Guyana Times -Friday, July 21, 2023

Miners involved in gold smuggling racket will face consequences – VP

…as Govt monitors decline in gold declarations

Following reports that Brazilian federal authorities have launched an investigation into a Guyanese businessman suspected of laundering millions worth of illegally mined gold into that country, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has warned of tough measures and consequences for any miner found engaged in such illegal activities.

In fact, Jagdeo has admitted that government has observed a decline in gold declarations, with at least one foreign company on its radar for declaring lower than usual figures.

“It’s absolutely true that we’ve noticed, especially in the last couple of years, a significant deviation [in gold declarations] and with the story coming out from Brazil, now we realise that it [gold] may be diverting,” the Vice President told a news conference on Thursday.

“We had, at one stage, thought that Venezuela gold was coming into Guyana to bypass the sanctions and go out…now we’re realising that it’s actually our gold going into Brazil and obviously to bypass the five per cent royalty and the two per

cent final tax.”

The Bank of Guyana (BoG), in its first quarter statistical report on the performance of the economy for the year, said gold declarations decreased by 5.3 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

“…gold declarations were lower by 5.3 per cent, as local and licensed dealers declarations contracted by 23.9 per cent,” the report noted. However, it added that “the declarations from Aurora Gold Mine Inc. (AGM), Zijin Mining’s subsidiary in Guyana, the sole operating foreign company, increased by 65.4 per cent, when compared to the same period one year prior.”

For 2022 the declaration was 486,415 ounces; 2021 it was 499,054 ounces; 2020 recorded 584,291 ounces and 2019 some 634,905 ounces.

But Jagdeo noted that at least one foreign firm operating in Guyana is reporting lower than usual declarations. “I’ve noticed in the declarations, at least one foreign company, their declaration has dropped too and so we’re paying attention to that.”

As such, he noted that

there is an ongoing investigation and that culprits will face the consequences.

“We’re going to take tough measures against people because we’re going to track also those who are benefitting from concessions. A lot of the local medium scale miners, they get concessions from the government too and if they’re a part of this racket, then they will face consequences too as well as those who are a part of the export of the gold,” the Vice President warned.

According to an article published by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security earlier this month, its investigation, known as Operation Vanglória, focuses on individuals believed to have facilitated the movement of illegally sourced gold from Guyana into Brazil.

Suspicious circumstances

The probe was initiated after authorities discovered the involvement of an alleged Guyanese businessman, who has ties to the gold mining industry in Guyana and conducts business in Brazil under suspicious circumstances.

Reports are that Federal Police agents suspect that the Guyanese businessman has a Brazilian partner who aided in the movement of funds through the companies.

One of these entities, purportedly involved in the trade of hospital supplies, has allegedly laundered over US$12.3 million worth of gold through its operations, despite having no

physical presence at its registered address.

Brazil, due to its size and numerous bordering countries, has become a hotspot for gold smuggling activities. With nearly 200 ports along the Atlantic Ocean, the country serves as an ideal starting point for criminal organisations seeking to smuggle gold out of South America and into lucrative markets like the United

States, Asia, and the Middle East.

It is estimated that around 30 tonnes of gold, valued at approximately $1.86 billion, is illegally extracted from Brazil each year.

As part of Operation Vanglória, Brazilian authorities said they have executed three search and seizure warrants in their efforts to locate the gold. (G11)

Brazilian federal authorities during the investigation

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 21 – 04:15h-05:45h and Saturday, July 22 – 04:15h-05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, July 21 – 06:00h-07:30h and Saturday, July 22 – 06:35h-08:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day and night, interrupted by sunny conditions in the late-afternoon hours. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:33h and 18:57h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.43 metres.

Low Tide: 12:32h reaching a minimum height of 0.70 metre.

Guyana has one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios globally – VP

…as Govt moves to adjust debt ceiling

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has debunked claims that Guyana’s future generations will be burdened with debt, noting that the country has one of the lowest debts-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios in the world.

He explained that from the 90s to now, Guyana’s capacity to carry debt has been vastly enhanced and its capability for servicing such has also grown, to the point where in 2028, a year’s revenue would be equivalent to almost the total outstanding debt.

“We’re careful in our management of debt,” Jagdeo affirmed during a press conference on Thursday.

He explained that in the 90s, Guyana’s debt was over 900 per cent of its GDP.

“…debt was nine times the size of our economy and we were using over 100 per cent of revenue to service debt, so that meant every cent we collected in revenue was going to service debt, mainly external debt.”

“Effectively, our country was bankrupt.”

He explained that it got to a stage where Guyana was declared uncreditworthy and as a last resort, Government was involved in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to deal with the issue.

Fast forward to 2015, pre oil discovery, Guyana’s debt had come down to 45 per cent of its GDP. Jagdeo said this could be attributed to a combination of factors including the fact that some debts were written off, some were paid off through an aggressive programme which he himself led, and the country’s economy had expanded.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Now, Guyana’s debt is 23 per cent of GDP.

“It’s one of the lowest figures in the world. The United States debt-to-GDP ratio is nearly 100 per cent. In Europe, many countries in Europe, it’s over 100 per cent. I’m talking about developed countries of the world and ours, our total debt outstanding, domestic and foreign, is less than 25 per cent of GDP, of which the bulk of it is the domestic debt,” Jagdeo outlined.

Moreover, he shared that the country was spending just about 7-8 per cent of revenue to service the debt.

“In the 90s, it was over 100 per cent of revenue, last year, it was less than 10 per cent of revenue used to service debt…most countries in the Caribbean now are using 60 per cent of their revenues to service debt…,” he contrasted.

Borrowing

Jagdeo also emphasised that borrowing money was not necessarily a bad thing once it was used to fund projects that add to the welfare of people and the growth of productive capacity.

He used as an example the US$150 million loan with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), at an interest rate of two per cent, which will be used to advance Government’s housing programme and construct the long-awaited fourlane Wismar-Mackenzie

Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

“That’s what we borrow for. We’re borrowing for the gas-to-energy project so that we can bring electricity prices down, solve the electricity problem…and the project pays back for itself over the long run so although you take the debt now, you pay back for it from the project itself. We’re borrowing for 12 hospitals that will make sure that…we can expand healthcare to our people…we borrowed for the bridge across the Demerara River, because that bridge would change the whole dynamics of these two regions which are the most populous regions...so, it is what you invest in,” Jagdeo explained.

He further explained that Budget 2023, which has a value of $781.9 billion (US$3.7 billion), is financed in part through borrowing, something which is public knowledge.

In fact, he explained that the budget is financed through non-oil revenue, revenue and by borrowing.

“We got US$2.8 billion of the US$3.7 billion in revenue. Of the US$2.8 billion, US$1 billion is oil [money], but we have a budget of US$3.7 billion so when you add US$1 billion from oil resources to the US$1.8 billion non-oil revenue, you have US$2.8 billion. When you subtract US$2.8 billion from US$3.7 billion, you’re left with US$900 million gap so that means you have to fill the gap by borrowing.

“So [we] haven’t borrowed as yet, you now have to go out and contract the loans and that is what we’re doing, but

they [Opposition] knew this all along in the budget debate. Every time you sign up to a new loan, they [Opposition] make it look as it’s a new borrowing, but it’s catered for in the budgetary process if you understand it,” Jagdeo posited, noting that the same applies with the withdrawals from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

Interestingly too, Jagdeo disclosed, that only 27 per cent of the budget was financed by oil revenues.

Against this backdrop, Jagdeo rapped the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition for continuing to peddle lies on the issue.

“AFC/APNU ignorance. They don’t do their job at budget time. Many of them don’t even understand what they’re debating…so the AFC talking about us burdening future generations now when we’ve dropped the servicing of our debt from over 100 per cent of revenue to under 10 per cent… and the debt from over 900 per cent of GDP to now less than 25 per cent.”

NRF Annual Report

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Thursday presented to the National Assembly the inaugural Natural Resource Fund

(NRF) Annual Report for the fiscal year 2022, pursuant to Section 32(4) of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021.

Minister Singh acknowledged the work done by the NRF Board, the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee and the Investment Committee, and “commended, on behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana, the sterling work that is being done by this first Board of Directors and the two respective committees in setting up for the very first time, the governance architecture for this brand new but extremely important national institution”.

The NRF Act 2021 came into operation on January 1, 2022, replacing the illegitimate NRF Act 2019 passed by the APNU/AFC caretaker administration, and represents one of the most significant steps taken to bring greater accountability and transparency in the management of Guyana’s oil resources.

At the National Assembly sitting, Dr Singh also circulated the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee Annual Report for the fiscal year 2022, pursuant to Section 6(6) of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021.

The Finance Minister also presented Notification of Receipts to the National Assembly of all petroleum revenues paid into the NRF during the period April 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023, pursuant to Section 33 (2) of the NRF Act 2021.

According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, in 2022, a total of US$607.6 million was withdrawn from the NRF and a further US$1002.1 million is projected to be withdrawn this year.

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Challenges, manipulation & smoking among youths

More than 40 million young people aged 13-15 have already started to use tobacco, the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined. This, by any measure, is quite alarming, and one can only imagine the kind of impact this would have on our young people if urgent action is not taken to discourage such actions.

The WHO, for some time now, has embarked on a global campaign to highlight the “strategic, aggressive and wellresourced tactics” employed by the tobacco industry to target youths, and to debunk the myths they create. The campaign seeks to provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation – from product design to marketing campaigns – and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics, thereby empowering young people to stand up against the tactics. The WHO describes this effort as a countermarketing campaign, as it would reinforce work in assisting countries to implement effective policy interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco.

Guyana’s Chronic Diseases Coordinator Dr Kavita Singh had, in the past, lamented the fact that the tobacco industry is capitalising on new trends in targeting young persons. She noted that it was during this point in time that ‘big tobacco’ was using strategic marketing techniques to try to get young people to experiment with the new and emerging novel products, like the e-cigarettes and the heated tobacco products.

While there is a myth that these products are safe, they are equally as harmful as the smoke of an actual cigarette. According to WHO, smoking e-cigarettes and hookah pipes –marketed as “safer” alternatives to conventional cigarettes – is harmful, addictive, and increases the risk of developing heart and lung diseases.

Of note is that these products have the same tobacco which has cancer-causing agents among other deadly emissions. The WHO notes that most of the countless flavours on offer – such as bubble-gum and candy – are there to attract youngsters, who at least double their chances of smoking cigarettes later in life.

It should be stated that tobacco is responsible for over seven million deaths per year worldwide. Those include approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 40 per cent of all tobaccorelated deaths are from lung diseases, like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

Guyana’s tobacco control law, enacted in 2017, follows several of the Articles of the WHO Convention, and mandates the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100 per cent smoke-free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation, and specified outdoor spaces, to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60 per cent of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors; prohibition on vending machines’ sales; and a ban on the manufacture and sale of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco, as 78 per cent of all deaths here are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill due to tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance; stricter enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use; and, more recently, tackling the newer forms of cigarette substitutes, which are proving to be very attractive to youths.

Who got the keys to my Bimmer?

By Dr Samuel Braithwaite

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Ambassador Marianne Van Steen, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jamaica, announced that consumers will be able to import European cars into Jamaica free of duty. The duty-free importation of cars from the EU is part of the CariforumEU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which was signed in 2008.

The CARIFORUM group of countries consists of the members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) (except Montserrat) and the Dominican Republic. As countries with lower levels of development than their European partners, the CARIFORUM countries are allowed 15-25 years to gradually remove duty on EU imports except for some CARIFORUM products which will enjoy permanent protection. At the same time, all CARIFORUM exports enter the EU free of duty.

I suppose this announcement was greeted by cheers. The DJ in attendance might have played Beenie Man's hit single, Who Am I, with the signature hook, "Sim simma, who got the keys to my bimmer?" Maybe a few seconds of Bounty Killer's Benz and Bimmer too. That two of Jamaica's top 90s dancehall artistes sang about Mercedes Benz and BMW is indicative of the love for German cars in Jamaica. These cars are as much a part of Jamaican culture and life as ackee and saltfish, and Clarks.

However, as all of this is happening in Jamaica, the EU car market is going through a period of significant change as the bloc does its part to reduce carbon emissions.

