolve the WhatsApp group.

While, it is not my intention to be dragged into an exchange on IDPADA-G‘s in-

LEGAL NOTICE 3

date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 28th day of July, 2023 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom

Meeting ID: 648 772

9256 and Password:

5hRiHf

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

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

Dated the 19th day of May, 2023.

ternal affairs with Khafra, since Khafra over two years ago publicly disassociated the Rastafari Council from IDPADA-G, and late last year sought re-entry but did not complete the required documentation, it should be noted that his reference to the Pan African Movement Guyana and ACDA as organizations that “took a step back” from IDPADA-G is evidence of his sordid state of mind. Those organizations never stepped back. They have an unbroken association with IDPADA-G. Laughable is his contention that ‘ironically IDPADA-G was among those which sought external intervention’. Those are but examples of Khafra‘s mischief and barefaced disinformation.

While Khafra seeks to accuse the leadership of IDPADA-G of being political, it is his posture that seeks to infuse partisan politics into IDPADA-G. He explicitly pledges absolute loyalty to the Government and advocates for the exclusion of APNU personnel from the leadership of IDPADA-G.

IDAPDA-G is loyal to the African Guyanese community and the goals of the Decade and embraces all likeminded entities.

Incidentally, IDPADA-G convened a special meeting on Sunday, May 24, 2023 at which its membership overwhelmingly reaffirmed its commitment to the organization and pledged to continue the pursuit of the goals of the UN declared decade, including reaching out to the Government for dialogue, although attempts are being made to supplant IDPADA-G by bodies that do not have a mandate from the African Guyanese community.

Yours sincerely, Vincent Alexander Chairperson

IDPADA-G

importance of climate change and mitigation and will address the region’s energy crisis.

He noted strategies will also be discussed to reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels. Harris previously met Caribbean leaders at the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. “The Vice President’s trip delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean, pursue shared

prosperity and security, and celebrate the common bonds between our nations,” according to a US Embassy statement. “The Vice President is travelling to The Bahamas during Caribbean-American Heritage Month and will celebrate the longstanding people-topeople ties between the Caribbean and the United States.” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Usha Pitts, said her visit commemorates not just 50 years of Bahamian independence, but also and 50

years of enduring partnership between our two nations.

“Next year, the embassy team will move into our new US$310 million complex in downtown Nassau. From this base of operations, we look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties for the next 50 years and beyond. Vice President Harris’ visit demonstrates the value of our friendship and solidifies our commitment to address climate change and advance our shared democratic principles.”

US will default by June 5 without debt-ceiling deal, Treasury says

Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday the government wouldrunshortofmoneyto payitsbillsonJune5,which would trigger a potentially calamitous default, unless Congress raises the $31.4 trilliondebtceiling.

Yellen’s announcement allows a little more time for Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy to reach an accord to raise the federal government’s selfimposed borrowing limit PreviouslyTreasuryhadsaid thedealneededtobereached assoonasJune1.

Representative Patrick McHenry, one of the Republicannegotiators,said they could meet the June 5 deadline.

“We’re not done, but

we’re within the window of being able to perform this andwehavetocometosome really tough terms,” he told reporters.

Biden told reporters he thoughtthenegotiatorswere veryclosetoadeal.

“Things are looking good. I’m very optimistic,” Bidensaid.

Negotiators appear to be nearingadealtoliftthelimit for two years, but remain at odds over whether to stiffen work requirements for some anti-povertyprograms.

Any agreement would have to win approval in the Republican-controlled House and the Democraticled Senate before Biden could sign it into law - a processthatcouldtakemore thanaweek.

Negotiators have tentatively reached an

agreement that would cap spending on many government programs next year, according to a U.S. official.

T h e s a f e t y - n e t programs remained a sticking point Lead Republican negotiator Garret Graves said his party would not drop its demand that they require moreparticipantstoholda job “Hell no Not a chance,” Graves told reporters

Biden and his fellow Democrats have resisted a Republican push to require childless adults under age 56 to show they are working or looking for work in order to qualify fortheMedicaidhealthplan and the SNAP foodassistanceprogram.

