Guyana Times -- Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Rehab Week 2023

“My life has changed significantly” – patient in testimonial

Two patients, who have benefitted from the services of the disability and rehabilitation department of the Health Ministry, braved the stage and gave their testimonies at this year’s launch of Rehab Week on Sunday.

This 20th edition of Rehab Week is being held from June 11-17 and was launched under the theme “Diversifying, Expanding Coverage and Optimising Care for all Through Rehabilitation.’

Speaking at the launching of the event, national volleyball player Kristoff Shepherd and beneficiary of the national hearing aid programme Nikita Browne

shared testimonials of how rehab changed their lives. According to Kristoff, with the help of therapists and his own determination, he was able to achieve many of his goals, including being able to walk again without any assistance.

“In 2022, I suffered a major brain injury and therapy has done a lot for me. I set goals and work towards them, and the goal we set is by August, they want me to run 100 metres in less than a minute. Well, I’m proud to say that I was made and I ran two 100 metres, one in 30 seconds and one in 28 seconds. The goal is to just take it light and…to be able to play an effective game by

December. I am pretty sure that I will work on that goal, and I will keep pushing,” Shepherd shared.

Meanwhile, Browne shared that growing up, she was ashamed of her hearing disability for many years but having benefitted from the Government’s hearing aid programme, her life changed significantly.

“At the age of five…I was in a car accident, which the impact resulted in me having a splintered jaw bone. I began having severe headaches and earaches soon after. Over the years I began losing my hearing in my right ear, going to school and college, sitting in a classroom trying to listen to the

teacher was a struggle. As I got older my hearing became worse and affected both my ears. It was during the pandemic when you had to wear masks, I couldn’t read lips obviously, so I reached out to [a doctor] and she told me both my ears are bad and recommended hearing aids. At the time I could not afford it and she told me she was going to put me on the list because they had outreaches, I am very grateful that I was successful [on] the list and I received my hearing aids last year,” and emotional Browne shared.

“My life has changed significantly since then, I am now able to attend training seminars at my job, I can do meetings and I can return to school,” she added.

The Director of Rehabilitation Services, Ariane Mangar highlighted the Health Ministry has made significant progress in getting these services to all parts of the country as she gave a comparison of the progress the department has made since its operation to date.

“As I reflected on this year’s Rehab Week, I

couldn’t help but remember when we first started many years ago and all the struggles we went through to get to where we are now. The staffing was small, the budget was small and rehabilitation was often overlooked. Many individuals did not have access to rehabilitation services, leading to an exacerbation of their condition, further complication, and lifelong consequences,” Mangar remarked.

“For the first time we now have at least a physiotherapist in every single region helping to improve

and expand the services in the regions in Guyana,” the Director added.

There are now ten occupational therapists, nine speech and language therapists, and 51 physiotherapists. The department is also now supported by three doctors and a physiatrist.

Meanwhile, in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG) and other partners, programmes are available for persons to become certified in occupational therapy, physiotherapy as well as speech and language/audiology therapy.

L-R: National Hearing Aid Programme beneficiary Nikita Browne and national volleyball player Kristoff Shepherd

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 13 – 01:00h –02:30h and Wednesday, June 14 – 01:30h – 03:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, June 13 – 13:00h –14:30h and Wednesday, June 14 – 13:55h – 15:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and sunshine during the day. Expect thundery showers and partly cloudy at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 12:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.34 metres.

Low Tide: 06:30h and 18:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.84 metre and 0.86 metre.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has swept a significant majority of the Local Authority Areas (LAAs) at this year’s Local Government Elections (LGE), with the Party making momentous inroads in townships such as Georgetown, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); and Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) –which are all considered A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) strongholds.

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo told a press conference late Monday night that it was an “extremely big night” for the party based on the preliminary results which show the Party winning over 65 of the 80 LAAs being contest.

In fact, he said the Party may ‘pick up’ some of the townships that were previously dominated by an APNU/Alliance For Change (AFC) leadership.

“We’re tabulating now based on the basis of WhatsApp images of SoPs [Statements of Poll)that have come in, but I want to wait until all the SoPs come here where we can actually sit with them and go through these…and then you will see the actual results that we know [will] show major inroads in the city, major inroads in New Amsterdam, Bartica and Mahdia. We may be tied in

these two areas from our preliminary results, but we have the plurality of the votes,” Jagdeo explained.

“We won more votes than APNU in those areas on the basis of the preliminary results that came into us. These are two towns that are controlled by APNU, we believe, although they might be tied now, because of us winning the plurality of the votes, we will win these areas,” he added.

“This is clearly a result that we were hoping we’d get. We were working towards [it] and it materialised…”

Based on information reaching this publication, there was a tie between the PPP and APNU in the four constituencies while under the Proportional

Representation (PR) system, the PPP leads by three votes.

In Georgetown, Jagdeo said the Party was projected to win more constituencies as compared with 2018 and that the vote differential between the PPP and APNU would be “significantly small”.

“So, it means we will do extremely well in Georgetown,” the PPP GS said.

“In New Amsterdam too, it’s the same thing. There are many, many areas in New Amsterdam, we went neck-to-neck with APNU in what was traditionally, where we would get 10 votes in the past in a particular polling place, we’re almost getting equal num-

bers with APNU in many of those areas. So, the results have been great even in New Amsterdam,” he further explained.

Major inroads, he explained, were also made in Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Based on information reaching this publication, the PPP has doubled its seats in that community, moving up from two to four. “We lost by a tiny margin…,” Jagdeo shared.

Moreover, based on the preliminary results, the Party also retained majority leadership in the Region One (Barima-Waini) townships of Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Child labour Social Justice for All. End Child Labour

Child labour is prevalent worldwide, but especially in ThirdWorld countries and countries at war. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF inform that child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide – and counting.

In information coming out of Geneva in ILO News in 2021, it stated the two organisations warn that nine million additional children were at risk as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most likely, that is a conservative figure. This figure is an estimated increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years.

The report points to a significant rise in the number of children – aged 5 to 11 years in child labour, who now account for just over half of the total global figure. The number of children aged 5 to 17 years in hazardous work – defined as work that is likely to harm their health, safety, or morals – has risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016. The ILO-UNICEF report indicates that 8.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are engaged in child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Here in Guyana, the Guyana Government has passed legislation and enacted laws that mandate severe penalties for infringements that could cause harm to children while yet recognising that the Guyanese culture allows children to be involved in family income-generation activities, as well as children’s efforts to engage in odd jobs in their spare time, once such activities do not affect their education and/or jeopardise them or their health in any way,

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud on Friday last called on stakeholders to collaborate to end child labour in Guyana.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton in his message for 2023 warned employers to exercise their due diligence to discourage the practice.

To quote the Minister: “I wish to remind employers that they have a responsibility to prevent and eliminate this scourge in society and to ensure that the necessary due diligence in their business processes and supply chains is done to discourage the involvement of child labour in the business ecosystem…”

The appeal was made during World Day Against Child Labour, which this year is themed, “Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!” Guyana proposes to end child labour by 2025, especially in rural communities where this matter is prevalent. According to Minister Hamilton as a country, we cannot allow the fight against child labour to regress.

The Government thinks it is imperative to prioritise ending child labour and to accelerate the approaches hitherto undertaken to end this scourge. To enable this, the Administration is seeking the involvement of private and public organisations, trade unions, and civil society stakeholders.

Hamilton iterated: “Here in Guyana, we have implemented numerous measures to mitigate the risk factors that provide for the enhanced welfare of our children through the Because We Care Cash Grant, Cash Grant for Each Child With Disability, and the National School Feeding programmes. Notably, together with our inclusive and well-performing education system, we have a good social protection system which covers many social benefits, including foster care and adoption. and public assistance benefits.”

In her remarks during last year’s observation, Minister Persaud had explained the anomalies differentiating acceptable childhood activity and child labour, as defined by UNICEF protocols; she said, inter alia, “… it is good to have children involved in chores at home. It is good to give them a sense of discipline and responsibility, but from the time it moves to force… exploiting them and putting them in the labour force at a tender age when money is involved … and the deviation becomes a part of the equation, that is when it becomes wrong… It is a crime. It leads to poverty, it leads to deprivation of education, it leads to societal exclusion, it leads to psychological trauma and harm, and it can lead to the worst forms of abuse of children.”

Good intentions cannot eradicate societal scourges, but holistic approaches by global multi-stakeholder endeavours may positively impact the status quo to levels where individual governments can effectively manage their internal affairs.

Artificial intelligence without borders

By Belén Fernández

Last year, the United States Department of Homeland Security advertised the impending “deployment” on the USMexico border of “robot dogs”. According to a celebratory feature article published on the department’s website, the goal of the programme was to “force-multiply” the presence of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as to “reduce human exposure to life-threatening hazards”.

In case there was any doubt as to which human lives were of concern, the article specified: “The American Southwest is a region that blends a harsh landscape, temperature extremes and various other non-environmental threats that can create dangerous obstacles for those who patrol the border.”

There is no denying that the US-Mexico border is an inhospitable place; just ask the countless refuge seekers who have died trying to navigate it, thanks in large part to ongoing US efforts to effectively criminalise the very right to asylum.

And the terrain is becoming ever more hostile with the mad dash to run the entire world on artificial intelligence, border “security” operations to boot. The proliferation of AIreliant surveillance technology has increasingly forced undocumented people into ever-more dangerous territory, where “non-environmental threats” will apparently now also include canine robots.

Back in 2020, Elbit Systems of America – the US subsidiary of Elbit Systems of Israel, another country that delights in maintaining a deadly border regime

– was already flaunting its AI-based “new solution” for CBP, which would work to identify “if there is an item of interest such as a human or vehicle approaching the border wall”.

To be sure, there are few things so dehumanising as the reduction to “items of interest” of people who have often risked their lives over thousands of kilometres in order to approach said border wall.

In 2022, CBP established an AI Center of Innovation. Then in May 2023, the Government agency announced that it had “embraced the integration” of AI to “directly support fulfilling its mission across the enterprise”.

US Customs and Border Protection, mind you, operates in no fewer than 48 countries.

So much for other people’s borders.

The Joe Biden Administration, of course, is fully enamoured of the whole virtual wall concept, along with the idea that it is somehow so much more civilised than the physical monstrosity envisioned by ex-President Donald Trump.

Granted, having asylum seekers perish silently in the desert is far less sensational than subjecting them to Trump’s proposed alligator-filled moats and flesh-piercing spikes.

But war is war, whether it’s waged via “smart” technologies or not.

And as we know from America’s many military undertakings, the business of killing enjoys strong bipartisan appeal.

Now, incidentally, one of the main players in the AI border game is Anduril Industries, a defence com-

pany backed by right-wing billionaire zealot Peter Thiel, whose endorsement of Trumpian anti-migrant fantasies underscores the highly- lucrative potential of xenophobia.

As of 2022, Anduril had already netted a hefty CBP contract to deploy 189 autonomous surveillance towers on the southwestern US border – a veritable field day for AI enthusiasts.

And at this year’s annual dystopian spectacle known as the Border Security Expo – held in El Paso, Texas –Anduril’s surveillance technology stole the show alongside robo-dogs and other, shall we say, “items of interest” that can be safely filed under the “creepy as hell” category.

Todd Miller, co-founder of The Border Chronicle and a veteran observer of the multibillion-dollar border-industrial complex, attended the expo in May and remarked in a subsequent email to me that artificial intelligence has “gone into hyper-drive on the border enforcement front”.

Noting that “just about everything vendors are peddling” nowadays contains an AI component, Miller lamented that it is now “full steam ahead into a new era, with very little pushback at all”.

Obviously, the USMexico border is already sufficiently inhuman without the addition of surveillance towers, facial recognition software, and other AI-powered exploits. When a young Venezuelan friend of mine named Johan crossed from the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez into El Paso in April, he was detained for six days in Texas by US immigration personnel who treated him and his

companions “like dogs”, he later told me.

Johan was permitted a single shower during his nearly weeklong detention, after which he was flown, cuffed at the hands and feet, to the state of Arizona and expelled back into Mexico –a popular US practice that intentionally jeopardises the lives and well-being of asylum seekers in the name of “deterrence”.

All of this was done by real live humans with an ostensible capacity for compassion – which certainly makes you worry about what will happen when the machines are in charge.

