Guyana Times -Saturday, July 1, 2023

Alleged rape victim wants ‘no further action’ against Dharamlall Reg 2 man dies from COVID-19, 74 active cases being monitored

6000 farmers to benefit from IDBfunded US$3M initiative

Girl, 13, allegedly raped by duo

Fire caused by leaking gas cylinder leaves 7 homeless

“Something doesn’t seem right” – family awaits PME as body of missing boat captain found

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 1 – 02:30h

– 04:00h and Sunday, July

2 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 1 – 14:50h

– 16:20h and Sunday, July

2 – 15:45h – 17:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

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

Winds: South-Easterly to Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.45 metres.

Low Tide: 08:31h and 20:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.77 metre.

US Secretary of State to visit Guyana next week

– food & energy security, climate resilience, local capacity on agenda for discussion

Guyanese young leaders, professionals and budding entrepreneurs; increase in US investors’ interest in sectors outside of oil and gas in Guyana, and the training of Guyanese law enforcement officers.

United States Secretary of State Antony J Blinken will be in Guyana next week to meet with President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Cabinet members to discuss a host of issues aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries as well as fostering regional cooperation.

In a statement on Friday, the Spokesperson at the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, announced that Secretary Blinken will travel to Georgetown on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

While here, the US official will be meeting with President Ali, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and other key members of the Guyana Cabinet.

During that engagement, they are expected to “…discuss priority bilateral issues including food and energy security and decarbonisation, climate resilience, regional migration, and building local capacity.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Secretary Blinken’s oneday visit to Guyana is part of efforts by the United States Government to strengthen ties with the Caribbean Region. In fact, he will first be travelling to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on July 5, to participate in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government meeting as well as the 50th Anniversary of Caricom celebration.

This visit by the US Secretary of State is building on Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic June 8 visit to The Bahamas, where she co-hosted the US-Caribbean Leaders Meeting. Secretary Blinken is expected to engage the represented Heads of Government, including Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, and incoming Caricom Chair and Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on pressing issues in the Caribbean Region.

This is the second visit by a US Secretary of State under the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

Back in September 2020, shortly after the swearing-in of the Ali-led Administration, the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a visit to Guyana during which he announced US$3 million for a “locally-led programme for citizens involvement in the Government” and another US$1.5 million for “the youth

of Guyana will be involved in democracy as well”.

This funding was from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pompeo had also announced the allocation of US$5 million to assist Venezuelans in Guyana who were forced to flee their country due to severe economic hardships and other political issues which have gripped the nation in recent years.

US Independence celebration in Guyana

Guyana and the US have enjoyed a strong bilateral relationship and this was only recently highlighted by outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, who reiterated her country’s commitment towards supporting Guyana on its journey of unprecedented growth and development.

She made these remarks at a reception on Thursday evening at the Marriott Hotel to celebrate the 247th Independence Anniversary of the United States, which will be observed on July 4.

According to the US diplo-

mat, her country will continue to support Guyana on its developmental path.

“Guyana is clearly on a unique and amazing journey. The United States has been and will continue to be on this journey with you. I could not be prouder of the enduring partnership between our two nations which I know will continue long past my tenure in Guyana… And you can count on me to be your champion for years to come. Your future is bright, Guyana; and like my favourite name of a tiny Guyanese community – Now or Never – Now is your moment, Guyana,” she posited.

Ambassador Lynch, who will be wrapping up her tenure in Guyana soon, also reflected on the gains made over the years to further enhance the relationship between Guyana and the US.

In the last year alone, these cooperations have seen the return of Peace Corps volunteers to work in key sectors like education, health and the environment across Guyana; hosting of the Caribbean Regional Security exercise for a second time in two years; training of

She also outlined the various high-level “productive and fruitful” visits to the US by Guyanese delegations including those led by President Ali to further strengthen and deepen the relationship between the two nations.

Another development the outgoing diplomat mentioned was the start of the historic Gas-to-energy project that will provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity for Guyanese citizens.

“I have been extraordinarily proud to lead a hard-working US Embassy team dedicated to deepening our partnership with the Guyanese people – those in the Government, those in the private sector, and those in civil society – to secure those democratic values and those democratic principles,” the Ambassador stated.

The US official went on to recognise Guyana’s efforts to not only become a strong leader in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), especially in the area of food security, but also increasing its leadership on the world stage.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Mrs Phillips, and Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, joined US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch (fourth from left) and other officials of the US Embassy in Georgetown for a photoop at the celebration of the 247th Independence Anniversary of the United States in Georgetown

Editor:

Tusika

Martin

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Drinking and driving

This year has already seen many major accidents. On our roadways daily, there is a high number of traffic offences.

The issue of alcohol and the massive damaging effects it is having on individuals and communities has again been brought to the fore, as several drivers have been caught drinking and driving. More unfortunate is that some of these were involved in fatal accidents.

Drunk driving is one of the most troubling traffic offences. Driving while either intoxicated or drunk is dangerous, and drivers with high blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC) are at a greatly increased risk of being involved in vehicular accidents and sustaining highway injuries and/or vehicular deaths.

Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is fully preventable. Although the proportion of alcohol-related crashes locally may not be as significant as they are in other countries, those that occur are still worrying. Unfortunately, in spite of these concerns, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious national problem that, tragically, affects many victims and their families.

The approach to combat drunk driving is severely lacking; and were the Police more prepared for this battle, then, as the holidays approach, public messages via the media would have been issued to citizens to constantly remind drivers about the impacts of drunk driving and what the law’s position on it is. Cautioning drivers every time about getting behind the wheel after surpassing the drink limit is necessary, as every year there are scores of young and new drivers who are not familiar with these issues, or the reality of the roads.

With the passage of the drunk-driving law over 10 years ago, the implementation of the breathalyzer test, and heavier fines for drinking and driving, it was thought that this particular offence would have decreased. These measures would not yield the best results if they are not used in a more holistic plan that aims to make the roads safer. Drivers need constant reminders about the dangers of drunk driving, and the Police must have plans that proactively seek out drunk drivers before they drive off.

Drunk driving aside, World Health Organization (WHO) data has shown that alcohol kills a whopping three million people worldwide each year — more than AIDS, violence and road accidents combined. It has been stated that men are particularly at risk.

According to the WHO, alcohol causes more than one in 20 deaths globally each year, including drunk driving, alcoholinduced violence and abuse, and a multitude of diseases and disorders. Men account for more than three-quarters of alcohol-related deaths.

Here, in Guyana, there are many social ills affecting citizens, and alcohol abuse is seen as one of the contributing factors.

Due to poor lifestyle choices, such as alcohol abuse, tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have resulted in large numbers of our young people dying. Another significant number have also fallen ill, and therefore cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

WHO has, over the years, been urging countries to do more to counter harmful drinking, and to reach a goal of cutting global consumption by 10 per cent between 2010 and 2025. It is also urging countries to tax alcohol and ban advertising of such beverages to reduce consumption. However, this is not enough, there is need to push for a change in attitude and lifestyle changes in general, especially among the younger segment of our population.

While the Government has played a crucial role in designing the relevant programmes and policies, and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders; such as religious groups, the Private Sector, and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), etc.

The failed Harvard negotiator

Dear Editor, It’s quite hilarious to read excerpts from Raphael Trotman’s book, ‘From Destiny to Prosperity’. He tried to absolve himself from any blame with regard to the lopsided ExxonMobil contract. After seven long years, he has realised that he must ‘correct someone else’s version of the truth’.

As the chief expert Harvard negotiator, as the Minister of Natural Resources, as an experienced lawyer, he certainly took his time to “give my side, my context, and even my defense to the lies, halftruths, misunderstandings, misinformation and vile accusations that have been uttered”.

Mr. Trotman provided two ‘lame duck’ excuses for his long overdue defence: he was advised not to get into ‘a gutter fight’ and he finally realized that no contract is ‘inviolable’. This is quite funny, when it is recalled that everyone at home and abroad lambasted him and he remained mum.

On February 4, 2020, an article appeared in a section of the media, captioned ‘Trotman’s role in poor Exxon deal should be probed - Global Witness’, in which the UK-headquartered body stated that “Trotman was treated to first-class travel, chauffeur-driven limousine rides, stayed at a pricey hotel, and dined at the company’s exclusive Wolfgang Puck Restaurant at Exxon’s expense, at a time when negotiations for the deal were ongoing, and (he) ignored advice by experts.

The question is: Why did he ignore expert ad-

vice that more financial information was needed before he signed the licence? Moreover, Global Witness had stated that he “presented Exxon with feeble negotiation terms”.

Mr. Trotman must have realised, as an experienced lawyer, that he lacked the capacity, competence, and more so all the relevant information to negotiate with the oil giant before signing that Exxon deal, which deprived Guyana of up to US$55 billion.

Further, the Report stated that Trotman “failed to capitalise on Guyana’s strong bargaining position” and that he should have awaited the assessment of the Stabroek Block’s true value, which was one of the largest finds in recent times. He signed the deal on 27th June 2016, and the find was announced on 28th June. Trotman, as the subject Minister, must have been aware that this announcement was imminent, and that would have strengthened his negotiating capacity.

It is basic that, if you are entering into a negotiation for the sale of an asset, you must know its value and what is the likely rate of return it is capable of generating. However, it would seem that Trotman went to the Exxon negotiation with an already made-up mindset, since he reportedly told the media, “I was authorised by Cabinet to travel, to sign etcetera”. This would seem to suggest that the then Minister of Natural Resources and the Cabinet agreed to accept Exxon’s terms even before the nego-

tiation commenced, and this would suggest further that the Coalition Government was already aware of Exxon’s offer. The negotiation was already done, and the deal was agreed upon. Therefore, Trotman went to sign the deal, not negotiate it. This was confirmed by Global Witness, which stated that it has evidence that negotiations began on April 4th or 5th, 2016, at the Exxon Headquarters outside Houston, Texas, and by twelve weeks later it was completed and signed by Trotman on behalf of Guyana. Is Trotman the sole architect and negotiator of the lopsided Exxon Contract?

It is clear that not only Trotman, but the entire Coalition’s Cabinet should be held accountable. It was not a one-man decision. Why the ‘banshee’ cry now for renegotiation? Why lambaste the PPP/C Government for a crime they did not commit?

Dr Jagdeo went at length to explain why the signed contract cannot be renegotiated, but it would seem that those fell on deaf ears.

However, Mr. Ramjattan provided insight into the mindset of the Coalition when they signed the Exxon Contract. It was no mistake, and it was no accident. This can be discerned by the statements he made. He declared that the Exxon deal was the best deal for Guyana. He claimed that the World Bank and the IMF agreed that a 2% royalty and 50% share of the profit is on par with the majority of countries where oil was found. He further claimed that it is also nearly 60%

‘government takes’ when all the other benefits are added.

Mr Ramjattan sees no reason for a renegotiation of that Contract, since Guyana needs the money for its socio-economic development, and he listed some of these: infrastructural works, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, broad asphaltic roads connecting every community, expansion of lands for agriculture, and so on.

The PPP/C Government has not disappointed Mr Ramjattan, since they are doing far more developmental work than what he had envisaged. On the other hand, his AFC colleague, the mastermind behind the signing of the contract, now wants the contract to be renegotiated, since it is ‘not inviolable’ and is not the best deal for Guyana.

This is just another ploy to attack the PPP/C Government. I used to hear about taking one’s mess and daubing it on another, but now I am witnessing this in action. Now Mr. Trotman wants to sell himself as an expert negotiator who can renegotiate a better deal. He has had his opportunity and he failed. What is he now bringing to the negotiating table?

There is a band of miscreants who are bent on finding relevance by attacking this Government as they had done in the past, but they are being exposed on a daily basis; some are open but some are more subtle. The Coalition have had their opportunity and they squandered it.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Prime Minister Mark Phillips sharing a toast with US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch, during a reception at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in observance of the United States’ 247th Independence Anniversary. Also in photo are Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Adrienne Galanek; and the Prime Minister’s wife, Mrs Mignon Bowen-Phillips

Responding positively to Mahdia school fire

Dear Editor, Even as many are ranting about a Commission of Inquiry into the recent Mahdia school fire, our Government must be lauded for its ‘first things first’ approach in this regard.

I speak here in relation to the “Mental health training (that was) conducted with Mount Sinai University” as it seeks to “…improve the mental health services provided to vulnerable communities…”

The joint media reports detailed that the exercise was a collaboration of the Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit and the New York-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and it was dubbed ‘trainthe-trainers’ Disaster Mental Health Training, for participants from various communities across Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni).

