Guyana Times -Friday, June 16, 2023.pdf

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Guyanese-Canadian former Deputy Judge admitted to local Bar

Oudit Narine Rai, a Guyanese-Canadian who formerly served as a Deputy Judge in that North American country, was admitted to the Guyana Bar on Wednesday, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the legal profession. His petition for admission to the Bar was presented by Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj, who outlined Rai’s slew of academic and professional achievements to Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court.

Rai hails from humble beginnings, having been born and raised in Canal Number One, on the West Bank of the Demerara River. He is a former student of the West Demerara Secondary School and the St Rose’s High School, having completed his “A” Level examinations at the latter institution.

Rai completed two undergraduate degrees from the University of Toronto:

in Political Science, and a specialist degree in International Relations. He is also the holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Policy Development.

He completed the first year of the University of Guyana’s Bachelor of Laws programme, and then proceeded to the University of the West Indies, where he obtained his LLB in 1994. In September of that year, Rai commenced further legal studies at the University of Toronto, where he attained his Canadian LLB equivalency, completed his articles, and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1997.

He also obtained a Master’s in Law from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. He then completed the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) programme at the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas, which entitles him to be admitted to the

Guyana Bar.

Gunraj informed the court that Rai has been practising law for the past 26 years in Canada, during which time he was appointed as a Deputy Judge for the Superior Court of Justice. After his stint as a Deputy Judge, he was appointed as a member (Administrative Judge equivalent) of the Appeal Division of the Social Security Tribunal in Canada, hearing appeal cases that were previously heard by panels of three Judges from the Federal Court of Canada.

Attorney Gunraj told the court that not only is Rai a fellow lawyer, but he is also a family member, as he, along with businessman Suresh Narine, has traced and documented every member of his family from indentureship to the present.

After accepting Rai’s Bar petition, Justice Kissoon commended him for his well-written judgements, and expressed the hope that

he would bring to the local jurisdiction that same level of high competency.

In response, the newly called Attorney-at-Law shared that his call to the Guyana Bar has been a long process, and that he is proud to be practising in the country where he was born and raised.

Rai shared that although he practised law one hour away from Toronto, where

no one looked like him, through professionalism and hard work, he was able to quickly attain the admiration of his peers and the local Judges.

As a result, he was recommended to be appointed as a Deputy Judge, and also served for 10 years as a director of the local Bar Association. As part of his civic responsibilities, he was a Professor at Durham

College, Ontario, Canada, where he taught insurance law and administrative law.

Rai also has competencies in a diverse area of law, including civil litigation, international taxation, and double taxation avoidance, international tax treaties, international tax risk, transfer pricing, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Newly-called Attorney Oudit Narine Rai is flanked by Justice Sandil Kissoon (right) and Attorney-atLaw Sase Gunraj

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 16 – 03:00h-04:30h and Saturday, June 17 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, June 16 – 15:35h-17:05h and Saturday, June 17 – 16:20h-17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers should prevail during the day, with cloudy skies and more thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.58 metres.

High Tide: 15:21h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 08:54h and 21:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.81 metre.

LGE 2023

Jagdeo calls out Norton for ‘lies’ about making inroads in PPP strongholds

– reiterates APNU failed miserably to increase votes in GT

inroads into Plegt Anker. In fact, we flipped one of their constituencies,” Jagdeo said.

He added, “We don’t know how GECOM will deal with that matter, because it is not an error in the voting process. If GECOM accepts this, the Plegt/Anker constituency will be tied. What they didn’t tell you is that in the same LAA, they won Kortberaadt East that time and we now won that constituency in the same LAA. And in the PR votes, they got 21 and we got 39.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Claims made by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that it made inroads in People’s Progressive Party (PPP) strongholds were on Thursday dismissed by General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton claimed at a press briefing that the APNU made significant inroads in the PPP-supported areas. However, Jagdeo shot down those claims with substantial evidence, whereby the numbers at the polls reflected the opposite.

In one of the areas, Plegt Anker (Berbice), where the APNU secured a five-vote win, five tendered ballots were issued to persons who voted for the PPP. However, the PPP got the higher PR votes.

“They are saying to people in this country that they

won these elections and they made great inroads…One of the claims at the press con-

The reality, according to the General Secretary, showed the PPP making inroads in APNU-supported communities. In areas such as Region Five, where APNU claimed a ‘whitewash’, Jagdeo also shot those down with figures from the polls.

In Number Five village, a stronghold of APNU, the PPP had two votes in 2018. But this number increased to 206 votes.

Overall, the PPP scored a landslide victory this LGE, after it swept 66 of the 80 Local Authority Areas across the country. In comparison, the APNU only scraped 14 LAAs.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C has won the majority of votes in seven of the country’s 10 townships. These are Mabaruma, Mahdia, Lethem, Corriverton, Rose Hall, Bartica and Anna Regina; while APNU managed to regain the majority in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden –two municipalities less than the last elections.

TURN TO PAGE 7

ference is that the APNU made inroads, for example in Plegt Anker, which is a PPP stronghold… This is a lie. They didn’t make major

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

Editor: Tusika Martin

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75th Anniversary of Enmore Martyrs

Today marks 75 years since the shooting to death of five sugar workers at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The five: Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Surajballi and Harry, became known as the Enmore Martyrs following their deaths on June 16, 1948. This year, the anniversary coincides with the universal observance of Father’s Day. That makes for special and possibly painful reflections by their descendants.

Martyr, by definition, connotes the ultimate sacrifice that one selflessly makes generally for the betterment of others and country. The Enmore martyrs paid with their dear lives for the cause of better working conditions for sugar workers.

The arduous task of harvesting cane manually is well known. One of the workers’ contentions then was the added burden of having to load the cane into punts some distance away after having cut the cane; referred to as the “cut and load” system. This back-breaking method, which was introduced in 1945, was clearly unpopular with the workers, who demanded that it be replaced with “cut and “drop”; they cut and others load.

At the time, social and economic conditions were less than desirable. That saddled workers with poor wages and living conditions on the estates. They also wanted the then Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) to be recognized as the union to bargain for them. In their minds, these were justifiable demands, and having been unable to have them met, they resorted to strike action in April of 1948.

The use of scabs to fill the void the strike created did not resolve the sugar producers’ dilemma. As production became seriously affected, they introduced drastic measures in an effort to force the striking workers to comply. Having felt betrayed by the union, the Man Power Citizen’s Association (MPCA) that represented them, the situation became exacerbated and ultimately led to what transpired on that fateful day of June 16, 1948.

The context of that incident must not be lost. They were simple workers who unselfishly stood up to the authority, demanding that their welfare not be ignored. After all, they were contributing significantly to the enrichment of the masters, who seemed totally unconcerned of the plight the workers were forced to endure.

The death of the Enmore five resonated across the country. That incident was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history and our politics. It profoundly impacted a young Dr. Cheddi Jagan. The strikes, prior to the shooting, were supported by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), of which he and his wife Janet were among the founders. They helped to raise funds and operated soup kitchens to assist the striking workers and their families.

The deaths of the five workers touched him in many ways, and at the gravesite on the day of their funerals, he pledged to dedicate his life to the cause of the Guyanese people; to free them from bondage and exploitation. It was that pledge that propelled and guided him in his relentless struggles for an independent Guyana and championing the rights of workers. He founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950, which led subsequent struggles, culminating in the return of democracy in 1992.

While the five workers died during their quest for betterment, their sacrifices further heightened awareness of what they experienced, galvanized sentiments, fuelled hope, and helped to intensify the struggle, not just for improved working conditions for sugar workers, but for all Guyanese.

Attempts to split PPP/C leadership will fail

Dear Editor,

While many of Kaieteur News’ editorials are thoughtful and substantive, the one on June 15, 2023 is nothing short of plain mischievousness.

The editorial follows a popular street-level line of discourse that says Vice President Jagdeo is too visible in the current administration. Kaieteur News could have been more responsible, by acknowledging that Dr Jagdeo’s recent presence in the media is due to his role as General Secretary of the PPP, and his obvious duties as party leader during the LGE campaign and its immediate aftermath.

While the editorial assumes the posture of distance from everyday politics, no one who follows the media should be surprised that KN has doubled down in attacks against Jagdeo; that is a predictable occurrence where the ‘waterfall’ newspaper is concerned. But the editorial takes a further step, by insinuating that President Ali is somehow sidelined in his own administration.

Nothing could be further from the truth. If fact, the President has been so visible that people across all sections of society have been asking how he manages to keep up with what can only be described as an astounding level of public engagement. These engagements are not only with citizens through outreaches, but with foreign delegations, NGOs, multilateral institutions, the diplomatic corps, academics and artists, disciplined forces, and

foreign heads of state.

The editorial incorrectly states that cabinet ministers have also been less visible, and are not given the opportunity to respond to issues that fall under their respective ministries.

Dr Ashni Singh was singled out for mention; yet, only days ago, the same Dr Ashni Singh was the one who penned a detailed response to Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine, who made some charges of underfunding. The record shows that while Newsroom, iNews Guyana, and Guyana Chronicle (among others) carried Dr Singh’s response, Kaieteur News chose to publish a letter by so-called elder Hamilton Green, in which Minister Singh’s response was attacked (see “PPP using tricks and propaganda,” KN, June 13, 2023).

I can assure Kaieteur News that President Ali and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh do not need any reminders of the offices they hold, or how to go about their daily business of governing this country. As for their visibility, allow me to reproduce a post from Facebook that went up only hours ago. Here is the text : “Last evening, in the presence of President Dr Irfaan Ali, Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni K. Singh signed a financing agreement on behalf of the Government of Guyana, with the European Commission for the protection and restoration of Guyana’s mangrove forests, at State House. Signing on behalf of the European Commission was

its First Vice President, Mr Frans Timmermans.”

And just in case we need an image to prove the point, look below:

is intensely worked-up about Jagdeo’s popularity and about his fine working relationship with President Ali. For the record, I can tell you that during press

No one in the PPP/C Administration should go to this extent to set the record straight, but given Kaieteur News’ persistent efforts at attempting to split the PPP leadership, we do have to go to this ridiculous level. A counternarrative on the street about Vice President Jagdeo’s visibility should be of great interest. Many have heard it before, but it is worth repeating; namely, that someone at Kaieteur News

conferences, Vice President Jagdeo routinely defers to President Ali when there are questions that should be properly directed to the Head of State.

Numerous attempts have been made to split the PPP/C leadership. They have all failed, and so will this latest attempt via an editorial.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

This Devina Harricharan photo captures the beauty of crossing the rocky part of the Rupununi River in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo). This is one of the entries that were shortlisted in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s “Snap and Share” competition in commemoration of Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary. The winners will be announced today

Mr Mohamed broke a norm that was cemented since 1957

Dear Editor, Reference is made to a news report on East Bank residents voting, and an interview with the candidate of Phase One, Republic Park, Constituency Three, Mr Nazar Mohamed (Chronicle, June 13).

This is a very interesting constituency. It was won by Mr. Mohamed, a PPP candidate, a pickup or gain for his party. The PNC (APNU) had won the seat in 2016 and 2018, and in fact it was never won by the PPP. It is a hardcore traditional stronghold of the PNC, which it won over the PPP in 2018 by two to one.

There was a complete reversal in June 2023. There is significant crossover racial support from this hardcore PNC stronghold. Mohamed doubled the votes the PPP got in 2018, and defeated the PNC candidate three to one; this is an unprecedented victory.

In examining the results of PPP gains or pickups of about a dozen seats from the PNC from Monday, Constituency Three was a big win for the party. This residential area is a housing scheme developed from cane lands by the late Forbes Burnham some five decades ago. It was first occu-

pied by the African professional classes in the armed and Police forces, and by civil servants and bureaucrats. It became an elite area for Africans. The residents consistently and overwhelmingly voted PNC and APNU in all elections since the 1970s, when the village was created.

On June 12, however, there was a swing away from APNU. As opposed to other constituencies where the party made a difference in voter gains, the large victory in Constituency Three is attributed strictly to Mohamed. He broke a norm that was cemented since 1957. Pre-

polling in the constituency revealed that a large majority was trending towards Mohamed. A visit to the area on Election Day and engagement with those who voted or called "exit polling" also suggested that Mohamed would win comfortably. The election results in the constituency were beyond expectations - three to one for the candidate. While other African-dominated constituencies elsewhere voted APNU, in Republic Park, they decided to cast a ballot for Mohamed. When asked why, voters pointed out that he has been a community development person. He

grounds with the community.

