Guyana Times -Friday, June 30, 2023

Eid Salah (morning prayers for Eid-ul-Adha) at the Leonora Sunnatul Masjid, West Coast Demera and at Darul Uloom Masjid in East Street, Georgetown. President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips and Public Service Minister Sonia Parag, joined in prayers at the masjids (Office of the President and Prime Minister photos)

Declare assets to Integrity Commission or leave job – Govt tells defaulting officials

Many senior Government servants and officials have been flagged for failing to submit their declarations to the Integrity Commission, and Government has taken a stance that, should those persons remain incompliant, they would be asked to leave their jobs.

Making this disclosure was Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in an interview on Thursday.

President Irfaan Ali has asked ministers to ensure that those officials work-

ing under them submit their statements to the Integrity Commission within a given timeframe. He has posited, “They would have to leave their job. The President has made it very clear that this is the approach…They have to comply, or leave their job. That’s the law. You don’t have the right to pick and choose which law you will comply with. That’s the law of our country.”

While all the Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Government’s side are in compliance, several current

and former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

Members of Parliament (MPs) were among the officials whose names the Integrity Commission had cause to publicise for not complying with the law of declaring their assets.

Jagdeo commented, “Now, one would think that since they preach accountability, now they’re Opposition and they’re still continuing with the same thing. Ten of their Members of Parliament did not sub-

mit their statements to the Integrity Commission. All of ours did.

“APNU could paint a picture and deflect attention from their own shortcomings and, in this case, corruption. That is what has been happening. They had a really sordid history in Government of accountability.”

The declarations track the growth of a person’s assets once they assume public office, allowing for accountability. Under the law, any public officer who fails to comply with this directive is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for a period of not less than six months, and not more than one year.

Among the Opposition MPs finding themselves on the wrong side of the Integrity Commission were former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon; current AFC Leader and MP, Khemraj Ramjattan; Sherod Duncan, another AFC MP; APNU MP and People’s National Congress (PNC) General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams; APNU MP and former Minister of Health Dr Karen Cummings; and former MP and Minister of Education Dr Nicolette Henry.

The list of civil servants is an extensive one, as it spans a number of Ministries and

Departments. Among the most-high-profile names on the list are Guyana’s Solicitor General Nigel Hawke; Head of the Local Content Secretariat, Martin Pertab; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Arvind Parag; Public Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud; Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh; Ambassador to China, Choo An Yin; and Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), George Talbot.

Misinformation

On Wednesday, the Integrity Commission addressed misinformation circulating in the public domain regarding the recent publication of the Defaulters List for specified officers who did not submit their 2022 declarations by June 16, 2023. It explained that the Defaulters List published on June 24 accurately reflected the information available up to June 14, and included those specified officers who failed to meet the declaration submission deadline.

“The Integrity Commission diligently followed its established procedures to inform specified officers of their obligation to

submit their declarations, including sending declaration packages, extending submission dates, dispatching reminder letters, and publishing a paid reminder advertisement to emphasize the deadline,” a statement outlined.

The declaration submission deadline for the year 2022 (1st July 2021 to 30th June, 2022) was August 31, 2022, and a further extension was given to December 31, 2022.

Specific officers who failed to submit their declarations by June 16, 2023 were appropriately listed as defaulters, as mandated by the Commission’s Act, No, 20 of 1997.

“Declarants who submitted after the cutoff period are now misguiding the public by implying that their compliance was not recognized. The Commission is currently in the process of updating the records to include the declarations received after June 16, 2023. A revised list will be prepared as part of the second phase of the Commission's mandate,” it added.

The Commission has embraced the opportunity to remind persons of the importance of submitting declarations in a timely manner, to avoid being published as defaulters. (G12)

Robbery accused jailed for escaping from Police station

Two men have been charged with the offence of robbery with aggravation, committed on June 11 at Camp

and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, when they snatched from Police Lance Corporal Ronald Torres a gold chain valued at $150,000 while he was walking along Camp Street.

One of them, who faced an additional charge for escaping from lawful custody, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment after admitting guilt.

William Goodasaul, 20, of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and Keyambo Jarvis are accused of this robbery. In the prosecution’s short facts to the court, it was disclosed that Goodasaul and the cop are known to each other. On the day in question, the Policeman was walking along Camp Street when he was attacked by the duo and relieved of the chain he was wearing.

The Police Prosecutor objected to the duo being granted bail by citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and by pointing out that Goodasaul had previously thrice been charged with the offence of robbery. These objections were upheld by the magistrate, and the defendants were remanded to prison until next month.

Concerning the separate charge Jarvis faced for escaping from lawful custody, it was disclosed that while in custody on June 14 at the Brickdam Police Station, pending investigations into the robbery allegation, Jarvis escaped, but was later recaptured.

He pleaded guilty to this charge, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. (G1)

William Goodasaul

Keyambo Jarvis

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 30 – 02:00h-03:30h and Saturday, July 1 –02:30h-04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, June 30 – 13:45h-15:15h and Saturday, July 1 –14:50h-16:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected in the morning and evening hours. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Southerly between 1.34 metres and 2.23 metres.

High Tide: 14:08h reaching a maximum height of 2.40 metres.

Low Tide: 07:38h and 19:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metre and 0.80 metre.

Govt will push to uncover illegal land deals in Georgetown – VP

…similar instances in Plaisance to be audited

showing that the People’s National Congress Reformcontrolled Georgetown City Council had, in 2021, granted almost 4000 square feet of land to the PNCR through a representative of the party.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

With eleven People’s Progressive Party (PPP) councillors expected to take up seats in the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Government is aiming to uncover alleged illegal transactions to sell city lands.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed on Thursday that one of the major concerns is the lack of transparency at the Opposition-controlled Georgetown municipality. He mentioned instances where city lands were allegedly sold in secrecy to businesses. Pushing heavily for such to be uncovered, he said they are also working on ensuring that tax waivers are dealt with following due process and in a transparent manner.

“We will be pushing heavily our 11 councillors in there to livestream the proceedings. I hope they will accept livestreaming City Hall proceedings. Secondly, we want to find out about all the land deals

in the city. We want anybody who wants to have a waiver of their taxes, it must be done through a transparent, open process; not the mayor and a group of councillors negotiating with a group of business-

The lease, which was signed and took effect on January 28, 2021, was signed between acting Town Clerk Julian Orgista and PNCR Chairperson (Agricola) Elizabeth Williams-Niles as the lessee for 3877 square feet of land at Plantation Rome (East Bank Demerara).

According to the terms and conditions of the lease, PNCR would hold the lease for 99 years from January 2021 until December 31,

years.

Jagdeo opined that in any democratic organ, where questions are publicly raised about lack of accountability, there should be an audit. Government is seeking to have same done at the Industry/ Plaisance Neigbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), where such land issues also surfaced.

“In this case, we’ve had at least three instances where there were complaints about the sale of land in Plaisance by the NDC that were in the newspapers. So, I think it is only fair that the people in this NDC, that they see exactly what happened, the best thing to do is have an audit,” he asserted.

men,” he detailed. Apart from land sales, he said, leases have been granted in several questionable arrangements. Just a few months ago, documents came to light

2119, with an option to renew it for another 99 years upon giving notice to City Council. They would pay an annual sum of $20,000 to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for the first five

In the Local Government Elections of 2023, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) tied with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in an unlikely place -- in the Local Authority Area (LAA) of Industry/Plaisance. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had admitted last year that the Government is still in the process of coming to grips with all the land that the former APNU/AFC Government sold to friends and family while in office. He had made it clear, however, that even as the Government takes stock of the land sold out, it would continue to make an effort to recover those lands.

(G12)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Success after sacrifice

Throughout civilisation, mankind has been making sacrifices for personal and societal advancement. Here, in Guyana, our history is inundated with stories about selfless sacrifices by Guyanese foreparents as they laboured in search of betterment for the generation following them. That cycle continues, and today none can dispute that parents want the best for their children; a desire they would pursue with unwavering commitment. These are not mere words, but are values inherent in parenthood, as exemplified by the untold and sometimes unrecognised sacrifices they make as that sense of responsibility through hard work remains. It is not without its difficulties, more so for some than for others. However, on the average, many, locally and across the globe, have unfortunate commonalities which are driven by financial challenges. Despite this, parents and guardians remain steadfast to that responsibility of steering their children towards opportunities for societal upliftment.

This is more profound in the provision of education, and will continue to be something on which they will not compromise while often masking their sacrifices and formidable challenges with a protective smile. That smile, which hides the pain over the years, becomes one of unbridled joy when success is finally achieved, as will be evident next Friday after the announcement of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and, in a matter of weeks after that, the results of CSEC and CAPE.

For those whose achievements will propel them into the national spotlight, their academic brilliance will become added inspiration for those who will subsequently strive to emulate them. Importantly for those whose parents or guardians had battled against the odds for their realisation, the achievements embody the many elements of their sacrifices as they become overtaken by pride and tears of joy.

That feeling of success unfolding buries the uncertainty of the outcome which might have prevailed during the process. Not only parents make sacrifices, but the students too. While they may pale in comparison, when the students speak of their own sacrifices consciously made in a world that is not short of lure and distraction, some are quite aware of what their parents faced in the process, and often that in itself galvanises and intensifies the efforts for a successful outcome, bringing added value to it.

Despite the results, all must, therefore, be commended; students, parents, guardians, teachers and all those who contributed. In addition to the sacrifices and the hard work, the success took commitment, diligence, and the ability to remain focused. The pride transcends that circle, and is felt by all, as those once unknown to the masses are catapulted into the national glare.

However, there will still be much distance to travel for the final dreams to be realised. Much may not change in terms of what it will take. If anything, something may be added – the weight of the expectation of a nation.

As these young and brilliant minds step into the next phase of their academic life, those who will not make it into the spotlight must not be forgotten. Many, and those around them, would have made similar sacrifices with similar dreams. It’s a natural part of life, and they will also be entering another phase. They must be encouraged, and not belittled. They must be inspired, and not disappointed in the success of their peers; for new opportunities would beckon.

The results will be analysed with the hope that strategic interventions be made to close existing gaps for the success to be holistic. While the nation will once again exude pride over sterling academic achievements, there have been concerns over the years about the disparity that exists and worrying pass rates in the pertinent subjects.

As the world continues in its technological evolution and as competitiveness heightens, all will need to be adequately prepared as they inevitably enter the work sphere. This in itself dictates holistic preparation with an aim at increasing that success base to meet growing demands of this competitive environment. A practical mechanism that can help improve the national results would, therefore, have to be quickly derived and implemented. While there will be related challenges, the process of helping to derive that mechanism cannot be delayed.

It will necessitate the involvement of all, with cognisance of the stark realities. A crucial component is the teachers. They also sacrifice, have their fair share of challenges, and with some being parents with obvious dreams and aspirations, their challenges will be further exacerbated. For the process to derive wider positive results, it will take, among other things, unfettered commitment by those in charge to ensure the provision of adequate resources.

Naturally, teachers will need to feel a sense of comfort, so that their commitment would be adequately rewarded. In the end, for that pride to be sustained, the commitment to success must also be made by all policy makers as well.

Reparation, crime, and education

By Jason McKay

Dont let the title fool you.

I am not about to tell you that if the Europeans paid the descendants of African slaves reparation tomorrow it would prevent the creation of more criminals or change the ones we have.

I would not say this because so many descendants of enslaved Africans have risen out of the shadow of that holocaust and have achieved and flourished without reparation.

I also acknowledge that a per-person payment in the Pan American region, based on the percentage of African blood, is impossible.

I would, however, maintain that if a specific form of reparation were paid, things could change exponentially for the future. Let me explain.

The primary commonality of most criminals I interview, arrest, or release is not that they are evil — it's that they are simple. This is as kindly as I can say it.

I could say that they are dunces, stupid, and downright bewildered, but that wouldn't sound professional. Their state is a result of the fact that they come from households of persons with like limitations, and their schooling is not consistent enough to impact their progress in any great way.

Reparation could change that by way of a settlement that commits enough money to ensure that the education of the next generation is not dependent on parents. I call this system that I am suggesting the Gore Family Foundation model.

This organisation has, for years, been running a programme that teaches young adults from inner-city communities practical trades and workplace skills.

What makes their programme unique is that the students don't have to provide any resources to make it happen. They are transported, fed, uniformed, supplied the necessary equipment and textbooks, and paid a stipend. Therefore, the programme cuts out the need for parental input in the equation. It also negates interference from the area don and the preying uncle. The student just has to turn up at the pickup point.