Meanwhile, refuge seekers are hardly the only victims of the AI bonanza and border militarisation in general. Recall that, in 2020, CBP deployed a Predator drone over the city of Minneapolis in response to protests over the murder by Police of unarmed 46-year-old Black man George Floyd.

Borders, it seems, are wherever the US says they are.

And as we plunge headlong into an era governed by technology that knows no physical or ethical boundaries, it’s dangerous ground indeed. (Al Jazeera) (Belén Fernández is the author of Inside Siglo XXI: Locked Up in Mexico’s Largest Immigration Center (OR Books, 2022), Checkpoint Zipolite: Quarantine in a Small Place (OR Books, 2021), Exile: Rejecting America and Finding the World (OR Books, 2019), Martyrs Never Die: Travels through South Lebanon (Warscapes, 2016), and The Imperial Messenger: Thomas Friedman at Work (Verso, 2011).)

The Mexican three-mast full-rigged ship Cuauhtemoc sails the Seine River to reach the Armada gathering of old vessels and tall ships in Rouen, France (AFP)

2 Berbice men killed in separate incidents –

69-year-old, teenager arrested for brutal murders

An occupant of the New Amsterdam Dharam Shala at Fort Canje, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), was reportedly beaten to death by a 69-yearold man of the same institution.

The dead man has been identified as 62-year-old Dharamdeo Singh.

Based on reports received, Singh was restricted to bed and as such was required to stay in the lower flat of the facility. However, Police stated that the now dead man was lying on his bed when the suspect walked up to him and dealt him several lashes to the body with a piece of wood.

The man sustained injuries to his body and was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Guyana Times was told that the suspect is an able-bodied man who would

normally do chores around the building. In fact, he reportedly mops the dining area every morning but he refused to stay in the upper flat of the building, claiming that it was difficult for him to climb the stairs.

The lower flat of the building was designated for immobile occupants. The suspect, whose name was given as Mohamed Khan, was the only mobile occupant in that flat.

When this publication

visited the facility, several occupants reported that Khan entered the room with a piece of stick, went straight to Singh’s bed, and assaulted him.

At the time, they did not raise an alarm since they too were fearful for their lives. Nevertheless, Singh’s motionless body was discovered when staff members turned up for work.

The Police were called in and some of the occupants reported what had

transpired. Khan was taken into custody. Singh was described as a soft-spoken and quiet person.

Meanwhile, in another incident, this time along the Corentyne, 26-year-old Pursoram Ganpat, a labourer of Well Rank Dam, Number 57 Village, was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Monday during a drinking spree at Queenstown, Corriverton, Corentyne.

Police stated that the suspect and the victim were imbibing together, when a heated argument ensued,

resulting in a scuffle. The suspect then armed himself with a knife and dealt the victim several blows to his body, thus causing him to collapse.

Ganpat was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. Police have since arrested the 18-year-old suspect.

When contacted, the now- dead man’s mother, Naiwattie Sancharran, related that it was the sus-

pect’s parents who informed her that the teenager had stabbed her son.

The woman recalled being told that his condition was not serious.

“When I go to the hospital, he done dead,” the mother stated.

However, Ganpat’s sister, Parbattie Chunilall, related that her brother met his demise after he reportedly intervened in a domestic dispute. The suspect, she added, was assaulting his sister when Ganpat got involved and asked him to stop.

“Is loose, he loose she and start to stab my brother up… he stab he like 15 times.” At the time of the stabbing, the suspect was heavily intoxicated.

Ganpat leaves to mourn his wife and a one-month-old child among other relatives. Police are continuing their investigations. (Andrew Carmichael)

Motorcyclist dies in Mandela Avenue crash

Amotorcyclist lost his life on the Mandela Avenue, Georgetown roadway on Sunday evening, after he collided with a motor lorry.

Dead is 47-year-old Lakeram Etwaroo of Lot 42 Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. He was operating motorcycle CH 2546.

Based on Police reports, the accident occurred at about 23:50h. The motor lorry, GDD 3729, was owned and driven by a 52-year-old of Airy Hall Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The lorry driver told Police that he was proceeding east along Nelson Mandela Avenue on the southern side, and as

he approached the traffic light, it was showing green in his direction.

The light indicating to turn south was red, so he stopped and waited for it to change to green. As he was in the process

of making a right turn to head south onto John Fernandes Access Road, the motorcyclist was proceeding west along the centre of the said road at a fast rate of speed.

As a result, Etwaroo collided into the left side

rear wheel of the motor lorry, and fell onto the road where he received injuries to his head and about his body.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were summoned and the motorcyclist was picked up

in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead on arrival just minutes before midnight.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver

of the motor lorry, which found that he had no trace of alcohol in his breath. Both the motor lorry and motorcycle were lodged at the station and the driver is in custody. Further investigations are ongoing. (G12)

Dead: 62-year-old Dharamdeo Singh

Dead: Lakeram Etwaroo

Murder suspect: 69-yearold Mohamed Khan

Murder suspect: Kevin Somrah

Dead: Pursoram Ganpat

Page Foundation

Comparing and ordering decimals

When you compare whole numbers, you look at place value. To compare decimals, you will look at place value. Line up your decimals so that the decimal points are in a column. Then begin by looking at the column to the immediate right of the decimal point, the tenths place. As you arrange your numbers, work toward the right.

By Walter C Williams

I know I should not look upon your kind

Nor feel the heat of love within my soul.

Where once was ash you came, and though confined, Set flame again: but yet I am not whole, For music, though it charm my troubled breast And in your hands rest tender mystic touch. A woman’s form you bear, and I would wrest Full price for that which I bore overmuch.

Remember: When comparing numbers with decimals, always look at the whole numbers first. If two whole numbers are the same, then compare to the right of the decimal point.

Exercises: Place these decimals in order from least to greatest:

You challenge me to bare my heart, but then

What would the Veil beneath which now we dwell Portray if lips of amorous men

Could stir your soul to sate your passion well?

Why move me rip the past and claim that which Awoke in me and which I treasure too?

Go, drink your fill. Tis aftermath of sin

That I should suffer thus for wanting you,

WORD SEARCH

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2023

No major voting anomalies identified – observers

…lauds well-trained

Local observers on Monday reported minimal anomalies during the Local Government Elections process, crediting this improvement to the well-trained staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

A total of 10 local observer groups were accredited this year to provide oversight on the Local Government Elections 2023, namely: the High Commission of Canada; the Embassy of the United States; the British High Commission; the Delegation of the European Union; the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES); AmCham Guyana; the Private Sector Commission

GECOM staff

(PSC); the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities; the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC); and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

The PSC and AmCham established a command centre and application to monitor the happenings across the country, where information was being fed from observers on the ground.

Executive Director of the PSC, Ian Chung told Guyana Times, “What we’re seeing so far is that at all the polling stations, things are moving smooth. We’re very appreciative of that fact. The polling agents, we’re getting reports that they’re operating at a high standard.

We’ve had no reports of incidents at this time.”

He added, “We found that the staff of GECOM are very knowledgeable of the process. They’re following the process to the T. If there’s any discrepancy, the Presiding Officer is taking control of that. At the end of the day, we’ve had no significant reports.”

The idea was to have a full overview of what was taking place, and real-time monitoring of all developments. At the end, a report would be curated and presented, documenting what transpired.

Chung detailed, “The idea is to have a complete overview of the procedure that is taking places. Our

PPP projects major...

FROM PAGE 3

The PPP has also retained majority leadership in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), with that municipality not being contested.

Meanwhile, the PPP GS said the preliminary results clearly show that the PPP waged a good campaign.

“Regardless of the results today, the PPP has already demonstrated that it is the only multi-ethnic party that is capable of bringing a crowd together…I made it clear too that it is very difficult to win in the stronghold of another party, but we made a valiant attempt. We waged a good campaign. The results will be evident to everyone,” he expressed.

New Amsterdam

In New Amsterdam, APNU is projected to retain majority control of the town-

ship, having already won four of the seven constituencies based on SoPs posted outside of polling stations after tabulation on Monday.

The PPP is projected to have won two of the constituencies while up to press time, counting was still ongoing in the remaining area.

Despite a slow start at the open of polls in the township, voting picked up during the course of the day. This publication was told that within the first three hours of voting, over 3660 of the 14,154 registered voters in New Amsterdam had cast a ballot.

Meanwhile, in the town of Rose Hall, APNU is projected to have lost three seats while the PPP is forecast to increase its dominance in that town. The PPP is projected to have won six of the seven constituencies, according to the SoPs.

Challenges

The PPP GS revealed that there were a “couple of areas” which the Party believes may warrant a recount.

“Because we believe that the SoP was made in error and it didn’t reflect the tally sheet, so the only way you can actually fix that now is by getting a recount of a few of those boxes…one is in New Amsterdam,” Jagdeo said.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is the official entity to declare the results of LGE 2023. The Commission had assured that some results would have been available as early as Monday night; however, up to press time, no official information was released. By law, GECOM has five days within which to release the results.

agents are spread throughout the country. We have agents from Region Two all the way to Region Nine. We’re trying to cover all the administrative regions of the country. We want to be able to have a full overview of everything.”

Chairman of the Governance and Security Sub-Committee, Desmond

Sears explained that some 60 observers were scattered to overlook the activities.

“They communicate whatever they see. If they observe any anomalies, they send that through to the command centre and then we will disseminate or make contact with GECOM or any other shareholder in this activity,” Sears noted.

The command centre would run until the close of polls and even after, until results are tabulated, confirmed and announcement.

As stated in Section 86 (1) (b) and Section 93 (1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, the Elections Commission is empowered to appoint local observers for the purpose of observing Local Government Elections. The manner in which local observers are approved is detailed in section 4E of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03, which replaced Section 20 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000.

There are a number of criteria that groups wishing to observe elections must follow. Among them is familiarity and experience with electoral laws and processes. Groups were required to have previous experience in election monitoring, and be able to maintain impartiality while conducting their duties. (G12)

PSC Executive Director Ian Chung

Woman charged for $283M Ponzi scheme granted $1.7M bail

…also charged for misappropriating $5.8M church penny bank funds

A37-year-old woman appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing 17 charges in relation to running a Ponzi scheme and misappropriating monies from a church’s penny bank.

Phylicia Jallim of Lot 22 Welcome Street, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBB), and Lot 103 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was arraigned before Magistrate Peter Hugh.

She allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme between July and November 2022, in which business people invested some $283M for a five to 20 per cent return on their investment.

Concerning the one count of fraudulent misappropriation of property, it is alleged that Jallim embezzled $5,800,000 in penny bank funds from the New Life Assembly of God Church located at Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), in 2022.

As a member of that church, she was entrusted by other members with their penny bank money to bank same in her name, and return the cash at the end of

Phylicia Jallim

that year.

Jallim, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 on each of the 17 charges, for a total of $1.7M bail. The matters have been postponed until June 19.

Jallim is a former Branch Manager of NAFICO insurance company. She was arrested and charged after the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU)—an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)—investigated several reports made against her.

SOCU in a release on Monday said that in

December 2022, a number of persons made reports that Jallim was operating a Ponzi scheme and investigations revealed that she “deceived victims into believing that she is the Chief Executive Officer of Dream Chasers, a legal investment where she borrows money from investors and lends the money to Government contractors and farmers who are having financial problems.”

SOCU also said “the company ‘Dream Chasers’ investment never existed. The farmers and contractors’ names she mentioned

to the victims as her ‘clients’ denied doing any business with her.”

It was also stated that a number of other investigations of similar nature are ongoing against Jallim.

SOCU is designated with responsibility for ensuring that money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes are fully and thoroughly investigated.

The cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Superintendent of Police Neville Jeffers.

The 17 victims were present in court. (G1)

Hire car driver accused of stealing passenger’s phone on bail

Ahire car driver has been charged with stealing his passenger’s cellular phone and he was hauled before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer the charge.

Hosea Gray appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to the

Changes...

…in political landscape??

It’s the day after the most consequential Local Government Elections in the history of Guyana – bar none!! Our political bugbear had been ethnic voting that made elections appear more like ethnic censuses! But by tomorrow we’ll know if the PPP has broken the back of this insidious practice we’ve known since the fifties. The PPP’s abandoned the old political folk wisdom of taking LGE for granted – on the grounds they “didn’t matter”— and given them as much attention as any National Election. They’ve added a whole new twist to the old saying that “all politics is local”??