TheRepublicanproposal

programs, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Democrats have said the proposal would onlycreatemoreredtapethat would exclude people who would otherwise qualify Medicaid and SNAP have

scaled back in recent months after expanding dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic Bideninparticular has resisted the work requirements for Medicaid, which covered 85 million AmericansasofJanuary

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks with reporters as he arrives for the day in the midst of ongoing negotiations seeking a deal to raise the United States’debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Lawsuit filed against U.S. state regulatory agencies for not upholding their constitutional duties to protect environment, natural resources and citizens

Earlierthismonth,a lawsuit was filed againstthestateof NewMexico,itsLegislature, thestate'stwoenvironmental regulatory agencies, their directors and Governor Michelle Luja Grisham for not upholding their constitutional duties to protect the environment, natural resources and citizens' health from despoilment by oil and gas production–Capital&Main reported.

Thesuitwasfiledagainst the officials and regulatory agencies in a Santa Fe District Court by a group of 15 plaintiffs. The lawsuit arguesthestateisnotequally upholding environmental protections enshrined in its constitution.

The plaintiffs are led by lawyers from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) andWildEarthGuardians.

GailEvans,leadattorney on the case for CBD said, “Seeks a complete overhaul of the statutory, regulatory and enforcement scheme for oil and gas,” adding, “This problem has risen to crisis levels as oil and gas production and the resulting pollutionhasexplodedinthe state.”

“Howmuchlouderdowe have to yell?” asks Zephyr Jaramillo, from the Pueblos of Isleta and San Felipe, campaign organizer with youth-based climate group YUCCAandaco-plaintiffin the case. He added, “Legal actionisourlastrecourse.It's t i m e t o d e m a n d accountability.”

Themediaentityreported t h a t f o r d e c a d e s , environmental groups and individualshavesuedoiland gasproductioncompaniesfor violating environmental laws. But this latest lawsuit takes aim at New Mexico itself, using the state's own constitutiontosueitsleaders.

Itwasexplainedthatitisa strategyshiftthatcouldforce elected officials to dramaticallyincreaseoilfield enforcement in the secondlargest oil-producing state in thenation.

Oil output in New Mexico has risen tenfold since2010,whilenaturalgas production has more than doubled. “This means that New Mexico plays a major role in the climate crisis,” Jaramillosays.

“The governor gets

appointed for these committeesandwhatnot,and they look up to her as a climate champ. It's just not the reality ” Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians

The plaintiffs hope that ArticleXX,Section21ofthe NewMexicoConstitution— 66 words in two brisk sentences holds the s o l u t i o n t o t h e i r environmental and climate fears: “The protection of the state's beautiful and healthful environment is hereby declared to be of fundamental importance to the public interest, health, safety and the general welfare. The legislature shall provide for control of pollution and control of despoilment of the air, water and other natural resources of this state, consistent with the use and development of these resources for the maximum benefit of the people.”

“Ideally this case wouldnotbenecessary,”said Evans,thelawyerwithCBD. “We'd have a government that took action to protect us all from the grave risks and harms of oil and gas pollution,”sheadded.

On the local front, High Court Judge, Justice Sandil KissoononMay3,ruledthat Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) breached its statutory duty, while handing down his ruling in the case for unlimited parent guarantee from American oil giant, ExxonMobilCorporationfor a major oil project by its subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), offshore Guyana.

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 since agreed to accept a US$2billionparentcompany guarantee from ExxonMobil and is poised to receive supporting documents on thisfrontsoon.

Guyana's Environmental body mandate is to “Promote, facilitate and coordinate effective environmental management and protection; and the sustainable use of Guyana naturalresources.”

In September 2022, two citizens, President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte, through their lawyers, Mr Seenath Jairam,SC,andMs.Melinda Janki, had approached the court to get the EPA to enforce a critical clause, Condition 14 in the Liza Phase 1 Environmental Permit (Renewed) issued on May 31, 2022 to EEPGL. That provision says ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company for EEPGL,mustcovercostsfor all environmental loss and damage that might result fromawellblowout,oilspill or other failure in the Liza Phase One Development ProjectinGuyana'sStabroek Block.

On the issue of whether the EPA has acted in breach of its statutory duty, unreasonably, and also

action to undermine and erode the terms and conditions of its own environmentalpermit.