To understand why this mod-

el is the only one that will really change the culture of the subset of the poor who becomes the gangsters, you must understand why our education system has failed.

Our education system is too dependent on parents, many of whom are victims of generational poverty, inconsistent education, and an economic reality defined by want.

Educating a young mind requires nutrition, quality teachers and, most importantly, consistent attendance.

In Jamaica, the students who achieve are usually greatly assisted by motivated parents who sacrifice to support the effort.

Many students, however, don't have this resource at their disposal so they attend sporadically, at best.

The "Gore model" I speak of reduces the dependence on the parent. We will literally have to move to a system where children are actually picked up in communities and transported to their schools. We will need to pay for their uniforms and books and provide their lunches. This is necessary, but also monstrously expensive.

Reparation could pay for this. Reparation should pay for this.

You see, the horror of the non-payment of any settlement is not that the victim goes without compensation, but rather that the offender acknowledges no guilt. It's like saying, "My Government did nothing wrong."

There is a disturbing psychological effect on any person who sees himself as unique and belittled because he alone was not compensated for a wrong done to him or his foreparents.

European Jews, Japanese Americans, and native Americans have all been compensated in significant ways for the horrors their predecessors suffered, as they should have been — they were greatly wronged.

The failure to pay any form of compensation to the descendants of African slaves is at best puzzling, and at worst terribly dishonest. This is not limited to England, although they had the greatest contribution to the mess we are in. Belgium's atrocities in the Congo are a horror story of epic proportion. France and its history in Haiti also needs to be included.

Haiti was paying France for

freedom until 1947 —and Haiti's slaves evicted them in 1803. This is half the reason for Haiti's present situation.

The money needs to be returned. It is tantamount to ill-gotten gains.

Belgium needs to pay for its pillaging of The Congo and the human rights violations committed in that country.

England needs to acknowledge the impact that the transatlantic slave trade had on the wealth of their country, accept that it was wrong, and pay for it. This is reasonable. This is also doable in the British West Indies if done in the way I am suggesting.

This is a cause that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) should embrace. It is far more useful than banning the licensing of a type of gun that no civilian in the Caribbean currently is granted to use or will likely ever legally own. This is real.

It would be easiest to start with France. Why? Because they were collecting the Haitian extortion fees up to recent times, relatively speaking.

France is not likely to contest it either as it's not a defendable cause. It's not something that a modern democratic country wants to debate on a public platform. This could get the ball rolling.

It would be easier to win this if we could force Britain into a public defence of its decision not to pay also, but we would need the Haitian precedent to start with.

It's important to start, though.

I'm honestly not sure if the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) could be involved as there are signatory and membership issues.

You may remember that I made reference to the failure of Jamaica's educational system. This will be debated by many who will highlight scholarship winners and schools with entire graduating classes in possession of five passes or more in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. That is not statistical analysis, it is marketing.

If you look at how many of the 40,000 students who sit a high school entrance examination annually compare to the number who pass five CSEC subjects or more five years later, the results

would horrify you.

Over 70 per cent of candidates pass entrance examinations, but less than 40 per cent achieve five CSEC passes or more as high scoolers. What is not understood is that eight per cent of high school students don't ever complete the five-year programme. Many also sit City and Guilds vocational examinations or the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) programme. A primary indicator of how much trouble we are in is the way the call centre industry dried up all available labour force with even two CSEC subjects or more.

Then when they dipped their standards further it caused a shortage: first of security guards and then of the fast food labour force, and then the labour intensive segment of the tourism industry.

So we have a shortage of labour whist still having an unemployment issue. Odd, isn't it?

Well the reason is those currently unemployed are either unemployable or don't know how to get a job.

By unemployable I mean they are illiterate or criminals, or likely unable to be supervised.

Not knowing how to get a job is real. I once interviewed 100 males between ages 18 and 35 who had stated they were unemployed. They all claimed they couldn't find a job. However, not one of them had ever applied for one.

Then there is that set who are also just lazy and prefer to smoke marijuana all day than to work. The abuse of that narcotic also makes them unemployable.

If I'm not mistaken, the purpose of the educational system is to provide a workforce for the country's industries.

Our educational system has clearly not done so if we cannot furnish the demand for labour wherein eligible candidates only need to complete secondary school with minimum qualification.

So in closing, we need a new approach that does not involve parental resources. Therefore, we need to find out 'who owe we'.

Then we need to cast our eyes to the chain land … I mean the Motherland, and tell them to pay their debts. (Jamaica Observer)

Muslim worshippers reaching for a blessing while they touch the Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham), as they gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia (AFP photo)

Has PPP/C made significant inroads into APNU stronghold of Georgetown?

Dear Editor, The PPPC had infused LGE 2023 with a vibrancy unparalleled in Guyana’s history. Guided by their unifying philosophy of ‘One Guyana’ (founded upon core principles of diversity, inclusion, fairness, and rejection of racism), which has become the cornerstone for both central and local governments, the PPPC believe that this approach has given impetus to their vision of progress, development, and prosperity for all Guyanese.

The PPPC’s LGE 2023 campaign was designed not only to enumerate the tangible benefits of their unifying philosophy, but also to utilise their people-oriented and pro-growth/development approach to make electoral inroads, particularly in the APNU strongholds of Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and Linden.

The PPPC’s performance at LGE 2023 did rattle the nerves of APNU

operatives, as they learnt that the PPPC have secured important electoral gains in their (APNU’s) strongholds of Georgetown and New Amsterdam, and to a lesser extent in Linden. The PPPC, for example, have increased their proportion of total valid votes from 7.8% (or 402) in 2028 to 23.5% (or 2,464) in 2023, compared with APNU’s increase in proportion from 70.3% (or 3,606) in 2028 to 76.5% (or 8002) in 2023. The relative gain of the PPPC is significant and the party believe that, by receiving 6 times more votes in 2023 than in 2018, in addition to having 2 PR seats on the City Council, they have now positioned themselves to expand their reach in Linden.

For this analysis, however, focus is given exclusively to the LAA (Local Authority Area) of Georgetown. The stakes are high: the Mayor and City Council have had no

sharp vision for the City’s development, and have allowed it to deteriorate. Recognizing the crucial role that the country’s capital city must play in the transformation of Guyana, the PPPC Government had to intervene to arrest its downward slide through a combination of projects in construction/rehabilitation of roads, improvement of drainage, creation of new parks, beautification projects, etc.

The PPPC reckon that if they win Georgetown, it would be easier to transition it into a modern city. They invested substantial time and resources to woo voters to support their agenda and vote for them.

They utilized their new governance model (taking government to the people) and extolled their citywide accomplishments, noting that they have fulfilled all their 2020 election campaign promises. In addition, their mantra

of diversity, inclusion, and fairness resonated well with citizens. The PPPC felt that their approach has helped to allay fears of ethnic insecurity and led to the development of trust among many voters who had traditionally supported and voted for APNU.

How did these attributes play among voters? There was an increase in voter turn-out rate (VTR) by 3% (from 24% in 2018 to 27% in 2023) which, based on the results, suggests that the increase in VTR benefitted the PPPC more than APNU. Of note is that the VTR varied among the 15 constituencies. The PPPC received 4 more seats (2 constituency and 2 PR) than they had in LGE 2018. The PPPC now have 11 seats at the City Council (5 constituency and 6 PR). The PPPC’s proportion of total votes in Georgetown

increased from 24.8% (or 7,050) to 36.7% (or 12,553), compared with a decline in proportion for APNU, from 63.7% (or 18,127) in 2018 to 60.9% (or 20,839) in 2023.

While the PPPC won 67 (83.7%) of 80 LAAs countrywide, they have made it pellucid that, notwithstanding the LGE 2023 results, they would continue to work to improve every LAA in the country, including Georgetown, into which they made significant inroads in the APNU

base. They will continue with their neighbourhood revitalization programs, job creation, small business grants, scholarship grants, establishment of regional hospitals, Amerindian affairs, housing development, potable water distribution, among other projects. The PPPC’s ‘One Guyana’ philosophy would continue to guide policy making and implementation.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

Opposition’s view on the Petroleum Bill

Dear Editor, The Opposition submitted their initial view on the draft Petroleum Bill to the media, and have maintained that the timeframe for consultation is too short, and that they would not be submitting any commentary directly to the Government.

This is quite unfortunate on the part of the Opposition. However, hav -

ing reviewed their preliminary views, it would appear that they do not quite understand the nature of the Bill, and what it should and should not address.

The Opposition argued that the Bill remains silent on crucial issues such as insurance and liability coverage. This omission, according to the Opposition, is particularly alarming,

Plaisance vendors chose development over Opposition’s confrontational politics

Dear Editor,

Since the conclusion of the LGE elections, the PPP/C have gone on a countrywide outreach in all constituencies, to foster a better relationship between the central Government and local constituencies.

This move by the PPP/C should be applauded, as it shows their willingness to support inclusion. On Tuesday, an outreach to Plaisance was held in good faith, to ensure matters affecting residents and vendors were heard, and assistance provided. However, the Opposition attempted to stop such an outreach.

The actions of the Opposition beg the question, ‘Does APNU/AFC

have the interest of Guyanese at heart?’

The action of the Opposition proves they have no interest in allowing citizens a fair chance at support from the Government. It paints a bad image to be purposely trying to stop vendors from getting much-needed aid.

I’ll leave you with these few questions to ask yourself. Do PNC support progress? Why would the Opposition Leader want to impede an opportunity for residents and vendors of Plaisance to be placed in a position to earn and have their concerns addressed?

Sincerely,

Ryan Newton

given the legal disputes that have arisen. The issue of insurance, financial assurance and liability coverage are fully covered under the Environmental Protection Act. Hence, the Petroleum Bill does not need to address such provisions, which are already catered for in another legislation.

Section 31 (1) – (5) of the EPA Act deals exclusively with financial assurance. And insofar as the Bill is concerned, sections 92 and 94 address “liability and indemnity” and “litigation against the State”, respectively. With respect to the rules governing the auction process, this is a fair observation, but can be ad -

dressed in the regulation following enactment of the legislation.

The concern expressed about the Government spending directly from cost oil is not an issue for the Petroleum Bill. This is a fiscal matter, which is already provided for in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). The same can be said for the audits that the Opposition argued should be included in the Bill, which are already addressed in the PSA.

Lastly, the Opposition repeated a position by the Kaieteur News, that the Bill did not address the Petroleum Commission. As I explained in a previous letter, the functions of

Ave, atque, vale Honnett

Dear Editor, Sadly, Honnett Searwar has passed on. This is inevitable for all of humankind. Honnett was part of a family that contributed many outstanding professionals who helped to nuture Guyana's development.

Honnett was a welltrained and dedicated doctor who was much loved and respected by his patients and colleagues. He was a major part of the St Joseph family for some 5 decades. He was a generous general surgeon who was able also to serve his patients' midwifery needs. He was very organized and disciplined in his professional work, and did not suffer fools gladly.

The Caribbean College

of Surgeons, which represents the collected specialist knowledge of Caribbean Surgery, honoured Honnet with a commendation plaque that identified his great contribution to surgery in Guyana. This was presented when the CCOS held its annual conference in Guyana a few years ago, and it was much deserved.

Honnett Searwar expressed his professional opinion after much careful thought. He was a valued friend and mentor, whose knowledge and advice will be much missed.

Ave, atque, vale Honnett.

Sincerely,

Deen Sharma

the Petroleum Commission will be of a regulatory nature, and therefore requires a separate piece of legislation.

Altogether, the preliminary criticisms by the Opposition lacked much

substance. They have missed an opportunity to submit meaningful contributions to the Bill.

Yours sincerely, Joel

Bhagwandin

Page Foundation

Problem-solving with proportions

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

Example

Step 1: Express your proportion problem using two ratios.

Step 2: Use your proportion problem to set up an equation. Then cross-multiply.

Step 3: To find the unknown number, divide both sides of the equation by the same known number.

Exercises: Solve

1) Rihanna wants to expand her grass-cutting business. She currently cuts 12 yards with 3 workers. How many workers will she need if she plans to cut a total of 100 yards?

2) If a bus can travel 100 kilometres on 5 litres of diesel, how far can it travel on 8 litres?

3) John studies 2 hours each week day for 4 subjects, how many hours would he need to study if he took 6 subjects?

4)Each cashew tree in Farmer Rodrigues’ farm bears 20 kilograms of fruit each harvest. If there are 20 trees, how many kilograms will he expect each harvest?

