Guyana Times -Saturday, June 24, 2023.pdf

WBD man nabbed with cocaine in GT Police launch investigation into attempted robbery at Citizens Bank ATM

Law enforcement officers are currently investigating an attempted robbery which occurred on Friday at around 10:15h at the Citizens Bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Thirst Park, Georgetown. Limited details are available, but it has been reported that the incident involved a businessman and a Venezuelan national. Guyana Times was informed that while leaving the bank, the suspect approached the businessman and attempted to rob him, but a scuffle ensued.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has arrested a 25-year-old resident of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD), after he was found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine.

Quinsy Austin was arrested on Tuesday along Princes Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown.

CANU in a release stated that agents of the unit were conducting an operation in the vicinity of Princes Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, where they observed Austin carrying a plastic bag.

However, the release

stated that upon seeing the CANU team, Austin attempted to dispose of the bag.

He was nevertheless intercepted, and the bag was retrieved and searched during which a brick-like parcel containing suspected cocaine was found.

Austin and the package were taken to CANU Headquarters where tests were conducted on the substance which was subsequently confirmed to be that of cocaine.

The cocaine was weighed in the suspect’s presence and amounted to 1.1kg (almost 2.4 lbs) with a street value of about $1.2

million.

Austin remains in custody pending charges.

During the scuffle, the suspect allegedly aborted his mission and managed to escape on foot towards Alexander Village, Georgetown. In response, the Police were called in and immediately launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the suspect.

Up to news time, the Police had not issued any details about the incident nor were there reports to indicate that the perpetrator was arrested.

However, as a precautionary measure, the Thirst Park branch of Citizens Bank temporarily ceased operations for the day. All customers were advised to visit the Camp Street location for their banking needs until further notice.

The most recent attempted robbery that occurred at a bank in Guyana was on July 4, 2017, when armed bandits invaded the Water Street branch of Republic Bank Limited.

The three-man attack ended with one of the bandits being killed, while his two accomplices were injured during a shootout

with the Police.

Twenty-four-year-old Elton Wray, also known as “Peas”, an agronomy graduate, who lived in Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and worked as a research assistant at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) was killed during the invasion.

His accomplices were Keron Saunders of Mocha Arcadia, EBD, and 24-yearold Jamal Haynes of Norton Street, Georgetown, an employee attached to Republic Bank.

It was reported that the three men drove up to the bank early in the morning, just as employees were entering the building. They were transported in a vehicle which was reportedly hijacked the day before.

The gunmen entered the financial institution via the inner door of the ATM booth which they accessed from the exterior of the bank.

As panic broke out among the employees, Haynes held hostage one of his bank colleagues and

made his way into the nearby Vendor’s Arcade.

At this point, security guards at the bank opened fire on the bandits, forcing the now dead man to escape the building, while the third member later surrendered himself to the Police.

Wray had escaped into a “cookshop” located in the Arcade where he was trailed by the Police.

He managed to make his way into the kitchen of the establishment, where he attempted to seek refuge in disguise as a cook. However, employees at that entity raised an alarm which resulted in Wray being shot by Police.

The bandit was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital along with Haynes and Saunders but was pronounced dead on arrival while his accomplices were admitted for treatment.

Following the robbery, the surviving suspects were charged and remanded to prison. They were later freed in June 2021. (G-9)

Citizens Bank’s ATM Thirst Park, Georgetown branch (Andrew McBean photo)

The cocaine found in the bag Austin had attempted to dispose of

Cocaine mule Quinsy Austin

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, June 24 – 21:30h

– 23:00h and Sunday, June 25 – 22:30h – 00:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, June 24 – 07:40h

– 09:10h and Sunday, June 25 – 08:30h – 10:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and sunshine during the day. Expect thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 08:22h and 20:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.24 metres.

Low Tide: 14:26h reaching a minimum height of 0.9 metre.

President Ali outlines comprehensive remuneration package for teachers

In a continued investment towards improving teachers’ work standards and increasing the opportunities made available to them, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that the Government is looking to implement a standard minimum salary to eliminate the disparity among teachers.

President Ali made this remark on Thursday during the opening of the Abram Zuil Secondary School in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

“We are going to go all across the country to speak to teachers directly. [The Cabinet] is considering now, looking from when we came into office from 2020 to now, to ensure that within this period, all of our teachers are on a standard minimum basic wage to avoid the disparity that exists and we’re going to correct that from 2020 to now as we’re in office,” Ali said.

He further announced that the Government would be approaching the National Assembly for the approval of $11 billion to rehabilitate, retrofit and maintain teachers’ quarters, especially those in the hinterland, to bring them to the “minimum standard”.

“In our next supplementary provision, we are going to go to have a chunk of these resources ready to support this investment of GY$11 billion across the country,” the President added.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

In late 2022, the Government had announced salary adjustments for a number of categories of public sector employees, including members of Joint Services and healthcare workers.

Following this, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in May had shared that the Government was actively working on addressing the adjustment of teachers’ salaries as was done for other public servants.

Last month as well, President Ali had announced plans to deliver a comprehensive package to teachers that

included sustainable housing.

“Your lives are not only about salary, it is a comprehensive package that must be able to give you good, sustainable housing and allow you to provide for your children; and for your children, too, to have a great future [with] great opportunities,” Ali had previously said to several teachers.

Training and education

Nevertheless, in addition to salary changes, the President on Thursday also

signalled plans to continue training teachers in specialised fields, thus making educational opportunities more accessible to them.

This includes investing in a digitised platform to ensure that all teachers have the chance to become trained right in Essequibo.

“We don’t only want to stop at trained teachers, we want to have trained graduates. So, we’re ensuring that we build a platform to the extent that the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship pro-

gramme is not only available to all teachers and students and whoever is coming out of the system, but that it is accessible,” Ali said.

“So, the teachers now have the opportunity to be trained here. That means that our children would have better qualified, more knowledgeable teachers who can deliver in a better way to the children. That would [lead] to better results,” Ali said.

The President noted that this is a “perfect marriage” between physical facilities, institutional reorganisation, and human resource development, which is driving the transformation of the education system and the country’s overall education sector.

Ali added that the Government is also looking to develop a system that pays attention to the incremental educational advancement of teachers and to ensure that they incentivise that development.

“That is another aspect of the equation to support teachers that the Cabinet considered and is working now to ensure we move towards implementation,” the Head of State noted. (Pooja Rambaran)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

…includes uniform base salary; $11B for housing; training platform, etc

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Editor: Tusika Martin

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Young people

It’s a fact that youths today make up the larger part of the population of almost every country in the world. This presents certain challenges for policy-makers to develop, implement and maintain programmes and activities which must be economically and socially-oriented to satisfy their (youths’) desires.

It is also well known that the absence of well-thoughtout programmes with respect to youth development impacts negatively on our young people, and sometimes even leads to them resigning themselves to lawlessness and other antisocial behaviours that are damaging to society.

Former Caricom Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque had, some time ago, said the majority of victims as well as perpetrators of crimes reported by the Police are young males 18 to 35 years old. He pointed to the fact that there are a number of socio-economic determinants of crime, the least of which is the high youth unemployment in the Region. This is surely a reason to be concerned, as, right away, one would begin to worry about the kind of future these persons would have, and the contributions they would make to their societies, if any at all. Certainly, this is enough reason to cause Governments and policy-makers to take a closer look at what is happening in their individual countries, and take steps to remedy the situation.

Certainly, there is a great need for intervention in order to combat the current challenges facing young people. In order to prepare young people for workplace success, job training programmes need to go beyond technical instruction and also teach “life skills” such as communication, reliability, and teamwork. This push to teach youths life skills has been validated by employers, who have consistently reported that, above all, they want to hire employees who possess workplace-ready skills such as communication, teamwork, motivation, and responsibility. Technical skills, they say, can be learned on the job.

In addition to teaching youths the life skills employers look for, there is a need to introduce complementary life planning activities to this component. These activities help youths in assessing who they are and their aspirations for the future, and define realistic steps towards achieving these goals.

Guyana has a number of programmes geared towards equipping young people with various skills for the world of work etc. This is commendable, as the focus is being placed on combining teaching life skills with various academic or technical subjects. These programmes include assessment and identification of ways to build competency and skills supportive of healthy behaviours, to help young people as they mature into adulthood.

Additionally, institutions such as the family and religious bodies need to take up their roles more seriously, as happened before. Historically, the older generation had managed to transmit their beliefs, values, traditions, customs and institutions to the younger members of their societies. This was achieved largely because of the impact of agencies of socialization, such as the family, religion, and schools. Today, the impact of these institutions has been challenged and undermined by new forces, particularly television and the internet, and pop culture as a whole.

Further, the role of the Private Sector should never be underestimated. There is a need for funding for many crucial programmes aimed at creating better opportunities for young people here. Such programmes, once effectively implemented, would see our young people becoming wellequipped with the necessary skills to develop themselves, and in turn contribute to the overall development of the country. The Private Sector is one of the main beneficiaries of an educated and skilled workforce, and it should seek to invest in, and help to build the pool of, talent it wishes to draw from.

It is well accepted that progressive countries in the world have strong systems for engaging youths in policy formation, and in creating or altering programmes designed to support youths. We believe that if our young people are to make more mature and responsible judgments and engage in activities that are the hallmark of a socially productive adulthood, certain support systems for development must be present in the environment. Teaching life skills is a good way to start.

Dear Editor, The reaction to the results of LGE 2023 has been mixed as well as perplexing. The Opposition Parliamentary party, APNU, claims victory in the apparent belief that it warded off a spirited challenge by the governing PPPC to shake up their strongholds in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and Linden. Moreover, they indicate that their share in the national votes increased from 34% in 2018 to 37.3% in 2023. They also note that the PPPC’s share of national votes has declined from 61% in 2018 to 58% in 2023.

APNU celebrates its victory in the Linden LAA (Local Authority Area) and notes that it almost doubled its voter turn-out rate (VTR) from 19.9% in 2018 to 37% in 2023. And it is this increase in VTR that helped to restrict the PPPC’s vote to 2,464, while (APNU) increased their share of votes from 69.1% in 2018 to 75.3% in 2023. They also expressed satisfaction that they recapture from the PPPC their prized Buxton Foulis NDC.

For some people, the perception of what constitutes a win or a victory in a political election depends on how they view or revise their party’s objective(s).

The 22+ small parties that contested LGE 2023 were more concerned about becoming players in gover-

nance at the NDC level and not being power brokers. They won 24 seats in 10 constituencies in Region 3 (West Demerara) which indicates that third parties, particularly at the local level, do have energy and traction and should not therefore be dismissed. Of note is that of the 14 LAAs in Region 3, APNU contested only in 2. The smaller parties filled that gap. At the national level, the smaller parties received 8,943 votes (or 4.8%), compared with 2,995 votes in 2018.

Neither does APNUs want to be players nor power brokers; instead, they want to win power at the local and national level. Limiting the inroads of PPPC into their traditional strongholds of Linden, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Kwakwani, and elsewhere, seems to have been their main objective. If this is the case, then in their conception, they could invoke any emotion, victory or otherwise.

The PPPC states that the increase in votes that APNU received in

Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam is not significant and that it provides no reason for them to be jubilant. In Georgetown, APNU’s share of votes declined from 62.8% in 2018 to 60.7% in 2023, compared with the PPPC’s share of votes that increased from 24.4% in 2018 to 36.0% in 2023.

The decline of the APNU’s votes and the rise of the PPPC’s votes have led to an increase of 4 seats in favor of the PPPC in the 30-seat City Council (from 7 in 2018 to 11 in 2023). An analogous situation is applicable to New Amsterdam where APNU received 55.9% of the PPPC’s 42.5% of the votes but it could not prevent the PPPC from doubling its seats from 3 to 6 in the 14-seat City Council.

With respect to Linden, while APNU increased its share of votes from 69.1% in 2018 to 75.3% in 2023, the PPPC’s share jumped from 7.7% in 2018 to 23.2% in 2023. It is the rise in the proportion of votes that is significant. This rise has

resulted in the PPPC obtaining 2 seats in the 16seat City Council.

The PPPC having won 67 LAAs (83.8%), 906 seats (74.3%), and 58% of total votes cast, claims that it is a “massive victory, a landslide.” Not only that, the PPPC also won the APNU’s traditional strongholds of Bartica and Mahdia municipalities which positions them to lead 7 municipalities out of 10 nationally.

Finally, an important aspect of the LGE 2023 is Voter Turn- out Rate (VTR). There were 279 constituencies (No Contest) where voters were not required to vote. In computing VTR therefore the LAAs with “No Contests” were excluded from computation to avoid distortion. Attached is a table with VTR for selected LAAs. While the VTR for Georgetown in 2018 was 24%, the VTR for 2023 has not yet been computed, but the analysis of a sample Constituency # 5 (Sophia, Pattensen, Turkeyen) shows a VTR of 28%. By whatever metric one uses, the norm as well as the legal system in democratic societies would unequivocally determine that the PPPC is the big winner of LGE 2023. Most Guyanese share this position. APNU should snap out of its denial!

Sincerely,

Dr Tara Singh

A Path to Travel captured this beautiful sunset at Imbotero Village in Region One (Barima-Waini)

PPP/C asserts it’s a landslide, APNU says it's their victory!

An open letter to His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali

Dear Editor, First, I’d like to say that I could hardly find words to extol President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s Government for the Nobel service to Guyana and the people of our country. The list is enumerable, and actually, in my opinion, cannot be listed. The amounts of roads, lands, bridges, agricultural expansion, cash grants, medical facilities, and support that the Government has been working on, all for the benefit of the people, are truly exciting. Hence, my incessant applause to the President and his Government.

All of Guyana should join in applauding them. We know for a fact that whatever a good Government does, there are always some who would critique and who would never be satisfied. However, the main thrust of this letter is to call on the Government to make Guyana truly internationally recognized.