Before we even digest the results as they trickle in, we should ask “why”?. The easy answer is that the PPP seized the opportunity to hone their electoral machinery to get ready for 2025!! And that’s as good a reason as any. LGE literally force parties to work at the grassroots – even when their big wigs might prefer the glamour of national campaigns!! Everybody gotta get their boots dirty visiting into the hamlets and backdams squeezing that last local vote out. Did you notice those PPP Ministers posing with tractors??

But that wasn’t the only reason. More germane is that the PPP’s accepted their old ethnic majority has now disappeared completely. And since it’s shown no signs of reversing – with emigration continuing from their old base – they gotta reach across the old divides to win elections!! It’s as simple as that!! But interestingly, the PNC doesn’t seem to’ve absorbed that lesson…even though their base has always been a minority!! Their posture has been one of truculence ever since they lost the 2020 elections by cutting off the legs of the AFC that had brought in votes from “outside”.

And this is why – and your Eyewitness is going out on a limb here – when the PPP shows SIGNIFICANT gains in traditional PNC constituencies, it’s gonna be a game changer. The PNC’s gonna have to follow suit in their mobilisation efforts – or go the way of the Dodo and face extinction!! Some say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks – and Granger after the PNC won in 2016 certainly proved that!! So maybe the PNC ought to elect some new dogs into its leadership ranks?? You’d think so, wouldn’t you??

charge which stated that on June 3, at D’Urban Street, Georgetown, he stole a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 valued at $150,000 from Leinne Adolph.

The prosecutor’s facts revealed that Gray and the virtual complainant are known to each other. On the day in question, Adolph boarded a taxi at Unique Taxi Service and travelled to Coldingen on the East Coast of Demerara.

When the woman arrived at her destination, she came out of the car and went to her gate. However, after realising that she did not have the keys, she reached into her handbag for her phone to call her sister but realised that she had left the phone inside the vehicle.

Gray had already driven away from the scene, and when Adolph contacted him via phone questioning him about her cell phone, he told her that he did not see it in the car.

After listening to the facts and considering the prosecutor’s no-objection to bail, the presiding Magistrate granted the taxi driver $75,000 bail, and adjourned the matter to July 7. (G1)

We’ll know soon enough…’cause your Eyewitness has been hearing about their internecine squabbles that’ll surely boil over after this drubbing at the LGE. This is what forced Corbin to move aside back in 2011 and maybe Norton’s gonna do the same for the survival of the party – if he cares enough.

The bottom line is that any rational political leader going forward cannot play the old “race card’. It’s now the Joker of the pack!!

…in Rodney’s legacy??

Today’s the 43rd anniversary of Burnham’s assassination of Dr Walter Rodney. And your Eyewitness ain’t throwing any gratuitous shade on Fatboy!! A distinguished Commission of Inquiry pronounced on the matter and identified him as the intellectual author. But the die was cast when Rodney returned from Tanzania in 1974 to take up a teaching appointment in history at UG. He’d already given an interview in “Black Scholar” where he fingered Burnham as being behind the official moves to deny radical Black groups like ASCRIA and NJAC from attending the Pan African Congress in Tanzania. While he postured as a “radical”!

It was Hamilton Green on the UG Council who executed the firing of Rodney…but this only gave the great historian time to mobilise at the grassroots – even as he did research into his “History of the Working People of Guyana”. It’s simply amazing to witness those who swear they are “Rodneyites” now praising Green for representing the best of Black Leadership!

O Tempora!! O mores!!

…in the Ukraine War

Your Eyewitness notes the long-awaited offensive by Ukraine into Russia is now under way. He hopes the war will soon be over because of the billions in sophisticated weaponry shipped to Ukraine.

“Flour too dear a shap!!”

Hosea Gray

Soldier shot dead by colleague at Timehri army base

…27 rounds discharged; BoI to be convened

Aseemingly frivolous fight between two soldiers at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp in Timehri on Monday morning turned deadly when one of them indiscriminately discharged a high-powered rifle, striking the other several times about his body, resulting in his demise.

Dead is 24-year-old Tevon Daymon, a Private in the GDF who was attached to 21 Artillery Company and who resided at Block X Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The suspect, a 25-yearold Lance Corporal, has since been arrested.

Reports are that around 04:51h on the day in question, a fight erupted between the duo whilst they were on duty at Camp Stephenson. This publication understands that the soldiers were performing

security duties when they were embroiled in an argu-

ment over the opening of a gate.

It was during this argument that Daymon reportedly struck the suspect to his head with the magazine from his rifle, thus causing him to sustain injuries. Daymon then began to run away but the suspect, who was armed with an AK rifle loaded with 30 rounds, discharged 27 bullets in the victim’s direction, causing him to collapse; two of the rounds reportedly struck the young soldier.

Both men sought medical attention but Daymon later succumbed to his injuries whilst at the Diamond Hospital at around 07:45h.

The GDF has since issued a statement noting that this incident is an isolated one and that it in no way reflects the overall discipline and professionalism of its ranks.

Moreover, the Force said a Board of Inquiry will be convened to investigate the

circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of Private Daymon.

Meanwhile, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, officers and ranks have expressed condolenc-

es to the parents and family of the late Private Daymon. A statement from the Force said the organisation will ensure that all necessary support is given to the family at this time. (G11)

Tevon Daymon

Some of the bullet holes at Camp Stephenson, Timehri

US Embassy reopens visa Document Service Centre

It said that the pick-up of passports and other visa-related documents will also be facilitated at the DSC, and as such, visa applicants should no longer use DHL to submit or receive visa documents from the close of business on June 12.

The newly renovated DSC facility is conveniently located near the US Embassy and will create a streamlined and more efficient process for applicants to submit visa application documents when instructed to do so or to pick up their passports. DSC staff will ensure all required documents are provided, which will streamline visa application processing. The DSC is operated by CSRA (Guyana) Inc and is open to the public from 08:30h (8:30 am) to 16:00h (4:00 pm) from Monday to Friday.

R categories) will increase from $190 to $205.

The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicant in a specialty occupation (E category) will

increase from US$205 to US$315.

A total of 8004 non-immigrant visas (visas for foreign nationals wishing to enter another country tem-

porarily) were issued by the US Embassy in Georgetown for the fiscal year 2022, according to the US State Department annual visa statistics report. (G1)

The United States embassy in Georgetown on Monday announced the reopening of its Document Service Centre (DSC), noting that the move is to improve the efficiency of the US visa application process and to provide better services to visa applicants.

The Embassy’s Consular Section said that the DSC

will be reopened today.

“As of June 13, 2023, applicants for US visas (immigrant and non-immigrant) instructed to submit documents to the US Embassy as part of their applications will drop off documents at the DSC. The DSC is located at 223 Camp Street, Georgetown,” the Embassy has advised.

Processing fees increase Meanwhile, effective June 17, there will be an increase in the processing fees for certain non-immigrant visa (NIV) applications. The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2), and other non-petition-based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from US$160 to US$185. The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and

Bartica man dies after mining pit collapses

Aminer of Goshen village, Bartica, Essequibo River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was on Sunday killed after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Quartzstone Backdam.

Dead is 28-year-old Oniel Richardson.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 13:00h, the now dead man’s cousin and an associate made checks for him but only found his partially buried detector. Richardson was nowhere in sight. He was reportedly self-employed as a detector in search of gold.

“Suspecting the worse,

they began digging and later found the motionless body of the victim beneath a heap of loam. The body was removed and the Police were notified,” a release from the Police stated.

However, upon arriving at the scene, the man’s body was seen lying above an old dug-out pit next to a wall of sand that appeared to have collapsed.

His body was transported to the Bartica Regional Mortuary and then to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour where a post-mortem will be conducted.

Police are investigating the incident.

Staff members of the DSC

The Document Service Centre at Sheriff Street, in Georgetown

Dead: Oniel Richardson

Major French bank, energy, maritime firms to visit Guyana …in bid to explore investment opportunities

Desist from child labour practices –Hamilton to employers

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has reminded employers of their responsibility to prevent the scourge of child labour, by exercising their due diligence to discourage such practice.

He shared this position on Monday, as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing World Day

International Labour Organisation (ILO), there is an estimated 160 million children in child labour globally, accounting for almost one in 10 of all children worldwide.

“This is indeed troubling. Therefore, conscious efforts must be taken to ensure that policies and programme initiatives are germane and

Adelegation of French businesses will later this month visit Guyana to explore investment opportunities in a variety of sectors including finance, maritime transport, and energy.

The French trade mission will mostly comprise of Small Medium Enterprises from French Guiana and the French Caribbean; with the business representatives expected to arrive on June 19.

But outside of the SMEs, there are at least three major companies that will be part of the delegation.

One of them is Société Générale, a French-based multinational financial services company founded in 1864, registered in downtown Paris; it is France’s third largest bank by total assets and the sixth largest bank in Europe.

Another major company on the delegation is maritime transportation company Soreidom & Caribbean Line, which offers regular shipping services between

Europe and the Caribbean, the northern coast of South America and Brazil.

The third firm is HDF Energy, which is headquartered in France. HDF Energy is a global pioneer in hydrogen power, with regional offices in Australia, Barbados, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa. The company designs and develops high-power hydrogen power plants that generate stable and firm, non-intermittent, non-polluting renewable energy.

The trade mission will be led by the President of the Collectivité territoriale de Guyane, the executive entity of the French Guiana region, Gabriel Serville, and the French Ambassador to Suriname and Guyana Nicolas De Lacoste.

The visit is co-organised by the Chamber of Commerce of French Guiana and the French Embassy in Suriname and Guyana. The delegation is scheduled to depart on June 21.

During the visit, the

team will be meeting with members of the Government and local private sector.

Guyana and France have been taking steps in recent times to strengthen their bilateral relationship. In April 2023, a delegation of French senators had visited the country where they met with President Dr Irfaan Ali. The French delegation was led by Joslle GarriaudMaylam and featured Cattherine Dumas, Phillipe Falliot, Andre Vallini and Nicole Duranton. During the meeting, the Guyanese Head of State had described France as a “key partner” for the country’s future development.

The French senators’ visit to Guyana forms part of that country’s mission “to assess the new strategic balance in South America”, according to information from the French Embassy to Guyana.

The visit also contributed to materialising France’s new commitment to Guyana and the Guiana Shield region as a whole.

During the visit, the French delegation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Guyana.

As the two countries

seek to deepen their ties, a local office of the French Embassy is set to be opened on September 1.

Currently, the Embassy of France to Guyana and Suriname is located in Paramaribo, with the ambassador being stationed in the neighbouring Dutchspeaking country.

There are roughly 50 French persons residing in Guyana but the size of the Guyanese diaspora in France is not immediately known. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations on June 22, 1967.

President Ali had previously noted that one of Guyana’s foreign policy goals is to expand its relationship with French Guiana – with an overseas department of France.

“We’re all part of the Guiana Shield. So…we’re now trying to expand that relationship,” the Guyanese Head of State had expressed. (G11)

Against Child Labour, where calls were reignited for children to be free from the burden of working, deprived of education and other fundamental rights.

“I wish to remind employers that they have a responsibility to prevent and eliminate this scourge in society and to ensure that the necessary due diligence in their business processes and supply chains is done to discourage the involvement of child labour in the business ecosystem,” the Minister penned in a statement.

According to the

effective so that the commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal Eight: Target Seven to end child labour in all of its forms by 2025 is realised,” he further commented.

Hamilton opined that the slogan: “Social Justice for All. End Child Labour,” is most fitting as there is a fundamental and vital link between social justice and child labour. The pursuit of social justice for all would certainly see the prevention, reduction and elimination of child labour.