5) It takes John five minutes to inflate the wheels of the 2 bicycles belonging to his brothers. How long will it take to inflate the wheels of 70 bicycles?

6) Seema plans to save the money her mother gives her to take the bus to and from home every day, to buy a bicycle. If the bicycle costs $20,000 and Seema gets $200 in bus fare per day, how long will it take her to save the money needed?

Banjo, Dulcimer, Fiddle

BY JOAN LARKIN

Face resting in my palm, I stretched out long on the green lawn, listening. Not listening so much as loving how air shivered and sorrow was a tune, a light index finger downstroke, a sly joke, a note that repeated. My mind twanged with it, grass trembled and shone, banjo, dulcimer, fiddle singing my story.

Hush, listen, this song has a thousand verses.

Source: Poetry (June 2023)

WORD SEARCH

Corentyne River Bridge

2-lane, 2-section structure connected by island proposed

the most competitive bidder.

Surinamese Government.

The Governments of Guyana and Suriname were on Wednesday presented with the design of the Corentyne River Bridge, which the consultant, WSP Caribbean, proposed as a two-section, two-lane bridge that is connected by an island between the two countries.

WSP Caribbean unveiled the design of the Corentyne River Bridge during a detailed presentation to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and his Surinamese counterpart Dr Riad Nurmohanmed at the second high-level decision makers (HLDM) meeting held in Georgetown. The first HLDM meeting was held in February 2023 in Paramaribo.

The Surinamese Public Works Minister travelled to Guyana on Wednesday for a two-day visit for the presentation by the Trinidadbased company.

WSP Caribbean’s design proposed the Corentyne River Bridge as a two-section structure that is connected via an island (Long Island) to link Guyana and Suriname. The design also

features a two-lane bridge, with accommodation for a third lane in case of an emergency.

It was noted that this presentation by the WSP technical team was made ahead of the final report, which will detail other aspects of their study, such as cost of the bridge, traffic projections, design of the road, financial and economic evaluation, and environmental assessment, among other key elements.

At the presentation, which was done at the Public Works Ministry’s office in Kingston, Georgetown, both Public Works Ministers lauded the WSP Caribbean team for the work they have done thus far. In fact, Minister Edghill explained that the consultant had accommodated special requests from the two Governments.

“At the policy level, we did ask the consultancy to provide some flexibility, in that, one: information that you already had available before your final report, we were able to access that and share with the prequalified firms.”

According to Edghill, that information would help the five prequalified bidders to prepare and submit their proposals by the July month-end deadline, as well as facilitate their proposals being used during the evaluation process.

The five prequalified bidders are: China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC); China Railway Construction International Ltd (CRCCI); China Railway Construction Caribbean Co Ltd (CRCCCL) and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Ltd (CRBG); China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC); China Overseas Engineering Group Co Ltd (COVEC); China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC); and China Railway First Group (CRRG); and Netherlandbased Ballast Nedam Infra Suriname BV.

The bids submitted will be opened on August 1, 2023 and will undergo two rounds of evaluation: first individually by each country, and then jointly by the two nations, in order to decide on

“That preferred consortium or…bidder will then be engaged in negotiations. So, we intend to have a contract signed in October of 2023, so that we could go into mobilisation and actual construction. This is a project that should not suffer any delays. As a matter of fact, we need to be moving it along, and that is one of the reasons why we provided information ahead of the final report, to get things moving so that we could have submissions [in] time,” the Minister noted.

The US$2M contract signed with WSP Caribbean for several preliminary studies and research to be conducted on the Corentyne Bridge was funded by the

Minister Nurmohamed, in reiterated the importance of the Corentyne River Bridge, has said, “The building of the bridge is very high on the agenda for both countries. And not only for the two countries, but for the development of the region.”

The high-span Corentyne River Bridge will be built according to the Design-Build-FinanceOperate-Maintain model, and will be an approximately 3.1-kilometre bridge connecting Moleson Creek in Guyana to South Drain in Suriname, with a landing on Long Island in the Corentyne River, where a commercial hub and tourist destination will be established. That free zone will

see major infrastructural development, such as hotels, recreational parks, entertainment spots, tourist attractions, malls, and farmers’ markets.

Running from Moleson Creek to Long Island, the bridge will be a low-level structure approximately one kilometre long, with a 2200-metre (2.2 km) road across Long Island and a high bridge spanning 2100 metres (2.1km) thereafter. At the high end of the bridge, which will facilitate marine traffic, it will cater for 40,000 to 45,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) capacity, featuring a vertical (height) clearance of 43 metres and a horizonal (width) clearance of about 100 metres. (G8)

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and his Surinamese counterpart Dr Riad Nurmohanmed, along with other officials, at Wednesday’s HLDM meeting where WSP Caribbean presented the design and other details of the Corentyne River Bridge

The proposed two-section, two-lane design for the Corentyne River Bridge

Bodybuilder jailed for choking woman

dicted by the State for raping and assaulting the woman, but was, on May 23, found guilty by a jury only on the latter charge.

His trial was conducted by Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court.

Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig had presented the prosecution’s case, while George had been represented by Attorney-at-Law Gary Ramlochan.

sensual intercourse with the woman.

Warren George, a bodybuilder who choked a woman, has been jailed for two years for the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. George had been in-

This publication understands that George and the woman are acquainted with each other, and on the day in question, they had a misunderstanding during which George choked her. In relation to the rape charge, for which he was acquitted, the convict, in his defence, had maintained that he had con-

Meanwhile, on May 16 — the day his trial began — George escaped from the Demerara High Court by jumping over the courthouse’s very high corridor, after requesting to use the bathroom. After he had made the request, Justice Singh had instructed a Policeman to escort him to the washroom. However, as the Policeman was escorting him back to the courtroom, George sprinted from him and then jumped over the corridor rails. After landing in a small pool of water, he immediately got to his feet and ran away in the direction of Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Accused persons who are on bail pending their tri-

als are not usually secured by handcuffs and foot shackles. A reliable source had told this publication that Police ranks stationed at the court had given chase after George, but were unable to apprehend him.

The source further related that, to everyone’s surprise, George had showed up at court the following morning, and had explained to the Judge that his actions were a mistake. However, Justice Singh, after considering the serious nature of the offence, had revoked George’s bail and remanded him to prison, pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

His escape was caught on the court’s security cameras.

George is a former prison officer. (G1)

…running-on-the-spot

The Education Minister just announced we’ll be getting our NGSA results next Friday. And the parents of 14,000+ primary school students will be holding their breaths, since those results will pretty much decide the futures of their little darlings - who’d been swotting away since they were in Grade 2! Imagine that!! Now, one of the signs that we’re still a Third World backwater is the national frenzy we go into over the NGSA results.

Can you imagine that, sixty-four years after independence, citizens can still go ga-ga over the 100 or so 11–12-year-olds who’ll enter five or six high schools in Georgetown?? It really brings home how profound was the PNC’s destruction of our educational system between 1964 and 1992. Considering we started from being on par with any other colony in the British Empire – including Singapore. Because, you see, dear reader, an educational system isn’t just about the physical state of the school buildings and the teaching staff: it’s as much about the expectations of those who enter it.

When Burnham was finished with Guyana - having completely devastated the 80% of the economy it controlled - the thirst for learning and knowledge honed over more than a hundred years after slavery and indentureship had been obliterated. Why go to school when the only way you could get a decent job was by having a PNC party card?? After another decade, it was “why go to school when there were no jobs outside of cutting cane or selling sweeties at the street corner??”

Anyhow, in what’s known as a “systemic” problem, the urge to excel remains dampened and emaciated for most kids at the bottom of the ladder. Which means the vast majority of the kids, since the oil wealth will take some time to trickle down. And this is even after the PPP heroically built back the infrastructure and trained thousands of teachers since 1992. And Burnham’s picture – which scared the bejusus out of the kids - was taken off their exercise books!

The results are gonna be incrementally better than the previous year, but nothing to really shout home about when almost half of our Grade 6 students wouldn’t be getting 50% of the Maths or English questions right. In this new world oil has brought, we’ve gotta be numerate AND literate if all the good jobs aren’t to be snatched by foreigners.

But your Eyewitness wants to remind the Minister of Education of a promise she’d made at her first crack at her job back in the day: to stop the mad rush for the top 100 spaces.

That all high schools were to be brought up to the level of the “elite” GT schools!!

…for sugar

Your Eyewitness is happy that the GuySuCo management is testing Rose Hall Factory so as to start “grinding” in the coming crop. But he’s more than a mite skeptical about the targets being met. And it’s not just about getting back those abandoned fields into shape – and that’ll be an Augean task demanding several Hercules! – there’s the matter of the other factories.

They’re really not in much better condition than Rose Hall. And once again, we return to the cause of it all: the PNC! From 1975 - when the industry made a humungous windfall from record high world prices - they instituted a levy on sugar exports that wiped out any profits that could be shared with the workers – and just as importantly - used to rehabilitate the factories.

If the sugar revival plan is to have any chance of success, there will have to be the necessary capital injection into the factories. And the fields. Meaning more subsidies for a while.

Let no one have any illusions about this.

…in Berbice

So, have the enrolments at UG Tain Campus picked up again?? When you shut down two factories and fire more than 4000 workers, food on the table takes priority over school fees.

The Government should provide scholarships to those needy students.

Jailed: Warren George

Ferry service, maritime policy on Caricom’s agenda for increasing trade – External Director

…lauds important role Guyana plays in regional agri push

The director referred to Guyana’s role in these discussions as “extremely important.”

“A core objective of the Community’s Industrial Policy is to ensure that we have regional perks that can produce at a scale and a quality that can be competitive internationally, and also that we can have viable micro, small and medium enterprises. Another important policy is the Community’s Agriculture Policy,” the External Trade Director said.

GRA reiterates zero-tolerance for smuggling, tax evasion

tively. Included in those measures are regional standards that would support, and not hinder, the production of goods and services. Here she referenced the Caribbean Regional Organization for Food Standards and Quality, and the important role it plays in this regard.

However, she said Caricom has made some headway in other areas, such as regional procurement and maritime policies.

Noting the important role that Guyana plays in the Caribbean in advancing agriculture, Director of External

“Heads of Government of Caricom have committed to reducing the regional food bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Guyana plays an extremely important leadership role

Dr Ononaiwu made reference to a previous air services agreement that was reached in Caricom. The regional bloc also has its eyes set on a maritime policy, and even a fast ferry service.

Trade for the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Dr Chantal Ononaiwu, recently spoke of the hurdles that still face the regional integration movement.

Earlier this week, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) facilitated a discussion with Dr Ononaiwu. Trade barriers were among the several matters raised.

in this regard, because the President of Guyana has lead responsibility for agriculture within the quasicabinet of Caricom, and the Minister of Agriculture actually chairs the Ministerial Task Force,” Dr Ononaiwu declared.

She named a number of supportive measures that are needed if the Single Market is to function effec-

“Transport Policy is another important focus of policy of the Single Market. In 2020, the community concluded a Multilateral Air Services Agreement, and it facilitates the provision of air services throughout the community by airlines that are owned by Caricom nationals,” Dr Ononaiwu explained. “And so, because these airlines that are owned by Caricom nationals have preferential rights with respect to routes or capacity, it’s really hoped that this would really facilitate intra-regional travel, and even provide more cargo options for exporters and importers.

“There are also initiatives where we’re exploring how to improve maritime travel. There are discussions, for instance, about a fast ferry service in the southern Caribbean,” she disclosed.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reiterated that it has a zero-tolerance disposition against smuggling and any form of tax evasion; and is reminding importers, wholesalers and retailers that all imported packages/ units of alcoholic/tobacco products must have affixed an excise stamp, in accordance with Regulation 212 of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01. “Failure to comply with this Regulation has resulted in several illegal/uncustomed

brands being seized by the Law Enforcement arm of the Authority,” the GRA has cautioned.

According to the tax body, the illegal/uncustomed brands of tobacco products seized include Atlanta, Nashville, B&B, Ultra Buy, Royal, Milano, Record, Aurora, Gold Mount, Pride, Record, Capital, Star Gold, Rio, 51, Marshal, Capital, Marine, Landus, Pine, Elegance and Tradition.

The GRA has, in a statement, restated its commit-

ment to working together with legitimate importers and the general public to ensure compliance with the various tax, trade and border laws.