On Wednesday, June 8,

2022, the EU Parliament voted to ban the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars by 2035. The law was formally approved by the EU Parliament on February 14, 2023. Germany has since pushed back against the view that all internal combustion engines (ICE) must be banned and argued for the continued use of ICE vehicles powered by green fuels, formally known as synthetic fuels.

Synthetic fuels are made using hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide used in the production process is removed from the atmosphere, earning these synthetic fuels the carbon-neutral label. The production of synthetic fuels is extremely expensive, relative to fossil fuels; however, costs are expected to come down significantly within the next decade. It should be noted that synthetic fuels can be used in fossil fuel-powered vehicles and can be dispensed from the same gasoline pumps currently in use today. Indeed, the chemical composition of synthetic fuels is the same as fossil fuels.

Most countries, Jamaica included, do not have any legislation close to the ambitious European plan for reducing carbon emissions. Since European law will only prohibit the sale of fossil fuel-powered vehicles in Europe, it is quite possible that fossil fuel-powered vehicles could be produced in Europe and sold to countries outside of Europe.

Germany, Europe's largest economy, is heavily dependent on its car industry.

To be sure, Germany's main merchandise export is cars. Car exports constitute about 10 per cent of Germany's total merchandise exports of about US $1.6 trillion, add

other vehicles and vehicle parts and that number jumps up to about 16 per cent of total merchandise exports. Germany also has an open economy, with the export and import of goods and services amounting to about 89 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021. This same measure was about 25 per cent during the same period for the United States, making it a relatively closed economy. Jamaica's purchase of German cars accounts for significantly less than 1 per cent of Germany's total car exports, but in the world of business, every unit sold matters, every repeat customer is welcomed, every customer is a brand ambassador.

The Jamaican context

While the removal of import duty will also be applied to electrical vehicles (EVs), once they meet the strict rules of origin criteria, it is unlikely that this will significantly change the minds of those people who are not already contemplating the purchase of an EV. Currently, the price of an EV is greater than that of ICE cars, notwithstanding, of course, the reduced cost to power EVs.

When considering the purchase of a car, a consumer must consider not only the initial cost but also insurance premiums and maintenance costs, inclusive of labour costs. Every day we hear Jamaican entrepreneurs lament about how hard it is to find skilled labour, it stands to reason, therefore, that it will take years before there is a sufficient cadre of local mechanics skilled in maintaining electrical vehicles. There is also the issue of availability of charging stations. On the upside, EVs need less main-

tenance than ICE vehicles as they have fewer moving parts to maintain.

The removal of import duty brings into focus the issue of government revenues. It is estimated that the import duty on European cars was about $1.5 billion for the fiscal year 2022/2023. This is about 1 per cent of the estimated expenditure of the Ministry of Education for 2023/2024. It should be noted, however, that the $1.5-billion figure includes revenue earned from European cars which do not meet the strict rules of origin criteria and will, therefore, not be allowed duty-free entry. The rules of origin require that a European car is primarily manufactured in Europe. Import duty aside, there is an array of other duties and charges which still apply, such as general consumption tax and special consumption tax.

The removal of duties on EU-made cars will be phased out over 15 years, thereby preventing a shock to government revenues. Additionally, the reduced cost for European cars could lead to an increase in volume, thereby increasing the amount of revenue earned from the other duties and charges.

It is crucial that Jamaican firms take greater advantage of the provisions provided by the EPA and increase their exports to the EU. The days of preferential trade are effectively over, the age of reciprocal trade is here. (Jamaica Observer)

(Dr Samuel Braithwaite is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies, Mona. He is also a technical consultant at Growth Perspectives Limited.)

An Offshore Patrol Vessel from the Mexican Navy's 7th Fleet currently in Guyana for the conduct of search-and-rescue exercises during Exercise Tradewinds 2023 (Photo by LCPL Anton Baird of the G9 Branch)

Dr Asha Kissoon elected Deputy Speaker

…Nandranie Coonjah sworn-in as MP, replaces Nigel Dharamlall

Leader of The New Movement (TNM), Dr Asha Kissoon, was on Thursday elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

The resignation of Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) leader Lenox Shuman from Parliament had left the position of Deputy Speaker vacant, paving the way for a new appointee. As such, Dr Asha Kissoon was nominated by Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira, and she scooped up a majority of 33 votes during the motion. The other contender, Dawn Hastings-Williams, nominated by the Opposition APNU/ AFC, was defeated.

“We have the majority of persons voting in favour of Dr Asha Kissoon to be elected as Deputy Speaker,” Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, announced.

Dr Kissoon took her seat in the National Assembly in April, replacing Shuman as an MP. She is expected to serve in the House for

80 days, in accordance with the agreement between her party, LJP, and A New and United Guyana (ANUG).

The three joinder parties have collectively won a single seat in the 65-seat National Assembly following the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The duration of the terms, according to the joinder agreement, had stipulated that LJP, in the form of Shuman, would occupy the seat for two years, six months, and 20 days, while

ANUG would serve for two years and five months, and TNM for 80 days.

The three parties had previously committed to acting as a broker between the Government and the main Opposition.

The process for replacing an MP involves the National Assembly writing to the head of the party list to whom the seat belongs, once its occupant has submitted a formal resignation. The head of the list is tasked with inform-

ing GECOM which party candidate’s name to extract and submit to the National Assembly. After assuming her seat, Kissoon had vowed to be an agent of change in politics.

New MP

Former Regional Vice Chairperson for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Nandranie Coonjah, has officially been sworn-in as an MP, replacing former Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall as a Parliamentarian. Coonjah took her oath in the presence of the Speaker of the National Assembly and other Parliamentarians.

Coonjah, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Region Two candidate and a longstanding Commissioner on the Women and Gender Equality Commission, was selected after the party wrote to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to extract her name from the geo-

graphic list of candidates. She takes the seat after Nigel Dharamlall resigned as both Local Government Minister and MP, following allegations of rape that were levelled against him.

While the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, has been carrying out Dharamlall’s ministerial functions, Coonjah has been identified as Dharamlall’s parliamentary replacement.

On July 13, the House Speaker had received the respective letter from Dharamall, informing of his resignation as Member of Parliament. In relation to the allegations, the complainant declined to pursue the matter. The victim had given a “no further action statement” to investigators in the presence of one of her parents and a representative of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

This had led to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali

Hack, SC, advising the Police not to proceed with the case.

The DPP, in her advice, stated that the victim’s decision to withdraw the complaint was not influenced by anyone, and that same was done in her best interest.

Based on this new development, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had revealed that “the Director of Public Prosecutions concluded that, in the absence of the victim’s complaint, there is no legal provision for the Police to proceed with the matter.” (G12)

Guyana has one of the lowest debt-to-GDP...

Debt ceiling adjustment

Also on Thursday, the Government moved to adjust the debt ceilings as its development agenda accelerates.

In line with the Government’s commitment to maintaining its sterling track record of transparent and prudent debt management, the increase in the debt ceilings aims to avert the dependency on utilising the Consolidated Fund overdraft as a means of financing, which was done under the APNU/AFC Administration.

Dr Singh tabled two orders in Parliament proposing adjustments to the two ceilings. It was proposed that the domestic public debt ceiling be increased to $750 billion, up from $500 billion from its last revision. Meanwhile, a new external borrowing ceiling of $900 billion was proposed, after its last increase to $650 billion.

Given Guyana’s economic outlook, these revisions to the external and domestic public debt ceilings do not threaten Guyana’s longterm debt sustainability, the Finance Minister noted.

Noteworthy, he said, was the fact that for more than one and a half decades Guyana has maintained a robust debt sustainability position. This favourable outcome was due to the PPP/C Administration’s strong debt management abilities. He also pointed out that the Administration focuses on debt management policies and practices that hinge on a strategy that prioritises mobilising development financing at the lowest cost, within prudent risk parameters.

“Guyana’s history serves as a testimony of this Administration’s ability of achieving and maintaining sustainable debt levels. When this Government took office in 1992, Guyana was one of the world's most heavily indebted countries, however, after several rounds of successful debt-relief ini-

tiatives coupled with the Government’s continuous efforts to strengthen the domestic economy, Guyana’s debt became sustainable in 2006. Over the last three decades, Guyana’s debt has declined from 617 per cent of GDP (more than six times the economy) at end1991, to a remarkable 24.6

per cent (about a quarter of the economy) at end-2022. Additionally, when this Government took office in 1992, about 90 cents of every dollar of revenue earned was used to make debt service payments, today this has

been significantly reduced to seven cents of every dollar,” the Finance Minister said.

Fuelled by a ramping-up of oil production and the resurgence of the non-oil economy, Guyana registered real GDP growth of 62.3 per cent

in 2022, making it the fastest-growing economy in the world. This appreciable growth performance and the country’s robust economic outlook underpin Guyana’s sustainable absorption of the new debt.

New PPP/C MP Nandranie Coonjah taking her oath on Thursday

Newly-elected Deputy Speaker Dr Asha Kissoon

Page Foundation

Problem-solving with proportions

Example:

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise

All

Piece of thick paper or card

Paint

A rainy day

Many artists have made their name painting the natural world and there is a certain beauty to a rainy day. What better way to capture that beauty than to create a painting? Look out of the window and paint the view as the rain pours, or be a little more adventurous and go outside to your favourite place and paint it in the rain, you can even let the rain land on your paper as you try to paint and see what the effect is. (thetalentbank.io)

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

WORD SEARCH

There are many kinds of proportion problems that you may run across in the real life. Just remember the basic steps:

Dr Irfaan Ali will return as PPP presidential candidate in 2025

President Dr Irfaan Ali will return as the presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the Party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday announced.

He gave this assurance during a press conference on Thursday as he responded to concerns regarding the recent Reuters report “U.S. probing Exxon contractor in Guyana for smuggling drugs, gold”, which also sought to cast a shadow on the Guyanese Head of State.

The report outlines that US Government officials have repeatedly warned ExxonMobil to avoid doing business with Guyanese businessmen Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, whom it said has “close ties” with Guyana’s President.

The article further sought to insinuate that the Mohameds had some influence on Ali becoming President, but Jagdeo –also the Vice President of Guyana – debunked this.

“President Ali earned his position as our candidate. He didn’t come from anyone influencing us. He comes from a long history of a family that has been in the struggle, his grandmother, with Cheddi Jagan, in the early days. So, he earned his position as the presidential candidate of this party,” Jagdeo expressed.

“The Mohameds had no role to play in his elections. He worked hard, we campaigned as a party throughout this country and the people of Guyana chose him… it’s a rumour that Reuters had there that somehow, they [the Mohameds] influenced somehow his selection and elevation into the presidency, absolute nonsense,” he added.

The Vice President also debunked the insinuations in the article that it was through Government connections that the Mohameds benefited from the deal to build a $300 million onshore logistics base, with a consortium, for ExxonMobil.

“We had absolutely nothing to do with their bidding process…ExxonMobil went through a tender, there

were several Guyanese companies that were bidding there…the Government of Guyana had no say nor did it influence the contract being given.”

Jagdeo also dismissed speculations in the story that ExxonMobil may be getting its permits from the Government because of the Mohameds’ “perceived close contact with the president”.

In fact, Jagdeo said “the most egregious thing about the relationship with ExxonMobil was done when Irfaan Ali was not President. It was the contract…the permitting here is almost a routine issue once they comply with certain technical specifications.

“I am in charge basically policy-wise of this sector. Not a single day did Irfaan Ali call me or the Mohameds could ever call me and say ‘we are a part of some consortium with Exxon, accelerate something or do something’. I would find it reprehensible and it never happened. The president never intervened one single day on their behalf or anyone’s behalf. He’s a stickler for process in these matters and I know because I am in charge policy-wise of this area.”

Moreover, the Vice President explained that Guyana was a “small country” as he addressed claims of the closeness between President Ali and the Mohameds.

“President Ali meets a lot of people. I have no doubt that he’s friendly with the entire business community…people go to meet the President all the time. It doesn’t mean they get special treatment and this is a small country, the point I’m making, it’s a small country. Knowing a person or

maybe sitting down at the same table as the person is not a rarity in Guyana. It doesn’t mean that the person has special treatment. It’s just that we’re small and you bump into people all the time and they have very few activities that the same people go to…it’s the same people you see over and over again.”