He supports and funds sporting and community activities. He has helped to maintain sanitary conditions in the area - well kept, and clean. He is well known, and is described as a people person. Voters said the constituency would be better served under his representation.

Mohamed has won the seat by the widest margin of three to one because of who he is - a philanthropist and action-oriented person. Mohamed has lived there for over 40 years. Respondents say that, as a resident and community leader, he and his family have brought value to

the community. They noted that the Mohameds are very responsible and respectful citizens. They say his children have demonstrated full appreciation for the various cultures within the community.

And he himself has been engaged in community projects, making sure the constituency is well-kept. He walked around soliciting votes and examining the welfare of the people. This will be the new norm in politics - good representation.

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

The APNU’s alternative facts will eventually lead to PNC’s demise

Dear Editor,

I sat at a home at Success, East Coast Demerara as the results poured in for the June 12, 2023 local government elections which were held on Monday. Despite both sides claiming victory that night, I - like thousands of Guyanese - waited on the results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The results showed that Guyanese voted resoundingly for the People’s Progressive Civic (PPP/C), and rejected the Peoples National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (PNC/R-APNU).

I think the ruling PPP/C must be overjoyed after making major breakthroughs in the PNC/R-APNU stronghold communities and towns, such as Bartica, Lethem, New Amsterdam, and in the Plaisance to Industry NDC.

I think the biggest and most surprising area where the PPP/C made inroads was in the Georgetown communities. The PPP had double times

the votes they had in 2015 and 2018, thereby achieving eleven seats in Georgetown, seven out of 10 Towns, and 66 other NDC and LAAs. I think this is good political work, with structured planning.

Now is the time to celebrate every victory made by the PPP/C campaign and “One Guyana” mantra. I believe that most, if not all, of Guyana is on board for progress, development, and growth to continue changing the face of Guyana for the better.

Sadly, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton appears defeated, even as he seeks to spread his usual alternative facts. I was not only surprised, but was in shock, because I could not believe it when he said that his party was victorious in the face of the very clear and undisputed GECOM results that were in the public domain by the next day of the local government elections.

Much to my annoyance and disbelief, Norton held

out that the results were a rejection of the PPP/C and endorsement of the APNU. Something is wrong with the mind of any person who tries to twist the reality and figures of these polls. Something must be wrong with the APNU supporters and those who believe APNU’s alternative facts and half-truths that they spewed at press conferences and on social media.

I have compiled a dossier of lies and deceptive or alternative facts that Norton, other Opposition MPs, and the political Opposition commentators were using to get votes or make sure their supporters stayed with them. No less than 127 lies have to date been told by the APNU for the period of local government elections.

I have found the APNU and their political allies, particularly Cathy Hughes, Christopher Jones, former President David Granger, Ubraj Narine and Derron Adams, told blatant lies 73 times to the public; and fur-

ther, have no integrity and moral standing with me and many of the voters. Using and knowing the truth, the APNU used the whisper and race campaign to hold back the PPP/C from totally winning their strongholds in many of the places in Bartica, Linden, Kwakwani, New Amsterdam, Georgetown and other communities. We are big, but not stupid! We might even be slow, but we know Mathematics and can count! We know when Norton is bluffing his way like a Cheshire Cat. This is not Alice in Wonderland. This is Guyana, and it is real!

Norton should know that I am not buying the garbage and nonsense he is peddling, choosing to hide from the shameful facts by saying ‘a team is analysing the statistics. Again he is being a propagandist who hides the effect of thrashing behind alternative facts, like Donald Trump did with the figures of his second inauguration, and the fact that he lost the elec-

Rise and fall of PNC

Dear Editor, The message emanating from the just concluded Local Government Elections is simple and clear: The PNC has fallen from its commanding heights of Party Paramountcy in the mid-70s to a feeble collection of uninspiring candidates and clueless leaders, with the ship’s captain sailing without a compass.

The results of the elections are a clear indication of the existing political strengths and weaknesses, as the PPP juggernaut stands out as a well-oiled election machinery with matchless personnel and finance that reaches across the length and breadth of Guyana, notwithstanding the usual comingling of state and Party resources in the campaign (which the previous regime also utilised).

As expected, the PNC retained control of the capital; however, the PPP has made a noticeable dent in increasing its composition of councillors. The PNC could not field any

candidate in 291 constituencies, and turnouts were low in proven PPP fortresses, which indicates that there are many in the party’s camp who are dissatisfied, unmotivated, and uninspired.

In the long run, Guyanese are expecting better administrative systems, given the abundance of resources from our newfound oil wealth.

Leaders at all levels (local, regional and national) are expected to work together for the betterment of our citizens, as they have been chosen to do exactly this; their raison d’etre for being public servants.

For far too long, we have heard the cries of central Government not fully supporting local and regional leaders who do not belong to the same political mindset. Such pitfalls must end, and the way must be paved for increased collaboration between local leaders and the Government, and people must be able to hold their leaders accountable. If there

is anything that is not being adequately addressed, do not be afraid to ask direct questions; reach out to those in higher authority, and highlight all discrepancies in the media.

The fact that no results have been disclosed after more than 48 hours of closing of polls clearly signals that GECOM needs to improve its modus operandi and act with some form of alacrity. There is need for much improvement. At the time of writing, the incumbent Government and its political party have gathered huge gains in traditionally supported Opposition areas. Sixty-six (66) of the LAAs, appear to have been won by the PPP/C, while PNC (APNU), in its defense, has stated that its objectives for LGE 2023 have been met, and that it has also won, even though it lost 9 LAAs and two townships from the last elections.

Finally, ‘Garbage City’ needs to be restored to its pre-Independence glory to

earn the given name ‘The Garden City’. Under the 23year (PNC strongman) Green mayorship, Georgetown became brown with filth from an array of animals; the only green could be found in the hanging gardens of the gutters in his office building.

City Hall needs to act decisively, and with a semblance of alacrity, to rid the streets of garbage, clumsy parking, and potholes.

The present Gov’t must be mature enough to fund the maintenance of the infrastructure, while businesses and homeowners must be compelled to pay their taxes in a prompt manner. Only through good administration can the country flourish with the accurate choice of professionals, regardless of race or party lineage.

Hopefully, this is realised, as the people have made their choices in these elections.

Sincerely,

Leyland Roopnaraine

tions to President Joe Biden.

I would respect him if he just accepted a defeat at the polls following the results which were declared by GECOM, but he continuously denies losing, and is insulting the public’s intelligence.

Conclusively, APNU lost the overall election when they decided they did not have money to compete with the PPP in all LAAs, NDC areas, Towns, and Municipalities. They lost again to the PPP/C on Nominations Day, as they allowed the Red Wave to take over while they had no support from MPs and a few bigwigs. They lost time and time over in the informal campaign debate that was taking place in the lead-up to the polls. Now they have suffered a humiliating, painful, and massive defeat at the polls. And, that’s Norton’s legacy, apart from the peddling of alternative facts, mistruths, and race-baiting and discrimination.

Norton is the only Opposition Leader who has had infighting and political fires happen so often from the time he ran in the PNC to right now. Is this the end of the PNC’s legacy and its demise as a once-trusted political unit? I hope not, but in American literature, a poem called "The Masque of Pandora" (1875) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has a character named Prometheus, who speaks the phrase: Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad. A string of madness, a false sense of consciousness, and political blindness are running through APNU’s and Norton’s minds. I believe one must know when to go. The people have spoken and voted for the PPP/C. Now resign and retire quietly. Withdraw and save face!

Yours truly, Michael Younge

Page Foundation

Power Up Maths

Adding decimals

Adding decimals

Adding decimals is just like adding whole numbers, except you must be careful to line up the decimals correctly . Once you do that, you can add as if the decimal is not there.

Adding decimals is just like adding whole numbers, except you must be careful to line up the decimals correctly . Once you do that, you can add as if the decimal is not there.

Example: Add 82.72 + 9.34

Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up in a single column.

Step 2: Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points :

Add:

What if a number has no decimal point?

For example: Add 6 + 23.56

Just put a decimal point at the end of the whole number and add placeholder zeros after:

Exercises: Add

By HL MitcHeLL

The sun is sinking in the west, The golden sun now goes to rest, The happy gladd’ning sun. For one more day, he made men gay, For one more day, he made men play, But now his task is done. He rose this morn majestic, strong, Birds welcomed him with joyous song, But now he must depart. For one more day he gave men food, And time to practise earthly good, To joy their human heart. He gave the earth the glow of life, He bade men banish hatred, strife, And once remember God. Gloom and depression fled away, To ne’er return another day, But with dark Night to plod. Old Age felt young and strong again, And then ambitious, thought of gain And days spent long in youth. Youths strong achieved th’ impossible, And said “There is nought terrible, Unless we taste its ruth“ And now he’s sinking in the west, For one day more this world he blest, But now his work is done. He will return to-morrow day, He’ll make men happy, bright and gay, But now his course is run.

WORD SEARCH

Guyana retains Tier 1 ranking in US State Department 2023 TIP report

For the seventh consecutive year, Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 status in the US Department of State 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which recognised that the Government continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts to combat this crime during the reporting period.

Guyana is one of two Caribbean Community (Caricom) members – the other being The Bahamas –that were given Tier 1 ranking in this latest TIP report, which was released on Thursday.

Among its efforts to maintain its ranking, according to the US State Department, was convicting three traffickers; identifying more victims and referring them to services; consistently implementing a 10-day reflection period, including shelter for victims; raising awareness in Indigenous languages; expanding the inclusivity of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (the Task Force); and initiating a programme to screen children in situations of homelessness.

However, the report noted that although the Guyana Government meets the minimum standards, it neither increased investigations and prosecutions nor formally approved the National Action Plan (NAP). The Government also did not adequately oversee recruitment agencies or adequately screen for trafficking victims in the interior of the country.

During the reporting period, Guyana initiated investigations in 28 cases involving 25 suspects (20 for sex trafficking and five for labour trafficking), compared with 38 cases involving 57 suspects in 2021 and 31 cases in 2020.

Moreover, it was outlined that the government has initiated prosecution of four alleged traffickers, including one female for sex traffick-

ing and one female for labour trafficking, under the anti-trafficking act and two suspected traffickers under other laws, compared with the prosecution of three suspected traffickers in 2021 and one prosecution in 2020.

The report also highlighted that the courts convicted three traffickers – including one female sex trafficker, who was sentenced to three years in prison for an adult female victim. In February 2023, a court convicted a man of two counts of labour trafficking in a 2018 case, with a three-year sentence on each count and restitution for one victim totalling $2.13 million.

It also cited local reports in March this year of a Guyanese man being sentenced for a 2021 labour trafficking case of two Jamaican nationals, to four years’ imprisonment along with another year for withholding the foreign nationals’ passports. He was fined $200,000 with $6.3 million in restitution to the victims.

Recommendations

According to the 2023 report, the Government did not report any new investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of Government employees complicit in trafficking crimes.

Nevertheless, the US State Department’s prioritised recommendations in the report include increasing prosecutions and convictions in sex and labour trafficking cases; increasing the number of Spanish-speaking officials supporting anti-trafficking efforts; reviewing existing legislation on labour requirement practices in Guyana, enforcing restitution orders; formally approving the 20212025 NAP; reducing the reliance on victims to serve as witnesses in prosecutions; and proactively screening vulnerable populations, including Haitian migrants and Cuban medical workers, for trafficking indicators,

while referring them to services and ensuring potential victims were not deported without screening.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday evening on the 2023 TIP Report, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who cochairs Guyana’s Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons with Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, said: “This is a testament of the hard work and dedication of individual members of the Task Force, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and all other stakeholders who assisted through increased reporting, training, awareness, proactive investigations, victim protection and international and local partnership.”

According to Benn, notwithstanding the universal challenges of human trafficking, the 2023 TIP Report has recognised Guyana’s efforts to combat this crime, and more so, during and after a global health pandemic, increased use of online platforms, increased acts of migrant smuggling and evolving recruitment tactics of human traffickers.

With regard to the recommendations that will enhance Guyana’s efforts to combat this crime and offer greater support to victims, the Minister indicated that efforts have commenced to implement these.