Right off the bat, I am compelled to thank the organisers for this event, as mental health is quite a challenge globally. Editor, in general, over the past few years, it's fair to say that most people still don't have a true understanding of just how big, onerous, and potentially damaging the ‘mental crisis’ really is on both a societal and personal level. The numbers simply don't lie.

According to the World Health Organization, around 450 million people currently struggle with mental illness, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. Just imagine!!!!

In Canada, a highly developed country, it affects more than 6.7 million. In fact, one in two Canadians have, or have had, a men-

tal illness by the time they reach 40 years. Alarming statistics like this only underscore the need for governments to get involved in one way or another.

According to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, this training will help healthcare workers in the area to be better able to identify challenges that patients may have, and refer them to professional doctors so that they can get the necessary care needed. As we all know, early detection of health issues precludes major disasters.

The second thing on my mind is that, in light of the recent Mahdia school fire, the repercussions mentally can indeed take a heavy toll on families and community members, and Guyana must act accordingly. Thus, the

Government is right in taking the initiative, dispatching several mental health teams in the Region Eight surroundings, where they are offering counselling and mental health assistance. These local teams comprise psychiatrists, child psychologists, counsellors and social workers, and they were supported by specialised counsellors hailing from Mount Sinai, Southcom Health Clinic, Northwell Health, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Finally, let me emphasize that all forms of mental illness overall are quite costly to society, as they form the leading causes of disability in many regions of the world, preventing a host of people from attending to basic duties such as work and studies. In fact, it gets worse, as we think

of the reality that the cost that disability leaves (as a result of mental illness) is about double the cost due to physical illness.

At the personal level, many of us do not think of mental illness as something we can die from (in the same way that people die from cancer, heart disease or diabetes), yet the inter-relationship between addictions and other forms of mental illness and their connection to physical health is undeniable.

Just look at these findings: The World Health Organization estimates one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. People with mood disorders are at much higher risk of developing a long-term medical condition. People with mental illness are two times more likely to have a substance use problem

versus the general population; and people with mental illness and addiction are more likely to die prematurely versus the general population. Need I go on?

So, then, let us rally around Health Minister Dr. Anthony, who disclosed that telemedicine services are now being offered in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) communities to improve the level of care available to residents. He stated, “In the affected villages, telemedicine capabilities have been installed to improve and deliver an expanded level of care to those communities.”

It’s a long road to healing, and we must take the necessary steps towards prevention and control.

Yours truly, HB Singh

Urgent improvement is needed within GPF

Dear Editor, I was watching the Evening News recently, and saw members of the Guyana Police Force marching. It was truly an embarrassment to the Force when one considers how poorly the Police marched and how unfit the officers looked.

This showed a clear indication of the lack of preparedness of the GPF. Even the school children that participated in the People's Parade in previous years, when they marched for the President and his senior officials, showed better preparation and discipline.

It is usually said that only disciplined people can build a nation. Given the current high level of crime in the country, we can conclude that the GPF needs to regain its strength and discipline. Corruption has weakened its very foundations.

"The Mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a profession-

al, proactive, and accountable manner". The taking of bribes is unprofessional, to say the least, and the lack of accountability within the GPF has allowed corruption to spread throughout the Force.

The aim of the GPF is to Build a Police Force that, through the correct training, access to the right equipment and technologies, and adherence to standards, will better serve the people of Guyana. Lack of proper training, and not adhering to the basic standards of performance are also reflected in the GPF's inability to better serve our people.

Each regional commander should be required to participate in an annual parade of his or her regional division, as part of an annual evaluation of the GPF's level of training effectiveness and internal discipline. Financial audits of its leaders and the effectiveness of crime prevention should also be used continuously to improve the performance of the Force.

The low presence of officers on the roads will only get worse if a six-storey building is built to house them. It would be better to spend those funds to establish and staff Police outposts in each community. Crime prevention is more effective if the officers are in the communities where the crime has been occurring. They were given equipment by the Chinese, and the result was numerous road accidents and a lack of care for the hard-to-

come-by equipment. The inability of Police officers to maintain control of something as basic as our roads is a very visible indicator of the urgent improvement needed. When our citizens see that the minibuses are no longer speeding and there is order and reduced noise coming from this segment of the transportation system, we will know that the GPF is headed in the correct direction. It is difficult for an of -

ficer to be respected by a bus conductor or a bus driver if officers are taking bribes to turn the other way as the laws are broken. When "Leff something" is a phrase of the past, maybe then these individuals would fear the Police, and think twice before attempting to raise their hands to assault an officer of the Force.

Remember the phrase, "You can't be wrong and strong"?

Let it guide you in your

decisions. A significant reduction in crime is needed, and the GPF must start by improving the accountability and internal discipline of its members. It is important that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the leadership of the GPF jointly come up with a strategy that would help the GPF improve its performance and reputation.

With concern, Jamil Changlee

Power Up Maths

Power Up Maths

Test

Power Up Maths

Power Up Maths

Power Up Maths

Test

Change to mixed numbers:

Power Up Maths

Power Up Maths

Change

Module Test

Change to improper fractions: 5)

Change to improper fractions:

Add or subtract and reduce result to simplest form :

Add or subtract and reduce result to simplest form :

Add or subtract and reduce result to simplest form :

Add or subtract and reduce result to simplest form :

Add or subtract and reduce result to simplest form :

Add

and reduce result to simplest form :

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form:

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form:

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form:

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form:

21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form: 21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form:

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

Create a ratio and reduce to simplest form: 21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

21) 9 persons were invited to Mary’s birthday party. How much of the cake will each person receive if the cake is divided equally among the guests and birthday girl?

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

22) In the church’s parking lot, there are 6 black cars and 10 silver -grey cars. Express this as a ratio.

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) :

Determine if the following proportions are equal (write yes or no) 26)

Govt exploring new opportunities to sell remaining carbon credits – VP Jagdeo –

says consultations will resume before NDC is submitted

their permitted limits can purchase carbon credits from nations that have low emissions such as Guyana.

“We’ve had several people reaching out to us and we are exploring those opportunities. When you look at the voluntary markets for forest carbon globally and you see the prices we got, these are really good prices. You will see a huge difference. We’re exploring other interests.”

isation of the money. Some have already started implementing those plans.

Meanwhile, indicating that Government is not in a hurry to sell the remaining carbon credits, the Vice President told the media on Thursday that Government is also exploring compliance markets.

The deal with HESS came on the heels of Guyana being the first country to receive a certification of more than 33 million carbon credits by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) on December 1, 2022.

gotiate, as part of the sale agreement, for the oil major to also purchase some 12.5 million carbon credits from the period 2016 to 2020 – referred to as “legacy credit”.

within 18 months of the signing.

The remaining 70 per cent of Guyana’s carbon credits are currently attracting interest from several markets, and Government is now exploring these opportunities, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

This development follows the striking multiyear agreement which the Government made with United States energy major Hess Corporation, for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to the tune of a whopping US$750 million.

A carbon credit is a tradable permit or certificate that allows the holder of the credit the right to emit a stated tonnage of carbon dioxide or an equivalent of another greenhouse gas. Countries and companies that exceed

For the period 2021 to 2025 in the Hess deal, Guyana’s carbon credits would be sold for US$20 per tonne, thus earning the country another US$250 million; while another US$312 million is expected during the 2025-2030 period when the credits would be sold at US$25 per tonne.

The 33.7 million credits being sold to Hess Corp is just 30 per cent of the carbon sink contained in Guyana’s vast forest cover. The country’s more than 18 million hectares of forest is estimated to store approximately 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

A total of $4.7 billion (US$22.5 million), which is 15 per cent of the US$150 million earned from carbon credits, is earmarked for distribution to Indigenous villages.

Of the 242 villages which have benefitted from the grants, 160 have already submitted plans approved by the communities for the util-

“We’re exploring some compliance markets now and what it takes to get into those compliance markets. There may be some additional things that are required.”

Being a signatory of the Paris Agreement, the former Government had put forward the intention of achieving 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

Given that no country has been able to achieve this and the former coalition failed to make a dent, Jagdeo said Government will be working on the revision of Guyana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to make it more realistic. According to Jagdeo, this will move Guyana closer to such markets.

“We have to resume the consultation and then submit a realistic NDC. That’s one of the things we will move forward on and hopefully, that will allow us to move closer to some of the markets that are currently available. So, we’re exploring some compliance markets, we have to get that done,” he shared.

However, it was explained that while the deal is for a 10-year period, that is, 2022 to 2032, the Government was able to ne-

Regarding the 12.5 million legacy credits, Hess will be paying a minimum of $15 per tonne, thus taking the total to about US$187 million. It was anticipated that this amount would be paid in full

Unlike the arrangements with the Norway deal, payments from this Hess agreement go directly into the Treasury as revenue but will be placed in a separate account for auditing and parliamentary accountability purposes as well as to allow for easy access to financing. (G-12)

US Secretary of State...

“These are strong signs of confidence by the international community that Guyana wants to contribute to regional and global efforts to strengthen international partnerships, the rule of law and to promote peace and stability around the globe,” Ambassador Lynch noted.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips hailed the US

as a long-standing development partner of Guyana – a relationship which he says is continuing to advance.

“We’ve noted and welcomed your country’s renewed interest in our bilateral relations. The recent and upcoming high-level visits between our two countries demonstrate the level of commitment employed to continue our engagement in advancing our

FROM PAGE 3

cooperation agenda.”

“The strong familial bonds of the Guyanese Diaspora have contributed in no small measure to the enduring ties that bind our two nations in friendship, mutual respect and cooperation as we seek to translate the mutually shared aspirations of our people for a better life in a better world for all,” PM Phillips said. (G-8)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Alleged rape victim wants ‘no further action’ against Dharamlall

The teenager embroiled in the sexual misconduct case against Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall has now withdrawn her accusations.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday confirmed that the alleged victim has given a “no further action statement” to investigators in the presence of one of her parents and a representative from the Child Care and Protection Agency. He added that a new file is being prepared and will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further legal advice.

Just Wednesday, the DPP advised the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to conduct further investigations into the allegation of rape against Dharamlall.

One day prior to her sending back the file, the DPP chambers stated that the Police file was being given due legal attention. Further, the Office of the DPP made it clear that constitutional

functions are executed in an impartial manner.

“This Police file in question is only one of thousands of Police files that the DPP’s Office receives from all stations in all 10 administrative regions of Guyana for legal attention. Files for persons in custody are given priority. The DPP’s Office will continue to carry out its constitutional functions in an impartial manner,” the DPP Office

said in its statement.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali assured that he would respect the outcome of the investigation, and indicated that the fate of the Minister as a Government Minister would be determined at the appropriate time.

“As President, I have no choice but to stand behind the decisions of the institutions. The institutions are independent of the Executive. It’s not a matter of standing behind, it is a matter of respecting whatever outcome is there,” the Head of State told media operatives.

“I am very strong on people’s rights and women and children; there is no compromise with that. I made it very clear from the inception that there is a procedure that has to be followed, and we have to trust our system. That system has commenced the investigation. I am not involved with that. The Minister proceeded on leave to allow that system to work. When the system completes its work, then subse-

quent decisions will be made,” President Ali added.

Minister Dharamlall is currently on administrative leave, following the allegation of sexual misconduct which first surfaced on social media two weeks ago. The allegations attracted the attention of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA), who have since launched investigations into the matter.

The Police Force had confirmed that an investigation was launched, and, in fact, the sitting Minister had presented himself at the Brickdam Police Station in the company of his lawyer, where he was arrested and placed on $1,000,000 bail as Police probe the matter.

The Minister has retained the services of Hughes, Fields & Stoby, which is Nigel Hughes’s law firm, to represent him in this matter. All the allegations have been denied, Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes has indicated.

Helping… …or

hurting??

In what’s gonna be one of the most divisive decisions in American jurisprudence, the US Supreme Court just overturned the doctrine that has guided their efforts to rectify the disparity in African-American participation in higher education -- Affirmative Action. The Civil Rights Movement, led by MLK and others, had fought for the barriers to Black progress to be taken down. Especially segregation in schools, which barred Black students from White schools, where the facilities and staff were far superior to the Black ones.

By the late sixties, the struggle had broadened, and the Government took the lead in taking measures for increasing the participation of minorities in governmental institutions and others that received governmental funding. The criteria for singling out these minorities were that they had to’ve been discriminated against historically. JFK, in 1961, had first used the term “affirmative action” to describe measures that discriminated POSITIVELY in favour of such groups.