Please note the following:

1: I recently had cause to travel to the historic land of the Ottoman Empire, which

is Turkiye. I had acquired the necessary visa for the purpose of this travel, in order to join a much-anticipated cruise which was set to happen since pre-COVID days. A lifetime desire.

2: On arrival in Turkiye, with all my excitement and joy, I could not have entered the country, simply because the visa I obtained online was not meant for a Guyana Passport, only for the passports of the US and other countries.

3: Being shocked and disappointed, all kinds of inquiries commenced. I was told I needed to return to New York and reapply, but that would have jeopardised the entire cruise.

4: I was told I could buy a visa, as is usually done in Dubai. I was then directed to a 1000-foot walk to a small office, only to shockingly be told that Guyana Passports are not recognised there.

This was very humiliating. Not because I was inconvenienced, but because of the pride I feel for my country Guyana. The cost of the new visa would have been about US$90, but the

GTUC mourns

Dear Editor, The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) mourns the passing of trade union stalwart Bro Andrew Garnett.

Bro Garnett served as President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) and Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), and gave yeoman service to the trade union community. He also served as the Congress’s Principal Assistant Secretary.

As the GTUC reflects on Bro. Garnett’s numerous contributions to the trade union movement, we particularly remember his leading role in developing policies and programmes on Occupational Safety and Health, and HIV/AIDS.

Bro. Garnett, who came out of the public health field, worked with the Caribbean Congress of Labour and the Commonwealth Trade Union Congress in developing a Safety Manual for Trade Unions in the Caribbean.

Bro. Garnett served as Founder-Member and Chairman of the National Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. He also served as a member of the Administrative Committee on the Caribbean Congress

disrespect for the Guyana Passport hurt me so much. No amount of money could get you the visa there, I was told. See number 5 hereunder for the shock of my life. They showed me a list on the wall of the countries that could purchase that visa on the spot. Remember, I had already acquired a visa online. Also, on arrival, they refused that visa, and now they were refusing my passport because the Guyana Passport means nothing in Turkiye, and from what I see, it means nothing even in Europe.

My heart raced when I saw the list of countries where we can purchase a visa at the airports. Number one that is approved is Haiti - the Caribbean’s most impoverished nation; Haitians could actually purchase a visa on the ground. Next was little Grenada, followed by Barbados, Trinidad, Suriname, St. Lucia, and tiny babies Nevis and Antigua. So, Mr. President, imagine my hurt and shame to know that our passport in the world is considered weak and fragile, despite our numerous resources.

Green and eco construction

steadfastly for us to acquire an easy visa in Guyana itself for the European Union. We are recognized by such great nations as the United Kingdom and by the Russian Federation for visa–free travel; and it is easy in many other nations: like Japan, China, India, etc. to acquire a visa with our passport.

We are now a member of the United Nations Security Council, and are therefore even more recognised. I recall that Turkiye was building an agricultural and social relationship with Guyana, and was associated with the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG).

Dear Editor, Schools, health facilities, Government buildings, homes…the construction juggernaut marches on and on.

But wait, where are the green/eco components? Surely, the Government knows that green/eco construction is the wave of the future, no? So why wood, concrete, steel, iron and the like, but no green/eco input?

Mr President, Cabinet Ministers, Regional Officers, MOM, businesses et al, please revisit and incorporate green and eco components where possible, and please include them in blueprints going forward. Not only does the talk need to be walked, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, no?

Best regards,

Annan Boodram

Is a CoI into Mahdia fire needed?

of Labour, and represented the trade unions as a member of the Guyana Local Government Commission.

The GTUC also recalls Bro. Garnett’s passion for workers’ rights and access to education. These were evident in him making himself available to lecture on the Industrial Relations programmes at the Critchlow Labour College; in his work in organising workshops for cadres in the trade union movement; in leading teams on negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements, etc.

Bro Garnett, who left this earthly plane last week, will forever be cherished, and his contributions to the working class would never be forgotten. He has left a legacy the trade union movement is proud of. The GTUC and GLGOU will host a Night of Reflection on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at the Critchlow Labour College from 19:00h.

GTUC extends heartfelt condolences to Bro. Garnett’s wife, children, and other loved ones. May Bro. Andrew Garnett's soul rest in eternal peace.

Sincerely, GTUC

We are now one of the largest producers of oil and gas; are blessed with gold, diamond, manganese and a plethora of other minerals, and have agricultural prowess. Yet, we are looked down upon by the Government of Turkiye. We are recognised by the United Kingdom and by over 80 other countries, I have been told. Yet, we cannot even buy a visa in Turkiye, but Haitians can.

I am not going to curse my Government, nor any of Guyana’s past administrations. I know this Government of His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali has been working

I therefore wish to put to His Excellency and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Hugh Todd, to build the kind of relationships that our passports could at least be recognized by countries such as Turkiye and others. So that we do not have to be disrespected and told that our passport is not acceptable. They wanted me to return to the US and apply for a visa that would be manually stamped in my passport, so that they could see my face and take my fingerprints. I let it go, and continued on my trip in another direction in Europe.

President Dr. Ali, it is now over to you and your Government to continue to take Guyana to the highest levels of respect in the world, so that Turkiye and such other countries where our passport is not recognized could be educated to recognise us, especially since we are now a member of the United Nations Security Council.

Sincerely,

Hajji Dr Roshan Khan

Dear Editor, Is there a need to spend millions of dollars to enrich the already rich on a Commission of Enquiry into the Mahdia fire, when it is already known how it started, and the shortfall within the dorm that caused the tragedy?

We already know that there were grilled windows, a must in the Guyanese society because of marauding bandits; no fire extinguisher, locked exit doors, inflammable materials, and a previous report with recommendations that remained dormant. We also have expert advice from members of society, including Stabroek News, on what needs to be done. So, why waste money and time to establish a CoI?

If the intention is to allocate blame on those responsible, then all we have to do is a structural analysis to

determine who was responsible for overall supervision, which would absolve the Minister of Education from responsibility, although Stabroek News seems obsessed with having her head on a platter.

For example, can we hold the chairman of an organization responsible for a supervisor’s failure to observe procedures that result in severe loss to the organization? Or, should we hold the President responsible for the alleged acts of impropriety committed by his Minister?

Conversely, who would we blame if there were no grilled windows, and bandits had invaded the dorm and raped several students? Maybe Stabroek News can provide an answer.

Sincerely,

D Singh

SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time

06:30 Cartoons

07:00 Evening News (RB)

08:00 Stop Suffering

09:00 Movie - Boonie Bears: Back to Earth (2022)

10:35 Indian Movie - Zwigato (2022)

12:30 Movie - Daddy Day Care (2003)

14:00 Movie - Grilling Season: A Curious Caterer Mystery (2023)

15:30 Movie - The Happy Camper (2023)

17:00 Payless Power Hour

18:00 Evangelistic Hour

18:30 Hepzibah

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Islam for Guyana

20:30 Movie - Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)

22:30 Movie - Hoax: The Kidnapping of Sherri Papini (2023)

00:00 Sign off

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

Dividing fractions by fractions

Example:

B y M artin C arter

Is the university of hunger the wide waste, Is the pilgrimage of man the ltong march. The print of hunger wanders in the land The green tree bends above the long forgotten The plains of life rise up and fall in spasms

The roofs of men are fused in misery. They come treading in the hoof marks of the mule passing the ancient bridge: the grave of pride the sudden flight the terror and the time.

They come from the distant village of the flood passing from middle air to middle earth in the common hours of nakedness.

Twin bars of hunger mark their metal brows twin seasons mock them parching drought and flood. is the dark ones the half sunken in the land is they who had no voice in the emptiness in the unbelievable in the shadowless.

They come treading on the mud floor of the year mingling with dark heavy water And the sea sound of the eyeless flitting bat, O long is the march of men and long is the life And wide is the span. is air dust and the long distance of memory is the hour of rain when sleepless toads are silent is broken chimneys smokeless in the wind is brown trash huts and jagged mounds of iron.

TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

When you divide fractions, you will multiply by the reciprocal!

To divide a fraction by another fraction, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction

Govt’s economic diplomacy ‘push’ has revealed many new financial partners – VP Jagdeo

– private banks being explored as Guyana stands solid

In Government’s push for economic diplomacy globally, Guyana has attracted funding from several non-traditional financial entities, and new doors are continuously opening in fulfilling the massive developmental plans.

Speaking during his press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo shared that Government continues to develop relations with new agencies while maintaining traditional relationships.

This has been credited to an aggressive agenda by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

“The President has been engaged in a major push internationally on not political diplomacy but economic diplomacy. What he has done is open up a lot of doors to financial institutions that we’ve had traditional relations with and there are other new ones appearing now and we are developing relations with them.

Deepening non-traditional agreements have primarily attracted attention from the Middle East.

He pointed to the recent signing of a US$150 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Fund for Development to provide financing for infrastructural works. This comes at a two per cent interest and would assist Government in accelerating its housing programme.

“If you go to the markets now, a US-dollar-based loan because of the interest rate escalation could be five to six per cent now. So, it helps to still access funding through bilateral sources from these development agencies. And there are very few strings attached to these loans.”

Last month, the Ali-led Administration also signed a US$200 million agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), aimed specifically at financing the reconstruction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. According to Jagdeo, they have made progress in areas in which the former APNU/AFC Government failed to.

“The Islamic

Development Bank, APNU started a relationship with them which didn’t go very far. We have now a big relationship,” he commented.

Additionally, around the same period, President Ali had announced that Guyana secured a US$350 million loan from Qatar for the four-lane highway being built from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara (WBD), to Crane on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), being extended to Parika.

“Those are several non-traditional bilateral sources. From Europe, UKEF, there are two big loans – one for the New Amsterdam Hospital and the loan for the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital; £300 million will come from UKEF,” Jagdeo explained.

The Vice President outlined that a lot of private banks are being explored, as Guyana stands in a solid position to service such debt in the future when compared to other Caribbean countries.

“We’re exploring a lot of private banks. A lot of big banks are discussing with

us…The commercial ones don’t need sovereign guarantees but we’re trying to fix the interest rate on all of them. That is why I’ve said we’re in a good position.”

He added, “If you look at the Caribbean, most of their loans are variable interest loans, like how the interest rate moved from near zero to six per cent, they’re having a hard time in servicing those loans. We have only two variable-rate loans and they’re both to multilateral agencies, so that is why we’re in a solid position to service debt in the future. It takes a very small share of our total revenue.”

In the face of concerns about Guyana’s debt being driven up by the various loans that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is taking, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had defended these borrowings earlier this month, stating that they are going towards investments that will repay these loans.

Jagdeo, who is also an economist, shared that Guyana has one of the lowest debts, largely because

of the PPP/C’s historically “strong” management of the country’s debt. He reminded that when the party took office in 1992, it inherited a bankrupt country which it restored to financial viability.

Jagdeo, who served as President of Guyana from 1999 to 2011, pointed out that at that time the country’s debt was 913 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He added that about 153 per cent of the nation’s revenue went to service

debt.

“Our debt today is about maybe 12% of GDP – one of the lowest figures in the world …that is with all the borrowing and everything. And we were using about 7 to 8 per cent of revenue to service debt. So, it’s based on a capacity to service it. Our total outstanding debt will be less than one year of future revenue in the outer year. Very few countries can have that debt profile,” he was quoted saying. (G12)

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at Thursday’s press conference

Man convicted of raping 13-year-old girl

Ajury has convicted rape accused Mark Samuels, who was charged with engaging in sexual activity with a girl and could now face life imprisonment.

The charge against him read that on January 27, 2021, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with a girl. He had been on trial for the offence before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed 12-member jury at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown.

The prosecution said Samuels touched the girl inappropriately and raped her even though she tried to fight him off. After the ordeal, the girl confided in her mother, who in turn filed a report with the Police. Samuels was subsequently arrested and charged with the crime.

In light of the conviction, the tri-

al Judge revoked Samuels’ bail and the now convicted man will return to court on July 13 for his sentencing

hearing. Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig prosecuted this matter.

Back in 2021, Samuels was charged with stealing 66 COVID-19 vaccination cards from the Health Ministry, Brickdam, Georgetown, between August 22 and August 23, 2021.

However, the charge was dismissed against him the following year for want of prosecution.

The prosecution had contended that during the period mentioned, a female nurse discovered that the lock on the cupboard in which the vaccination cards were stored was broken.

Upon checking, the healthcare worker noticed that the items were missing and alerted her supervisor, who lodged a report at the Brickdam Police Station.

Two to tango…

…in power politics

Some are surprised that, after cussing out PM Narendra Modi and India for all sorts of “sins” – ranging from “human rights abuses” to playing footsies with Russia – US Pres Biden pulled out all the stops to welcome and court Modi in his state visit. What gives?? If nothing else, it shows that international politics got its own logic!! And that logic is all about protecting and furthering your country’s interests! Right now, even as China’s businessmen built it into the behemoth it’s become, its Government is petrified at the Eagle being eclipsed, not only economically - but militarily - by the Dragon!!

That gotta sting!! Imagine being pipped by a country that only the other day was the world’s poster child for poverty!! So, we saw the schizophrenia of US Secretary of State Blinken flying to Beijing to signal a softening on the latter’s Taiwan sore point to President Xi Jinping; then, two days later, Biden calls the man a “dictator!! The Chinese weren’t amused!! That’s the danger of trying to eat your cake –cheap manufactured goods from cheap Chinese labour –and having it (superpowerdom!) too!!

But back to Modi and India. The US is trying to cultivate a proxy to take on China in its own backyard – just as it did with Russia and Ukraine. Just as ex-satellite Ukraine had a beef with Russia over its annexation of Crimea back in 2014, India has a running border conflict with China on its Himalayan border, going as far back as 1962 -- when Nehru’s pro-China tilt in India’s non-alignment stance didn’t stop the Chinese from invading!! And that flared up again as recently as last year.