Itwashighlightedthatthe agency carrying out public l a w f u n c t i o n s , notwithstanding that EEPGL's activities are of significant impact, failed severalaspectsofitsduties.

todotheaforementioned,the EPA also failed to suspend/ cancel EEPGL's renewed environmental permit even thoughtheoilcompanymade public pronouncements, communicating its intention toincreaseproductionlevels.

allowingEEPGLtocarryout petroleum operations in the absence of the compliance with Condition 14, Justice Kissoon underscored that at every juncture from the day the renewed permit was issuedtoEEPGLtodate,the EPA engaged in a course of

The court had ruled that theEPAfailedandomittedto mandate compliance by EPPGL with its financial assurance obligations of environmental liability insurance together with an unlimited parent company guarantee; the EPA also failedtotakeanymeaningful step of any step whatsoever to assess what was provided to it by the oil company purportedly as the environmental liability insurance when it was not in fact in keeping with Condition 14 of the renewed permit. Importantly, it was alsostatedthatdespitefailing

The judge said too, “The EPAhas relegated itself to a stateoflaxityofenforcement a n d c o n d o n a t i o n compounded by a lack of vigilancetherebyputtingthis nationanditspeopleingrave potential danger of calamitousdisaster.”

JusticeKissoonruledthat the EPA must secure unlimited parent guarantee fromExxonMobilbyJune10 – however, the Government ofGuyana(GoG)andtheoil companyhassincemovedto appeal and overturn the ruling. Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo has said that such ruling could affect investment in Guyana's oil and gas sector and kill the momentum.

Offshore oil rig (WUSF Public Media photo)

British cycling federation bars transgender women from competing in female categorya

MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) - British Cycling became the latest sports governing body to ban transgender women from competing in the female category of competitive events yesterday, tightening its rules around participation to “safeguard the fairness” of the sport.

Announced after a ninemonth policy review, the new rules, which come into effect at the end of 2023, divide cyclists into “female” and “open” categories in a departure from cycling’s international governing body.

The female category remains for those whose sex

was assigned female at birth and transgender men who are yet to begin hormone therapy. The open category will be for male athletes, transgender women and men, non-binary individuals and those whose sex was assigned male at birth.

British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton said he was confident that the governing body has “developed policies that both safeguard the fairness of cyclesport competition, whilst ensuring all riders have opportunities to participate.”

The federation apologised to transgender athletes for the long delay in writing a new policy after sus-

Saturday May 27, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

A heightened level of intuition and understanding of others might catapult you to the center of attention at a gathering, Aries. Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Communication with friends who have traveled widely could have you hankering to make a future visit to a distant place that you've always wanted to experience.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Dreams or visions could put you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have been aware of before, Gemini. This could enable you to release traumas from your past and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Relationships of all kinds are likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer. Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Today your emotional intuition intensifies your mental abilities, Leo. Friends and family members are likely to grow closer to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of their emotional world, Virgo.

pending its previous one last year.

“We recognise the impact the suspension of our policy has had on trans and non-binary people, and we are sorry for the uncertainty and upset that many have felt during this period,” he said.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) allows transgender women with reduced testosterone to take part in female events, but will announce results of a policy review in August.

Friday’s announcement, which follows similar rules set by Swim England and UK Athletics, means 22-year-old British cyclist Emily Bridges

Player-of-the-Match Kevin Sinclair takes 5-79, Brandon King scores 54 as West Indies ‘A’ defeat Bangladesh ‘A’ by three wickets

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Dealing with the ups and downs of other family members could be easier for you today than usual, Libra. You're less inclined to be logical and more apt to identify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Today your mind is strongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others. You might sense what they need to hear before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You generally like to think of yourself as someone who faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Your intuition is usually very strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Your intuition is heightened almost to the point of telepathy today. Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring about some intense communication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

will not be able to compete in the female category.

Some of the UK’s top women riders threatened to boycott the British National Omnium Championships last year over Bridges’ inclusion in the female category.

Bridges condemned the rule changes in a scathing Instagram post on Friday, calling British Cycling a “failed organisation.”

“British Cycling has just banned us from racing,” she wrote. “They have no authority to control this conversation anymore.

“I know a lot of people will think I’m being dramatic,” Bridges continued. “I’m having to consider an exit plan from this terrible island and figure out what point enough is enough. It terrifies me to exist at the moment... I don’t even know if I want to race my bike any more.”

Retired British swimmer Sharron Davies, a silver medallist at the 1980 Olympics and author of “Unfair Play: The Battle For Women’s Sport,” is a vocal opponent of the inclusion of trans and non-binary athletes.

“So it’s ok to be discriminatory against females but not trans identifying males?