“To this end, the Ministry of Home Affairs and other key Task Force member

agencies, and stakeholders will incorporate these recommendations into our work plans,” Benn noted.

Half-year progress on combating TIP

However, the Home Affairs Minister disclosed that for the first half of 2023, the Guyana Police Force (GPF)– Trafficking in Persons Unit investigated 21 reported cases, with 244 alleged victims being interviewed and screened. Twenty-three of them were under 18 years of age. He also reported that five persons were officially charged and placed before the courts between January to May this year for offenc-

Jagdeo calls out Norton for ‘lies’...

Over in Georgetown, Jagdeo also proved that the APNU did not have an increase in votes as the Opposition Leader contended. In 2018, the APNU/AFC coalition had a combined count of 21,186 votes. APNU alone had secured 18,127 ballots in its favour. This year, APNU received 20,839 votes.

According to the General Secretary, it is not an accurate reflection, since the parties were together in Government. In reality, he noted, there was a drop of over 300 votes.

“Their votes in the city actually declined. It did not increase by 2,712, as everyone is portraying now and the headlines scream that APNU increased their votes. They did not increase their votes

because this was a party that was together in Government. When combined, they have lost votes in the city. There was no increase,” he reasoned.

This year, the voter turnout in Georgetown increased by five percent.

In Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), the PPP won five of the 15 constituencies, up from three in 2018. In 2018, the PPP had secured 6,813 votes, but at this year’s polls, ballots in their favour almost doubled at 12,256 votes. The Party’s support base increased in areas such as Kingston, Sophia, Albuoystown, Tucville, East Ruimveldt and West Ruimveldt.

The ruling PPP/C has asked for recounts in four constituencies across the coun-

FROM PAGE 3

try, while the A Partnership for National Unity made a request for Constituency #4 (Lamaha Gardens, Newtown Campbellville, Section K Campbellville & Bel Air Park) in Georgetown, and Mahdia.

The PPP/C’s four requests are for Constituency Six (Cummings Lodge/ Turkeyen) in the Georgetown municipality; Plegt Anker/ Kortberaadt in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); La Retraite on the West Bank of Demerara; and in the Mahaica/Abary constituency.

Speaking on the recount request, Jagdeo posited that the party is open to every party having a recount should need be, since it is not only about winning, but fairness.

es ranging from TIP, assault, forgery of currency notes, and the operation of a brothel.

It was noted too that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that one of the perpetrators, who was charged and sentenced to prison for the operation of a brothel in May 2023, be further charged with two counts of trafficking in persons. The Guyana Police Force–TIP Unit will institute these charges shortly, the Minister stated.

Moreover, Benn pointed out that in order to build capacity, more than 170 law enforcement and Community Policing Groups were trained

on the indicators of human trafficking and migrant smuggling along with national referral mechanisms in place to report such acts. Awareness and sensitisation were also done with a number of secondary school students in Regions One, Three, Four, and Six through a joint initiative between the Home Affairs Ministry, the Police Force, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

Going forward, Minister Benn said it was paramount that Guyana continued its partnerships with both local and international stakeholders to enhance local efforts to combat this heinous crime.

According to Benn, he wants to “…assure the general public that the Ministry of Home Affairs and its key partners …are committed to investing the necessary resources to strengthen current strategies, and implementing new ones to build and improve on the achievements gained to effectively and efficiently combat this crime and hold traffickers accountable.” (G-8)

Teen remanded for murder of brother-in-law

The smart money... …is

on PPP

A17-year-old lad has been remanded to prison for killing his brother-in-law in an alleged bid to defend the honour of his 13-year-old sister and his mother.

The teen appeared before Springlands Magistrate Renita Singh on Thursday, charged with the capital offence of murder. Police had initially claimed that the accused was 18, but in court it was disclosed that this teen will turn 18 on June 24. As such, publication of the photograph and particulars of this accused is prohibited by the Juvenile Justice Act.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Collin Clarke told the court on Thursday that the Police need further ad-

vice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He also revealed that the Police are still awaiting the post mortem report regarding the victim’s death.

The Magistrate has thus ordered that the teenager returns to court on July 27. Until then, he is to remain in custody.

On Monday last, 26-yearold Pursoram Ganpat, a labourer of Well Rank Dam at Number 57 Village, Corentyne, was stabbed to death in an incident that occurred at Queenstown, Corriverton. The Police have said that the suspect and the victim were imbibing together when a heated argument ensued and resulted in a scuffle.

The teen had reportedly armed himself with a knife and dealt the victim several stabs to his body, causing

him to collapse. Reports indicate that the victim had been stabbed about 15 times about his body.

After the killing, Police arrested Ganpat’s brotherin-law, the 17-year-old lad, and he has since admitted to committing the crime. He reportedly told investigators that when he got home, he saw his 16-year-old sister, who is a mother of one, imbibing with her reputed husband and her motherin-law, and he joined them. The teenager reportedly told investigators that he was being taunted by his brother-in-law, who had impregnated his sister when she was at the age of fifteen.

The teenager said Ganpat told him that he was also going to have his 13-year-old sister. The late Ganpat also allegedly made claims that he was going to

sleep with the teenager’s mother.

As a result of the taunts, the teenager said, he got into a scuffle with Ganpat, during which he armed himself with a knife and inflicted the fatal wounds on his brother-in-law Ganpat. The stabbing incident lasted for more than twenty minutes, and even though family members had pleaded with the teen to put down the knife, he had continued his assault. The gate had reportedly been padlocked, preventing Ganpat from fleeing to safety.

The teen also told investigators that Ganpat had been a predator, having started a relationship with his now 16-year-old sister several years ago. Ganpat was before the courts for engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

The phrase “smart money” has expanded from its original nexus with finance to now refer to anyone who knows what they’re talking about – and as such, should be given an ear. So, with the dust almost settled on LGE 2023, what’s the smart money saying? Well, if nothing else, that the PPP ensured the smart money’s gonna even deign to comment of LGEs! Before 2023, no one gave a hoot about them – and in fact, for two decades, they hadn’t even been held - without the sky falling!!

We were told that kinks in the system were being straightened out, and, in 2016, the PNC coalition Government - with great fanfare - relaunched the LGE ship, with a followup in 2018. So, after all their kvetching about the PPP central Government “stifling” people’s local aspirations to govern themselves, your Eyewitness looked on avidly for a change!! Sadly, it was the same ole, same ole!! And for this reason, with the PNC again back on the Opposition benches, the smart money has predicted we’re gonna be hearing again how Georgetown, for instance, is being “strangled” by the PPP!!

But the same smart money’s looking at the PPP’s promise to facilitate the folks who switched, and expects that - to enlarge the beachhead they created in traditional PNC strongholds – they’ll be pulling out all the stops with developmental initiatives across the board. After all, at long last, it’s not a matter of taking from Harrilal to give Harry – they now have money to take care of Tom, Harry AND Harrilall!!

So what’s the smart money saying about the PNC?? Well, that with all the time, money and effort the PPP spent on invading their turf, they held off the onslaught in the big enchilada – GT!! To be honest, the smart money never thought the PPP was serious about actually TAKING GT!! That was just the usual pre-fight “trash talk” of boxers before the fight!! But that doesn’t mean the PPP’s not serious about EVENTUALLY taking over GT. Like the Russian war strategy, the PPP’s political strategy’s very simple: throw everything at the opponent – including the kitchen sink – and just keep on coming!! Sooner or later, they figure, they’re gonna wear the PNC out!!

But while that may be true for a war in the trenches, politics is just as much about a war for minds. And this is where the smart money’s kinda cautious, since this is even more true for ETHNIC politics!! Here, folks get invested in their essential identity - which is exploited by THEIR political party to keep them corralled.

The smart money figures the PPP’s gotta be very nuanced to capture minds as well as bellies!! And that’ll take some doing!!

…and the challenge

The point above is illustrated by what played out in the Buxton/Foulis NDC - which the PNC lost in the 2018 LGE!! Surprised?? Well, if you were, dear reader, that proves LGEs were never high on your radar!! Though Friendship’s included in that NDC, there’s also Bladen Hall, Strathspey, Coldingen, Non-Pareil, Vigilance, Enterprise, Elizabeth Hall, Bachelor’s Adventure and Paradise in the mix!! Even with the PNC in government, the turnout in Buxton/ Friendship – where the PPP didn’t even contest – was quite low.

Well, this time, in Buxton/Friendship, the PNC – and their Opposition local myrmidons - mobilised to repel the PPP onslaught with some notable switchers. And they succeeded. Their candidate in Buxton, David Jones, secured 964 votes against PPP/C candidate Letta Murray’s 114. In Friendship, APNU’s incumbent councillor Oswald Williams of the APNU raised his votes by 52 from 2018, when he got 526 votes. The PPP/C contender Edgar Simon barely scraped 40 votes from his constituents.

But, as in GT…the PPP got its beachhead!!

…and mangrove

Rising sea’s the name of the game, and the EU have been in our corner for quite a while to save the mangrove that historically kept the Atlantic from inundating our coastlands. They’ve just coughed up another $1billion!!

Springlands Magistrate’s Court

Dead: Pursoram Ganpat

GDF Lieutenant was "random" target in car heist worth $700K – killer confesses

...says buyers called off deal after victim was shot to death ...charged, remanded to prison for crime

the driver refused the job.

This plan having failed, Wright suggested that they travel to the ‘West Side’, to which they agreed. Upon reaching La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD), “Fox” exited the car and walked a short distance to ‘Alladin Taxi Service’, where he requested Douglas to transport him to Georgetown.

The plan was for Wright and Parris to follow the taxi, but they lost track of the car. A panicked Wright called “Fox”, and they started to speak in code to get Douglas to slow down. In fact, “Fox” derived

waited in his car one street away.

Parris confessed that he attempted to pull Douglas out of the wagon, but the Lieutenant put up some resistance. Fox” reportedly got involved in the scuffle, and started to choke Douglas, but Douglas continued to fight back. In retaliation, “Fox” handed Parris the gun, but Douglas managed to exit the car and rushed behind him. Parris then discharged one round, which hit Douglas and resulted in him falling to the ground.

Arrested for the murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Rondel Douglas, Joshua Parris, also called “Stewie”, of ‘Section C’, ‘Block Y’ Sophia, Greater Georgetown, has confessed that he was part of a plot to steal the car, but not to kill him.

This has been confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who stated that a sworn confession was provided to the Police by Parris. He reportedly told detectives that on Wednesday, June 7, he received a telephone call from a friend, “Fox”, who informed him that he had a ‘wuk’ for him; that is, to steal a car, since he already had a buyer willing to pay $700,000.

Without hesitation, the detainee said, he agreed, and a plan was concocted. As such, he went to ‘B Field’ Sophia, where he met “Fox” and waited for another accomplice, Randy Wright, to

pick them up. At the time, “Fox” was armed with a black gun.

The detainee explained that Wright collected them at about 20:00h, after which they drove to ‘Benjie’s Taxi Service’ at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, (EBD) where they solicited a taxi to take them to Farm, EBD, but

a plan and asked Douglas to stop so that he can purchase some Superbet credit.

Eventually, “Fox” reportedly requested Douglas to drive at a dead-end at Col-deSac Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, where Parris walked through a shortcut to reach the car while Wright

By that time, “Fox” was already in the driver’s seat, and was soon joined by Parris, as they fled the scene leaving the injured GDF officer behind. The entire episode was caught on CCTV footage, which was subsequently handed over to detectives.

Soon after, the trio met up, and another plan was put into action. “Fox” drove the hijacked car in front while Wright followed. Both cars reportedly drove to Bel Air Road along the Railway Embankment, where they parked the stolen car next to an unfinished concrete structure. “Fox” and Parris then boarded Wright’s car,

and they drove to Pattensen Railway Embankment, where they were supposed to meet the buyer.

Parris told the Police that upon arrival there, he observed a burgundy motorcar parked in a street with two occupants. He said those occupants refused to buy the car after learning that the trio had killed Douglas.

When those buyers went away, the stolen car was collected from where it was parked, and driven to ‘B Field’ Sophia, where the blood was washed off. It was then driven to Stone Avenue and parked, while the trio went back to Sophia. The following morning, the car was

discovered by Police with its registration plates missing. Following Parris’s confession, the Police have arrested Wright as investigations continue. Blanhum has also said that Police are on the hunt for “Fox”.