India also aspires to be a global power, and that’s where the backscratching from Biden comes in. India’s labour is now much cheaper than China’s, and it has a pretty educated workforce. Plain and simple, it wants the US to shift its manufacturing base into its teeming masses – and so kill two birds with one stone: weakening China and shifting from agriculture into manufacturing!! Already, a major US chip manufacturer – and no, it’s not plantain chips, thank you, but computer chips!! – has invested in a multi-billion-dollar chip-manufacturing plant in Gujarat!! Not so incidentally, the US is putting the economic squeeze on China by restricting US access to its chips!!

Unlike Nehru - who enraged the pragmatic Americans back in the day with his moralising foreign policy of “nonalignment” – Modi’s as pragmatic as the Yanks. So, while they’re annoyed that India’s importing Russian crude oil, refining it, and then selling it to Europe, they can understand the logic. Money gotta be made!!

So, the tango continues, and each country pushes its own agenda!! Touché!!

…on the Marriott

Finally, it looks like we got a buyer for the Marriott. Two of the rejected bidders came up-to-scratch and upped their bids by more than US$20M. The winning one came in at US$90M – up from its previous US$65M. So, what was that? Everyone thought it woulda been a fire sale?? Hey!!…The Marriott’s now making money, and it’s still the number 1 brand-name hotel in the country!!

While some had second-guessed then President Jagdeo for putting together the deal to construct the hotel when oil wasn’t even on the smart money’s horizon – they can’t bring themselves to admit that the man’s made a brilliant move. Who cares what his reason was; it worked out to the country’s benefit, and we’re getting back every penny invested – plus some!! In the meantime, we were able to house in style all the investors who’ve been flocking our shores!!

Even the guy down the block had to raise his game!

…on “itinerant” CCJ?

The ICJ held an “itinerant” sitting in Guyana. He checked his dictionary. As an adjective, the word means “peripatetic, wandering, wayfaring, roving, roaming, rambling, touring, nomadic, gypsy, migratory, vagrant, vagabond, homeless of no fixed abode, footloose, rootless, drifting, floating, unsettled, restless, globetrotting, jet-setting, errant.

The CCJ??

Sex offender Mark Samuels

Govt pushing for agriculture insurance – Mustapha tells farmers

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has reassured farmers that the Guyana Government is working with stakeholders in the Caribbean Region to have agriculture insurance available here in the coming years.

He made this remark during an engagement with a group of farmers and other residents at Coverden, East Bank Demerara.

One livestock farmer indicated that she lost all her chickens during a past flood and was unable to restart the business. As a result, she requested assistance from the Government to do this. Her plea, which the Minister assured will be looked into, prompted another farmer to inquire about the Government’s position on agriculture insurance.

Minister Mustapha disclosed that there is currently a regional effort, at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) level, to implement an agriculture insurance scheme. He related that

Jamaica-based GraceKennedy Limited, one of the Caribbean’s largest food and financial corporate entities, is exploring the market across the Region and has even rolled out a pilot project in Guyana.

“The Government is interested in agriculture insurance and I’m very passionate about it as Minister of Agriculture,” Mustapha declared.

He explained that oftentimes when there are floods and other natural disasters, during which farmers lose their crops and/or livestock, it is the Government that bears the financial burden and compensates the farmers for their losses.

In fact, the Agriculture Minister reminded of the devastating 2021 floods in Guyana, which not only affected homes but large quantities of crops and livestock.

As a result, Government had to set aside some $7.8 billion in flood relief and according to Mustapha – a lot of farmers did not benefit from that flood re-

lief cash grant.

“So, if we have agriculture insurance, that would help a lot and I am hoping that before my tenure is up as Agriculture Minister, we can get agriculture insurance in Guyana,” he posited.

In response to the threat posed by climate change, especially to the productive sectors, Caricom Member States have been working to strengthen their disaster readiness and recovery plan. Consequently, agriculture insurance has been identified as a critical need by agriculture producers in the Caribbean.

With Guyana leading the Region’s food security initiative, Caricom leaders have been working with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) and GraceKennedy towards the establishment of regional agricultural insurance.

The Caricom Ministerial Taskforce (MTF), which is chaired by Minister Mustapha, has since established an

Agriculture Insurance Technical working group to push this initiative.

Following an MTF meeting back in November 2022, Programme Manager – Agricultural and AgroIndustrial Development at the Caricom Secretariat, Shaun Baugh, disclosed that the working group had engaged representatives of GraceKennedy to discuss the progress made in developing and implementing such a product.

“Late [2021], we received a presentation from Grace Kennedy Insurance out of Jamaica. They had presented

a particular product that they have ongoing in that Member State and expressed an interest in scaling up and introducing it to the rest of the Region. They have indicated that they have now been able to put a dedicated project team to get this product up and running and that they are near completion of negotiating with their reinsurance to carry the product. They have also submitted an implementation work plan and programme to which they have committed to. All in all, it amounts to a possible product being introduced by the first half of 2023,” Baugh was quoted in a statement from Guyana’s Agriculture Ministry.

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha indicated earlier this year that the Caricom MTF has listed agriculture insurance as one of its priority areas identified for 2023 that will help to advance regional efforts aimed towards achieving ‘Vision 25 by 2025’ – reducing the Caribbean’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Guyana has been playing the lead role in driving the agriculture sector in Caricom and has been receiving tremendous support from international institutions to promote the de-

velopment of the regional agrifood system.

In fact, back in April, during a meeting with officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mustapha discussed the importance of and need for agriculture insurance.

Nevertheless, during Friday’s engagement, the Coverden farmers raised a number of issues related to drainage and irrigation challenges that they face in the farmlands. In response, the Agriculture Minister has instructed the Head of the National Irrigation and Drainage Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, to return to the community to carry out an assessment of the work that needs to be done.

“In one week from now, Lionel will be back in the area with the NDIA team. [They] will come and walk with you, the farmers, and you show them what needs to be done,” he indicated.

Mustapha also promise the farmers to deliver much-needed planting materials that they requested from the Government. The same will be done for livestock farmers, the Minister assured. (G-8)

Farmers of Coverden, East Bank Demerara, on Friday met with the Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha addressing the EBD farmers

Building synergy between stakeholders necessary to protect migrants – Min Teixeira

– says Govt is committed to taking care of those seeking refuge in Guyana

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance

Minister Gail Teixeira has stressed the need to create and build synergy between different sectors and organisations to continue protecting the rights of migrants and refugees.

Minister Teixeira made this remark on Friday during an event hosted by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to commemorate World Refugee Day which

was observed on Tuesday last.

The day is observed in honour of those who are forced to flee their origin countries largely due to political unrest, economic instability, or natural disasters.

“What we have to do is to work harder on how we are able to create synergies and collaboration between different sectors and agencies such as the UN and the Government and other fund-

ing agencies so that we’re all working in sync, in one aim of being able to protect the rights of migrants coming into our countries and to ensure we’re doing the best that we can,” Teixeira said.

She added that the Government is committed to ensuring that all migrants and refugees entering Guyana are taken care of as best as possible given its available resources, clarifying that there is still a responsi-

bility towards Guyanese citizens and other nationalities residing in the country.

“We will continue to work to ensure that people coming in are not exploited, abandoned [or] used by traffickers. That’s the responsibility that we have. And we have the importance of making sure that the children are taken care of, that they’re safe, in school, able to get their vaccinations,” Teixeira said.

Reportedly, about 30,000 Venezuelan migrants are currently living in Guyana.

sion, giving the example of mutual support demonstrated between Venezuelans and Indigenous persons who live within areas like Region One (Barima-Waini). In fact, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry in March 2023, convened a meeting of the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee (MACC) to address the influx of migrants from Venezuela into Guyana.

According to a 2022 UNHCR Global Report, the number of forcibly displaced persons rose to 108 million people last year, with most of these individuals being hosted by low- and middle-income countries.

UNHCR Head of National Office in Guyana, Henry Sylvain Yakara stated that this number has increased to 110 million in 2023.

“This figure emphasises the urgency and importance of involving all stakeholders

in finding durable solutions for them. It is urgent to enhance the efforts of all actors to create an environment that can guarantee their protection,” Yakara highlighted.

“The concept of inclusion in access to rights and services plays a pivotal role in empowering forcibly displaced people to rebuild their lives and contribute to their host countries.”

He further noted that in Guyana, UNCHR has witnessed remarkable resilience and capacity for inclu-

The meeting was chaired by Minister Hugh Todd and was attended by Committee members from Government agencies and international organisations resident in Guyana.

Discussions centred on the initiatives currently underway to ensure the coordinated and appropriate response of the Government of Guyana to the needs of the migrants from Venezuela in Guyana. Meanwhile, during this World Refugee Day commemorative event, there were also a host of cultural performances and poems being read under the day’s theme “Hope Away from Home.” (Pooja Rambarran)

Man wanted for 2006 murder in Guyana deported from France

– being interrogated by CID ranks in relation to crime

Forty-four-year-old

Michael Orlando

Carrica also known as “Tall Man”, who was able to evade Police for over 16 years, was deported to Guyana from France, and he is expected to be slapped with a murder charge.

Carrica was accused of killing Oswald Joris, a gold miner nicknamed “Buns”, during a heated argument in February 2006 in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

After fleeing Guyana through an illegal departure at Moleson Creek, Carrica made his way to Suriname before settling in French Guiana. He managed to stay under the radar for several years, working illegally in the country.

Eventually, Carrica moved to France, where he secured employment as a labourer with a construction company. However, his run came to an end when French

authorities apprehended him for possession of a stolen cell phone.

He was arrested, taken into custody, and subsequently charged with the theft. Carrica admitted guilt, resulting in a nine-year prison sentence in France. Following his release, Carrica was placed in French immigration custody until June 21, 2023, when he was deported to Guyana.

Upon arrival, he was immediately taken into custody by ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning regarding the murder of the gold miner. It is expected that formal charges will be filed against him in the near future.

According to reports, Carrica and Joris were acquainted with each other. The suspect allegedly operated a shop in the Arimu area, where Joris worked as a gold miner.

In February 2006, a vi-

olent altercation between the two men erupted over a woman at Papa Road, Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River. During the confrontation, Carrica allegedly attacked Joris, inflicting fatal chops on his body before fleeing the scene. Joris, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries before receiving medical attention at the Bartica Hospital.

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

UNHCR Head of National Office in Guyana, Henry Sylvain Yakara

Deported murder accused Michael Orlando Carrica

Matarkai part-time workers to commence work in July

cian and plumbing. He noted that once these persons are identified, the Ministry of Labour will facilitate the training sessions.

“From every region we’ve gone into, these community groups have approached us.

It’s up to them now to start doing the work [and] gath-

ering up the people… We need a critical mass to start the training programme in one of these areas,” the VP stated.

Following the official launch of the Government’s parttime job initiative by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last month, residents from several communities in the Matarkai sub-district of Region One (Barima-Waini) are being prepared to commence work in July.

Residents who have signed up for the programme were engaged by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Friday at the Port Kaituma Community Centre. He was joined by the Regional Vice Chairperson, Annansha Peters; Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Shem Cuffy; Chairman of the Matarkai NDC, Orlando Thorne; and Prime Ministerial representative, Margaret Lambert.

The first phase of the programme in Matarkai will benefit approximately 200 individuals, who will be assigned to various State institutions. Each worker will receive a payment of $40,000 for 10 days of work.

During his address to beneficiaries, Minister Croal, who also holds parliamentary responsibility for the region, emphasised the importance of personal growth and development. He encouraged them to explore additional economic ventures and educational programmes, such as the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships.

“This is to help service your community and to provide you an opportunity to enhance and grow for yourself and your family,” Minister Croal said.

Meanwhile, the Region

One Vice Chair urged the workers to demonstrate dedication and diligence in their work. She further stated that the initiative primarily aims to enhance the lives of youth and vulnerable populations, fostering inclusive growth and development.

The beneficiaries are set to commence their part-time employment within the first week of July 2023.

Residents in Mabaruma, Region One, were designated to their places of employment just last week and the initiative was also successfully implemented in several other regions. This strategic move is part of the Government’s commitment to fulfilling its promise of providing 50,000 job opportunities for Guyanese.

Only Thursday, VP Jagdeo disclosed that the Government will be expanding the part-time job initiative throughout Guyana.

During a press conference, the Vice President dismissed claims made by the Opposition that the Government will be firing part-time workers after the

recently concluded Local Government Elections.

In fact, Jagdeo assured persons in all 10 regions that the programme will be expanded, especially in the rural and hinterland areas, where people want to be employed temporarily until they can find permanent jobs.

“This programme will be expanded to accommodate a [larger] number of people… The focus here is to ensure that more women get employment with the aim of bringing more females into the workforce in the long run. We’re hoping that a lot of the people who are working in this part-time programme will also be studying and they will apply for the [GOAL] scholarships,” he stated.

Moreover, the Vice President pointed out that several community groups across the country have been asked to gather persons who are interested in undergoing technical and vocational training, especially in areas such as welding, carpentry, electri-

Residents from the Matarkai sub-district in Region One being engaged ahead of their commencement of the part-time job initiative

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

St Ignatius to purchase dump truck, establish farine factory with $35M carbon credit grant

The Central Rupununi village of St Ignatius is hoping to use its $35 million carbon credits grant to establish a farine factory as well as to purchase a dump truck to work in the construction industry to bring in an income.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday, Toshao of St Ignatius, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Wilson Lorentino shared that the village has a lot of natural resources such as gravel, white sand, and river sand, which are essential for the construction industry.

As a result of this, the village will buy a dump

truck to complement the existing heavy-duty equipment to distribute these resources to villagers around Lethem.

“The village wishes to buy a dump truck because we already purchased [another piece of heavy-duty equipment]. We don’t have a dump truck so we want to purchase it so we could sell river sand and gravel. Here we have resources like gravel, white sand, and river sand. It’s much needed because we do construction and so in the village, and not only the village, we’re close to Lethem the town,” Lorentino explained.

According to Lorentino,

the establishment of a farine factory will allow the village to manufacture cas-

sava bread, cassareep as well as other cassava products. This, he noted, will be the first of its kind in the village.