“The Authority, in its ongoing effort to tackle the trade of illicit tobacco brands, hereby notifies importers, wholesalers, retailers, and users of tobacco products that the legitimate imported brands, which are thus far deemed in compliance with Tax Laws and Health Act, are as follows: Pall Mall, Bristol, Dunhill, GT Smart, Darkies and Manchester. These and all legitimately imported cigarettes must be affixed with the requisite Excise Tax stamps,” it has exhorted.

The GRA is urging persons/ companies who may not be fully compliant to visit its headquarters to regularise their trade affairs and become compliant.

The GRA has made it clear that a zero-tolerance approach is being adopted against smuggling and any form of tax evasion; and, as such, offenders may face penalties as stipulated under the laws, inclusive of prosecution.

Persons can call the GRA hotline number: 227-6060, extensions 3201-09, for clarification or to report attempted smuggling activities or illicit products. (G1)

Last September, the GRA seized over $20M in smuggled liquor, and over 62 bales of cigarettes from a property at Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara

Director of External Trade for Caricom, Dr Chantal Ononaiwu

Example of a fast ferry TURN

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, has issued a call for Prison officers to remain vigilant while on duty, as they are responsible for the safety and security of inmates.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, the Director of Prisons conducted his quarterly muster and general inspection of officers of the respective Timehri and Mazaruni penitentiaries. And he used that occasion to tell them, “To be vigilant, you must be fearless, observant, and confident. There must never be any doubt that you are observing, analyzing, and ready to protect those under your watch.”

Elliot also told the officers that they should be confident and know exactly what role they are filling in the line of duty. “You

are ultimately responsible for safety, security, and supervision of inmates that are under your care,” he stressed.

The quarterly muster is slated for the Prison Headquarters and the Georgetown and Lusignan Prisons over the next week.

Just over one week ago, Ronaldo Parris, a 23-yearold convict, successfully escaped from the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). The inmate was assigned to Unit 4 within the facility, where he resided alongside a group of individuals with mental illnesses. He reportedly climbed on to a sink to get out of the holding unit, after which he scaled the eastern fence of the prison compound. Prior to his escape, Parris had been serving

fearless,

– Prison Head to officers

sentences for two counts of armed robbery. The incident has sparked heightened concern among authorities, who are diligently working to locate and apprehend this fugitive.

And on May 19, convicted mass murderer Mark Royden Durant, also called “Royden Williams” and “Smallie”, made a daring escape from the maximum security Mazaruni Prison with the assistance of heavily armed individuals. That escape occurred in broad daylight, and involved the use of a speedboat.

During that escape, the Prison escort party accompanying Williams was attacked by individuals on the boat, which was in the Mazaruni River. Those individuals were using AK-47 rifles.

Williams died earlier this month during a confrontation with law enforcement officials. Four Prison officers were among the six persons remanded for aiding his escape.

Trained

Officers of the Prison Service are continuously being trained with the aim of promoting greater efficiency within the apparatus. Some 309 Prison officers have completed a number of courses

during the first half of 2023.

The ranks were trained by internal and external facilitators, and among the courses completed are Prison Management, Human Rights, and Supervisory Management.

Kevin Pilgrim, the acting Deputy Director of Prisons and Head of the Staff Training Department, has disclosed, “Based on the current budgetary allocations for training, same has been utilised to ensure that

staff are exposed to not only institutional training, but at the technical level, so that they can offer more support and guidance to prisoners.”

He also mentioned that training is important to equip Prison staff with the knowledge, skills and attitude to perform their duties well, and to instil in them respect for the rights and dignity of the inmates.

The Director of Prisons added, “Beyond that, the various training programmes foster numerous other beneficial skills and behaviours. It promotes the ability to critically analyse arising and existing problems, and proactively find creative solutions. It advocates self-confidence, taking responsibility, speaking clearly and effectively, working in a team, critically assessing information, and sharing ideas in an engaging and persuasive manner.”

Head of the Prison Service Training Board, Tracy Shamshudeen, has said the Board is working simultaneously with the Prison Directorate to devise management structures to continuously encourage officers to capitalise on training opportunities available locally, regionally or internationally.

Additionally, 250 ranks have been identified for further training for the second half of the year. (G12)

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot

“To be vigilant, you must be

observant, confident”

…over 300 trained for 2023

Vergenoegen lands one step closer to regularisation

community was conducted by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, who further assured that the processing of titles would be done within two weeks.

For the past 35 to 40 years, a total of 64 individuals have called the Railway Embankment home. In order to pave the way for the issuance of land titles, the block and occupation survey, as well as the inventory, has been completed, and block titles have been obtained.

A number of the lots have been verified, while further assessments will be conducted to determine the appropriate course of action to be taken in regard to the remaining lots.

In a significant move towards land regularisation, residents of the Railway Embankment (Parcel 137) of Vergenoegen, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), are currently receiving Agreements of Sale for their house lots in the area, while also signing up for their Certificates of Title.

This exercise is being led by the Director of

Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Gladwin Charles.

This development is in keeping with a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who, earlier in the month, had met with the Vergenoegen residents on land ownership issues for the Acme Housing Scheme and Railway Embankment.

A subsequent visit to the

“The titles are expected to be handed over to the residents soon. It is a significant milestone, as it grants them independence and land ownership status. A similar exercise will be done for residents of the Acme Housing Scheme, which began as a co-op in the early 1990s,” the CHPA has informed in a statement.

During an engagement with Vergenoegen residents,

Minister Croal outlined that regularisation of the two areas in Vergenoegen is a crucial aspect of the Ministry’s comprehensive 2023 Regularisation Programme for Region Three. He said that over 270 plots of land are scheduled for regularisation in various locations across the region, including Good Hope Railway Embankment, Philadelphia Railway Embankment, Barnwell, Zeelugt, Plantation De Willem, and Plantation Tuschen.

Back in March, Housing Minister Collin Croal had warned squatters against squatting along the river beds and sea defences across the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. He had noted that while regularisation efforts were being undertaken in the region, the sea defence areas could not be regularised for living. Instead, he had outlined that massive housing developments are being undertaken in communities such as Anna Catherina, Cornelia

Ida, Stewartville, Edinburgh and Meten-Meer-Zorg, and so persons should explore those areas to apply for lands. As part of the move to push the local housing drive, the Ali-led Administration has rolled out a number of initiatives to help persons build their own homes. These include the Government’s housing assistance programme with local banks, to provide low-income loans and pre-built homes; as well as the steel and cement programme. (G12)

A resident receiving her document during the exercise

Over $1M can be accessed through GTA’s product development grant

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), which falls under the purview of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, has launched its new Guyana Tourism Product Development Grant Programme (GTPDGP), through which in excess of $1 million can be accessed.

This Government initiative is aimed at strengthening and expanding local tourism products. With this grant, persons can develop their tourism products and improve the services they offer. To be eligible for the grant, applicants must be licensed by GTA and registered within the last two years.

At the recent prize-giving ceremony for the ‘Snap

n Share’ competition, Minister Oneidge Walrond disclosed thus, “Just out of this [grant], we can get ideas; tour guides and investors can get ideas of an experience. So, we are going to be giving grants for the development of experience.”

The minister noted that before the grant is awarded, products will be graded

New Friendship Magistrate’s Court to cost $388M

The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has said the new magistrate’s court that is to be built at Friendship, East Bank Demerara would cost a total of $388,873,985.

The project has been awarded to Romano Builders General Building, one of nine contenders, after the national bidding process for the contract had been completed.

on how well an experience persons would have.

GTA is also calling for proposals for new tourism products, as the initiation of the grant also aims to bring about innovation in the sector.

Application forms and guidelines can be accessed on GTA’s Facebook page. The deadline for applications is August 10, 2023.

The Supreme Court of Judicature, acting as the procuring entity, had estimated that the project to construct the court and the living quarters would have cost $418,259,540.

In this year’s national budget, Government has allocated a whopping $6.2 billion for enhancement of the justice sector, which is intended to expand access to justice countrywide, while also addressing existing challenges in the system.

During a recommissioning ceremony for the $24 million Mibicuri Magistrate's Court in September last year, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, had an-

nounced plans for constructing the Friendship Court, among other projects.

“This is the development that we are seeing in the judiciary…We are constructing a brand-new court at Mabaruma in Region One. We are constructing a brand-new court at Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara; at Cove and John; at Mahaicony… We are building one at Parfaite Harmonie; we are building one at Timehri, very close to the airport; and we are building one at Friendship, on the East Bank of Demerara, abutting the new connect-

ing highway that will join the Diamond Access Road to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway,” Nandlall had stated.

As per recent reports in other sections of the media, the Supreme Court of Judicature is also building a court and living quarters at Timehri. That project has been awarded to Orion Engineering Inc. for $303,905,015.

Construction of these facilities is in keeping with the PPP/C Government’s Manifesto promise to ensure that the delivery of justice is improved in Guyana.

The rehabilitated Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court

Eid Salah (morning prayers for Eid-ul-Adha) at the Leonora Sunnatul Masjid, West Coast Demera and at Darul Uloom Masjid in East Street, Georgetown. President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired), Mark Phillips and Public Service Minister Sonia Parag, joined in prayers at the masjids(Office of the President and Prime Minister photos)

President Ali to go on official visit to China next month

As Guyana seeks to strengthen its international agenda through diplomacy, President Dr Irfaan Ali is set to further strengthen ties with one of Guyana’s major bilateral partners – China.

The Head of State announced on Thursday that at the end of July, he “will be going on an official State visit to China”.

In 2022, Guyana and China observed 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

On that occasion, President Ali had noted that Chinese were not only contributors to Guyana’s development, they were also part of the country’s cultural heritage.

“Relations between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China are imperishable. Inseparable ties with China have brought tremendous development gains, have brought our people closer together,” he had stated.

The Guyanese leader fur-

ther outlined that cooperation been the two countries straddled almost all areas of national development, including agriculture, culture, defence cooperation, education, health, information communication technology, infrastructural development, private investment, security, sport, trade, and transportation.

During his upcoming visit, President Ali is expected to have talks to advance cooperation in these and new areas.

The Head of State’s announcement on Thursday came in response to questions raised by the Opposition in the National Assembly on Guyana’s international relations.

According to the President, his Administration has had to work aggressively over the years to reverse the damage done to Guyana’s international standing after efforts by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime to steal the 2020 elec-

tions and derail democracy.

Today, he noted, the country has an active international agenda.

“Our foreign policy and our foreign engagement have never, ever been so active. Our activism on the international platform is growing from strength to strength… but with focus on diplomatic diplomacy, bilateral relations to ensure Guyana’s position on global issues is

understood and that global support for Guyana is overwhelming.

“When I leave this country to attend meetings and to represent Guyana, it’s roundthe-clock work… So, I find it disgusting for someone not to recognise the gains that we are making, but the results are there. As I am speaking to you now, we have major global investors who are engaging us on hydropower, agro-chemical, fertiliser plant, cement plant. This is the type of work we’re doing to positioning Guyana [on the global stage],” he stated.

The Guyanese leader re-

iterated his Government’s agenda to place Guyana as a global leader on food, energy and climate security. On this note, he highlighted the importance of engaging bilateral allies in achieve this.

Some of the countries Guyana has been engaging in this regard include the United States, the United Kingdom, Caricom (Caribbean Community) members, Middle Eastern nations, China, Canada, and South America neighbours.

Low-interest loans

President Ali pointed out that coming out of these bilateral engagements, Guyana is now benefiting from a slew of low-interest loans and grants for projects and initiatives geared towards advancing the country’s economic, infrastructural and social development.

Among these are a $100 million grant from Saudi Arabia to build a school facility for children with disabilities; a US$350 million loan from Qatar to extend the Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway to Parika; financing from the United Kingdom Infrastructure Fund and mounting interest from investors in Latin America.

“So, the economic diplomacy, our foreign policy, military diplomacy, climate diplomacy, food diplomacy, energy diplomacy – all of that is part of the work we’re doing… We are here building this country, making new partnerships and opening up opportunities… So as we advanced forward and continue to build the country in a strong and sustainable manner, our engagement globally will become stronger. Our engagement globally will be more frequently called up and we will have greater responsibility to shoulder and burden…”

“And with the type of global leadership that we want to produce and the type of inroads we want to make on the global platform, it definitely will require much, much more work… There is absolutely no hesitance from this President and this Government that the brand Guyana gets the best possible value on the global stage. This comes not only by travelling but by investing time, by reading, by analysing, by having a technical team of people working round-the-clock to support what you want to achieve…,” President Ali posited. (G8)

…says Guyana’s foreign engagement has “never been so active”

President Dr Irfaan Ali

25 medical professionals graduate with Masters Certificate in hospital leadership

Twenty-five senior leaders and executive heads of hospitals and health centres across the country were on Sunday each awarded their Masters Certificate in Hospital Leadership, following a nine-month course facilitated by the Health Ministry and Canada-based Schulich ExecEd, an extension of the Schulich School of Business at York University.