French Ambassador to Guyana, Nicolas de Lacoste

Guyana votes: Local Government

84-year-old Arnold Archer cast his ballot at the Wishart Hill Primary School

A voter at St Winefride’s Secondary School APNU MP Amanza Walton-Desir

Antonio Durant, 21, a first-time voter, cast his ballot at the Wishart Hill Primary School, Constituency Seven

APNU MP Jermaine Figueira after casting his vote in Wismar, Linden

APNU candidate Sharma Solomon after casting his ballot at the Linden Foundation Secondary

Aubrey “Shanghai” Major, after voting at Linden Foundation Secondary

Avis Godfrey Isaacs (c) of the New Horizon Movement after casting his ballot. He is contesting in Constituency One, Linden

Candidate for Constituency Two (KittySubryanville) Rudolph Dyal noted that the process went smoothly Eric at

Malcolm Ferreira

PPP/C candidate Dwayne Charles after casting his ballot at the Linden Foundation Secondary School

Ramnarain the

Rawle Friday, former APNU Councillor

Voters at the Montrose Primary School – Better Hope/LBI NDC

Arianna Culpepper (right) voted at the Agricola Primary School

Wanita

President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali cast their ballots at the Leonora Technical Institute

A Port Kaituma, Region One resident (DPI photo)

Residents of Mahdia, Region Eight (DPI photo)

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Government Elections 2023

Carol Bhagot – PPP/C campaign manager, Berbice

Johnson, 67, cast his ballot the Harmony Secondary School, Constituency Six

Esan Vanderstoop, crossover and sitting Councillor on the NA Town Council, the PPP/C candidate for Constituency Four

Former AFC MP and now PPP/C candidate Audwin Rutherford after casting his ballot

Kerkorian Fraser – APNU NA

Ramnarain Ramroop, 91, and Sahidan Ramroop, 88, voted at the St John's College Secondary School in Georgetown

Regional Chairman David Armogan and his wife Helina after voting at New Amsterdam Primary

The Samuels family came out to vote as a family at Harmony Secondary, Constituency Six

Voter Avrion Bhagot A voter from Agricola

Wainwright McIntosh – Deputy Mayor, NA

Wanita Borrows – PPP/C Candidate

Port Kaituma, Region One residents (DPI photo)

Residents of Mahdia, Region Eight (DPI photo)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2023

Guyanese cast LGE votes in smooth process

body coming together and work as one to live in love and peace. I want to see one people, one nation, one Guyana.”

Providence Primary School was also buzzing throughout the day when this publication showed up. From all indication, it was moving smoothly.

Over on the West Bank of Demerara, some voters were displeased that their respective polling stations were located outside of the village, since one was already present in close proximity. This was the case for some persons residing in Pouderoyen.

For Devindra Persaud, being a first-time voter made him nervous. However, he turned up to vote, sharing the importance of playing a part in the electoral process and identify leaders to improve the lives in these communities.

Another voter, Steve Hardpaul, expressed, “It was my first time voting, and I was a bit nervous but at the time, it wasn’t a hard process so I put my X at in the right box and voted for the people that will bring development.”

Voting opened across polling stations across the country on Monday for the highly-anticipated Local Government Elections (LGE) with a large turnout from Guyanese, who were eager to exercise their franchise.

As it clocked 06:00h, polling stations opened and thereon, persons trickled in to cast their ballots –many of whom indicated to Guyana Times that it was a smooth process with no hiccups.

Some 14,500 temporary staff hired by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were ready to assist so that persons could vote and elect leaders at the local level.

In an effort to ensure all polling stations remained incident-free, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were deployed to the various polling stations across the country.

Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’, Calvin Brutus; and Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’, Ravindradat Budhram visited various polling stations within the Georgetown Municipality including: St John Association of Guyana, St John’s College, The Bishops’ High School, and St Barnabas Special School.

In Georgetown, the robust campaigning of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic to take over the helm of City Hall stood against the People’s National Congress’ five-decade incumbency. This time around, the PPP/C was lobbying for citizens to give the party a

chance, having outlined the current mismanagement and neglect of the city.

In showing up to vote, citizens shared that they would like to see improvements in their communities albeit with better roads, drainage, infrastructure or better leadership.

At the Dharmic Rama Krisha Primary School, the candidate for constituency two (Kitty/Subryanville) told this publication that the process, while slow, was going smoothly.

“It’s slow, which is expected in these elections. That’s the norm, especially since it is a work day also but people are trickling in and it’s going well,” Dyal commented.

Meanwhile, Gangadai Persaud came out early to cast her ballot. After her finger was inked at the St Winefride’s Secondary School, she lobbied, “I live on D’Andrade Street. The bridge there needs a rail. It has been two years now… and we need better roads.”

Like many constituencies, persons took it upon themselves to vote in the wee hours of the morning before heading to work.

During the 2018 LGE, Pandit Ubraj Narine was elected as Mayor of Georgetown.

Greater Georgetown

Meanwhile, at Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara, 19-year-old Arianna Culpepper wanted to see greater collaboration in order to enhance her community.

The first-time voter opined, “I would like to see a lot of things, like every-

One person anonymously detailed, “There is a polling station in my street so when

Additionally, Ashley Dindyal believes that everyone should vote in order to place a party that will aid in the development and betterment of the country.

Guyanese.”

cess.

PPP/C Candidates Paris Archer and Natasha Welch; and APNU Candidate Faye Rodrigues spared no efforts to venture out early from their homes, and were all smiles after leaving the polling station. They were ready to serve their respective constituencies should they be elected.

Contrary to general elections, Local Government Elections at Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) saw minimal movements of residents across the six constituencies in the community.

I showed up there, they said I am not on the list. When we checked, I have to go to the other street, and for some people that don’t know where, it can discourage them [from voting] after all the runaround.”

Essequibo Coast

Over in Essequibo, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), some 35,000 registered voters were scheduled to cast their ballots within the districts of Charity/Urasara, Evergreen/Paradise, Aberdeen/Zorg-En-Vlygt, Annandale/Riverstown, Good Hope/Pomona, and the Anna Regina Municipality.

From reports on the ground, the atmosphere was calm and quiet along the coast.

Speaking with Guyana Times, persons indicated that the voting process was transparent, simple, and straightforward.

“I voted and will continue to vote because everyone need betterment… we all have to vote for people that will bring betterment and improve the lives of all

Kwakwani described voting as a simple process and one that was free of discrepancies. She shared, “It was an easy and transparent pro-

At the November 2018 local government polls, the then PPP/C Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This had followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs. (Rupa Seenaraine; Raywattie Deonarine and Solomon McGarrell)

Son of prominent businesswoman found murdered in G/T apartment

The lifeless body of 36-year-old Nakema

Dimitri Deonauth – the son of the owners of Nesha’s Flowerland – was on Monday found in his Regent and Cummings Street, Georgetown apartment with several wounds on his body.

The body was discovered by his father, who immediately raised an alarm. The Police were contacted and an investigation was launched.

Investigators are reportedly working on the theory that the man might have been strangled to death since there was a mark

around his neck.

While the Police have not released any information regarding the murder, Guyana Times understands that the dead man’s father was seen entering and exiting the apartment building on Monday morning.

Deonauth reportedly lived on the top floor of the three-storey building which also has an electronics store on the ground floor and a storage facility on the second. He was last seen leaving his uncle’s business in the company of his father. An investigation is underway.

Dead: Nakema Dimitri Deonauth

Top Cop Clifton Hicken inspected polling stations in Georgetown with other senior ranks

A voter showing her inked finger at Taymouth Manor, Essequibo Coast

Persons entering Providence Primary School to exercise their franchise

APNU Candidate Faye Rodrigues voted in Kwakwani

Kwakwani Latoya Mohamed of

More than 50% secondary schools have counselling services – Minister

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has said that more than half of the secondary learning institutions across Guyana are equipped with staff who are dedicated to counselling children.

She made this statement during a recent episode of “Guyana Dialogue”.

This has also helped the Ministry see a stronger retention rate of school dropouts and students who might not be attending schools regularly for various reasons.

“We have in 80+ high schools right now, out of

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian former PM who overcame various scandals to hold office four times, has died at 86.

He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. In April, he was treated for a lung infection linked to leukaemia.

Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void", Italy's Defence Minister said, with a national day of mourning due to take place on Wednesday.

The longest-serving Prime Minister in post-war Italy, he had bounced back from sex scandals and corruption cases.

After taking political office in 1994, the billionaire media tycoon led four Governments until 2011though not consecutively.

Last September, Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party went into

Berlusconi had been suffering from a rare form of blood cancer, chronic myelomonocyte leukaemia, doctors at San Raffaele revealed in April

coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Reacting to the news, Meloni remembered her predecessor as a "fighter". In a video message, she said he remained "one of the most

influential men in the history of Italy".

Her deputy Matteo Salvini said he was "broken" and thanked Berlusconi for his "friendship", "advice" and "generosity".

The Italian government has declared a national day of mourning for Wednesday, the same day Berlusconi's funeral is scheduled to take place at Milan Cathedral.

"All Italian and European flags on public buildings will be lowered to half-mast from Monday nationwide," a spokesman told the media.

Another figure to pay tribute was Vladimir Putin, who called Berlusconi a "true friend". In a statement the Russian President said he had always admired Berlusconi's "wisdom" and "ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions". (BBC News)

116, and we’re hiring where we don’t have, staff dedicated to counselling, guidance and career counselling as well as psychological counselling. So as soon as a child leaves, we’re supposed to know, or doesn’t turn up to school we’re supposed to know. We’re supposed to be seeing better retention rates,” the Minister stated.

“With other efforts to try to, look for individually, children who are absent from exams and so on and bring them back in the system, we’re seeing a stronger re-

tention rate,” she added.

In an Inter-American Development Bank report conducted in 2015, it was reported that the country’s overall school dropout rate is about 2.0 per cent while the Caribbean has an average school dropout rate of 20.

Meanwhile, in April 2023, it was reported that Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) currently has the country’s lowest dropout rate of 0.1 per cent.

According to Senior School Welfare Officer

(SSWO) of Region Five, Gloria Davidson-James, the department has been working hard to realise change.

She noted that welfare workers are responsible for many of the positive changes in the lives of some school children.

“What we do in Region Five is that we work on different ideas, focusing on different behavioural patterns that children would have. That is why the numbers that we are having with children in school is so low and attendance is high.”

Desist from child labour...

“Here in Guyana, we have implemented numerous measures to mitigate the risk factors that provide for the enhanced welfare of our children through the Because We Care cash grant, cash grant for each child with disability, and the National School Feeding programmes. Notably, together with our inclusive and well-performing education system, we have a good social protection system which covers many social benefits, including foster care and adoption and public assistance benefits.”

Moreover, the Labour Minister underscored that

there is an adequate legislative framework in place to effectively deal with the issue of child labour. However, social dialogue amongst social partners must be continuous to advance legal commitment to the elimination of child labour, a key component of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

“I would like to encourage and promote regular dialogue on this issue and coordinated, cohesive and coherent actions among the social partners for the elimination of all forms of child labour. The Ministry of Labour will continue to

FROM PAGE 11

raise awareness on the issue of child labour and the detrimental emotional and physical effects that children forced into child labour can experience,” he added.

This year, awareness walks were planned for Regions Four (DemeraraMahaica), Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), with visits to 25 secondary schools across the country to interact with the students on the issue of child labour. Child labour inspections are incorporated into regular inspection activities and this will continue throughout the year. (G12)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Good Hope, Yarrowkabra Secondary Schools to be completed this month – Minister

Both the Good Hope Secondary school, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), and Yarrowkabra Secondary on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway are set to be fully completed by the end of this month, which will significantly reduce overcrowding in schools in those areas. This was announced by Education Minster Priya Manickchand during a recent broadcast programme

on Thursday. According to Manickchand, “Yarrowkabra on the East Bank and Good Hope on the East Coast will finish by June month-end. The children on the East Coast [in] six schools are now sitting in hallways and under stairways of Primary schools. They’re high school children, sitting in primary schools doing some kind of work with teachers who are not trained for secondary ed-

ucation,” the Minister said.

“With the opening of Good Hope, I’m going to be able to close all the tops of those primary schools and put all the children in…secondary schools where they have facilities and teachers trained to teach secondary. Same thing with the East Bank, with the completion of Yarrowkabra,” Manickchand explained.

The Minister added that the focus is not only on build-

2 wanted for murder of GDF Lieutenant

An aerial view of Good Hope Secondary School ing schools, but it is also on building human resources and training persons to be competent in the education sector.

“We still have to keep a firm eye on quality. We could see a very different-looking Guyana in 10 years. It’s not just building out the schools, it’s building out personnel at the same time, training people, for the kind of quality we want to produce, getting parental involvement and student interest and it’s exciting but it’s not an easy programme,” Manickchand related.

She also stated that before the end of July, several other schools across the country are expected to be completed, which include Queen’s College, The Bishops’ High School, St Roses, St Winefride’s, and East Ruimveldt Secondary Schools. The Christ Church and St George’s Secondary Schools are estimated to finish early next year.