The village is aiming to submit its plans before June 29, 2023, after holding additional consultations with villages.

St Ignatius is an Amerindian village located near the regional capital, Lethem, and the border of

Brazil. The village is populated with over 2000 people.

$4.7B distribution

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

in 2022, which will see the country earning US$750 million for its forest.

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

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has explained that a strict mechanism would be followed to ensure accountability and transparency regarding how the funds would be expended. Each community is required to create a separate bank account so the spending of the funds could be properly monitored. Moreover, the community cannot utilise the funds until a Finance Committee is named and the Village Development Plan is completed and endorsed by the village.

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

The Public Works Ministry has warned drivers about the irresponsible and criminal manner in which the roads are being used daily and called for these practices to cease.

In a statement, it was highlighted that recently, there has been an overwhelming number of reports of drivers using road shoulders, cycle paths and pedestrian walkways as driving lanes, in addition to vehicles damaging guard rails and road signs.

“These unlawful practices must stop immediately. With respect to driving on the road shoulders, in addition to breaking the law, this practice is very dangerous, as it increases the risk of accidents since it eliminates the opportunity for other vehicles to access the shoulder in the event of an emergency,” it was directed.

Such practices also impede pedestrian movements and thus expose them to collision with motorised vehicles. Further, blockage of the road shoulder can impede emergency vehicles and delay help reaching those who may urgently need it, the Ministry conveyed.

“The Ministry, therefore, calls on the general public, especially drivers, to use the road shoulders only in the event of an emergency, as these were designed to allow emergency vehicles a safe pass when there is congestion

on the roadway.”

Persons were reminded that the blatant disregard and defiance of traffic rules and regulations can result in them being charged and placed before the courts.

As of February, the latest statistics showed that there was a 100 per cent increase in road fatalities when compared to the same period in 2022. The Home Affairs Ministry had noted with grave concern, the growing number of road fatalities that have occurred for the year thus far.

Drunk driving has also been a plague across the country. In April, in response to the high incidences of drunk driving resulting in road traffic accidents, the Government reminded the public of the sweeping changes to the country’s driving laws, which, among other measures, provide for much harsher penalties for some offences that could result in up to 10 years’ impris-

onment.

Drivers were being reminded of the provisions of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2022, which creates new criminal offences of motor manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm when driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

A person will be found guilty of motor manslaughter where that person causes the death of another person while driving under the influence of drink or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle.

The penalty for conviction of this offence is not less than 10 years. Where the person causes grievous bodily harm to another person while driving under the influence of drink or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle, the penalty for conviction is not less than five years.

Dangerous usage of roads, pedestrian walkways must stop – MoPW

Guyana secures seat on Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Guyanese national, Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan was today elected a Commissioner on the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for a four-year period from 20242027.

According to a release by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Government of Guyana had nominated Dr Bulkan’s candidature on the basis of his extensive experience in human rights as an advocate, jurist, academic

and policy advisor.

“He had previously served as an expert member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee during the period 2019-2022, where he authored and co-authored several individual opinions. He was elected to serve as Vice Chair of that Committee for the 2021-2022 period,” the release stated.

Dr Bulkan’s work has been recognised as a model of independence, integrity, and competence.

However, his election represents the first time that a Guyanese national will serve on the IACHR since its creation in 1959. He secured the highest number of votes – 27 out of 32. Based on reports received, the elections took place in Washington, DC, on Friday at the 53rd Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) where Minister Hugh Todd is leading Guyana’s delegation.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the OAS and is mandated to promote and protect human rights in the Americas. The Commission comprises seven experts who serve in their personal capacity. The Government of Guyana is confident that Dr Bulkan will make a signal contribution to the work of the IACHR.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has since extended congratulations to Dr Bulkan on his election to the office.

Rum

producers call on Caricom to open new markets

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) has called on the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to facilitate the expansion of new markets for premium rum exports.

During a meeting held in Georgetown on Wednesday, with senior officials from Caricom, producers said that the Region is well-positioned to capitalise on new non-traditional markets.

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) also elected its first female Chairperson, Margaret Monplaisir, who is the head of St Lucia Distillers. As the first female to chair WIRSPA, Monplaisir brings to the table 30 years of experience in the industry and has been a member of the WIRSPA Board of Directors for several years.

In her new role,

$227.9M contract inked for extension, rehabilitation of ARMS

They further emphasised that the Region possesses high-quality products, packaging, and ample production capacity to take full advantage of emerging opportunities in these markets.

According to Komal Samaroo, the outgoing chairman of the grouping and chairman of local conglomerate Demerara Distillers, “The Caribbean is known as the birthplace of rum and has a reputation for producing premium and super-premium products. It is imperative that we capitalise on this reputation and our unique heritage to penetrate new markets where rising income levels are fuelling a rapid surge in demand for quality products.”

Monplaisir has pledged to maintain the high standards of governance and cohesiveness experienced by the organisation. She acknowledged “We have many challenges to face, both in the supply chains and in the international market.”

However, she remains optimistic about the future of Caribbean rum, stating that “Our products speak for themselves and we see a bright future ahead.”

A key agenda item for producers was the need to strengthen efforts aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption by consumers, with a keen awareness of the negative effects that overconsumption can have. Monplaisir stated “We agreed to ramp up our efforts to implement practi-

cal measures to reduce access by underage persons to alcohol and to support Government initiatives to combat drinking and driving. We have the resources and the commitment to make a difference and we intend to do so.”

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, coinciding with Caricom’s own 50-year milestone, WIRSPA welcomed the response from the regional Caricom Secretariat to its call for new markets and exchanged views on other trade issues, including the continued availability of quality glass packaging at competitive prices.

According to Samaroo “We have always enjoyed a productive and cordial relationship with Secretariat officials, and this engagement cemented that.

He added, “It complements our close collaboration with our Governments to ensure the continued growth of this very important industry, now the number one non-mineral export earner for the Region.”

Speaking at a reception hosted by Demerara Distillers, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips congratulated the industry on its achievements and pledged the continuing support of Guyana’s Government to its growth in the international market.

As the Education Ministry continues to fulfil its promise to deliver quality education to students across Guyana, a $227.9 million contract was on Wednesday inked for the extension and rehabilitation of the Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

project is expected to be completed within nine months.

Over 900 students will benefit from improved science labs and a conducive environment that will comfortably accommodate them.

During the symbolic signing, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva challenged the contractor to ensure that he delivers

Shoundelle Hercules, related that she is very grateful for the development in the education sector in her region which will undoubtedly lead to high educational achievements.

Additionally, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand reiterated that the Government’s aim is to ensure that every child

The contract was signed between the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Susanah Saywack, and Gurdev Mahadeo Contracting Services. The

quality work while adding that it will be overlooked by the Regional Democratic Council.

However, the Regional Education Officer,

across the country receives equal access to education. She also called on the residents to partner with the Government in further developing the sector.

WIRSPA Chairperson Margaret Monplaisir

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Susanah Saywack signed the contract on Wednesday at Anna Regina Multilateral School

Regional officials during the symbolic signing of the contract

Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan

29 trained in analysis of food insecurity data

Twenty-nine participants from the Bureau of Statistics, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and Agriculture and Finance Ministries benefited from a training exercise earlier this week in analysing data using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).

Held from Tuesday to Thursday at the Bureau’s Head office in Georgetown, this training was done in collaboration between the Bureau and FAO.

FAO developed the FIES to measure the severity of food insecurity at the household and/or individual level in a given population. It is computed using a

set of eight questions about experiences related to lack of access to food.

The Bureau incorporated the FIES module in its Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted in April 2022 and FAO has supported the agency with training and data analysis geared towards estimating the prevalence of food insecurity.

Facilitated by the FAO, participants were provided with a comprehensive understanding—including methodologies, data collection techniques, and interpretation--of the FIES and Sustainable Development Goal 2.1.2 Indicator analysis, with the SDG goal ad -

dressing the elimination of hunger by 2030.

Personnel were trained to utilise these tools to assess food insecurity at various levels and identify vulnerable populations, which will support evidence-based policies and interventions to combat hunger.

The overarching objective of the training was to introduce the FIES analytic protocol, especially to

calculate the prevalence of moderate-severe and severe food insecurity in the context of the Rasch model, which is loosely a mathematical model that helps to quantify unobservable human conditions.

FAO Country Representative, Dr Gillian Smith noted that the training programme aimed to bridge the knowledge gap and empower individuals

and organisations with the tools and expertise needed to tackle food insecurity effectively.

Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez emphasised the importance of data collection and analysis and the use of FIES and other tools, to enhance monitoring and reporting on the SDGs.

He noted that through reporting and analysis on Indicator 2.1.2, targeted

solutions can be developed towards eradicating hunger by 2030.

As food insecurity continues to be a rising concern given the cost-of-living crisis, the Government has been making active efforts to develop the country’s agriculture sector as it continues to take the lead in reducing the Caribbean’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

GNBS certifies GPL Testing Laboratory to National Standard

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated

Testing Laboratory on Friday became the 25th laboratory to be certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). The facility was certified to the National Standard GYS 170:2021 –General requirements for the operations of a laboratory.

During the handing over ceremony hosted at GPL’s Water Street, Kingston, Georgetown location, the certificate was presented to Divisional Director of GPL, Gary Hall by GNBS Technical Officer, Keon Rankin.

Upon receiving the certificate, Hall expressed gratitude to the GNBS Technical Officers who worked with the laboratory to meet the requirements of the National Standard, noting that “this is a very proud moment for all of us, we will wear this certifica -

tion proudly and use it as a stepping stone for continuous improvement.”

The scope of the certification covers the testing of oil and water for internal

quality control. The compounds which are vital to the power generation pro -

cess, are tested for various parameters including pH, viscosity, iron content, and other general requirements.

Hall added, “When it comes to fuel and lubricants entering our ports for use by our plants and other equipment, this Certification allows stricter quality control and ensures the operational efficiency of our equipment.”

Mr. Rankin encouraged the company to maintain the requirements of the standard and to continue to find ways to improve its systems. The GNBS Officer added that highlighting this certification assures customers that the company is competent and is in conformance with the National Standard.

“Customers will always want the best quality, and for a testing laboratory, much like the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, the GYS 170:2021 Standard sets the foundation for building

towards achieving international accreditation if so desired. The GNBS is happy to have you on board”, he added.

The certificate issued is valid for two years and expires on June 22, 2025, after which the company can apply for recertification. During the certification period, surveillance audits will be conducted to ensure conformance with the requirements of the National Standard is maintained.

Certification provides formal recognition that a laboratory has implemented a laboratory management system, thus enhancing confidence in the testing, measurement, and calibration services provided. The GNBS encourages uncertified medical and testing laboratories to begin to implement the requirements of the National Standard to join the growing list of certified laboratories in Guyana.

FAO Country Representative Dr Gillian Smith

Key personnel partaking in training to analyse food insecurity data

GPL Senior Manager for HSE & Laboratory Services, Denise Griffith, receiving the GNBS plaque from GNBS Technical Officer Charissa Wilson. Also in the photo are GNBS Technical Officer Keon Rankin (left), Quality Manager Nigel Chetram (centre) and Divisional Director Gary Hall (right)

APNU/AFC Panama rice deal

GRDB ordered to pay US$308,000 to Golden Fleece Rice Investment for rice supplied

The GRDB had, however, contended that because it had not received payment from the buyer in Panama, it could not have paid the supplier. But the millers contended that the failure of the GRDB to pay them is unduly long and unreasonable and that they are not convinced sincere and strident efforts were made to obtain payment from the buyer.

For rice it supplied to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for export to Panama for which it was never paid, Golden Fleece Rice Investment has been awarded a judgement by High Court Judge, Gino Persaud, in the sum of US$308,620.03, together with GY$1 million in costs.

Last year, Nazeemul Hakh and Shareeda Hakh of Golden Fleece Rice Investment had moved to the High Court seeking judgement on the sum owed to them.

In their Fixed Date Application (FDA), the duo had deposed that the monies are owed to them for the supply of longgrain white rice pursuant to two contracts to the GRDB. The rice, according to them, was supplied between August 1, 2018, and November 7, 2018.

In his ruling, Justice Persaud ordered that the GRDB must pay US$308,620.03 or its equivalent in Guyana dollars at the prevailing Cambio rate of exchange at any commercial bank at the date of payment together with statutory interest on that sum, together with GY$1M in costs.

Vilvoorden Investment Inc

In a similar case filed against the GRDB, rice farmer and miller, Vilvoorden Investment Inc was awarded judgement in the sum of US$77,000.20 for rice it supplied to the GRDB for exportation to Agriculture Marketing Institute, a state agency of Panama, but for which it was not paid.

Justice Persaud, in deliberating in this matter, observed that the payment contract between Guyana and Panama contains the following clause: “The buyer will pay the seller the value for the white rice… after deductions, as stat -

ed, are made by the buyer on receipt of payment from Panama”. The Judge held that the language of the clause does not suggest that payment is contingent on the GRDB being paid by Panama, but rather suggests a pay-whenpaid clause.

However, the language used in the clause is ambiguous, and does not specifically refer to the entity in Panama from which payment would be made, Justice Persaud said.

According to him, further confusion is added by the latter part of the clause which states: “Invoices for each weekly shipment are to be submitted to the [GRDB]. Payment will not be made if the seller does not submit the invoices to the Guyana Rice Development Board.”

The High Court Judge reasoned that the aforementioned clause suggests that payment would be made after invoices are supplied by the subcontractor [Vilvoorden Investment] on a weekly basis, and that if these invoices were not supplied, the subcontractor could not be paid.

Having regard to this, he held that GRDB cannot rely on the pay-when-paid clause, since that clause is unspecific and ambiguous. Importantly, he went on to note that Vilvoorden Investment had completed its obligation under the contract four years ago, and thus was entitled to be paid within a reasonable time for the rice supplied.