This programme was customised for Guyana’s hospital administrators and was aimed at provid-

ing them with the necessary interpersonal skills and hands-on business tools to improve management, leadership, and service delivery skills at all levels.

During the ceremony, held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony noted that this initiative is much needed, as the sector continues to transform. He added that the graduates can now operate efficiently within their respective regions, with the consistent support of the Ministry.

Expanded dental, ophthalmology services to bridge equity gaps

As efforts continue to enhance healthcare provision across the country, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Tuesday explained that an expansion of dental and ophthalmology services is currently on stream.

During the launch of the newest edition of the Family Health Manual, the Minister had remarked that many areas in the country still don’t have access to dental services, so the Health Ministry is actively working to close that gap.

“We had a number of persons who were located centrally at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School [in Georgetown], and what we’ve been doing now is to get those persons to go to different regions. We have a programme now where we have been decentralising [dental services],” Dr Anthony said.

with the relevant personnel, the Ministry is also ensuring the use of the right equipment across the country, such as functional dental chairs.

“Right now, we have very good service in most of the coastal regions, and we are now optimising it in the hinterland regions for dentistry,” Dr. Anthony has said.

The Health Minister also said that delivery of ophthalmology services is expanding, as the Ministry has been conducting more screening assessments by sending out mobile teams in areas where ophthalmologists are not available.

“In a lot of the interior locations, we have been sending out mobile teams to do the screening, and we make a list of the persons who need surgery. We bring them out and take them to [the National

in] Port Mourant, and then we take them back,” Dr Anthony has said.

“That programme has been working really well. I think a lot of people are very appreciative of the programme,” he added.

Additionally, the Ministry is continuing its Community Ophthalmology Programme which commenced last year in remote areas, and by which its officials worked with a team from Johns Hopkins University who piloted the use of “snap-on” lenses. Minister Anthony noted that through this simple innovation, persons could get their eyes tested and subsequently receive appropriate spectacles within minutes.

“Right now, more than 5000 persons would have benefitted from that (programme), and this project is going to continue this year,” Dr Anthony has said.

He also highlighted that, with the expansion of services being provided, the hinterland areas would be able to benefit from services being offered on the coastland. "We have a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that we will use to develop the hinterland hospitals. So, right now, we're looking to develop those in Lethem, Kato, and Kamarang, so that every region in Guyana will have upgraded services; and whatever service is being done on the coastland and can't get in the hinterland, you will have when the upgrade is complete, whether infrastructure wise or equipment,” Dr. Anthony has said.

Meanwhile, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman has said this programme would aid in maintaining sustainability within the health sector in Guyana.

"I've noted that the Health Ministry has embarked on an aggressive campaign to transform the health sector with the construction and upgrade of several health facilities, including the much-anticipated Maternal and Pediatrics Hospital and the development and expansion of pediatrics care and services in the hinterland. This programme will surely complement those efforts to ensure the sustainability of these needed infrastructures”, Berman has said.

The Ministry’s Director General, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, who graduated as valedictorian, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Guyana, the Health Ministry, York University, and other partners for the opportunity, and said the programme would help the Ministry to deliver the quality of health care needed.

Also present were Programme Director Dr Susan Lieff; President of York University, Robert Lynn (virtual); Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh; the Board of Governors of York University; Dr Narendra Singh; Public Services Minister Sonia Parag, and other staff from the various entities.

Last year, this programme was launched in collaboration with Schulich ExecEd as part of the latter’s contribution to the upward development of the country’s healthcare delivery.

The certification supports the Canadian university’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly UN SDG Three, which speaks to good health and well-being; and UN SDG Four, which refers to quality education.

He noted that, along

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

25 medical professionals graduated from Hospital Leadership Masters programme

Local energy sector

Potential business support opportunities at forefront of MBWESSI Forum

prime contractors. You'll also get emails from us about key business engagements and events that we host at the centre, or events that we support; so that you will be able to know what are some of these activities coming up, and how you can get more involved in the business community,” Balram explained.

The Centre also provides training on topics, including an introduction to offshore oil and gas; introduction to procurement; and introduction to health, safety, security and environment (HSSE).

Management Mentorship programme,” Balram added.

Besides mentorship, the Centre hosts business engagement events and supplier forums, and has an entrepreneurship programme initially directed towards helping women-led businesses, although it has now expanded to aid all businesses.

Meanwhile, ActionInvest Chairman Vishnu Doerga shared the benefits of becoming local content-certified.

that economies work just like the seasons of nature; and traditionally, a fall is likely to ensue at some point.

“When we do have the fall, most companies actually do not recognize it, because they still have some latent demand; they still have some contracts that they're fulfilling; they still have some receivables that are getting in; and if they don't recognize this early enough, winter can hit them unprepared,” Doerga said.

Aiming to simplify the process for companies interested in joining the oil and gas sector and learning about local content, MBW Energy Support Services (MBWESSI) on Wednesday hosted the 12th edition of its Relocation Forum, to provide a platform for information exchange and potential business support opportunities.

The female-ownedand-managed oil and gas support services company MBWESSI seeks to of-

fer businesses desirous of participating in the local energy sector relevant information from Government officials and industry leaders, and hosts these forums every three months. Highlighted in this recent forum was the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), which plays a leading role in mentoring and building the entrepreneurial, financial, human resource, supply chain and knowledge management capacities of local businesses to ensure

their success.

“The first thing that any business has to do to engage with the Centre, whether it be a Guyanese business or an overseas business, is to register with us at centreguyana. com, or clbdportal.com,”

Nicola Balram, the Centre’s Communications Manager, has said. “When you register with us, you'll be able to see all of the business and procurement opportunities that are available in the oil and gas space being posted by ExxonMobil and their

“The best companies are ones that have gone through certain training to work in oil and gas and other Government [sectors]. So those companies are getting more contracts in the sector, and they're getting more Government contracts as well,” Balram has said.

“They have multiple projects going on, but to manage all of it was proving to be a challenge. So, the Centre pivoted and introduced our Project

“Before we became certified, and even up to now - every time - we have to do our management meetings for quality purposes, and we have our surveillance audits coming up. It's always good to know that our systems are being scrutinised, tested, and reviewed, because that continues to allow us to deliver at the highest level,” Doerga has said.

He added that it’s important to have a sense of where the economy is going and how that would affect the industry, and he noted

“That is a very dangerous situation, because companies that have not learned how to be efficient, how to put all the systems in place, how not to pursue unnecessary spending, and how to ensure that they do receive a return on every single dollar invested, get wiped out pretty quickly during the winter. And in some cases, they don't survive it to see another spring,” Doerga said.

Also present at the virtual forum was Laparkan General Manager Bodhan Nipan.

Visually-impaired persons to benefit from computer skills training

Seeking to bridge the digital divide, particularly among persons living with disabilities, the Office of the Prime Minister

on Wednesday launched a computer literacy skills training programme for the visually-impaired.

This three-month-long

programme, which aims to expose participants to key basic computer and online tools, is being facilitated through a collaboration

between the Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit and the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities.

Utilising the Job Access with Speech (JAWS) Programme designed for visually-impaired persons, training would begin in early July in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), although persons from other regions would be involved.

Participants would be educated on a number of topics, including keyboard orientation; basics of JAWS settings and specific commands; editing and basic formatting of Microsoft Word documents; basic internet and email use, and use of online meeting platforms.

During the programme’s official launch, Prime Minister Mark Phillips reiterated the Government’s commitment to transforming the lives of Guyanese through information and communication technology (ICT). This is seen as an enabler of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“Through courses like these and the possibilities created, we see, more than ever, the benefits of accessibility. It is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right. We must ensure that

our communities’ infrastructures and technologies are designed and implemented with accessibility at the forefront of our planning,” Phillips said, according to a press release.

The Prime Minister, who has oversight of the ICT sector, also emphasised Government’s commitment to the empowerment of persons living with disabilities.

“Our Government is continually working to level the playing field, to ensure that we honour the Convention on the Rights of Persons Living with Disabilities. This includes investments such as developing a Special Needs Centre, launching a Cash Grant Register for differently-abled individuals, and constructing 13 special needs schools.”

Further, the Prime

Minister highlighted the need for collaborative efforts between policymakers and stakeholders to promote the full realisation of the rights and overall development of persons with disabilities.

“It is a shared responsibility that rests on Governments, organisations, businesses and communities. We must work together to establish policies and regulations that promote accessibility standards,” PM Phillips has said.

He noted that Guyanese must continue to foster a culture of awareness and sensitivity, where the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities are respected and prioritised.

Just last week, the $73 million Learning Lab, an initiative of the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, was commissioned. The facility is intended to equip persons with disabilities with the requisite technical and vocational skills through free training programmes, in order to allow them to become financially independent.

This Training and Empowerment Centre, located at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is dubbed the first of its kind as it related to facilities aiding persons living with disabilities on this scale.

Nicola Balram of the Centre for Local Business Development

ActionInvest Chairman Vishnu Doerga

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

World Refrigeration Day… Local industry experts must maximise better standards – Govt

As Guyana joined in the observance of World Refrigeration Day on June 26, refrigeration and air conditioning industry experts in Guyana were encouraged to practise better standards and codes to ensure maximum energy efficiency, emissions’ reduction, and refrigerant transition from hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS) and hydrocarborefrigerations (HCS).

World Refrigeration Day 2023 was observed under the theme “Next-generation cooling: the future in our hands”, which focuses on the future of cooling technology, the industry, and technicians working within it that also benefit from cooling.

Building upon last year's theme, “Cooling Matters”, this year's campaign moved forward with the aim of raising awareness on how the modern cooling industry is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities the sector faces; recognizing the increasing demand for low carbon cooling and heating solutions in a warming climate.

Next-generation cooling is important because it helps to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of cooling systems, which are becoming more widely used as the world gets hotter and more humid. Supporting next-generation cooling solutions are, of course, the people working within the sector.

According to the founder of World Refrigeration Day, Stephen Gill, "As an industry, we need to recruit, train, and retain people equipped with the knowledge and skills that a modern, for-

Uncle defending 9-year-old nephew stabbed to death

An uncle who attempted to defend his nine-year-old nephew from being assaulted has been stabbed to death.

Dead is 34-yearold Dellon Waterman, called “Puppi”, of Lot 2 (c) Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Reports are that the labourer was stabbed at about 18:15h on Wednesday by a 22-year-old man, who escaped after the murder. On Thursday, Police said enquiries revealed that Waterman had intervened in an assault against his nine-year-old nephew, which was being perpetrated by the suspect along Riverview Access Road, and this had led to an argu-

ment which escalated into a fight.

According to Police, during the scuffle, the suspect, who was armed with a knife, stabbed Waterman to his left side chest and made good his escape.

Following the stabbing, the victim managed to walk

home, and subsequently collapsed. The Police were called, and he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police say checks were made for the suspect, but he was not found. An investigation is in progress.

ward-thinking industry requires. Just as no one will expect the cooling solutions we supply in the future to be the same as those from the past, no one should expect the workforce to be the same either. This year's campaign is an opportunity to showcase what we are doing now to ensure we have the diverse (and) highly skilled workforce that our future industry needs.”

Guyana contributes to this initiative through the National Ozone Action Unit (NOAU) by supporting technicians and trainers at the Government Technical Institute, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre, and the University of Guyana (UG) by procuring advanced equipment and tools, developing curriculums, and increasing training opportunities.

Additionally, the NOAU carries out a wide array of awareness-raising activities to ensure the industry, technicians, and the general public are informed about the advantages of using alternative technologies and natural

refrigerants within the cold chain.

During these activities, the NOAU emphasizes the long-term benefits of using equipment that are more energy efficient and more environmentally friendly, and which can safeguard the well-being of our planet for future generations.

Next-generation cooling will tell the story of how our wellbeing depends upon sustainable cooling and heating, and how cooling technology choices and an evolving industry can safeguard the wellbeing of future generations.

World Refrigeration Day celebrates the people and technologies responsible for creating and maintaining the world we live in, a world dependent upon temperature-controlled environments.

Celebrated annually on June 26, World Refrigeration Day is supported globally by industry, professional groups, scientific and engineering associations, as well as by Governments and individuals.

Ferry service, maritime...