In fact, Jagdeo made it clear that the Guyana Government has not been officially informed of any investigation and it will only act on this matter when/if the US engages it officially.

According to Jagdeo, the article is “all rumour-based”. Moreover, he said if the US were to impose sanctions, as expressed in the article, then the Guyana Government would have to make an assessment and then take steps to protect the country’s interests.

Evidence

The Reuters report had noted that ExxonMobil ignored the US Government’s advice to not do business with the Mohameds. This advice, according to the report, was delivered during meetings in late 2021 and early 2022,

“Now, U.S. officials are considering imposing sanctions on the Mohameds, according to four of the sources and two additional people familiar with the matter. That could require Exxon to sever its business relationship with any sanctioned individuals or companies,” the report stated.

The report further alleges that the businessmen “are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland

Security and other U.S. agencies, on suspicions of smuggling Colombian cocaine and illegally mined Venezuelan gold to the United States, Europe and the Middle East, according to the five sources with knowledge of the probe. The Mohameds are also suspected of laundering money for drug traffickers and criminals, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region, according to one of the intelligence reports.”

The Mohameds have since issued a statement challenging the global news agency to produce its evi-

dence to substantiate those claims.

“The Mohameds are surprised and astonished that such a seemingly reputable international news agency would publish such allegations that are devoid of any substance. It is disappoint-

ing that Reuters would permit itself to be the tool of misinformation and an agent of the detractors of the Mohameds. The Mohameds consider this report a most vile, diabolical sloppy hatchet job, published with the primary intention to create the appearance that the Mohameds are in a position of conflict with the US law enforcement agencies. The tone, tenor, and content of the report clearly aim to lower the Mohameds’ estimation in the eyes of Guyanese, the international community, and to destroy their business relations, integrity, and credentials. In conclusion, we remain fully committed to upholding the law and conducting our business operations with the highest standards of legitimacy and integrity,” the statement had outlined. (G11)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Drug trafficker appealing 4 years' jail time released on bail

Hughes, Fields and Stoby.

Former media work-

er Zanneel Nirmala

Williams was in February sentenced to four years in prison and fined $14,442,000 for attempting to smuggle cocaine to the United States of America (USA). After spending several months incarcerated, the 27-year-old former communications officer and reporter was recently granted bail by a High Court Judge, pending the hearing of her appeal.

One of the grounds of her appeal is that the jail term imposed on her by Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce is too harsh. She is being represented by the law firm of

Williams had made her initial court appearance in April 2022, when she pleaded guilty to a drug-trafficking charge. However, the following month, she had changed her plea to not guilty. She had been refused bail, and had further been remanded to prison. Her trial was scheduled to commence on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts, but when Williams, of Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown, appeared in court then, she again changed her plea to guilty. Consequently, she was sentenced.

On April 22, 2022, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, Williams had been found with 9.628 kilograms (21 pounds) of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Following that drug bust, she had been arrested, along with Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) officer Anil Sookhoo, 33, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officer Shameka Caesar, 27, of Durban Street,

Wortmanville, Georgetown.

Sookhoo and Caesar have also been charged with drug trafficking, but have each been released on $750,000 bail after pleading not guilty.

It has been reported that on the day in question, Williams was an outgoing passenger on a

…with Brazil

Singapore is conceded to be a success story par excellence as far as the Third World - to which it once belonged - is concerned. Hard to believe we were once doing better than Singapore, isn’t it?? In his book, “From Third World to First”, miracle man Lee Kwan Yew pointed out how Jamaica’s Manley used to be the big kahuna at Commonwealth Meetings in the seventies - with answers to everything. Well, Lee Kwan Yew had the last laugh! He mightn’t have been as blunt as Naipaul, but he did imply we have more “talk men” than “do men” here in the Caribbean!!

One of the reasons Singapore succeeded so spectacularly was because of the strategic decisions LKY made. Leaders are supposed to look “beyond the horizon” to identity opportunities that others mightn’t even be THINKING about. One of those decisions was to choose Europe and the US - thousands of miles away - as Singapore’s “hinterland” it would service! Imagine that!! At the same time our smart man Burnham gave us subsistence co-operativism!

JetBlue flight destined for JFK International Airport in New York, USA, when CANU officers found a quantity of cocaine inside her hand luggage.

As a result of that find, she was arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, where another set of cocaine was found strapped to her body.

The cocaine found in her luggage amounted to 7.962 kilograms, while another 1.666 kilograms of cocaine were found strapped to her body. The narcotic had a total street value of over Gy$5 million, and upon arrival in the US, it would have been worth US$300,000 (Gy$60 million), CANU had said.

Based on investigations, Police later arrested Sookhoo and Caesar. (G1)

Well, it’s clear by now that our young President Ali is a “do man”, and not a “talk man”!! Your Eyewitness has always believed that one strategic decision we needed to make was quit looking so fixedly north when it comes to our trade linkages, and shift our gaze elsewhere – especially to that behemoth south of the Rupununi. And lo and behold, early in the day, President Ali pivoted south!! Brazil - the #10 economy in the world, with GNP of US$1.6 TRILLION – might’ve stuttered a bit because of COVID, but it’s a giant that can only grow in the years ahead, and provide markets for the diversification of our economy - while taking advantage of our newfound oil revenues.

Presidents Ali and Santokhi of Suriname, after collaborating to create more heft, quickly scheduled meetings with their Brazilian counterpart – now Lula - to discuss a number of initiatives on the strength of the three countries becoming South American energy powerhouses. On the Caricom “25 by 25 initiative” – to cut its food bills by 25% by 2015 – Pres Ali quickly roped in Brazil. Roraima has a long history in the cultivation of soya, beans and corn – which that private conglomerate is experimenting with in our Intermediate Savannahs. Now they want to explore getting into the business on our side of the border in Region 9, which has the identical terrain add soils like theirs. And the Rupununi may soon be crowded with cattle!

We’ve now launched the completion of the Highway to the Takutu Bridge. Which’ll give Brazil entry to our upcoming Berbice Deep Water harbour to ship their products from Roraima and Manaus to their northern markets!

Go south, youngsters!!

…for votes

The new race for the PNC leader “wuk” is again throwing up the perennial question in Guyanese politics: how’s the leader to solidify support of the ethnic base but still try to get some support from the other “five peoples”? When Burnham formed the PNC in late 1957, he was the darling of urban Africans - because of their pride at his exploits at Queen’s. He appealed to the rural Africans by bringing in Eusi Kwayana (then Sydney King) and the urban Coloured/ Mixed of John Carter’s UDP.

For Indian Guyanese support, he brought over Jainarine Singh and JB Latchmansingh from the BGEIA via the PPP. Jagan, of course, did the same thing with the rump PPP he was left with, consisting of mostly Indians and some loyalists from the other race groups. And that pretty much set the pattern of party mobilization in Guyana to this day!! So, is anything gonna be different this go-around in the PNC?

Let’s see who’re the wannabe leaders Latchmansingh or Jainarine Singh!

…for free and fair elections

The PNC insists the voters list containing names of Guyanese citizens residing abroad makes it susceptible to fraud. Since the only way those names can be removed is through constitutional change…will they move the appropriate motion??

The cocaine that was found on the person of Williams and in her hand luggage

Zanneel Nirmala Williams

$31B supplementary funds approved for climate action, Indigenous villages

A$31 billion

Supplementary

Appropriation

Bill was endorsed by the National Assembly during Thursday’s sitting, paving the way for funds to be injected into climate adaptation measures and support for Indigenous communities.

It was successfully piloted by Senior Finance Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

The Bill, comprising Financial Paper Number 1 and 2 of 2023, was first presented on April 24 during the 63rd sitting of the National Assembly, and allocates US$150 million in revenues from carbon credits towards two critical priorities under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Some $4.7 billion will be set aside for the Indigenous communities across Guyana while over $26 billion will be dedicated to climate action.

This significant step follows the recent payment of US$37.5 million from the Hess Corporation for carbon credits, bringing the total payments received to date to US$150 million, the high-

est revenue stream of its kind in the world.

As outlined in the bill, the allocated revenues will be directed towards two major priorities of the LCDS.

The first priority is empowering villages through investments. In line with the LCDS objectives, 15 per cent of the revenues are being dedicated to bottom-up investments through community plans outlined in village sustainability plans.

Villages have the autonomy to choose whether or not to participate in the benefit-sharing mechanism, and thus far, 200 out of Guyana's 242 Indigenous villages have produced their village plans. The strategic investment empowers villages across Guyana by providing the necessary resources and support to enhance their social, economic, and environmental well-being.

“By involving villages in the planning and decision-making process, this allocation promotes community ownership and ensures effective utilisation of funds to address their specific needs. The village plans designed by community members include infrastructure development, education and healthcare initiatives,

entrepreneurship support, cultural preservation, and other projects that foster sustainable development within the communities,” the Finance Ministry has disclosed.

On the forefront of the second priority is promoting climate adaptation and resilience. Recognising the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change,

the Government is prioritising one of the largest investments in climate adaptation in Guyana's history.

A substantial portion of the allocated funds, approximately US$127.5 million, will be dedicated to implementing comprehensive climate adaptation measures throughout the country.

“Guyana, with its extensive coastal areas and di-

verse ecosystems, is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and shifting rainfall patterns. By investing in climate adaptation, Guyana will enhance its ability to mitigate these risks and build resilience, ensuring the protection of its people, infrastructure, and natural resources.”

This considerable investment will support various climate adaptation initiatives, including the construction of two major canals in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); the rehabilitation of 20 sluices in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five and Six, as well as the procurement of pumps and excavators for use across multiple regions.

Carbon credits

Hess Corp, which is one of the partners operating in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, will be buying 2.5 million credits per year for the period 2016-2032, at a value of US$750 million.

The 33.7 million credits

being sold to Hess Corp is just 30 per cent of the carbon sink contained in Guyana’s vast forest cover. The country’s more than 18 million hectares of forests are estimated to store approximately 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The remaining 70 per cent of Guyana’s carbon credits will be put on the market for future sale agreements.

Indigenous communities were slated to receive 15 per cent of Hess Corporation’s payment for Guyana’s carbon credits, which amounted to the $4.7 billion.

The carbon credit inflows are being allocated to programme components of the LCDS 2030, and come on the heels of the Government’s engagement in further consultation over the past months to determine the structure of the two disbursement channels outlined in the LCDS 2030.

Advancing low-carbon development while addressing the impacts of climate change is a core focus of this investment, and attention will be aimed at supporting the strong stance that Guyana has maintained nationally and globally on forest governance and management, and forest legality. (G12)

Senior Finance Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

Deadly Mahdia fire

CoI will proceed, but families needed assistance now – Jagdeo

…slams Forde, Walton-Desir for shedding “crocodile tears”

Despite what the critics may say, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has assured, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire will proceed, notwithstanding the fact that families of those who perished in the tragedy recently signed agreements

dy occurred.

While Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has already shut down the critics, Jagdeo also had some words for the naysayers, telling a press conference on Thursday that from the inception of the disaster, the Government has been proactive.

to receive financial assistance from the Government.

It has been reported that the families of those children who perished in the May 21 fire will receive $5 million each as part of a series of assistance from the Government since the trage-

“From the very beginning, this Government led from the top on this issue.

The President himself visited Mahdia several times.

You contrast that with Granger behaviour when we had tragedies of that nature.

How many times Granger

went to the prison or met with the families when 17 persons were burnt up in the prison fire or in other places?” the Vice President posited.

“Almost every minister that I know was assigned to families. They worked with them to take people through a very difficult period; to put in place the logistics, to assist the families personally from the beginning,” he added.

Among some of the criticisms regarding the

Government’s monetary assistance is that it should have awaited the outcome of a CoI in the event it determines a higher value is needed. Another criticism is that the monies can be seen as “hush money”, and may influence the outcome of the CoI.

But Jagdeo argued that families needed and had requested the monetary assistance now.

“We don’t know what will come out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), and we have

an open mind on that; but we are going to assist the families now, many of them need the assistance now,” he said.

The Vice President went on to call out Opposition Members of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde regarding their criticisms on the topic.