“The pay-when-paid clause did not absolve [GRDB’s] liability to pay

[Vilvoorden Investment] even if it had not been paid,” Justice Persaud pointed out. By relying on that clause, he said, the GRDB had to advance all means possible to obtain payment from Panama; but from the evidence provided, it had not so done. In this regard, the Judge held that “merely sending letters to demand payment is not sufficient, given that four years have passed.”

Based on his findings, Justice Persaud granted judgement in favour of Vilvoorden Investment in the sum of US$77,000.20, or its equivalent in Guyana dollars, with interest on that sum, together with costs in the sum of $1 million to be paid in six weeks.

The Judge, in his decision, noted that the cir -

cumstances surrounding this case have thrown up a “Heller’s Catch-22 situation.”

The Guyana Government is still actively trying to recover the more-than one billion dollars owed by the Government of Panama over a flawed rice deal that was struck under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government in 2018. In March, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had revealed that legal proceedings have been filed at the International Chamber of Arbitration in France in an attempt to recover the money owed to local rice farmers and millers.

On April 13, 2018, a contract was signed between the Government of Panama and the then APNU/AFC Administration for the supply of some 9000 tonnes of rice, with the GRDB being the facilitator. Reports indicate that after the rice was shipped, a partial payment was made, but the balance, which has now accumulated significant interest, remains outstanding to date.

There was another contract signed in 2019, for which no payment was made to Guyana, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had told the State-owned Guyana Chronicle.

– UN Rep

Despite plastic pollution remaining a significant concern globally, plastic production continues to grow exponentially, reaching about 430 million tonnes.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, about 30 per cent of waste is disposed of in improper facilities like open dumpsites, including 17,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day.

Furthermore, emissions of plastic waste into aquatic ecosystems are projected to nearly triple by 2040. As such, individuals are potentially consuming a considerable amount of plastic every week.

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative Jordi Pon, however, this can be improved with a concerted effort across the Region, as he noted that 30 per cent of plastics from short-lived

products are avoidable and can be reduced.

Pon made this remark on Thursday during a webinar on “The State of Our Environment: Our Plastic World,” hosted by Trinidad and Tobago-based CaribBois and The Cropper Foundation.

“We need to reduce the size of the problem. We

need to reduce and consume less plastics, and this is possible by at least 30 per cent,” Pon said.

To do so, he explained that three major market shifts can be made towards a circular plastics economy which is notably a sustainable model where plastics are reused and recycled at the end of their life span.

These shifts are: accelerating the market for reusable products, accelerating the market for plastic recycling, and reorienting and diversifying the market for sustainable and safe plastic alternatives.

“Shifting to a circular economy for plastics can save US$4.5 trillion by 2040 on total costs while improving livelihoods for millions of workers worldwide,” Pon stated in his presentation.

Pon noted that many countries in the Region have taken efforts to re-

duce or ban the use of single-use plastics.

While this ban has been considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Guyana for several years now, a full ban as such has still not been implemented.

Ronald Roach of consulting firm Unite Caribbean

explained that there are several challenges to the development of recycling in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), inclusive of Guyana.

These include high shipping costs, importing ports’ regulations, low global market prices, equipment operation and maintenance costs and limited human capacity.

There are a number of national and local actions, however, that can be taken to improve waste management in SIDS which address governance–legislation, enforcement and clarification of the roles of the public and private sectors; stakeholders–increasing engagement and education–and technology–having appropriate technology and maintenance capabilities.

Roach expressed a need to remove ourselves from the myth that recycling can

be a business opportunity on its own. Though that can happen in certain countries based on population and industrial capacity, the case is different for countries within the Caribbean Region, he explained.

“Within our SIDS, there's a high cost of production and a high cost of equipment operation, and relatively low volumes of these products, the reality is that recycling cannot at this point in time be a viable business operation, and therefore it has to be supported by some external financing,” he said.

“And the question then becomes, who pays for this? Does the Government pay for it? Do the individuals pay for it? Or is that cost applied to the private sector and to the producers who have produced the product which ends up as waste in the first place?” he asked.

High Court Judge Gino Persaud

Rice being prepared for exportation

Ronald Roach of Unite Caribbean

United Nations Environment Programme Latin America and Caribbean Representative, Jordi Pon

Govt propelling agri projects for hinterland so that no one is “left behind” – Jagdeo …eyes

nursery, direct export from Reg 1

In light of the oil boom and countless opportunities for the coast, the Government is taking bold steps to propel agriculture in the hinterland in ensuring that these communities benefit from national development.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that as Guyana leads the food security agenda in the Caribbean, simultaneous efforts are being made at bolstering the country’s agricultural sector, especially for the benefit of hinterland communities.

This is having realised that remote communities will be disenfranchised in benefitting from oil.

“It’s unique to the hinterland. Those communities can’t do much with oil and gas. That is why we have to push agri-investment so that the people who live in these regions are not left behind in the remote regions of the country. We want all of our people to move forward in every region,” he indicated at Thursday’s press conference.

In Region One (BarimaWaini), a nursery is being considered to produce plantain ‘suckers’ after residents have complained of the high costs for one sprout.

However, the Vice President noted that this is just the beginning. The

intention is to export from the region directly to the Caribbean, avoiding competition with coastal prices.

For this, he added that Government is willing to invest in facilities or enter a co-investment venture to get it done.

“The Government is prepared to put the investment in, even co-investing in processing facilities with businesses. If they produce the stuff, we can co-invest with someone to get this done… We’re looking to establish a major nursery there and so the Ministry of Agriculture will go there and see if we can upgrade certification so our products can sail directly into the Caribbean from

these areas without having to come to the coast. The coast can’t be a market for their plantain. They will face serious competition from growers who are producing on the coast already,” Jagdeo noted.

In April, the MV MA LISHA ferry - built at a cost of US$12.7 million - was officially commissioned to ply the NorthWest, Region One, (BarimaWaini), and Georgetown route. President Irfaan Ali had shared that the vessel would serve as an important conduit for trade between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the wider Caribbean Region.

lot of people are coming for booster doses. But in Guyana, we do have the bivalent vaccines that have the ancestral strain and some of the current strain, which is really good,” Anthony added.

Guyana had in March of this year, received a large quantity of this type of vaccine, which was formulated to provide better protection against COVID.

As part of the local drive towards enhancing food production, the Government is fostering discussions with foreign counterparts. In the case of India, they are looking at spices, and doubling rice and sugar output.

The COVID-19 hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, is currently being used to house patients who suffer from other respiratory diseases such as Tuberculosis and others. This was revealed by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during a recent episode of a broadcast programme “The Guyana Dialogue”.

According to the Minister, the Ministry has retained the staff of the hospital to facilitate this initiative. He, however, stated that in case of a surge in COVID-19 cases, there are mechanisms in place to help those patients.

“We do have a hospital at Liliendaal where we have about 198 beds and we have an ICU and so forth.

So far, we haven’t had patients with COVID being hospitalised because… we’re seeing a much milder form. We have repurposed that hospital to keep other patients and we have been looking at patients with other diseases such as TB and other things. So, we maintain the staff, but just in case there’s a surge, we have mechanisms in place to move very quickly to deal with those patients,” the Health Minister explained.

The Minister noted that though the COVID situation is relatively calm, people still ought to take precautions. He added that in addition to other vaccines, authorities are offering the bivalent vaccine.

“We have also been doing our vaccinations, although right now, not a

According to the US FDA website, “The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include a component of the original virus strain to provide broad protection against COVID-19 and a component of the Omicron variant to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant. These are called bivalent COVID-19 vaccines because they contain these two components. A bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may also be referred to as an “updated” COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.”

To date, 1298 persons have died as a result of the virus in Guyana.

Last month, the World Health Organisation declared that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, a major step towards the end of the pandemic that has killed more than 6.9 million people, disrupted the global economy, and ravaged communities.

“The local component is to enhance production and productivity in our agricultural sector and also to expand the range of products that we are now producing and exporting. We have resumed all the discussions we have had with India on developing all the spices and greater productivity in the rice sector and sugarcane – maybe even doubling the output in these sectors,” Ali had explained.

As the Guyana Government seeks to modernise the sugar industry and restore it to a state of profitability, President Ali recently noted that efforts are underway to establish a nursery with the aim of enhancing the cultivation of sugarcane. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is pegged to produce some 60,000 tonnes of sugar by the end of 2023 with the aim of increasing this to 100,000 tonnes in the new year.

One of the greatest challenges within the sector is the cultivation of sugarcane plants, and he confirmed that the country would be tapping into the expertise

of bilateral partners to help with expanding its cultivation.

India has long offered technical expertise to enhance the local sugar industry, including the use of tissue culture to get better cane yields. More recently, Guatemala also expressed interest in lending support for sugar and GuySuCo. Guatemala is the second-largest exporter of sugar in Latin America, and the fifth-largest exporter in the world.

Another Latin American nation, the Dominican Republic, has also indicated its willingness to provide assistance to Guyana’s sugar industry.

Man accused of assaulting girlfriend remanded to prison

Aman was on Friday remanded to prison after a city Magistrate heard that he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. The defendant, Abraham Hamilton, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

He denied the charge which alleged that on May 22, at Meadow Brook Squatting Area, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Shanice Sampson. Bail was refused and Hamilton was remanded to prison until July 21.

Earlier this month, Levi

Vanhogen was charged and remanded to prison for allegedly cuffing his girlfriend of eight months in the face.

He, too, had appeared before Magistrate Daly before whom he pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 13, he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Tanisha Smith to cause her actual bodily harm.

The court was told that the woman was rubbing her son’s back when Vanhogen attacked her, cuffing her twice in the face. The woman ran into her neighbour’s yard for refuge. Vanhogen’s matter was postponed until June 30.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Remanded: Abraham Hamilton

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Patients with respiratory diseases being housed at COVID-19 facility – Dr Anthony

Berbice duo dies after motorcycle crashes into bus shed

Amotorcyclist and his pillion rider are now dead after the motorbike on which they were travelling crashed into a bus shed along the Number 68 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), on Monday.

Dear are 38-year-old Harrynarine Ramnauth and 17-year-old Roano Reshieram, both of Number 60 Village, Corentyne.

Police confirmed that at the time of the accident, the motorcycle was being ridden at a fast rate thus causing Ramnauth to lose control while negotiating a turn and subsequently crash into the bus shed.

Following the accident, the duo was picked up and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

At the home of the teenager, his parents confirmed that the young man played “Superbet” and had won about $200,000 and would have left with Ramnauth to go to Corriverton to cash out his winnings and it was on their way back, the accident occurred.

According to Rishie

Ramrajpaul, his son was not a drinker.

“Maybe they went and do some other stuff but he is not a drinker that would consume so much alcohol; he might just take a beer or two – he doesn’t really drink much. Whilst they were coming back, they met with the accident opposite the Roadside Baptist Church.”

According to the teen’s mother, Bibi Wahab, her son would normally sleep at a friend’s home. However, on Tuesday morning one of his

her presence at the Skeldon Hospital.

The woman said she subsequently learnt that her son had passed away.

Former cop loses lawsuit against ministerial advisor

me that he died.”

However, several days after the accident, family members of both dead men say they tried to obtain information from residents in the area where the accident occurred but all they were told was that a policeman was the first person to have arrived at the scene soon after he contacted the Skeldon Police Station.

The teen’s father accused the villagers of refusing to release CCTV footage of the accident.

“When we asked, he said that he cannot give it and if he gives it it would cause a lot of problems. So, I asked him if the Police have it and he said yes.”

Finding that there was no evidence to support his case, the Full Court has dismissed the appeal filed by former Police Constable Kelon Gilbert against a decision of High Court Judge Damone Younge, who dismissed the lawsuit he brought against Harry Gill on the grounds that it did not disclose any reasonable grounds for bringing the claim and that it was untenable in law.

Gill is an advisor to a Government Minister. In the action, Gilbert had claimed damages in excess of $5 million for intentional infliction of emotional distress on him at his station of employment on April 21, 2022.

The origins of the action stemmed from a video posted to social media of Gilbert, who was at the time a Police Constable, sleeping at around 15:00h with a high-powered weapon on his lap, while he was supposed to be guarding the residence of the Ministerial Advisor, Harry Gill.

inter alia, that the pleadings filed by Gilbert disclosed no reasonable cause of action for remedies and relief that are available under law and that the claim was an abuse of the process of the court because Gill cannot benefit from his own wrongdoings or the consequence of his actions.

friends informed her that he was involved in an accident. Moments later she received a telephone call requesting

Meanwhile, at Ramnauth’s house, his wife, Bhojwattie Budham, explained that her husband left home on Monday afternoon to look after his cattle.

She said after he did not return home that night, she started to make enquiries.

“When I called Springlands Police Station, they asked me if my husband get a motorbike and I told them yes and they asked me the number and it told them. Then they tell me that he had an accident at Number 68. They didn’t tell

According to the aggrieved man, the Police have since refused to make the video available for them to view.

“We the family cannot say what really caused the accident. The only thing that we can do is to see the video that the guy has,” he added.

However, the cattle farmer’s spouse is questioning the reason for the Police not wanting the family to view the CCTV footage. She related that seeing what occurred might bring some closure. Investigations are continuing.

In the lawsuit, he had accused Gill of videoing him without permission when he fell asleep while performing security duties at his home. Through his lawyer, Eusi Anderson, Gilbert had written to Gill demanding from him, a public apology as well as compensation in lieu of civil proceedings. After Gill failed to meet his demands, he filed a lawsuit against him.

At the trial, Gill’s attorneys, Sanjeev Datadin, Donavon Rangiah and Tiffini Barton, had argued,

Mother awaits GFS report on Mahaica fatal fire - denies children played with matches

Bibi Shabeeka Hardat, the mother of threeyear-old Shameena Hardat and disabled nineyear-old Animika Hardat, who tragically lost their lives in a fire in Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), earlier this month, is anxiously awaiting the results of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) report regarding the cause of the deadly inferno.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Friday, she expressed her hope that the investigation's findings would be released soon to dispel the misconception that her children were playing with matches, which had been 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.