I’m so over this PC crap… Do sport in categories based on the sex you are… not the sex you’d like to be but are not!” Davies tweeted on Friday.

The policy review was conducted by a working group in consultation with 14 focus groups plus a number of one-on-one interviews. It led to two new policies: Policy for Competitive Activity for all British Cycling-sanctioned competitive events, and Policy for Non-Competitive Activity.

The new policies were endorsed by the board last month.

Project “Cricket Gear for young...

From page 25 assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programme will also benefit.

The project takes this opportunity to thank all our supporters. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 592 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.

SportsMax - Player of the Match Kevin Sinclair’s fivewicket haul and Brandon King’s half-century, his first useful score on tour so far, steered West Indies ‘A’ to a narrow three-wicket victory over Bangladesh ‘A’ at Syhlet International Stadium yesterday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 274-6, a lead of 166, the hosts only managed to add an additional 23 runs and were bowled out for 297 for a lead of 189. Chasing victory, The West Indies were in trouble at 70-5 before King scored a stabilizing 54 as the West Indies reached 191-7 in 49.5 overs.

Irfan Sukkur, 64 not out and Nayeem Hasan on 14 overnight extended their 65-run partnership to 78 which was broken when Jair McAllister had Hasan caught behind for 17. Sinclair then dismissed Tanzim Hasan Hakib and Sukkur in quick succession for four and 72, respectively, before McAllister ended the innings with the wicket of Khaled Ahmed for 0 with the score at 297.

Sinclair finished with the impressive figures of 5-79 to go with his first innings take of 2-44. McAllister, the Player of the Match in the first drawn unofficial Test, finished with

2-42 while Akeem Jordan took 2-38. Chasing a target of 190 for victory, the West Indies were in danger of relinquishing their grip on the match, losing their first five wickets for just 70 runs. Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Raymon Reifer each scoring 22 before losing their wickets to Saif Hasan. Kirk McKenzie made 12 and Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze, four each, as the tourists’ run chase faltered.

However, Brandon King, who has had a terrible time of it so far with two consecutive ducks, found some form to help stage a West Indies recovery with a well-played 54 as he and Captain Joshua da Silva added a crucial 76 runs for the sixth wicket.

That stand was ended when King was dismissed by Tanvir Islam with the West Indies’ still 44 runs shy of their target. Things got worse when the bowler also had Sinclair caught behind for four. Da Silva and Akeem Jordan then combined to score the remaining runs. The captain scored an unbeaten 47 for the second time in the match and Akeem Jordan 22 from 20 balls as the West Indies ‘A’ secured victory at 191-7. Tanvir Islam took 4-52 and Saif Hasan 2-24 in the losing cause.

Seecharan (89) leads Melbourne New York Alliance to victory over Empire Cricket Club

Melbourne New York Alliance

t h r a s h e d Empire Cricket Club by 139 runsinthethird-roundmatch of the 2023 New York NationalCricketLeague40overscompetition.

Playing last Sunday at Baisley Pond, the righthanded Sachin Seecharan

struck an impressive 89 to see his side pile on a formidable 239-8 from the 40-overs while Empire Cricket Club, in reply, were skittled out for 100 in the 22ndover Seecharan caressed seven fours and three sixes during his 61-ball occupationandalsoreceived

admirable support from Marvan Persaud who hit a polished 68 Seamer Earl Henningham grabbed three wickets for 38 runs from his maximum eight overs while skipper and former Essequibo Inter-County player Brandon Cabose collected 2-30 in just four overswithhisleggy

When Empire Cricket Club batted,only the inform opener and USA-based Guyanese Vikash Persaud provided some resistance with 34 as wickets tumbled frequentlyonaplacidpitch

Slow-bowlers and Gustavus Hutson and Jagdat Hardeen combined to take sixwickets,finishingwith3-21 (65)and3-31(7)respectively Qumar Torrington also added hisnametothewicket-column by claiming 2-15 off four tidy overs.

The14-teamround-robin tournament is set to take a break this weekend due to theGuyanaCupcompetition but action will resume June 10thwithaseriesofmatches.

Empire Cricket Club will clash with Black Panters

Cricket Club while Mlebournewillmeetupwith Everest/ACS.

Meanwhile, this is

EmpireCricketClub’sdebut season. They have suffered two defeats now and picked up a win Cabose has expressedoptimismtheguys willbounceback.