Meanwhile, Parris was on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for the murder of GDF Lieutenant Rondel Douglas. He was not required to plead to an indictable charge which stated that on June 7, 2023, he murdered Rondel Douglas. He has been remanded to prison.

Douglas’s car that was recovered by Police

Murdered: Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Rondel Douglas

Arrested: Joshua Parris Arrested: Randy Wright

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CSEC to continue as scheduled despite stolen exam papers in Jamaica – CXC

Although several examination papers for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) were stolen in Jamaica, the regional examinations body has decided that tests will continue as scheduled.

In a press release issued by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on Wednesday, it was revealed that a fireproof cabinet containing examination papers for nine CSEC subjects scheduled to be administered this week were stolen from a school in Jamaica.

However, on Thursday, the regional exams body highlighted that there has been no confirmation as to whether the stolen cabinet has been compromised, and as such, it advised that exams continue as per their original schedule.

“The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) advises all stakeholders, that following consultations with Ministries of Education from across the Region this morning, the regional examinations will be administered as scheduled.

To date, there has been no confirmation that the secured fire-proof cabinet containing examination papers, which was stolen from a school in Jamaica, has been compromised,” the Council said.

It reassured that the interest of exam candidates is a priority of the organisation, adding that the Council would continue to monitor the security of the regional examinations.

Following the incident on Wednesday, the Education Ministry in Guyana stated that all students writing

their CSEC examinations would continue to prepare for their respective subjects, despite the current challenges.

On May 17, reports swept the Region of the CSEC Mathematics Paper Two being leaked on the morning of the exam; and, days later,

CXC confirmed that the leak originated from an exam centre in Jamaica.

At the time, CXC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Wayne Wesley said, “The security measures which CXC put in place has led to us locating the country as Jamaica, and [an] examination centre [there] where the leak originated.”

Dr Wesley added that CXC was working collectively with the Education Ministry in Jamaica to determine the next steps in regard to the specific source of the leak. He clarified that Police authorities had not yet been involved, but that was being considered.

“As a result of the breach and the compromise of the examination, as well as consideration for the mental health and well-being of our candidates, timely release of results, and matriculation requirements, CXC has determined that for this examination, the modified approach will be used to award fair and valid grades,” he disclosed.

This modified approach entails assessment of the School-Based Assessment (SBA) or Paper 03 for private candidates, and Paper One, disregarding the Paper Two portion of the Math examination.

While the CXC CEO was

unable to identify which specific countries the leak extended to, he explained that with the use of technology and common chat groups that involve students from multiple countries, it is likely that students from a number of countries may have gained access to the paper prior to the exam.

During that press briefing, Dr Wesley had also assured that CXC was continuing to enhance its security measures to ensure that no future breaches occur, but stated that the integrity of the individuals entrusted with these exam papers and enforcing the rules could not be fully controlled.

CXC headquarters

Guyana, EU ink $1B agreement to preserve mangroves – Pres Ali says focus to be placed on riverine areas

In a move to further strengthen local efforts to protect the sealine, the European Union (EU) is injecting some 4.6 million euros ($1 billion) in budgetary support towards the protection and restoration of Guyana’s mangrove forests.

An agreement to this effect was signed on Wednesday evening at State House in Georgetown between Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and the First Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans.

This project, which will run for a four-year period, falls under the EU/ Guyana Partnership agreement that was inked at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 27 in Egypt last year.

According to Timmermans, it is important for the EU to strengthen bilateral ties with Guyana, and one of the ways to cooperate is to help preserve the country’s natural riches.

“One of the ways to cooperate is to help preserve this country’s natural riches, which are almost without limit…This is a partnership we’ve just signed, so that we can support the efforts of Guyana to strengthen the position of mangroves. Mangroves are such a huge contribution to our fight against the climate crisis. They are a huge reserve of biodiversity…

“If you look at the extent of mangroves in this country, it is a collective responsibility, I believe, of humanity to maintain them and to strengthen them. I’m just more than thrilled that we can be partners with Guyana in this effort,” he stated.

Similarly, the EU official is of the view that forestry is another area in which they can work closely with Guyana, especially in the area of biodiversity studies.

Highlighting that eco-

nomic development should not be at the expense of, but to the benefit of, future generations, Timmermans lauded the Guyana Government for maintaining its commitment towards fighting climate change while advancing its oil and gas sector.

“The ambition of your Government, Mr President,

lihoods, creating economic opportunity,” he noted.

According to the Head of State, mangroves are a proven concept for climate mitigation, since these trees store five times the carbon stock of any other forest type. Locally, he pointed out, the value of the mangrove forest is further optimised, as it is an

along rivers which are inhabited areas.

Under this new agreement signed with the EU, the project scope includes the monitoring of mangroves, seedling planting, and the rehabilitation of

existing forests as well as establishment of robust nursery programmes for aggressive replanting efforts.

Moreover, the Guyana Government would be directing focus through this initiative towards the

earthen embankment along riverine communities, where he noted, “…the population might be small, but agricultural output in those areas is very large.”

According to President Ali, the EU has always been a strong partner in protecting Guyana’s sea defences.

“In terms of protecting our sea defences, our coastal line, and ensuring that a country that is below sea level remains safe from its exposure to the sea, you are one of our strongest partners in this area. So, it’s natural that our efforts to enhance our natural defence system, that you are our partner,” the Head of State stressed.

This $1 billion project will be implemented by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works. (G-8)

to make sure that Guyana, in its economic development - in the development of the fossil fuel industrystill maintains its high ambition for climate neutrality and for maintenance of your natural riches is something we want to be a part of. And I hope we can elaborate very concrete measures,” the executive vice president added.

Wednesday’s signing was witnessed by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who underscored the importance of environmental protection through climate-smart approaches.

“Our entire policy architecture and our policy framework are geared around ensuring that we are adopting the best environmental practices, and doing everything in a climate-smart way in protecting the environment, advancing our natural attributes of biodiversity. But more importantly, leveraging these natural assets now for improving live-

important source for livelihood activities, such as beekeeping for honey production. To this end, he indicated that Guyana is looking to expand the protected area system for the mangrove forest.

“We have committed to expanding the protected area system from its 8.3 per cent to 17 per cent, then eventually to 30 per cent. And these are targets that we are aggressively working towards. These are targets that are integrated into our planning framework and our policymaking framework,” the Guyanese Leader stated.

Currently, Guyana is home to a forest cover of some 18 million hectares, while its extensive mangrove ecosystems occupy over 200,000 hectares of the coastal region – which is only partly covered. The country’s coastal sea defence system extends over 425 kilometres, with an additional 100 kilometres of earthen embankments

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and First Vice President of the EU, Frans Timmermans signing the €4.6 million agreement to preserve mangroves in Guyana

President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials from the Guyana Government with EU First Vice President Frans Timmermans and his team at the State House in Georgetown on Wednesday evening

Moco Moco to use $24M carbon credit grant to construct supermarket, Industrial Arts Centre

By Tassia Dickenson

The Central Rupununi Village of Moco Moco, nestled near the Kanuku Mountain Range in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), intends to utilise its $24 million carbon credit grant to boost economic activities in the community through the opening of a supermarket and an Industrial Arts Centre.

Toshao George Thomas told INews that the village only recently submitted its plan to the relevant authorities for approval, after which the sums are expect-

ed to be released so community leaders can embark on the projects.

Other plans for the community are: an upgrade of its Youth Centre, and construction of a building to host community meetings.

“One of the things we would like to do is upgrade a Youth Centre we have. We built that a number of years ago for youths to do business in. We did some renovations last year from the COVID-19 Investment Fund. And then now we’re planning to open a mini supermarket that would be run by the youths of the community to build capac-

ity for business and management, and, of course, bring in an income that can be more self-sufficient,” George explained to this publication.

Further, he outlined that the Industrial Arts Centre would feature skills training such as joinery and welding, the new fort would facilitate meetings under better conditions, and the mini supermarket would aid in teaching youths about business, as well as letting them earn an income so they can offset personal expenses.

“Those plans…were submitted to the Ministry,

[and] the Ministry already acknowledged …[We’re] waiting now to get the disbursement. We submitted ours only two weeks ago, and we got our reply (acknowledgment) last week,” George shared.

Moco Moco, home to about 1500 persons, is already a famous tourist destination with the famous Sky Valley Waterfalls. There are 999 stairways to the top of the mountain, but before you reach the top, the Moco Moco Hydro Project sits below. The hydro station was, in July 2003, hit by a mudslide which forced work on the project to be discontinued. Efforts were made to resuscitate the project, but a fire a few years later destroyed the power plant. The building still stands, and is part of the Sky Valley Tours which takes you 999 stairs up.

$4.7B distribution

In February this year, a total of 241 Amerindian communities across the country each received grants ranging from $10M to $35 million. This initiative followed the historic agreement signed with Hess Corporation for

Guyana’s carbon credits in 2022, which will see the country earning US$750 million for its forest. A total of $4.7 billion (US$22.5 million), which represents 15 per cent of Hess’s payment for Guyana’s carbon credits, was disbursed in the various communities.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that a strict mechanism would be followed to ensure accountability and transparency regarding how the funds would be expended. Each community is required to create a separate bank account so the spending of the funds could be properly monitored. Moreover, the community cannot utilise the funds until a finance committee is named and the village development plan is completed and endorsed by the village.

Jagdeo had expressed that the plans should be focused on either empowerment projects in the social sector, job creation, and/or on food security efforts.

More opportunities

With more than half of the carbon sink in Guyana’s vast forest cover still avail-

able, Jagdeo had revealed that Government is now looking at a competitive process to sell the remaining forest carbon.

The Hess deal had come after Guyana was the first country to receive certification of some 33.7 million carbon credits by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) on December 1, 2022.

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 credit will be put on the market for future sale agreements.

Guyana is also one of the few credits in the forestry sector that can now be sold in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) market, which is the compliance market for abating airlines’ emissions.

With Guyana now a leading trader in the global forest carbon market, the Vice President had noted that Government is looking at ways to increase earnings from those transactions.

According to Jagdeo, a significant portion of these earnings would be injected into the development of Indigenous communities across the country.

“If we extrapolate, we will get over US$2 billion earnings from this sector, [of] which significant parts will go to the Indigenous communities –over US$400 million going to the Indigenous communities… That would help to transform the lives of the 240-something villages that are now beneficiaries of this credit… more money than they’ve ever had…,” Jagdeo had explained.

Youths at the recreational ground

Moco Moco Village

“Dedication to Daddy” returns to NCC on Sunday

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Father’s Day cultural extravaganza titled “Dedication to Daddy” will return to the National Cultural Centre on Sunday, June 19, 2023.

Director/Producer of the production, Sheron CadoganTaylor, explained that the musical drama is expected to be the best one yet, as it features exceptional vocalists, talented actors and energetic dancers, all of whose acts are intertwined into an evening of rich entertainment for the entire family.

The performers include Delisha Wright, Jolyan Harry, Mosa Telford, Simone Dowding, Keisha Sam, Marissa Morgan Bonie, Romel Edmondson, Lee Leong, Paul

Budnah, and the Kreative Dance Troupe, among others.

In addition, five fathers will be honoured on the show in appreciation of their steadfastness and dedication to their respective families. Also, as a means of treating the father, a complimentary glass of wine will be given to each male in attendance.

The event is sponsored in part by The Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, Modern Grafix, Hans Landscaping, and the National Communications Network.

The show is expected to get underway at 20:00h. Tickets cost $2000 and $1500, and can be purchased at the NCC box office.

PSC "disappointed" at low voter turnout at LGE 2023

lauds

GECOM for successful hosting of elections

In commending the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the successful conduct of the Local Government Elections last Monday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also shared its disappointment at the low voter turnout.

The PSC, as a GECOMaccredited Local Observer, lauded all the contestants for their participation in a peaceful and successful election. However, citizens were urged to show up at the next elections, and participate in the process of electing their leaders.

The Commission reflected in a statement on Thursday, “The Commission was disappointed at the low turn-out of voters at these elections, and takes this opportunity to encourage every citizen to register and exercise their democratic right to participate in Local Government Elections and, importantly, at the next General and Regional Elections.”