“I call it crocodile tears. They have absolutely no concern for Indigenous people. Their policy showed it in the past,” Jagdeo asserted. The Opposition

Parliamentarians, among other things, questioned the credibility of the COI now that the families have received money from the Government. But Nandlall had already shut down this line of thinking, noting that the entire transaction was done in an open manner.

In fact, he said the families had an audience with private lawyers, who helped to break down the agreements they signed, and had even advised them of their right not to accept the terms. Nandlall had also explained that putting it in writing allows for transparency of public spending.

From the time of the fire, Government has covered all expenses borne by the affected families: airfares, accommodation in the city, funeral costs, as well as replacing the items lost in the fire. The fire claimed the lives of 20 children – 19 girls from the dormitory and a five-yearold boy who was the son of the dorm parents.

Meanwhile, a CoI headed by Major General (retired) Joe Singh is expected to be launched into the Mahdia tragedy.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Trio gets life sentence for robbing, killing vendor

marks, the Judge expressed that the man’s murder was a “deliberate and premeditated” act.

In considering an appropriate sentence for each of the convicts, she inter alia, considered these aggravating factors: the prevalence of felony murder; the emotional trauma caused to Dookie’s family as a result of his death; and the serious injuries inflicted upon the now dead man.

Three men who had viciously attacked and killed a vendor during a robbery at his home at Uitspa, a Demerara riverine community, have each been sentenced to life imprisonment.

On Thursday, July 20, 2023, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced Chandrapaul Persaud, 50, also called “Raju” or “Duffy”; Heralall Ramdhan, 61, also called “Baba” or “Roshan”; and Jagishwar Dhanai, 36, also called “Toto”, after they were convicted in May by a mixed 12-member jury of murder in the death of Dhanpaul Dookie, called Paulie, a 51-year-old vendor who was killed at his residence at sometime between July 24 and 26, 2017.

Police had stated that Dookie, a farmer/coal vendor, had been found dead with stab wounds to his abdomen, lower back, hip, forehead and right eye in his home in Uitspa Village, Demerara River.

After committing the act, the perpetrators had reportedly made their way into the man’s home, from whence they raided money and jewellery, among other items, before escaping.

The man’s decompos-

ing body was found by persons who had gone to check on him; and a post-mortem report had listed his cause of death as multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

Persaud and Dookie had been known to each other.

On Wednesday, when each of the convicted killers addressed the court, they begged for clemency and forgiveness, and for a chance to get back into society to be with their families. They each told the deceased man’s family that they were “sorry” for the loss of his life.

At that sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the State Prosecutor alluded to the serious nature and prevalence of the offence as he pressed for the maximum sentence.

According to the Prosecutor, a knife and axe had been used to inflict injuries on the late Dookie, whom she said had been in a “defenceless” situation when he was overpowered by the trio.

Describing the attack on Dookie as “unsuspecting”, given his relationship with Persaud, the Prosecutor submitted that the man’s murder was a display of wanton disregard for life.

Considering the foregoing, she asked the court to

impose a sentence that reflects the serious nature and gravity of the well-orchestrated crime perpetrated.

In narrating the facts on Thursday, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry said Persaud had observed Dookie with a stack of $5000 notes, and had plotted with the others to rob and kill the man.

She said, too, that the three men had given the Police caution statements outlining their roles in the crime. In her sentencing re-

The other aggravating factor, she highlighted, was that the three men were all adults when they murdered the vendor, and as such, they ought to have known the consequences of their actions.

According to Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, Persaud and Ramdhan continue to profess their innocence, despite there being “cogent evidence” implicating them in the crime. She said Ramdhan killed Dookie while Ramdhan was out on bail for attempted murder.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice SewnarineBeharry noted that the mit-

igating factors outweigh the aggravating factors. She highlighted that the convicts had cooperated with law enforcement officials when they were arrested; there are no reports of infractions against them by prison authorities; and they had all grown up in dysfunctional families. She reasoned that their lack of education and intellect may have led them to make poor choices.

After examining the felons’ expressions of penitence, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry concluded that Dhanai is the

only one who appeared “genuinely remorseful” for his criminal conduct. In the circumstances, each of the convicts was sentenced to imprisonment for life. Persaud and Ramdhan can apply for parole after 30 years, while Dhanai can do so after 20 years.

The Director of Prisons was ordered to ensure that the three killers enroll in literacy, anger management, vocational training and behavioural change courses. They had each been represented by legal counsel.

Murdered: Dhanpaul Dookie

The three murder convicts

distribution in Region 8

Over 8600 delivered to secondary students between 2021 and 2023

901 given out by APNU

Minister to APNU MP’s request for info

Science, Food and Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles, Physical Education, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Business, Language Arts, among others.

In contrast, when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government was in power, students received just 901 books in 2019. However, these only spanned Social Studies, Health and Family Life, English, Home Economics, Agriculture Science, and Spanish. This meant key textbooks from several core subjects were not distributed.

Under the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, there has been a turnaround in the education sector across Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) with significantly greater textbook distribution and trained teachers in the schools.

This picture was drawn from statistics provided in connection to questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Richard

Sinclair in the National Assembly.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand showed that the Ministry distributed a surplus of 8600 textbooks to secondary school students of Region Eight between 2021 and 2023.

The texts covered subjects such as Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, English Language, Social Studies, History, Information Technology, Office Administration, Integrated

For the first time in history last year, the Education Ministry was also able to supply every textbook needed for all primary school children in the public sector.

Guyana’s mid-year report for 2021 has shown that $980.5 million was spent by the Education Ministry to acquire worksheets and textbooks for children in the public school system. Some 165,958 textbooks were procured and distributed to over 13,000 Grade Six students.

After entering office in

August 2020, it was found that Guyana had not procured textbooks in over three years which resulted in a “big deficit”, according to the Education Minister.

Trained teachers

Meanwhile, the Minister was asked to provide a list of teaching vacancies for

secondary institutions in the region; these amounted to 16 for three schools: Paramakatoi Secondary, Mahdia Secondary, and Kato Secondary.

Of the 12 senior vacancies, three were filled after the recently-concluded senior appointments by the Teaching Service Commission.

In 2019, for the region, there were 18 enrolments at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) – all for the Trained Teachers Certificate (TTC). This number has moved to 41 in 2023, with persons also pursuing the Associate Degree in Education (ADE).

Minister Manickchand also reported, “It must be noted that in Region Eight, there has been an increase in the number of teachers enrolled in the Cyril Potter College of Education. With this increase in enrolment, all secondary schools in Region Eight will have at least 90 per cent trained teachers or teachers in training.”

The CPCE has committed to having 100 per cent trained teachers in classrooms across Guyana by 2025 as part of the Education Ministry’s strategic plan.

Two categories of untrained teachers currently exist in the education system: those who are eligible for admission at CPCE and those who are not. The latter is being upgraded, so that they can enter the college programme.

In 2022, the College produced its largest batch of teachers thereby augmenting Guyana’s teaching capacity, after more than 800 persons graduated. (G12)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

100 nursery schools to get new curriculum pilot in September

teachers from Kamarang in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) will be joining the training scheduled for the Georgetown district.

From August 7 to August 11, 2023, teachers in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four

(Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) will be trained within their districts. Master trainers will be responsible for these training sessions.

“A good curriculum makes space for the recog-

nition of each student’s personal, social and cognitive capacities, and respects differences in how children learn. It will support teachers in leading, assisting, and encouraging each child to achieve their potential,” the Ministry outlined in a statement. (G12)

Atotal of 100 nursery schools across the eleven education districts will participate in the pilot Guyana Renewed Curriculum, the Education Ministry has indicated.

The Ministry will roll out the pilot in September 2023. Both years one and two classes are now required to pilot this curriculum.

This week, the Nursery Sector is hosting a workshop for master trainers at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

The office of the ACEO (Nursery), in collaboration with the Guyana Education Sector Project Program, will organize training for head-teachers, year two teachers, and year one teachers in the pilot schools who were not previously trained to pilot this

curriculum.

According to Devendre Persaud, the Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Nursery Education, the workshop is a refresher training in preparation for the training of Nursery Year Two teachers, which would be held soon. He said the refresher training is crucial, as it reduces mistakes and errors by an incredible margin. He said that such engagements enable stronger memory retention, and help to achieve better compliance.

The objectives of the training exercise are to reinforce key learning concepts, address knowledge gaps among participants, ensure master trainers’ knowledge is up-to-date, update master trainers on new and updated procedures in the curriculum,

and reduce mistakes while improving the performance of master trainers.

According to the ACEO, the refresher training is timely because, very soon, the Year Two teachers and headteachers from the pilot schools will be trained to deliver the curriculum countrywide.

He said that, based on reports, the master trainers had done a splendid job in monitoring the teachers in the pilot schools across the country over the last year.

This training will be conducted for the following regions until July 28: One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Georgetown in their respective districts. However,

Education stakeholders under training at NCERD for smooth rollout of the pilot curriculum

Police Stations must be “welcoming place” for public – Benn to GPF

…says Force “behind the curve” in responding to issues

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is “behind the curve” in addressing rising developmental issues, but efforts are being made to better address crime-related matters and improve Police facilities countrywide.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn made these remarks on Thursday during the opening of a two-day Police Symposium at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary.

“We are behind the inflection point in terms of where we should be in responding to the issues of development – the oil and gas development, development in the natural resources sector otherwise, and the results of these developments,” Benn said.

He noted that the GPF

cording to Benn.

In bettering the approach towards addressing the concerns of citizens, Benn stated, new Police

help and sanctity for those in distress, Benn added, is a task the Police Force will have to work on regularly. Themed “Improving

is the “tip of the spear” in respect to ensuring peace and security in the country, though modern policing and addressing rising issues now require a broadbased, more academic, statistically-driven and humanistic approach.

“Given our developmental history and current context, the challenges which abound now with respect to transnational organised crime – it is an invidious task, and we have to recognise the challenges, the role, the critique, and vision necessary to ensure that peace we all desire,” Benn said.

Transnational organised crime – trafficking of persons and drugs, gold smuggling and money laundering – is a significant challenge the Force continues to encounter, though it is compounded by other issues of traffic-related crimes, an insurgence of maliciously set fires, and a more disdainful public, ac-

stations and command centres are being built across the regions with the requisite facilities.

“We want those new stations and also the old ones to be properly outfitted. We want the public to feel that the Police station is a welcoming place

Police Performance through Stakeholders’ Approach”, the Police symposium hosted by the GPF aims to mitigate these issues and consider areas to strengthen Police practices and partnerships, while fostering public confidence.

Priority issues to be discussed include domestic violence, the Juvenile Justice Act, human rights in Policing, noise nuisance, the impact of school dropouts on crime, mental health as a public safety issue, trafficking in persons, cybercrime, and traffic management.

for people; that it’s a place for help; that women who are abused or suffering from any [form] of violence should be treated in a respectful manner; and that they should be helped,” Benn said.

To provide this space of

Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, in his remarks, noted that in an ever-evolving society, the Police Force continues to face complex challenges that demand a proactive and collaborative approach.

“A strong collaboration between the GPF and the public is critical in ensuring we can actualise our goals and reform our policing services to make contemporary demands,” Hicken has said.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken

Police Officers at the Guyana Police Force Symposium

Pork-knocker sentenced to 10 years for killing mother of 5

Raymond O’Selmo, called “Goadie Man”, a 53-yearold former pork-knocker of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown who killed a woman after she refused to let him hold her hand, was on Thursday sentenced to 10 years in jail, less time served.

The custodial sentence was imposed by Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry at the High Court in Demerara.

Initially indicted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the February 27, 2019 murder of Nadina Kalamadeen, a 34-year-old mother of five, O’Selmo threw himself at the mercy of the court by pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The woman was stabbed several times by O’Selmo while she was walking along Second Street, North Sophia, Greater Georgetown. According to reports, O’Selmo had become obsessed with the woman despite her rejecting his amorous pleas to enter into a relationship with him. After the woman had refused his advances, he reportedly whipped out a knife and dealt her several stabs to the back.

The injured woman was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital(GPHC), where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

O’Selmo had attempted to escape after savagely stabbing the woman, but had been swiftly apprehended by persons in the neighbourhood, and had been dealt a sound thrashing.