Verstappen overcomes struggles to top Monaco practice

AFP - Max Verstappen resumed normal service yesterday when he topped thetimesforRedBullahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in second practice at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. The defending double world champion, who had struggled with his car in the opening session to finish sixth, was quickest in a best lap of one minute 12.462 seconds, 0.065 clear of the Monegasque local hero who is bidding for his third successive ‘home’ pole position. Carlos Sainz, who was quickest in the first session, was third in the second Ferrari ahead of Aston Martin’s two-time champion FernandoAlonso, Lando Norris of McLaren and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

Last year’s winner Sergio Perez was seventh in thesecondRedBullaheadof aresurgentValtteriBottasof Alfa Romeo and the two AlpinesofFrenchduoPierre

GaslyandEstebanOcon.

Thesessionwasruninnearperfect conditions, a warm afternoon sun touching 27 degreesasitshonefromawide blue sky over the

MediterraneanprincipalityThe track temperature was 45 degrees.After an encouraging morning run behind the pacesetting Ferrari of Sainz, Hamilton quickly confirmed that Mercedes’ upgrade packagewasworkingwellashe toppedthetimesonmediumsin

1:15 735 He was soon outpacedbyteam-mateGeorge Russellin1:15482before,ina flurry of pace, Alonso, VerstappenandHamiltontook topspot Verstappenimprovedagain in1:13857tosetthepacewhile the two Ferraris narrowly avoided a collision in the ‘Swimming Pool complex’ before the Dutchman trimmed histimedownto1:13

312

After24minutes,Alonso swapped his mediums for a set of softs and the serious stuffbeganwithhimblasting toabesttimeof1:12.786,an

improvement of nine-tenths onhispreviousfastestlap.

Fellow-SpaniardSainzalso switchedtosoftsanddelivereda lapin1:12569togotopagainas Alonso amused himself with a jokeonteamradio.

“I’mspeechlesswiththeseguys complaining about the traffic,” he said,ashisrivalsstruggledtofind spaceonacrowdedtrack With20 minutesremaining,Verstappenand Leclerc,whohadfine-tunedtheir cars after first practice, surged clearofthefield,theRedBull fastest in 1:12.462, shortly before Sainz crashed as he came out of the Swimming Poolcomplex.

The session was redflaggedasSainzclimbedoutof his Ferrari, having hit the unforgiving barriers with his rightfrontsection “Allgood,” he said, confirming he was unhurt

On resumption, Alex Albon, who had crashed in the first session, re-joined the fray in his repaired Williams as the shadows began to stretch across the circuit.

Sachin Seecharan

Max Verstappen takes Friday’s Monaco practice honours.

Celtics avoid elimination again, rout Heat to force Game 6

SportsMax - Derrick White led with 24 points and the Boston Celtics never trailed in a 110-97 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday to stave off elimination and force Game 6 in the EasternConferencefinals.

Bostonscored20ofthegame’sfirst 25 points and held a comfortable lead the rest of the way to cut the series deficitto3-2.

TheCelticswilltrytoprolongtheir season again when the series moves backtoMiamiforGame6today

They are two wins away from

becomingthefirstteaminNBAhistory to rally from a 3-0 deficit in a best-ofseven series after 150 previous teams failedtodoso.

Marcus Smart had 23 points and JaysonTatumandJaylenBrownadded 21 apiece in Boston’s second consecutive strong shooting performance.

The Celtics shot over 50 percent fromthefieldandwere16of39from3pointrange,includingWhitegoing6of 8.

Boston are 34 of 84 from deep the

pasttwogamesaftergoing31for106in thefirstthreegamesoftheseries.

Duncan Robinson led Miami with 18 points off the bench, while Jimmy Butler was held to 14 - his lowesttotalofthepostseason.

The Heat committed 10 firsthalf turnovers and trailed 61-44 at the break.

Miami point guard Gabe Vincent sat out with a sprained left ankle and was replaced in the starting lineup by Kyle Lowry, who had five pointsandfourturnoversin30minutes.

ExxonMobilBoys&GirlsU14Championships…

Over 50 matches to unfold this weekend

The Petra organization willundertakeamomentous task this weekend as action in the fourth edition of the ExxonMobil Boys and Girls Under-14 Championships enters its second and third days at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Ground.