Furthermore, she highlighted that her older daughter was unable to do anything independently, raising doubts about the possibility of the children starting the fire themselves.

The grieving mother said she has faced significant scrutiny and false accusations in the aftermath of the tragic incident. She hopes that the of-

ficial findings will put an end to the rumours and allow her to mourn the loss of her daughters without the burden of unjust blame.

“Do you think it is easy losing two children? Do you know what I have been through to take care of them? I worked very hard for my children with no help from anyone, including their father. As for him, now he knows his other two children. After the two girls died, now he came claiming he has to get the two boys, but I will not give up my children,” the woman said.

“They [the Fire Service] never tell me anything, and

I'm just confused about everything. Nobody is telling me anything. They just came on the day, and I never saw them go back to the scene. My children were not playing with any matches… This is not the first time we had a fire. There was an attack on my life before.”

She also said that after the fire, the Government did offer her and her family assistance by providing them with a place to stay, and she is scared that the time will come when they will not have anywhere to go.

“Sometimes my mother gives us a little food. We lost everything, and my sons can't

really do anything with school because we lost everything, and all their books burned up in the fire. I am not working. I need help, and I miss my children. It is not easy,” the woman expressed.

The fire that claimed the children's lives occurred on June 7 while she had briefly left the house to run an errand at Cove and John, ECD, just a few villages away. She was devastated upon receiving the news of the fire and was unable to reach home in time to save her daughters.

The house, owned by her father and occupied by a total of 13 individuals, including her family of six, had multiple apartments. The upper part of the house, where the fire occurred, was locked with a padlock while the children were inside.

Neighbours made valiant efforts to rescue the girls but were hindered by locked doors before reaching them. The stepfather of the children, who was not present at the time of the fire, expressed his deep anguish and regret for not being able to save the children.

On the day of the fire, the grieving mother revealed that their home had been targeted in the past, with a neighbour setting their house ablaze last

year, causing harm to her and property damage. The neighbour responsible had served time in prison but was since released.

Despite the challenges they faced, including her disabled child, Shabeeka said she had been working hard to provide for her children with the support of her common-law husband. However, due to her child's disability and financial constraints, she often left the children at home alone.

Anyone willing to assist the family is asked to contact Bibi on Tel# +592 603-2419.

(G-9)

Trial Judge Justice Damone Younge ruled in favour of Gill and struck out Gilbert’s claim, awarding costs to the official in the sum of $100,000. Gilbert then appealed this ruling to the Full Court. On Monday June 5, 2023, the Full Court comprising Justices Nareshwar Harnanan and Sandil Kissoon agreed with Gill’s lawyers' argument that Gilbert did not present any evidence to support the appeal. The appeal was brought on similar facts to the High Court action.

In the circumstances, the Full Court dismissed the appeal and awarded costs in favour of Gill in the sum of $250,000. This effectively means that Justice Younge’s ruling stands.

In court documents seen by this publication, Gilbert had deposed that on April 21, 2022, he was rostered to work at Gill’s premises but there was no relief and he eventually did a shift of nearly 24 hours. As such, he noted that he was overcome by a lack of rest and food—a fact of which Gill is personally aware since he observed the events. While performing duties, he said that he opened his eyes to Gill directing a recording device to his face.

Since the recording “entered permanently” into the infinite boundaries of the internet, the former Policeman had submitted that he suffered public ridicule and tremendous opprobrium and he and his family cannot stop reeling from the emotional distress it has caused. He had argued that Gill violated his privacy and breached his right to not be recorded without his consent and same is evident in his strident efforts to conceal the recording device when he woke up.

Guyana Times understands that following the incident, Gilbert, who had been stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), was charged departmentally with neglect of duties.

Dead: Three-year-old Shameena Hardat and nine-year-old Animika Hardat Mother of the two girls, Bibi Shabeeka Hardat

Dead: Harrynarine Ramnauth Dead: Roano Reshieram

The bike the duo was riding at the time of the accident

The bus shed where the accident occurred

Harry Gill

Regional Tropical Storm Bret strikes Caribbean with heavy rain and wind

Tropical Storm Bret continued its path through eastern Caribbean islands early Friday, striking the region with winds and heavy rain.

Early morning the storm reached Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with storm-force winds which extended outward up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) from the centre, said the meteorological services of the island in a press release.

Bret had sent more

than 120 people to shelters on Thursday, according to Myccle Burke, the chairman of the Agency for Public Information, who identified the environment as “extremely volatile,” adding that many people near the coastline had evacuated.

The St Lucia Government is also under hurricane watch and the Government has asked residents to remain indoors until the all clear is given.

A number of public fa -

Mexico’s heat wave strains energy grid with record demand

cilities were closed as Bret approached, with St Lucia and Martinique shutting down schools and nurseries ahead of the arrival of one of the season’s first tropical storms, said Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre.

On Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) had placed both eastern Caribbean islands under a tropical storm warning, and Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines under its watch area. (Reuters)

Soaring temperatures in Mexico are driving record electricity consumption that has prompted the country’s energy authority to issue a rare alert over grid capacity, as the Government played down reports of blackouts.

Barbados

World leaders who met in Paris on Thursday could give poorer countries access to hundreds of billions of dollars to tackle climate change.

Mia Mottley, Barbados’ first female PM, is leading the global fight for this money and tells BBC News that her tiny country urgently needs help.

Climate finance, including funding for flood defences or solar plants, has long been one of the biggest sticking points in climate negotiations.

But Mottley has built a global coalition to support her demand that the international financial system be fundamentally reformed.

The Barbadian Prime Minister is joint host of the Paris conference with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

Insiders at the summit are expecting an an-

PM fights

for shake–up of global climate finance

nouncement that a target for US$100B worth of a kind of international currency called Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) has been met.

These assets will be transferred to low-income countries to be used for climate programmes.

But Mottley has an even bigger prize in her sights, a plan dubbed the “Bridgetown Agenda” after the Barbadian capital.

It wants to generate more finance for the countries that need it most through a wholesale modernisation of the international monetary system.

The current institutions - including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - were set up by the victorious nations towards the end of the Second World War at a conference in a ski resort called Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, US

The so-called “Bretton

With temperatures reaching above 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in parts of the country, the grid briefly entered a state of emergency, the National Center for Energy Control (Cenace) said late Tuesday, reaching an operating reserve margin of under 6%.

The last time it entered a state of emergency was during a cold spell in February 2021, Cenace said.

Daily demand reached a historical level last week of nearly 51,000 megawatts per hour, an executive at the national electricity federation (CFE) Jorge Musalem said on Twitter. On Wednesday, daily demand was projected to peak even higher at 51,782 megawatts per hour, according to Cenace data.

Electricity usage tends

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says rich nations must help developing countries pay for impacts of climate change

Woods system” will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year.

Mottley says she wants to make it fit for the challenges of the modern world by moving the focus away from richer nations and towards delivering outcomes that benefit the entire world, like helping developing countries tackle climate change.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Vatican sends priest’s diary to Bolivia amid sex abuse scandal

Asex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has gripped Bolivia, prompting the Vatican to send a key piece of evidence back to the South American country.

On Thursday, the Society of Jesus of Bolivia acknowledged that it had received a copy of the diary belonging to the late Alfonso Pedrajas, a Jesuit priest accused of abusing dozens of minors. The diary was then turned over to prosecutors in the city of Cochabamba.

The contents of the diary were first brought to light in the Spanish newspaper El País in April, as part of its ongoing investigation into the Spanish Catholic Church.

Pedrajas, originally from the Spanish city of Valencia, had kept detailed accounts of the child sexual abuse he committed in Bolivia, dating as far back as the 1970s. He died of cancer in 2009.

According to El País, the

priest’s nephew Fernando Pedrajas discovered a printout of the diary in an attic and ultimately turned it over to the newspaper.

In its pages, the priest Pedrajas wrote lines like: “I hurt so many people (85?). Too many.”

The newspaper published excerpts from the diary, prompting an outcry in Bolivia and an official Vatican response. Pope Francis promised to ensure “the full coop-

eration of the Church to work alongside the government” as it investigates the allegations.

He also expressed sorrow over the ongoing revelations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, calling them “deplorable”.

Bolivian President Luis Arce, for his part, has called on his country to “strengthen controls to prevent foreign priests with a history of sexual crimes from entering the country”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

to surge amid high temperatures as the use of air conditioning increases.

Local media reported incidents of blackouts in 12 states over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, neighboring Texas urged power conservation after the grid operator on Tuesday evening issued a warning for “projected reserve capacity shortage”.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador however dis -

missed energy concerns during a regular news conference on Wednesday, insisting that the alert from Cenace had been “routine.”

“There’s more consumption, but we don’t have any difficulties. There’s no problem,” he said. “It’s our responsibility that there aren’t blackouts.”

In Michoacan state, one town had been without electricity for several days, after an energy transmitter exploded. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Haitians suffer in shelters as gang violence displaces thousands

Agang rampaged through the Cite

Soleil neighbourhood, killing and raping and setting fire to hundreds of wood-and-tin homes. Forced out of the area, one family of four lived on the streets of Portau-Prince until they were struck by a truck as they slept.

Two brothers, two and nine, died in the November accident. JeanKere Almicar opened his home to their distraught parents, then another family, then another, until there were nearly 200 people camped out in his front yard and nearby.

They are among more than 165,000 Haitians

who have fled their homes amid a surge in gang violence, with nowhere to turn in this capital of nearly three million people.

Some 79,000 people are temporarily staying with friends or family, but another 48,000 have crowded into dozens of makeshift shelters like Almicar’s or sought refuge in parks, churches, schools and abandoned buildings in Port-au-Prince and beyond. The situation is overwhelming nonprofits and non-governmental organisations.

They sleep on the hard floor or on flattened cardboard boxes. Belongings are stuffed into big rice bags pushed up against the

walls of packed rooms. The gangs that chased them out of their homes and control up to 80 per cent of the capital, by most estimates, have begun recruiting children as young as eight at shelters.

One woman staying at Almicar’s place, Lenlen Desir Fondala, said someone snatched her fiveyear-old son while they were living in an outdoor park in November. Her face crinkled and she began to cry, whispering that she still dreams of him.

Rapes have also become common at the shelters and in the neighbourhoods that gangs are razing.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil says it cannot agree to EU’s proposal for Mercosur trade deal

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday said the European Union’s latest proposal for a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur made reaching an agreement impossible as it included a “threat” to Brazil.

The Brazilian leader was referring to the EU’s addendum to the deal attaching sustainability and climate change commit -

ments and introducing penalties for nations failing to comply with the climate goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“I am available to reach an agreement (on Mercosur), but with this additional letter from the EU, it’s not possible,” Lula told an event in Paris.

“The letter makes a threat to a strategic partner (Brazil),” he added.

Lula also said the

United Nations needed to regain political strength and he criticised the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for “leaving a lot to be desired” compared to people’s expectations.

“The UN needs to become representative again, to have political strength,” Lula said. “We can’t let the institutions function in the wrong way,” he added.

(Reuters)

Bolivians protest against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church outside the offices of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference in La Paz

A man watches television while cooling himself with an electric ventilator as temperatures rise during an unusual heat wave, in Monterrey, Mexico June 15, 2023

Around The World OIL NEWS

Ukraine says it advances in south, stops Russian attack in east

Oil dips on demand worries as more rate hikes likely

Oil prices settled lower on Friday, posting a weekly decline as traders worried interest rate hikes could sap demand despite signs of tighter supplies including lower US crude stocks.

In a second straight day of losses, Brent crude closed down 29 cents, or 0.4%, to US$73.85 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 35 cents, or 0.5%, at US$69.16.

On Thursday, Brent dropped about US$3 a barrel after the Bank of England raised interest rates by a bigger-than-expected half a percentage point. Central banks in Norway and Switzerland also hiked rates.

The benchmarks declined more than 3.5% for the week.

More US interest rate hikes also seemed likelier. San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly said two more rate hikes this year was a “very reasonable” projection.

“There seems to be a growing ‘risk back off’ type of trade now in crude, triggered by the interest rate rises in the EU and disappointing stimulus numbers out of China,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

The Bank of England rate rise triggered fund liquidation and energy producers were moving to a “hedge now” mentality, Kissler added.

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

Risk-aversion among investors also boosted the value of the US dollar, which pressures oil prices by making the commodity more expensive for other currency holders.

US business activity also fell to a three-month low in June as services growth eased for the first time this year and the contraction in the manufacturing sector deepened, survey data showed.

Wall Street’s main indexes fell, while gold prices were on track for their biggest weekly decline since early February.

China’s promising economic recovery has faltered with several months in a row of softer-than-expected consumption, production and property market data.

The recession and demand concerns outweighed signs of supplyside tightness.

US energy firms this week cut the number of oil rigs operating for an eighth week in a row, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said. US oil rig count, an indicator of future output, fell 6 to 546 this week, the lowest since April 2022.

This week’s US inventory report showed crude stocks posted a surprise decline of 3.8 million barrels.

Also set to tighten the market is Saudi Arabia’s production cut of 1 million barrels per day in July announced along with an OPEC+ deal to limit supplies into 2024.

Money managers raised their net long US crude futures and options positions in New York and London by 4790 contracts to 78,064 in the week to June 20, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. (Reuters)

Hundreds of migrants rescued off Canary Islands

At least 227 migrants were rescued off Spain’s Canary Islands on Thursday, officials say, a day after reported deaths of more than 30 migrants there.

Emergency services say the Coast Guard saved the migrants travelling on inflatable boats near the Lanzarote and Gran Canaria islands in the Atlantic.

A number of them were taken to hospital to be treated for a “mild condition”.

On Wednesday, two charities said more than 30 migrants may have drowned after their dinghy sank off Gran Canaria.

Spanish authorities said rescue workers found the bodies of a minor and a man, and rescued 24 other people.

However, the charitiesWalking Borders and Alarm Phone - said about 60 people had been on board.