At O’Selmo’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, his lawyer Teriq Mohammed pleaded for a light punishment for his client. He pointed out that even though his client had

been intoxicated when he stabbed the woman - which could have led to him not being the master of his mind - he has accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty at first instance.

In this regard, counsel submitted, “He didn’t waste the court’s time. He has given up the opportunity for him to go through a trial…”

Mohammed said his client took this course of action after he had perused the depositions with him.

Although the confessed killer is of a mature age, his lawyer contended that he can still be rehabilitated and integrated into society.

“Sorry for whatever took place between me and Nadina. I can't remember what happen between me and her,” a soft-spoken O’Selmo said in his address to the court.

The killer told the court that he would normally give Kalamadeen, whenever she asked, money to buy lunch for her children.

For his part, State Prosecutor Mikel Puran said the defenceless woman had been stabbed six times about her body, in-

cluding to her armpit and chest.

While alluding to the prevalence of violence against women in Guyana, the Prosecutor noted that Kalamadeen’s death is an unjustifiable loss of life.

On this note, he asked the Judge to impose a pun ishment that is proportion ate to the seriousness of the offence, and one which would serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.

The presiding Judge, in her sentencing remarks, quoted from O’Selmo’s cau tion statement. “Nadina got me vex because she didn’t want to hold me hand. I chopped her in the face with a knife and juk her up. I didn’t know what got into me to stab her. I’m sorry.”

Regarding O’Selmo’s two previous convictions for serious offences, it was disclosed that he had been jailed for 15 years in 1990 for sexually penetrating a 12-year-old girl. More than a decade later, in 2011, he had been fined for discharging a loaded gun.

Prosecutor Pooran asked the court to consider the man’s antecedents when passing sentence, but the Judge said those past convictions were spent and

would be disregarded.

In arriving at a fitting sentence, the Judge, inter alia, took into consideration the psychological effects Kalamadeen’s passing have had on her family, especially her mother and children. She pointed out that O’Selmo was an adult when he committed the crime, and ought to have known the consequences of his actions. According to her, the killer lived a crime-free life after his convictions were spent, and appeared “genuinely remorseful” for taking the woman’s life. The Judge also considered a favour-

able prison report for him, in which it was stated that he never violated any prison rules.

With regard to mitigating factors, she highlighted the convict’s background circumstances, stating that he lacked parental figures while growing up.

In sentencing the killer, the Judge commenced with a base of 21 years, from which she made a one-third (seven years) deduction for the early guilty plea. From the remaining 14 years, four years were deducted for mitigating factors, leaving 10 years.

In the end, O’Selmo was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, and was credited for the time he had spent in pre-trial detention. He was remanded for the offence on March 4, 2019.

The Prison Director has to ensure that this offender is exposed to rehabilitation programmes during his incarceration, the court ordered.

After the Judge handed down the sentence, a seemingly elated O’Selmo exclaimed: “Thank you very much, ma’am! May the good Lord bless you.”

Jailed: Raymond O’Selmo

Dead: Nadina Kalamadeen

$8.5B D&I structure to be constructed in Region 5

Government will soon commence the construction of an $8.5 billion drainage and irrigation structure in Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced on Wednesday during a meeting with farmers from several villages in Mahaicony Creek, who shared that their main concern within the area is drainage.

Aiming to put this concern to rest, the new multi-billion-dollar structure will be similar to the East Demerara Water Conservancy’s Northern Relief Channel, better known as Hope Canal.

Located at Hope/ Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, Hope Canal is a multi-component channel that allows excess water from the EDWC to be drained into the Atlantic Ocean via an eight-door sluice, so as to avoid overflowing and possible flooding.

This channel was instrumental in preventing massive flooding along the ECD during the unprecedented May-June floods of 2021, and President Dr Irfaan Ali had previously declared that similar infrastructure would be constructed in other regions to curb devastating floods. In addition to Region Five, these include Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). This forms

part of the $19.7 billion allocation within the 2023 National Budget towards improving drainage and irrigation systems within the country.

The $3.6 billion Hope Canal channel was constructed following the 2005 floods, when excessive rainfall compounded by a breach in the embankment had resulted in Regions Four and Five experiencing massive flooding that caused significant damage to agricultural

and residential areas. After several delays, the channel became operational in 2016.

Meanwhile, during Wednesday’s meeting, Minister Mustapha also told the farmers who requested mechanical assis-

tance that a programme has to be developed to guide the works. This is to ensure all farmers in the area benefit.

Minister Mustapha was accompanied to this meeting with the farm-

ers by Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal and Member of Parliament and Regional Representative Fizal Jafferally, among several other senior technical staff from the Agriculture Ministry.

14 women sworn in to head NDCs in Region 6

Fourteen women were on Tuesday given the oath of office to serve as Chairpersons and Vice Chair for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Of the 14, five will serve as NDC Chairpersons.

Region Six has 18 NDCs and prior to the recently-held Local Government Elections, the Number 51-Goodhope, Maida-Tarlogie, CanefieldEnterprise, HogstyeLancaster and Plegt AnkerKortberaadt NDCs were all headed by women.

Hogstye-Lancaster and Maida-Tarlogie NDCs will continue to be headed by women. Additionally, KintyreBorlam, Kilcoy-Chesney and Whim-Bloomfield NDCs will have women at the helm.

In fact, Macedonia-Joppa, Maida-Tarlogie and KintyreBorlam now have both the Chair and the Vice-Chair being females.

Enfield/New Doe Park, Wyburg-Caracas, CanefieldEnterprise, John’s-Port Mourant, Bush Lot-Adventure and Crabwood Creek-Moleson Creek NDCs now have female Vice-Chairpersons.

The women chairing NDCs are; Geeta Samaroo Ramsingh, Kintyre/Borlam NDC; Sheron Smith, HogstyeLancaster NDC; Lounita

Devi Sanichar, Black Bush Polder NDC; Senel Drepaul, Macedonia-Joppa NDC and Lillawattie Dean, MaidaTarlogie NDC.

Speaking with <<Guyana Times>>>, Regional Chairman David Armogan said the NDC Heads and their

deputies have been given a clear mandate.

“We said very clearly to them that they should be prepared to work in the various communities in which they were elected. They have to be able to be servants of the people; in a lot of cases some peo-

ple once they are elected, they automatically become masters. We are going to ensure that all of those persons who are elected will continue to serve the people in their respective areas,” the Regional Chairman said.

Armogan said the NDC

officials have been advised to visit all areas of their NDC and hold regular community meetings ensuring that they understand the nature and intensity of issues which may be affecting residents.

“In many cases what we have found when we are doing

the budget, is that the Chair and Vice Chair they identify roads and other projects by themselves without consultation with the community and when we go threesome of the roads that we put into the budget were in a better state than some of the other bad roads in the community,” Armogan pointed out.

He said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)has an obligation to work in every community in the region and on Tuesday made that pledge to the new NDC leaders.

The Chairman told this publication that whenever necessary the regional administration would provide needed assistance and if they could not, they would seek the intervention of the relevant Ministry.

“We may not be able to do everything at the same time, but incrementally we would be able to solve some of the major problems that people are experiencing with regards to street lights, garbage collection, and drainage problems... Basic problems that poor and ordinary people have and want to be sorted out. We are prepared to work with everyone. It does not matter which political party you belong to, it does not matter what your political persuasion is: we are working as One Guyana,” Armogan assured. (G4)

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) farmers engaged in a meeting with Minister Mustapha

The NDC Chairpersons pose with Regional Chairman David Armogan and Regional Executive Officer Navindra Persaud

The Vice Chairpersons share a photo with Regional Chairman David Armogan and Regional Executive Officer Navindra Persaud

Oil spill simulation exercise conducted as part of Tradewinds 2023

Asimulated oil spill activity was conducted on Tuesday in Berbice as part of Exercise Tradewinds 2023, which is a multi-faceted response exercise hosted by Guyana this year.

The simulation included a response and a proactive phase during a fictitious incident involving spilled fuel in the Berbice River and residual implications for such a hazard.

The National Oil Spill Committee (NOSC), which is made up of a number of relevant agencies such as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), launched into action during the course of a day at locations such as the Skeldon Sugar Estate (Command Centre), CGX Palmyra and Number 61 Beach (Impact Zone/Staging Area).

Apart from the practical simulation, there was a twoday Tabletop Exercise prior which allowed the NOSC to utilize their planning, coordinating, and operational skills in theory. The participants were divided into groups based on their agency and expertise. Command, Logistics,

Operations, Planning, Finance, and Administration all had separate but coordinating roles that fostered response cohesion. Those very groups were then put to the test in the field to display what will be necessary should such a hazard occur.

The Tabletop Exercise was facilitated by The Response Group (TRG), an American disaster risk management entity. Additionally, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) executed a five-day logistics workshop aimed at bolstering existing logistics systems for response mechanisms. That workshop intro-

Labour Ministry’s OSH training benefits 21 Region 8 stakeholders

duced software that will make several tasks more efficient for logistics professionals. Those programmes, along with training for the Incident Command System (ICS) 300, were aimed at making every response stakeholder ready for impending hazards and disasters. Persons used institutional knowledge in many beneficial ways over the past few days, which put our national readiness for that type of hazard at an improved state.

Exercise Tradewinds 2023 continues with a myriad of events and activities geared at reinforcing the nation’s capacity for security and disaster response in many areas.

Key opportunities exist in agri sector for all CARIFORUM members

Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) mem-

ber countries, inclusive of Guyana, are encouraged to explore key business opportunities and partnerships with the European Union (EU), as they work towards maintaining food security and reducing their food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

A CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) webinar on Thursday highlighted emerging trade and investment opportunities in agriculture, fisheries and food processing within the Region.

Signed in 2008, the EPA is not only a trade in goods agreement, but also includes commitments on trade in services, investment and trade-related issues. Overall, 14 CARIFORUM countries are implementing the CARIFORUM–EU EPA, including Guyana.

In her presentation, International Economic Development Specialist Tamira La Cruz expanded on the six key business opportunities within the sector.

“The first one is to sell consumer end-products for the food sector to the CARIFORUM countries.

CARIFORUM now imports about € 15.5 billion in food products annually. The EU share of imports is 7.5 per cent, so there’s a lot of room for growth. Also, over the past five years, the EU sales to CARIFORUM has increased by 70 per cent,” La Cruz said.

“There are opportunities in high value-added products from the EU… and also a high tourism dependency in the Region,” she added.

“The second opportunity is to invest to produce for local consumption. There are 30 million who are living in the CARIFORUM, which includes Haiti. Tourists spend 120 million nights in CARIFORUM,” La Cruz said.

La Cruz noted that these opportunities exist especially in countries with large land masses, like Guyana, in which Barbados is already investing. Through a recent partnership with the island, 50 acres of land in Guyana will be allocated to young people in Barbados to advance food production.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on a joint food terminal between these two countries that aims to store more than 40 containers of food, and be equipped with a processing and packaging plant. It will also provide cold storage facilities for seafood packaging and processing plants.

La Cruz went on to state that another key business opportunity includes investing in CARIFORUM to produce for the export of products, as the forum’s annual food export bill stands at € 5.3 million.

Under the three categories of agriculture, fisheries and agro-processing, exporting potential exists for products such as cocoa, coconuts, shrimp, tilapia, spirits and liqueurs, and herbs and spices.

There is also opportunity, La Cruz said, to sell and invest in traditional inputs like transportation and storage, as well as equipment and knowhow, like artificial insemination of livestock, soil restoration, and technical testing and analysis.

“The fifth opportunity is to sell and invest in agritech, to increase efficiency and quality. There is lots of room for efficiency improvements,” La Cruz said. Inputs needed, she listed, include organic fertilisers and pesticides, greenhouses, irrigation, soil management and water catchment.

Meanwhile, know-how needs include scientific and technical consulting services, and information and communication technology-related services.

“The sixth opportunity is based on the EPA. Lower tariffs are afforded to the EU than to Most Favoured Nations (MFN); no local partner needed; and national treatment for EU nationals,” La Cruz said.

Some 21 representatives of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Mahdia District Hospital, and the Regional Education Department of Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) have benefitted from a two-day Joint Workplace Safety Programme arranged by the Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department.

Hosted at the Mahdia Secondary School’s Smart Classroom, this programme aimed to train and prepare members of the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee to carry out their mandate in the workplace, as required by Chapter 99:06 of

OSH Act.