Some elite universities then took the matter a step further, to designate in their admission policies a particular number of places for minorities. And this is when the proverbial sh*t hit the fan. White students felt that their right to equal treatment – guaranteed by the constitution – to secure higher education was being denied, and one of them - by the name of Bakke - took the matter to the Courts. It worked its way up to the Supremes, which came out with its decision in 1978 – forty-five years ago – in Regents of the University of California vs Bakke.

The divided court ruled that it was OK for affirmative action to be taken, but no quotas – such as the Univ of California’s reserving 18 out of 100 places for minorities in their Medical School - should be in place. It was a distinction looking for a difference, since the institutions could still reject students like Bakke, who had better grades etc than those of minorities, because of the TARGET of increasing diversity by approving minority enrollment!! And the die was cast since then to roll back Bakke.

The ones who felt the policy was most unfair were minorities – Asians and South Asians!! They were invariably the most qualified cohorts, yet were screened out from programs at places like Harvard. Their academic performance was off the charts – but they weren’t the QUALIFIED minorities, like Black or Native Indian. Many of them were probably represented by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) that brought the suit rolling back Bakke!!

They’ll now be seen as stalking horses for White privilege, since the application process gonna revert to the more subjective old processes that don’t have to consider race as a criterion for admission! But interestingly, the Black Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas voted for the majority!!

…with connections

It’s beyond belief that the Opposition would kvetch at President Ali’s extensive engagement with world leaders – yet they never stop praising Burnham for HIS diplomatic forays!! While some may throw their hands up and exclaim, “That’s politics”, your Eyewitness doesn’t agree. Politics is INSIDE our country: outside, we should all be one Guyana!! And he’s not talking about the President’s “One Guyana”. That’s domestic!!

When the Government has good relations with America, the EU, UK, China, India, Brazil, the Middle East, Most of Africa etc – it’s GUYANA that has those good relations!! And it’s why we got the nod for the UN Security Council seat! In the polarising world between the US and China, isn’t it helpful that we’re friends across their divide? With the Venezs sure to be snorting fire and brimstone after we get that favourable ruling on their border controversy, aren’t we going to need those friends??

What makes the President’s foreign outreach more potent is that he isn’t going with a begging bowl – like Burnham!!

…our profile

Your Eyewitness had just finished penning the above when he got the flash that US Secretary of State Blinken will be dropping in on Pres Ali next week. Was it a coincidence that Pressie had just announced he’d be visiting China??

Nigel Dharamlall

Removing names of non-residents from voters’ list, biometrics introduction require constitutional reform – GECOM Chair

Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh has declared that constitutional reform is needed in order for the Commission to clean the present voters’ list and introduce biometrics into the voting process.

She made this remark during a press conference on Friday, where the Elections Commission gave an overview of the recently concluded Local Government Elections (LGE).

The GECOM Chair was at the time responding, for the first time, to mounting calls by the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition for these two actions to be taken. In fact, the Opposition has been staging weeks of protests outside of GECOM’s head office to push for a clean voters’ list, claiming that the list in its current form is bloated.

But Justice Singh reminded of the August 2019 ruling by Chief Justice Roxane George, who ruled that the name of a person cannot be removed from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) from which GECOM prepares the voters’ list. The only exception for the removal of names from the NRR database is death.

Additionally, the Chief Justice had also ruled that residency is not a requirement for Guyanese citizens to be qualified to register and vote.

On this note, the GECOM

Chair contended that “…it is pellucidly clear that even if you are a Guyanese citizen living abroad, GECOM cannot move your name from the Register of Registrants because of the fact that you’re living overseas.”

Moreover, Justice Singh pointed out that there has been a “clamour for the introduction of biometrics at the place of poll” – something which she, again, dismissed based on the 2001 ruling in the Esther Perreira case, which she had adjudicated then as a High Court Judge. In that matter, she had ruled that the requirement of an Identification (ID) card to vote was unconstitutional.

Similarly, Justice Singh explained that the introduction of biometrics would disenfranchise voters if they were to refuse to participate in the process.

“This will take us back…,” she pointed out, adding that “To remove a person’s name from the voters’ list on the grounds of residency and the introduction of biometrics will necessitate an amendment to the Constitution… GECOM does not have the legal parameters to do this.”

The GECOM Chair pointed out that the Guyana Government, through the Attorney General, has announced plans for a constitutional reform process. In fact, the Constitution Reform Commission Bill 2022 was

passed in the National Assembly in November 2022, clearing the way for the establishment of a 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission.

In Budget 2023, some $150 million was earmarked for constitutional reform efforts and the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Commission this year.

Nevertheless, Justice Singh further emphasised that GECOM has the necessary safeguards in place at the place of polls to prevent any skullduggery.

Flagging names

However, while the Elections Commission cannot remove voters’ names from the list based on residency, it can strike off the names of those registered persons who have died.

Following amendments to the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08 last year, GECOM is now statutorily required to receive, on a monthly basis, a list of those persons who are registered as deceased from the General Register Office.

That list, according to Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Aneal Giddings, is then used by GECOM to identify those dead persons on the NRR Database.

“Since my time here, we go through a process of ensuring or verifying their existence on the National Register [of

Registrants], and using that document, we would flag them as deceased. That is actually the process that obtains currently as regards removal [of names from the NRR], and that is the legal way; it’s the only way persons are removed from the National Register of Registrants,” he explained.

According to the DCEO, this cleansing process is done roughly on a monthly basis and GEOCM is not required to publicise how many names of dead persons have been removed.

Continuous Registration

Meanwhile, it was also announced on Friday that the Elections Commission will resume the Continuous Registration Exercise in July for eligible persons at all of its permanent Registration Offices across the 10 administrative regions in Guyana.

According to Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud, this round of registration exercise will commence on July 4 and run until November 30, 2023.

During this registration exercise, any person who will be 14 years and older by December 31, 2023, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation, or registration, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, can apply for registration, providing he/she was never registered.

Existing registrants who are desirous of updating their records such as a request to correct or change their names, date of birth, occupation and update their addresses are advised that those transactions would also be facilitated during this exercise.

Persons desirous of con-

ducting any registration transaction whether new registration or changes/corrections to their particulars are required to visit the GECOM Registration Office responsible for their area of residence with the relevant source documents. These include an original birth certificate, valid passport, adoption certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of registration, and deed poll along with an original birth certificate (if applicable) in the case of making applications for new registration. With regards to application for change/correction of name and other particulars, persons are required to walk with their original marriage certificate, marriage certificate with decree absolute for divorced women, deed poll with birth certificate, or a new original birth certificate reflecting the new name. (G-8)

(L-R) Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, GECOM Chairperson Justice (retired) Claudette Singh and Deputy Chief Elections Officer Aneal Giddings at Friday’s press conference

US Embassy gifts 17-seater bus to Palms Rehab Centre

“You may notice that this bus is right-hand drive, even though vehicles in the United States are left-hand drive. That’s because this vehicle was shipped to Guyana from Japan, where it was previously used on Department of Defence military bases located there. And now, it’s found a new purpose in Guyana, where it will be used to transport people

with limited mobility to medical appointments and other necessary activities,” she added.

“This vehicle reflects the US Embassy’s continued commitment to the people of Guyana and assist where we can support Guyana’s health needs. I hope it serves the Palms Rehabilitation Centre well.”

This donation was made

through the Department of Defence’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme and will support transportation for the elderly, as well as others with limited mobility. The US Embassy said it is pleased to contribute to the social services offered by the Guyana Government to senior citizens who have contributed immensely to its development.

Reg 2 man dies from COVID-19, 74 active cases being monitored

The Health Ministry on Friday announced that another person has succumbed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) – indicating that the deadly virus is still circulating and infecting people locally.

A 64-year-old male from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) is the latest fatality. He died on June 27, taking the country’s death toll to 1299.

The United States Embassy in Guyana on Friday handed over a 17-seater passenger bus to the Human Services and Social Security Ministry to be used at the Palms Rehabilitation Centre.

The vehicle, valued at $5.2 million, was handed over to Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud by US Ambassador to Guyana,

Sarah-Ann Lynch at the Palms Rehab Centre, Brickdam, Georgetown.

“I’d like to say how very much we welcome this very tangible present to this institution that is the home of our senior citizens. In fact, it houses over 200 senior citizens and we will make use of this mode of transportation very quickly because the geriatric population will use it to go to the hospital for treat -

ment or any other place for therapy as well as the new programme set to unfold later in the year where we look at taking senior citizens for recreational and exercise activities,” Minister Persaud stated.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Lynch pointed out that this will allow persons with limited mobility to comfortably travel around for health checkups and other errands.

Four new cases were reflected in the updated dashboard, reflecting 72,385 confirmed cases. This accounts for 33,580 males and 39,805 females.

One person is seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Meanwhile, there are five persons in institutional isolation, 68 in home isolation, and zero in institutional quarantine. Recoveries stand at 72,012. There are 74 active cases and nine hospitalisations.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue observing the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry. This encourages the need for everyone five years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for everyone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others and; good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 189 million while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2.9 million.

Globally, there are 756 million confirmed positives with 6.8 million deaths. Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain, and loss of speech or movement.

However, vaccination sites are still open across the country where persons can acquire their primary or booster doses. The Ministry has noted the importance of maintaining immunity, by ensuring that all booster shots are up to date.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud collecting the keys to the bus from US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch

Father, 2 children perish as fire guts Charlestown apartment building

Tragedy struck at Drysdale Street

Charlestown, Georgetown, at daybreak on Tuesday after a fire ripped through an apartment building, leaving a father and his two young children dead.

The charred remains of 40-year-old Michael Richards and his two children – six-year-old Somaya Richards and four-year-old Supreme Richards were removed from among the debris after the fire was put out.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a release stated that it received reports of the fire at about 6:45h and immediately, three tenders, one water carrier, two ambulances, and a hydraulic platform from Central, Alberttown, Campbellville, and West Ruimveldt Fire Stations were deployed to the location.

Upon arriving at the scene, the firefighters observed a two-storey wooden and concrete building engulfed in flames and quickly sprang into action.

They managed to contain the blaze to one location but tragically, they could not have saved the man and his two children who were trapped in the inferno.

From the information received, Richards’ body was found close to the door, indicating that he might have been trying to escape while the remains of his two children were found in the bedroom. At the time of the fire, the mother of the children was not at home.

However, at the scene of the deadly fire, Guyana Times was told that several persons who occupied the upper flat of the house had managed to run to safety. One of those persons, Rachel Haynes, believes that the fire might have been electrical in origin.

“[I think so] because of the black smoke and the neighbour downstairs get footage of some wire spark-

ing…,” Haynes said. She was, however, unable to say where specifically she believed the electrical sparks began.

“I was about to press [my clothes] to go to work and them boys come and say the house smoking so that’s how we run out. By the time we run out, the whole house had smoke,” Haynes said.

Though the GFS statement revealed a prompt discharge of service, Haynes said that they took about 20 minutes to arrive on the scene.

“Even before we called them, the whole upstairs didn’t go on fire as yet. It was just smoke coming out,” Haynes said. In addition, Ryan Greenidge, an uncle of the two children explained that he was passing through the area when he observed that the house that his sister rented was on fire.

He stated that he immediately stopped his car and rushed to the scene. By then the fire tenders arrived but their efforts to get into the house proved futile. “I didn’t know what was preventing them from breaking open the door… then the fire get too intense and everyone had to retreat…”

He added that after the fire was put out, his brother-in-law’s body was at the door and the two children were in their room. “Them body burn up bad… you can’t recognise who is who… they burn,” he cried.

He said he had spoken to his sister earlier in the morning, when she informed him that she had to run some errands on the road and would return in a jiffy so that her husband could go to work.

“I don’t know how she would take it… but it will not be good at all…” Greenidge stated.

This fire comes only weeks after the fatal inferno at a home in Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which took the lives of a three-year-old girl and her nine-year-old differently-abled sister.

Shameena Hardat, 3, and Animika Hardat, 9, were left unattended in their home after their mother, Bibi Shabeeka Hardat, left to run an errand at Cove and John, ECD, just a few villages away.

The senior Hardat continues to await the GFS report regarding the cause of the deadly fire.

In an interview with this publication, she expressed her hope for the swift release of the investigation’s findings in order to dispel the misconception that her children were playing with matches, as was previously reported by some sections of the media.

Hardat strongly denied the accusations of being a careless mother and emphasised that she had hidden all flammable materials before leaving home on the day of the fire, June 7.