A Command Center was set up to serve as a cen-

tral point of communication for observers across the country. The Commission, in collaboration with AMCHAM Guyana Inc and other representational bodies, witnessed the voting process at polling stations across the country. Reports were received from membership across all the regions where elections were conducted.

The PSC concluded, “The Commission also observed the counting and tabulation processes, and found no significant anomalies during the entire process, apart from, in some cases, the absence of clearly visible signage to assist voters in identifying their polling stations”.

While data on the country’s voter turnout is not yet available, GECOM had disclosed that 47 per cent of eligible ranks from the Disciplined Services had cast their ballots. These ranks had voted earlier on June 12.

Executive Director of the PSC, Ian Chung, had told Guyana Times earlier this week that the smooth process can be credited to the well-trained staff of GECOM. He added, “We found that the staff of GECOM are very knowledgeable of the process. They’re following the process to the T. If there’s any discrepancy, the Presiding Officer is taking control of that. At the end of the day, we’ve had no significant reports.”

The idea was to have a full overview of what was

Lorry driver in deadly LindenSoesdyke Highway accident freed after compensation pact agreed

taking place, and real-time monitoring of all developments.

In the end, a report would be curated and presented, documenting what transpired.

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

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

As stated in section 86(1)(b) and section 93(1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, the Elections Commission is

empowered to appoint local observers for the purpose of observing local government elections. The manner in which local observers are approved is detailed in section 4E of the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 1:03, which replaced section 20 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000.

The families of three victims of an accident that occurred on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on August 3, 2022 have agreed to accept $9 million in compensation from the driver who was behind the wheel of an out-of-control motor lorry.

The driver of that lorry, 48-year-old Shawn Lim of Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the deaths of Michael Edwards of Timehri Base Road, EBD; and Wilfred Phillips and Alicious Squad, both from Pomeroon River communities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The case was being tried by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts.

Guyana Times understands that the charges against Lim have been dropped after each of the

victims’ families accepted $3 million in compensation.

That accident occurred in the vicinity of the Kuru Kuru Cooperative College, and involved motor lorry GNN 4083, which at the time was being driven by Lim. It was reported that the truck, lad-

en with lumber, was proceeding along the SoesdykeLinden Highway when, as alleged by the driver, something ran across the roadway and he swerved left to avoid a collision, but instead lost control of the truck. As a result of his losing control of the vehicle, the left side wheel collided with the barranca, causing the vehicle to topple several times before coming to a halt in a ditch.

The three victims, who were all seated atop the lumber, were pinned thereunder as the vehicle came to a stop. After a few hours had elapsed, the injured men were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where they were pronounced dead.

A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the truck, who escaped with minor bruises, had revealed there was no alcohol in his system.

A scene from the accident that occurred on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway

One of the dead men, Michael Edwards

Port Kaituma voters after casting their ballots for LGE 2023

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU seeking recount in areas lost to PPP/C – Norton

Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has disclosed that that party has requested recounts in some of the Local Authority Areas (LAAs) where it has suffered losses to the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the recent Local Government Elections (LGE).

One such area, according to Norton during a press conference on Thursday, is the Mahdia municipality in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni). In that township, which is traditionally controlled by the PNC-led APNU, the PPP won the majority of votes, with 330, while the Opposition party secured 327 votes. This gives both parties an equal number of seats – two each – from the four constituencies in Mahdia.

“I know they asked for a recount in Mahdia… We were prepared to leave it as is, but…the PPP, in every area that they lost by four or five votes, asked for a recount. If in Mahdia we lost by one vote, why shouldn’t we ask for a recount? And so we’ve asked for a re-

count in that area,” the APNU Leader noted.

Based on results posted on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) website, in Constituency #2 (Mahdia Plateau East), the APNU lost by one vote. The ruling PPP/C obtained 92 votes in that area, while the APNU got 91.

On Wednesday, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM, Vishnu Persaud, indicated to Guyana Times that the Elections Secretariat is currently in the post-election process of dealing with recounts.

He revealed that five requests have been received for a recount – four from the PPP/C, and one from

the APNU for Constituency #4 in Georgetown; that is, the Lamaha Gardens, Newtown Campbellville, Section K Campbellville & Bel Air Park areas. According to GECOM’s results, the PPP/C secured 968 votes against the 937 votes obtained by APNU in Constituency #4, but Norton is claiming that the numbers in this area were inflated.

“The numbers were very, very inflated… There are some miraculous numbers there…,” the APNU Leader has said.

Moreover, the Opposition wants a recount for the Plaisance/Industry LAA, where the APNU won

Albouystown youth freed of 2019 murder

the state was represented by Cicelia Corbin, Simran Gajraj, Rabina Christmas and Madana Rampersaud.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the law firm of Dexter Todd and Associates said the trial commenced on May 30, 2023 and lasted only four days.

the majority constituencies but the PPP/C received more votes in the constituencies in which they were victorious.

“In Plaisance/Industry, we won most of the constituencies. We won five out of nine. [But] having won five out of nine, the PPP was able to come into a tie because they had more in terms of the PR (Proportional Representation) votes. I did say to them that they should seek a recount… but I’m not aware [whether they did],” Norton stated.

Efforts by this newspaper to contact Persaud on Thursday to ascertain whether any additional requests for a recount were made by the APNU were

futile. However, the Chief Elections Officer had related the previous day that the five recount requests that were received by GECOM at that time would be completed by today.

Meanwhile, during Thursday’s press conference, Norton, who is claiming that APNU has made inroads in some PPP strongholds across the country – something which was dismissed by the ruling party -- also highlighted issues regarding seat allocation in some areas from Monday’s local government polls.

However, when questioned about this, the Opposition Leader opted not to elaborate, stating

that the information is still being analysed.

“We’re going to do a comprehensive report on all the areas where there were miscalculations [of seat allocation] etc. We have done some. At present, we have some recounts going on, so I don’t think I should comment on that at this stage,” he posited. Pressed further on the matter, Norton contended, “… at the end of this process, there are still things being done, we are going to give a report on that. I don’t think it’s wise for me to get into details when it’s inconclusive… We have conclusive evidence, and we will issue a complete report…” (G-8)

sacrifices of Enmore Martyrs will not be forgotten – PPP

Twenty-five-yearold Nigel Thomas of James and Victoria Streets, Albouystown, Georgetown, who was on trial for the murder of Kyle Chase, was on Wednesday freed after a jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

The young man was accused of murdering 23-yearold Kyle Chase during a scuffle at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown on December 30, 2019. Seven days later, he was charged and remanded to prison. After a preliminary inquiry, he was admitted to stand trial in the High Court.

It was reported that both Thomas and the late Chase had shared a relationship with a female, and

on the night in question, they were invited over to her house at Mazaruni Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown. While at the house, an argument that broke out between the two men quickly escalated into a scuffle, during which Thomas was allegedly struck in the head, thus rendering him unconscious. He subsequently regained consciousness at the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it was only then that he was informed that Chase had been stabbed.

During the trial, presided over by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the Demerara High Court, Thomas was represented by Dexter Todd, Jevon Cox, and Donette Anthony, while

“Thomas related to the court that he was attacked by the deceased and the deceased’s cousin at his then-girlfriend’s home. He lost consciousness twice, and was unaware of who stabbed the deceased or how he got stabbed. He highlighted to the court that he did not commit the offence, and had no intention of causing any harm to the deceased,” the statement added.

In addition, the release stated that there were no witnesses in the matter who could have contradicted Thomas’s account.

“The witnesses also failed to establish that Thomas had any intention to cause injury to the deceased, or that he actually inflicted the wound,” according to Dexter Todd and Associates.

As such, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the matter, setting Thomas free after he had been incarcerated for over three years.

In reflecting on the killing of the five sugar workers called the Enmore Martyrs, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has pledged to not let their selfless sacrifice be forgotten.

The Party made this commitment on the 75th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs’ shooting. Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Surajballi and Harry lost their lives while fighting for improved working conditions for sugar workers at Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on June 16, 1948.

At the time in 1948, having been strangled by social and economic hardships, the burdensome “cut and load” cane harvesting system, and being deprived of having a union of choice to represent them, sugar workers were forced to mount protest actions after their fair demands were continually ignored by the sugar producers.

However, instead of their demands being met, Riot Police fired on the poor, simple workers killing the five men in the process.

Commemorating their deaths, the PPP, in a statement, reminded of the “… selfless sacrifices of the five slain sugar workers… and the profound relevance of the incident today”.

According to the Party,

the Enmore Martyrs died in their quest for a better life for all the workers, and their struggles and horrific deaths significantly impacted Dr Cheddi Jagan – the founder of the PPP.

“On that unforgettable day of their funerals, he silently pledged to dedicate his life to the cause of the Guyanese people and to free them from bondage and exploitation. Fortified in his belief and determination, he was unrelenting in his struggles for the advancement of Guyana and Guyanese,” the Party said.

Having founded the PPP in 1950, Dr Jagan, despite being incarcerated and deprived of his rights during the decades of his unremitting struggle, never succumbed to the atrocities meted out to him and his followers by the oppressive forces.

“The struggles of the Enmore Martyrs and Dr Jagan were guiding forces during that ominous period when thousands of sugar workers were coldheartedly fired and plunged into economic despair through the politically-motivated closure of estates by the APNU+AFC [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] coalition.”

The PPP pointed out that those sacrifices were a source of inspiration when the

APNU/AFC Government, through its visionless and inept leadership, strangled the Guyanese people through harsh and unjustified economic policies and when, in full view of the world, it shamelessly tried to steal the March 2, 2020 elections in defiance of the will of the Guyanese people.

“Their efforts have imbued in us that profound sense of the value of our freedoms and the need for them to be safeguarded from those with a penchant for totalitarianism and constitutional transgression. The PPP will continue to honour the memory of those martyrs so as to ensure their sacrifices will not be forgotten,” the Party pledged.

In commemoration of the death of Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Surajballi and Harry, a wreath-laying ceremony is customarily held at their gravesites at the Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown. This is followed by another wreath-laying ceremony at the Enmore Martyrs’ monument that was built at Plantation Enmore, ECD in memory of the five martyrs. At the latter event, stakeholders in Government and the labour movement would gather to pay homage and reflect on the sacrifices of these slain sugar workers.

APNU Leader Aubrey Norton

Dead: Kyle Chase Freed murder accused Nigel Thomas

Selfless

Wales Gas-to-Energy Project AG, EEPGL added to court case seeking revocation of Environmental Permit …ruling on substantive matter set for Sept 25

said it has rights accrued or derived from the permit, and, in all fairness, ought to be heard and be able to fully defend its rights to the permit.

In his application, the Attorney General contended, inter alia, that the State has a substantial interest in the decision under challenge, and would be adversely affected by a judgement quashing the permit; that is to say, any order quashing the permit would directly impact the Government of Guyana in its capacity as a party to several contracts under the Gas-to-Energy Project.

of his unique position as the Government’s principal legal advisor, may be privy to relevant facts and information (of which the respondents/ applicants are in no position to speak), and may be able to offer a different, useful, or practical perspective which this Court ought to take into consideration in determining the issue raised,” Justice Sewnarine-Beharry said in her written ruling.

Given the state’s substantial public, economic, and pecuniary interests in the Gas-to-Energy Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry has granted permission for the Attorney General to be added as a party to the case brought by two civil society activists who are seeking revocation of the Environmental Permit issued for that project.

Applications were made by ExxonMobil’s local affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Limited (EEPGL), and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, to be added as parties to the matter filed by Vanda Radzik and Elizabeth Deane-Hughes against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In allowing EEPGL to join the matter on Monday, the Judge held that by being the holder of the permit and the named operator of the project, the company “undoubtedly has an economic interest in this venture; or, to borrow the words of their counsel, ‘a real, substantial and direct interest’ in the subject matter of the proceedings”. Moreover, she

On this issue, he submitted that such a ruling would place the Government in a position of breach in relation to contracts already entered into for the construction of the power plant, and liabilities would likely be attracted under those contracts.

She added, “I find that this in itself counterbalances any delay or prejudice caused to the respondents/ applicants. I therefore find that the AG ought to be given the opportunity to participate fully in the proceedings, and place before the Court for its consideration evidence which he believes will vindicate the state’s interest.”