Helena Maleno Garzon, from Walking Borders, said 39 people had drowned, including four women and a

Ukraine’s armed forces have halted a Russian offensive towards the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman in the east of the country, and are advancing in the south, a senior Ukrainian defence official said on Friday.

“We had very fierce battles in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, but our soldiers stopped the enemy there,” Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian television.

Ukraine is in the early stages of its most ambitious counterattack since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and says it has retaken eight villages, its first substantial gains on the battlefield for seven months.

But Russia still holds swathes of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces have yet to push to the main defensive lines that Russia has had months to prepare.

“Indeed, we still have the main events ahead of us. And the main blow is still to come. Indeed, some of the reserves - these are staged things - will be activated later,” Maliar said.

She said Russian forces still aimed to gain control of the whole of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military operation in the south was going according to plan and its forces were advancing, even if minefields were slowing them down, she said.

“Every day we are advancing, every day. Yes, it is gradual, but our forces are gaining a foothold on these borders and they are advancing steadily.”

Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the

battlefield. Each side says the other has suffered heavy losses since Ukraine began its counteroffensive, and Moscow has not acknowledged Ukraine’s recent military gains.

( Excerpt from Reuters)

US files 1st-ever charges against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers

The US Justice Department on Friday filed criminal charges against four Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and eight individuals over allegations they illegally trafficked the chemicals used to make fentanyl - a highly addictive painkiller that has fuelled the opioid crisis in the United States.

The indictments mark the first time the US has sought to prosecute any of the Chinese companies responsible for manufactur -

ing precursor chemicals used to make the painkiller.

This week, Antony Blinken made the first visit to China by a US Secretary of State in five years and said he made clear that Washington needs much greater cooperation from China on stemming the flow of fentanyl.

During the visit China and the US agreed to stabilise their intense rivalry so that it did not veer into conflict, but failed to produce any breakthrough

and the mood quickly soured again after US President Joe Biden on Tuesday referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a dictator.

The companies at the heart of the three separate indictments are accused of selling precursor chemicals to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, which in turn has flooded the US with the drug.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced the unsealing of an indictment against the China-

based chemical company Hubei Amarvel Biotech, along with its executives Qingzhou Wang, 35, Yiyi Chen, 31, and Fnu Lnu, also known as Er Yang, with fentanyl trafficking, precursor chemical importation, and money laundering offences.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the cases “break new ground by attacking the fentanyl supply chain at its origin.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

baby, while Alarm Phone said 35 people were missing.

Both organisations monitor migrant boats and receive calls from people on board or their relatives.

A Spanish rescue service ship, the Guardamar Caliope, was only about an hour’s sail from the dinghy on Tuesday evening, according to Spanish news agency Efe.

But the ship did not aid the dinghy because the operation had been taken over by Moroccan officials, which dispatched a patrol boat that arrived on Wednesday morning, 10 hours after it had been spotted by a Spanish rescue plane, according to Reuters.

Angel Victor Torres, leader of the Canary Islands region, described the incident as a “tragedy” and called on the European Union to establish a migration policy that “offers coordinated and supportive responses” to the issue of migration. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN slams Israel’s use of ‘advanced military weaponry’ in Jenin

pects.

What followed was a 20-year first: the use of helicopter gunships in the occupied West Bank, with the gunships pummelling the camp and, in addition to the deaths, injuring 91 people.

The UN’s Volker Turk made the remarks on Friday, warning that the situation was deteriorating sharply due to the use of heavy weaponry, urging Israel to stop the violence.

the use of weaponry more generally associated with the conduct of armed hostilities, rather than a law enforcement situation”.

Turk called on Israel to abide by international law, also adding that the current situation serves “only to drive Israelis and Palestinians deeper into an abyss”.

The violence in the occupied West Bank “risks spiralling out of control”, according to the United Nations human rights chief who condemned Israel’s use

of deadly force in a raid in the Jenin refugee camp that killed at least seven Palestinians, including children.

Israeli forces stormed the Jenin refugee camp on Monday to arrest two sus -

He added that the raid was a “major intensification of the use of weaponry more generally associated with the conduct of armed hostilities, rather than a law enforcement situation”.

He called the air strikes with helicopter gunships a “major intensification of

A day after the deadly raid, Palestinian gunmen killed four Israeli settlers at a petrol station between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Hours after that shooting, Israeli settlers stormed through Palestinian towns, torching property and smashing cars, killing one Palestinian man. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near a front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 21, 2023

Israeli forces stormed the Jenin refugee camp on Monday to arrest two suspects

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Speak up, gather facts and encourage everyone you encounter. You don’t have to go overboard to make a difference; when you do the right thing, doors will open and positive change will occur.

(March 21-April 19)

Put your heart and soul into exploring what interests you. Expand your circle of friends and implement changes that make you happy. Be sympathetic, but don’t pay for someone else’s mistake.

(April 20-May 20)

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Someone will offer false information to avoid an emotional interaction. Conjecture will lead to trouble if you don’t understand the dynamics of a situation. Don’t act hastily; time is on your side.

Pay attention to what’s happening at home and focus on how you can make the most out of whatever situation you face. Slow down, take a deep breath and do your best to avoid negativity.

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

An aggressive approach will show others you can handle whatever comes your way. Celebrate your victory with a loved one. Romance and physical improvement are favored.

Put more trust in yourself than in others. A steady pace, honesty and integrity will lead to good results. Pay attention to others while satisfying your own needs.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Live and learn. Embrace events and activities that provide an educational experience and lead to exciting connections. Physical enhancements and updates to your qualifications are favored.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Follow your heart and don’t leave decisions to anyone but yourself. Ignore anyone trying to push you in a direction that doesn’t feel right. Stay on course and do your own thing.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Don’t let anyone fill your head with misinformation. Do your due diligence, ask questions and gather information from those with different views. Make peace and love priorities.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

A change someone suggests will tempt you. Before you begin, review the cost and time involved in reaching your goal. Home improvements will pay off, but only if you can proceed without undue disruption.

Put yourself first and give others the same right. Don’t be afraid to go your own way. An intelligent decision and explanation will alleviate discord that can ruin your and others’ plans.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Put your emotions aside and make financially wise decisions. Don’t jeopardize your home or personal life due to false information you receive. Focus on the truth and eliminate debt.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

India tour to the West Indies: July 12, 2023…

India name ODI and Test squads

have each had an excellent season in the IPL in opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings respectively.

Pacers Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini are also part of the squad, but Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have missed out. Ajinkya Rahane has also been named the vice-captain of the squad, which Rohit Sharma continues to lead. Jasprit Bumrah still misses out, as he is yet to recover from his back injury.

The ODI squad also features a lot of the regulars, with Gaikwad finding him-

self as a part of the white ball setup as well. There is also a recall for Sanju Samson, while KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are out with injuries.

Two tons, classic catches, and brilliant bowling relive the most memorable moments of the ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final between Australia and India.

In the pace department, Mukesh Kumar is again included in the limited-overs squad, with Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj being included as well. Umran Malik completes the pace bowling depart-

ment. India have also included four spin-bowling options in the ODI squad, with Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel all making the cut. Rohit Sharma will lead the ODI side, and Hardik Pandya has been named as his deputy.

The two-match Test series will begin on July 12 in Dominica, and end on July 24 in Trinidad. The threematch ODI series will follow suit, and will be played between July 27 and August 1. India are yet to name their squad for the T20I series. (ICC)

Team India are coming in full strength to the West Indies

India have named their squads for the twomatch Test series and the three-match ODI series to be played against the West Indies in July and August.

The Test series will be the start of the World Test Championship 2023-25 for

both India and the West Indies. The ODI series will also be crucial for India, as they ramp up preparation for the Cricket World Cup later in the year.

After the disappointment of the loss of the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval, India

have made some big calls by bringing in some fresh faces for the Test setup.

Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the squad, and uncapped batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been drafted in. Jaiswal and Gaikwad

Victor Wembanyama drafted # 1 Overall by San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama has been selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs at the NBA Draft in New York on Thursday, making the player, seen as a once-in-a-generation talent, the highest-drafted French player in league history.

The 19-year-old 'Wemby' comes into the league with a buzz that has not been seen since LeBron James, the league's alltime leading scorer, was drafted out of high school 20 years ago.

"I've accomplished something that I've been dreaming of my whole life," he said. "Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I dreamed about it. I've got to cry. This is the best night of my life."

At 7 feet, 4 inches (2.24m), Wembanyama has the size of a center, but the ball-handling, passing and shooting abilities of a guard, a jaw-dropping combination with the potential to revolutionise the sport. He is dangerous shooting the ball from long range, and is athletic enough to rebound and dunk his own misses. With a wing span of close to 8 feet, he can block shots and grab rebounds with ease, and gets up and down the floor quickly for a player of his size.

Despite his height, he weighs only 230 pounds (104 kilograms), and it remains to be seen whether he can bulk up before the regular season kicks off in late October.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will look to further develop his unique skill set in hope of resurrecting the storied franchise, which has missed the play-

offs for four consecutive seasons and has not advanced past the opening round since 2017.

"I've felt so much love towards me by the Spurs fans," Wembanyama said. "I think there's murals of me in the city of San Antonio. This is so incredible. I could not ask for a better welcome than this. I really love the fan base, man."

San Antonio has selected first overall twice before, choosing future Basketball Hall of Famers David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan in 1997. They led the Spurs to two NBA titles, and Duncan won three more with San Antonio.

The team have a history of success with French players, including Tony Parker, who led them to 4 championships between 2003 and 2014, and whom Wembanyama grew up admir-

ing. The previous highest-drafted French player to the NBA was Killian Hayes, selected seventh by the Detroit Pistons in 2020.

Basketball is popular in France, and the country has produced more NBA players than any other country outside North America.

Wembanyama is coming off a solid campaign with Metropolitans 92, a professional team in the French League, where he averaged 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, and won several awards, including being named most valuable player.

After Wembanyama went first overall, the Charlotte Hornets selected Brandon Miller with the second pick, and the Portland Trail Blazers chose Scoot Henderson with the third. (Reuters)

Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the launch of online ticket sales for the India Tour of the West Indies, which will be the highlight of the “Summer of Cricket”. The tour will feature two Test matches, the three-match CG United One Day International (ODI) Series, and the five-match T20 International (T20I) Series.

Fans can now purchase tickets in their preferred viewing locations from the Windies Ticketing Service presented by Mastercard at Ticket.Windiescricket. com – where they will be able to download tickets securely to their mobile device, or print out their tickets to present for scanning at the entrance point.

All fans who purchase online will benefit from a 20% discount compared to the venue box office prices, with tickets ranging from the most premium seats with the best and shaded views in each stadium through to affordable Standard seats or Mounds/ Grounds entry (Mounds/Grounds not available for Barbados).

Tickets for the final two T20I matches in Lauderhill, Florida will go on sale by 2 July 2023 as new, improved temporary seating and hospitality stands are being introduced. The much-loved and world-renowned West Indies Party Stands will be confirmed for specific venues in the coming weeks.

“Excitement is building for the upcoming series, with fans across the Caribbean, as well as those in North America, eager to attend the matches across all three formats. This promises to be the sporting highlight of the summer in the region, especially with the 100th Test match between West Indies and India marking a further historic mo-

ment in this great rivalry,” said Dominic Warne, CWI’s Commercial Director. “There is tremendous demand for tickets for all of the matches, and we’re looking forward to fans bringing all the colour, noise and joy that makes watching West Indies cricket so special.”

The West Indies vs India Series starts with two Test matches as part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship – at Windsor Park in Dominica for the opening match from 12-16 July, where ground tickets start at US$10 and premium tickets at US$50 in the Shillingford Stand.

This will be followed by the second Test match, to be played from 20-24 July at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. This will be the 100th Test match played between the two teams. The standard tickets start at US$25 and premium tickets are US$50, with Trini Posse Party Stand Tickets on sale at a later date.

The CG United ODI Series starts at Kensington Oval in Barbados for the first two CG United ODIs, with tickets starting from US$20. The final CG United ODI and the first T20 International will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad – with a range of tickets starting from US$12.50 and with the Party Stand to be announced in the next few weeks.

Guyanese fans will provide a huge welcome for two teams for the second and third T20Is, with ticket prices starting from U$10 for the Mounds/Grounds. The blockbuster back-to-back weekend climax of the tour takes place in Broward County Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida for the 4th and 5th T20Is. Ticket sales for these games will be announced separately very soon.

Following the launch of

the India ticket sales, fans can now purchase tickets for any of the West Indies Men’s and Women’s International Home Series for 2023 at Tickets.Windiescricket. com.

2023 India Tour to the West Indies Match Schedule

Test Matches

12-16 July: 1st Test Match, Windsor Park, Dominica

20-24 July: 2nd Test Match, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

• Both Test Matches start at 10am (9am Jamaica/7:30pm India)

CG United ODIs

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

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

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

• All ODI matches start at 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica/7pm India)

T20 Internationals

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

6 August: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana

8 August: 3rd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana

12 August: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida

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

• All T20I matches start at 10:30am (09:30am Jamaica/8pm India).

Tickets now on sale for India Test, ODI and T20I tours of West Indies as “Summer of Cricket bowls off”

Victor Wembanyama

GFF gives $12.4M to Regional Associations to commence Senior Men’s A League

Guyana Football Federation (GFF)

President Wayne Forde on Thursday presented a total of $12.4M in cheques to the GFF’s nine Regional Associations (RAs) for staging of the 2023 Senior Men’s League across Guyana.

Over the next few weeks, each RA would organize and kick off its Senior Men’s League, which is funded under the GFF’s Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP). A total of 104 football clubs across Guyana would be benefitting from this investment.

The GFF’s pioneering M-FAP programme, which was launched in 2020 with full approval of the GFF Congress, provides support to the GFF members under four pillars: Administration & Operations, Equipment & Material, Competition &Technical Development, and Infrastructure Development.