In July 2013, conscious that transportation services delivered in Caricom had to address the needs of the travelling public and intra-regional trade, Caricom Heads of Government agreed to the urgent establishment of a Transportation Commission to address air and maritime transportation matters.

Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago all ratified the Multilateral Air Services Agreement, which came into force in 1998.

The aim of the Multilateral Agreement Concerning the Operation of Air Services within The Caribbean Community, commonly called

Motorcyclist killed after car turns into path

Motorcyclist Sheldon Solomon, a resident of Lot 36 Old Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, died on Thursday after a collision resulted when a car turned into his path along the Kara Kara Public Road at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Reports are that the accident, which occurred at 08:00h on Thursday, involved motorcycle CL 9293 driven by 27-year-old Solomon and motorcar PZZ 8967 driven by a 24-yearold resident of Kara Kara, Linden.

According to Police, enquiries disclosed that Solomon was proceeding east along the northern side of the Kara Kara Public

Road at a fast rate on his motorcycle, while motorcar PZZ 8967 was proceeding south on Thomas Street (an access road). The motor car turned west onto the main

road and ended up in the path of the motorcycle, and a collision resulted.

Solomon sustained serious injuries from the impact of that collision, and was picked up in a conscious condition and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment. He, however, succumbed to his injuries on the way to Georgetown.

The driver of the motorcar is in custody, the Police have said, adding that a breathalyzer test conducted on him had detected no trace of alcohol in his system. Investigations are continuing.

FROM PAGE 9

Multilateral Air Services Agreement, was to improve the level, quality and efficiency of air services within and beyond the Caribbean Community.

President Ali has been vocal about the need for a Transport Policy in the region. As far back as in 2021, while addressing a Regional Sub-Committee on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), he had informed them that the Lead Head on Transport has been engaged with a view to developing specific recommendations to incentivize Private Sector interest and partnership in transport and logistics, in order to better serve the agri-food systems’ agenda.

He had explained that the Ministerial Taskforce had recognized transport and logistics as integral to

the effective implementation of the Caricom agri-food systems agenda. According to him, there were options being explored.

“In examining the potential and competitiveness of the sector, as you would have expected, transportation is one of the critical issues that (are) linked to food production and for regional trade,” President Ali had said.

It was also announced last year, during a joint press conference between President Ali and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, that the possibility of establishing a ferry between the two territories, to strengthen collaboration in several areas, specifically agriculture, was being explored.

(G3)

Dead: Sheldon Solomon

Regional Panama expects to be struck off financial crime watch list in October

Panama expects international financial-crime watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove it this October from a watch list for nations deemed to be doing too little to fight money laundering, the country's Deputy Finance Minister said, adding that other intergovernmental groups might follow suit.

The Central American nation urgently needs to exit the watch lists so it can reclaim its place as a financial hub, Deputy Financial Minister Jorge Almengor said in an interview late on Wednesday. He added that due to Panama's presence on international watch lists, some foreign countries have been demanding stronger due diligence by their own companies in order to do business in Panama.

Panama's first stint on the FATF’s so-called grey list, which can impact a country's investment ratings and reputation, was from 2014 to 2016. FATF

is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1989 to combat money laundering.

It was off the list for the next three years, during which it dealt with the aftermath of the Panama Papers scandal, a leak from a Panama-based law firm that exposed a network of secretive offshore companies concealing wealth for the rich and powerful.

In 2019, FATF again placed Panama on its list, saying the country was mak-

EU-Mercosur trade deal threatens Indigenous lands, activist says

Aplanned free trade deal between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur risks increasing demand for farm produce from Brazil at the expense of Indigenous people's land and rights, a leading activist said on Thursday.

"We are against this agreement," Dinamam Tuxa, the coordinator of Brazil's largest umbrella Indigenous organisation, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) told Reuters in an interview.

"It may be very difficult to stop, but we want to make our proposals on prior consent and territorial rights of Indigenous people."

ing too little progress on financial transparency. In 2020, the European Union added Panama to its own list of countries deemed "noncooperative" for tax purposes.

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has said the bloc will not remove Panama from its list unless FATF does so first.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also included Panama on its own watch list. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ecuador seeks international funds ahead of expected El Nino impact

Ecuador's Government is seeking to activate credit lines with international lenders in an effort to mitigate expected El Nino weather disruptions, the country's Finance Ministry announced on Thursday.

The funding plan is part of outgoing President Guillermo Lasso's efforts to organise preventative measures to deal with the likely hit from the cyclical weather pattern.

The conservative leader has said an initial funding of $266 million will be covered by the general government budget as well as a local debt issuance. Officials have said the

figure could rise depending on needs.

Finance Minister Pablo Arosemena will request early activation to the Andean country's credit line with the InterAmerican Development Bank IDB), which totals roughly US$400 million, the Ministry said in a statement.

The Government will use the funds to cover expenses that potential natural disasters stemming from El Nino could unleash on the country, but the Ministry did not specify how much of its credit line with the lender it expects to tap.

Officials have said they

might also seek out funding from other multilateral lenders, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as part of the preventative measures.

Late last year, the Government finalised a US$6.5 billion loan programme with the IMF.

Lasso, a former banker who announced last month he will not compete in early elections scheduled for August, has emphasised that his government would implement the plan ahead of the expected El Nino impact, which is seen striking during the final three months of this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The European Commission struck a trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 2019. Now the Commission and some EU Member States have raised the possibility of reviving it after it was put on hold largely because of EU concerns over Amazon deforestation.

Tuxa, who will meet EU officials and lawmakers over the coming days, said the deal, even with a possible annex on deforestation and sustainable development, did not guarantee protection of Indigenous people's rights, despite them being enshrined in

an International Labour Organisation convention. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples also requires them to be consulted to obtain free, prior and informed consent on policies or projects affecting them.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazilian electoral court close to ending Bolsonaro's political career

Former President Jair Bolsonaro was on the cusp of losing his political future on Thursday, as three of a required four federal electoral court Justices ruled he had abused his power in last year's fraught election.

The case was adjourned until today when the remaining Justices will rule.

Bolsonaro could find himself barred from public office until 2030 if a majority of the Brasilia court's seven judges find he abused his power by summoning ambassadors to vent unfounded claims about Brazil's voting system ahead of last year's vote.

Bassarath throws support behind PNM

The People’s National Movement is expecting to make inroads into the United National Congress-controlled Princes Town Regional Corporation (PTRC) as two more prominent UNC members switch allegiance to the ruling party.

On Wednesday, former UNC alderman Bassarath Azim confirmed he had transferred his loyalty from the UNC to the PNM and so too has Ravi Teeluck, former UNC strategist.

PNM sources say Bassarath has promised to bring at least three of the 10 electoral districts to PNM’s table af

ter the August 14 Local Government Elections.

In a brief telephone interview with the Newsday, Bassarath said he was not a candidate, neither had he offered himself as an alderman or a contender for the chairmanship should the PNM attain enough seats to secure victory in that corporation.

He preferred to remain mum on the reasons for his defection, opting to “make a release in due course,” but asserted that with his an Teeluck's backing, the PNM stood a good chance of winning the PTRC.

“Teeluck was very strategic in the last campaign, both in the general elec -

Adrian Bassarath

tion in Moruga/Tableland and in the last local election in the Lengua/Indian Walk districts.

“I will be lending my support to all the PNM candidates in the Moruga/

Tableland districts,” said Bassarath, the TT Cricket Board president and Vice President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

So far three Judges have voted to convict the far-right nationalist for abuse of political power and misuse of the media, while one has not.

Bolsonaro, an ex-army captain, narrowly lost last October's election to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

He stands accused of having created a nationwide movement to overturn the election result that culminated in the January 8 invasion of Government buildings in Brasilia by thousands of his supporters. He denies any wrongdoing.

Elected in 2018 amid a wave of right-wing leaders that included his political

idol, former US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro received global criticism for his lacklustre stewardship of the Amazon rainforest, his laissez-faire approach to COVID-19 restrictions, and his evidence-free attacks on Brazil's electoral system.

The TSE trial is part of a broader reckoning in Brazil with the fallout from the country's most painful election in a generation. While the former President faces electoral court scrutiny, many of his one-time allies are being questioned by lawmakers in a congressional probe into the January 8 riots.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Suspected car bomb explodes in Mexican city amid cartel turf war

An apparent booby trap or car bomb has exploded in a cartel-dominated Mexican city, wounding several officers of the country’s National Guard who approached the vehicle to inspect it.

The National Guard said on Thursday that the explosion occurred late Wednesday in the city of Celaya, in the north-central state of Guanajuato, where the Jalisco and Santa Rosa de Lima drug cartels have been fighting a bloody turf war for years.

The use of a car bomb to intentionally cause law enforcement casualties marks an escalation of the infighting

between rival cartels. Some observers have drawn parallels to a 2010 car-bomb blast that killed three people in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez at the height of the 2006-2012 drug war.

The officers were reportedly responding to a report about a car parked with what appeared to be bodies inside. As they approached, the vehicle exploded, sending guard officers flying.

There was no immediate information on the condition of the wounded, though at least three suffered considerable injuries that required hospitalisation.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The Panama flag waves in the banking area of Panama City

Dinamam Tuxa, coordinator of Brazil's largest umbrella Indigenous organisation, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), speaks to Reuters in an interview about a planned trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries, in Brussels, Belgium, June 29, 2023 (Reuters/Philip Blenkinsop)

Around The World OIL NEWS

France unrest: 3rd night of riots after Police shoot teen, officer charged

Oil settles higher, trading choppy as tight supply vie with rate hike fear

Oil prices settled higher on Thursday after flip flopping during the session, supported by a bigger draw than expected in US crude inventories, but pressured by fears that rising interest rates could dent global economic growth.

Brent crude futures rose 31 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to US$74.34 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 30 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to US$69.86 a barrel.

On Wednesday, both benchmarks gained about three per cent after the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said crude inventories dropped by 9.6 million barrels in the week ended June 23, far exceeding the 1.8-million barrel draw analysts had forecast in a Reuters poll.

Crude traders remain torn between rising interest rates with fears of a global recession against elevated travel demand and shrinking crude supplies," said Dennis Kissler, Senior Vice President of trading at BOK Financial.

Investors were concerned about rising interest rates and economic growth after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that he expects the moderate pace of interest rate decisions to continue in the coming months.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by the most in 20 months, offering an upbeat picture of the labour market that could encourage the Fed to keep raising interest rates.

However, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic reiterated his belief that moderating inflation should keep the central bank from raising its short-term rate target again.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has cemented expectations for a ninth consecutive rise in eurozone rates in July.

Financial stability risk in the European Union remains at a "severe" level and the downturn in the housing market could become even more broad-based, she added.

Adding to pressure, annual profits at industrial firms in China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, extended a double-digit decline in the first five months as softening demand squeezed margins.

"The lack of prospects for fuel demand growth has limited the gain in oil prices, even with supply curbs by oil producers," said Tetsu Emory, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emori Fund Management Inc.

Given falling prices, Saudi Arabia this month pledged to sharply cut its output in July, adding to a broader Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) deal to limit supply into 2024. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Officer not guilty over Parkland school shooting response

Aformer sheriff's deputy has been found not guilty of failing to protect students when a gunman opened fire at a Florida high school in 2018.

Scot Peterson stayed outside during the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near Miami.

Peterson, the school's resource officer, was found not guilty of 11 charges including felony child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury.

The attack, among the deadliest at a US school, saw 17 killed and 17 injured.

Major French cities saw a third night of riots on Thursday as President Emmanuel Macron fought to contain mounting unrest triggered by the deadly Police shooting of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent during a traffic stop.

Forty thousand Police Officers were to deploy across France – nearly four times the numbers mobilised on Wednesday – but there were few signs that Government appeals to a de-escalation in the violence would quell the widespread anger.

In Nanterre, the working-class town on the western outskirts of Paris where

17-year-old Nahel M was shot dead on Tuesday, protesters torched cars, barricaded streets, and hurled projectiles at Police following a peaceful vigil.

Protesters scrawled "Vengeance for Nahel" across buildings and bus shelters, and as night set, a bank was lit on fire before firemen put it out.

Local authorities in Clamart, eight kilometres (five miles) from central Paris, imposed a nighttime curfew until Monday.

Valerie Pecresse, who heads the greater Paris region, said all bus and tram services would be halted after 21:00h after some were set alight the previous

French Police stand in position as fireworks go off during clashes with youth, after the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager killed by a French Police Officer during a traffic stop, in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, June 30, 2023 (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

night.