The contract to construct

the Good Hope Secondary School was awarded in 2018 to BK International to the tune of over US$4 million. Work commenced in October of that year with the original completion date being January 14, 2020. However, despite many extensions, the construction company was unable to deliver and as such, a new contract was signed with DEEN+ Partners for over US$2.6 million in December 2022, under the Secondary Education Improvement Project which is being funded by the World Bank.

DEEN+ Partners is expected to complete all outstanding works which include the installation of all electrical panels and cables to complete electrical connections, installation and connection of all plumbing fittings and fixtures, completion of the fences, pavements, walkways, and landscaping, general finishes to windows, doors, roof, walls, and ceilings, completion of

all built-in furniture, repainting of the entire facility and remedial works to all floors.

When completed, 479 pupils will be placed in the school which will allow the Ministry to close the primary tops at the Paradise, Enterprise, and Enmore Primary Schools. It will also reduce overcrowding at the Cummings Lodge, Bladen Hall, Golden Grove, and Plaisance Secondary Schools.

Meanwhile, a contract totalling $790 million was awarded to R Bassoo and Sons in 2021 for the construction of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School. The project was set to be completed within an 18-month period. That school, when completed, will have nine buildings complete with the requisite laboratories, designated space for industrial arts, a main lecture hall, and other auxiliary buildings, and will be able to accommodate 800 students.

Dead: GDF Lieutenant Coast Guard Rondel Douglas

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday issued wanted bulletins for Jamie Ghanie, 25, and Harold, also known as “Stewie” for questioning in relation to the murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Coast Guard Rondel Douglas.

Ghanie’s last known address is Lot 59 Patterson, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, while Harold’s is listed as Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

Anyone with information leading to the apprehension of either or both persons is asked to call 911, 225-8196, 226-6978.

On the evening of June 7, Douglas, 33, was shot and killed during the course of a robbery at Cul-de-Sac Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Based on reports re-

Jamie Ghanie and Harold, also known as “Stewie”

ceived, Douglas – a licensed firearm holder – usually used his motor car, Toyota Fielder wagon PZZ 703, to work as a part-time taxi driver with Alladin Taxi Service, located at La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Preliminary investigations revealed that on the night in question, an identifiable male went to the taxi base and requested that the victim transport him to Georgetown. As Douglas reached the destination at Cul-de-Sac Street, the passenger exited the car and was joined by an accomplice. These two men walked towards the driver’s side window, and it is unclear whether there had been an argument, but, soon after, residents in the area recalled hearing a loud explosion, suspected to be a gunshot. As they looked through their windows, they observed a white Fielder wagon driving off the scene at a fast rate of

speed. As they looked closer, they saw the injured victim lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Police have since confirmed that two gunshot wounds were seen on the man’s chest and head. Meanwhile, the motor car has since been recovered at Stone Avenue, Georgetown; reports are that the vehicle’s number plate, PZZ 703, had been removed and there was external damage.

Douglas, of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was a first-year student at the University of Guyana, pursuing a Degree in Computer Science. He was described as a committed and dedicated officer, who last served as Aide-de-Camp to the former Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess.

Douglas was enlisted in February, 2012 following the completion of the Standard Officers Course 44. (G11)

RDC invites bids for construction of Hog Island Primary School

The Region Three Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has issued an invitation for bids from qualified and eligible bidders for the construction of a primary school at Hog Island, Essequibo, to the tune of $54,000,000.

Interested and eligible bidders may obtain further information from the Regional Engineer of the RDC via phone at 264-2380.

Bid documents will be sold at a non-refundable fee of $3000 and can be uplifted from the Regional Administration Office, Region Three (3), and must be deposited in the tender box at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board no later than 09:00h

on June 15.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, the Regional Engineer for Region 3, Ron Solomon shared that the project is being constructed through funding from the regional budget.

The school, which is located in western part of Hog Island, is currently a wooden structure in a deplorable state. This new building will be a concrete structure to better facilitate the teaching environment.

Additionally, bids were also invited for the extension of Bagotville Primary School to the tune of $54,000,000 and the extension of Leonora Secondary at a cost of $28,000,000.

A total of $12.4 billion

was allocated this year for improved education infrastructure across the country. By ensuring that there are adequate schools to accommodate all students, the PPP/C Administration remains committed to improving access to education.

Since taking office in 2020, the Government has embarked on several initiatives to improve the country’s education sector. These include the introduction of smart classrooms, cash grants, the breakfast programme, the construction of educational facilities, the distribution of textbooks, and the incorporation of information and communications technology into the curriculum.

A rendered image of Yarrowkabra Secondary

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2023

Smooth process in Linden as youths, elderly brave weather to vote

B y J arryl B ryan

Despite rainy and overcast conditions and barring a few hiccups, persons of all ages came out to vote in their respective constituencies in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Essequibo) during this year’s Local Government Elections (LGE) as the major candidates reported a relatively smooth process.

In constituency one, (Bamia-Ameila’s Ward), voting kicked off at 06:00h sharp under inclement weather. The rain put a damper on early voting, but one of the candidates who did brave the rain was former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) Audwin Rutherford.

According to Rutherford, who is now a candidate on the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) slate and voted at the Linden Foundation Secondary, the voting process was relatively smooth. He added that he expected more voters to come out as the day progressed.

“We would have started on time, all the different polling stations here. And I know that we are prepared.

I’m really optimistic… I’m assured that we will do well today,” Rutherford said, adding that the party has done well to try to get its supporters out to vote.

Meanwhile, APNU candidate and former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, who also cast his ballot at the Linden Foundation Secondary, also observed a relatively smooth process. He did note that there were a few hiccups of persons not being able to find their name on one polling station or place and having to go to another location.

“I am satisfied that our agents were here on time. We verified the process before it got started. And so far, as it relates to voting, I am encouraged by the turnout we saw this morning… I think all in all, notwithstanding the weather, it’s very encouraging to see people coming out for Local Government Elections.

“I hope before the day

is out, I hope people continue to come out and exercise their franchise. We’ve done a lot of work on the campaign. Personally, as a candidate myself, I’ve done a lot in terms of ensuring we bring representation to the people of Amelia’s Ward,” Solomon said, also expressing optimism about the party’s chances in the rest of constituencies.

Hard-fought campaign

Dwayne Charles, a firsttime PPP candidate who is also contesting in constituency one, meanwhile confirmed that the voting process was a generally smooth one. He was also confident about the PPP’s chances in Amelia’s Ward, considering the campaign work his party has done.

“I visited two polling stations so far and the process has been smooth. To me, all of the polling agents came out early and ready to work… so I like the process so far. We’re going to get a large turnout. Persons of Amelia’s Ward in particular, they’re excited to come onboard and vote for many

reasons,” Charles said.

“We would have seen that persons came out very early at Amelia’s Ward Primary School. Now we’re here at (Linden Foundation Secondary) and we’ve seen the turnout. So, I’m expecting a better turnout by this afternoon. And I must say we would have put out work, my team and I. We put out the work throughout the campaign season. And I know that we’re going to get the support, because of the plans we have as a party.”

APNU Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who voted in Wismar, meanwhile said that his party has confidence in winning all the seats. He also lauded GECOM for the work they have done so far and expressed optimism that with the systems in place, the results will be provided in a timely manner.

“The turnout was good so far. I understand the history with regards Local Government Elections. It has never garnered the amount of turnout like

General and Regional Elections. But from our estimation, we are seeing some level of improvements. The people of Linden are taking this election very seriously.”

“With regards to where I voted and the role GECOM is playing, I think they’re doing a very favourable job at the moment. My polling station didn’t experience any issues so far, but I was told the polling station in Amelia’s Ward, some of the residents haven’t seen their names on the list. Which is very much concerning for us,” Figueira said.

Diversity in age

A diverse range of voters, meanwhile, turned out to vote, in some instances braving the rain. While some locations, like Middle Street nursery in constituency five, saw only a trickle of voters, polling places closest to the Main Road were the busiest.

This included Harmony Secondary School in constituency six (Dallawalla/ Christianburg), situated

on Burnham Drive, which saw a steady stream of voters. There were even families who came out to vote, such as the Samuels family of constituency six.

At Wismar Hill Primary School, the elderly and the youth came out to the vote. They included 21-year-old first-time voter Antonio Durant. Also casting his vote was 84-year-old Arnold Archer. Both related that the voting process was a smooth one.

In 2018, the Linden voter turnout was strong, and 5132 valid ballots were cast. Of that number, 3306 were for APNU and 402 were in favour of the PPP. The AFC got 1075 votes back then. That incumbent Town Council was made up of 16 seats, with APNU having 13, the AFC 2, and the PPP/C one.

In Linden, there are several PPP/C candidates who have crossed over from APNU. Besides Rutherford, these include Errold Roetham and Keith Ferrier, who contested in constituencies six and seven, respectively.

AmCham Guyana bids farewell to US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

AmCham Guyana hosted a farewell reception in honour of the outgoing United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, last Thursday.

Over the past four years, Ambassador Lynch has been a vital partner to the Chamber, and in fact delivered her first public remarks at AmCham’s Welcome Event on March 20, 2019.

It is traditional that new US Ambassadors give their first public remarks to the local American Chamber of Commerce, a

memory she cherishes.

Through her vision and collaborative efforts, Ambassador Lynch and her team at the US Embassy Georgetown have enabled AmCham Guyana to foster bilateral trade, business opportunities, and partnerships between American and Guyanese businesses.

These efforts were highlighted at last Thursday’s event by AmCham’s President, Devindra Kissoon. In his remarks, he stressed the importance of continued economic cooperation between the United

States and Guyana and highlighted that during her tenure, Ambassador Lynch was able to oversee the largest Bipartisan US Congressional Delegation in Guyana, as well as many mutually beneficial US-based trade missions.

He added that Ambassador Lynch not only supported the business community from a commercial standpoint, but was a strong advocate for corporate social responsibility.

AmCham Guyana and the US Embassy Georgetown jointly organ-

ise an annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for the elderly, along with a Christmas Gift Drive for orphans in the outskirts of Guyana.

Ambassador Lynch offered immense support for these initiatives, and also played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering support to those affected.

Lynch commended AmCham on its diversified approach to CSR initiatives, and emphasised how rewarding these experiences were.

In her address, she expressed gratitude to-

wards the Executive Body, Board of Directors, and Secretariat of AmCham Guyana for their invaluable support to the Embassy’s Political and Economic Section, particularly in relation to recent trade and congressional delegations.

She highlighted AmCham’s rapid growth under the stewardship of the Secretariat and Executives, which resulted in a substantial increase in membership over the past four years. She also applauded AmCham for successfully organising

a number of events, and made mention of innovative programmes like the Shark Tank Competition and policy-focused networking events.

The evening was marked by delightful conversations and fond memories as members of AmCham Guyana, the diplomatic community, Government and wider private sector, came together for Ambassador Lynch and acknowledged her efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Guyana.

Gunmen invade Whithorn Police Station, reportedly to free crony

Lawmen and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) are currently probing the attempted invasion of the Whithorn Police Station in Westmoreland by two gunmen Sunday night.

The incident is said to have happened at 23:40h.

Unconfirmed reports are that the gunmen wanted to free one of their cronies. Reports are that officers on duty were alerted by dogs barking on the premises. They were lat-

er confronted by two gunmen, who pointed guns at them.

The lawmen, in fear for their lives, are said to have taken evasive action

Argentine political blocs share spoils in regional elections as libertarians lag

Argentina's main two political forces both secured victories in regional elections, results showed early on Monday, but candidates for a new libertarian party that has rattled the political landscape lagged behind.

of Tucuman, while the conservatives prevailed in San Luis for the first time in 40 years. They also won in wine region Mendoza.

the presidential election opinion polls.

and returned fire.

The gunmen later escaped in a waiting vehicle.

The cops were not wounded. (Jamaica Observer)

Riverine flood alert for South Trinidad

The riverine flood alert for south Trinidad has been upgraded to orange level.

The alert was initially at yellow-level as reported by the Met Office at 10:12h on Monday, but in an update at 13:25h, it said the alert had been upgraded.

The new alert is set to

end today at 17:00h.