GFF President Wayne Forde has said the GFF has been working closely with the Regional Associations over the past four months, to support their readiness for the 2023 Senior Men’s League and to build on the successes of last year’s historic post COVID-19 return to play league commencement.

For the first time in

Guyana’s football history, all nine Regional Associations kicked off their Senior Men's League on May 15, 2022, as a clear and unified signal of Guyana’s return to play.

“We have been talking with the Associations for the better part of four months, guiding them on some of the essential planning processes they needed to undertake to ensure that they were ready to launch and operate their Senior Men’s League. They were required to prepare and submit to the GFF key documentation, such as the league fixtures, rules/

regulations of the league, and a budget for the season. Barring the individual venue challenges football is facing in Guyana, coupled with the inclement weather at the moment, my Associations are ready for their leagues, and I would like to thank all of my presidents for their hard work and leadership,” President Forde has said.

He added, “M-FAP is important to the entire football fraternity. We have already seen the impact M-FAP has had on football in Guyana over the last three years. We recog-

nized, during the course of last year’s Regional Associations League, that additional resources and funding were required, so this year we have answered that call by allocating more funds to each RA”.

Forde noted that the financial programme is “unprecedented and very unique to Guyana.”

“As a member of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), there is really no other country within our hemispheric football body - CFU in particular - that has a well-structured funding programme as

is the case here,” he disclosed.

Also present at the simple handing over ceremony, held at the GFF’s Georgetown Secretariat on June 22, were Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz, and GFF General Secretary Ian Alves. Shabazz stressed that the regional league is an integral platform in the identification of national and international talent in Guyana.

“It’s an important stepping stone for the national team, because the Regional Associations produce players, coaches, and teams for the Elite League…and from there they are in a pool where they are chosen for national and international football. GFF has taken a position with M-FAP in terms of support, now the onus is on the Regional Associations to take that support and run with it,” Shabazz has said.

First to launch their league are the Georgetown Football Association (GFA).

GFA President Otis James has confirmed that the kickoff date is Sunday, June 25.

“This 2023 season will be a little bit more competitive, because we came off of the COVID-19 situation. Now we are much better equipped. We are looking forward to Sunday afternoon at 6 p.m. to start the senior men's league,” James

said. President of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), Wainwright Bethune, has said that M-FAP funding placed his Association in a good position to start their league. “As we all know…we’ve had some issues in terms of having a regular senior league, and today…placed us in a good position, so that we can start our 2023-2024 season. So, we are very much looking forward to that,” Bethune shared.

Bartica Football Association

President Alden Marslowe has said the BFA are ready to build on the success of last year’s league in Bartica, with nine clubs registered to compete this season.

“Last year we had a very successful Senior Men's League at Bartica, and, once again, we are really happy that the GFF has come on board with the M-FAP programme to ensure that our league runs into a second year; and we’re looking forward to making it a success again,” Marslowe has said.

Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA)

President Marvin Pearson has said he is “quite excited about the Senior Men’s League, which will be kicked off on July 8.”

Digicel’s Schools Football Championships make grand return today

After a 6-year hiatus, the Digicel’s Schools Football Championships are back with a bang, and the action starts today at the Ministry of Education (MoE) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) grounds in the capital city.

Six games are lined up for today’s kick-off, while the competition would be rolled out across the country over the next week.

Region 1 will get things going on June 30th, Region 2 on July 3rd, and Region 3 on June 28th. The East Coast and East Bank (Region 4) will commence on June 24th and 29th respectively, while Region 5 will commence on June 26th. Region 6 will commence on July 3rd, while solitary games for Regions 7 and 8 will be contested on June 30th and July 7th respectively. In Region 9, the competition is set to commence on

July 1st, while Region 10 gets going on July 3rd.

At a simple ceremony on Friday afternoon, stakeholders Digicel and the Petra Organization unveiled the National Championship

Trophy for which more than 130 schools will be vying.

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca expressed gratitude to the title sponsors for bringing the tournament back, and highlighted the

platform it gives to young players.

“We must recognize that this tournament, over the years, I think, is responsible (for) keeping school football alive, and while we had (an) absence for a few years, we at Petra, on behalf of the football fraternity, are very happy that the company would consider the reintroduction of the tournament,” Mendonca shared. He added, “As you know, it is unique, in that it covers all ten Regions and it actually give an opportunity to each and every single school to participate.”

Digicel’s Chief Commercial Officer Simone Pierre has voiced the company’s commitment to youth development initiatives such as this tournament. She said:

“Over the years, one of Digicel’s main focus has been on youth development, whether it was through education or sports; and this

tournament is a testament of that. We are very happy for the return.”

When the first whistle of the 2023 Digicel Championships blows, Bladen Hall Secondary will be taking on Plaisance Secondary, and L.B.I and Beterverwagting Secondary would do battle, both at 11:00hrs. Later in the day, Tucville Secondary will take on Queenstown Secondary, and the Institute of Academic Excellence would battle against West Ruimveldt Secondary from 16:15hrs.

Marian Academy and Ascension Secondary will lock horns from 14:30hrs, while East and South Ruimveldt Secondaries would go headto- head from 12:45hrs.

Freeburg Secondary and Richard Ishmael Secondary will battle it out from 14:30hrs, and Christ Church Secondary will take on Queen’s College from

Guyana earns 5 medals at Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin

Team Guyana has earned five medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Berlin, Germany. The Guyanese team won three silver medals in the female doubles, one gold in the female singles, and one bronze in the male singles for all sports bocce.

Guyana’s medalists are Daniel Ramsundar, Stephanie Ramotar, Rachel Mortley and Keston Knights; and the Games commenced in Berlin, Germany on June 17.

This was the first time, the Special Olympics had a bocce (a bowling game) and Guyana participated in singles, doubles, and team competitions.

The officials of the team were Wilton Spencer (Head of Delegation) and Lavern LeeAlleyne (Coach).

Guyana had been part of 19 Caribbean countries scheduled to attend out of the approximately 210 countries participating in the Games.

7,000 athletes competed across 26 disciplines.

Team

16:15hrs.

The Digicel’s Schools Football Championships are set to conclude on Sunday, August 13. Chase’s Academic Foundation are the defending champions, having won the tournament when it was last played in 2017.

12.4 million dollars have been given to Regional Associations to commence their Senior Men’s League

Guyana earned five medals in Berlin

Digicel’s Simone Pierre and Petra’s Troy Mendonca revealing the new Championship Trophy in the presence of tournament organizer Lavern Fraser and Petra’s Mark Alleyne

Bramble, Hemraj still to be considered for selection

- Guyana Harpy Eagles selector speaks on contracted men

is one that the Guyana selectors would keep an eye on, and he would be awarded an Academy contract instead.

"Yes, we did. We were close to doing that (selecting Thorne). We will have him around; he is someone we are looking at very (closely). And there is also an Academy contract, and he will be given one," Sarwan explained.

West Indies Academy left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, who was a member of the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad last season, was on the cusp of a Four-Day debut for the Harpy Eagles, but he has not been contracted.

good to have healthy competition."

Speaking in general, Sarwan again signalled his no-nonsense approach, but said he believes that creating a competitive environment is essential.

"For far too long, we had allowed players to get away with a lot of things. We are trying to change that culture, to ensure that we can get everything on par," the former West Indies captain has disclosed.

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Harpy

Eagles (GHE) have released the names of their 15 contracted players for the 2023-2024 season. A major talking point has been the omission of senior players Chandrapaul Hemraj and Anthony Bramble, but Lead Selector of the Harpy Eagles, Ramnaresh Sarwan, has declared that it is not the end of Bramble and Hemraj.

"We had conversations with Bramble and Hemraj. They have made initial progress, but they regressed in certain areas. They are still eligible for selection. I spoke to both of them (on Thursday) and told them that they have a lot of cricket left in them," Sarwan said.

Sarwan also spoke about two players who have not been contracted: Ashmead Nedd and Isai Thorne. Moreover, Sarwan noted that

the selection of Under-19 duo Rampertab Ramnauth and Mavendra Dindyal is a result of the promise and talent they have shown.

"The guys who were contracted before, (it) speaks for itself. We are trying to keep a core group together, some of the guys who have been around for a while. We thought it was important that we continue with the men who has been around," he explained.

Speaking directly about Ramnauth and Dindyal, Sarwan said: "For the new guys, we see it as an opportunity to groom them at a young age, to let them understand… how important it is in being professional. Training and technical routines at a young age, and to let them put in the work and understand that something is out there, and help motivate them. They have a future, and we are willing to invest in them at a young age."

Asked if the senior in-

ter-county performances of Dindyal and Ramnauth had had any influence in them gaining contracts, Sarwan said: "No. I think it is potential, and based on the reports from the management and coaches. The talent that they possess obviously played a part."

Keemo Paul was a contracted player last season, but this season he has not been contracted. Sarwan noted that the uncontracted players would still represent Guyana, but on a pay-for-play basis.

"With Keemo, Sherfane and Shepherd, I had discussed with them where we are at with contracts. We cannot really predict whether they will play T20 franchise around the world or not. We had a discussion for them on a pay-for-play basis, so they are okay with that."

West Indies under-19 fast-bowler Isai Thorne, who has been tipped to become ‘one for the future’, also missed out on a contract. Sarwan said he

President’s College dominate YBG 'Regional Championships'

Sarwan said it is good to see improvement in Nedd. "Consideration was given. In terms of Ashmead, we have Motie, Permaul and Adams. You could have that con-

versation between Adams and Ashmead, but to be fair, Adams has been performing over the years, and he has done fairly well, with everything required of him. It is just a matter for Ashmead to continue to do what he has been doing. He has made a lot of progress with his fitness and so forth. That is a good sign," Sarwan has said. "It is

List of 15 contracted players for the 20232024 season: Veersammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Tevin Imlach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Antony Adams, Shamar Joseph, Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavendra Dindyal and Junior Sinclair.

Footballer Neil Danns retires from international duty

After nearly nine years of service to Guyana's Golden Jaguars, the senior national men's football team, Neil Alexander Danns has announced his retirement from international football.

The Guyana international has over 500 career appearances to his name, and represents a potent force within our midfield. Neil Danns was recently part of the team in The Gold Cup Prelims, and was a member of the squad in 2019 at the Gold Cup, being the lone goal-scorer with 3 goals.

In his retirement speech, Danns said: “I am filled with a mixture of emotions —gratitude, nostalgia, and a touch of sadness. The time has come for me to bid farewell to my international football career, a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary. It is an honour to share this moment with all of you: my friends, family, teammates, coaches, and supporters, who have been there for me every step of the way.

“Reflecting on my international career, I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Representing my country on the football pitch has been a dream come true, a privilege I have cherished with every fibre of my being. From the very first time I donned that national jersey, I knew I was part of something greater than myself — an opportunity to inspire, to unite, and to make a difference.”

Mark Xavier and Captain Sam Cox. I owe a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot express. Your guidance, belief in my abilities, and unwavering faith have helped

footballing achievements.

“Although my international career may be coming to an end, my love for the game remains the same. Football has taught me invaluable lessons

The 'Regional Championships' of Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) continued last Thursday at the President's College hard court with President's College dominating the proceedings: winning the Boys’ and Girls’ East Coast Demerara Conference crowns.

President's College 'B' team defeated President's College 'A' team 17-7 in the Girls’ Divisional Final.

Tikisha Van Long, who was later named the section's most valuable player (MVP), led the way with 10 points and six rebounds, while

Akeelah Campbell contributed four points and six re-

bounds.

President's College showcased their ability with a commanding defeat over Buxton Secondary by a score of 54-5 in the Boys U18 Championship game. Ronoko Vaughn and Judah Ferreira each scored 14 points, and Alwin De Freitas chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds.

He also said, “I am immensely grateful for the support I have received throughout my journey. To my teammates, thank you for the camaraderie, the countless battles fought together, and the bonds forged on and off the field. It has been an honour to stand shoulder-toshoulder with you, striving for victory and celebrating the joys of the game. The memories we have created together will forever hold a special place in my heart.

“To the very first people that opened the door and played a pivotal part in this beautiful journey, I would like to give a special mention: Coach Jamaal Shabazz, Faizal Kahn, Chris Nurse,

me to achieve and accomplish things I never seen as possible for myself on the international stage, and for this I’m forever grateful.

“You taught me invaluable lessons that extend far beyond the realm of football. Thank you for believing in me”.

Danns expressed his gratitude to the Guyanese public by stating, “I am eternally thankful. Your unwavering support, cheers and chants have fuelled my passion and inspired me to give my all on the field. Whether in moments of triumph or adversity, your presence and support, your unwavering dedication and love for the sport, have made every game an unforgettable experience.

“As I close this chapter of my life, I do so with a deep sense of satisfaction. I am proud of the milestones we achieved together, the victories we celebrated, and the incredible mark we left on the sport. But beyond the goals and accolades, it is the great moments that will forever stay with me — the roar of the crowd, the unity of the team, and the shared sense of purpose as we qualified for the 2019 Gold Cup for the first time in history. It was a true honour to score the first ever Gold Cup goal during the journey, a true moment that will sit right at the top of my

— about discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the power of a dream. As I venture into the next phase of my life, I carry these lessons with me, ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities.

“To my team mates, aspiring footballers, and those who look up to me, I encourage you to chase your dreams relentlessly. Believe in your abilities, never shy away from hard work, and always cherish the journey; for it is in the pursuit of greatness that we discover our true potential.

“In conclusion, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who have been a part of my international career. It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the pitch that has been my home, my sanctuary, and my source of immeasurable joy. I am forever grateful for the memories we have shared and the legacy we have built.

Thank you all for your unwavering support, your belief in me, and for being an integral part of this remarkable journey. My international career may be over, but the impact it has had on my life and the lives of others will endure.

“With a heart full of gratitude, I say goodbye and embark on the next adventure that awaits.

“Thank you,”

Dannzy

Neil Danns

Chandrapaul Hemraj

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Anthony Bramble

Champions of ExxonMobil Regional Conference

Champions of Georgetown Female ExxonMobil Regional Conference