(Pooja Rambaran)

The aftermath of the deadly inferno in Charlestown

Dead: Somaya Richards

Dead: Supreme Richards

Fire caused by leaking gas cylinder leaves 7 homeless

One day after a fire had ripped through a three-storey building at Non-Pareil, East Coast Demerara, the Guyana Fire Service have (GFS) reported that it was started by a leaking gas cylinder.

Unfortunately, that fire -- at Lot 360 Section B, NonPareil, ECD -- has left at least seven persons making alternative living arrangements.

Following reports of the fire, tenders from the Melanie, Campbellville and Alberttown Fire Stations were dispatched to the area. But despite the valiant efforts of the firefighters, the fire caused significant damage to the structure. The top floor and its contents were completely destroyed, while the first floor suffered severe damage. Additionally, the firefighting operation resulted in water damage to the ground floor.

Those affected by the fire include Maxine Murray,

Graymond Douglas, Aliza Cummings and her daughter on the top floor, and Renuka Muka, Kelvin Reddy and a twelve-year-old child on the

first floor. The ground floor housed a supermarket and general store.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the GFS re-

vealed that the fire was caused by flammable vapours released by a Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder which, according to the GFS, had come

into contact with open flames from a lit gas stove, triggering a rapid spread of the fire throughout the upper and lower storeys of the building.

In light of the escalating number of fires impacting homes and businesses, the Guyana Fire Service are again emphasising the importance of caution and preventive measures. They advise against leaving cooking unattended, and urge parents to keep children away from the kitchen or cooking area.

Educating children about fire safety and appropriate responses in fire-related emergencies is crucial, they inform; and individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or those who smoke, should avoid using stoves and ovens.

The Guyana Fire Service recommend installing smoke detectors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers in buildings, and keeping buckets of sand to promptly suppress fires in their early stages. Moreover, homeowners are urged to establish evacuation plans and ensure clear exit paths for use during fire emergencies. (G-9)

Motorcyclist dies in 2-vehicle smashup along Mandela Avenue

Atwo-vehicle collision along the Nelson Mandela Avenue in Georgetown on Wednesday evening has left a young motorcyclist dead and his pillion ride injured.

Dead is 20-year-old Joshua Blackin of Toucan Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while the injured pillion rider is 18-yearold Natasha McKenzie of Kiskadee Drive in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The accident reportedly involved motorcycle CL 9706, which was being driven by Blackin, and motorcar PNN 9458, which was being driven by a 40-year-old resident of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Based on reports re -

ceived, the driver of the motorcar alleges that he was travelling north in the western drive lane of Nelson Mandela Avenue when he noticed the motorcyclist driving at a fast rate south in the eastern drive lane.

In the vicinity of Space

Gym, Blackin's motorcycle skidded sideways from the eastern drive lane and collided with the motorcar, and he and the pillion rider fell on the road and sustained injuries to their bodies.

The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were called to the scene, and they pronounced Blackin dead. The pillion rider, who remained conscious, was attended to by the EMTs and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was treated and sent away.

A breathalyzer test was administered on the driver of the car, but no signs of alcohol were detected in his system. He was, however, taken into custody, pending investigations and charges.

Fire destroyed this home at Non-Pareil, ECD

Dead: Joshua Blackin

GCCI encourages inter-business collaboration as 2nd National Small Business Week is launched

our theme is about collaboration so really digging into what the small businesses do and how we can position them for collaboration will be what we will be trying to showcase,” Gurcharan related.

A highlight of the week will be the highly anticipated 'Teenternship' programme, empowering students and persons interested in starting a small business with hands-on training alongside accom-

plished business executives.

“We're covering topics such as leadership, management, organisational structure – nothing very intense [but] a very nice immersive experience where they will work with a manager or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for five days and understand how businesses run at the medium scale,” Gurcharan said.

She further pointed out that this week of events concludes with a small busi-

ness seminar and expo to be hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on July 29.

GTT Chief Operations Officer Orson Ferguson remarked that National Small Business Week aligns with the telecom giant’s expectations and belief that when small businesses thrive, the economy thrives.

“We believe that small businesses, small and medium-sized businesses absolutely need more platforms

to showcase their products and services. We think that this expo is an excellent platform for small businesses. We think that the seminars and training, and exposure that those activities bring for small businesses is extremely, extremely important,” Ferguson said.

He added that some of the seminars will be livestreamed to offer businesses unable to physically participate a chance to still take in valuable information.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday launched its second National Small Business Week under the theme, “Strategic Collaboration for Success” which calls for increased partnerships between small businesses in the country.

National Small Business Week aims to elevate micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within GCCI’s membership, of which some 60 companies will be participating this year.

During a press conference on Friday, GCCI President Kester Hutson encouraged small businesses to look at different ways to collaborate, one of which can be to pool their resources and collectively seek out contracts.

“We recognise that you have quite a few businesses who operate in their own space but don't have the resources to grow and develop,” Hutson said.

“And so, with over 800 members within the GCCI, we will now ask these mem-

bers to start looking at the different lenses of collaboration, for persons operating in the same space to pool their resources, go after contracts and projects [together] and to grow in a successful and steady manner,” Hutson said.

Echoing this call for collaboration, GCCI also partnered with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Ministry to host this year’s activities which runs from July 21 to 29.

The roster of events includes Small Business Saturday, an opportunity to interact with businesses in Georgetown and Linden, and Small Business Sunday, a similar opportunity, this time hosted in Berbice and Essequibo.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Committee Chairperson, Evie Gurcharan highlighted other activities including a Rising Entrepreneurs Video Series.

“That will cover a few of the participants so that the public can learn more about what they do. And of course,

As part of the Government’s efforts to boost Guyana’s agriculture sector, some 6000 farmers along the coast will benefit from a US$3 million InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB)-funded initiative under the Agriculture Sector Development Unit’s (ASDU) Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP).

This will be made possible through the provision of specialised extension services, critical machinery, and planting materials that were procured for the project.

Component two of the programme targets farmers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10 who will receive inputs such as land tillers, water pumps, drip systems, shade house materials, threshing machines, plucking machines, gestation crates, breeding animals (cattle, swine, small ruminants, black giants), planting materials, etc to improve their operations and increase productivity.

The programme will also see farmers benefiting from technical support in areas such as best prac-

tices for both plant and animal husbandry as well as technological integration in agriculture.

During a simple handing over exercise at the Ministry’s head office on Friday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the inputs will assist with the Government’s efforts to assist small- and medium-scale farmers with advancing their agricultural practices. He said the Government is also working to ensure farmers are exposed to improved technology given the impacts of climate change on the agri-

culture sector.

The Minister added that the Government will continue to support the nation’s farmers and also encouraged the use of inputs such as shade houses to complement climate-smart agricultural practices.

“Guyana is leading the charge for agriculture in Caricom so our farmers will have to continue to put in that effort to produce.

Budgetary allocations for the sector have increased which serves as a testament to the Government’s unwavering support to you, the farmers, as you contin-

ue in those efforts. We will continue to support you in every way possible. With the effects climate change is having on the sector, inputs like shade house materials, which will be handed over under this project, are critical for combating the harmful effects climate change has on farming,” the Minister noted.

Meanwhile, IDB Country Representative to Guyana, Solórzano Salazar said that the IDB was pleased to support the Government in its efforts to boost the income of smalland medium-scale agricultural producers.

“The project will assist with providing you with support to improve your production. This project not only caters for the provision of machinery. The Ministry has also catered for extension services so farmers will also benefit from technical assistance which is an ingredient to promote production and minimise poverty in the rural areas. As it relates to the adoption of new technologies, we are in an era where technology is around. This is why we need to add the available technology to our farming activities,” she noted.

GCCI President Kester Hutson, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Committee Chairperson Evie Gurcharan, and GTT Chief Operations Officer Orson Ferguson

Minister Mustapha with other officials of the IDB during the exercise

6000 farmers to benefit from IDB-funded US$3M initiative

83% hinterland communities will get clean water by year-end – Min Rodrigues tells Reg 9 Toshaos

Speaking on some of these investments, Rodrigues stated that the water sector saw an injection of $2 billion from August 2020 to date, and another $1.4 billion will be spent in 2023.

Under the 2023 work programme, water supply systems in Aranaputa, Moco Moco, Sand Creek, Karasabai, Wowetta, Quiko, Massara, Baitoon, Crashwater, Kattur, Tiger Pond, Kumu and Bashaidrun will be extended.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues on Friday engaged Toshaos from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who gathered in Lethem for the Regional Toshaos Conference.

The event is being held at the Amerindian Conference Hall and will run for two days, with participation from Toshaos and Senior Councillors from more than 58 villages throughout the region.

In her remarks, Rodrigues outlined that to date, more than 90 per cent of develop-

mental projects as planned from 2022 to 2023 throughout the region have been completed. This is in addition to a number of commitments made by President Irfaan Ali.

She added that the Administration will ensure 100 per cent access to clean and potable water by 2025. This is five years earlier than what is set out by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“We will ensure access to clean and safe water for all by 2030 and we are going to do it five years earlier. We have 230 hinterland communities across the country, and our in-

vestments in the water sector will ensure this.”

The Minister pointed out that overall, 97 per cent of Guyana’s population has access to clean potable water. However, for the hinterland and riverine communities, there is 75 per cent coverage and by the end of 2023, with investments being made the coverage will increase to 83 per cent.

“When we came into Government, it stood at 46%, in less than 3 years we were able to increase that by 30% and that is as a direct result of investments made.”

Also, the drilling of deep wells and extension of distribution networks will be done in Kaicumbay Village, Aishalton, Awarewarnau, Maruranau, Potarinau, Hiowa, Parishara, Semonie, Quatata, Shiriri, Katoonarib, Fairview and Rupertee.

Meanwhile, on the housing front, some 10 communities have been identified in the region to benefit from the Hinterland Housing Programme. These communities include Shiriri, Parabara, Crash Water, Yakarinta, Quatata, Nappi, Tiger Pond, Yurong Peru, Rupanau and Shea.

Meanwhile, the Minister also used the opportunity to commend the villages that

have already started planning for the benefits of the carbon credit.

“We believe in allowing people to engineer their own development, we make ourselves available in communities and your feedback is critical. We can’t unanimously decide what’s best for you in your communities.”

Also, persons were given the opportunity to raise issues affecting them and seek the Minister’s intervention. Also in attendance at the conference was Permanent Secretary Andre Ally, GWI’s Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailal and other technical staff.

Thirteen days of searching for missing boat captain Carl Subratie culminated with his body being discovered on Thursday at around 12:00h below Marshall’s Falls in the Lower Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Subratie, 61, of Palmer’s Point, Lower Mazaruni River, had been reported missing by his family when he failed to return home on June 17 after having left his residence to transport a group of passengers to an interior location.

According to Sameena Subratie, the man’s daughter, her father had lived alone, and had been working as a boat captain for the past 27 years, primarily operating in various interior locations.

The family grew concerned on Father’s Day, the day after he left home, when attempts to contact him on his mobile phone were unsuccessful. Despite continuous calls being made until Monday morning, there was no response, prompting Sameena to reach out to her uncles to inform them of the situation.

Subsequently, the boat captain’s brothers visited the location where he had dropped off the passengers, and were informed that he had indeed completed the task and had left the area to return home. Upon the brothers’ return home, they reported the matter to the Police. After several days of searching, the body was discovered.

The Police report noted that the body was found facedown in the river, and exhibited several bruises and lacerations. The report also indicated that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition.

The body was subsequently taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where, after examination, a doctor officially pronounced the man dead. The body is now reposed at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Contacted by <<Guyana Times>> on Friday, the man’s daughter has expressed unease about her father’s death. She said that although her father’s body was found, his boat remains unaccounted for.

Contrary to the Police report, she claimed, her father’s body was not significantly decomposed, and displayed what appeared to be chop wounds.

“His body was okay…I went to identify him. The only parts that looked like something was wrong were the swollen parts that seemed to have chop wounds. Something doesn’t seem right. How can somebody be in the water for 13 days and not be badly decomposed? And we can’t find the boat,” she declared.

While not wanting to jump to conclusions, family members say they will await the results from the autopsy before contemplating their next steps.

(LaWanda McAllister)

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, addressing Toshaos in Region Nine on Friday

A section of the gathering at the conference in Lethem

“Something doesn’t seem right” – family awaits PME as body of missing boat captain found

Dead: Carl Subratie

Govt inks $100M loan agreement with SBDF to expand small businesses

erating in conditions where the business can grow, flourish, prosper and expand.”