It said after continued rain, "The river levels of the South Oropouche, as well as smaller tributaries in southern areas of Trinidad are near critical levels or overtopping in some areas (based on official reports). Additional periods of rainfall will

Sunday's vote in three northern provinces took place months before national primaries in August and a General Election in October for which the ruling Peronists and Opposition conservative bloc both lack a firm leader amid an economic crisis.

The Peronists celebrated a victory in the governorship race in the province

likely continue over the next 24 hours, which will result in the further elevation of the river levels.

"Note that run-off will be slower at high tide which will be at 12:04h (Tuesday) and 14:03h (Tuesday)."

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Amazon plane crash: Mum told children to leave her and get help

The mother of four children rescued after 40 days in the Amazon jungle was alive for four days after their plane crashed.

Magdalena Mucutuy told her children to leave and find help as she lay dying.

Speaking to reporters, the children's father, Manuel Ranoque, said his eldest daughter told him their mother urged them to "get out" and save themselves.

The siblings, aged 13, nine, five, and one, were rescued and airlifted out of the jungle on Friday.

They were moved to a military hospital in the nation's capital Bogota.

"The one thing that

[13-year-old Lesly] has cleared up for me is that, in fact, her mother was alive for four days," Ranoque told reporters outside the hospital.

Cameroonians in St Kitts granted “asylum seeker” status

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis revealed that the 14 Cameroonian nationals who were rescued at sea following a migrant smuggling tragedy have been granted “asylum seeker” status.

The fourteen individuals were aboard the ill-fated La Belle Michelle II, when it capsized off the shores of St Kitts and Nevis.

They were attempting to reach the United States, via the US Virgin Islands.

Nearly a month later, and despite statements by Government officials,

the Antigua and Barbuda Government reversed its decision to accept the stranded Cameroonians back in this country, arguing that the 14 individuals would seek to leave the island illegally once again.

The Government of St Kitts, therefore, reached out to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for assistance on the matter, and on June 8, the UN organisation approved an application for the Cameroonian nationals to be seen as asylum seekers. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

"Before she died, their mum told them something like, 'You guys get out of here. You guys are going to see the kind of man your dad is, and he's going to show you the same kind of great love that I have shown you," he said.

Details have been emerging about the children's time in the jungle and their miraculous rescue – including the first things the children said when they were found.

Rescue worker Nicolás Ordóñez Gomes recalled the moment they discovered the children.

"The eldest daughter, Lesly, with the little one in her arms, ran towards me. Lesly said: 'I'm hungry,'" he told public broadcast channel RTVC.

"One of the two boys was lying down. He got up and said to me: 'My mum is dead.'" He said rescuers responded with "positive words, saying that we were friends, that we were sent by the family".

Ordóñez said the boy replied: "I want some bread and sausage."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Libertarian Javier Milei, who wants to dollarise the economy and scrap the central bank, has been polling strongly, threatening to overturn the political status quo, though the far-right economist faces a challenge with centrist voters.

Candidates allied to Milei, who individually leads some opinion polls ahead of the presidential elections, were well off the pace in all three provinces. The conservative Opposition overall leads in

In legislative elections in the province of Corrientes, which chose local lawmakers and councillors, candidates allied with the Opposition Together for Change bloc won out, while results were balanced in mayoral elections in central Cordoba.

Argentina is battling inflation that could end the year near 150 per cent, dwindling central bank reserves that are putting the State's ability to make payments at risk, 40 per cent poverty and the impact of a recent historic drought on grains exports. (Reuters)

Venezuela signs petrochemical deal with Iran

Iran and Venezuela want to increase bilateral trade to US$20 billion, up from US$3 billion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday during a visit to Caracas.

During the visit, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in petrochemicals with a view to carrying out joint projects, building on their already-close cooperation in oil.

"We have decided to increase the cooperation between the two countries," Raisi said through translation in a statement with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after the petrochemical deal and a dozen other cooperation deals were signed.

"The goal we have for commercial and economic cooperation, the first step is to take the level of cooperation to US$10 billion," Raisi said. "The next step, we want to take it to US$20

billion."

He provided no time frame on the goal.

The Governments, both under US sanctions, provided no details of the petrochemical deal.

Venezuelan State television said the accord between Venezuelan State petrochemical firm Pequiven and its Iranian counterpart would facilitate cooperation in oil exploration and development and assess the possibility of joint projects.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

China's Xi says willing to begin free trade talks with Honduras

China is willing to begin talks on a freetrade agreement with Honduras "as soon as possible", Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, during the first visit by the Central American country's President since forming diplomatic ties in March.

Honduras' President Xiomara Castro is on a sixday official visit to China. She launched diplomatic relations with Beijing after cutting ties with its rival, Taiwan, in a bid for more investment and jobs. The country is also seeking support from China to mitigate its debt burden.

China will actively promote Honduran products to enter the Chinese market, Xi was quoted as saying by State broadcaster CCTV.

China's customs said on Monday it had approved the import of Whiteleg shrimp from Honduras.

Xi said China would unswervingly develop the friendly relations between the two nations and firmly support Honduras' economic and social development.

China also encourages Chinese enterprises to par-

ticipate in Honduras' projects in areas including energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications, CCTV cited a joint declaration as saying.

The Honduran side is willing to provide policy support and facilitation, CCTV reported.

The Chinese leader also emphasised that both sides should deepen political mutual trust, and uphold the "One-China" principle.

"One-China principle is the primary premise and political foundation for the establishment of loyal dip-

lomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations," Xi said.

When Honduras ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, the island's Foreign Minister accused it of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured away by Beijing.

China claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to State-to-State ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties recognise its position.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Whithorn Police Station in Westmoreland, Jamaica

Members of Colombia's Air Force tended to the children

Honduran President Xiomara Castro and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect Chinese honour guards during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 12, 2023 (Wang Zhao/Pool via Reuters)

Around The World OIL NEWS

Ukraine claims new gains in early phase of counteroffensive

Oil prices settle down 4% on jitters ahead of US Fed meeting

Oil prices fell by around US$3 a barrel on Monday after analysts highlighted rising global supplies and concerns about demand growth just ahead of key inflation data and a US Federal Reserve meeting later this week.

Brent crude futures fell US$2.95, or 3.9%, to settle at US$71.84 a barrel, their lowest since Dec 2021. West Texas Intermediate crude fell US$3.05, or 4.4%, to settle at US$67.12 a barrel.

Goldman Sachs cut its oil price forecasts early on Sunday, citing higher-than-expected supplies later this year and through 2024. The bank's December crude price forecast now stands at US$86 a barrel for Brent, down from US$95, and at US$81 a barrel for WTI, down from US$89.

"Goldman capitulating on their bullish price forecast appears to have been the catalyst to kickstart selling today," said Kpler analyst Matt Smith.

The revision comes at the start of a busy week for the US Federal Reserve, which meets on Wednesday. While the Fed is expected to leave interest rates unchanged this month, investors are concerned that rate hikes are likely to resume next month, said UBS analyst Robert Yawger.

The Fed's rate hikes have strengthened the dollar, making commodities denominated in the US currency more expensive for holders of other currencies and weighing on prices.

"The Fed meeting and inflation pressures remain key issues for the market this week," said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at US Bank Asset Management.

"The more likely hold on interest rates means investors will closely track Fed Chair Powell's press conference for the expected path for interest rates," Haworth said.

Also weighing on investors' minds, oil demand recovery has been muted in China, the top importer of crude oil and refined products.

"Chinese demand has shown no signs of materializing, and it could be as much as 2 million barrels a day, so it is a significant amount. There are definitely fears that OPEC and IEA will cut their demand forecasts," Yawger said.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency will each release their monthly market updates today.

Last week, both Brent and WTI posted a second straight weekly decline after disappointing Chinese economic data erased the price boost from Saudi Arabia's pledge to cut production in July. (Reuters)

Ukraine said on Monday its troops had recaptured seven villages from Russian forces along an approximately 100-km (60-mile) front in the southeast since launching its long-anticipated counteroffensive last week.

The task of ending Moscow's occupation of southern and eastern Ukraine is daunting, given Russia's numerical superiority in men, ammunition and air power, and the many months it has had to build deep defensive fortifications.

On Monday, soldiers were seen in video holding the Ukrainian flag in the village of Storozheve, along the Mokri Yaly river which flows northward out of Russian-held territory. Reuters confirmed the location.

A day earlier Kyiv said its forces heading south had liberated three other nearby villages along the Mokri Yaly: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post late on

Monday that Ukrainian forces had also recaptured Levadne and Novodarivka, around 10 km (6 miles) west of the Mokri Yaly, as well as Lobkove, southeast of the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Maliar said troops had advanced a total of 6.5 km.

"The area of the territory taken under control was 90 square kilometres (35 square miles)," she said. Maliar added that the seven settlements were taken over the past week, without giving details of precisely when.

It was not possible to verify all the battlefield claims.

The push is already Ukraine's most rapid advance for seven months, though still short of a major breakthrough, with Russia believed to have a strong line of fortifications further south.

The furthest advance claimed by Kyiv leaves its forces still some 90 km (55 miles) from the Azov Sea coast and the prize of cutting Russia's "land bridge" to Crimea, the peninsula Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Driver charged after Australia's worst bus accident in decades kills 10 wedding guests

Aman was charged with dangerous driving on Monday after at least 10 wedding guests were killed when the bus they were travelling in crashed at a roundabout in Australia's worst bus accident in almost 30 years, Police said.

Twenty-five people were injured in the accident around 11:30 pm (1330 GMT) on Sunday near the town of Greta, about 180 km (112 miles) northwest of Sydney, Police said.

The bus carrying 35 pas-

Biparjoy: India state on alert over "extremely severe" cyclone

The western Indian state of Gujarat is on high alert as an extremely severe cyclone is due to hit parts of it on Thursday.

Biparjoy - a cyclone over the Arabian Sea - is predicted to move towards the state's coastline in the next two days.

Heavy rains and high tides have been forecast in several coastal districts in the state.

People have been told to avoid visiting beaches and fishermen have been asked to not go out into the sea.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday that the cyclonic storm was likely to move northwards until June 14 and then move "north-north-eastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon of 15 June".

It added that the storm could have a "maximum sustained wind speed of 125 to 135kmph (77 to 84 mph)" and could go up to 150kmph.

Biparjoy - which means disaster or calamity in Bengali language - has intensified into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm"the second highest category used by the IMD to classify tropical storms.

Until Saturday, the cyclone was expected to avoid Gujarat and move towards Pakistan's coastline.

However, India's weather department has now issued warnings to local authorities in Gujarat and has asked them to make preparations to evacuate people if needed.

People in coastal areas have been asked to stay indoors on the day the cyclone is likely to make landfall.

The Gujarat government has deployed national and state disaster response teams in areas likely to be affected by the cyclone.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

sengers left the road and flipped onto its side at a roundabout after a wedding in the Hunter region, a rural area famous for its vineyards and wedding spots.

Police said the driver, a 58-year-old man, had been taken to hospital for mandatory drug testing. He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the families of the people killed and injured.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Police were treating it as a single-vehicle accident and

the cause may not be known for some time.

The bus had been pulled upright after a "delicate operation", given dead passengers were inside, she said.

The two worst bus accidents in the country were

head-on collisions within two months of each other in 1989 that killed 35 and 21 people, both in NSW state. Eighteen people died in 1973 when a tourist bus plunged down a slope after a brake failure.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

"Historic moment": First climate action case goes on trial in US

Atrial begins on Monday in Helena for Held v State of Montana, the first youth-led constitutional climate case to see its day in court in the United States.

In court papers filed in March 2020, 16 plaintiffs between the ages of five and 22 assert that Montana’s promotion of an energy system reliant on fossil fuels violates their right to a clean and healthy environment under the state constitution. The trial is expected to conclude on June 23.

“Although these cases have been filed all over the country, the other cases have been dismissed before reaching trial,” Michelle Bryan, a natural resources and environmental law professor at the University of Montana, told Al Jazeera.

“So this will be the first

time that youth will have gone on the stand and given testimony and scientists will have gone on the stand and given testimony about climate injury and the role of government in preventing climate injury. For that reason alone, it will be a historic moment in climate litigation.”