Participants are expected to be now equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills necessary to design and maintain safe work systems and practices, thereby minimising or eliminating workplace accidents. They also are intended to be able to demonstrate an awareness of their roles and responsibilities as Joint Workplace Safety Committee representatives.

Following the completion of this training, participants can conduct workplace inspections and accident investigations, as well as implement techniques to control and/or remove hazards in their own workplaces.

Both participants and

employers received certification that would be valid for two years.

This training session saw the presence of the Labour Ministry’s Senior OSH Officer, Roydon Croal, and Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Louis Kilkenny.

The Labour Ministry is encouraging organisations with 20 or more employees to request this training for their workplaces around the country.

The 21 participants will also later benefit from Sensitization Awareness from National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Guyana Fire Service (GFS) representatives.

International Economic Development Specialist Tamira La Cruz

Participants of the Labour Ministry’s Joint Workplace Safety Programme

Regional

T&T PM: THA is not Wild Wild West, we have a national emergency

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley says Chief Secretary Farley Augustine had no valid reason to utilise the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) as a platform to shield himself while making unfounded defamatory remarks and spreading slanderous accusations without any concrete motion.

At the post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday afternoon, at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Rowley said he would seek legal advice on whether the THA Act makes provision for the Assembly to be used in this way.

He said, “The question that has to arise now based on what has happened in Tobago is whether the Tobago House of Assembly Act where provision for im-

munities and privileges are made, whether in law those privileges are superior to the privileges that are provided to the Parliament under the Constitution.

“This is not about me anymore. This is now a national emergency. Do we have a house where executive authority exists where people have no fetter and could do exactly as they

São Paulo Governor turns heads on Brazil's right after Bolsonaro election ban

The Governor of Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, Tarcisio de Freitas, has emerged as an early contender to lead conservatives after his mentor, farright former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from elected office for eight years.

Although the Governor and his closest advisers insist he was focused on serving São Paulo state, many of Brazil's seasoned conser-

vative power brokers are already calling the pro-business moderate a natural candidate for the presidency in three years.

Stoking the speculation, Freitas showed his political mettle this month by backing a landmark tax reform in a sharp break with Bolsonaro, who had thrust him to prominence by making him Infrastructure Minister in his aAministration.

Their differences boiled over in a meeting the day before a decisive July 7 congressional vote. As Freitas made his case for the merits of the tax reform, Bolsonaro interrupted him twice to disagree, videos showed, grabbing a microphone and insisting it would give an unacceptable victory to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's new leftist government.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

please, even against written instructions as to what shall and shall not be done to the detriment of citizens?"

Dr Rowley said the Government await legal advice to determine the next step.

He said anyone who goes against the laws of T&T do so at their own peril.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Venezuela's ex-spymaster pleads not guilty to US drug trafficking charges

Aformer director of Venezuelan military intelligence pleaded not guilty on Thursday to US drug trafficking charges, after a morethan-10-year effort by the Department of Justice to bring him to US soil.

Hugo Carvajal, 63, arrived in the United states on Wednesday after being extradited from Spain. He entered the plea in a hearing before US Magistrate Judge Stewart Aaron in Manhattan federal court.

He was ordered detained, and his next court date was set for July

25. Carvajal's lawyer, Zachary MargulisOhnuma, said he would submit an application for his client to be released on bail at a later date.

Margulis-Ohnuma said Carvajal was "categorically innocent" of the charges.

"General Carvajal looks forward to fighting these outrageous charges in court before an unbiased American jury," MargulisOhnuma told reporters after the hearing.

Federal prosecutors say Carvajal – who was late President Hugo Chavez's

Ecuador confirms oil spill of 1200 barrels on northwest coast

Authorities in the South American nation of Ecuador have confirmed that an oil spill released about 1200 barrels into the Pacific, contaminating kilometres of oceanfront.

Rafael Armendariz, Transportation Manager for the State-owned oil firm Petroecuador, confirmed on Thursday that the incident took place a day earlier when a tank in the marine terminal in the port of Esmeraldas surpassed its capacity.

eyes and ears within the South American country's military for more than a decade – in 2006 coordinated the shipment of 5600 kg (1,235 pounds) of cocaine to Mexico from Venezuela.

The drugs were ultimately bound for the United States, according to prosecutors.

Nicknamed “El Pollo”, the chicken, Carvajal took part in the failed 1992 coup that lifted Chavez to political prominence and is considered one of the most powerful figures of the socialist leader's 1999-2013 rule. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbadian telecom gets green light to provide services in Trinidad and Tobago

Neptune Communications, a telecommunications provider based in Barbados with operations in Jamaica, has been granted a licence to operate in T&T by the Telecommunications Authority.

Julian Jordan, Neptune's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) explained that the company has two very specific business thrusts.

"One is the satellite broadband ISP business that provides high-speed Internet access to businesses and Government users in the region," Jordan explained in a vir -

tual interview on Monday.

"We don't focus on consumers; this is not a mass market play. It's a specialised set of services that we provide to a very targeted set of customers," he said. "We also have another business that helps Governments get access to secure, reliable and secure communication services for public safety and national security agencies."

The idea for the company began with the 9/11 attacks, when Jordan realised that the world and the nature of security had fundamentally changed.

The business model began to take shape in 2009, with the increase in trans -

mission capacity from low earth orbit satellites dedicated to telecommunications transmission.

Neptune formally launched in 2019, only to be slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company has successfully established a presence in Jamaica, is headquartered in Barbados and is planning the expansion of its services to this country.

According to Jordan, Neptune will then "hunker down" to properly service these three markets as anchor points in delivering its upmarket services in the Caribbean. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

“It is estimated that around 1200 barrels were spilled,” Armendariz said at a press conference. “Not all of them fell onto the beach. A part was contained by the pool inside of Petroecuador’s facilities.”

About half of the crude spilled out of Petroecuador’s facilities, spreading across about 4km (2.5 miles) of Las Palmas Beach, a popular destination for recreation and tourists.

An investigation into

the cause of the spill is taking place. General Manager Ramon Correa said problems like negligence, mechanical damage or sabotage could not yet be ruled out.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Antigua and Barbuda Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh suspended by JLSC

specifics of these charges have not been disclosed at this time.

As this development unfolds, there are ongoing discussions concerning who will be appointed as the acting Chief Magistrate during Walsh’s suspension. A decision on this matter is expected to be reached promptly to ensure the smooth continuation of judicial proceedings.

The Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) has taken action to suspend Joanne Walsh from her position as Chief Magistrate.

The suspension, which takes effect immediately, was communicated to Walsh via a letter dated July 19. As per the JLSC Disciplinary Rules, Rule

4 was cited as the basis for the decision. Notably, Walsh will continue to receive full pay during the suspension, which will remain in effect until further notice.

The JLSC’s decision to suspend the Chief Magistrate comes in the wake of serving at least 10 disciplinary charges against her on July 12. The

The suspension of Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh is a significant event within the Judiciary, and further details surrounding the disciplinary charges and the potential implications for her future in the role are awaited.

As the situation evolves, the JLSC’s actions will likely be subject to scrutiny, ensuring that justice is carried out with transparency and integrity. (Antigua Observer)

T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

Security forces stand guard after an oil spill on Las Palmas Beach in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, on July 19, 2023 [Armada del Ecuador/ Handout via Reuters]

Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh

Around The World OIL NEWS

Russia bombs Ukraine ports, threatens ships, as Kyiv deploys cluster munitions

China imports record volumes of Russian oil in one half of 2023

Russia jolted world grain markets with an escalation in the Black Sea, mounting a third straight night of air strikes on Ukrainian ports and issuing a threat against Ukraine-bound vessels to which Kyiv responded in kind.

At least 27 civilians were reported hurt in the air strikes on the ports, which set buildings ablaze and damaged China's consulate in Odesa.

The United States said Russia's warning to ships indicated Moscow might attack vessels at sea following Moscow's withdrawal on Monday from a United Nations-brokered deal to let Ukraine export grain. The signal that Russia was willing to use force to reimpose its blockade on one of the world's biggest food export-

World’s second-largest economy is stockpiling cheaper crude despite slowing growth

China is importing record volumes of oil despite a weak economy as it takes advantage of cheap Russian crude to build stockpiles and export refined products.

The rise in oil imports to record levels this year comes against the backdrop of a faltering recovery in the world’s second-largest economy.

It shows how sanctions on Russia are reshaping global oil markets, with China getting a double benefit of cheap crude for itself and the opportunity to boost exports.

For the first half of 2023, China imported 11.4 million barrels per day of crude oil, up 11.7 per cent year on year and up 15.3 per cent compared with pre-COVID levels, according to Financial Times calculations based on customs data.

“The short answer is crude stocks have been building in China,” said Mukesh Sahdev, head of oil trading at Rystad Energy, a research group. “They’re importing for the future?.?.?.?and in advance of a potential stimulus. People are all talking about a second-half story.”

China imported 2.57 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude last month, breaking a record set in May, official data showed on Thursday.

In the first half of 2023, China imported 2.13 million bpd of oil from Russia, ahead of 1.88 million bpd from Saudi Arabia, making Russia the top crude supplier to China so far this year.

Analysts differed on the rationale underpinning the stock build, with geopolitical risk another possible explanation.

Sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine have brought energy security into sharp relief for Chinese policymakers. “China could be preparing for some geopolitical situation,” said Sahdev, “a Russian tailspin or a crisis in Taiwan.”

Michal Meidan, head of China energy research at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, played down the security narrative.

“There’s certainly a perception in China that the external environment is deteriorating and they’re preparing for sanctions, but that’s been the subtext for years,” said Meidan.

China’s customs data implies that Russian imports have been cheaper than those from other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies since the war in Ukraine started.

Compared with the unit price of Saudi Arabian crude, Russian oil enjoyed a discount of US$9 a barrel at the end of 2022 and US$11 a barrel in June.

But analysts noted the discount on Russian oil was smaller than that on Iranian or Venezuelan products, given the growth of an opaque non-dollar-denominated trade in Russian crude.

A rotation towards Russia appears to be opportunistic, rather than a systemic change. “I don’t think China’s going to go all in on Russia,” said Meidan. “This is a short-term move away from Saudi feedstocks. The Chinese are pretty keen to keep a balance between their suppliers.”

“It’s price-driven by market realities,” Meidan added. “They have these plans and a State machinery, but then they optimise around this in a way that is very sophisticated and capitalistic. One thing that isn’t appreciated in the West is how fierce competition is between the [Chinese] majors.”

Analysts at market data provider Kpler pointed to a strong incentive for Chinese refiners to keep up production, given their margin advantage of as much as US$3 a barrel over Asian rivals.

Kpler expects China’s advantage from cheap Russian feedstock will allow it to flood the market, putting pressure on Korean and Japanese producers.(Financial Times)

ers set global prices soaring. Moscow says it will not participate in the year-old grain deal without better terms for its own food and fertiliser sales.

The UN Security Council will meet today over "the humanitarian consequences" of Russia's withdrawal, said Britain's UN mission.

UN Secretary General António Guterres strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports and warned the "destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law".

These attacks are also having an impact well beyond Ukraine," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, adding higher wheat and corn prices hurt everyone, especially vulnerable people in the global

south.

Kyiv is hoping to resume exports without Russia's participation. But no ships have sailed from its ports since Moscow pulled out of the deal, and insurers have had doubts about whether to underwrite policies for trade

in a war zone.

Since quitting the deal, Moscow has rained missiles down nightly on Ukraine's two biggest port cities, Odesa and Mykolaiv. Thursday's strikes appeared to be the worst yet. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iraq expels Swedish Ambassador over planned Quran burning

Iraq expelled the Swedish Ambassador on Thursday in protest at a planned burning of the Quran in Stockholm that had prompted hundreds of protesters to storm and set alight the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad.

An Iraqi Government statement said Baghdad had also recalled its charge d'áffaires in Sweden, and Iraq's State news agency reported that Iraq had suspended the working permit of Sweden's Ericsson on

Iraqi soil.

Anti-Islam protesters, one of whom is an Iraqi immigrant to Sweden who burned the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque in June, had applied for and received permission from Swedish Police to burn the Quran outside the Iraqi Embassy on Thursday.