Atotalof52matchesare billed to be contested between today and tomorrow in the Group stage.Today, Saturday, May 27,tenGirls’matchesand16 Boys’ matches are on the card with the exact equation set to take place tomorrow Kick-off time is set at 11:00hrsonbothdays. Girls’fixtures…

Intoday’sGirlsDivisionof the tournament which has matchesplayedsimultaneously, East Ruimveldt tackles Dora while Vergenoegen meet New Campbellvillefrom11:00hrsAt noon,CummingsLodgeplaySt Cuthbert’s Mission and West Ruimveldt goes up against President’sCollege

New Central High and Ann’s Grove then meet Westminster and New Amsterdam,respectively,inthe two encounters that begin at 13:00 hrs An hour later, the impressive Waramuri Top and Marian Academy go head-toheadwithStStanislausandthe Institute of Academic Excellence(IAE),respectively

The final two Girls’ match begins at 15:00 hrs and feature defending champion, Charlestown, going up against Tucville while Bartica face MackenzieHigh.

On Sunday the ladies resume with Waramuri Top versus New Campbellville and Tucville versus St Cuthbert’s Mission doing battleintheopeninggames.

At 12:00 hrs, Dora play

NewAmsterdamandBartica meetIAEwhileat13:00hrs

Mackenzie tackle Marian Academy and Charlestown battle Cummings Lodge

The two games at 14:00 hrs will see Westminster meet President’s College and St S t a n i s l a u s t a c k l e Vergenoegen.

Towrapuptheweekendfor thewomenEastRuimveldtwill collide with Ann’s Grove and NewCentralHightakeonWest RuimveldtBoys’fixtures

For the Boys, their simultaneously played encounters will be contested alongsidetheGirls,whichmean thatfourmatcheswillbetaking placeeveryhour

Today, President’s College challenge IAE while Dolphin battleNewCampbellvillefrom 11:00hrsthenMarianAcademy and New Central High meet Hope and Christ Church, respectively, from 12:00 hrs. From 13:00 hrs, Annandale battle Fort Wellington and CharitytacklesBushLot.

Carmel take on New Amsterdam while Mackenzie High meet St Cuthbert’s Mission,bothat14:00hrs,then a t 1 5 : 0 0 h r s Christianburg/Wismar tackle Queenstown and Ann’s Grove challengeDora

At 16:00 hrs, four Boys’ matches are scheduled to take place as defending champion, Charlestown, meet Westminster, West Ruimveldt battle Patentia, Bartica go up against Vergenoegen and Waramuri

TopfaceCummingsLodge.

In the day’s final two matches, East Ruimveldt challenge St Stanislaus and Chase’s Academic Foundation meet North Ruimveldtfrom17:00hrs.

On Sunday the Boys’ action commence with Bartica versus Carmel and

Charlestown versus Charity then moves on to the noon clashes that feature North RuimveldtmeetingDoraand Waramuri Top challenging President’sCollege.

At 13:00 hrs, St Cuthbert’s Mission meet Christ Church and WestminsterwillbattleBush Lot while at 14:00 hrs Vergenoegen versus New Amsterdam and Mackenzie tackleNewCentralHigh.

Christianburg/Wismar are locked in to battle Dolphin while Patentia tackle Fort Wellington from 15:00 hrs then four more matches unfold from 16:00 hrs. Thosematcheswillsee St Stanislaus College versus Hope, Cummings Lodge versus IAE, East Ruimveldt versus Marian and West R u i m v e l d t v e r s u s Annandale. In the two final matches at 17:00 hrs, Queenstown collide with New Campbellville and Chase’s Academic Foundation face Ann’s Grove.

The ExxonMobil Championships is an important event for young footballers in Guyana since it provides an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and compete against their peers from across the country The tournament also serves as a platform for identifying talented players who can potentially represent the Country at the internationallevel.

This tournament is sanctioned by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with support from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI)andMVPSports.

Derrick White led with 24 points and the Boston Celtics never trailed

Giro d’Italia 2023: Britain’s Thomas leads by 26 seconds ahead of imposing individual time trial

BBC Sport - Britain’s Geraint Thomas will defend a 26-second lead on Saturday’s individual time trial after Santiago Buitrago won stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia.

Colombia’s Buitrago took victory from Canada’s DerekGee,whowassecond for the fourth time in this year’srace. Behind them the general classification race sparked into life in the final 2km of the mountainous 183km routefromLongaronetoTre CimediLavaredo.