Since its establishment, the SBDF has disbursed 6835 loans at a total value of $4.5 billion, having started in 2002 with a capital base of $21 million – $10 million of which came from the Government. The Trust also provides mentoring and advisory support services to small operators.

of $300 million for the distribution of 800 small business grants. However, by the end of 2022, it had distributed a total of 1431 grants. The SBB Fund has grown significantly since 2020. In the 2020 and 2021 budgets, the respective sums of $100 million and $250 million were approved.

der the SBB, businesses must be compliant with all the requirements, including being registered with the Deeds and Commercial Registry, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). A business plan must also be submitted.

The Guyana Government has signed a $100 million loan agreement with the Small Business Development Finance Trust Incorporated (SBDF), to promote the development and expansion of small and medium enterprises.

The loan was signed on Friday between Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Chairman of SBDF, Sattaur Gafoor in the presence of Commerce Minster Oneidge Walrond and other officials.

The loan will be used to finance individuals or companies wishing to develop and expand their operations, with loans at no more than eight per cent interest rate.

Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond explained that this is yet anoth-

er mechanism to support small business development. The Trust was chosen, she noted, since it sports a remarkable track record of supporting businesses in its 20-year existence.

“This loan facility will complement and compete with the efforts of the Small Business Bureau. We’re primarily extending grants. The maximum that can be given is $500,000. The Trust will now be extending loans that can be larger than the SBB can award,” she said.

According to Gafoor, the loan will significantly assist stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

“It is not a paltry sum and above all, at the concessionary rate of four per cent. This would go a long way to as-

sist small farmers, a number of whom are increasing for loans. This would really assist us in meeting those demands,” Gafoor outlined.

However, Dr Singh explained that the Government is pressing aggressively to support persons financially to kickstart their small business enterprises. According to him, this grant is the latest instalment of these ongoing efforts.

“Every single small business, if well managed, has the potential to grow, and to expand, and to prosper. Step by step, block by block, that is the environment that President Irfaan Ali is endeavouring to create; an environment where every Guyanese person who wishes to set up a small business is able to do so and is op-

The Small Business Bureau is continuing work on its part to issue grants. In 2022, the Bureau surpassed its grant distribution target by 631.

The agency had a budgetary allocation for the sum

Just recently, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo indicated that over 700 small business owners from across the 10 administrative regions will soon receive grants from the Bureau to help them grow their enterprises and achieve sustainability.

To benefit from grants un-

Apart from this, several other mechanisms are in place to support small business owners. In March, a $900 million forestry revolving fund for small and medium-sized loggers was officially launched by Government to support those in the sector. (G-12)

Minister Oneidge Walrond handing over the document to Chairman Sattaur Gafoor in the company of Minister Ashni Singh and other officials of the SBDF

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CCJ Judge reappointed to Court of Arbitration for Sports

Justice Winston Anderson, a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), has been reappointed as a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), a global body headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. The appointment was made by the International Council of Arbitration for Sports.

Justice Anderson, who has been a Judge of the CCJ since 2010, will serve on the CAS until 2026. He

is also the Chair of the CCJ Academy for Law, and was first appointed to CAS in 2021.

The CAS was established in 1984, following its ratification under the leadership of then President Kéba Mbaye and Secretary General Gilbert Schwaar, to treat with, and settle, disputes related to sports through arbitration. The CAS primarily determines two types of disputes, the first being commercial disputes

concerning issues such as contracts and sponsorship, and the second being disciplinary matters.

Justice Anderson’s experience in sports law is quite extensive. This Jamaican national is the author of the “Governance by International Sports Bodies: Time to Call Time-Out?” published by the 2023 Sports Law Review. He was also appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committees of Cricket

Girl, 13, allegedly raped by duo

Two men are accused of savagely raping a 13-year-old girl, whom they allegedly attacked just after noon on Thursday in a community along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, EBD.

down and start bleeding and vomiting,” one of the girl’s relatives told Guyana Times.

West Indies in 2017, and became a Member of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct Commission (ICC) in 2018.

In January 2023, his appointment as a Member of the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee was renewed.

The CCJ has since commended Justice Anderson on his sterling achievement, as he continues to represent the Caribbean in his various roles.

Based on reports received, at about 13:00h on the day in question, the teen was sent to a nearby shop to purchase some items when she was reportedly attacked and knocked unconscious by the two men, who are said to be in their 20s. They then carried her to an abandoned shop, placed her on a bed, and allegedly raped her before making good their escape, leaving her there. She somehow managed to walk home.

When the girl returned home that afternoon, she reportedly went to use the washroom, but after spending an extensive time there, her guardians began questioning her.

“After she came out the washroom, she fall

As a result, she was rushed to the community’s health centre, and was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital(GPHC) for further treatment. It was there that she regained consciousness and was able to relate the unpleasant details of the incident.

This publication understands that the girl was able to give descriptions of her attackers. In fact, she identified one of them from a photograph that was shown to her. According to the relative, clothes belonging to one of the perpetrators were found next to the shop.

The suspects have been identified to this newspaper only by their aliases. It is, however, unclear whether the teenager had known the two men. A report has since been filed with the Police.

Justice Winston Anderson

CCJ holds sensitisation session with Guyana Judiciary on Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas

for determination before delivering judgment.”

Listed among the CSME’s objectives are improved standards of living and work, and the full employment of labour and other factors of production. These and the other objectives of the CSME have implications for such matters as the free movement of goods, services, skills/people, and capital; the right of establishment; and the engendering of a sense of belonging within the Community, Justice Saunders noted.

ing seen as a dialogue between the national courts and the CCJ to ensure uniformity in the development, interpretation, and application of Caricom law, the significance of national courts to this process cannot be overstated.

The series of workshops is geared towards increasing awareness of the role of the CCJ, the national courts, and the legal profession in the process, and explaining the rationale and steps to be taken in realising the RTC’s referral process.

fully inspire them to be more engaged with the CCJ's proceedings.

“Access to justice requires people to be able to see their court at work, as it encourages accountability and transparency, which in turn advances public trust and confidence.

“Conducting itinerant sittings would also allow the Court to better understand the progress, needs and challenges experienced by key stakeholders of one of its contracting parties. Improved quality of court

and judicial service delivery will result from the proposed activity.”

The CCJ’s visit to Guyana came at an auspicious time in the history of the Caribbean Community. On August 1, Caricom will mark its 50-year milestone. This anniversary will be observed with a number of activities in 2023 and 2024.

Guyana abolished appeals to the United Kingdom’s Privy Council in 1970, and until the establishment of the CCJ in 2005, the local Court of Appeal

was the country’s final court. In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ is critical to the CSME, and all 12 Member States which belong to the CSME (including their citizens, businesses, and governments) can access the Court’s Original Jurisdiction to protect their rights under the RTC. In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ is the final court of appeal for criminal and civil matters for Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, and Saint Lucia.

During its recent itinerant sitting in Guyana, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) held a sensitisation session with members of Guyana’s Judiciary and the Bar on the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), which established the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Specifically, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders took them through an immersive introduction to the referral process prescribed by Article 214 of the RTC, and the respective roles to be played by national courts and the CCJ in that process. He said similar sessions were held in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago because, to date, no use has been made of the referral process.

Article 214 of the RTC states: “Where a national court or tribunal of a Member State is seized of an issue whose resolution involves a question concerning the interpretation or application of this Treaty, the court or tribunal concerned shall, if it considers that a decision on the question is necessary to enable it to deliver judgment, refer the question to the Court [CCJ]

He explained that, within this regime, the CCJ plays a critical role by promoting and protecting a rules-based system of integration ushered in under the RTC.

“The Court’s centrality to the CSME is grounded by, and results from, the exclusive and compulsory jurisdiction conferred upon it by the RTC in matters concerning the interpretation and application of the Treaty,” he explained.

According to him, the effect of this role is that, through the regional court’s decisions and opinions, it sheds light on, and shapes, Caricom/Community law by putting flesh on, and giving effect to, the bare bones structure of the Treaty.

While the CCJ’s competence is singular and exclusive, he said, it does not stand alone. “…there is a unique and critical role to be played by national courts and tribunals in shaping Community law. Indeed, through the referral process, national courts work with and alongside the CCJ with a view to ensuring that the full potential of the CSME is realised and treaty rights and obligations are respected and observed.”

He emphasised that with the referral process be-

The series forms part of a project co-funded by the European Union (EU) through the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF). While thanking the EU for partnering with the regional court on this project, Justice Saunders pointed out the need for judicial dialogue and cooperation in furthering the goals and objectives of the Caricom Single Market and Economy.

For the second time since 2014, the CCJ, headquartered in Port of Spain in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, sat in Guyana - from June 21-22. While in Guyana, the Court conducted a series of stakeholder engagements and sensitisation sessions to facilitate greater awareness of the Referral Process, the Court’s Original Jurisdiction, and related issues such as criminal justice reform in the Caribbean.

In a press statement, the CCJ noted that its visit serves four main purposes.

“First, it will assist in improving awareness of the Court, its work, and its significance to Guyanese society as well as the wider region. It will also give citizens of Guyana the opportunity to see their final court of appeal at work, and hope-

Commonwealth SG to attend Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in T&T

Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland will attend the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Port-of-Spain from July 3 to 5, 2023, as a special guest.

This year marks 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago in 1973, which led to the establishment of the Caribbean Community. The next week’s meeting will officially launch Caricom’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Speaking ahead of her visit, the Commonwealth Secretary General commended the achievements of the organisation, stating: “Caricom came together 50 years ago to enhance the connections, well-being, prosperity, and security of Caribbean countries and their citizens. Those ob-

jectives were prescient then, and now, half a century later, they are more important than ever.”

“The Commonwealth’s partnership with Caricom spans over the past 50 years, and today, our cooperation on a wide array of initiatives is more comprehensive than ever before,” she added.

While in Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretary General will engage with Caribbean leaders, seeking their perspectives and collaborating on strategies to provide more tailored and practical assistance to the Region.

She will also update leaders on preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to take place in Samoa from October 21, 2024.

With 12 of the 15 Caricom members also being part of the Commonwealth, the Secretary

General emphasised the importance of strengthening the collaboration between the two organisations.

She will highlight the targeted assistance being provided by the Secretariat to the Region, particularly through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub. As of June 2023, the hub has helped secure over US$52 million in climate finance for Commonwealth member countries in the Caribbean.

During the conference, Secretary General Scotland will reaffirm the Commonwealth’s unwavering commitment to championing the concerns and interests of small states on the global stage, with a focus on urgent climate action and advocating for a new global financing system that addresses the needs of the small and vulnerable.

CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders

Regional Bolsonaro barred from holding public office in Brazil until 2030

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's political career was in tatters on Friday as Brazil's federal electoral court (TSE) barred the farright nationalist from public office until 2030 for his conduct during last year's fraught election.

Five out of seven justices voted to convict the 68-yearold Bolsonaro for abuse of power and misuse of the media over his actions in July 2022, ahead of the election, when he summoned ambassadors to vent unfounded claims about Brazil's electronic voting system.

Their decision marks a stunning reversal for Bolsonaro, a fiery populist who narrowly lost the October vote to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Many in Brazil blame Bolsonaro for creating a nationwide movement to overturn the result, which culminated in the Jan 8 invasion of Government buildings in Brasilia by thousands of his supporters.

The impact from the electoral court's ruling is likely to

ripple through Brazilian politics, removing Lula's main foe from contention in 2026 and opening up space among a competitive field on Brazil's right.

The majority opinion in the trial was written by Justice Benedito Goncalves, who said Bolsonaro used the meeting with ambassadors to "spread doubts and incite conspiracy theories." Two conservative-leaning judges dissented.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a longtime Bolsonaro adversary who currently

Hurricane Beatriz strengthens off coast of Mexico

One of the first Pacific hurricanes of the season gained strength Friday off Mexico's western coast, threatening to bring strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and landslides, forecasters said.

Storm Beatriz gained hurricane force as it moved northwest, packing maximum sustained winds of about 80 miles (130 kilometres) an hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

of Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan state, it added.

A hurricane warning was in effect for a stretch of coastline from the resort city of Zihuatanejo in Guerrero state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco state.

Beatriz could strengthen further on Friday if its centre remains over water, before starting to weaken on Sunday, the NHC said.

flooding, it warned. Beatriz is the second hurricane of the season in the eastern Pacific.

The first, Adrian, was heading further out to sea having avoided the mainland.

Tropical cyclones hit Mexico every year on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November.

heads the TSE, joined the majority, saying Bolsonaro had spread a "chain of lies and fraudulent news" in his "radical" speech to ambassadors.

Lula's team celebrated the result.