In the event, the protesters kicked and partially destroyed a book they said was the Koran but left the area after an hour without setting it alight. The

India imposes major rice export ban, triggering inflation fears

India on Thursday ordered a halt to its largest rice export category in a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain, triggering fears of further inflation on global food markets.

The Government said it was imposing a ban on non-basmati white rice after retail rice prices climbed three per cent in a month after late but heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage to crops.

India accounts for more than 40 per cent of world rice exports, and low inventories with other exporters mean any cut in shipments could inflate food prices already driven up by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year and erratic weather.

"In order to ensure adequate availability of non-basmati white rice in the Indian market and to

allay the rise in prices in the domestic market, the Government of India has amended the export policy," the Food Ministry said in a statement that cited a 11.5 per cent increase in retail prices over 12 months.

The category impacted, non-basmati white and broken rice, accounted for around 10 million tonnes of a total of 22 million tonnes of Indian rice exports last year.

The Government clarified late on Thursday that parboiled rice, which represented 7.4 million tons of exports in 2022, was not included in the ban.

The move demonstrates the sensitivity of the Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to food inflation ahead of a general election nearly next year.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Quran, the central religious text of Islam, is believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said staff at the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad were safe, but Iraqi authorities had failed in their responsibility to protect the

Embassy.

Late on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Sweden's Ambassador in Tehran to "strongly protest against the desecration of the holy Quran", State media reported, while Turkey called events in Stockholm a "despicable attack".

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mounting US worries over Private Travis King after silence from North Korea

The United States on Thursday voiced mounting concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea two days ago, saying Pyongyang had a history of mistreating captured Americans.

US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, in her first public comments on the case, said Washington was fully mobilised in trying to contact Pyongyang, including through United Nations communications channels.

But North Korea had yet to offer any response, officials said.

"I worry about him, frankly," Wormuth told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. She cited the case of Otto Warmbier, a US college student who was imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months before dying shortly after he was returned to the United States in a coma in 2017.

"I worry about how they may treat him. So, (we) want to get him back."

At the White House,

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also expressed concern: "This is not a country that is known for humane treatment of Americans –or frankly anybody else for that matter."

American officials remained stumped about why King ran across the border into North Korea. But Wormuth acknowledged he was likely worried about facing further disciplinary action from the Army upon his return home to the United States.

She said she was not aware of any information demonstrating the 23-year-old was a North Korea sympathiser, and the Pentagon played down suggestions he might present an intelligence liability.

"We don't know his condition. We don't know where he's being held. We don't know the status of his health," Singh said, describing his formal status in the military as "AWOL," or absent without leave.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Rescuers work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile attack, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, July 20, 2023 (Reuters/Viktoria Lakezina)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

You can’t please everyone, but with focus and discipline, you will delight yourself. Take responsibility for your happiness, and socialize with people who offer plenty of food for thought.

(March 21-April 19)

Don’t lose sight of your budget and intentions. Look for a direct path to avoid confusion and mixed emotions regarding how to proceed. Pay more attention to what moves you.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Stay focused on what you can accomplish, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. Your input will put you in a good position and help sway anyone on the fence. Mix business with pleasure.

Your tenacity and courage will push you to turn your plan into a reality. Don’t stop short of what you want or give in to obstacles. Learn all you can and put what you learn to good use.

(June 21-July 22)

Too much too quickly will put you in a vulnerable position. Slow down, be observant and take a breath. Look at unwanted change as an opportunity to try something new. Know when to say no.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Your enthusiasm will open doors. Don’t deny yourself an opportunity for the wrong reason. You’ll get others to see things your way if you show empathy and understanding.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Identify your physical and financial needs. Refuse to let anyone lead you down the wrong path. Do what’s best for you, and don’t take risks that can lead to loss, injury or illness.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Size up your situation and map out your best route to victory. The less you reveal about your plans, the easier it will be to forge ahead. Take necessary precautions.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Pace yourself and question the information you have before you make your next move. Don’t disregard your intelligence or ability to see through others. Trust your instincts and work by yourself.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Stop second-guessing yourself and take a position. Opportunity is apparent, but there will be plenty of diversions and hurdles to jump along the way. Be mindful of what others are going through.

Participate in events that connect you to people who can offer insight into something you want to pursue. Partnerships will experience problems if things are left unspoken.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Follow your heart. Be creative, unique and ready to conquer the world. Stop dreaming and start acting; progress will motivate you to finish the journey you mapped out for yourself.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on board Kares “One Guyana” T10 Blast

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is on board the inaugural Kares “One Guyana” T10 Tape ball Blast set for July 29-30 in Georgetown.

Minister Charles Ramson Jr. and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammad, recently met the event’s organisers at the Ministry’s Main Street location, and they both applauded them for creating a viable product. They hope to see the T10 Tape ball Blast grow to involve more teams and be contested over a longer period.

The Minister suggested that future finals of this event be stated at the National Stadium at Providence, given the Ministry’s magnitude of support for community-based tournaments.

And the organising team - FL Sport - comprised of John Ramsingh, Romario Samaroo, Yusuf Ali and Akeem Greene, took up the Minister’s challenge to expand the tournament in the future.

The 32 teams participating in this inaugural tournament have come from all regions except Region Nine.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the tournament’s patron, recently recommitted his support for the tournament, noting it is an event that would bring many people together from varying communities under the “One Guyana” banner.

The President also unveiled the specially-made, hand-crafted winner’s trophy. Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips was present, and he also pledged his support for the tournament.

Several active and former national players would represent their teams over the two-day extravaganza.

Preliminary matches will be staged at the following grounds: Police Sports Club, the Guyana Defence Force, Queen’s College, YMCA, and Transport Sports Club, while the finals will be held at the Everest Cricket Ground on July 30.

To progress to the championship match, a team must win three matches on day one, and their semi-final on day two. They would then qualify to compete for the first prize of $1M cash and the specially crafted “One Guyana” Trophy.

The organisers are grateful for the support of Kares Engineering, who quickly committed to being the title sponsor, and Mohamed’s Enterprise, who have donated the first-place prize and offset the transportation cost for Team Moruca.

More so, Banks DIH, through the GT Beer brand, is fuelling the weekend; and Star Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., ENet, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Premier Insurance, Cricket Zone USA, Beacon Café, Continental Transport; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; National Sports Commission, RS53 RestoBar and Lounge, Jacobs Jewelry & Pawn Shop, First Change Builder Inc. Impressions Inc. and Sicko Mode, 94.1 BOOM FM, Assuria Insurance, Montra Restaurant & Longue have all committed to sponsoring this event.

The champions of this inaugural event will pocket $1M, while the losing finalist will collect $300,000. The two losing semi-finalists will walk away with $100,000 each, and there will be prizes for outstanding individual performances.

Additionally, there will be a celebrity match before the championship match, wherein the winning side will be rewarded with $200,000, which will be donated to a charity of their choice.

The celebrity match could feature President Ali, former national and international cricketers, entertainers, sponsors, media members, athletes, former and current Ministers, and other influential persons in Guyana.

Organisers are reminding that players will not only walk away with their pockets filled, there will be numerous instant prizes for the fans who participate in cricket novelty activities.

At the same time, children will be pampered with free rides, games, and treats in the Banks DIH Fun Zone.

There was a change in fixtures to accommodate the usage of normal mud pitches, as unanimously requested by participating teams.

Round of 16 matches commence at 13:30h at all five venues, while Super Eight matches start at

16:00h and will be played at QC, Police and Guyana Defence Force grounds only.

The semifinals and final are on July 30 at Everest Cricket Ground.

Matches starting at 09:00h

1. Eccles All Stars vs Hero Riders – Queen’s College Ground

2. Ministry of Human Services and Social Security vs Bartica Bulls – Queen’s College Ground

3. Avinash All-Stars vs

PB Contractors – YMCA ground

4. Continental Transport vs Moruca XI – Guyana

Defence Force Ground

5. Eastsye vs Airport XI

– Guyana Defence Force Ground

The Ashes Series 2023: Test 4 of 5…

Sports Club ground

8. Ministry of Housing & Water vs Central Stars –Police Sports Club ground

Matches starting at 11:00h

9. Ariel XI vs Movements Family – Queen’s College Ground

10. Big B’s Blairmont Blazers vs MS 13 XI –Queen’s College Ground

11. Team Corruption vs Upsetters – YMCA ground

12. Guyana Power & Light vs Laluni – Guyana

Defence Force Ground

13. 1Name Brand vs Storm Chasers – Guyana

Defence Force Ground

14. Tarmac Titans vs EC Express – Transport Sports Club ground

15. Diamond Gunners vs Region Three Police – Police Sports Club ground

16. Avery Lounge vs V-Net Vipers – Police Sports Club ground.

Record-breaking stand between Crawley and Root give England edge

Zak Crawley and Joe Root put on an exhibition of stroke-making after lunch on day two to put England on top in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Zak Crawley smashed 189 off just 182 balls in a mind-blowing innings that swung the Manchester Test England's way on day two. The England opener was helped along the way by Moeen Ali first, and Joe Root later, with the partnership alongside the latter producing a spectacle for the home fans after the lunch break.

In the second session on day two, England racked up 178 runs at a stunning rate of 7.16, making it the most runs a session has seen in the ongoing series.

Crawley and Root combined at the fall of Moeen Ali's wicket with England's score on 130. Ali had made a fighting half-century from #3 before Mitchell Starc got the better of him. Root came out with all guns blazing, and Crawley joined in as the pace picked up. Post lunch, the two put Australia's at-

tack under immense pressure with frequent hits to the fence.

The double-century stand came at over a runa-ball, before Crawley was eventually dismissed for 189 by Cameron Green. Joe Root (84 off 95 balls) fell soon after, with Josh Hazlewood's delivery not bouncing much and cleaning him up.

Crawley and Root stitched together a stand of 206 off just 178 balls, making it the double-century partnership with the highest recorded run-rate in Test history.

There have only been six double-century part-

nerships recorded at over a run-a-ball, with Crawley himself involved in another last year in Pakistan, when he and Ben Duckett put on 233 off 214 balls in Rawalpindi.

Of the double-century

partnerships at more than six runs per over (only where balls recorded) in innings of 150 or more runs, Adam Gilchrist, who made 1452 off 143 balls at Edgbaston in 2001, holds the top spot.

The 189 by Crawley is the fourth-highest score by an England opener in a home Ashes Test.

Crawley's knock and his stand with Root have given England's quest to level the series an early boost in the fourth Test. At stumps on day two, England were 384/4, with a lead of 67 runs on board. They would want to get that first-innings lead really high on day three, in order to put the Aussies under pressure. (ICC)

SCOREBOARD

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., receiving his tournament jersey, as he could feature in the celebrity match for Charity on July 30

Zak Crawley

- Minister Ramson Jr. hopes to see further growth of tournament

Digicel National Schools’ Football Championships 2023…

Dolphin Secondary take coveted Georgetown title

the box. Taken on the chest, a youngster turned, dribbled his way into the goal, and burst into celebration, completely unaware that the linesman’s flag had been raised for an offside call.

Solomon got another chance at finding the back of the net, but the Dolphin keeper, being in the right place at the right time, scooped up the attempt.

In spite of the loss, both teams will go on to play in the

National Championships, along with 11 other schools from the Georgetown district.

Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, West Ruimveldt Secondary overcame Charlestown Secondary by a similar 2-1 margin. Donovan Welcome and Jos Sharples were the marksmen for West Ruimveldt, while Elijah Marcus netted Charlestown’s consolation

in the 50th minute.

The Digicel Regional Championships action will continue next Thursday, when D.C. Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary and Bartica Secondary make their way to Georgetown for the Region 7 final. That game will be contested on Thursday, July 27th at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue. Kickoff is set for 17:30hrs.

GGA, MoE host inaugural National Junior Golf Championships from August 10

In spectacular comefrom-behind fashion, Dolphin Secondary were on Tuesday evening crowned Champions of the Georgetown Division in the Digicel National Schools’ Football Championships 2023.

This Broad Street, Charlestown outfit had to overcome an early scare from their challengers, Excelsior Academy, and fought tooth and nail on their way to the 2-1 victory in what was a game fit for a final.