And Primoz Roglic cut Thomas’ overall advantage inthefinalfewmetres.

Slovenia’s Roglic took three seconds from the Welshmanclosetothefinish to cross the line alongside third-placed Magnus Cort, having looked as though he was going to lose time himself to the 2018 Tour de Francechampion.

Ineos Grenadiers’ Thomas responded superbly to an attack from the Jumbo Vismariderontheimposing 18% slopes of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - the highest

point of this year’s Giro, some2304mabovesealevel.

“When I went with 400 metres to go I realised after 100m that 400m is a long way at this altitude,” said Thomas.

“Ijusttriedtopaceitand thenRogliccamepastinthe last100metresorso.Ilosta coupleofsecondsontheline but it was nice to gain some timeonJoao.

“It will be super close tomorrow I think it’s going to be exciting to watch, horribletodo.”

Roglic’s decision to

change bikes with around 20kmremaining,toonewith low gears for the mountaintop finale, appeared to pay dividends.

He and Thomas, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Thursday, were able to distance Portugal’s Joao Almeida, who lost 20 seconds and is now 59 secondsadriftintheracefor theMagliaRosa.

It leaves the GC race finely balanced going into Saturday’s decisive mountain time trial - an 18.6kmrunbetweenTarvisio andthetopofMonteLussari - which packs most of its 1,050metresofclimbingand a ramp up of almost 19% in thesecondhalfoftheroute.

The Giro concludes on Sunday with a processional 135kmstagearoundRome.

General classification afterstage19

1 Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) 81hrs55mins47sec

2

(Slo/Jumbo-Visma)+26secs

3 Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates) +59secs

4 Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +4mins11secs

5 Eddie Dunbar (Ire/Team Jayco AIula) +4mins53secs 6

+5mins10secs

7 Thymen Arensman (Ned/Ineos Grenadiers)

+5mins13secs

8 Lennard Kamna (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +5mins54secs

9. Andreas Leknessund (Nor/DSM)+6mins08secs

10 Laurens De Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers)

+7mins30secs

Gill’s 129 helps Gujarat set up IPL final with Chennai

AFP - Red-hot Shubman Gill smashed his third century of the IPL season to help defending champions Gujarat Titans hammer Mumbai Indians by62runsyesterdayandset up a final against Chennai SuperKings.

Gill’s 126 off 60 balls poweredGujaratto233-3,a total they defended by bowling out five-time winnersMumbaifor171in 18 2 overs in the final playoff which started late duetoraininAhmedabad.

Gill hit 10 sixes in his knockandputonasecondwicket stand of 138 with Sai Sudharsan, who made 43, to tear into the opposition attack at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.

He became the leading batsman this season with 851 runs, surpassing Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis (730),beforehereachedhis IPLbestandthetopscoreof thisseason.

Fast bowler Mohit Sharma took five wickets for Gujarat, who won last year’s crown in a fairytale

debutseason,afteravaliant 61bySuryakumarYadav

The 132,000-capacity stadium had over 75,000 fans in attendance to witness the home team triumph.

Thefinalwillplayedon Sunday at the same venue afterM.S.Dhoni’sChennai beat Gujarat in the first playoffearlierthisweek.

Opener Gill, who is tipped as the future of Indian batting, made the most of a reprieve on 30 w h e n Ti m D a v i d droppedhimoffEngland

fast bowler Chris

Jordan

The 23-year-old Gill brought up his fifty in 32 balls and then exploded to smash sixes and reach his hundred in 49 balls, taking a bow amid a standingovation

He finally fell toAkash Madhwal and Sudharsan retired out before skipper Hardik Pandya, who made anunbeaten13-ball28,and Rashid Khan finished the innings on a high with 19 runsinthefinalover Mumbai’s worries i n c r e a s e d w h e n

wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan was injured after he was caught by the elbow of team-mateJordan. He was later replaced by concussion substitute VishnuVinod.

Tilak Varma struck 43 off 14 balls as he smashed MohammedShamiforfour fours and a six in an over but was soon bowled by Rashid’slegspin.

Suryakumar attempted to mount the chase in his 38-ball knock and put on a key 51-run stand with CameronGreen,whohit30 in a stop-start innings after being hit on the elbow by Pandya.