"Some important messages come from the TSE trial: lying is not a legitimate tool for exercising a public function and politics is not governed by the law of the jungle," Justice Minister Flavio Dino tweeted. "Democracy has overcome its toughest stress test in decades." (Excerpt from Reuters)

US top diplomat Blinken to discuss Haiti crises with country's premier

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss political, security and humanitarian crises in Haiti with Prime Minister Ariel Henry next week, a State Department official said on Friday.

Blinken will travel to Guyana and neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago on July 5-6, the State Department said. While in Trinidad and Tobago, Blinken will meet with Henry, who took power in July 2021 days after the

Commonwealth SG to...

FROM PAGE 17

have shown their best. They have led the world on the issues of the day, and they have shown their true power as a united voice for those who are in need.”

assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Blinken would discuss a range of priorities on the Caribbean trip, including food and energy security, climate resilience, regional security and migration management, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein, told reporters.

Blinken will attend the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government meeting and its 50th anniversary celebration in Trinidad and Tobago.

At 1800 GMT, Beatriz was located some 45 miles southwest of the port

Heavy rain "could lead to localised flash flooding and mudslides" in affected areas, as well as "a dangerous storm surge" that could cause significant coastal

Last year, Hurricane Agatha, the first of the Pacific season, left nine people dead after slamming into southern Mexico in May. (Jamaica

Observer)

Venezuela bars leading opposition candidate Machado from holding office

Maria Corina Machado, one of the favorites to win the Venezuelan opposition's nomination for president in an October primary, has been barred from holding public office for 15 years, the country's controller general said in a letter.

Machado, a 55-year-old industrial engineer and former lawmaker, is leading polling for the 13-candidate primary, convened to select a unity candidate to face socialist President Nicolas Maduro in a 2024 election.

A previous ban placed on her has been expanded because Machado supported sanctions by the United States on the Maduro Government and backed former opposition leader Juan Guaido, the letter said.

Lawmaker Jose Brito, who serves in the ruling party-controlled national assembly, asked the controller this week to clarify Machado's status.

Thursday that "a ban by the regime is garbage, it means zero," adding it showed the Maduro Government "is being defeated."

In particular, she will draw attention to the significant gap between the ambitious climate finance pledges and the limited funding actually being disbursed to help developing countries to tackle climate change.

Secretary-General

Scotland stated, “We cannot stand by as small and vulnerable states drown in rising seas and suffocate under crushing debt. Small states, least responsible for climate change, suffer a double injustice – enduring the devastating aftermath of disasters and grappling with exorbitant borrowing costs for recovery.”

She further highlighted the resilience of the Caribbean region, stating “For decades, when it has been faced with the worst, Caribbean leaders

Acknowledging the recent announcements made at the Paris Climate Finance Summit as “important steps in a much longer journey”, the Secretary-General added that after advocacy from the Commonwealth and the Caribbean, spearheaded by the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon Mia Mottley, with the support of other regional leaders, the reforms to multilateral lending practices are now being seriously considered.

There is hope, she added, that these will be amended to reflect the realities of the climate crisis and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable states. This CARICOM conference is convened under the chairmanship of the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica – the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral’s country of birth.

Following the CARICOM conference, the SecretaryGeneral will embark on an official visit to The Bahamas to take part in the country’s celebrations for the 50th anniversary of independence.

"The Secretary will urge Prime Minister Henry to work urgently with Haitian stakeholders to enlarge the political consensus and fashion a political path forward that returns Haiti to democratic order," Feinstein said.

Blinken will also reaffirm US support for the Haitian National Police and for the deployment of a multinational force and/or peacekeeping operations.

Several Caribbean leaders have spoken up in support of a multinational force, she said, and Blinken looked forward to a broader conversation with the leaders, including Henry.

Since last year, Henry has called for an international force to rein in gangs that control large parts of the country, fuelling a humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of thousands.

The United States has pushed Canada to take a leading role, but countries have been wary of sending troops in support of the unelected government of Henry, who has in turn said security must be established to hold credible elections. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Machado has been barred from leaving Venezuela for the last nine years and was previously banned from office for 12 months in 2015 because, according to the controller, she did not include some benefits received when she was a lawmaker in her assets declaration. Machado says she never received the benefits.

"The citizen Maria Corina Machado Parisca ... is disqualified from the exercise of any public office for the period of 15 years," the controller said in its response, dated June 27 and shared by Brito on Friday.

Machado, who has proposed privatising state oil company PDVSA and restructuring Venezuela's debt, told supporters on

The ban does not affect Machado's ability to run in the primary because the opposition is holding it without state support. But it means she could not register with electoral authorities to appear on the ballot in the presidential race.

The opposition has said for years that bans are used by the ruling party to prevent political change.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

In parched Uruguay, tensions rise as water levels fall

At the Canelon Grande Reservoir, a major source of water for Uruguay's thirsty capital Montevideo, water levels have been so low for so long that grass now covers much of what used to be a lake.

"It's bleak," local Mario del Pino said, standing in the middle of the reservoir, surrounded by weeds and cracked dirt.

"Water used to cover everything you can see."

The South American country of 3.5 million people is reeling from its worst drought in 74 years, pushing frustrated residents to depend on bottled water.

Low rainfall has forced water authorities to use water from a saltier part of the Santa Lucia river, which supplies most of Uruguay's drinking water, leaving tap water undrinkable for many.

"It's horrible. You can't drink it," said teacher Adrian Dias, who buys two or three 6.5 liter (1.7 gallon) bottles of water every two weeks. "My wife has hypertension, so it's impossible for her to drink this water for the amount of salt it has."

Anger over water shortages has incited multiple protests on the streets of the capital. At State-owned wa-

ter utility OSE, graffiti says "there is no drought, just looting."

"There's water, but it's in private hands," reads a banner hanging outside OSE.

Federico Kreimerman, an OSE union leader, said agribusiness was partially to blame for Uruguay's water woes, explaining water from the Santa Lucia River is siphoned off to private reservoirs for irrigation.

"The share of water for human consumption is tiny," Kreimerman said. "Agribusiness entrepreneurs dam the river and use it for themselves."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro talking with media at a restaurant, on the day the Electoral Justice continued the trial to determine his political rights, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil June 30, 2023

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado participating in a march ahead of the October presidential primary, in Caripito, Monagas State, Venezuela March 28, 2023

Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Patricia Scotland

Around The World OIL NEWS Oil settles higher but posts 4th straight quarterly decline

Oil prices settled higher on Friday but posted their fourth straight quarterly loss as investors worried that sluggish global economic activity could crimp fuel demand.

Benchmark Brent crude futures for August delivery which expires on Friday, settled up 56 cents, or 0.8%, at US$74.90. In the three months to the end of June, the contract finished down 6%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up 78 cents, or 1.1% at US$70.64 a barrel. It posted its second straight quarterly drop, down about 6.5% in the latest three months.

Prices have been under pressure from rising interest rates in key economies and a slower than expected recovery in Chinese manufacturing and consumption.

Signs of strengthening US economic activity and sharp declines in US oil inventories last week offered some support.

For the day, crude was bolstered by a US Commerce Department report showing annual inflation rising last month at its slowest pace in two years.

Signs of moderating inflation "could hold the Federal Reserve off rising interest rates again," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

The market was also supported by upward revisions in demand for crude oil and refined products in the United States.

Demand for crude and petroleum products fell slightly to 20.446 million bpd in April but remained seasonally strong, EIA data showed.

Prices also drew support from Saudi Arabia's plans to cut output by a further 1 million barrels per day in July in addition to a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply into 2024.

"Despite the announcements of two fresh rounds of cuts from OPEC+/Saudi Arabia, crude prices have largely remained below US$80 a barrel as the market has been driven less by fundamentals and more by macroeconomic concerns," HSBC analysts said in a note.

"We think this will continue to be the case for part of the summer, although the deep deficit of around 2.3 million barrels forecast for 2H23 should help to spur some upwards price momentum."

A Reuters survey of 37 economists and analysts showed oil prices will struggle for traction this year as global economic headwinds linger.

US energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a ninth week in a row for the first time since July 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch reports new evidence of Ukrainian use of banned landmines

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that it uncovered new evidence of the indiscriminate use by Ukrainian forces of banned anti-personnel landmines against Russian troops who invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The group called on Ukraine's Government to follow through with a commitment made earlier this month not to employ such weapons, investigate their suspected use and hold accountable those responsible.

"The Ukrainian Government’s pledge to investigate its military’s apparent use of banned anti-personnel mines is an important recognition of its duty to protect civilians," Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch's arms director, said in a statement.

HRW said it shared its findings with the Ukrainian

Government in a May letter to which it received no response. Ukraine in 2005 ratified a 1997 international trea-

Supreme Court blocks Biden student loan forgiveness

The US Supreme Court handed President Joe Biden a painful defeat on Friday, blocking his plan to cancel US$430 billion in student loan debt - a move that had been intended to benefit up to 43 million Americans and fulfil a campaign promise.

The Democratic President denounced the 6-3 decision - powered by the court's conservatives and written by Chief Justice John Roberts - and quickly announced fresh steps to provide relief for student loan borrowers.

The court sided with six conservative-leaning states that objected to Biden's student loan forgiveness. Its ruling dealt a blow to the 26 million US borrowers who applied for relief after Biden announced the plan in August 2022 and represented a political setback for Biden.

"Today's decision has closed one path. Now we're going to pursue an-

other," Biden said at the White House, unveiling a series of steps that his Administration will take and criticising Republicans opposed to student debt relief. "I'm never going to stop fighting for you. We'll use every tool at our disposal to get you the student debt relief you need - and reach your dreams."

Roberts derided the Biden Administration's argument that the loan forgiveness programme was merely a modification of an existing programme and noted that such broad action would require clear congressional approval.

Biden's plan fulfilled his 2020 campaign promise to cancel a portion of $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt but was criticized by Republicans who called it an overreach of his authority and an unfair benefit to college-educated borrowers while other borrowers received no such relief. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Dozens killed in Kenya road crash

At least 48 people have been killed when a truck apparently lost control and rammed into other vehicles and pedestrians at a busy junction in western Kenya.

“So far, we can confirm 48 dead and we are suspecting one or two are still trapped under the truck,” local Police Commander Geoffrey Mayek said after the accident on the highway between the towns of

Kericho and Nakuru on Friday night.

“Thirty people have been seriously injured and rushed to various hospitals. The numbers could be more but as of now we are sure about 30.”

Regional Police Commander Tom Odera confirmed the death toll stood at 48.

Heavy rains are hindering rescue operations, local media reports said.

“We are suspecting a

truck which was being driven … towards Kericho lost control and rammed into matatus [local minibuses] that were packed at a bus stop, running over those matatus and injuring passengers and pedestrians who were standing by the bus stop,” Mayek said.

The Kenya Red Cross said the truck rammed more than six vehicles and ran over pedestrians. Images posted by local

ty banning such mines and mandating the destruction of stocks of the weapons.

Russia did not join the treaty and its use of an-

ti-personnel mines "violates international humanitarian law ... because they are inherently indiscriminate," the report said.

Anti-personnel mines are detonated by a person's presence, proximity or contact and can kill and maim long after a conflict ends.

Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, HRW has published four reports documenting the use by Russian troops of 13 types of anti-personnel mines that killed and injured civilians.

The new report is a follow-on to a January report that Ukrainian soldiers fired rockets that scattered thousands of PMF-1 mines in Russian-occupied areas in and around the eastern city of Izium between April and September 2022, when Kyiv's forces recaptured it.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Australia legalises psychedelics for mental health

television stations showed several mangled vehicles.

The death toll makes the accident one of the most deadly on Kenya’s roads in recent years. Last year, 34 people died in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley.

The number of people killed on Kenya’s roads has increased in recent years, according to Government statistics. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

psilocybin

Australia has become the first country in the world to legalise the use of psychedelics to treat some mental health conditions.

Approved psychiatrists can now prescribe MDMA to those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and magic mushrooms for some types of depression.

The controversial move has been hailed as a game-changer by many scientists and mental health experts.

However, others say the move has been too hasty and should not be overhyped.

Experts say there is still the risk of a "bad trip", which is when the user has an unpleasant experience while under the influence of drugs.

And the therapy comes at a cost, with Australian media reporting one course could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

MDMA - also known as the party drug ecstasy - is a

synthetic drug that acts as a hallucinogen. It increases the user's energy levels, sensory experiences and distorts their sense of time.

Magic mushrooms, which grow naturally, also have hallucinogenic effects due to the active compound psilocybin.

While Australia is the first country in the world to regulate the drugs as medications, clinical trials are also underway in the US, Canada and Israel.