The excitement in the Georgetown final started pretty early, when Excelsior Academy took the lead first in just the 2nd minute of the game. Albert Adams received a well-placed pass in front of the nets, and all it took was a simple tap-in to secure the first goal of the game. That early goal ap-

peared to be a wakeup call for the Dolphin outfit, who appeared to be much more proactive in the ensuing minutes. The combination of Gerry Burnette and Caldwell Peters at the top created a number of chances for the equalizer, but it was not to be just yet. At the other end of the pitch, Excelsior’s Dwayne James was a force to be reckoned with, but the one-man show was at times not enough to extend their lead.

In the 31st minute of the final, Dolphin’s Jequan Cole executed a left-foot strike from the edge of the box, and it went sailing across the face of the goal and into the corner of the net, for the equalizer. The resulting cheers from the massive crowd were deafening, and the half expired minutes later with the score locked at 1-1.

The second segment saw even more intense action, as

both sides feverishly hunted the game-winning goal. All eyes were on Excelsior’s Brandon Solomon, who came close one a number of occasions, but like his teammates, nerves consumed the Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt outfit whenever they found themselves in the 18-yard box.

However, Excelsior’s inability to find the net was equally credited to Dolphin’s defenders in Candel Hazel and Arvin Samwaru, who were quite impressive in the back line.

A set piece for Dolphin Secondary occasioned their game-winning goal when the shot from the corner met Gerry Burnette at the ‘last post’. Burnette needed only to head the ball in for the leading goal.

The fireworks did not end there. Excelsior saw their opportunity to level the scores when a pass upwards met three strikers in

Genesis Football Club launched for youth development

Michael Richmond continues to contribute to the development of football in Guyana. Having created The Genesis Football Club on June 13, 2023 to develop and form a launching platform for aspiring young footballers, he has explained that the aim of this club is to provide these youngsters with an environment in which they can grow.

“In this form of growth, I mean a place where they will first develop academically, because these schools are some of the highest in the country and best in the region I must say; but also, they will develop football-wise. These aspiring athletes will receive topnotch coaching, enabling them to develop their technical abilities and tactical understanding,” he detailed.

This club has paved the pathway in granting schol-

arships to young footballers like Kvist Paul and Matrim Martin, who will be attending Kingston College; along with Seon Cato and Soloman Austin, who are projected to represent St. Jago High School; and Jaleel Alcindor, who has been given a scholarship to attend MICO University to study on a full scholarship

and represent the institution at the college level.

The scholarships given to these players are full twoyear scholarships, which will include school fees, text books, additional tuition assistance, medical monitoring, boarding, and meals.

Lucozade has come on board to sponsor the club in order to fulfill its mission.

The Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are collaborating to host the inaugural DDL Savannah Milk Guyana Regional and National Junior Golf Championships, commencing on August 10.

Winners of the regional competitions will travel to Georgetown to participate in the National Junior Golf Championship, which will be held on August 19 at the Nexgen Golf Academy, located at the Scout Association Ground on Woolford Avenue.

According to Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, "The Ministry of Education granted permission to the Guyana Golf Association to host this inaugural golf event, and notified all Regional Education Heads and Head Teachers to inform teachers and students.

“This is a continuation of the activities which the Ministry of Education, through the Unit of Allied Arts, has collaborated with the Guyana Golf Association to implement golf, not just at the CSEC level, but with the intent to introduce the sport to all levels of interested secondary school learners in the months ahead."

No entrance fee is being charged, and the contest will feature players in various age and skill categories: 1013, 14-17 and 18-22. Prizes will be offered to those placing 1-5 in either the male or female category in every division. Regional competitions will be hosted at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary ground on August 10; Westside Golf Course in Vreed-en-Hoop on August 11; Nexgen Golf Academy in Georgetown on August 12; Blairmont Estate Ground on

August 11; and Albion Sports Complex on August 11.

GGA President Aleem Hussain has said, "The first-ever National Junior Chip, Putt and Drive Competition has been made possible through the efforts of the GGA in just two years. (This is) an amazing fact, considering that the sport had been in existence in Guyana for over 50 years but was never made accessible to the average Guyanese. The national team that will represent Guyana in the future will be selected from the top players drawn from each region, and they will receive free training and coaching from the best coaches in Guyana, Barbados, Texas, and Orlando Florida under a range of partnership agreements that have been established by the Guyana Golf Association."

Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Unit of Allied Arts, has said, "The Ministry of Education is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the Unit of Allied Arts, Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Golf Association, which began in 2021, leading to over 400 learners taking Golf as a PE elective at the CSEC examinations. 155 PE Teachers have been trained to teach golf in 8/10 Regions around the country, and millions of dollars of equipment and balls (have been) distributed to various schools. This effectively dovetails with the MoE's drive to ensure that all learners leave the school system having engaged in a sport."

Registration for the tournament can be done at the various Education Departments in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6; or with the official

Scholarship recipient Kvist Paul and Club Founder Michael Richmond

Story and photoS by Jemima holmeS

It was an entertaining battle between Dolphin Secondary (orange) and Excelsior Academy (white)

GGA-affiliated Golf Clubs in Berbice, Essequibo, Rosignol, Georgetown, Leonora and Bladen Hall, by calling 7065965 or Whatsapp to 6450944.

Some of the participants of the Junior Golf Championships

Alado 100% ready to dominate July 30 horse race at Port Mourant

By Brandon Corlette in BerBiCe

Guyana’s champion horse Alado is set to ignite the Port Mourant Turf Club for the first time on Sunday, July 30. And according to trainer Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr., Alado, of the Master Z Racing Stables, should dominate.

“First time Alado will be coming to Port Mourant. Fans will see Alado at his best at Port Mourant,” Mohamed has said. “Jockey Ross has been his jockey since he came to Guyana. He had two breeze already, he went comfortable. We will not be visiting Port Mourant until race day,” Mohamed told Guyana Times Sport.

Champion Jockey Colin Ross also spoke about the preparation process ahead of race day. “There is always pressure when owning a race horse; and him being defending champion, it will be a bit more pressure. Alado loves the track even more than Rising Sun,

so I think I will see the best of him at Port Mourant. He is one hundred per cent ready, and he will win again.”

Fans will have an opportunity to see high-quality racing on Sunday July 30, and they have a chance to purchase tickets for the Guyana Cup.

“For Guyana Cup on August 13, we will have tickets. It will be the last week of early

WI vs India: Test 2 of 2…

bird tickets, and we will be selling Guyana Cup tickets at Port Mourant,” Mohamed disclosed.

Jockey Ross is unfazed as it relates to pressure, and is brimming with confidence as he aims to pilot Alado to another win.

“I feel really good. He has been going really good in exercise. I have no faults, Alado is going really good for the 30th

at Port Mourant. The track (is supposed) to be fast at Port Mourant, because we are having good weather and the guys are working on the track,” he disclosed.

“I am not feeling any pressure, I am prepared and I have the confidence that I will pull it off again,” Ross has said.

Close to Gy$10 million will be up for grabs on Sunday, July

30 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

The updated programme will now see a race for the twoyear-old Guyana-bred horses, and the three-year-old Guyanabred race has been cancelled.

The grand one-day horse meet has eight exciting races on the cards. The feature event is for the Shivtahal Trophy, and that race will be open to all

horses. In addition to this onemile feature race, which will see the top horse bagging $1.5 million, the Banks Derby Open for three-year-old Guyana and West Indian-bred horses will be run over one mile, and the top horse will bag $800,000.

Other races on the card include the G & Lower, J Open, L Open, E Class Open and North American non-winners in Guyana.

Races will be run under the updated classification. Entries close on July 25, 2023. Races to be run under guidance of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules. The Club reserves the right to cancel or reframe any race. Five horses have to start before the thirdplace prize is paid; and seven horses must start before the fourth-place prize is paid. Horses can be entered by contacting Gingo on 618-7278, Dennis on 640-3996, Fazal on 611-1141, or Shzeena on 3220789/0369.

Depending on the entries, the Club would be open to framing additional races.

Kohli-Jadeja stand puts India back on track

Having been outplayed in three days in Dominica, West Indies fought back with four wickets on the first afternoon of the second Test in Port-of-Spain, but it was India's day once again, thanks to strong bookends.

Captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal forged a century opening partnership, before Virat Kohli produced an unbeaten 87 in what was his 500th international game. Kohli walked in to bat when India were 153 for 2, and he watched them slump to 182 for 4 by tea. But he defended resolutely, ran hard between the wickets, and was prepared to wait for loose deliveries.

Kohli took 21 balls to get off the mark, and continued to

unbroken 106-run stand for the fifth wicket, as India closed out the day like they had begun: playing out a wicketless session. The passage of play in the morning session wasn't as attri-

tional as the following two sessions. Rohit and Jaiswal en-

overs without losing a wicket.

Having shown remarkable restraint on debut in Dominica, Jaiswal dashed out of the blocks on a more benign Port-of-Spain track. Rohit, too, kept pulling in the air, from wide lines as well as from his body, despite the presence of two men in the

second session, with McKenzie confidently holding on to Jaiswal's catch this time.

accumulate in slow but steady fashion. Ravindra Jadeja also dug in, contributing 36 to an

sured that India rattled along at nearly five runs an over to begin, scoring 121 together in 26

deep on the leg-side boundary. Rohit needed 72 balls to get to his half-century, while Jaiswal got there off just 49 balls.

Rohit and Jaiswal became the first Indian opening pair to

have struck up back-to-back century stands in Test cricket in this millennium. S Ramesh and Devang Gandhi were the previous Indian opening pair with back-to-back century partnerships, in 1999 against New Zealand.

West Indies then changed the mood and tempo of play by striking four times in the afternoon session. Jason Holder, who kept threatening the outside edge of Jaiswal, made the first incision when he had him caught by debutant Kirk McKenzie at deepish gully for 57 off 74 balls.

McKenzie could have cut Jaiswal's innings short on 4 had he not let a thick outside edge burst through his hands at gully in the sixth over. Jaiswal could have also been dismissed on 52 in the last over before lunch, but Alick Athanaze grassed an easier chance at first slip off Holder.

Holder relentlessly probed away outside off, though, often with two gully fielders in place, and earned his reward in the

Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican then accounted for the wickets of Shubman Gill and Rohit respectively. It was Shannon Gabriel who capped the afternoon session by sending Ajinkya Rahane's off-stump cartwheeling with a rapid inducker. Gabriel, who returned to the playing XI in place of an unwell Rahkeem Cornwall, couldn't pose much of a threat to India's openers. His morning shift of four overs cost West Indies 24 runs, but he came back to produce a much sharper spell in the afternoon.

Warrican got the ball to grip and turn as the day progressed, but Kohli was fully for-

ward to smother it. Kohli refused to take any risks against the left-arm finger-spinner on a slow surface, and just looked to wear him down.

Alzarri Joseph targeted Kohli's upper body with short balls from around the wicket, with a long leg and deep square in place, but Kohli blunted him too. Joseph's extra bounce - or the lack thereof - caused Jadeja to lose his shape more often at the other end, before he finally got the pull away in the 70th over.

Kraigg Brathwaite then turned to the part-time offspin of Athanaze and himself, but West Indies couldn't separate Kohli and Jadeja on day one.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

GOA Executive Committee committed to access sporting opportunities, improved performances

The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) recently reaffirmed its commitment to laying the foundation for better performances by Guyanese athletes, which is intrinsically linked to the capacity-building of coaches in the various disciplines.

In this regard, the Committee is pleased to announce that Mr. Tyson English, a Weightlifting Coach, has recently successfully attended and completed the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate

Programme.

A total of 40 international coaches had enlisted, and 30 have successfully completed the programme, done in partnership with the USOC, USPC, University of Delaware, and Olympic Solidarity.

From a total of 35 credit scores Mr. English secured 100% after completing all virtual and in-person sessions.

The Committee extends congratulations to Mr. English, and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

Tyson English

Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr

Alado during a preparation session yesterday (Brandon Corlette photo)

Dr. Kishore Shallow (L), President of CWI, and Brian Lara (R) presenting Kraigg Brathwaite with a plaque (AFP/Getty Images)

Virat and Jadeja were unbeaten at stumps

Warrican and co celebrating the wicket of Sharma

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal had West Indies chasing leather in a quick century stand (AFP/Getty Images)