Barbara Chillcott, a Western Environmental Law Center attorney on the case, told Al Jazeera that viewers of the livestreamed tri-

al can expect exactly that: an opportunity for young people to share stories about how they’ve been harmed by climate change alongside expert climate scientist witnesses. Should the plaintiffs prevail in their case, Bryan says “We will have in the United States an example of the government being required to consider impacts to climate when it makes fossil fuel-related decisions.”

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A Ukrainian serviceman sits atop a tank, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 12, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Refuse to let what others do stand in your way. Stick to the most efficient path, and you'll get to the finish line on time. Don't let anyone persuade you to follow rather than lead.

(March 21-April 19)

Money matters will not be straightforward. Avoid joint ventures and shared expenses. Learn through observation, but follow your heart when it comes time to decide what to do next.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Chitchat will spark ideas and feed your imagination. Distance yourself from people who cause emotional problems or try to stand in your way. Fix your surroundings to suit your needs.

Put your wallet away. If you want to donate to a cause, offer your time, not your cash. Set a good example, and an unexpected offer will spark your interest. Prepare to act.

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Simplify your plans to suit your needs and budget. Reach out to someone who can contribute what you require to make your life and work more efficient. Avoid the slipshod or nonsensical.

Rethink your strategy and budget wisely. Changing how or where you live will help lower your debt load and make your goals easier to pursue. Trust your instincts, do your research and make big moves.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A cheery disposition will work well for you when trying to drum up interest in your plans. The more energetic you are, the more enthusiasm you will encounter. Love is on the rise.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Take care of yourself and your reputation. Honor your promises and obligations. Think outside the box, and the plan you devise will stand the test of time.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

How you handle money, contracts and medical issues will stand out. Refuse to let anger set in when discipline and common sense are your tickets to success. Distance yourself from anyone trying to use emotional blackmail.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Partnerships, communication and discipline are necessary. Don't take on too much or overreact to the decisions others make. Do what's best for you, and avoid anyone asking for too much.

Consider what makes you happy, and gravitate toward the people, places and pastimes that bring you joy. Distance yourself from indulgent people. Share your feelings and adjust your lifestyle.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Keep your thoughts and plans to yourself. Be observant, and you'll dodge someone trying to exploit you. Look for an endeavor that will help you raise your earning potential.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

India v Pakistan set for October 15

…In draft schedule of ODI World Cup

Ahmedabad, which boasts of a stadium that seats over 100,000, is set to host the blockbuster India versus Pakistan clash on October 15 in the One-Day-International (ODI) World Cup later this year. Ahmedabad will also stage the tournament opener between England and New Zealand, the teams that contested the thrilling tied final in 2019, on October 5, while India are set to open their campaign against Australia in Chennai three days later. These are some of the marquee contests in the initial draft schedule of the 2023 ODI World Cup, prepared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI shared the draft schedule with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which then sent it to the participating countries for

feedback before a final schedule is put out early next week.

The draft schedule does not mention the venues for the semi-finals, which are likely to be played on November

15 and 16. The final will be on November 19 in Ahmedabad, which is also scheduled to host the opening game.

ESPNcricinfo has learnt that in the draft version, India

are scheduled to play their league matches across nine venues.

Pakistan are scheduled to play across five venues during the league phase.

Apart from the India match in Ahmedabad, Pakistan are slotted to meet the two teams progressing from the Qualifier on October 6 and October 12 in Hyderabad, and then Australia in Bengaluru (October 20); Afghanistan (October 23) and South Africa (October 27) in Chennai; Bangladesh in Kolkata (October 31); New Zealand in Bengaluru (November 5, day match) and England in Kolkata (November 12), which in the proposed schedule is the final match of the league phase.

Among other big matches are Australia v New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 29, Australia v England in Ahmedabad on November 4 and New Zealand v South Africa in Pune on November 1.

There has been an unprecedented delay before the fix-

tures announcement, with the World Cup starting in about four months' time. In the past two editions of the tournament – 2015 and 2019 – the schedule was finalised more than a year in advance.

On May 27, Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary, had said the schedule would be out during the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He did not provide the reason behind the delay, though. On the first day of the WTC final, speaking on BBC's Test Match Special, ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Geoff Allardice said the schedule would be out "anytime soon", but did not specify when exactly.

The delay in the schedule has also not allowed the ICC to put out ticketing details even as fans from overseas have grown desperate to make travel arrangements. (ESPNcricinfo)

Fans, players celebrate Man City’s historic treble Mayweather exhibition fight ends in mass brawl

Thousands of Manchester City fans gathered to celebrate their team's historic Treble as they staged an open-top bus parade through the city.

Blue flares were set off and fans threw inflatable bananas in the air as several of the players went shirtless in the heavy rain.

Manager Pep Guardiola was seen puffing on a cigar as fans climbed lamp-posts.

The parade was delayed by lightning storms. City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final.

Guardiola said: "We had to have rain as this is Manchester. The fans are used to the rain."

It comes after the club clinched the Premier League and FA Cup this season.

Guardiola said his side's Champions League success following Rodri's 68-minute goal was "written in the stars".

A drenched Guardiola was later seen pumping his fists at the crowd as the players showed off all three trophies.

Defender Reben Dias and striker Erling Haaland were among several players who went shirtless after they were drenched in the rain.

Haaland, 22, led the dancing players onto a

stage just after 20:00 BST as midfielder Kalvin Phillips serenaded England defender John Stones.

Guardiola hailed the fans for coming out in the storms.

He said: "We had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it is not Manchester.

"We don't want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect. The fans are used to the rain."

Captain Ilkay Gundogan said it was "incredible" that they had "three trophies".

England midfielder Jack Grealish said: "For the past 24 hours, I have had the best day and night.

"To be fair, I don't think I have slept."

The team had depart-

ed from Tonman Street, Deansgate, at the slightly delayed time of 19:00 BST due to stormy weather and travelled to St Mary's Gate.

The delays did not dampen the spirits of the fans.

Zoro and his family said they were looking forward to seeing Guardiola, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

He said: "This goes down in history for us. Pep has just redesigned the football world. It's a big statement, but it's true."

The parade travelled through Cross Street and King Street, before finishing on the corner of Princess Street and Portland Street.

City became just the second English men's team

to win the Treble, following in the footsteps of rivals Manchester United, who achieved the feat in 1999 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

The team were welcomed back by fans at Manchester Airport on Sunday after travelling from Istanbul, where the European final was played.

Former City boss Joe Royle said Guardiola's current side was one of the best teams English football had ever seen.

Royle, 74, who led the club from the third tier to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions in 1999 and 2000, said: "There's no doubt about it. They're one of, if not the best English club side there has been." (BBC Sport)

Floyd Mayweather's exhibition fight with John Gotti III ended in a mass brawl when people stormed the ring following a controversial decision.

Referee Kenny Bayliss stopped the fight in the sixth round to the annoyance of Gotti, who then lashed out at 46-year-old Mayweather.

The ring was then swarmed with team members from both sides as Bayliss struggled to contain the drama.

Gotti III, 30, is the grandson of former New York crime boss John Gotti.

The melee kicked off a number of fights among the crowd in the FLA Live Arena in Florida and backstage.

In a video posted on social media, former boxing world champion Mayweather was filmed after the fight saying: "That's why they pay the big bucks, because I put on a show."

The arena had to be cleared by Police, who threatened charges against fans who did not leave immediately.

Mayweather retired in 2017 with a record of 50-0 and has appeared in several exhibition bouts against mixed martial arts and YouTube stars.

This was the first time his exhibition tour had returned to the United States since his eightround bout with YouTuber Logan Paul in 2021. (BBC Sport)

The India-Pakistan World Cup game is set to take place in Ahmedabad

The exhibition fight descended into chaos when the bout was stopped after six rounds

…Western Tigers, GPF FC are latest winners

The KFC Elite League, organised by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), is set to resume at the Federation’s National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) with another double-header.

Tonight, defending champions Fruta Conquerors are set to take on Victoria Kings Football Club at 19:00h, after which the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC will battle Santos FC at 21:00h.

When the league last witnessed competition on Saturday last, the Guyana Police Force FC continued their dominant run while Western Tigers FC also remained unbeaten.

The first match at the GFF’s NTC on Saturday last was a clash between Western Tigers and Victoria Kings, in which the former emerged victorious, 3-1. Randolph Wagner was first to find the

back of the net in the fourth minute. However, Victoria’s Travis Eversley would even things up in the 23rd minute, keeping the scores locked well into the second half.

As both teams fought to break the deadlock, Western Tigers’ experience shone through as Hubert Pedro executed a simple tap-in in the 67th minute to hand the Georgetown team the lead

US Olympian Bowie died from complications of childbirth

once more. Lavaugh Enniss, by way of a header in the 87th, brought the scores to 3-1.

In the following game, the GPF FC thrashed a hapless Den Amstel FC 9-0. During the initial minutes of the game, Den Amstel appeared an even competitor for the Policemen, with a few scoring opportunities. However, the floodgates opened when the tournament’s lead-

ing goal-scorer, Nicholas McArthur found the back of the net for the first time in the 38th minute. McArthur would go on to complete his helmet

trick with goals in the 40th, 43rd and 54th minutes.

Meanwhile, Dorwin George netted a hat-trick in the 61st, 67th and 85th min-

utes. Both Keswin Fraser (64th) and Adrian Aaron (90th) added one each to Police’s tally for the massive win.

PPP/C Linden “One Guyana” Beach Football…

Swag cop male title, Superstars collect female crown

R9 took third place and the $75,000 at stake for their 3-2 win against Young Gunners, as Omar Harris, Jehu Regis and Tyric McAllister got their goals. Young Gunners’ goals came from Ryan Arthur and they got $25,000. Coomacka scored a 6-0 win over Elite Ballers 6-0 in an exhibition match to start the proceedings of the night.

World champion sprinter and threetime Olympic medallist Tori Bowie died from complications of childbirth, according to an autopsy report obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The report from the Orange County (Fla) Medical Examiner Office said Bowie had a "well developed foetus," as she was estimated to be eight months pregnant and undergoing labour at the time of her death in May. Officials said possible complications Bowie had included respiratory distress and eclampsia, when a person develops seizures following a sudden spike in high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to Cleveland Clinic.

"Eclampsia typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s rare and affects less than three per cent of people with preeclampsia. Eclampsia can cause complications during pregnancy and requires emergency medical care," the Cleveland Clinic says.

The manner of death was ruled natural, according to

the medical examiner.

Bowie's death came as a shock to the track and field community. The 32-yearold was found dead in her home in Winter Garden, Florida on May 2. Bowie was found when Orange County (Fla) Sheriff deputies conducted a welfare check at a home after receiving reports a woman in her early 30s "had not been seen or heard from in several days".

"We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter and sister," Icon Management Inc, the sports agency that represented Bowie, wrote on Twitter. "Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family and friends."

Bowie won three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, including silver in the 100-metre dash and bronze in the 200. She also ran the anchor leg in the women's 4x100 relay, in which Team USA won gold. By the end of 2017, Bowie was a world champion in both the women's 100 and 4x100 relay. (USA Today)

Pre-tournament favourites Swag delivered as expected as they halted the challenge of YMCA 8-4 in the People’s Progressive Party/Civicorganised Linden “One Guyana” Beach Football men’s final while Superstars stopped Speightland 3-1 to win the female segment Saturday night in the compound of the Party’s office in Mackenzie, Linden.

In front of a large crowd, Swag captured the $400,000 first prize as they took a 4-2 half-time lead and stretched it to an 8-4 win.

Colwyn Drakes and Donovan Francis both grabbed four goals each en route to that emphatic victory, as Ryan Noel also had a quadruple of goals for the

losing YMCA side.

Drakes sent his team early into the lead before the fifth minute of the game, but Noel would tie the scores 2-2 before Drakes took to scoring the next two and ended the half 4-2 for Swag.

Francis then added a pair of goals that pushed Swag ahead 6-2, but Noel reduced the deficit so the scores read 6-3.

Drakes put the game out of reach with two more goals for Swag even as Noel got before the final whistle his fourth goal as the Swag triumphed 8-4.

For scoring four goals each in the final, Francis, Drakes and Noel were rewarded by businessman Brian McRae with $10,000. The runners-up YMCA

walked away with $100,000

Superstars won 3-1 over Speightland in the female final, with Patsy Walker getting a brace and Shirlin Kingston the other goal for Superstars, who won a first prize of $100,000.

Sheneesa Cornelius scored the lone goal for Speightland who got $75,000 for placing second.