Under the new regulations which became official in Australia on July 1, approved psychiatrists can prescribe MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for depression that has resisted other treatments.

Use of the psychedelics would be carefully monitored and not a case of "take a pill and go away", said Dr Mike Musker, a mental health researcher at the University of South Australia. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Combat engineers of pro-Russian troops demine PMF-1 Lepestok anti-personnel landmines in a street in the course of UkraineRussia conflict in Donetsk, Ukraine July 31, 2022

Magic mushrooms have hallucinogenic effects due to the drug

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Keep the momentum flowing. Don't let trivial matters stand between you and what you want to achieve. Search for the right opportunity and take advantage of it before it's too late.

(March 21-April 19)

A mix-up will cost you if you don't leave yourself enough wiggle room. Stick to simple, doable plans that won't cause insurmountable debt and stress. Control the outcome.

(April 20-May 20)

You can turn an idea into a profit if you put in the time and cultivate the possibilities. Prepare a workspace conducive to concentration and getting things done.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

Reach out to experts and express your concerns. The input you receive will help clear up any misconception you have regarding your next move. If you want something done correctly, do it yourself.

Change only what's necessary. Stay focused on what's essential and makes you happy. Embrace what is best for everyone. Pay more attention to your needs.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Engage in changes that help you learn, expand your horizons and help you live within your means. Cut back on expenses you can do without, and you'll boost your efficiency.

Let your actions be your voice. Show compassion when dealing with others; you'll gain respect and the backup you need. Don't let love cost you financially; know when to say no.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Tidy up loose ends, and you'll feel better about yourself and your future. Reach out to those who spark your imagination and excite you about the possibilities.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Share your true feelings, and the response you receive will be enlightening. Honest communication and heartfelt action will be the way to go.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Deception is apparent. Before you put someone else first, consider the ramifications. Make suggestions, call for backup and change how you do things moving forward. Speak your mind.

Simplify your life, reduce spending and pay attention to doing and being your best. Walk away from confusion, chaos and people trying to steal what's yours. Cherish what you have.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

When in doubt, take a pass. The time you give yourself to evaluate your options will lead to success. Ask tough questions and prepare to make decisions that map out what's to come.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Khawaja stretches Australia's advantage

The Ashes Series 2023: Test 2 of 5… -before rain ends play early

Aday which began with the second Test evenly balanced ended with Australia holding a firm grip on this contest, and perhaps with it the Ashes.

England folded during the morning session to a myriad of wild shots, conceding a lead of 91 before Usman Khawaja led a determined effort from the visitors' top order, under grey skies which made batting tricky. By the close, which came 27 overs early due to drizzle, Australia's lead stood at 221; and even for a team that began this Bazball era with a series of big run chases, it shaped as a daunting prospect to avoid going 2-0 down.

England had resumed on 278 for 4 after yesterday's dramatic final session, which saw three wickets surrendered to hook shots and Nathan Lyon limp out of the match and most probably the series with a calf strain termed "significant". But they completely missed the chance to stretch Australia's bowling resources, losing their last six wickets for 47; and from 188 for 1, their last nine fell for 137.

Harry Brook's carve into the off side summed up a batting approach that has surely lurched too far, even for this team. They needed early inroads in response, but for the second time in the match, Khawaja and David Warner battled through favourable bowling conditions, this time for an opening stand of 63. It was the first time Australia had put together two half-century first-wicket partnerships since 2018, when Khawaja was also part of them alongside Aaron Finch in Dubai.

The day had started poor-

ly for England, and never got better. The frenetic tempo of the previous evening had been slowed somewhat by Ben Stokes, but the captain fell to the second ball of the day when he was squared up by Mitchell Starc and got an outside edge to Cameron Green at gully, who held another sharp chance.

Brook, who had been dropped on 25, brought up an unconvincing half-century from 63 balls, before becoming the latest England bat ter to fall to the short ball, backing away to the leg side and slic ing into the covers. It is the type of stroke that has brought him thrilling runs, but given the state of the game it was another wicket donat ed, especial ly as it meant Australia were into England's lengthy tail.

Starc, who won the fi nal selection call ahead of Scott Boland, hav ing missed out at Edgbaston, was im pressive with a spell of 5-0-13-2. Having claimed Joe Root the day before, he showed his wicket-taking val ue.

Jonny Bairstow

played within himself before bunting Josh Hazlewood to mid-on, and there wasn't much on offer from the bowl-

Miles Bascombe appointed new CWI Director of Cricket

At a Board of Directors meeting held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Friday, June 30, Cricket West Indies (CWI) appointed Miles Bascombe new Director of Cricket on a three-year contract. Bascombe will take over from Jimmy Adams, who has occupied that role for the past six years.

Bascombe, 37, played one T20 International for the West Indies in 2011, and played first-class cricket between 2007 and 2017 for both the Windward Islands and the Combined Campuses and Colleges. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies with both Bachelor's and Master’s degrees, and is a certified coach.

Bascombe, who was a CWI Men’s Selector be-

SCOREBOARD

England 1st Innings Zak Crawleyst †Carey b Lyon 48

Ben Duckett c Warner b Hazlewood 98

Ollie Pope c Smith b Green 42

Joe Root c Smith b Starc 10

Harry Brook c Cummins b Starc 50

Ben Stokes (c)c Green b Starc 17

Jonny Bairstow †c Cummins b Hazlewood 16

Stuart Broad lbw b Head 12

Ollie Robinson c †Carey b Head 9

Josh Tongue c sub

(MT Renshaw) b Cummins 1

James Anderson not out 0

Extras (b 9, lb 4, nb 7, w 2) 22

TOTAL 76.2 Ov (RR: 4.25) 325

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), 5-279

(Ben Stokes, 61.2 ov), 6-293

(Harry Brook, 67.4 ov), 7-311

(Jonny Bairstow, 72.2 ov), 8-324

(Ollie Robinson, 75.1 ov), 9-325

(Stuart Broad, 75.5 ov), 10-325

(Josh Tongue, 76.2 ov)

ers. Ollie Robinson edged a charge against Travis Head, who will need to shoulder the spin bowling in Lyon's absence, and Stuart Broad was lbw sweeping.

Warner and Khawaja were tested by the new ball, with the bat beaten on numerous occasions, especially Warner's. England did not bowl poorly, and could easily have made early inroads, but such is the way a game often

goes when a side has not taken previous opportunities that have been presented.

They reviewed for an lbw against Warner when he had 5, but replays showed a thin inside edge against James Anderson. On 19, Khawaja was given a life when he pulled to Anderson at midwicket but the chance burst through the hands. Again, dropped chances hurt England. (ESPN Cricinfo)

tween 2019 and 2021, has been the Technical Director at the Windward Islands Cricket Board over the last two years. Under his technical leadership, there has been a remarkable turnaround of fortunes for both male and female cricket across different levels, including an unbeaten first-class season in 2023.

Johnny Grave, CWI Chief Executive Officer, has said:

“Following a thorough recruitment process, Miles stood out to the panel with his skills, experience, and intimate knowledge of our cricket system, especially at territorial board level. His passion and understanding of the game at all levels (is) outstanding. He is a critical thinker with a strong analytical and strategic mindset, which will be hugely beneficial to us as we

embark on formulating our new 4-year strategic plan.

“I have no doubt he will hit the ground running, and will relish the challenge before us to develop higher standards and better structures within our cricket system.”

And Miles Bascombe has

said: “West Indies Cricket is at a critical stage, with an urgent need to improve performances. We have made significant progress with establishing a central high-performance system that now needs to be rolled out across all of our territories. I am looking forward to working as a member of the CWI senior leadership team, and closely with the territorial boards to bring about the necessary improvements, that I am confident will lead to more success by implementing a robust system based on achieving worldclass standards and by driving a winning culture.”

CWI High Performance Manager Graeme West will act as the interim Director of Cricket until Bascombe takes up his new role on 1 August 2023. (CWI)

Glimpse of what to expect

The Youth Basketball Guyana(YBG) is hosting National Championship 2023, showcasing the best of high school basketball as part of the ExxonMobil’s National Schools Basketball Festival.

This tournament will see 40 schools, consisting of 56 teams within four divisions -U14, U16, and U18 boys, and U18 girls -- showcasing their local talent at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue today, Saturday July 1.

Organizer of the tourna-

ment, Chris Wayne Bowman, emphasised the work that had to be put in to facilitate the tournament. “It’s a real team effort, and I want to use this opportunity. Many of them are past student-athletes who received much from this game, and now they are giving back; so, I honour you,” he said.

This tournament is sponsored by ExxonMobil, Youth Basketball Guyana, Regional Conference Champions, National Sports Commission, Beharry Limited, and G-Boats Guyana.

YBG’s National Youth Basketball Championship set to commence today

Miles Bascombe

Usman Khawaja kept Australia firmly in control (AFP/Getty Images)

Local horse racing…

Banks DIH Limited to sponsor Guyana Cup 2023

The prestigious and highly anticipated Banks Beer Guyana Cup horse-racing meet 2023, which is set to take place on Sunday, August 13, at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice in Region 5, is set to be sponsored by leading food and beverage manufacturer Banks DIH Limited.

The beverage giant has pledged commitment to aid in the development of sport in Guyana. A statement from the company has said: "As the title sponsor, Banks DIH Limited is committed to fostering the growth and development of horse racing in Guyana. This sponsorship represents our dedication to supporting the sport, the local community, and the wider industry. By aligning ourselves with the Banks Beer Guyana Cup, we aim to enhance the

event's impact and provide an exceptional experience for participants, spectators, and all those involved."

The Banks Beer Guyana Cup is renowned for its rich heritage and longstanding tradition in the region.

It brings together the finest jockeys, trainers and horses in thrilling displays of speed and agility. As the title sponsor, Banks DIH Limited recognizes the importance of promoting and celebrating the sport of horse racing, both as

a source of entertainment and as a platform for local talent to shine.

“Through this partnership, Banks DIH Limited aims to create engaging experiences that will leave a lasting impression on attendees.

We are excited to provide exclusive access, unique promotional opportunities, and exciting activations throughout the event. Our objective is to enhance the overall event experience, further solidifying the Banks Beer Guyana Cup

as a premier sporting event.

"Furthermore, our sponsorship underscores our commitment to the local community and industry. Banks Beer has a longstanding history of supporting initiatives that uplift and empower the communities in which we operate. By investing in the Banks Beer Guyana Cup, we are not only contributing to the success of the event, but also fostering the growth of the horse racing industry and creating opportunities for talented individuals to thrive.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the organizers, stakeholders, and participants who have made the Banks Beer Guyana Cup possible. We look forward to an exceptional event that showcases the best of horse racing and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations," the statement from Banks DIH read.

Bakewell renews sponsorship of RHTY&SC teams for 24th successive year - Panthera Solutions supports Area H internal fence project

The very successful relationship between the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, and Bakewell was renewed for the 24th successive year last Wednesday at a simple presentation ceremony held at the company’s head office at Triumph, East Coast Demerara.

Secretary to the Bakewell General Manager, Natasha Bhikhari, handed over the sponsorship cheque to RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster in the presence of club executive Tyron Pottaya. And Foster, who is also President of the Berbice Cricket Board, noted that Bakewell is the second longest sponsor of the RHTY&SC, after Farfan and Mendes Ltd, which has kept faith with the club for 27 years. The company has sponsored the RHTY&SC’s under-17 and second-division teams at the cost of $450,000 for 2023, while it pumped in another $250,000 for the RHTY&SC Cricket Academy.

The cricket teams are among the best in Berbice,

and Foster recalled that the company had first sponsored the second-division team, before adding the strong under-17 team to its sponsorship. These two teams have won a total of over 20 tournaments, and the under-17 team in 2023 has so far reached the finals of the BCB/Ali Bakery tournament, where they play arch-rivals Albion for championship honours.

FROM BACK PAGE ►

Since 2000, the teams have also produced dozens of players who have gone on to play for either Berbice, Guyana, or the West Indies teams. Those include Kevin Sinclair, Esuan Crandon, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Kevlon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Shabiki Gajnabi, Jonathan Rampersaud, Dominic Rikhi, Askhay Homraj, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Jermey Sandia, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Matthew Pottaya, Sheneeta Grimmond, Erva Giddings and Slyus Tyndall.

Foster noted with pride that the relationship has produced 12 players who have played cricket at the international level, and this was a result of the investment made by the popular bakery. Foster expressed thanks to the company, and hailed them as a true friend of the RHTY&SC over the years.