National police said on Thursday night that officers faced new incidents in Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse and Lille including fires and fireworks.

The local prosecutor said the officer involved had been put under formal investigation for voluntary homicide and would be held in prison in preventive detention. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Wagner still recruiting despite mutiny, BBC finds

The Wagner Group is still recruiting fighters across Russia, days after staging a mutiny that led President Vladimir Putin to raise fears of civil war.

Using a Russian phone number, the BBC called more than a dozen recruitment centres saying, if asked, that we were inquiring on behalf of a brother.

All those who replied confirmed that it was business as usual.

From Kaliningrad in the west to Krasnodar in the south, no-one believed the group was being disbanded.

In the Arctic city of Murmansk, a woman at the

Viking sports club confirmed that she was still signing up fighters for Ukraine.

"That's where we are recruiting for, yes. If someone wants to go, they just have to call me and we'll set a day."

Wagner's long list of contact points are mostly based at fight clubs, including martial arts schools and boxing clubs.

Several people who picked up the phone stressed that new members were signing contracts with the mercenary group itself, not the Russian Defence Ministry.

"It's absolutely nothing to do with the defence ministry," a man at the Sparta sports club in Volgograd was ada-

US Supreme Court rejects affirmative action in university admissions

The US Supreme Court on Thursday struck down race-conscious admissions programmes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, effectively prohibiting affirmative action policies long used to raise the number of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented minority students on American campuses.

against Harvard.

In landmark rulings last year with far-reaching societal implications also spearheaded by the conservative Justices, the court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade decision that had legalised abortion nationwide and widened gun rights.

mant. "Nothing has stopped, we're still recruiting."

The demand for the mercenaries to transfer to the Defence Ministry, thus bringing the Wagner Group and its boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to heel, was at the root of the fierce feud that exploded into

last weekend's armed uprising.

It was the biggest challenge to President Putin's authority in his more than 20-year rule, despite the Kremlin's scrambling ever since to redefine his response as strong and decisive. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Smoke continues to cover large swathes of US as Canada fires rage

Poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires has continued to affect large swathes of North America, with nearly a third of United States residents warned of unhealthy conditions.

with Canada down to North Carolina and Tennessee. Pockets of “very unhealthy” air were recorded over the cities of Madison, Wisconsin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Lansing, Michigan.

Peterson, 60, put his head in his hands and began sobbing as the verdicts were read out in court in Fort Lauderdale.

After the verdict, Peterson told reporters that he would like to talk to the parents of the students who were killed.

"If they need to really know the truth of what occurred... I'll be there for them," he said.

But Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was one of the students murdered, said he continued to blame Peterson for not trying to stop the shooting.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

In a blockbuster decision that will force many colleges and universities to overhaul their admissions policies, the Justices ruled that affirmative action admissions programmes that consider an applicant's race in ways like Harvard and UNC did violate the US Constitution's promise of equal protection under the law.

Powered by the conservative Justices with the liberals in dissent, the court sided with a group called Students for Fair Admissions, founded by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum, in its appeal of lower court rulings upholding programmes used at the two prestigious schools to foster a diverse student population. The vote counts were 6-3 against UNC and 6-2

Speaking at the White House, Democratic President Joe Biden said he strongly disagreed with Thursday's ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, and urged colleges not to abandon their commitment to student diversity. Asked by a reporter if this is "a rogue court", Biden replied, "This is not a normal court."

Roberts wrote that a student "must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual's identity is not challenges bested, skills built or lessons learned but the colour of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Air quality warnings on Thursday stretched from Wisconsin and northern Illinois across Michigan and into New York and the East Coast, according to the US National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s real-time air quality map showed “unhealthy” air from the Midwest border

All told, more than 100 million US residents in the

country of about 330 million were urged to limit prolonged outdoor activities. Those suffering from pulmonary or respiratory diseases were urged to wear masks, while children and the elderly were also advised to minimise or avoid strenuous activities.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Wagner recruitment offices are operating as normal

Health alerts in US and Canada as wildfire smoke covers cities

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Take care of business before returning to pleasurable pastimes. Don’t pressure others to do the things you don’t want to do yourself. Honesty, balance and integrity will be important.

(March 21-April 19)

Uncertainty can lead to temptation and poor decisions. Think your plans through to the end and rely on someone you can trust for sound advice. An emotional situation will surface quickly.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Think twice before you make a move. Discipline will pay off, and paying more attention to what’s going on at home and in your personal life will reduce stress and misunderstandings. Physical fitness is favored.

You’ll find comfort in people who share your ideas. Reach out, discuss your thoughts and plans, and look for opportunities to learn. Don’t let someone’s jealousy thwart your plans.

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Mixed emotions will make it difficult for you to pick a direction. Don’t reveal too much information to friends and family before you figure out what’s best for you. Work to lower stress.

A change will encourage you to express your intentions and desires. Reconnect with people who have always been there for you, and you’ll gain confidence and develop a plan to enhance your life.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Try hard to have a positive impact on others, but don’t pay for someone else’s mistake. An honest assessment of a situation will help determine your next move. Seek out a like-minded partner.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

You can be strict if you show love and respect as well. Getting the most out of others will depend on how you treat them and what instructions you offer. Be very clear about your plans.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Take notes; someone will offer a false point of view. Trust in your ability to be resourceful, and research anything questionable. Travel and romance are favored.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

A domestic change will add to your comfort and convenience. An opportunity to use your home to conduct business or entertain prospects will prove valuable. Don’t make unnecessary changes.

Be cautious and avoid a mistake. Don’t hesitate to do your own thing and focus on being your best, making new friends and exploring an exciting venue. Make your affections known.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Evaluate your financial situation and see your worth. Look for opportunities to broaden your financial future. Update your skills to accommodate trends. Don’t lose sight of your dreams.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Pamlico “Flour Power” U-17…

Rosignol United FC top Berbice league

The National Milling Company (NAMILCO)

Thunderbolt “Flour Power”-Berbice Football Association (BFA) Under-17

league has reached the fourth round, and Rosignol United FC remain unbeaten with a perfect record.

The league leaders’ pur-

ple patch continued last week following a 7-0 drubbing of Cougars FC at the Scott School Ground, New Amsterdam. Amazingly, there were six

different goalscorers for the winners and one own goal by Cougars’ Jovan Lambert one minute before full time. On the scoresheet for Rosignol United

were Tyrone Delph (Header 35th minute); Jaden Thom (Header – 43rd minute); Winton Hartman (Header – 68th minute); Terrence Lewis (70th min-

ute); Luke Langevine (76th minute) and Tyrone Delph (83rd minute).

The current league standings are below.

England loosen grip on Lord's Test in face of short-ball barrage

You cannot win a Test match in an hour's play on day two. Nor can you lose it. But as observers at Lord's on Thursday can now attest to, you can certainly loosen your grip on proceedings much to the relief of your opponents, as England did.

A collapse of 34 for 3 in 7.3 overs saw the hosts cede control of the first innings of this second Test. Having dismissed Australia outright for 416, taking the final five wickets for the addition of just 65 runs, England conspired amongst themselves to turn 188 for one into 222 for 4.

This was far from terminal. Stumps arrived with no further losses, Harry Brook unbeaten on a flighty 45 and Ben Stokes playing the part of the adult in the room with a measured 17 not out off 57. Australia's lead is now just 138.

The unnecessary cascade was layered. Steven Smith had "only" made it to 110 for his 32nd Test hundred, four years after a bumper double on this very ground. Midway through the 37th over of England's response, Nathan Lyon pulled up with a calf injury that will be assessed overnight, but almost certainly rules him out of bowling in the rest of this match. And to have lost a dynamic trio of Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Joe Root – all to the hook shot – felt deeply unnecessary from England, especially with a tail elongated by the presence of Josh Tongue as the extra seamer.

Tongue, though, has been far from an inconvenience. He justified selection as the best on show on Wednesday with the wickets of openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner, and then prised out Smith on Thursday morning. An attempt to drive the seamer on the up was caught superbly by Duckett at gully. It was

the second time this summer the Worcestershire quick has seen off the 34-year-old following an lbw decision in his favour when Smith was moonlighting as Sussex's overseas player in May.

Stuart Broad was the first to strike, trapping Alex Carey leg before, only confirmed with a DRS review at his insistence. James Anderson then picked up his first wicket of the match as Mitchell Starc swiped to first slip, with Jonny Bairstow diving across to claim the catch.

Tongue's dismissal of Smith made it 393 for 8 – the same score on which England

declared at the end of the first day at Edgbaston. And while Australia were never going to reciprocate a decision that felt like generosity as time wore on, Ollie Robinson's double strike of No 10 and 11 – Lyon caught in the deep;

Josh Hazlewood scuffing to first slip – meant only 19 came from the final two stands.

There was enough time for

a four-over spell before lunch, but not one that proved partic - ularly taxing for Zak Crawley and Duckett. And while Crawley did not join his partner in traipsing into the tea interval unbeaten, he could claim plenty of credit for the 132 added in the 26 overs of the middle session.

A typically classy 48 in an opening stand of 91 took England into the 18th over

before the Kent opener ran inside the line of a Lyon delivery that turned up the slope.

a short ball from Cameron Green. Lyon grimaced at the end of his chase, and eventually limped off the field before being helped back to the away dressing room by Australia's team physiotherapist.

Given such a high-profile injury, both of a man just four away from 500 career dismissals and the only bowler travelling under three runs an over, the nature of the delivery was

in danger of getting lost. The short ball was starting to provide a whiff of opportunity. Duckett looked a tad scratchy after shedding early nerves to reach an eighth fifty-plus score from 84 deliveries.

At the time of Lyon's injury, Duckett had moved to 87, and Pope was on 39. And as their stand eventually swelled to 97 a couple of overs later, the "smart" move was to milk the pace attack, particularly the expensive Starc who was going at close to eights. Evidently, this England team regarded it as too "old-fashioned".

Pope tried to hit Green over Old Father Time, but found Smith a fair few feet under him. Duckett, having made it to 98, played his fourth and final uncontrolled hook off Hazlewood to David Warner around the corner. Root, having survived on 1 when a swipe off the same bowler was caught behind, was ruled out for a front-foot no ball, then completed a dismal three-peat by scuffing Starc to Smith around the corner at square leg. That catch was put under the microscope but was fine. The only thing unclean about it was the connection. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

England 1st Innings

BATTING R B

Zak Crawley st †

Josh Tongue, James Anderson

Carey, unsighted, did superbly to take cleanly and affect the off-spinner's fourth stumping already this series.

With all the build-up centred around the robustness of the 35-year-old playing his 100th consecutive Test match, here was a cruel irony when he pulled up during the 37th over. He was haring in from the legside fence attempting to intercept an uppish pull from Duckett, who played off

Carey b Lyon 48 48

Ben Duckett c Warner

b Hazlewood 98 134

Ollie Pope c Smith b Green 42 63

Joe Root c Smith b Starc 10 19

Harry Brook not out 45 51

Ben Stokes (c) not out 17 57

Extras (b 8, lb 4, nb 6) 18

TOTAL 61 Ov (RR: 4.55) 278/4

Yet to bat: Jonny Bairstow †, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson,

Fall of wickets: 1-91 (Zak Crawley, 17.5 ov), 2-188 (Ollie Pope, 38.1 ov), 3-208 (Ben Duckett, 42.2 ov), 4-222 (Joe Root, 45.3 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mitchell Starc 12-0-75- 1

Pat Cummins 12-2-39-0

Josh Hazlewood 11-1-63-1

Nathan Lyon 13-1-35-1

Cameron Green 7-0-43-1

Travis Head 5-1-10-0

Steven Smith 1-0-1-0

Harry Brook swats one through the off side

Ben Duckett cuts through point

Steven Smith juggles a catch to dismiss Joe Root

Rosignol United FC goalscorers

The current league standings

Territorial Board Franchise squads confirmed for Interim 3-month period

…franchises complete 15-member squads in preparation for Super50 Cup

Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted the Professional Cricketers Draft Thursday for the Territorial Board Franchises.

Each Franchise drafted five players to complete their 15-member squads for an interim three (3) month period ahead of the 2023 CG United Super50 Cup, scheduled to take place in October 2023.

Each team had already retained 10 players and the Professional Cricketers Draft enabled each team to add five players to complete their 15-member squads. The Draft took place over five rounds via a videocall with representatives from all six Territorial Board Franchises. The interim contracts will run from July 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, with new 12-month contracts to start from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, following the strategic decision to now align contracts with the CWI’s financial year.