The parties were given strict timelines for when they must file written submissions, and the Court will deliver its ruling on the substantive matter on September 25.

plication for, inter alia, an Order of Certiorari to quash the decision of the EPA, made on November 25, 2022, to award an Environmental Permit to Esso to undertake the Gas-to-Energy Project and related activities. The project includes, but is not limited to, the installation and operation of riser tieins at two floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels for the supply of gas, subsea equipment and offshore pipeline on ground that the decision was in breach of the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act.

More particularly, they contend that the EPA’s decision is contrary to the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations, and is in excess of jurisdiction because Esso has failed to satisfy or observe conditions or procedures required by law.

The applicants contend that the EPA granted Esso an Environmental Permit in connection with the the Gasto-Energy Project although its application did not fulfill the requirements stipulated in Regulation 17(2)(c)

agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity on the facility, or has the legal right or ability

25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant at Wales.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it can push as much as 120 mscfpd.

The pipeline’s route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre optic cables, and would terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), which would house the gas-to-shore project.

In Budget 2023, the gas-to-energy project received a $43.3 billion allocation, which is in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, which includes construction

According to Nandlall, the public interest and the state’s fiscal interests would be adversely affected, and the state’s developmental trajectory in respect of the generation of low-cost elec tricity and ultimately the re alization of a lower cost of living for Guyanese would be disrupted.

With the state being a party that would be so ad versely affected by the out come of the case, Nandlall argued, the Judicial Review Act and the principles of natural justice aggregate to qualify the state, and the Attorney General as its legal representative and the guardian of the public interest, to be added and to fully participate in the proceedings.

“I find that the AG has demonstrated a sufficient interest to intervene in his capacity as guardian of the public interest. I find further that the AG, because

at-Law Abiola Wong-Inniss appeared for Radzik and Deane-Hughes; Edward Luckhoo, SC, Andrew Pollard, SC, and Attorneyat-Law Eleanor Luckhoo appeared for EEPGL; and the Attorney General appeared in person, along with Assistant Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall and State Counsel Patricia Shepherd and Laurel Dundas.

On March 27, Radzik and Deane-Hughes filed an ap-

(iii) of the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations.

Regulation 17(2)(c)

(iii) of the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations provides that an application for an environmental authorisation must contain: “proof that the applicant either owns the facility or has a lease or other

to conduct the activity without the consent of the landowner or occupier.”

The scope of Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that would run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSO vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately

of an integrated NGL plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales.

The NGL and 300MW power plant components of the gas-to-shore project are meanwhile expected to cost US$759.8 million, and would be financed through sources that include budgets and loan financing.

Investment in this project is in the vicinity of US$1,700,000,000 and includes all associated project costs incurred under respective contracts by the Government, its contractors, operators, and coventurers, according to the Attorney General. (Fiona Morrison)

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

Vanda Radzik

Elizabeth Deane-Hughes

Head of Venezuela's electoral council resigns ahead of 2024 election

commission tasked with organising October primaries to choose a rival for Maduro in the presidential vote said it would request technical assistance from the National Electoral Council.

Brazil to stock up on food, citing inflation concerns

The President of Venezuela's National Electoral Council, Pedro Calzadilla on Thursday announced he would resign along with seven other members, ahead of a 2024 presidential election.

The country's Opposition has long alleged that the Council is biased toward President Nicolás Maduro's ruling party. A majority of the Council's 15 members, including

Calzadilla and the seven others who resigned, are allied with the Government, while just two are allied with the Opposition.

"We have put our posts at the disposition of the National Assembly so they can at once designate a National Electoral Council," Calzadilla said in a statement to Journalists at the Council's headquarters, without taking questions.

The move comes two weeks after the Opposition

"We hope this will not be a scheme to try and generate an impact on the primary and in consequence on the general election," said Dinorah Figuera, the head of the parallel Opposition legislature, in a message to Reuters. She said the Opposition was demanding the process be protected.

A European Union observation mission said after the country's 2021 regional elections that electoral conditions had improved in comparison to the three previous elections.

But the report said structural deficiencies persisted in state resources for campaigning and unequal access to the media, which favours the ruling party.

(Reuters)

Canada to coordinate Haiti aid from Dominican Republic, levies new sanctions

Canada will coordinate an aid operation to Haiti this summer in response to the Caribbean nation's volatile security, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday, while announcing fresh sanctions against a former politician and a famous singer.

Canada will lead the effort from the Dominican Republic, Joly told a ministerial meeting, in a bid to coordinate international aid, including funds, equipment and technical support for the country's embattled Police Force.

Joly did not say why

Iranian

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday, his last stop on a three-nation Latin American tour aimed at shoring up support among Latin American allies saddled, like Iran, by US sanctions.

Raisi told reporters at a trade forum in Havana early on Thursday that Cuba and Iran would seek opportunities to work together in electricity generation, biotechnology, and mining, among other areas.

"The conditions and circumstances in which Cuba and Iran find themselves today have many things in common," Raisi said in a conversation with Cuban President Diaz-Canel. "Every day our relations

Canada would work out of the neighbouring country, which has deported tens of thousands of Haitians fleeing the crisis, but said a team would also work from Haiti's capital Portau-Prince.

Canada will also donate a further US$13 million to United Nations security and anti-corruption projects, she added.

"The situation on the ground is extremely fragile and the needs are immense – they go beyond Canada's or any other country's capacity to address them alone," Joly said, stressing the need for urgent, well-coordinated support.

Haiti's caretaker government has since October requested an international force help its Police fight powerful and heavily-armed gangs who control large parts of the country, fuelling a humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of thousands.

The United States has pushed Ottawa to take a leading role, but countries have been wary of sending troops in support of the unelected government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has in turn said security must be established to hold credible elections.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Top food producer Brazil will start stocking up on food staples, a Government agency said on Thursday, as the leftist Administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva makes good on last year's campaign trail promise to curb food inflation.

In a bid to increase public storage capacity, food supply and statistics agency Conab announced a 34 per cent rise in fees it will pay for Government-accredited warehouse operators, the first increase in six years.

The policy marks a sharp reversal from the previous Government's stance, which never deemed stocking up on food as an option.

"We will go back to making public stocks, which is

essential to fight food inflation," Conab President Edegar Pretto said in a statement. "For that, we first need to expand Conab's accredited network."

Conab said details of the new policy, including budget allocation, food purchase mechanisms and the staples involved will be announced by the Agriculture Ministry at a later date.

Pretto said Conab's own warehouses, as well as those of accredited third parties, will be involved in the effort.

The new policy comes at a time when many countries worry about the impact on consumers of high food costs.

In France, the Government secured a pledge from 75 food companies to cut prices on hun-

dreds of products. In the UK, the Government ditched plans to ask supermarkets to impose a voluntary price cap on basic goods after a backlash from retailers.

In general, food stockpiling is more common in nations where food production is insufficient.

Brazil is a large producer and exporter of soybeans, corn, coffee, sugar, chicken and beef, but has a chronic storage deficit.

Brazil's summer grain production in 2023 outgrew its storage capacity for the time in 20 years.

Historically, the Government buys grains such as corn when prices reach a certain minimum threshold.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

World Bank President hails

Jamaica’s economic health

New World Bank President Ajay

Banga has lauded Jamaica’s current economic health, noting that “your country has managed your macro situation very well”.

“It is not the same for many developing countries, which took on a great deal of debt when interest rates were low, both international and domestic debt,” said Banga who arrived in Jamaica earlier this week.

“The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as part of the G-20 Common Framework, are trying to work through how to restructure some of those debts in a way that makes it more palatable and easier for these countries to work their way through,” he said.

Banga was speaking to Journalists on Wednesday during a tour of the Content Greenhouse Cluster in the central parish of Manchester.

The project involves

the revitalisation of former bauxite lands for agriculture production.

Farmers are engaged in cultivating crops such as cucumber, sweet potato, cabbage, lettuce, hot pepper in greenhouses, supplying hotels, supermarkets and other markets.

It is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment (JSIF) through its Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) and financed by the World Bank. It involves

collaboration with the Windalco Kirkvine/Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Joint Communities Council.

Banga hailed the project and the use of greenhouse technology in helping to build climate resilience.

This, he said, is key, particularly for developing countries, “as just one hurricane could damage your gross domestic product (GDP)… and change everything we see today within three hours”. (Excerpt from CMC)

grow stronger."

Top officials signed administrative agreements vowing to boost cooperation between the countries' Ministries of Justice, and customs agencies, as well as in telecommunications.

Raisi earlier this week visited with leaders of fellow oil-producer Venezuela, where he pledged to ramp up bilateral trade and expand cooperation in petrochemicals. Prior to arriving in Cuba, the Iranian President also met with Nicaragua´s Daniel Ortega in the Central American country.

"Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Iran are among the countries that have had to heroically confront sanctions (...) threats, blockades and interference by Yankee imperialism and its al-

Family of 3, friend escape death after tree falls on car in T&T

Afamily of three and a family friend were said to be still in shock Wednesday night, but thanking God they were still alive, following a freak accident where a tree fell on the car they were in, crushing part of it.

a tree suddenly fell on the vehicle, causing extensive damage to the front windscreen and hood.

The front-seat passenger Geeta Mitchell, 57, Police said, received injuries to her head.

lies with a tenacious resistance," Diaz-Canel told his Iranian counterpart.

"This visit reinforced our conviction that we have in Iran a friendly nation in the Middle East, with which to confide ... and talk about the most complex global issues." (Excerpt from Reuters)

According to an official police report, at about 11:30h Wednesday, Lisa Rampersad, of #87 Tulsa Trace, San Francique Road, Penal, was driving a white Mitsubishi Lancer south along the Uriah Butler Highway, just after the Mount Hope roundabout on the extreme left lane, when

Backseat passenger Amrit Rampersad also received head injuries.

A party of Fire Officers from the San Juan Fire Station responded and cleared the debris.

The fallen tree was among several other trees seen behind the wire fencing of the Nestle factory. It is believed that the tree up-

rooted because of the high winds experienced during the day. The high winds alert which was issued by the Meteorological Office on Tuesday was upgraded to Orange Alert on Wednesday at 11:29h. Speaking with the Guardian Media Wednesday afternoon, a relative confirmed four people were in the vehicle – her aunt, the twin teen boys and a friend.

The relative said her aunt told her she was trying to get around to conduct business when the accident occurred. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

The Director of the National Electoral Council, Pedro Calzadilla

Cuban,

Presidents meet in Havana, vow to confront “Yankee imperialism”

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

New World Bank President Ajay Banga

Around The World OIL NEWS

Russia tries to signal normalcy as Ukraine forces advance

Oil futures up 3% on strong China refinery data, weaker US dollar

Oil prices gained about three per cent to a one-week high on Thursday on a weaker US dollar and a jump in refinery runs in top crude importer China.

Brent futures rose US$2.47, or 3.4 per cent, to settle at US$75.67 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.35, or 3.4 per cent as well, to settle at US$70.62.

Those were the highest closes for Brent and WTI since June 8.

In the United States, the gasoline crack spread, a measure of refining profit margins, rose to its highest since July 2022. US diesel futures , meanwhile, rose about five per cent to their highest since late April.

The oil market drew support from US reports showing retail sales unexpectedly rose in May and higher-than-expected jobless claims last week cut the dollar , to a five-week low versus a basket of other currencies.

A weaker dollar makes crude cheaper for holders of other currencies, which could boost oil demand.

Data on Thursday also showed China's oil refinery throughput rose 15.4 per cent in May from a year earlier, hitting its second highest total on record.

Chinese demand for oil is expected to keep climbing at an assured rate during the second half of the year, said Kuwait Petroleum Corp's chief executive.

"The Chinese refinery numbers started the oil price rally. Then, of course, you have the macro situation with the (US) dollar being down in part because of the US Federal Reserve pause in raising interest rate, while in Europe they are still hiking rates," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

The European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates to a 22-year high as expected on Thursday. It signalled further policy tightening, as it battles high inflation.

"The outlook for economic growth and inflation remains highly uncertain," said ECB President Christine Lagarde.

On Wednesday, the Fed kept interest rates unchanged, but signalled at least a half of a percentage point increase by year end.

Higher interest rates ultimately increase borrowing costs for consumers, which could slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

On the supply side, analysts expect voluntary crude output cuts implemented in May by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies (OPEC+), and by Saudi Arabia in July, to support prices at a time of strong demand.