Under the sponsorship, the teams are expected to undertake close to 40 community projects/programs under the name of the company. These include the distribution of food hampers, educational materials, award ceremonies, feeding of the needy, clean-up campaign, television programmes, and camps for youths. The company also renewed its sponsorship of the club cricket academy which bowls off at the Area H Ground on the 17th of July with at least 120 youths in attendance. The academy will be conducted by Head Coach Winston Smith and a battery of coaches, including Ryan Algu, Davindra Ramdihal and Eon Hooper. The main objective of the academy is to make sure the rich tradition of the club continues in the future by producing outstanding players who are all rounded individuals. Players

would not only be trained on how to be proper cricketers on the cricket field, but how to be representatives of the club. The club would provide all the gear for the academy, and would also prepare snacks for all the attendees of the two- weeks programme, which starts at 9am daily. A total of four hundred thousand dollars’ worth of prizes would be shared out to the top awardees. Each of the players at the academy would also receive a school bag and a collection of educational materials.

Foster has expressed gratitude to Bakewell General Manager, Rajin Ganga, for his support over the years, and has reassured the company that the club would continue to represent its brand with discipline, passion and pride.

Meanwhile, Panthera Solutions, a member of the Farfan and Mendes Ltd company, has come on board to

Stars to feature for the ...

The 2023 tournament will feature matches in Saint Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana with the final at the National Stadium, Providence on September 24. The 2023 tournament will feature the best players from across the Caribbean and some of the most exciting cricketers worldwide.

The CPL draft was held yesterday, and with the likes of Rilee Rossouw, Imad Wasim, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Amir, and Naveen ul Haq taking part in the tournament this year, fans can expect high-octane cricket in front of the vibrant crowds that have made the Republic Bank CPL what it is today.

FROM BACK PAGE ►

GAW Squad: Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Odean Smith, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Matthew Nandu, Ronsford Beaton, Dwaine Pretorius, Azam Khan, Imran Tahir, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

sponsor the repairs of the Area H Ground’s front internal fence. The sponsorship would enable the RHTY&SC cricket teams to replace the fence, which has been destroyed by animals.

Foster has expressed thanks to the company, especially Andrew Dinsdale and Ray Austin, for their support. The company has, over the years, supported the club with sponsorship of its cricket development programmes and annual Christmas Village. Repairs to the Area H Ground’s main pavilion would soon commence, with assistance of West Indies white ball allrounder Kevin Sinclair; while overseas based friend of the club Dr Frank Denbow has pledged to donate a motorised grass cutter towards the upkeep of the venue.

Guyana Amazon Warriors announce Women’s...

Organizers and sponsors of the Banks Beer Guyana Cup at the launching yesterday

Natasha Bhikhari of Bakewell handing over the 2023 sponsorship to RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster

Denisha Mickle of Panthera Solutions handing over the sponsorship cheque to Foster in the presence of RHTY&SC Executive Tyrone Pottaya

CPL 2023 squads: Pathirana and Rossouw get maiden CPL deals

Sri Lanka slinger

Matheesha Pathirana and South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw are set to make their CPL debuts after having been picked by Trinbago Knight Riders at the draft. Pathirana, 20, will reunite with Dwayne Bravo, having worked closely with him during his IPL-winning stint with Chennai Super Kings earlier this year.

Bravo, who was Super Kings' bowling coach at the IPL, will return as a player for the upcoming MLC competition and the CPL that follows. Knight Riders also signed Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who was a vital part of the Gujarat Titans side that reached the IPL 2023 final. Noor, 18, will add more mystery and guile to a spin attack that already includes Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein and Mark Deyal, who can also turn the ball both ways.

Shreyanka Patil, who was among the breakout stars of the inaugural WPL, where she played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, is now set to become the first Indian to feature in the WCPL after earning a deal with Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Colin Munro, who has been a familiar face for TKR over the years, will not be

part of the CPL this season. But Martin Guptill will provide the New Zealand flavour for TKR. Guptill will also be in action for the Knight Riders franchise in the MLC that precedes the CPL. In November 2022, Guptill had handed back his New Zealand central contract to pursue opportunities in T20 leagues around the world.

Alick Athanaze, who recently smashed the joint-fastest half-century on ODI debut, off 26 balls, went to Barbados

Royals as their round 6 pick.

Athanaze is yet to make his debut in the CPL. Seamer Akeem Jordan, who had also made his ODI debut during West Indies' recent tour of the UAE, will join Athanaze at Royals.

Big-hitting South African wicketkeeper-batter Donovan Ferreira, who was with Rajasthan Royals at the IPL, will be a Royal at the CPL too. Ferreira can also bowl a bit of offspin and it is for these multidimensional skills

BCB Ivan Madray tournament sponsorship renewed

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday last launched the fifth edition of the Ivan Madray 20/20 tournament for first division teams in the ancient county.

BCB President Hilbert Foster attended the official launching ceremony in the office of sponsor Chandradat Chintamani in Water Street, Georgetown.

Foster stated that the memorial tournament was first held in 2018, the year of his presidency and over the years has become very popular among the teams and the general public. The teams that would play in the tournament would be West Berbice, Blairmont, Police, Young Warriors, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Port Mourant, RHTYSC, Upper Corentyne and Skeldon. The tournament would be a 20/20 knock out event with the top two teams playing in the finals for a winner prize of eighty thousands dollars.

The BCB President disclosed that the Madray Cup is expected to be one of four first division tournaments that the pro active board intends to hosts in 2023 for first division teams. The tournaments would be at the 20/20, 40 overs and 50/50 levels while a three man committee headed by Balram Samaroo was recently set up to look into a two day tournament.

The other members of the BCB appointed committee are Vemen Walters and Coach Ryan Algu.

Foster expressed thanks to Chintamani , the nephew of the late Ivan Madray for his support of Berbice cricket over the years. Chinatmani

who is the General Manager of Muneshwar Ltd has sponsored the tournament since its inception in 2018 in memory of his uncle, who played a major role in his upbringing . Ivan Madray was the third Berbician to play for the West Indies at the test level after John Trim and Rohan Kanhai. The Port Mourant player played two test matches before retiring at a young age to England where he played for a long time in the English League. Madray would soon be honored when the BCB and the University of Guyana unveiled a historic Wall of Fame at the Tain Campus.

A total of thirty players who played for the West Indies at the 20/20, ODI and Test levels would be honored. They would include Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Roy Fredricks, Clayton Lambert, Joe Soloman and

that Jo'burg Super Kings had splurged R5.5 (USD 320,000) million for him at the SA20 auction.

Men's CPL squads

Trinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil

Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Rilee Rossouw, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Martin Guptill, Jayden Seales, Matheesha Pathirana, Mark Deyal, Chadwick Walton, Terrance Hinds, Kadeem Alleyne, Jaden Carmichael

Barbados Royals: Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Maheesh Theekshana, Rassie van der Dussen, Alick Athanaze, Obed McCoy, Kevin Wickham, Roelof van der Merwe, Akeem

Jordan, Rahkeem Cornwall, Donovan Ferreira, Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Ramon Simmonds

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Shrefane Rutherford, Dominic

Drakes, Sheldon Cottrell, George Linde, Yannic Cariah, Oshane Thomas, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Jyd

Goolie, Izharulhaq Naveed, Kofi James, Joshua da Silva, Ashmead Nedd, Johann

Layne

St Lucia Kings: Faf du

Plessis, Johnson Charles,

Dasun Shanaka, Alzarri Joseph, Roston Chase, Jair McAllister, Sikandar Raza, Peter Hatzoglou, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Roshon Primus, Jeavor Royal, Sadrack Descarte, Khary Pierre, Leonardo Julien, Matthew Forde, Kimani Melius, McKenny Clarke

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Azam Khan, Shai Hope, Gudakesh Motie, Dwaine Pretorius, Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Keemo Paul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu, Junior Sinclair

Jamaica Tallawahs: Imad Wasim, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Mohammad Amir, Naveen-ul-Haq, Chris Green, Jermaine Blackwood, Shamarh Brooks, Hayden Walsh Jr, Raymon Reifer, Amir Jangoo, Steven Taylor, Shamar Springer, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie, Joshua James.

Santos FC eyeing top spots in Elite League

Shimron Hetmyer.

Chintamani in brief remarks stated that he was proud to be related to the legendary cricketer and recalled the huge role that Madray played in guiding him when he was a youth. He recalled his uncle been a disciplined and hard working person who always set the bar very high and was a perfect role model to everyone around him. He expressed satisfaction with the organising skills of the BCB and noted that as a Berbician he was very proud of the work of the Hilbert Foster led board.

Youth Players like Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth and Jonathan Rampersaud have all emerged from playing in the tournament.He expressed the hope that similar players would emerge from the 2023 edition of the tournament as part of the rebuilding of West Indies cricket

As the KFC Elite League nears the latter rounds, several teams have all to play for in a quest to finish at the top of the League. One such team is Santos FC, who have been impressive thus far in the competition.

Coming off a marvelous 10-0 victory over Ann’s Grove United on Tuesday night, Santos now sit at third place on the points table, with 12 points from 6 games with a +19 goal difference.

Speaking with this publication following Tuesday’s victory, Head Coach Trevor Burnette expressed his thoughts on the team’s performance.

“I enjoyed the game. I think it was a pretty good game and we scored a lot of goals but we still got to go back to the drawing board and we have a little more work to do because when we made the changes in the second half, we could see we lose a little bit in the second half,” Burnette shared.

He added, “So, we want to maintain the same com-

posure as we did in the first half. We have to go back to the practice session and fix those things that we did wrong tonight.”

Scoring ten unanswered goals on Tuesday, coupled with the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) 1-0 loss to Western Tigers, also on Tuesday, have propelled Santos past the Policemen on the points table, only on the account of goal difference.

As such, Burnette touched on the goal difference topic, opining that the league may come down to that being the decider.

Burnette explained, “It’s very important because I think at some tie it might come down to goal differences, so, scoring ten goals tonight (Tuesday) is a big thing, you know.”

The Santos FC Head Coach went on to say about their upcoming game tonight, “And hopefully we maintain it, our next game is a very big game. We have to go back to the drawing board and put some work in.”

With three games to play

and currently sitting in third place, the Santos outfit look good to finish in one of the top positions in the league. This was another topic that Burnette shared thoughts on.

The Coach said, “When we started, that was one of our main objectives, to be in the top three and I think we’re teetering right on that line right now, we just got to see about the next couple of games, how that works out,”

“We have to have more composure, I think we lost it a little bit when we start scoring a whole lot of goals and players start playing for themselves instead of for the team. So, we got to fix those teams,” Burnette added, revisiting the work that needs to be done for the team to excel.

Santos FC will take on Western Tigers tonight at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC), Providence from 20:30hrs. Prior to that clash, Milerock FC and Den Amstel FC will do battle from 18:00hrs.

South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw will play for TKR

Chandradat Chintamani handing over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster

Santos FC

Stars to feature for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2023

The Guyana Amazon Warriors have secured overseas stars Azam Khan, Dwaine Pretorius, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Imran Tahir for the 2023 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Kevin Sinclair, who played for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots last season, has returned to his home franchise for the 2023 season.

Earlier this month, Hard-hitting batsman Shimron Hetmyer and classy right-hander Shai Hope were among the nine players retained by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the upcoming Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League season, set to get underway in August.

Along with Hetmyer and Hope, the Amazon Warriors have announced the retention of fast bowler Odean Smith, all-rounders Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul, spinner Gudakesh Motie, as well as Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, and Junior Sinclair. Former

Guyana Amazon Warriors announce Women's CPL squad

selectee Patil becomes first player from India

The squads for the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) have been announced with all local and overseas players for the 2023 tournament now confirmed. The Massy WCPL gets underway in Barbados on 31 August with the final taking place in Trinidad on 10 September.

The star-studded squads feature the best players from across the Caribbean, including Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor. There will also be overseas players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and India with some of the best international cricketers appearing in an expanded Massy WCPL.

New Zealanders Sophie

West Indies Under-19 and West Indies Academy batsman Kevlon Anderson also

earned a maiden call-up/ selection to the Guyana Amazon Warriors team.

Four teams, including the Warriors, can sign one more

overseas player with these names to be announced before the tournament gets

underway on August 16 in Saint Lucia.

Devine, Suzie Bates and Fran Jonas will be playing at the 2023 Massy WCPL. They will be joined

by Australians Laura Harris and Amanda-Jade Wellington. South Africans Dane van Niekerk, Mignon

de Preez and Shabnim Ismail will also be at the 2023 event. Guyana Amazon

players Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis rounding out the overseas players list.