Each Franchise was required to contract two players under the age of 25 as of October 1, 2023 as part of the overall regional programme to ensure playing opportunities for younger and developing players. Franchises will get the opportunity to revise their squads ahead of October 1 once the West Indies International Retainer contracts for the 2023/24 season have been confirmed. All International retained players and umpires have been offered three-month contract extensions to September 30, 2023.

Two highlights of the draft were the selections of West Indies international players Oshane Thomas and Justin Greaves, chosen by the Leeward Islands Hurricanes. Fast bowler Thomas has played 20 OneDay Internationals (ODIs) and 20 T20 Internationals (T20Is) for the West Indies. He has managed five-wicket hauls in both formats. Greaves is a tall right-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm seam bowler, who

played three ODIs for the West Indies against Ireland in 2022.

Windward Islands Volcanoes, who were unbeaten in the last regional First Class season, chose to draft in two overseas players: left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano, who previously played for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, and all-rounder Shamar Springer, over from Barbados Pride. Thomas, 26, said he was pleased to join the Leeward Islands Hurricanes camp. “I’m happy to get this opportunity.

I’m really looking forward to joining the Franchise and being part of the unit. I see it as a new start, a chance for me to work [my] way back up to international cricket, where I performed before. I still have a dream of playing Test cricket for the West Indies and the red-ball season will be crucial. I’m also keen to play the other formats, but first I have to do it for Leeward Islands Hurricanes and then make that step back up to international cricket.”

The six Franchises will continue their preparations for the upcoming season. The CG United Super50 Cup is scheduled to return to Antigua and Trinidad, starting on October 21, with the final set to take place on November 11 when defending champions, the Jamaica Scorpions will attempt to retain their title.

Guyana Harpy Eagles were crowned champions of the 2023 West Indies Championship, lifting the Headley Weekes Trophy, named in honour of West Indies legends George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes.

Full Squads

Barbados

Pride: Shayne Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Raymon Reifer, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Akeem Jordan, Dominic Drakes, Jomel Warrican, Kevin Wickham, and Jair McAllister

Draft picks: Roshon Primus, Chaim-Alexis Holder,

Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding and Camarie Boyce

Guyana Harpy

Eagles: Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Tevin Imlach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, and Kevlon Anderson

Draft picks: Shamar Joseph, Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavendra Dindyal, Junior Sinclair and Antony Adams

Jamaica Scorpions: Kirk McKenzie, Ojay Shields, Abhijai Mansingh, Jeavor Royal, Marquino Mindley, Derval Green, Peat Salmon, Javel Glenn, Daniel Beckford, and Tevin Gilzene

Draft picks: Shalome Parnell, Carlos Brown, Andre Bailey, Gordon Bryan, and Brad Barnes

Leeward Islands

Hurricanes: Kieran Powell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Colin Archibald, Kofi James, Karima Gore, Jeremiah Louis, Daniel Doram, Keacy Carty, and Javier Spencer

Draft picks: Justin Greaves, Oshane Thomas, Nathan Edward, Miklye

GCB President meets with National U-19 players

Louis, and Zawandi White Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: Darren Bravo, Yannic Cariah, Jason

Mohammed, Imran Khan, Bryan Charles, Khary Pierre, Terrance Hinds, Tion Webster, Shannon Gabriel,

and Anderson Phillip Draft picks: Kjorn Ottley, Amir Jangoo, Jyd Goolie, Cephas Cooper, and Shaaron Lewis Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris, Alick Athanaze, Larry Edward, Kavem Hodge, Shermon Lewis, Ryan John, Darius Martin, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, and Tevyn Walcott Draft picks: Shamar Springer, Jeremy Solozano, Kenneth Dember, Johann Jeremiah, and Nicklaus Redhead

LGC bids farewell to Escarraga

… MACORP annual tournament to continue being yearly spectacle

Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Bissoondyal Singh on Wednesday afternoon visited the national under-19 team at the hostel.

The team had their final session yesterday as they completed preparations for the upcoming Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Regional Under-19

Tournament scheduled for July 2 to August 2 in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In the short meeting held, President Singh met with the players and management to commend them for their efforts and commitment during camp. The week-long camp included fitness testing, net sessions at Everest, Lusignan

and the Guyana National Stadium along with some CWI-arranged Development Workshops, which were held online during the evenings.

The GCB President gave the team his full support and encourage them to do their best as the GCB and Guyana were confident they could return as champions.

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) bid farewell to outgoing MACORP Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guillermo Escarraga.

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling noted that Escarraga has been promoted within the MACORP group to Senior Vice President of Product Support. "For the last 10 years Guillermo and MACORP, under his leadership and guidance and love for golf, have ensured that MACORP has continued to sponsor golf tournaments, provide monetary and in-kind support to maintain the grounds of our golf club. They have also maintained our sign, put up signs indicating key information at each hole and [played] host to the annual MACORP Golf Tournament each year," Bowling noted.

He stated that on a personal level Escarraga shared a love and passion for the sport. Bowling went on to relay that Escarraga has made a great contribution to the game of golf at the LGC and gave his word that even in his absence MACORP would continue to host its annual tournament.

Also, sharing his thoughts was the outgoing MACORP

Guyana CEO, who said, "I was fortunate to have the chance to learn the game of golf in Guyana. It was a great journey for me. Golf is now part of my life just like Guyana and I will always be grateful for the time I spend here. I will miss the course and all the players I played with. We had some keen competition over the years. The Saturday tournaments is what I will miss the most; good days, bad days it was all a rewarding experience full of memories. The Lusignan club members are outstanding individuals from whom I learned a lot. The camaraderie and friendship of this club is unparallel."

Escarraga divulged that having the opportunity to represent LGC and Guyana was a thrill. He shared that playing abroad and having the confidence that one can have a good round of golf is the best takeaway from his time at the LGC. He also reiterated that during his time at the club, his most memorable tournament was the Guyana Open where he scored his best net overall, something which he deemed as his greatest accomplishment.

In closing, Escarraga said, "I just want to thank the management and staff of the Lusignan golf course for

their dedication and support. Also, the management committee and its president, Pur, for their remarkable care of the course. Finally, special thanks to my Caddie Harry, who was with me since I started. A gentleman I will always remember for helping me over the years."

The Guyana Harpy Eagles

Oshane Thomas now moves to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes

Guillermo Escarraga is surrounded by LGC club mates

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh takes a photo opportunity with the U19 team following their encampment

West Indies name squad for Test camp ahead of India series

…Chanderpaul is lone Guyanese in squad

Cricket West Indies (CWI)

Men’s Selection Panel on Thursday named the squad for the preparation camp ahead of the start of the two-match Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test Series against India in the Caribbean.

Jayden Seales will return to West Indies training following his rehabilitation. The fast bowler last played for West Indies in the first Test at the Perth Stadium, last December. He had knee surgery in December and had subsequently been working on a rehabilitation programme overseen by the CWI medical team.

The training squad includes several players who are uncapped

at the Test level – including batsmen Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, and Kirk McKenzie; as well as fast bowlers Akeem Jordan, and Jair McAllister.

The camp will be held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua with training starting today, Friday June 29. The squad for the opening Test will be named at a later date and will travel to Dominica on Sunday, July 9.

The Cycle Pure Agarbathi Test series will be the first fixtures for both West Indies and India in the new 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. The first Test will be at Windsor Park,

Dominica from July 12-16 which will be followed by the historic second Test on July 20-24 at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad –marking the 100th Test match between West Indies and India. Tickets are available online in advance from the Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard, at Ticket.Windiescricket.com. Fans who purchase tickets online will benefit from a 20 per cent discount compared to the venue’s box office prices, with tickets ranging from the most premium seats with the best and shaded views in each stadium through to affordable standard seats or mounds/ grounds entry.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul is the lone Guyanese named in the encampment squad

Dindyal confident of Guyana Under-19s winning regional tournament

The Guyana Under-19 team will depart for St Vincent on July 2, for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 tournament.

Captain Mavendra Dindyal is confident of the team clinching the 50-over and three-day championship.

"I am feeling confident; I am looking forward to this competition, and try to get some runs to pick myself for the Under-19 World Cup. Basically, I will look to take pressure off in the batting department, and control the batting," Dindyal said.

"I am pretty much confident with my form. We were not playing a lot of cricket recent, but I have been training and those sort of things. Mentally, I am prepared, so I am just looking forward to

good games. It's mixed conditions, some of the wickets would be spin friendly and some flat, but it is just to adapt and execute on the day.

"I think all the guys are capable of pulling their own weight. It is a great bunch of guys, we are working very hard and we are looking to win this tournament, or come out with a good result," the Guyana Under-19 skipper said.

Andre Percival will return as the Head Coach and Budhesh Chatterpaul returns as the Manager.

The regional tournament this year welcomes the return of the Super50 format, which gives players an extended opportunity to showcase their talent. Outstanding performances during the tournament can ensure players

stake a claim for selection in the West Indies Under-19 team that would be selected to participate in next year’s Youth World Cup.

The Guyana squad includes gifted opening batsman Rampertab Ramnauth, who has already scored centuries for Guyana at the

Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 levels. Express West Indies under-19 pacer Isai Thorne is also in the squad along with Shamar

Yearwood, who scored a Senior Inter-County fourday century earlier this year. Yearwood was also the leading run scorer for Guyana at last year’s regional tournament.

The full squad reads Rampertab Ramnauth; Shaahid Vieira (wicket-keeper); Mavindra Dindyal (Captain); Alvin Mohabir; Jonathan Rampersaud (Vice Captain); Zachary Jodah; Thaddeus Lovell; Aryan Persaud; Joash Charles; Zeynul Ramsammy; Shamar Yearwood; Jeremy Sandia; Rivaldo Phillips and Isai Thorne.

The reserves are Myheim Khan, Chanderpaul Ramraj, Ezekiel Wilson, Kevin Kisten, Nityanand Mathura, Krishna Singh, and Sachin Balgobin.

Digicel Championships: Zeeburg, Westminster, PC bag wins

Zeeburg Secondary, Westminster Secondary, Vergenoegen Secondary and President’s College were some of the shin

when the Digicel Schools Football Championships continued in sev

ing. A helmet trick from Akeino Abrams in the 6th, 12th, 16th and 26th minutes gave Zeeburg the early advantage, while Mark Medas (20th) and Sydell Joseph (50th) added to the team’s tally for the big win.

Westminster Secondary were the next team to join the winners’ circle, after defeating Stewartville Secondary

5-2, but Ezekiel Caesar shut down any hope of a comeback, netting Westminster’s sixth goal in the 65th minute.

Closing out the action on the West Side, Vergenoegen sent four unanswered goals past L’ Aventure Secondary. It was only until the second segment that Kevon Williams broke the ice in the 40th, followed by a Quan Jackman double in the 45th and 57th.

Devon Williams added Vergenoegen’s fourth goal in the 55th.

minutes lifted PC to victory.

The scoreline was the same when Bygeval Secondary met La Bonne Intention Secondary. Bygeval’s Deandrea Pierre opened the scoring in the sixth minute while Carl Nunes extended their lead in the 43rd. On the other hand, Jason Thomas scored LBI’s consolation goal in the 51st minute.

There were fireworks at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara when the Digicel Schools’ Football Championships continued in Region 3.

Zeeburg Secondary impressed with a 6-0 victory over Essequibo islands to get the day’s action go-

Teyon Kennedy got the scoring started in the seventh minute, while Ezra Clarke made it a 2-0 game in Westminster’s favour in the ninth. It was Dorwin George, however, who led the charge for Westminster with a hat-trick in the 19th, 41st and 50th. Stewartville’s Shakeel King and Shawn Pilgrim netted in the 55th and 58th minutes respectively to push the score to

On the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), President’s College nar rowly got past Bladen Hall Multilateral.

Bladen Hall took an early lead in fourth minute of their en counter, by way of a Joel Lallman goal. However, Michael Joseph’s dou ble in the 36th and 65th

In the East Bank of Demerara’s competition, goals from Antwone Denny and Keyron Williams helped Alphine Academy to a 2-0 victory over Friendship Secondary.

Meanwhile in Region Five, Bush Lot Secondary prevailed over Fort Wellington via penalty kicks, after a drawn 1-1 score at the end of regu-

The Digicel Championships will continue today, Friday, June 30 in Regions One, Three, Four, Six, Seven and 10.

Scenes from the ongoing Digicel Schools Football Championships regional contests

The Guyana Under-19 boys ended their camp on June 28