Suryakumar made his fifty in 33 balls but was bowled Mohit, who struck twice in one over to derail theinnings.

Rashid trapped David lbw for two and hopes ended for Mumbai, who lastwonthecrownin2020.

Scores: Gujarat Titans 233 for 3 (Gill 129, Sudharsan 43, Chawla 145) beat Mumbai Indians 171 (Suryakumar 61, Varma 43, Mohit 5-10) by 62runs.

Visma’s Primoz Roglic and INEOS Grenadiers’Geraint Thomas in action during stage 19. (REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini)

With the annual Caribbean School Boys and Junior Championship fixedforAugust,theGuyana Boxing Association (GBA) willresumeitsmonthlyU16 preparatory competition tomorrow, Sunday, at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym, Albouystown from 1pm.

TechnicalDirectorofthe GBA, Terrence Poole, stated, “This is once again another event of the twicemonthly U16 school boys and junior competition. The reason we are conducting these tournaments is that they serve as the primary preparation for the Caribbean School Boys Championshipwhichistobe hostedinAugust.”

Poolecontinued,“Weare doing all this as part of our

preparation to identify our bestfighters.Thatiswhywe are having the event so frequently so that we can provide competition to the boxers. It’s very important for us to have this type of competitionsothattheywill be ready for the Caribbean tournament. Registration of fighters and the competing gyms will occur on Sunday from10am.

Themedicalassessments will also occur during that time.”

GBA President Steve Ninvalle opined, “Our U16 championship is the backbone of Guyana’s boxing continued and sustained dominance in the E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g Caribbean.Thiseventwhich is married to our historic weekend training camps forms the bedrock of our

developmental thrust and streamlines and strengthens our transitionary protocols for the discipline which has seenevidentiarysuccess.”

He further said, “Our emphasis will always be on our youth programmes, which have continued to form the architecture of the association’s developmental agenda.

From infancy to the professional ranks, this age group remains a vital component of ensuring strategic and evolutionary continuity for our emerging talentsandrisingstars.

The importance of this initiative cannot be understated.”

The twice monthly U16 championships serve as the primary preparatory apparatus of the association fortheprestigiousCaribbean

GBA monthly U16 preparatory competition resumes tomorrow Project “Cricket

School Boys and Juniors Competition.

In 2022, approximately 16 editions were conducted bytheGBA.

T h e e n t i t y i s programmed to smash that number during the current calendar year The

resumption of the monthly programme also aligns with the GBA’s ongoing weekly training procedure for U-16 and Senior pugilists at the samefacility

The aforesaid stratagem, which serves primarily as a high-performance structure

to better equip pugilists for the rigors of international competition, is supervised and administered by the technical and experienced trident of National coach Lennox Daniels, Technical Director Poole, and Cuban coachFranciscoRoldan.

Denanauti Singh also known as Booman Singh is the latest sponsor to provide cash support of $20,000 towards this joint initiative between Anil Beharry and Kishan Das of the USA. Singh said that he is a keen followerofthiskindgesture, hencehissupport.

He is also impressed with the level of transparency and the wide reach across the length and breadthofGuyana.

The project is very grateful for this and other assistance so far and promised to continue to enhance the careers of our young cricketers and at the same time, keep them away fromtheillsofsociety

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $370,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, two trophies, seventeen pairs of cricket boots, thirty pairs of batting pads, thirty one cricket bats, twenty eight pairs of batting gloves, twenty one thigh pads, three pairs of wicket keeping pads, four arm guards, two boxes, nine cricket bags, six bat rubbers and six helmets. In addition totheabove,$600,000worth ingearwasdonatedbySheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman. All

cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime.

To date, fifty five young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from three junior gearbags,twotrophies,four armguards,twentyonebats, two boxes, four helmets, twenty two pairs of cricket shoes, thirteen pairs of battingpads,twothighpads, one bat rubber and nineteen pairsofbattinggloves.

In addition, two clubs in thePomeroonareabenefited from two used bats

Cold Fusion Cricket Club

thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received two, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeepingglovesanda set of stumps and bails. The Essequibo Cricket Board alsobenefitedalongwiththe Town of Lethem and youth coach Travis Persaud with oneboxofredballs.

Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the countryandclubleadersalso (Continuedonpage21)

Flashback - Terrence Poole (right) talks to Theresa London during her bout.

Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” attracts more cash support

Mr Singh and his wife.