UBS expects a supply deficit of around 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in June and more than two million bpd in July.

"Once these deficits become visible in on-land oil inventories, we expect oil prices to trend higher," the bank said in a note.

In Iraq, a Turkish energy delegation will meet Iraqi oil officials in Baghdad on June 19 to discuss the resumption of Iraq's northern oil exports, Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister For Upstream Affairs Basim Mohammed told Reuters.

Turkey halted Iraq’s 450,000 bpd of northern exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline on March 25 after an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). (Reuters)

Russia announced plans on Thursday to stage elections in occupied parts of Ukraine in just three months, Moscow's latest bid to signal it is in control even as a Ukrainian counteroffensive has pushed its forces back in some areas.

The Ukrainian assault is in its early stages, and military experts say the decisive battles still lie ahead. But corpses of Russian soldiers and burnt-out armoured vehicles lining the roadside in villages newly recaptured by Ukrainian troops attested to Kyiv's biggest advances since last year.

"Our heroic people, our troops on... the front line are facing very tough resistance," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told NBC News in an interview in Kyiv.

Ukrainian service members check a destroyed Russian BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the front line in the newly-liberated village Storozheve in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 14, 2023 (Reuters/Oleksandr Ratushniak)

"Because for Russia to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say, actually means losing the war."

Zelenskiy said the news from the front lines was "generally positive, but it's very difficult," according to a partial transcript of the interview.

US Government agencies hit in global hacking

spree

Several US federal government agencies have been hit in a global hacking campaign that exploited a vulnerability in widely-used file-transfer software, the nation's cyber watchdog agency said on Thursday.

The statement by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added to a growing list of entities in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries whose systems were infiltrated through the MOVEit Transfer software. The hackers took advantage of a security flaw that its maker, Progress Software, discovered late last month.

"We are working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation," CISA's executive assistant director for cybersecurity, Eric Goldstein said in a statement.

CISA did not identify the US agencies hit or detail the impact on them.

British energy giant Shell, the Johns Hopkins University, the Johns Hopkins Health System and

the University System of Georgia were also hit, they said in separate statements.

Shell spokeswoman Anna Arata said MOVEit Transfer is used by "a small number" of Shell employees and customers.

"There is no evidence of impact to Shell’s core IT systems," she said. "There are around 50 users of the tool, and we are urgently investigating what data may have been impacted."

Johns Hopkins said it was "investigating a recent cybersecurity attack targeting a widely- used software tool that affected our networks, as well as thousands of other large organisations around the world".

The University System of Georgia, which groups about 26 public colleges, said it was "evaluating the scope and severity of this potential data exposure" from the MOVEit hack.

Large organisations including the UK's telecom regulator, British Airways, the BBC and drugstore chain Boots emerged as victims last week. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Continuing his campaign for military assistance, Zelenskiy urged the Swiss Parliament in a video address to allow other States to re-export Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine, saying such a move by the neutral country would be vital.

Reuters reached the vil-

lages of Neskuchne and Storozheve over the past two days, providing the first independent confirmation of the Ukrainian advance several kilometres southwards along the Mokry Yali River into territory Russia had held since the early days of its invasion last year.

Several bodies of Russian soldiers lay in the streets of ruined and depopulated villages. Ukrainian troops in Storozheve told Reuters they had killed around 50 Russians and captured four there.

The Ukrainian military, which had maintained strict silence about the campaign for more than a week, came forward to tout the gains on Thursday, holding its first full media briefing since the counteroffensive began.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Cyclone Biparjoy slows down after making landfall in India

Afew hours after making landfall in India’s Gujarat, the wind speed of Cyclone Biparjoy has decreased to an average of 78 kilometres per hour (48 miles per hour), officials in the Indian state said.

Heavy rains, strong winds, and high tides on Thursday hit India’s Gujarat coast and neighbouring Pakistan, with the two nations evacuating more than 180,000 people to safety be-

Grand jury indicts Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira, Justice Department says

Afederal grand jury has indicted a US Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top-secret military intelligence records online, the Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday.

Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was indicted on six counts of wilful reten-

tion and transmission of classified information relating to national defence, the statement said.

Each charge of unauthorised retention and transmission of national defence information provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to US$250,000, the de-

partment added.

Teixeira is accused of committing one of the most serious US security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010.

He was arrested in April after allegedly posting highly-classified material on the messaging app Discord,

prompting concerns about how a low-level airman could have such broad access to military secrets. Two commanders in his unit were later suspended.

Federal law requires the Government to secure an indictment within 30 days of a person's arrest, and Thursday marked the 30-day deadline.

The leaked documents

held highly-classified information on allies and adversaries, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defences during the Russian invasion to Israel's Mossad spy agency. US President Joe Biden has ordered an investigation into why the alleged leaker had access to the sensitive information. (Excerpt from Reuters)

fore the cyclone made land-

“As per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and local data collectors, the cyclone hit Gujarat at 10pm [17:30 GMT] with a high wind speed of 108kph [67mph], but it is now moving at an average speed of 78 kph [48mph] towards Bujh district close to the border with Pakistan,” Alok Pandey, Relief Commissioner of Gujarat, told reporters.

Biparjoy, which means “disaster” or “calamity” in the Bengali language, was centred in the Arabian Sea 30km (19 miles) off Jakhau port in the western Indian state close to the border with Pakistan, weather officials said.

Before landfall, Biparjoy packed maximum sustained winds of up to 145kph (90mph) while situated approximately 280km (174 miles) from Jakhau port in western India’s Gujarat state.(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A tree uprooted due to strong winds is seen before the arrival of Cyclone Biparjoy in the western state of Gujarat, India [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]

fall.

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Focus on lowering debt. Don't make impulse purchases. Pay attention to looking and feeling your best without breaking the bank. Truth matters; don't say anything if you can't be honest.

(March 21-April 19)

A steady pace will pay off. Be blunt; it will make convincing others to follow your lead easier. Don't take a risk that might slow you down physically. Figure out who is telling the truth.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Adjust whatever isn't working at home. A move, domestic improvement or a change to your living arrangements will help you organize your life and liven up your everyday routine.

Pay attention to what the experts say, and you'll discover how to make the most of what you've got. Use your imagination, and you'll devise a twist that makes your offer stand out.

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Call on someone you trust to help you excel. Handle situations in a professional fashion, and you'll look like a pro. Romance is on the rise. Update your appearance.

Learn from experience, and you'll keep anyone who tries to interfere with your life at a safe distance. A day trip, educational pursuit and open talks will help you make better decisions.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Share information and form close bonds with people heading in a similar direction. There is safety in numbers, and the input you offer and receive will contribute to your success.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Take care of your responsibilities before you move on to pleasurable pastimes. How you deal with situations will determine how others respond to you. Avoid getting into arguments.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You'll gravitate toward people who are vibrant and willing to take a risk. To stay afloat, you'll have to stay focused and in control. Don't let others sidetrack you.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Look for an opening and voice your opinion. Make changes at home that add to your comfort and make you feel like entertaining friends and family. Make an adjustment to how you handle your cash.

Stick to what you know. Don't make promises you'll have trouble keeping. Simplify your life and incorporate a minimalist attitude into your everyday routine. You'll lower debt and ease stress.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Listen and learn. If you talk too much, you'll miss out on information that can help you avoid someone trying to take advantage of you. Keep your money and your thoughts to yourself.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Upper Mazaruni U18 Football Tournament 2023…

Inaugural tournament commences with fireworks

Exciting football action has made its way to Region 7, as the inaugural Upper Mazaruni Under-18 Males Football Tournament 2023, Co-ordinated by D.C. Caesar-Fox Secondary School with support of the Petra Organization, MVP Sports & Trophy Stall, commenced on June 11, 2023.

The tournament started with the customary march past showcasing the six teams set to participate, namely: Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang, Jawalla, Kako and Kaikan (combined). The opening match saw Jawalla starting their campaign with a bang in securing a 1–0 win over Kamarang, with Rickenson Jacobs being the lone goal scorer for Jawalla.

In the concluding match of the day, Waramadong took on Kaikan. Many attempts were made on both goals, but the keepers performed exception-

ally well to keep the match deadlocked after 90 minutes.

Day two of the competition had spectators anxious and tense in supporting their team, as goals came from both sides of the field. In the first match of the day, Waramadong lived up to expectations in capturing a 2-1 victory over Paruima. Paruima’s Mansiz Chambers’s strike in the 13th minute powered its way to the back of the net to give his team an advantage. But an own goal from Xavier Williams in the 13th equalized the game, and thus Waramadong’s confidence grew within just 17 minutes of scoring a banger from Carrinton Isaacs.

An extraordinary performance came from Jawalla in the second game, when they defeated Kako 7-1. Deon Williams started the scoring in the 16th and 33rd, and a double from Lebron Hunter in the 18th and 21st followed.

Didian Hunter, Bevon Jones and Anthonio were not about to miss out on an opportunity to find themselves on the score sheet, with one goal each in the 40th, 41st, and 55th respectively. Eurl Roland was the lone goal-scorer for Kako, with a kick in the 57th from the spot.

Paruima’s Miguel Gonsalves started the scoring in the 20th minute, giving them an advantage over Kaikan in their encounter. Later in the first half, two goals came off the boots of Kimron Thomas in the 30th and 42nd, as Paruima secured a 3-0 win.

Kamarang, in the following game, followed in Paruima’s footsteps in securing a commanding 6–0 win over Kako.

Milton George started the goal scoring in the 10th, followed by a phenomenal double from Raydon Krammer in the 14th and 28th. Keven

Messi's choice to join Inter Miami "personal rather than professional" – Elano

Lionel Messi chose to join Inter Miami in part due to the desire for a quieter life.

That is the view of former Manchester City and Brazil midfielder Elano, who believes Messi made a "personal", not "professional", choice by electing to move to MLS.

Messi confirmed last week that he had decided to leave Europe for the United States, where he will join Miami, who are co-owned by David Beckham. He is departing Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, after two years in the French capital. Barcelona wanted to re-sign the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, but Messi did not wish to wait for his former club to put together a package that might have resulted in other players having to be sold.

Asked by Stats Perform what he thought of Messi's impending MLS switch, Elano said: "Well, I'm not Messi's friend, I don't know him. It's an assumption from a distance. It seems more like a family matter to me. The guy wants to play football, but wants to have a quieter life, to be closer to his kids.

"I'm not saying he doesn't want to be under pressure, because he is Messi and he will never stop being under pressure wherever he is. Because he will always be Messi, one of the greatest players of all time.

"I think it's a personal choice, a family choice, to go to a wonderful place and be able to live there with your family. To have a life project. I don't condemn it.

McCalmont, Delvin Hunter and Collin Hope did not miss out on the scoring, striking the ball to the back of the net in the 40th, 19th, 20th respec-

tively to add one goal each.

The Upper Mazaruni Under-18 Football Tournament was set to conclude on Thursday with the

grand finale and third place playoff. Details on those games will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Guyana Times Sport.

"He has always done well for football where he has been, and it will be no different in the United States. He will do well for his club and for the league. I think it was a more personal choice than a professional one."

Messi is joining a Miami team that are at bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Herons parted company with Phil Neville earlier in June. (Sportsmax)

Players contesting for the ball

A glimpse of the action showcased

Lionel Messi will be moving to Inter Miami

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023

Back where it all started…

Rutherford returns to Canada for Global T20

By Brandon Corlette

Twenty-four-year-old Guyanese cricketer

Sherfane Rutherford is returning to Canada for the 2023 Global T20, which starts on July 20 and concludes on August 6 in Ontario.

Rutherford is no stranger to the Global T20. He blasted a century in 2018 while playing for the West Indies B team, and from since become a recognized T20 star playing in the Indian Premier League, the Pakistan Super League, and the Caribbean Premier League.

Rutherford suffered an injury at the ILT20, but has recovered and is likely to feature at the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League. He was retained by the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Rutherford has said: "I am great now, and eager to be back on the field."

This left-handed batsman who hails from Enmore, ECD was the third highest run-getter at the 2018 tournament in Canada with 230

runs to his name. It included a mind-boggling 134 not out from 66 balls, which is by far the highest individual score in the League.