Dynamo overwhelmed Nurses 13-2, to take third place as Sandra Johnson netted four goals, Jalande Trim got a hat-trick, Shanik Thornhill and Asha Holder scored twice, as Akeela Vancooten and Katrina Lewis each scored once.

Nurses were rewarded with $25,000 for their efforts as Janel Dilnary and Akicia Headley got two of their goals.

Tori Bowie

A representative of Swag collects $400,000 cash from Public Works Minister Juan Edghill after their 8-4 victory over YMCA

Western Tigers defeated Victoria Kings

A look at the encounter between GPF FC and Den Amstel

India return to Guyana on August 6

…as part of multi-format tour to the Caribbean, USA

The highly-anticipated West Indies versus India Men's Series will take place in July and August, and Cricket West Indies (CWI) has released the match schedule and venues.

As part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship 2023-2025, the series begins with two Test matches. The first Test match will be played at Windsor Park in Dominica from July 12 to July 16. The second Test, which will take place at Trinidad's Queen's Park Oval from July 20 to July 24, will be significant, since it will be the 100th Test match between the two countries.

Three CG United One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five T20 Internationals (T20Is) follow the Test Series. The first and second games of the CG United ODI Series will be played on July 27 and July 29, respectively, at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The West Indies Men's ODIs will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad on August 1 as the CG United ODI Series comes to an end.

The T20Is also bowl off at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on August 3. Guyana hosts the second and third T20Is at the Guyana National Stadium on August 6 and 8. The T20I Series concludes in Lauderhill, Florida with a blockbuster weekend of back-to-back matches on Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13 at Broward County Cricket Stadium.

CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm the schedule and venues for the highly-anticipated visit by India. One of the highlights will

be the 100th Test at the Queen’s Park Oval and this promises to be a fantastic occasion as we celebrate this historic event between these two proud cricketing nations.”

Grave added: “We also look forward to hosting India in the white-ball fixtures and welcoming fans to attend the matches across the Region, as well as in the United States. It will be 18 days of entertainment for cricket lovers to enjoy and savour.”

Official West Indies Tour Operator packages, including match tickets, will be announced first. The Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard, available through the Windiescricket.com website, will launch ticket sales by Tuesday, June 20. Fans can sign up to receive the first news of tickets going on sale at https:// www.windiescricket.com/ updates.

Match Schedule India tour of West Indies 2023

Test Matches

$2M cash prize for top horse at

July 30 Port Mourant Horse Race

More than seven million Guyana dollars will be up for grabs on Sunday, July 30 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

The grand one-day horse event has seven exciting races on the cards and the feature event, the Shivtahal Trophy will be open to all horses.

According to race organisers, Guyana Cup winner Alado will finally be running in East Berbice for the first time in the feature event at Port Mourant. In addition to the one-mile feature race, which will see the top horse bag $2 million, the Banks Derby open for three-year-old Guyana and West Indian-bred hors-

ExxonMobil U14 Tournament…

Waramuri Top, PC, Bartica Secondary among finalists

July 12-16: 1st Test Match, Windsor Park, Dominica July 20-24: 2nd Test Match, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

* Local start time: 10:00h (09:00h Jamaica time)

CG United ODIs

July 27: 1st CG United ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados

July 29: 2nd CG United ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados

August 1: 3rd CG United ODI, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

* Local start time: 09:30h (08:30h Jamaica time)

T20 Internationals

August 3: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

August 6: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana August 8: 3rd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana August 12: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida

August 13: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida

* Local start time: 10:30h (09:30h Jamaica time)

New champions are set to be crowned in the ExxonMobil U14 Boys’ and Girls’ football tournament, with the likes of Waramuri Primary Top poised to repeat Charlestown Secondary’s double whammy of 2022.

This is as a result of thrilling semi-finals in both the Boys’ and

came close to the target on several occasions. From the penalty mark, Bartica prevailed, connecting four shots as opposed to Bush Lot’s three.

The scores were locked at 1-1 after extra time in the second semi, featuring New Central High and Waramuri Primary Top. Bradley

Full Quarterfinal results: Girls

Tucville 7 v Ann’s Grove 1

Goalscorers

Tucville

– Ceara Glasgow 9th, 34th, 44th, 48th, 49th, 50th

– Shania Callender 19th

Ann’s Grove

– Govanie Embrack 43rd

President’s College 3 v Marian Academy 0

Goalscorers

– Kimona Edwards 24th, 42nd

– Ronlyn Dublin 40th

Waramuri 13 v Charlestown 0

Goalscorers

– Jada La Cruz 2nd

– Allia Henry 11th, 26th, 30th, 38th

– Mechelle Williams 15th, 18th, 35th

– Mnemosyne

Peters 24th, 43rd

– Tiffany Cozier 40th

es will be running for one mile and the top horse will bag $1.6 million.

Other races on the card include the G & Lower, J Open, three-year-old Guyana-bred maidens, L Open, E Class Open and North American non-winners in Guyana. The G & Lower race will be the third race which will see the owner of the top horse being paid in the million-dollar bracket.

For the feature event, weight would be allotted by class. The Banks Derby Guyana-bred horses would be given five lbs allowance, no maiden allowances.

Races will be run under the updated classification.

Entries close on July 25,

2023. Races to be run under guidance of Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules. The Club reserves the right to cancel or reframe any race. Five horses have to start before the third prize is paid; and seven horses must start before the fourth prize is paid. Horses can be entered by contacting Gingo on 618-7278, Dennis on 6403996, Fazal on 611-1141, or Shzeena on 322-0789/0369.

Depending on the entries, the Club would be open to framing additional races. Please contact Gingo on this matter. All horses need to be registered before entries are accepted. Please enter horses by way of entry forms that will be provided.

Girls’ divisions on Sunday last. As such, Waramuri Primary Top’s girls will oppose President’s College in the Girls’ final this Saturday, while their boys will come up against Bartica Secondary in the Boys’ final.

At the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Waramuri’s girls eased past the young ladies of Bartica Secondary 3-1, in the first semi-final.

Jada La Cruz netted a double in the fourth and sixth minutes, while Mnemosyne Peters added their third in the 32nd. Nikiesha Persaud registered Bartica’s consolation goal in the 29th minute.

President’s College were in firm control in the second semifinal decider, getting past Tucville Secondary 2-0. Captain Kimona Edwards found the back of the net twice for PC in the first and 15th

Williams netted for Waramuri in the 22nd minute while Trevor Gordon levelled the scores for Central in the 36th.

Both teams connected their allotted penalties, sending them into sudden-death kicks, where Waramuri Primary Top eventually emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, Waramuri Primary Top, Bartica Secondary, Tucville Secondary and President’s College were the teams to emerge victorious over Charlestown Secondary, New Central High, Ann’s Grove Secondary and Marian Academy respectively, in the tournament’s quarter-finals on Saturday.

– Sowanna Booker 46th

– Own goal 33rd

Bartica 9 v New Central High 0

Goalscorers

– Mia Peters 2nd, 8th – Candacy Robinson 4th, 14th

– Nicole Joseph 11th, 36th

– Arianna Stoby 29th, 39th – Selena Obermuller 47th

Boys Bush Lot 6 v Chase’s Academy 3

minutes .

On the other hand, the Boys’ semi-finals were filled with thrills as both games went down to the wire, being decided on penalty kicks.

The first battle between Bartica and Bush Lot Secondary ended in a stalemate after both teams

Likewise, the Boys’ quarterfinals saw victories from Bush Lot Secondary, Waramuri Primary Top, Bartica Secondary and New Central High over Chase’s Academy, Patentia Secondary, Christianburg Wismar Secondary and Westminster Secondary respectively.

The ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ U14 finals are set for this Saturday, June 17 at the same venue.

Goalscorers Bush Lot – Quancey Fraser 23rd, 27th, 30th, 40th – Trevor Eastman 15th – Gary Blair 2nd

Chase’s Academy

– Darius Chester 32nd, 43rd – King Elias 35th

Waramuri 1 v Patentia

1 penalties (5-4)

Goalscorers

Waramuri – Shakeel Marks 15th

Patentia – Jaden Wahid 3rd

Bartica 1 v CWSS 0

Goalscorer

– Riley Tracey 1st

New Central 4 v Westminster 1

Goalscorers

New Central – Peter Khan 7th

– Jermain Favorite 25th

– Caeden Whyte 27th

– Trevor Gordon 29th

Westminster – Michael Singh 18th

Guyana Cup winner Alado will be in action at Port Mourant on July 30

A look at the action between Bartica Secondary (orange) and Bush Lot Secondary (gold) (Jemima Holmes photo)

Waramuri Primary Top’s girls (burgundy) outplayed their counterparts from Bartica Secondary

It was a walk in the park for President’s College (purple) against Tucville Secondary

India last opposed West Indies in Guyana on the same dates – August 6 and August 8 – in 2019

India return to Guyana on August 6 …as

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets survive Miami Heat to secure 1st NBA championship

In a rock fight of a Game

5, the Denver Nuggets reached the NBA mountaintop from the foothills of the Rockies, winning their first-ever championship and setting Nikola Jokic's legacy as an all-timer in stone. Battling foul trouble and a Miami Heat team that refused to die, Jokic amassed 28 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists in a 94-89 victory in front of the 19,537 raucous fans filling Ball Arena. Jokic received all votes in the Finals MVP voting, concluding a historic play-off run for the seven-foot Serbian and his Denver team-mates.

As a two-time regular-season MVP and now champion, Jokic joins a heady list of basketball greats that includes only Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Nuggets led by seven late in the fourth quarter, and the Heat were on a five-minute scoring drought, when Jimmy Butler scored 13 straight points for his team, raising the eighth-seeded zombies from the grave and taking an 89-88 lead into the final two minutes. A Bruce Brown put-back returned the lead to Denver, and Butler's turnover with 27.4 seconds left gifted the Nuggets a chance to finally lay Miami to rest. The Nuggets, 9-for-19 from the line at the time, made four straight free throws down the stretch to clinch.

The Heat forced four turnovers in the opening minutes, but could not capitalise, starting 3-for-16 from the field. Nuggets Coach Michael Malone called for a timeout, trying to settle the nerves of a team playing before its bloodthirsty home crowd, and his players responded (again). Jamal Murray and Jeff Green sandwiched dunks — one on a drive, the other off a backcut — around a smooth jumper from Michael Porter

Jr. Denver moved the ball as quickly as it pushed the pace, and an avalanche threatened Miami.

Then, four minutes after Aaron Gordon committed his second foul, Jokic joined him on the bench with two of his own at the 2:51 mark of the first quarter. Bam Adebayo took that as his cue to attack Green as a small-ball centre, finishing consecutive and-ones.

His 14 first-quarter points flipped the game in Miami's favour, 22-18.

In a slog of a second quarter muddied by 10 personal fouls almost evenly split between both teams, the Heat were in their element. After starting 1-for9 in the paint, they found success attacking the basket, first with Jokic on the bench, and then as he actively avoided commit-

ting a third foul. They got eight points from Butler, four more from Adebayo, all either at the rim or freethrow line, and 15 points in the frame from the bench, including two Kyle Lowry 3-pointers and a third by Duncan Robinson, to build a lead as large as 10.

Porter's nine points and eight rebounds in the first half kept the Nuggets from a worse deficit, as did 34

points in the paint. Miami's 51-44 lead at the break felt light, given Denver's 1-for15 shooting from deep.

So, the Nuggets gave the Heat a heavy dose of Jokic early in the third. He totalled eight points and five rebounds in the first five minutes of the quarter, and Murray snapped Denver's streak of 13 straight missed 3s, connecting from the corner in transition to even the score, 60-60. Porter broke his own 3-for-26 slump in the Finals, drilling a 3 in transition and giving the Nuggets their first lead, 6966, since the first quarter. Another Lowry triple helped the Heat carry a 7170 edge into the final frame, but the Nuggets emerged with the taste of a title on their tired tongues. Murray found Jokic for a layup out of the gate, and then found the net on a second straight 3-pointer. Denver led, 7571, and Miami needed a timeout. Butler was 2-for12 in the game, Adebayo 1-for-5 since halftime, and the Nuggets' defence was strangling the Heat on a string. (Y-Sport)

Nikola Jokic drives to the basket as Denver clinch their first NBA championship in history