Besides Rutherford, Andre Russell and Chris Gayle are among the marquee players drafted for the 2023 edition of the Global T20 Canada.

Russell has signed to play for Montreal Tigers, and will play alongside Shakib al Hasan, Sherfane Rutherford, Carlos Brathwaite and Zahir Khan.

Gayle, meanwhile, will suit up for Mississauga Panthers where his power-hitting skills will be complemented by the likes of Shoaib Malik, James Neesham and Cameron Delport.

The other teams in the Global T20 Canada are the Surrey Tigers, Brampton Wolves, Vancouver Knights and Toronto Nationals.

Global T20 Canada 2023

Squad: Full team lists and marquee players

Brampton Wolves: Harbhajan Singh, Colin De Grandhomme, Tim Southee,

Mark Sinclair Chapman, Usama Mir, Hussain Talat, Usman Khan, Logan Van Beek, Jan Nicolaas Frylinck, Max O Dowd, Jeremy Gordon, Aaron Johnson, Rizwan Cheema, Shahid Ahmadzai, Rishiv Joshi, Gurpal Singh Sandhu. Coach: Shane Bond

Montreal Tigers: Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Lynn, Sherfane Rutherford, Carlos Brathwaite, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Zahir Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Akif Raja, Aayan Khan, Dipendra Airee, Kaleem Sana, Srimantha Wijeratne, Matthew Spoors, Bhupendra Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Anoop Chima. Coach: Dav Whatmore

Mississauga Panthers: Shoaib Malik, Chris Gayle, Azam Khan, James Neesham, Cameron Scott Delport, Shahnawaz Dahani, Zahoor Khan, Tom Cooper, Cecil Pervez, Jaskarandeep Singh Buttar, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nikhil Dutta, Shreyas Movva, Praveen Kumar, Mihir Patel, Ethan Gibson. Coach: Lance

Klusener

Surrey Jaguars: Alex Hales, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Behrendorff, Litton Kumar Das, Karim Janat, Mohammad Haris, Sheel Patel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Jatinder Singh, Ayaan Khan, Bernard Scholtz, Pargat Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Ammar Khalid, Sunny Matharu, Kairav Sharma.

Coach: Lalchand Rajput

Toronto Nationals: Colin Munro, Shahid Afridi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zaman Khan, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Hamza Tariq, Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, Saad Bin Zafar, Farhan Malik, Nicholas Kirton, Armaan Kapoor, Sarmad Anwar, Rommel Shahzad, Udhaya Bhagwan. Coach: Aaqib

Javed

Vancouver Knights: Mohammad Rizwan, Rassie van der Dussen, Naveenul-Haq, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Najibullah Zadran, Junaid Siddiqui,

Vriitya Aravind, Karthik Meiyappan, Ruben Trumpelmann, Ravinderpal Singh, Harsh Thaker, Rayyan Pathan,

Golden Jaguars building next generation of stars

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) continues to invest heavily in the senior men’s national team, Golden Jaguars, especially regarding their preparation for the upcoming Gold

Cup Preliminaries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

To build a strong core and develop a fluid transition of players in the blossoming programme, the Jaguars’ management, in executing the vision of the

GFF, invited Marcus Tudor and Brandon Solomon to their training camp in Jamaica.

The Golden Jaguars were encamped at the Jamaica Football Federation Technical

Centre in Kingston from May 26–June 4. The two are attending St. Jago High School, compliments of a scholarship from the GFF.

St. Jago High is a secondary coeducational institution founded in 1744. It is renowned for graduating some of Jamaica’s senior military officers, academic scholars, performing artists, and globally known sportsmen and women.

Speaking to GFF Media in Kingston, the duo thanked the management for inviting them to the trails, and noted, “We have learnt a lot about what it takes to play at the senior level. It was a great opportunity to train with the guys who we look up to, and hopefully can fill their shoes one day.”

Assistant Coach Wayne Dover commended the players for their discipline and attitude towards learning in the sessions.

“You guys have shown a great passion for learning about improving and playing international football. It is now for you to continue working on your game and keep the commitment and desire to represent your country as you have done at the youth level”, Dover stated.

At the Golden Jaguars’ second phase of encampment, from June 5–14 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, some youth players from the diaspora trained with the senior players and showed promising signs.

The Golden Jaguars are in Florida preparing to face Grenada on June 17 at the DRV PNK Stadium from 21:00h.

A win would place them

one step closer to returning to the main draw of the Gold Cup, as they would then play the victor of Guadalupe vs Antigua and Barbuda on June 20, to seal a spot in Group D alongside Canada, Guatemala and Cuba.

Muhammad Kamal, Nawab Singh,

Kanwar Tathgur. Coach: Donovan Miller.

Rutherford last played at the ILT20, where he sustained an injury with the Desert Vipers

Sherfane Rutherford was a member of the Mumbai Indians team when they won the IPL

Brandon Solomon

Golden Jaguars Assistant Coach Wayne Dover

Marcus Tudor

CPL & WCPL 2023 tickets now on sale online

T

ickets for the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) matches are now on sale. The 2023 CPL season gets underway on 16 August, and the WCPL starts on 31 August.The WCPL matches in Barbados and Trinidad will be double-headers with the games featuring the home team from the Men’s CPL, giving ticket holders for these matches more action to watch, and even better value.

With CPL having set another viewership record in 2022 with a total viewership of over 700 million, the interest in the tournament has never been higher. This,

L

Batting first, West Indies posted 374-9 in 50 overs. Powell slammed 105 from 55 balls, while Nicholas Pooran made 74. Guyanese Keemo Paul also chipped in with 54 as the West Indies batsmen had a good time in the middle.

In reply, West Indies restricted the UAE to 260-9 in 50 overs. Yannic Cariah was again the star bowler with four wickets for 58 runs. Basil Hameed slammed an unbeaten 122 for the UAE. In addition to Cariah, Jason Holder had 2-26, while Romario Shepherd, Kyle Mayers and Akeal Hosein each had one wicket.

After the match, Powell spoke to Cricket West Indies media and said he was pleased to get warmed for

Tickets have been made available online, while box offices will be opened in the next few weeks

combined with the return of matches to Barbados for the first time since 2019, means this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever.

At present, tickets are available for purchase on-

G

line, with box offices opening in the next few weeks, and with more details on these opening times and locations coming soon.

Tickets are on sale at www.cplt20.com (CPLT20)

uyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars will embark on their Gold Cup 2023 campaign tomorrow as they take on Grenada’s Spice Boys at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Though physically absent from proceedings in Florida, Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz is content with the work the team have put in thus far. The Head Coach shared in a media briefing on Thursday, “I felt the players could’ve come in with more, but we had to appreciate that, particularly the boys coming out of the UK, they had a long season and they had to get some rest and some vacation. That being said, having seen all the sessions on video, I think they guys have pushed, they’ve worked hard.

“We still have some niggles and knocks, so I feel that we’re still 2-3 away from what could be the performance that we really want.

tion.

selects itself.

ed by a Rovman Powell century, West Indies have defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 114 runs in their final warm-up match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.Rovman Powell

“So, it’s a work in progress. They guys have accepted the challenge; everybody seems to be pushing and giving of their best. Of course, it’s a competitive environment and everybody wants to be in the starting team,” Shabazz added.

With the 23-man squad already determined, focus is now shifted to the starting XI that would kick off Guyana’s campaign against Grenada. On this topic, the Head Coach said discussions surrounding the XI have been had, but the team essentially

“We discussed some things on a broader base circling around 13-14 players, but when it comes down to crunch time, I think we’re not far away,” Shabazz noted. The Golden Jags Head Coach went on to state, “We like to say that the team selects itself, and it really does, based on attitude, based on motivation, based on injury, based on form, based on tactics. You know, all those things end up in the pot, and somehow or the other it selects itself; and we like the headache that we have.

“We’re happy for the inclusion of the last three players to come in: Marcus Simmons, Jonny Grant and Omari Glasgow, and we’re happy with the work that skipper Sam Cox and some of the senior guys have done,” he added.

Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, who is with the team, highlighted the importance of the Shabazz input in the selec-

“We do our diligence in terms of how we assess the players, both physical and health- wise, as well as the tactics; and all of our assessments, we sat together daily and we take it to the Head Coach, who would’ve been appraised daily as to what is the situation,” Dover expressed.

The Assistant Coach further stated, “Hence the reason, I’m still saying to the public that he is integral in this whole process of team selection and first-eleven selection. So, his physical presence is one thing, but he’s still present here.”

The Golden Jaguars will look horns with the Spice Boys from 21:00hrs on Saturday for a chance to inch closer to the Gold Cup group stage. Should they come out successful from that encounter, they will go on to face the winner of an Antigua vs Guadeloupe clash, in order to seal a Gold Cup Group spot.

(Jemima

Holmes)

IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships…

West Indies Innings B King c Waseem b Jawadullah 16 K Mayers c De Zouza b Jawadullah 33 S Brooks c Aravind b Jawadullah 4 J Charles lbw Khan 30 N Pooran lbw Naseer K Carty c Sharma b Meiyappan 24 R Powell c Waseem b Sharma 105 J Holder c&b Meiyappan 0 K Paul c Mustapha b Khan 54 A Hosein not out 5 Cariah not out 4 Extras 23 Total 374-9 (50) FOW: 28-1, 50-2, 67-3, 114-4, 1965, 198-6, 198-7, 337-8, 370-9 Bowling J Siddique 8-0-52-0 M Jawadullah 8-0-50-3 Z Khan 10-0-58-1 A Naseer 4-0-23-1 B Hameed 4-0-30-0 A Khan 8-2-37-1 R Mustafa 1-0-14-0 K Meiyappan 6-1-51-2 S Sharma 1-9-18-1 UAE Innings M Waseem c Powell b Shepherd 27 A Khan c Chase b Mayers 1 V Aravind c Hosein b Cariah 54 B Hameed not out 122 R Shazad c Powell b Hosein 13 E D Souza c Chase b Holder 12 A Naseer c Powell b Holder 9 A Khan c Mayers b Cariah 3 A Sharma c Powell b Cariah 0 S Sharma c Chase b Cariah 2 K Meiyappan not out 0 Extras 17 Total 260-9 (50) FOW: 3-1, 41-2, 125-3, 156-4, 189-5, 203-6, 216-7, 216-8, 232-9, Bowling J Holder 7-1-26-2 K Mayers 5-0-28-1 R Shepherd 7-1-23-1 A Joseph 7-1-16-0 A Hosein 8-0-38-1 Y Cariah 10-0-58-4 R Chase 5-0-31-0 N Pooran 1-0-28-0

the World Cup Qualifiers.

"Yes, it is very important to score runs before the big show. Runs come with confidence. I think it was a proper innings, I started slow, and I gave myself some time, something I wanted to do for a while now. It is now for me to replicate that. It is a good batting pitch, not a lot of movement. Our chances (to win the World Cup (are) as good as any. Once we play good cricket for long periods, we should be okay," Powell told CWI media.

West Indies will now focus on their opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, against the United States of America on Sunday, June 18.

Setto take on the best in the world today at the IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in St Julians, Malta, Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ PettersonGriffith’s attendance is owed to many entities and individuals.

One such entity is a longtime supporter of sports, Fitness Express, located at John and Sheriff Street, Campbelville. Manager Jamie McDonald, who also assisted Petterson-Griffith with his monthly supply of supplements leading up to these prestigious championships, has said he is very pleased to see the leading Guyanese strongman again going after glory for himself and the nation.

“Carlos is a fierce and disciplined competitor, who deserves this chance at the highest level due to his con-

Manager of Fitness Express, Jamie McDonald, handing over protein powder to Carlos Petterson-Griffith

sistent achievements over the years. We here at Fitness Express are more than delighted to be supporting this phenomenal athlete. We know that he’ll do his best, and we, as Guyanese, would all be proud of him.”

to Malta have come from the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.; National Sports Commission, Guyana Olympic Association, MVP Sports, Superior Concrete, Space Gym, and other private supporters.

Powell warms up with century as West Indies crush UAE

Nicholas Pooran

“The team will select itself”

– Shabazz says about XI to face Grenada

Fitness Express lifts with Petterson-Griffith

Another look at the Golden Jaguars training camp in Florida

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz has said "The team will select itself" based on performance of the Golden Jaguars’ players

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers…