Guyana Times -Sunday, June 18, 2023.pdf

SUNDAY,

Essequibo man busted with cocaine during CANU operation

Twenty-eight-yearold Cordel Hubert Grimes of Adventure, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was on Thursday arrested following the discovery of a quantity of cocaine in his vehicle.

Based on reports received, officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were conducting an exercise in the region when Grimes was intercepted along Aurora Public Road.

At the time, Grimes was driving a white motor vehicle bearing registration number PAB 4219. Upon interception, a search was carried out in the vehicle during which five parcels of a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine were found.

The cocaine that was confiscated

Grimes was escorted to CANU Headquarters where the substance tested positive for cocaine and weighed 121 grams. He was told of the offence and arrested.

He remains in custody pending charges.

Cocaine mule Cordel Grimes

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, June 18 – 04:30h – 06:00h and

Monday, June 19 – 04:15h – 05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, June 18 – 17:00h – 18:30h and

Monday, June 19 – 17:300h – 19:00h.

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 and clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to East North-Easterly between 0.89 metres and 2.23 metres.

High Tide: 16:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.41 metres.

Low Tide: 10:13h and 22:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.81 metre.

PPP committed to examining feasibility for railway along ECD, EBD corridors – Pres Ali – says project will be explored during 2nd

term in office

In light of the ongoing industrial development and population growth along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridors, it might be the right time to explore a railway service to cater to persons and ease traffic congestion.

This was reiterated by President Dr Irfaan during his address at the commemorative services to mark the 75th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs at Enmore, ECD. He noted that a railway is in keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) long-term developmental vision.

“In the next term of office for the People’s Progressive Party, we will look at the viability of having a train along the East Coast and East Bank corridor where the bulk of the population already lives,” the President said.

Previously, President Ali has acknowledged that in theory, a railway makes sense considering the population density along the East Bank. But he had noted that a lot of technical work has to be done before it can be deemed feasible.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

At one time, Guyana had active railways, one from Demerara to Berbice and the other from Demerara to Essequibo. However, both came to an end in the 1970s and have never been resurrected.

There are a number of infrastructural projects ongoing that will link the ECD with the East Bank. Foremost among them is the Ogle to Eccles roadway. A US$106.4 million contract was signed last year with Indian company Ashoka Buildcon, to construct this four-lane road and works have already started.

It was announced in January 2022 that Ashoka Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has previously built a number of bridges and roads.

According to the company’s website, it even built a bridge in 38 days, namely the Mandve Bridge near Pandharpur, India. According to the company, the bridge was supposed to be built in 12 months.

The Diamond-Ogle bypass project will see the construction of some 26 kilometres of road linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This

new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara.

There is also work ongoing to turn 800 acres of land in Enmore into an industrial zone. President Ali, who visited the area last month while accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar and other technical staff, had explained that already, works are progressing on the first 250 acres. Once completed, the Enmore industrial zone will accommodate both light and heavy industrial and commercial activities.

“Enmore is going to be specifically for heavy industrial, industrial, heavy commercial, and commercial activities. Works are

ongoing now to open up the first 50 five-acre plots. That’s 250 acres of indus-

trial. After that, 500 acres will be developed for industrial, commercial and light commercial.”

“So, we’ll have a total of about 800 acres of land developed in Enmore for industrial, commercial, and light commercial. The work is already started, as you can see here,” President Ali had said.

When tenders went out for the infrastructural development of the Enmore industrial zone, an important project the Government has said will create numerous economic opportunities on the ECD and create as much as 4000 jobs, it had attracted multiple bids from local companies. (G-8)

President Dr Irfaan Ali while in Enmore

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544

223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Obama’s Father’s Day advice

Today is Father’s Day, and the tradition has been fuelled by commercial interests to the extent that it is a day to praise fathers and shower them with gifts. Nothing is wrong with that, except that, in Guyana, the evidence is clear that while there are many fathers deserving of the praise, there are as many who have neglected their duties as fathers, leaving the care and upbringing of the children they “fathered” up to their mothers and maternal grandmothers. Today we focus on the advice of one such deserted child.

Barrack Obama was an exceptional public figure for a host of reasons other than being the first black President of the United States. Some, like Dr Cornel West – who has thrown his hat into the 2024 Presidential ring - have caviled at his perceived failure to significantly alter the trajectory of African-American historical disempowerment. But in the estimation of others, the living example he offered that community, and indeed the world, on how to be a good family man – a good husband and a good father – is immeasurably more significant. And on this Father’s Day, it might be very salutary to reflect of this neglected legacy of Obama in a land where the issue of fathers is, more often than not, missing in action.

As an individual whose parents were divorced when he was just two years old, and whose father returned to his birthplace, Kenya, after studying for his PhD in economics at Harvard, it was clear from his memoir, “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance”, that Obama reflected profoundly on the father-child dynamic. He then made conscious choices as to what kind of father he would become. Raising two daughters in the hothouse that is the White House could not have been easy, but Obama took special pains to be involved with their upbringing, even as he guided the most powerful nation on earth.

Unlike what appears to be the growing norm, Obama declared in one Father’s Day speech, as he began his Presidency, “What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — it’s the courage to raise one…We need to show our kids that you’re not strong by putting other people down — you’re strong by lifting them up. That’s our responsibility as fathers…It’s up to us to say to our daughters, ‘Don’t ever let images on TV tell you what you are worth, because I expect you to dream without limit, and reach for those goals…’ It’s up to us to tell our sons, ‘Those songs on the radio may glorify violence, but in my house, we give glory to achievement, self-respect, and hard work’. It’s up to us to set these high expectations, and that means meeting those expectations ourselves. That means setting examples of excellence in our own lives.”

He fleshed out that advice a year later: “As fathers, we need to be involved in our children’s lives, not just when it’s convenient or easy, and not just when they’re doing well — but when it’s difficult and thankless, and they’re struggling. That is when they need us most.”

Today, in Guyana, the norm is for fathers to still see child-rearing as “women’s work”, and this is the fundamental disjunct that has children without positive male role models.

It has become commonplace for leaders to exhort the young to become “educated”, but this orientation towards learning is very difficult without a positive environment, which includes hands-on fathers, not just mothers. “Michelle and I know that our first job, our first responsibility, is instilling a sense of learning, a sense of a love of learning, in our kids. And so there are no shortcuts there; we have to do that job. And we can’t just blame teachers and schools if we’re not instilling that commitment, that dedication to learning, in our kids.”

In conclusion, he advised, “Above all, children need our unconditional love — whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough.”

Happy Father’s Day, Guyana. May it be real.

The industrialisation of anti-Jagdeo propaganda

Dear Editor, “The man” was a character in Ayi Kwei Armah’s 1968 novel “The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born.”

The book was set in the waning days of Kwame Nkrumah's Ghana, and “the man” represented a figure of incorruptibility, resilience, steadfastness, and most of all, hope for Africa’s first postcolonial nation, as well as for the Third World.

The character was at once mythical and allegorical, but in the Guyana of today, some men nourish the dangerous fantasy that they are the “Beautiful Ones.” Many of them think that they can let the world know they are “the man” by constantly attacking Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. (I will deal with the attacks against President Ali soon).

The writings of GHK Lall come to mind. Mr. Lall is a high-visibility anti-Jagdeo activist with considerable privileges in Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. While both outlets have first-rate journalists, their editorial stances are permissive of what might be termed the industrialization of attacks against Dr. Jagdeo. I use the term industrialization here to depict two interrelated processes namely, manufacturing and mass production. Manufacturing of distortions, half-truths, and outright lies is part of the modus operandi; the mass production and distribution of these are also

an integral part of the anti-Jagdeo industry.

Let’s get back to GHK Lall who has given every indication that his attacks are the result of Divine Calling. Mr. Lall is jubilant that Bharrat Jagdeo has mentioned his name a few times at the recent PPP Thursday press conferences. I was present on both occasions when the General Secretary mentioned Lall’s name. My own impression is that GHK’s writing was brought up mostly in the form of banter, during interregnums of light talk, or at the other end, treated with surgical dismissiveness. I feel confident that Jagdeo will bust into laughter when someone brings to his attention that GHK believes his “…name is a hot-button issue of daily discussions inside Freedom House.”

V.S. Naipaul was the most perceptive observer of the tendency of Caribbean men to fantasize about power and mistake their fantasy for reality. He did not only have in mind the rich and the powerful but those also in the peripheral lens of power. Think of the comical Elder God and Little God in “A House for Mr. Biswas.” Now, here is GHK Lall – “I have developed a kind of appreciation for the efforts that I share with Guyanese and others. Unlike Dr. Jagdeo and his fellows, I am not doing this for likes and the lot; but what is being essayed now

has progressed beyond public service and into the rarified territory of God’s work.”

Oh, My God!

GHK does seem to have room for humor. Here he is – “I may get swell-headed and begin to think of myself as important, and God’s gift to Guyana, and start thinking of throwing my hat in the ring.” God’s Work! A Calling! Something divinely Willed by Him! And if I may be allowed my own moment of levity – how could such a thing be? From Gold Board to God’s candidate?

While GHK Lall may be the captain of a divinely ordained anti-Jagdeo industry, only days ago, Member of Parliament, the Hon. Ganesh Mahipaul also couched his anti-Jagdeo diatribe in shades of divinity. Here he is – “I would like to inform Jagdeo that the English translation of the name ‘Ganesh’ is ‘lord of wisdom,’ and ‘Mahipaul’ means ‘King of Kings.” Mahipauls’ attack on Jagdeo (read the article) was brought on by the General Secretary’s perfectly appropriate criticisms of Mahipaul’s misrepresentations of the LGE results.

Astoundingly, Mahipaul in one fell swoop has become a Hindu-Rasta – Lord Ganesh + Haile Selassie (aka King of Kings)!

If GHK Lall and Mahipaul are establishment contributors to the anti-Jagdeo attack industry, then others like Leyland

Roopnarine fall in that category of foreign irritants, who without any firsthand knowledge of Guyana, plug away night and day against the Vice-President.

Roopnarine is one of those foreign whose sole purpose is to split the PPP/C leadership by attempting to pit President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo against each other. I have news for Leyland Roopnarine – you are dealing with two astute, mature, experienced, and sturdy, very sturdy statesmen. And even more to the point, the people of Mahdia have voices of their own and are in touch daily with all the members of the Cabinet, as well as with the President. The people of Mahdia do not need a foreign, 3000 miles away, to speak on their behalf.

Readers should know that many of the anti-Jagdeo movement crave a response from the Vice President. They look forward to a strong reply, or any reply from Jagdeo. For most of them, a reply from Bharrat Jagdeo, even a mere mention of their name, is the greatest honor of their life. Some of them get emotional about it and represent the mention of their name by the VP as a secret message from God himself to become “The Man” in Armah’s, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born.”

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

Mrs India Guyana, Reanna Arakhan; Miss India Guyana, Aruna Sukhdeo; and Miss Teen India Guyana, Nutu Lal, are in Pune, India ahead of the grand coronation of the international pageant today (Sunday). The pageant will see delegates from around the world competing to win the various titles

Reason to celebrate a major Govt achievement

Dear Editor,

Amidst the ‘fuss and fight’ over the recently held Local Government Elections, I noticed that not much was made out of the fact that Guyana was yet again given a “Tier 1” ranking in its efforts to combat Trafficking in Persons” (or human trafficking).

Almost casually, the Ministry of Home Affairs (and by extension the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, which is co-chaired by Home Affairs Minister Mr Robeson Benn) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (Dr Vindhya Persaud) have acknowledged the release of this United States Department of State 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which attested to what I have just stated. I feel it is something to be proud of, and something for which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government must be highly commended.

Let me offer my reasons, as I think that many have very little appreciation for what really constitutes fighting TIP. First, prevention in countries of origin has been largely neglected, which is barely acceptable, bearing in mind the vital role of preventive measures in reducing the supply side of trafficking, and thus undermining the efforts of traffickers. For example, in Guyana, people from Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba, as well as from as far off as some African countries, have been in the country with questionable documentation. Add to this the fact that they have been aided and abetted by many

locals who have been able many times to escape the arms of the law.

Another factor is that “Interagency Cooperation Mechanisms” against human trafficking are poorly developed; while, for example, cooperation between security authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide support and protection to victims can enlighten the way, leading directly to the traffickers.

Last, but not least, the demand side in countries of destination is an under-researched issue that deserves the attention of academics and policy-makers; as, after all, we should not forget that trafficking is a supply-demand illicit business process.

I think you are getting the picture now, and, believe me, there are other serious areas of obstacles.

So, indeed, the rating given to Guyana is “… a testament to the hard work and dedication of individual members of the Task Force, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and all other stakeholders, who assisted through increased reporting, training, awareness, proactive investigations, victim protection, and international and local partnership.”

Readers should bear in mind that “The Tier 1 placement in the most recent edition of the Report makes this the seventh consecutive year that the Government of Guyana has maintained sustained efforts to combat this crime, and more so, during and post a global health pandemic, increased use of online platforms, in-

creasing acts of migrant smuggling and evolving recruitment tactics of human traffickers”.

As was pointed out in our local press, “Trafficking in Persons, or Human Trafficking, remains a deeply entrenched global issue, affecting millions of individuals across borders, age groups and social-economic backgrounds. The literature on the issue says that “Human trafficking is a complex phenomenon related to many different factors, such as migration, economic exclusion, human rights, labour, and gender-based violence, to name a few.

For this reason, I am glad the Government of Guyana is bringing together officials from multiple departments and agencies, who can cover a wide range of issues, including, for example, international and indigenous law enforcement, immigration, and procurement matters in order to identify interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral anti-trafficking policy responses.

The success and progress of this mindset is quite evident, as, “for the first half of the year, the Guyana Police Force’s Trafficking in Persons Unit investigated twenty-one (21) reported trafficking in persons’ cases, of which two hundred and forty-four (244) alleged victims were interviewed and screened, twenty-three (23) being under eighteen (18) years of age. It gets better, as some five (5) persons were officially charged and placed before the court between January and May this year for offences ranging from trafficking in per-

sons to assault, to forgery of currency notes and the operation of a brothel.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended that one of the alleged perpetrators, who was charged and sen-

tenced to prison for the operation of a brothel in May 2023, be further charged with two (2) counts of trafficking in persons. The Guyana Police Force TIP Unit will institute these charges shortly.

So, again I commend the PPP/C Government for the great work done so far, and for upping the ante in this regard. Keep it up!

Yours truly,

HB Singh

An in-depth look at the June 12th Local Government Elections

Dear Editor,

The June 12th Local Government Elections were successfully conducted, and the people of this great country spoke in clarion tones. They told us in very significant terms that they would like the PPP/C Party to govern their affairs. The people of this country have spoken, and we must abide by their wishes.

The PNC is in its usual mourning style, licking its wounds and saying that the people are stupid to have voted the way they did. It contends that the people were duped and bought over by PPP/C propaganda. But try as it may, it cannot turn back the hand of time. There is a sweeping call for change enveloping Guyana, and nothing is going to change that.

So, let us take an indepth look at the voting patterns, and what they are telling us. In the first place, the PPP/C has increased its vote count in every area of the country; that is, when we (PPP/C) increased, the PNC showed significant losses. The only solace the Opposition can muster is that it was able to retain the city and the township of Linden, but even in those

areas, its win was shaky at best. That shakiness is due to the fact that the PPP/C now has a considerable voice in those townships, something hitherto unheard of.

What the PNC can’t deny is that there is this massive move over to the governing party. However, the Opposition is gloating that some known heavyweight crossovers in the city have lost their seats, and for this they are celebrating. Well, that rejoicing should be short-lived, in that it is a well-known fact that crossover candidates do not always do well when they part ways with their buddies, particularly when there is known evidence of baggage involved. There is always that aura of suspicion that goes with it. That aura of suspicion was exploited to the max by the PNC.

But even amidst the euphoria in its camp, there is great uneasiness, because when you look at the scorecard of the candidates the PPP/C had put up in the city (some of them virtu-

al unknowns) these won convincingly, which comes right back to the theory that crossovers are not generally held in high esteem in areas of their strongholds. But all of that will change come the next General and Regional Elections, when the people see the real intent for the crossover; that is, they are there to help the people, and are not mere soup drinkers, as they are commonly called.

As the General Secretary said, our party believes in forgiveness and the redemption of people. Once you have renounced your past and are willing to join hands with the PPP/C, there is work for all to do in a “One Guyana” Policy. Our country is on the verge of a great tomorrow, and as such, there is no backward thinking by supporters of the Government. We are moving forward under the PPP/C Banner towards that goal. Long live the people of Guyana!

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

19:00

20:00

23:00 The

FURTHER COMMENTS ON CHOICE OF EXOTIC DOG BREEDS AS PETS

Over the last few weeks, this column has been advising on various aspects of acquiring dogs, breeds of which had been developed in climes very dissimilar to the environment in the tropics. We have also commented on breeders’ manipulation of the physiology and anatomy of dogs – creating “Designer Breeds”, whose longevity and survival will depend on great efforts by the caregiver and the veterinarian.

Almost six years ago, my colleague Dr. Ozaye Dodson advised on this topic of bringing into Guyana breeds that suffer because of our geography and climate, and which may not be very conducive to the wellbeing of these companion animals.

Dr. Dodson has kindly provided both the text of reportage associated with this subject matter as well as the permission to share with the public, via this column, the salient and relevant aspects of his documentation, which, in effect, is an endorsement of available scientific knowledge and just plain common sense.

Dr. Dodson expressed his concern that many local dog owners are importing exotic breeds that are native to different climatic conditions and which suffer in Guyana’s tropical environment. Examples are the Husky and Akita breeds. The text that follows reflects Dr. Dodson’s valid concerns.

These dogs are sometimes sold for as much as $120,000. These breeds are more prone to developing heart-related complications and skin problems, among other ailments, when they are brought to tropical Guyana, and yet are being sold for as much as G$120,000, and more.

The Husky’s history goes back to Siberia, Russia. That region has short summers and extremely long cold winters. The Huskies have thick coats to keep them warm. It is the same for the ‘Akitas’ whose appearance indicates adaptation to cold weather since they have very thick coats and are considered among the top 20 dogs best suited for cold climates. Therefore, one could imagine the experience these two popular breeds have in Guyana, which has a warm

and tropical climate all year round.

On many occasions, these breeds enter Guyana through legitimate processes, with importers following the various procedures established by the Ministry of Agriculture. As such, by no means can the importation be deterred as long as the animals come with their veterinary health certificates and are from countries considered safe. However, some dogs are smuggled into Guyana through the porous Brazilian border and elsewhere. The Husky and Akita breeds are not ideal for Guyana and as a result in many cases, the dogs do suffer from arthritis, heat stress, and heat stroke.

Moreover, these two breeds (Siberian Husky and Akita) are more prone to cardio problems and dermatological ailments. It is not easy for these animals, with their thick coats, to rid their bodies of heat. There will be some amount of heat or caloric temperature produced from the animal’s metabolic

processes. Since any residual sweat glands in these animals are few and tend to be in the lower parts of the body, heat reduction via transpiration is not very functional. In addition, if such animals are heavily furred, they may find it difficult to get rid of the heat, especially in these kinds of climatic conditions. As a result, these dogs may pant a lot to get rid of the internal heat. This in and of itself creates a stress situation causing the animal to exhibit signs of irritability.

In addition, as a compensatory mechanism, the blood vessels (capillaries) in their nostrils dilate – resulting in ruptured capillaries and the consequent nose bleeding.

If there is extreme heat, the dogs can easily suffer from dehydration which could lead to kidney problems.

If the animals suffer from Heat Stroke, they can die.

If there is damage to certain brain centres, for example, damage to the brain centre associated with locomotion (limb movement), paralysis can be a consequence.

Relative to the lifespan of these breeds it has been observed that in temperate countries, the Husky and Akita can live for as long as 12-15 years. However, in a tropical environment, longevity is much reduced.

What can the caregiver do to increase the animal’s life span? It is advised that the Husky/Akita and all thick-coated breeds must be made more comfortable, not lastly by keeping them in a heavily ventilated and cool environment. One can always have cold (iced) water available for the animal’s consumption.

Finally, much more needs to be done to have owners educated about exotic dog breeds, especially the breeds of choice for the tropics.

Again, the “Pet Care” column thanks Dr. Dodson for his wise and pertinent contributions to this very important issue of companion animal choice.

Guyana retains more profit than Stabroek Block partners – EEPGL Vice President

– says Exxon has been reinvesting significant profits back into Guyana

Guyana ends up with more profit from the Stabroek Block than the oil companies themselves developing the block. This was the contention of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) Vice President and Business Services Manager Phillip Rietema.

Rietema made this assertion during a recent engagement with the media in which he discussed the ExxonMobil subsidiary’s financials with the media. While it has been pointed out that Exxon’s financials indicate that the Stabroek Block joint venture partners raked in US$5.9B in profits last year, Rietema pointed out that much of their profits are reinvested in exploration assets.

“There are two different accounting standards. You can see under the petroleum agreement; how much revenue has been generated for Guyana. From inception to today, it’s over US$2 billion. It’s in the range of GY$440 billion. As I noted, we have been investing greater than our profits, since inception. To date, the co-vees have, together, invested about GY$4 trillion.”

“And we’ve recovered, under the PA, about GY$2.5 trillion. So, if you juxtapose that, to date if you calculate our cash flow, it’s a negative GY$1.5 trillion. Whereas the state is in the order of half a tril -

lion positive. And will always be the case that Guyana gets higher profits than the co-vees.”

The Vice President further pointed out that an examination of their aggregate financials will show that EEPGL did not get any revenue from the Stabreok Block until after the startup of the Liza Phase One project… though they’ve been present in Guyana since 1999 and initiated exploration activities in 2008.

“If you go back and you see our financial statements, you go back over time, you can calculate the aggregate revenue just by adding up, year by year, the revenues. And you’ll find we didn’t have any revenue until 2020. During that period, we were still investing heavily in the projects and the country.”

“We started to generate revenue in 2020 when Destiny was online. And revenue has been increasing, particularly this year now that we have a second project online. And we would expect to see revenue continue to increase over time as we add additional projects and production,” Rietema explained.

Rietema also assured

that for future expenses, their assets will be used to meet any financial demands they may have.

According to Rietema, ExxonMobil Guyana is far from the assetless company it has been portrayed in some sections of society, including the ruling of High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon.

“As a co-vee group, if you take our financial statements, Hess and CNOOC as we’ve noted, the total assets are in the range of US$20 billion. Those assets reflect all the investments we have made today and are generating, as you see, significant cash flow for Guyana and the co-vees as you see. And those assets and the cash flow they generate can be used to deal with any expenses in the future,” Rietema said.

Exxon, through its local subsidiary EEPGL, is the operator of and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek block. Exxon’s remaining co-venture partners in the Stabroek Block are CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese company CNOOC Limited that holds a 25 per cent interest in the Exxon-

administered Stabroek Block, and Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd, which holds 30 per cent interest.

According to Exxon’s audited financial statements, EEPGL garnered GY$577.7 billion in profits from their local operations last year. Meanwhile, GY$239.7 billion went towards their operating expenses, out of a total revenue stream of GY$876.8 billion.

Exxon’s investments in Guyana include the approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline it will be running from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Stabroek Block to the shore as part of the gas-to energy project.

ExxonMobil is meanwhile expected to recover the cost of the US$1 billion invested into the pipeline to bring the gas to

shore, when the Guyana Government sells the gas from the project. This will be done over a 20-year period and at a fixed annual rate of US$55 million.

In budget 2023, the gas-to-energy project received a $43.3 billion allocation from the State. This allocation is in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, which includes the con-

struction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, WBD.

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

(G-3)

EEPGL Vice President and Business Services Manager, Phillip Rietema

Let’s praise… …fathers

Some years ago, an American newspaper article, ‘Top ten TV dads who broke the mould’, caught your Eyewitness’s eye - especially the dad who charted at number 4… (Drum roll, please!)… Homer Simpson! He certainly was a dad who broke the mould; actually, he blew the mould to smithereens! We’ve all cracked up at Homer’s ridiculous and borderline insane behaviour, but I guess we all have moments when we glance at our own dads and go, ‘Phew! Thank God I don’t have Homer Simpson for a dad!’

Of course, having Homer around might be useful to hassle that teacher who picks on you every class (read: emotionally scar him/her into giving you the best grades), or that annoying prefect who just won’t give it a rest! But, then again, for Homer to actually show up at something as mundane as a PTA meeting would be entirely out of character. So, once again, you might say a quick prayer of thanks for your father, who turns up at all of your meetings, properly attired and with an actual interest in your future.

But it shouldn’t take these bizarre cartoon references for you to appreciate your father. It shouldn’t even take Father’s Day to remind you of how important your father is. Showing your dad you care should be something you do every day. It should come to you as naturally as breathing, or as eating. And not just because fathers are generally the breadwinners of the family - and the reason you have something to eat in the first place!!

So yes, of course, you gotta do something special for dad today. And don’t just post your gift in the mail, or make a quick phone call - that’s downright lazy! Take the gift in person, and say, “Happy Father’s Day”, as you give him a hug, or better yet, cook a special meal, or just spend some quality time catching up with him.

And don’t just limit this feeling of sharing and caring to today. How much does it cost to tell your parents every day that you love them? Absolutely nothing - but it can mean a whole lot to them. And if you got some issue with your parents, don’t hold a grudge from now till eternity, because - let’s face it - you’re not going to be around till eternity. Your parents ain’t gonna be around forever, you ain’t gonna be around forever, nobody’s gonna be around forever. So who’re you trying to impress with your ‘superior grudge-holding skills’?

You’re just hurting yourself and two of the only people in the world you can be 100% sure have your back - no matter what.

So, let’s praise fathers today!

…sugar workers

Enmore Martyrs’ Day should’ve reminded the Guyanese people of the debt owed to our sugar workers for bringing us into the modern era with some degree of dignity. 1948 was a time when BG (British Guiana) was, without ANY irony, called “Bookers’ Guiana”: Sugar was Guyana, and Guyana was sugar. So, it was when sugar workers in the Caribbean protested the hardships of the Great Depression that England sent a Royal Commission, which was in Guyana when sugar workers were shot and killed at Leonora in 1939.

And after another Commission followed the Enmore 1948 killings, they recommended implementation of the 1939 recommendations, and we got universal franchise and the 1953 elections!! Henceforth we could practice a democracy that wasn’t restricted to the “big ones” – but to every Guyanese adult!! So, with all the fat talk we hear today from the “elites”, it was the lowly sugar workers who made their fat talk possible!!

Let us all praise sugar workers – even as they remain at the bottom of the ladder.

…whistleblowers

Daniel Ellsberg, the Govt Analyst who released the Pentagon Papers back in 1971, which brought down the American Presidency, is dead at 93. He didn’t think it right that his Govt should lie to its people.

“One Guyana” Commission to ensure rights, priorities of all – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that the long-promised One Guyana Commission is underway and will be focusing on ensuring the rights and priorities of all Guyanese are upheld.

Speaking at the 75th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs on Friday, the Head of State noted that his intention is to create a framework and a platform through which every stakeholder in Guyana can be a part of the country’s development.

To this end, President Ali noted that his Government will be aggressively setting up different structures to advance this process, including the One Guyana Commission – which he first announced in 2021.

“That commission would be established rapidly with the Prime Minister [Brigadier Retired Mark Phillips] chairing it and for that Commission to work on ensuring that we are building a system in which the rights of all and the priorities of all are reflected in the policies we are pursuing,” he stated.

During his inaugural ad-

dress to the 12th Parliament in February 2021, Dr Ali revealed the establishment of a “One Guyana Commission” as part of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government’s plans to foster unity among Guyanese and put an end to the division caused by race and politics.

On Friday, President Ali reiterated this commitment to building an inclusive society in Guyana. In fact, he noted that over the coming weeks, he will be reaching out to a wide cross-section of Guyana to have talks on the development of their communities and by extension, the country.

“I intend to invite every stakeholder in a very civil setting to discuss the journey of Guyana in moving forward… I want to hear from people in every region… No one will or must be left behind. We’re not going to discriminate against any community or town. Let me make this very clear, there are a lot of false narratives there that ‘oh, those who did not support the party in the Local Government Election that they see less resources and they will see less presence of this Government’.”

“But I have news for those who follow these narratives, this President will go harder and stronger to

win those hearts… Let me put all of them on notice –be ready because I’m coming harder and stronger with more work, more development and more progress and prosperity for the people,” he posited.

According to the Head of State, the recently concluded Local Government Elections (LGE) was a demonstration that Guyanese are maturing towards a platform of politics of idea and vision.

On this note, he assured that notwithstanding the fact that his party lost in some areas that they were hoping to win at last week’s polls, the Government will still work with those communities and townships to implement and advance all the plans that were promised on the campaign trail.

“Political stability comes from good governance and it comes from us understanding our responsibility beyond winning votes and that responsibility is how to elevate the lives of people and how to govern in a way in which people feel they are involved in their development,” the President stated.

The Guyanese leader went on to outline that

during engagements with people on the ground in the lead-up to the June 23 local government polls, four priority areas were brought to the fore. These include security, infrastructure support, security systems like street lights and safe environments for children and families.

Infrastructure, specifically, roads and drainage are another area highlighted. President Ali noted that the Government will be going on an aggressive programme in communities that will integrate residents by having them execute these projects.

The third priority area that came out from those community engagements is the need for recreational facilities for young people to foster a positive mindset and thinking amongst this cohort. A new state-led initiative will focus on this, the President related.

He further pointed out that efforts will be undertaken to enhance health centres and schools in communities. In fact, Cabinet Members have already been instructed to assign workers to all the health centres and

community grounds to clean and maintain these facilities every month. The Head of State added that they are also working on establishing management committees in all these areas to support the proper maintenance of these community facilities.

President Ali noted that all of these outcomes from the recently held LGE now require the marriage of leaders at the macro and local levels to advance these priorities and bring tremendous benefit to the country and its people.

“I believe strongly that our population is moving in the right direction when it comes to building political consensus. And one of the reasons, I think, is that we now have a system of direct communications [whereby] we are able to go into communities and speak to people directly… And I believe that this will bring tremendous benefit in the future and it will bring our country stronger together. There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to achieve the ‘One Guyana’ that we are seeking…,” the Guyanese leader asserted.

- says will be heading into every region to engage all stakeholders

President Dr Irfaan Ali

CC&PA probing rape allegations against Govt official – Min Persaud

made are being handled.

She penned, “The Child Care and Protection Agency is carrying out a full investigation. All support will be provided to the young lady. Our women and girls must be safe and no one is above the law.”

Also weighing in on the issue that has taken social media by storm, Education Minister Priya Manickchand also commented on the incident via a statement, where she indicated that allegations of rape, sexual assault, and gender-based violence are not usually made lightly and must always be taken seriously.

power made by someone who said she was a school girl. No contact information was given to me so I did what we do whenever we receive similar information.”

Upon passing on the information to the Chief Education Officer, who has statutory responsibility for learners in the country, a request was made for the child to be found and that full support be offered to her.

he will not tolerate such behaviour while adding that he has not received a formal or official complaint but noted that he saw the social media post.

However, he emphasised that once a report is made “it will be thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities.”

“I have no tolerance for such behaviour and anyone found guilty of such allegations will be held accountable.”

The Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) is currently conducting a full investigation into the sexual assault allegations levied by a 16-year-old girl against a senior Government Minister.

This was announced by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud on Saturday, adding that the serious allegations

“I begin by believing complainants. Always. Every time. Because the statistics are clear. Despite the myths, victims of rape and sexual assault do not lie about their experiences any more than victims of any other crime. When the complainant is a child, the complaint must take on even more urgent dimensions.

I have always treated complaints of rape and sex assault urgently. Even more

so when a child is involved,” Manickchand disclosed.

According to the Minister, she was about to enter a CXC meeting on Thursday when a member of the media sent her screenshots of the statement which documented the alleged assault.

“That statement which I was only able at that time to quickly browse, contained disturbing allegations of rape, sexual assault, and abuse of

The Ministry managed to locate the victim and full support was offered to her. She chose a date on which she would avail herself of the support that was and continues to be offered. That date has not yet arrived.

However, Manickchand has disclosed that the Ministry of Education will offer whatever support is needed or requested, and will act only in the best interest of this child and in accordance with her wishes as is mandated by law.

She added, “Social media has given everyone a voice. That has its own beauty and

value in various struggles. But there are also inherent dangers. Identifying children should never be a resort regardless of how much more attractive our statements / position/advocacy will be. Denigrating designated bodies who are mandated (statutorily or otherwise) to help must never be easily done or the result could end up leaving the victim alone without that help.”

The President on Friday told a section of the media that

“As a Government, we are committed to having any facts fully investigated as we hold dearly our girls and women in every community. And we will continue to do everything to ensure their safety and well-being,” President Ali told the media.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the victim has denied being the centre of the allegation while adding that the post she purportedly made was politically motivated. The Police are yet to say whether or not a report was made against the Government Minister.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Carbon credit grants already being

VP

Whither ethnic voting?

With the LGE over and the numbers crunched, analyses have been undertaken on what they indicate about our greatest political conundrum - ethnic voting. Some say that they can discern, for the very first time, evidence of a critical mass of African Guyanese voters crossing the old ethnic line of cleavage and voting for the PPP that has been traditionally associated with Indian Guyanese. This, of course, has been the Holy Grail of the PPP, which its charismatic leader Cheddi Jagan had pursued since Forbes Burnham split the ethnic condominium that was the 1953 PPP. Even though Fenton Ramsahoye remarked that “the party moves in mysterious ways” after Jagan intervened to ensure Brindley Benn was elected as PPP Chairman in 1962, there was actually nothing mysterious about Jagan’s signal that his party was a home for African Guyanese also.

With the monies from the carbon credit sale to Hess Corporation already deposited into the bank accounts of Amerindian villages, some communities have already approved their plans and have commenced implementation.

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

Ravi Dev

The PNC’s subsequent rigging of elections until 1992 made the question of cross-ethnic support moot, but its policies solidified the Indian Guyanese conviction that it was an African Guyanese party. For the 1992 “free and fair” elections, Hoyte’s CREEP initiative and the PPP’s Civic appendage signalled their desire to be seen as “multiracial”. However, the PNC gaining the same percentage of votes as it had done in the riot-polarized 1964 elections indicated that African Guyanese still identified with it as “their party”, even though they had a choice in the WPA. Indian Guyanese returned to the PPP, which they felt had been unfairly excluded for 28 years. The subsequent PNCinspired riots only solidified the ethnic status quo.

But, as we have been pointing out for over a decade, by 2010, our changing demographics had created a polity with no single ethnic majority. As such, the rational choice theory suggested that the PPP and PNC should now concretely pursue the “politics of accommodation” to attract cross-over votes; since, if successful, either of them could win elections. In a bold move, the PNC transmuted into APNU, and in the 2011 elections, they, along with the AFC, reduced the PPP to a plurality; and in 2015 to a minority. The Rubicon of ethnic voting was crossed in 2015, when enough Indian Guyanese voted for the AFC, which had coalesced with PNC/APNU. It was Granger who chased them away when he cuckolded Nagamootoo on the promised “enhanced” Prime Ministership, and then kicked them in the groin by firing 7,000 mostly Indian sugar workers.

In 2020, the PPP had to have received enough cross-over votes to be elected, and those could not have come only from the Amerindian Guyanese bloc, but also from African and Mixed Guyanese. The latter was turned off by the blatant PNC/APNU’s attempt to rig the elections. But from a rational standpoint, this was the only way they could have returned to office. It appears Granger always had this in mind, from a declaration he made in Atlanta in 2017 and from his subsequent unconstitutional moves to select his own GECOM Chairman.

Unlike the PNC/APNU, the PPP evidently understands that, to balance the political equation, it needs to attract even more cross-over votes, since its traditional Indian Guyanese base keeps shrinking due to continued migration. As such, its heightened post-2020 efforts to woo African Guyanese voters in traditional PNC strongholds are completely rational. Questions about whether it was “cost-effective” miss the point. In Guyanese politics, with our demographics, the PPP has no choice, since they do not have the option of rigging elections with the state institutions not reflexively in their corner, as with the PNC/APNU. There is the “principle of anticipated reactions”.

As such, the PPP can be satisfied that, in this LGE – which traditionally does not garner much attention, since Central Government is seen as the “real” prize - it has created beachheads in PNC/APNU enclaves, which it must expand for that prize in 2025.

Its challenge will be to continue attracting African Guyanese voters, while ensuring their Indian and Amerindian supporters do not feel neglected. Much, then, depends on ensuring that the benefits of its impressive development plan are equitably distributed ethnically. The dragon of ethnic voting is not going to be slain soon – it goes too deep into noneconomic imperatives like self-worth etc. But its dangerous effects can be tamed if the Government accepts ethnicity as real in its effects, and address its demand for justice for all.

their shares, ranging between $10 million to $35 million, depending on the size of the communities.”

“They are supposed to have the village development plans approved at a council meeting, with at least 60 per cent votes of the people in the area. Some of those plans have come in and some of them have already been drawing down the money from the run to implement those plans.”

Some 241 Amerindian communities across the country each received grants ranging from $10M to $35 million. The historic agreement signed with Hess Corporation for Guyana’s carbon credits in 2022 will see the country earning US$750 million for its forest.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has informed that Government has already received several proposals while some are yet to come in.

Jagdeo underscored, “I am aware that all of the money is already deposited in accounts of the villages, over 240. Although, some are not titled areas, they are where Amerindians live. They already have bank accounts with the money in the bank accounts based on

The Vice President had expressed hope that the Indigenous communities would spend their funds on income-generating ventures. According to Jagdeo, it is preferred if the money is spent on the social sectors, job creation, and/or on food security efforts.

In fact, Moco Moco Village Council in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has already gotten clearance to construct a supermarket in the village that will be run by youths. In addition, they plan to rehabilitate the community centre.

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

The 33.7 million cred-

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

The total initial money received from the carbon credit agreement with Hess would total US$150 million by the end of 2023 – with US$112.5 million already

received and a further US$37.5 million to come in July 2023.

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

With Guyana now a leading trader in the global forest carbon market, the Vice President had noted that Government is looking at ways to increase earnings from those transactions. (G-12)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

utilised by several villages –

Jagdeo – says some still to send in proposals for project to be undertaken

12,000 residents to benefit from $847M water treatment plant being constructed at Parika

ect deadline.

Construction has commenced on an $847 million water treatment plant at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, that will serve some 12,000 residents from Ruby, stretching all the way to St Lawrence when completed in 2024.

The project is being funded by the Government of Guyana and is undertaken by Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited, an international multi-disciplinary

environmental services company headquartered in India that specialises in providing turnkey services in water and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal.

Toshiba will also train workers of Guyana Water Inc (GWI) to manage and operate the plant. The plant is expected to be completed in June 2024 and will have the capacity to supply some 4.5 million litres of treat-

ed water per day, bringing relief to thousands of residents within the communities it will serve. Some 40 Guyanese will be contracted to accelerate work in the initial phase of the project.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the water company, Shaik Baksh said he was pleased with the commencement of work on the treatment plant and urged the contractor to complete the project within the proj-

Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rajkumar Gupta said his company is committed to delivering a quality project to the Government and people of Guyana within the project deadline. He also noted that Toshiba is extremely pleased to be associated with GWI in the building of water infrastructure to enable the provision of water security in Guyana.

Apart from the treatment plant at Parika, six others are currently under construction. These are at

Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast; La Parfaite Harmonie and Wales, West Bank Demerara; Caledonia and Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara and Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

Work will also commence on a new water treatment plant at Charity, Essequibo Coast; Leguan, Region Three; Wakenaam, Region Three; Bath, Region Five and Adventure, Region Six before year-end.

In addition, 12 existing treatment plants are being upgraded and work has started on the laying of transmission and distribu-

tion lines across the coastland. These projects are part of the Coastal Water Treatment Project, which is geared at providing treated water to the population.

GWI is committed to providing treated water to 90 per cent of the population by 2025, and in support of this vision, the Government of Guyana in recent years has been investing billions of dollars annually in the sector.

Meanwhile, GWI has thus far achieved 97 per cent access to water and is actively working towards achieving full coverage by 2025.

GWI Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh (third left) and Project Manager Richard Persaud (second left) with Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited Director and Chief Executive Officer Rajkumar Gupta (second right), Group Chief Financial Officer Anil Chauhan (right), and Group Director Sanjay Agrawal (left) at the project site on Friday

Construction workers at the site

Many people in society encounter challenges at various points in their lives, and addressing such problems can be overwhelming for some. Primary school teacher Cindy Singh believes that one can express his/her life via the pursuit of academics.

Singh, who teaches at a primary school on the East Coast of Demerara, told Guyana Times recently that, in the past, she struggled to keep peace of mind, but she later recognized that her academic feats were key to overcoming her challenges, including mental health issues.

“My escape was always writing my feelings in my

Expressing life through academics …all-rounder Cindy Singh pursuing education feat

notebook/phone, listening to music, reading positive quotes, as well as doing outdoor activities. It was a way of getting my feelings appreciated and being accepted,” she stated.

Academic journey

Singh was born in Suriname; however, she was a toddler when her family moved back to Guyana. She attended the Swami Purnananda Primary School, at which she now teaches; and since those early days of schooling, she said, she faced challenges in having peace of mind.

She completed secondary schooling at the Bygeval Secondary School, and later she studied at the University of Guyana.

“When I finished secondary school, I was a salesgirl and a manager at two different private companies,” she said. However, she wanted to pursue her academic goals, so she enrolled in the Cyril Potter College of Education in

2010, and was among the first group of teachers to read for the associate degree programme. She later pursued a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Guyana. In 2020, Singh read for a master’s degree at Bedfordshire University, and two years later, she completed the programme. Currently, Singh is pursuing a Degree in Tourism Studies.

Against this backdrop of educational goals, Singh said, she believes her academic journey is her way of expressing her life. “It is said you shoot for the moon, and you missed, you may land among the stars; with academics, there is no limit,” she said.

Singh noted that, like many women, she encountered daily issues, both at work and in her personal life. As such, she decided to seek a resolution. “I recognize that it is important to discover and know your own worth,” she said. “Though I do not have a limit, I know that, where I am heading, I will have a more comfortable life that I can appreciate,” she added.

Beyond the classroom

These days, Singh has taken up multiple roles to complement her education post. She is a Literacy Coordinator attached to the Ministry of Education’s Department of Education in Region Four. In addition, she works for the EduFM radio project as a scriptwriter, it entails writing lesson plans for the radio programme.

“You can manage anything, as long as you put your mind towards it,” she said as regards dividing her time between work and the extra work-related activities, “You do have to be disciplined, and you have to organize yourself,” she added.

She said she grabbed the opportunities which came her way in recent years, and as time progressed, she learned how to manage her time. Singh said that as time progressed, she decided to pursue activities that she always feared, and those included hiking and zip-lining.

Earlier this year, Singh participated in the Ms. India Guyana pageant, and she noted that it was an ex-

perience that she thoroughly enjoyed. She copped the first runner-up position following the event.

“Pageantry was one way of me expressing myself through my plat-

form, Mental Health and Literacy. Because I struggled with both of them in my childhood, I wanted the world to know that if I could overcome it, then anybody can.”

Singh posing for the camera during the Miss India Guyana 2023 pageant

Cindy Singh read for a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Bedfordshire in 2020. She graduated two years later

Expressing life through...

Singh said it was the first time she had taken part in a pageant, but she reiterated that it was one of those experiences she wanted to accomplish. As for the outcome of the pageant, she said she accepted the result.

“Despite you not having a crown, don’t let that trample on you; because, remember, you represent yourself, and you are a role model to those who look up to you,” she added. Singh said her intention was never really to win the crown, but rather to exercise her platform.

The young teacher is a member of the Victoria Community Center Group, also attached to the Youth and Women Empowerment Group. She is a volunteer at STEM Guyana, and a volunteer for Domestic Violence, a post which she

World Environment Day 2023

holds under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. She is also a Mental Health Counsellor.

The young teacher noted that whatever circumstances or role she plays, she would still occupy the multiple roles she currently has. “One has to learn to manage time. Once you can master that, you can be part of anything,” she added.

As regards the future, Singh has said she sees herself as being “well established and “well accomplished” within the next decade of her life. She said having a PhD is definitely on the cards. In addition, she has ambitious plans to establish a tourism-related business. One quote she stated is “Be Fearless, go after the life you truly desire, and be unstoppable.”

In the year 1972, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 5 as World Environment Day (WED). World Environment Day is one of the biggest international days for the environment. This is a global celebration, and also adds important value to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as it marks our beginning. The Environmental Protection Agency was established on June 5, 1996, 27 years ago. We have been working tirelessly throughout those 27 years, actively engaging with local businesses and industries to promote environmentally sustainable practices to ensure the protection of you, the citizen, and the wider environment. The theme for WED 2023 is ‘Solutions to plastic Pollution’.

Celebrated by millions of people across the world, World Environment Day 2023 is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter. The steps governments and businesses take to tackle plastic pollution would determine the consequence of this action. Under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, countries, environmentalists, and

nature lovers worldwide continue to use this global platform to advocate for a greener and pollution-free environment.

Plastic pollution has emerged as a grave concern worldwide, adversely affecting ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. EPA, recognizing the significance of this issue, has been actively working towards implementing sustainable practices to mitigate plastic pollution throughout the country. One of the major steps taken is the establishment of our Litter Prevention Regulations, which are aimed at reducing the act of littering and the indiscriminate dumping of garbage. The EPA’s Litter Prevention Regulations give the authority to local organs, including the mayors and city/town councils and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, to enforce the provisions of the regulations, thereby fostering a stronger multi-sectorial approach to addressing the issue of plastic pollution.

For months, staff and management have been working tirelessly to plan and arrange activities most suitable for celebration of this year’s theme, with the main aim of increasing awareness and commemorate WED 2023. The Agency has systematized the following activities:

- “A Green Walk” - Sunday, June 04, 2023,

-Inter-Department Impromptu Speaking CompetitionFriday, June 09, 2023

- “A Green Theatre” at the National Cultural CenterThursday, June 15, 2023.

Educating and raising awareness about plastic pollution is the goal of each of these events. The Agency is reiterating the importance of safeguarding the environment for future generations to believe and aid in making our beautiful country Guyana a cleaner and healthier nation.

Together, we can make a difference and preserve the beauty of our planet for generations to come. Remember that the environment is everybody’s business, and in keeping with this year’s World Environment Day theme, be a part of the solution, not the pollution.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Singh posing during a light moment

By AlvA Solomon

At 60, Vibert Wilson, a father of 10, still works around the clock to provide for his family.

In fact, he still wakes up at 2:30h on Monday mornings to start his day – that is providing transportation services along the 22-mile road which links Santa Rosa, Moruca, with the riverine village of Kwebanna, where he lives.

“The most trips I make is four per day and this happens on Mondays and Saturdays,” he told Guyana Times.

The early days

Wilson’s children are now young adults; the eldest is 38 years old while the youngest is 21. Wilson, who is fondly called ‘Uncle Vi’ by villagers and people at Moruca, recalled starting his adult working life

meet, he noted. Wilson said his peanuts were in demand at Charity on the Essequibo Coast and as such, he spent his days cultivating the crop. He noted that the crop can be cultivated all year round.

Fetching his crop was another issue and Wilson vividly recalled carrying bags of his produce from the village for several miles to another village called Manawarin. He would then paddle in his canoe for hours out of that village to the mouth of the Moruca River before heading south to Charity on the Pomeroon River. He would go alone, he said, but sometimes others who worked with him on his farm would accompany him on the trips. “This was to get cash for the peanut crops and to buy other items to bring back and sell,” he said.

The entire trip lasted five

business until he managed to save enough money to purchase an outboard engine. He said he bought a 15-horsepower engine, and this greatly aided his farming business since he was then able to transport multiple bags of produce, including peanuts, to Charity.

The trip, he said, would take hours along the Waini River, then via the Moruca River, and onward to Charity via the Atlantic and the Pomeroon River.

“I did it for years, buying and selling goods and then I managed to buy three additional 15 horsepower engines,” he said.

TURN TO PAGE 20

back in the late 1970s when he moved to Georgetown in search of employment.

“They hadn’t any jobs in the village and so I went to town to work in the slaughterhouse (abattoir),” he said. He stayed there from 1981 until 1983.

He would then return home since farming was the only viable option to make ends

days; he would leave early on Saturday and return with his earnings and goods on Wednesday. At that time, he and his wife Lorna had started their family, and their family’s welfare, he noted, was always his main priority.

His first boat Wilson worked and saved his money from the farming

Vibert Wilson (left) sharing a light moment with his family members during an event

Wilson is an ardent church leader and pastor

Guyanese students celebrated after completing Master’s degrees at Trent University

Guyanese students, Stacy James and Malaika Persaud, the first-ever graduates of the Sustainable Guyana Programme at Trent University, have been celebrated after finally receiving their Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies.

The Sustainable Guyana Programme is a strategic partnership that provides opportunities for employees at the University of Guyana (UG) to earn graduate-level credentials at Trent University, and, ultimately enhance the individuals’ skills and research capacity, as well as education in non-fossil, sustainable sectors of the Guyanese economy Chair of the Sustainable Guyana Programme, Dr Suresh Narine expressed that it is a momentous day for the Guyanese students and an exciting time for students studying in this field.

“Stacy and Malaika are the first graduates among a

Stacy and Malaika are the first two to complete their graduate degrees.

During her time at Trent, Malaika worked to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Guyanese medicine. As a pharmacist, she aimed to build on the tradi-

formative. Consistently recognised nationally for leadership in teaching, research, and

student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Across

all disciplines, Trent is known to bring critical, integrative thinking to life every day.

group of students who will bring the skills, foci, and critical mass to ensure that Guyana is equipped with the human capacity to chart a sustainable developmental trajectory. This collaboration between Trent University and the University of Guyana brings together deep inquiry into Indigeneity, sustainability, science, and innovation. There is a kind of positive spontaneous combustion when this endeavour is harnessed to national development; it is tremendously exciting,” Narine shared.

Out of nine UG employees who have started their studies at Trent to date,

tional uses of sweet aloe with a deeper scientific understanding of the plant’s medicinal properties.

“All before my time at Trent, my work was so focused on science…Learning about sustainability in an arts-based programme gave me the really valuable experience of getting new perspectives about my work and opened up new views of the world,” she underscored.

Also equipped with a background in pharmaceutical sciences, Stacy explored the scientific properties and chemical nature of oils derived from the crabwood tree. She focused her work

at Trent on two species of plant, which grow abundantly in Guyana’s rainforests.

New graduate Stacy noted, “It’s a privilege to be a part of the Sustainable Guyana Programme, to have the opportunity to be here at Trent and graduate as a Master’s student. Now I am getting the opportunity to continue my studies at Trent to complete my Ph.D. I look forward to returning home to Guyana with both my Master’s and doctorate degrees and sharing new knowledge and skills with the next generation of Guyanese scholars.”

The Sustainable Guyana Programme was launched in 2019 as a groundbreaking partnership between Trent University and the University of Guyana with support from CGX Energy Inc (CGX), and Frontera Energy Corporation (FEC).

The programme offers comprehensive support to students accepted into the programme, including funding for tuition, as well as stipends for living and travel expenses. The programme also covers research project costs, ensuring that students have the necessary resources to make a measurable impact on Guyana's sustainable development.

The Sustainable Guyana students currently studying at Trent University are currently involved in Environmental and Life Sciences; Interdisciplinary Social Research; and Applied Modelling and Quantitative Methods.

Trent University is one of Canada's top universities, founded on the ideal of interactive learning that is personal, purposeful, and trans-

Malaika Persaud, Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies

Stacy James, Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies

SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wilson then purchased a 75-horsepower outboard engine but this, he noted, was for emergencies and special occasions. “That was in case anything happened like anyone gets sick or so,” he added.

Walking miles with the children Wilson said while he continued to provide for his children, his wife was always supportive of him, and she too had a knack for business.

“She would sell at the shop, she would bring in about 45 to 50% of the earnings,” he added. “The first thing I used to think about the most was to get resources for my children to have an education. To en-

sure they have everything.”

He recalled walking the 22mile road from Kwebanna to Santa Rosa with the children at the beginning and end of the school term. “So, because

we didn’t have transportation back then by road, I used to walk out with them,” he added.

Around 2010, he made another ambitious move, and this

time, with his family in mind, he bought a Toyota Hilux pickup. “The vehicle was to cut the distance to Moruca by boat, so it came in good,” he said.

At the time, the road was narrow, and vegetation lined the roadway’s edges and Wilson noted that although it was a rocky ride, he always placed safety as a priority. A few years later, he would then buy his first car and as the village’s and the country’s economy grew, he purchased another car. Today he owns several vehicles, and his sons provide support to his transportation business. “I slow down a bit, but I would do normal trips, not plenty in one day like be-

fore,” he said.

Wilson and his family are ardent churchgoers. In fact, he is a pastor and church leader at the Rose of Sharon Assemblies of God church in the village, and being close to God is one of the fundamental aspects of his family’s life. He is also a cricket enthusiast and played a key role in his team during his younger days. He also provides support to sports and other events within the village.

Wilson told Guyana Times that he holds his family close to his heart and one aspect of their childhood he keeps in his memory is that of Christmastime. He said he

and his wife would wait until the children were asleep on Christmas Eve and the duo would place a bag with toys under their Christmas tree. The following morning, the smiles on their faces brought joy to his heart. “We used to admire them,” he said.

In November 2020, tragedy struck Wilson and his family when one of his sons, Kamal, succumbed to chop wounds that he sustained at the hands of another resident of the village. The family holds frequent tributes for their fallen son. They plan to hold activities, including sports events, in his honour in the years ahead.

Vibert Wilson and his wife Lorna

Young entrepreneurs open supermarket at Leonora

Premium Eats is a newly branded hypermarket, offering grocery, household, electrical, and clothing items under one roof. The shopping concept was developed by a business-oriented couple, Jia Hui Young and Serenity Kanhai, after observing major departmental stores around the world.

As a supermarket that caters to everyone, Premium Eats provides discounts for service men and women, senior citizens, budgeted families, and many more groups. They also have a loyalty programme where customers can gain points on their transactions to receive gifts and re-

wards.

Premium Eats, located Lot 9 Leonora Public Road, West Coast Demerara, obliquely opposite Leonora Police Station opened its doors to the public on Saturday.

Premium Eats is co-owned by an interracial, interfaith couple from very distinct cultural backgrounds.

Jia Hui Young, a 30-yearold trilingual businessman and certified aeronautical engineer was born to parents who emigrated from Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 33 years ago. At the age of 17, Young was appointed manager of a mining company in Guyana.

There, he gained extensive knowledge as a purchasing manager and negotiator. Young also credits his hardworking parents as his first teachers and explained that working with them in his early years gave him the skills and motivation needed to open a business of his own.

To complete the duo is Serenity Kanhai, a 24-yearold business consultant with a Bachelor’s in Law and Master’s in Commercial Law. She was born in Georgetown, Guyana to loving and hardworking parents who also modelled a family-owned company. Kanhai exercises her knowledge in the com-

mercial/business world and manages Kanhai’s Electrical & Variety Store, a supplier of residential, commercial, and industrial electrical components in Georgetown.

Young and Kanhai opened their first company four years ago called Young Leaders Trading Specialists and began importing and exporting products for businesses across Guyana such as medical supplies, stationery, hardware, electrical, and fresh and frozen foods.

Now they have the capacity to operate a supermarket and have chosen to expand their portfolio with Premium Eats.

Jia Hui Young and his wife Serenity Kanhai, along with Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, prior to the opening

MoE placement exam slated for July 27

The Education Ministry's placement examination will be written on July 27 this year, and candidates have been asked to submit their applications at the earliest.

For each grade, there is an English and Mathematics Objective Type test. The placement examination will be written in Regions Two

(Pomeroon-Supenaam)

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice); and Georgetown.

The closing date for applications is July 14, 2023.

Those who can write the exam include migrant and re-migrant children who want to enter the pub -

lic secondary school; students from private schools who would like to enter or re-enter a public school; and students from public schools desirous of attending a higher list public school.

The 'Entry into grade 7' examination will only be offered to migrant and re-migrant children.

According to the Ministry, application and

criteria application forms can be uplifted at any regional education office or Georgetown education department at 68 Brickdam. Soft copies can be downloaded from the MoE's website.

Students from private

schools desirous of being transferred to a public school must present to the Regional Education Officer/Placement Officer their report card and any other documents to verify their status.

Students from a pub -

lic school desirous of attending a 'higher list public school must attain an average of 75 per cent or above for the academic year of the exam; and 75 per cent or above in Math and English for the academic year of the exam.

Teen killed while protecting sisters from mob – suspect's house subsequently set on fire

Ateenager was killed early on Saturday morning while attempting to part a fight between his sisters and other females at West Ruimveldt in Georgetown.

Dead is 19-year-old Dequan Pyle, a construction worker of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt. The incident occurred sometime around 06:30h.

Police reports revealed that Pyle was trying to part a fight between his sisters and a group of females in the neighbourhood, when the male partners of the other females also intervened.

The Police say one of the males, who was armed with a piece of wood, hit the teenager to the back of his head and he fell to the ground, where he lay motionlessly.

The suspect then dropped the wood, and he along with the others began to pelt bottles and bricks at the teenager’s rela-

tives, before making good their escape.

Pyle was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty. His body is presently at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination

(PME).

According to the Police, investigations are in progress to locate the 30-year-old male suspect and his accomplices.

Meanwhile, the early morning incident that led to the death of the teenager has resulted in tensions flaring in the

Family of murdered Durban St man accuses Police of demanding $300,000 to solve case

The family of Terrance Washington, a 47-year-old construction worker from Lot 60 D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, who tragically lost his life almost a month ago in a brutal attack by three men, is now accusing members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of requesting a substantial sum of money to solve the case.

area.

In fact, hours later, the Laing Avenue home of the alleged killer was set on fire.

The fire reportedly ripped through the small wooden house. At the time of the inferno, no one was at home since the suspect would have already been arrested by the Police for questioning in relation to the teen’s murder.

Nevertheless, fire tenders arrived at the scene and managed to curtail the fire to one location. Guyana Times understands that by the time the fire tenders arrived at the scene, the house was already engulfed. The Police have launched an investigation into the murder and suspected arson.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, the grieving relatives expressed their frustration with the slow progress of the Police investigation and called for higher authorities to intervene, considering it “outrageous” that money is being demanded to solve the murder of their loved one.

The family alleged that the stepfather of one of the alleged suspects was initially taken into custody for questioning after the incident but was subsequently released. Since then, they claim to have provided the

Dead: Terrance Washington

Police with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts, yet the authorities have allegedly refused to take action.

“The Police aren’t doing anything; the whole case is at a standstill. We already provided them with information on where to find the other suspect, and they are telling us that somebody needs to go with them to pick him up, even though we provided them with 3 different pictures of the person,” stated a relative.

The aftermath of the fire

Dead: Dequan Pyle

LGE 2023

PPP/C, APNU tie at Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt NDC following recount – APNU seeks legal process on acceptance of tendered ballots

Arecount requested by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the Plegt Anker/ Kortberaadt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) has resulted in a tie with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which had initially secured a five-vote win.

Now, the Opposition party wants to challenge the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to count five tendered ballots that were issued to persons who voted for the PPP/C.

The APNU Opposition is challenging GECOM’s decision to add five tendered ballots to the PPP/C votes for Constituency 4 of the Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt NDC.

During a press conference in New Amsterdam on Saturday, APNU’s Constituency Candidate Deodan Ramdatt insisted he won the First Past the Post System by 32 votes compared to the 27 votes obtained by the PPP/C Candidate, Odesh

Tamborine.

These figures were confirmed by GECOM’s publication of results from Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

However, the PPP/C subsequently asked for a recount, which was held at GECOM’s New Amsterdam office on

June 14.

APNU’s Regional Coordinator, Kirk Fraser, said APNU has taken a decision not to accept the recount results provided by GECOM for that specific NDC. He is calling for another recount.

“At that recount what transpired there it would have shown that there were five tendered ballots that were issued by the PO [Presiding Officer] at that particular polling station. Those five ballots were then added to the legal ballots that were placed in the ballot box. At the recount the tendered ballots were not placed in the ballot box,” Fraser told the media.

He related that at that point, he objected, saying that tendered ballots are not counted at elections.

“We held our position saying that we would not accept tendered ballots to be added to the tally,” he added. Fraser made reference to an incident on March 2, 2020, where

the tendered ballots were not counted in the Hogsty/ Lancaster NDC which is also in Region Six.

Meanwhile, GECOM’s decision to add the five tendered ballets to the PPP/C’s votes has pushed the ruling party’s tally for that constituency to 32, thus creating a tie with APNU.

“What we are saying is that we will be moving on to the legal aspect of this so that we can have a final determination.”

Moreover, APNU on Saturday refused to participate in the declaration of the Local Government Elections results for Region Six, arguing that tendered ballots are not legal.

“We don’t know who would have voted on the tendered ballots but we asked to have a view of the poll book to see when this incident would have occurred because the poll book would give us a clear indication as to the time when

this was done and this should be reported to the Returning Officer.”

Fraser further added that the poll book has no indication as to the time those tendered ballots were issued.

This publication understands GECOM is claiming that the tendered ballots were issued when the officer in charge of the polling station was in the washroom and they were the first five ballots to be issued as authentic ballots.

“A tendered ballot is a ballot issued to a perceived voter who does not reach certain basic requirements. For example, one may vote before and just to appease the voter they are issued with a tendered ballot so that that they can feel that they would have participated in the process,” Fraser explained.

This system has been allowed because of the possibility of the polling officer making an error. (G-4)

From (L-R) Bernadette Douglas from APNU representative list for Constituency 4, Kirk Fraser, and Constituency candidate Deodan Ramdatt

PM Phillips honoured at Guyana’s Independence celebration in Georgia

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd)

Mark Phillips was the Guest of Honour of the Guyana Day - Diaspora Outreach on Friday in Atlanta, Georgia.

The event, which also celebrated Guyana's 57th Independence anniversary, was attended by a number of US-based Guyanese.

During his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the developmental transformation of Guyana in the social, economic and physical sectors.

Phillips spoke of Guyana’s strategic focus and its leadership drive in energy security, food security, and environmental

protection and sustainability.

Prime Minister Phillips also expounded upon President Ali’s One Guyana Policy of uniting our people and recognising and respecting Guyana's cultural and ethnic diversity.

He said the Government would ensure that all Guyanese benefit from Guyana's prosperity and noted that the Government is putting all systems in place to trans -

form the country's infrastructure while bolstering all economic sectors.

Calls were made to Guyanese in the Atlanta diaspora to invest in Guyana, which is the "fastest growing economy in the hemisphere and a land of limitless opportunities for investment".

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister received a commendation honour from the Office of the Mayor of the city of Stonecrest in Georgia.

Family of murdered...

FROM PAGE 24

The relative further revealed that during the funeral, a detective approached Washington’s mother, demanding a payment of $300,000 in exchange for apprehending the suspects. Fatigued and concerned for their safety, the family questioned the rationale behind assisting the Police in apprehending the suspect themselves.

“He [the detective] told Terry’s mother that she has to provide $300,000, and they will catch the suspects. We are tired,” a relative expressed. Attempts to get a comment from the Commander proved futile.

It was reported that on the day in question, when most of Washington’s family members were not at home, he was brutally attacked and beaten to death. The three assailants accessed the property by scaling the back fence and viciously as -

saulted him with a piece of wood, causing severe head injuries.

Despite seeking refuge in a neighbour’s yard, Washington was eventually discovered by the assailants, who resumed their violent assault. His lifeless body was found in the front yard of a neighbouring property later that day, leaving his family devastated by the heartbreaking revelation.

While the Police have confirmed a recent dispute between one of the alleged suspects and Washington, the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.

The grieving family is pleading for justice and expressing their deep anguish over the loss of Washington. They said they emphatically desire that the perpetrators be held accountable for their heinous actions.

Prime Minister Phillips receiving a commendation honour

Around the World OIL NEWS

Putin lectures African leaders seeking to mediate in Ukraine

Iran's oil exports hit 5-year high as US holds nuclear talks

Iran's crude exports and oil output have hit new highs in 2023 despite US sanctions, according to consultants, shipping data and a source familiar with the matter, adding to global supply when other producers are limiting output.

Tehran's oil exports have been limited since former US President Donald Trump in 2018 exited a 2015 nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions aimed at curbing oil exports and the associated revenue to Iran's Government.

Even so, exports have risen during the term of his successor President Joe Biden. Iranian and Western officials have said the US is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the nuclear programme.

Iranian crude exports exceeded 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, the highest monthly rate since 2018, according to Kpler, a provider of flows data. They were around 2.5 million bpd in 2018, before the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Iran said in May it has boosted its crude output to above 3 million bpd. That's about 3% of global supply and would be the highest since 2018, according to figures from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). A source familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier this month output was still at this level.

The International Energy Agency this week put Iran's May production at 2.87 million bpd, close to Iran's official figure.

The rise from Iran comes as OPEC+, which includes OPEC, Russia and other allies, is cutting output to support the oil market, where expectations that economic weakness will dent demand have pressured prices.

Other analysts say Iran's production and exports have risen. SVB International, a consultant, estimates crude production hit 3.04 million bpd in May, up from 2.66 million bpd in January. Exports of crude and condensate were 1.93 million bpd in May.

"Sanctions are in place but perhaps they are not fully implemented or monitored," said Sara Vakhshouri of SVB, who has previously said during Biden's term there hasn't been any serious crackdown or action against Iran's oil exports.

"Also all of these supply volumes are in the dark market, where there is no transparency and so they are not reflected in formal global supply and export data."

A US State Department spokesperson said all Iran sanctions authorities remain in effect. "We do not hesitate to take action against sanctions evaders, using all our available sanctions authorities," the spokesperson said.

OPEC+ agreed on June 4 a wide-ranging deal to limit oil supply into 2024. Iran is not required to make cuts as, together with Venezuela and Libya, it has an exemption. Nigeria is not exempt but has faced internal challenges in raising output.

Analysts at JP Morgan in a report this week said OPEC+ needed to cut more. They lowered their Brent oil-price forecast for 2023 to US$81 a barrel from US$90, saying rising supply was offsetting demand growth. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday gave African leaders seeking to mediate in the war in Ukraine a list of reasons why he believed many of their proposals were misguided, pouring cold water on a plan already largely dismissed by Kyiv.

The African leaders were seeking agreement on a series of "confidence building measures", even as Kyiv last week began a counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from the swathes of southern and eastern Ukraine that they occupy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after meeting them in Kyiv on Friday that peace talks would require Moscow to withdraw its forces from occupied Ukrainian territory, something Russia has said is not negotiable.

Putin opened Saturday's talks with representatives of Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic, Comoros and South Africa in a palace near St Petersburg by stressing Russia's commitment to the continent.

But after presentations from the Comoran, Senegalese and South African presidents, he stepped in to challenge the

Dominican Republic, Canada disagree over Haitian Police aid office

As Haiti's Police struggle to contain powerful armed gangs, a disagreement between the Dominican Republic and Canada spilled out into the public on Friday, further complicating an international plan to boost Haiti's outgunned Police Force.

A day after Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced plans to set up a Canadian office to coordinate support for Haiti's national Police this summer in the neighbouring Dominican Republic, her Dominican counterpart denied any deal authorising an office on Dominican territory.

In a post on social media, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez said no deal been struck, adding that the Dominican Government has not even discussed such a plan.

In a subsequent statement to Reuters, Canada's Foreign Ministry said it continues to work with 20 countries and international or-

ganisations to strengthen the Haitian Police and boost security, pointing to ongoing talks "to finalise a location that will support the group's work in geographical proximity to Haiti."

The statement did not say whether the location would be in the Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

Haitian-Dominican relations have long been strained. Since gang violence escalated last year in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Santo Domingo has stepped up border security and deported tens of thousands fleeing the crisis back to Haiti.

On Thursday, Joly announced plans to coordinate a Police support operation from a base in the Dominican Republic and thanked Alvarez for providing it, according to a transcript from a Canadian Government official. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Uganda school attack: Dozens of pupils killed by militants linked to Islamic State group

Nearly 40 pupils have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group (IS).

Five militants attacked the Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe at around 23:30 (20:30 GMT) on Friday.

They entered dormitories, setting fire and using machetes to kill and maim the pupils, officials said.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - have been blamed and a manhunt is under way.

More than 60 people are educated at the school, most of whom live there.

Uganda's Information Minister said 37 students were confirmed to have been killed, but did not give their ages.

Twenty of them were attacked with machetes and 17 of them burned to death, Chris Baryomunsi told the BBC.

Survivors said the rebels threw a bomb into the dormitory after the machete attack. It is not clear if this resulted in a fire in the building which was reported earlier.

Six students were also abducted to carry food that

assumptions of the planpredicated on acceptance of internationally recognised borders - before the round of statements could go any further.

Putin reiterated his position that Ukraine and its Western allies had started the conflict long before Russia sent its armed forces over the border in February last year, something they

deny.

He said the West, not Russia, was responsible for a sharp rise in global food prices early last year that has hit Africa especially hard.

He told the delegation that Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports that Russia has permitted for the past year were doing nothing to alleviate Africa's difficulties with high food prices because they had largely gone to wealthy countries.

And he said Russia had never refused talks with the Ukrainian side, which had been blocked by Kyiv. Moscow has, however, repeatedly said any peace must allow for "new realities", meaning its declared annexation of five Ukrainian provinces, four of which it only partially controls - a red line for Kyiv. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US House Speaker McCarthy threatens to block funding for Chile waiver programme

the rebels stole from the school's stores, he added. The militants then returned across the border into the DRC.

Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them.

Eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday threatened to use congressional appropriations to block funding for a US visa waiver programme for Chile, blaming rising criminal activity in the United States on the programme.

At a news conference in Santa Ana, California, McCarthy called on US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to suspend the programme, a step that would allow law enforcement officials to run criminal background checks on those who have entered the country.

McCarthy, a California Republican said the appropriations will not allow Mayorkas "to use money when it comes to Chile for the visa waiver programme until this issue is solved."

"If he will not act, we will take that action in the next two weeks inside our appropriations."

McCarthy said people

entering the United States through the programme have joined organised crime organisations that he said have carried out raids on homes and businesses in California and elsewhere.

He accused Mayorkas of failing to take action to address the problem.

Both Republicans and Democrats have recently raised concerns about the programme and its impact on crime.

Representative Lou Correa, a Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, called on Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take steps to prevent the programme from fuelling criminal activity.

"I am concerned that some citizens of Chile are abusing the visa waiver programme to commit burglaries throughout the United States, including in my district in Orange County," Correa said in a statement on Thursday. (Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin

US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaking as he holds a press conference after the House approved the debt ceiling deal he negotiated with the White House to end their standoff and avoid a historic default, at the US Capitol in Washington, US May 31, 2023

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

(June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

You’re on the fast track, ready to take on the world. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans. Make your objectives clear to those who challenge or try to redirect you. Romance is favored. Take it easy. Promising too much will lead to distress. Put your needs first and avoid letting someone take you for granted. Do some research that will help you make a big decision.

Love is in the stars. Focusing on quality time will improve meaningful relationships. A home improvement project will turn out better than anticipated if you manage your money wisely. Explore the possibilities, and new beginnings will come your way. Keep an open mind and work with what you have to make your world a better place. Reinvent how you use your skills.

Take pride in whatever you do. You’ll face criticism; don’t let anyone push you in a direction you don’t care to travel. Pay attention to what others say before you respond.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t reveal secrets. Go about your business, and you’ll be able to bring about changes that will give you hope for the future. Expand your mind, interests and friendships.

Try something new and exciting, and it will motivate you to explore the possibility of changing your direction. Do something you enjoy, and it will ease stress.

Discipline will be required to finish what you start. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t want to pursue. Focus on what makes you happy. Change begins with you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Sign up for something you enjoy, and have some fun. Share your dreams, hopes and wishes with someone close to you. Talks will lead to a positive outlook and potential gain.

Share your thoughts and feelings, and you will make headway. Create a space that encourages you to pursue something that makes you happy. A change in routine will lead to possibilities.

Keep life simple and your plans feasible. Spend less cash and put more energy into figuring out what’s best for you. A change offers a healthier lifestyle and more time for fun.

Don’t take on unreasonable requests. Analyze what others expect of you and consider what’s worthwhile before you say yes. Call the shots instead of letting others make decisions for you.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Pickles

BCB/ARMCO Ltd Inter-Secondary School Cricket Tournament for Lower Corentyne area…

Lower Corentyne beat Port Mourant to lift title

- Ramjit grabs six wickets

Adestructive spell of off spin bowling from Deeraj Ramjit led Lower Corentyne Secondary School (LCSS) to an easy eight-wicket victory over arch-rivals Port Mourant Secondary. It earned them the championship trophy for the Berbice Cricket Boardorganised ARMCO Ltd tournament.

This tournament, for secondary schools in the Lower Corentyne area, was sponsored by popular contractor Armand Ramdial of Kildonan village, and was witnessed by a sizable crowd of spectators, although it was reduced to 25 overs from the original 30 due to CSEC exams at both schools.

Lower Corentyne Secondary (LCSS) won the toss and elected to put PMSS to take first strike. PMSS

were bowled out for 98 in 22 of their allotted 25 overs.

Ravin Budwah top scored with 34, while Romesh Bharrat and Matthew Pottaya each scored ten in a disappointing batting display put on by the strong PMSS team.

Bowling for LCSS, Ramjit had the remarkable figures of six wickets for fourteen runs from five overs.

In reply, LCSS cruised to an eight-wicket victory, as Ari Afrizal Kadir struck a solid 56 not out and received support from Nyron Hicks’s 13 and Devin Lalbeharry’s 12 not out. Romel Budwah was the only successful bowler for PMSS.

It was sweet revenge for LCSS, who last week lost the RHTY&SC/GBTI title to their arch-rivals at the same venue.

BCB President Hilbert Foster congratulated his former school on winning the Lower Corentyne title, and urged them to continue training for the overall Berbice championship, which would be played later

in the year.

The respective champions of the four sub-zones: West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne, would play in a knockout event to determine the overall

Berbice champions.

Foster has said he is very proud that cricket is again back at the school level, and he called on the players to take advantage of the BCB investment in the game. He also expressed thanks to the

sponsor for his support of Berbice cricket.

The BCB, as part of its developmental programme, had donated over $2m worth of cricket uniforms to more than 20 schools in the county, along with balls. Each school also received a supply of gear to assist them to play.

Bush Lot Secondary had last week won the West Berbice leg of the countywide tournament, while the New Amsterdam/Canje finals would be played next week between Vryman’s Erven and the Berbice Educational Institute at the Rose Hall Canje Ground.

LCSS received fifty thousand dollars’ worth of educational materials, and the runner-up team received thirty thousand dollars.

Ramjit carried home five thousand dollars’ worth of materials and a medal as his Man of the Finals award.

Khawaja's day, as he and Carey lead Australia fightback

Usman Khawaja walked up the dressing-room stairs unbeaten for the second straight evening at Edgbaston, 122 runs better off than he had been the night before.

England had hoped four overs would have been enough to dislodge Khawaja on Friday, so they declared in time for a crack at him with the new ball. Twenty-four hours later, he had proved himself immovable.

Khawaja was “the nearly man” of Australian cricket for much of his career, playing 93 times for his country before his 34th birthday without ever feeling like a permanent fixture in the side. His technique and temperament were called into question, and after three years out of international cricket, it seemed he had served his time.

But in the Birmingham sunshine, Khawaja cut Ben Stokes for four, and raced down the pitch to celebrate his seventh Test hundred since his recall 18 months ago. Since the start of 2023, he has scored hundreds in Australia, India, and now for the first time in his career, England.

On a slow, dry pitch, Khawaja and Australia scored at a different tempo to the one England had set on the first day. They scored at barely two-thirds of the rate of England's first innings, yet, with Khawaja's innings - littered with crisp pulls and handsome drives - they ensured they trailed by only 82 at stumps.

It took Australia 24 balls to add to their overnight 14 for 0, absorbing more maidens in the first three overs of the day than England had done in their entire first innings. Khawaja

pulled and flicked Stuart Broad and James Anderson for boundaries; he pulled and flicked his way through the day, but it was Broad who brought the morning to life.

The first ball of his sixth over was a wide inswinger dangled outside off stump, but David Warner took the bait. He threw his hands at the ball, then his head back: his back leg collapsed as he shaped to thump Broad through the covers, and a thick inside edge deflected the ball into the top of his leg stump.

It was the 15th time that Broad had dismissed Warner, but he celebrated as though it was the first, racing away towards the Hollies Stand with his fists clenched so hard that the veins in his neck throbbed.

As Marnus Labuschagne asked a policeman to move from his perch next to the sightscreen, Broad sensed something was brewing.

Raising his hand and whirling his finger, he geed up the crowd at the top of his mark. Coming from wide on the

crease, he angled an outswinger into him, and Labuschagne could not resist driving away from his body. Jonny Bairstow tumbled low to his right, taking the catch one-handed, and Australia were 29 for 2.

The hat-trick ball flew harmlessly past Steven Smith's thigh pad as he shouldered arms with a flourish, and Smith dug in resolutely against whatever Ben Stokes threw at him - including an over of gentle medium pace from Harry Brook inside the first hour. And so Stokes took matters into his own hands, bringing himself on for only his second over in a match since mid-February, and his first since early April.

His first delivery was a front-foot no-ball, perhaps striving to prove his fitness despite a chronic knee issue, but the last ball of his second over skidded into Smith's pad. Marais Erasmus eventually gave Smith out, after Stokes pleaded for the decision, and the DRS could not save him: ball-tracking predicted the ball would have hit the top of the stumps.

Travis Head joined Khawaja and counter-punched either side of lunch in characteristic manner. He survived a short-ball barrage after the interval, and both left-handers took on Moeen Ali, who bowled as well as could be hoped from a man who came out of Test retirement last week. Moeen started to leak runs, but Stokes stubbornly refused to take him off, or to push the field back.

Khawaja took 106 balls to reach his half-century, while Head got there in 60, cutting an out-of-sorts Ollie Robinson away behind square. He didn't score another run, as he skipped down the pitch and miscued Moeen to short

midwicket; Moeen pointed to Stokes at mid-off as he turned away in celebration.

Moeen should have had two wickets in three balls. He beat Cameron Green as he charged out of his crease, but an unsighted Bairstow missed the stumping chance, and Green added 72 with Khawaja for the fifth wicket in a stand that spanned the tea interval.

The best ball of the day accounted for Green on 38. As Moeen flighted an offbreak

wide outside off, it drifted away a touch, then spun back sharply from a good length, to beat Green as he lunged forwards as though stepping on an insect. It struck on the inside edge and pegged back Green’s leg stump.

Yet England failed to take another wicket, Khawaja and Alex Carey adding an unbroken 91 for the sixth wicket. Carey had a life on 26, as he prodded forwards to Joe Root, only for Bairstow to put the chance down. An edge past Root at slip

off Moeen brought him to 50. Khawaja, too, enjoyed a reprieve. Broad took the second new ball and found some nip off the seam to knock off-stump back. But the third umpire noticed that Broad had overstepped, and Khajawa survived until the close once again. The crowd had started to filter out by the time he walked off with a beaming smile, at the end of a day that will be remembered as Usman Khawaja's. (ESPNCricinfo)

LCSS Captain Damion Cecil receiving the winning trophy from Anand Ramdial of ARMCO Ltd

Usman Khawaja celebrating reaching his ton

World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships…

Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffith picks up two medals

…Ends 6th in the world

Guyana’s leading strongman, Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffith, powered his way to silver and bronze medals, and raised the bar on a number of national records when he competed at the World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships held at Intercontinental Arena Conference Centre, Intercontinental Hotel, St George’s, Bay, St Julians, Malta, from June 11 to 18.

Contesting in the 93kg category, which attracted the most athletes of all the categories, 42 in total, PettersonGriffith displayed his ability among the best, and in some instances more accomplished, athletes in the world. Lifting in Flight B of the three flights, the Guyanese was the standout lifter, powering his way to the top of the grip in both the squat and deadlift, but was outdone in the bench press -an area in which, by his own acknowledgement, he still has work to.

He equalled his squat record of 320.0kg (705.48lb) set on August 28th, 2022 at Saint Stanislaus College with his second attempt, and challenged for the world record of 331.0kg when he attempted 334.0, but was not successful on his third and final lift. His performance was however good for the bronze, with two of the lifters in Flight A taking the gold (Amar Kanane of Algeria – 325.0kg) and silver (Gustav Hedlund of Sweden –320kg).

Carlos’s achievement in the benchpress - of 172.5kg

- has equalled the national benchpress record Wazim Mohamed holds - 172.5kg (380.30lb) – which he achieved on October 24, 2021 at the Life Gym at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. The Showstopper’s performance bettered his previous best of 165.0kg.

He capped off a successful sojourn with a classical display in the deadlift, in which he upped the ante by 10kg to 355.0kg (782.64lb) from

345.0 (760.60lb) which was set on April 25, 2018 at Saint Stanislaus College.

This performance again outshone his rivals in Flight B, and it took a lifter from Flight A to edge him to the silver. Additionally, PettersonGriffith set a new Total National Record with his 847.0kg (1867.31lb) by which he erased his own previous record of 825.0kg (1818.81lb) achieved on August 28, 2022 at Saint Stanislaus College.

His performance overall saw him ending as the world’s sixth-best athlete in this category, the best performance ever registered by a Guyanese.

The President and Executive Committee of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation have been extending copious congratulations to Carlos Petterson-Griffith on his outstanding performance at this year’s edition of the World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships.

“We knew all along that you have what it takes to

stand up with the best in the world, and you have vindicated that belief. We know that this is just a step up to another level, and we will continue to give you the necessary support needed to climb the world ladder ever higher.” GABBFF

President Franklin Wilson has declared.

Carlos “The Showstopper”

Petterson-Griffith is again extending gratitude to the following persons for making

His trip a reality: The Honourable Minister of

CONCACAF Gold Cup prelims…

Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr; National Sports Commission, Guyana Olympic Association, MVP Sports, Fitness Express, Superior Concrete, Space Gym, and other private supporters.

SKN advance to second round after dramatic 3-2 shootout win over Curacao

Guadeloupe also through

St. Kitts & Nevis, Martinique and Guadeloupe have all advanced as action got underway in Concacaf Gold Cup qualifying at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.

In the first match of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims, Guadeloupe defeated Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 to move within one game of reaching the Gold Cup group stage for the fifth time in their history.

Joshua Parker had the first good chance of the game for Antigua and Barbuda in the 11th minute, but was unable to keep his shot on target. After that, the first half was largely controlled by Guadeloupe.

Thierry Ambrose had two thunderous shots, but both were deflected by Antigua’s GK Nicholas Townsend. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, when Steven Solvet directed a corner kick into the back of the net with a towering header. It was Les Gwada Boys’ first goal against Antigua and Barbuda since 2010, after being shut out twice during the recent Nations League B tournament.

Seconds before halftime, Andreaw Gravillon curled a free kick around the Antigua and Barbuda wall and off the post. The ball fell right to Jordan Tell, who tapped in to double the lead to 2-0 heading into the break.

It was more of the same after halftime. Tell had another close-range effort in the 55th minute, but this time Townsend made a fantastic save to keep the Benna Boys in the game. It must be said that Townsend was nothing short of exceptional this afternoon.

Mohammed Hakeem had a breakaway with a chance to pull one back for Antigua in the 63rd minute, but placed his shot just a few feet wide of the near post.

However, the game was put to bed soon after, in the 66th minute, when Steven Davidas’s nifty chip beat Townsend and made it 3-0.

Luther Archimede added a fourth, his first international goal, in the 70th minute. Guadeloupe then saw out the rest of the game for a clean sheet, and Matthias Phaeton blasted home the fifth and final goal in the 93rd minute.

Les Gwada Boys will face the winner of Guyana-Grenada on Tuesday in the second preliminary round.

The day’s second game saw Martinique move one step closer to returning to the Gold Cup group stage with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Saint Lucia, who came out aggressively and threatened twice in the opening six minutes with two long balls.

Andrus Remy was barely offside on the first, and Dominic Alfred-Poleon’s attempt was blocked moments after. The tone was immediately set: this would not be a League A team easily overpowering a League C one.

Martinique drew first blood in the 18th minute. Karl Fabien received the ball just inside the penalty area and coolly finished past Saint Lucia’s GK Vino Barclett into the side, netting by the far post.

Martinique’s Kevin Fortune had an excellent chance to make it 2-0 in the 25th minute after a lovely give-and-go with Anthony Brighton Labeau, but his first touch was just a hair too strong, and he wound up putting the ball over the top of the net.

Saint Lucia were not going to go away quietly. A looping corner kick saw the ball fall to Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, and he took his chance expertly. A blast past the out-of-position Martinique GK Yannis

Clementia knotted the game at 1-1 in the 40th minute.

Martinique nearly retook the lead in the 56th minute, when Labeau poked a ball towards goal from close range, but Barclett made a sensational diving stop to keep things even. Labeau got his goal though, on a flexible finish in the 74th minute. Enrick Reuperne’s cross was just slightly behind, but Labeau was able to stretch back and get solid contact on the ball to give Martinique a 2-1 lead.

Despite a spirited effort from Saint Lucia to equalize, Patrick Burner sealed the deal for Martinique on the other end with a third goal in the 85th minute.

Martinique will play the winner of Puerto Rico and Suriname on Tuesday for a spot in Group C alongside Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama. In the final match of the day in the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims, Saint Kitts and Nevis got two saves from GK Julani Archibald to eliminate Curacao 3-2 in a hectic penalty shootout, after a 1-1 draw in regulation. (Sportsmax)

Carlos Peterson- Griffith on the podium after his bronze medal performance in the squat

…Martinique,

"I could not have asked for a better dad and role model"

Keemo Paul says of his father

By Brandon Corlette

Every son's first superhero is his father. This is the same for West Indies cricketer Keemo Paul, who described

all-rounder, who is also father to a lovely new daughter, also spoke about the struggles he and his dad endured, from not having money to eating the same box of lunch and being happy.

est," Keemo said.

"When I migrated internally to Wakenaam, I started playing hardball, got selected for Essequibo, and I basically started taking cricket seriously. He was behind me in every way. Every game where I went to in Georgetown, he would take my gear bag and show me, or teach me, which bust I had to take. He was always behind me.

his father, David Paul, as hard-working and passionate.

"I love my dad very, very, very much. Love him to the end of the world and back. Same with my mom and my entire family, my brothers and sisters. And now I have my own family; my wife, my daughter, everyone," Keemo said in an exclusive Father’s Day special.

It is no secret that the Paul family endured struggles in their early days in the village of Saxacalli, Essequibo; and today Keemo has certainly made his family proud. The 25-year-old

"In my early days growing up, once my dad was not working and he was in Saxacalli (home), he was all about cricket. From the age of three, he was behind me, bowling, and batting. It was from there that the love started, and then he was just there guiding me along all the time. He came to every softball match when he could, he made a cricket pitch up Saxacalli off his own. He would roll the pitch, and prepare the wicket. He was behind me 1000 percent, and everyone knew that. I could not have asked for better, to be hon-

"My dad never missed a game, unless he had work to complete that was very important. He would sit there, sometimes with no money, nothing. I would sit there, eat half my lunch and share it with him, and we were pretty happy. Me and my dad came through from nothing, so today I am really appreciative of what he had done for me. I could not have asked for a better dad and role model, to be honest," Keemo explained.

Keemo's father David is an easygoing man, and Keemo has certainly inherited his humility from his parents, especially his dad. "The best advice my dad would have given to me is to stay humble, stay focused, be dedicated, and don't let anything get to your head. That is what he basically told me," Keemo explained.

Reflecting on how his father reacted when he was first elected to the West Indies and the IPL, Keemo

said: "I was in Antigua playing West Indies 'A' team cricket. I could not have gotten his reaction when I got selected for the senior team. He was in Kaituma, so I could not have gotten his reaction. I know he would have been overwhelmed and emotional to hear that I got selected. I cannot remember how he got the message exactly. Back then, my parents knew nothing about WhatsApp.

"It was the same with IPL, I was in Bangladesh when I first got selected to the IPL. I could not have remembered how I got the

message to them, but they knew because they were watching the auction. In everything I do, my father is passionate and happy for me. Only now does my mom have WhatsApp, and she knows to call and message me, so we all talk when I am away. My father never had these smartphones, but now he has one, but he still does not know too much about them."

Keemo, who is currently in Zimbabwe with the West Indies team for the World Cup Qualifiers, said it is now time for his father to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labour.

"The quality I took from my dad is that I am passionate, caring, and protective of my family. There are a lot of traits I took from my dad. He and my mom raised me into a fine person with the qualities you need to get through this life. I am very thankful for everything my parents have done for me, especially my dad. I could never forget my dad for everything he has done. God knows what we have been through. We have been through some tough times. Now is the time for my father to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his son’s labour. He truly deserves that," Keemo concluded.

$1M up for grabs in inaugural ‘One Guyana’ T10 Tapeball Blast

Tapeball cricket will take centre stage in a matter of weeks when the highly anticipated inaugural ‘One Guyana’ T10 Tapeball Blast bowls off.

The tournament is set to feature 32 teams from around the Land of Many Waters vying for a $1M grand prize. During the official launch, on Saturday morning at the RS53 Resto Bar in the Amazonia Mall at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Co-

Director of the tournament, Romario Samaroo, shared the aim and vision that organizers have for the competition.

“Every towering tree has a start somewhere, and this is the embryonic stage (of) what is supposed to be, or what will grow to something that captures everyone in the Caribbean’s attention. That is the aim of this tournament,” Samaroo informed players, sponsors and media operatives gathered.

He went on to state, “So it’s not just about what happens on the field, but off the field as well. The ‘One Guyana’ tournament intends to create a healthy environment, where people can bring out their family and enjoy a game of cricket, socialize and, you know, really go back to the basics.”

The tournament has already received the support of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who is also the tournament’s patron. As such, Chairman of the National

Sports Commission (NSC), Kashif Muhammad, envisions growth for the tournament, powered by the President’s support.

Muhammad remarked, “I can see this contributing to the building of Guyana through sports. We can have 32 teams coming from right across the country, all ten regions, this augurs well. Once you have the President behind, supporting this, this definitely is an excellent idea, and I can see this growing.

“Hopefully, this can grow into one where it wouldn’t just be teams from Guyana alone,” the NSC Chairman added.

Meanwhile, with Kares Engineering being the title sponsors, their representative Natasha Persaud expressed the company’s commitment to cricket and its unifying power.

“Today, we’re very pleased to be associated with the ‘One Guyana’ T10 Tapeball competition as the title sponsor. We

are aware that sports, especially cricket, unites every Guyanese, and we are in full support of the ‘One Guyana’ concept in helping to bridge our differences, as we can truly be One People, One Nation with One Destiny,” Persaud shared.

With the tournament set for staging on July 29 and 30, the likes of Team Mohamed’s, Banks DIH, and Continental Transport have already solidified their support of the event.

Keemo Paul and his father David Paul

Keemo Paul bowling during a match for the West Indies

Bhisham Mohamed presenting Team Mohamed’s $1M contribution to Co-Directors Romario Samaroo and John Ramsingh

Kares representative Natasha Persaud solidified the company’s $3M contribution to the tournament in the presence of former player Steven Jacobs, tournament Co-Directors Romario Samaroo and John Ramsingh, and NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad

ExxonMobil U14 Schools Football tournament…

Waramuri Girls, Bartica Boys reign supreme!

Waramuri Top Primary’s girls and Bartica

Secondary’s boys roared with dominance on Saturday afternoon as they fought to be crowned champions of the ExxonMobil Under-14 Girls’ and Boys’ Schools’ Football tournament.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue was treated to a display of the best of the country’s Under-14 foot-

ball talents in what was the culmination of a highly competitive tournament.

The feature match in the girls’ tournament saw Waramuri Top Primary taking on President’s College girls. Fireworks flew early with an own goal that went in Waramuri’s favour, coupled with a goal from PC Captain Kimora Edwards that saw the scores levelled 1-1 early.

Waramuri Captain Allia

Henry added another two goals to their tally in the 30th and 35th minutes, while Tiffany Cozier added their fourth goal in the 49th. Waramuri Top won 4-1. Bartica Secondary utilized their superior stature in the Boys’ final to school Waramuri Top Primary Boys 4-0. From the very first minute of the encounter, it was apparent that Bartica were intent on both dominating and controlling pos-

session.

Jadiel Yaw put Bartica in control early when he found the back of the net in the 3rd. Travin Benjamin made it a 2-0 game minutes later; and in the 23rd, a clever set piece from Bartica saw Rondel Washington finding the back of the net.

Bartica managed to add only one more goal to their tally in the second half. It came off the boots of Riley Tracey. The boys from the

Mining Town also managed to keep their opponents at bay in rder to seal the championship with a 4-0 win.

In the girls third-place playoff, Bartica Secondary overcame Tucville Secondary 3-0, with goals coming from Niksha Persaud (20th, 24th) and Candacy Robinson (38th).

In the boys’ competition, Bush Lot Secondary thumped New Central High 5-3 for the podium position. Trevor Eastman (8th, 46th), Quancy Fraser (20th, 24th) and Joela Blair (34th) were the scorers for Bus Lot;

while Trevor Gordon (22nd, 30th, 50th) netted a hat trick for New Central.

In individual awards, Bartica’s Riley Tracey carted off the accolade for the Most goals and MVP accolades, while Waramuri Top’s Mechelle Williams and Allia Henry were adjudged highest goal scorer and MVP respectively. Zico De Santos and Devanie Thomas were the tournaments’ best goalkeepers in the male and female divisions.

Wins for Spencer, Leung and Newton on opening day of National Cycling Championships

Guyana’s top female rider Clivecia Spencer, and We Stand United’s top duo of Alexander Leung and Aaron Newton have recorded wins on the opening day of the National Cycling Championships.

Action in the National Park on opening day of

Championships saw the Juvenile, Junior and Women’s categories being contested.

Newton won the Junior Championship, doing 40 laps in one hour, 46 seconds; and his teammate Leung won in the Juvenile category, clocking one hour, eight minutes over a distance of 25 laps.

The young woman from Linden, Clivecia Spencer, clocked one hour ten minutes and 52 seconds in the 25-lap affair her category entailed.

The National Championship will continue today, Sunday (June 18), with the Masters’ category road race starting at 7:30h from Carifesta Avenue.

The Masters’ race will proceed to the ‘Halfway Tree’ at Mahaicony, before returning to the starting

point for the finish.

Summarised Results - National Cycling Championships 2023 Juniors

1 Aaron Newton, Team We Stand United

2 Ajani Cutting, Team Kaieteur Attack

3 Sebastian Nathan, Team Kaieteur Attack Juveniles

1 Alexander Leung, Team We Stand United

2 Sydwel Sandy

3 Alex Newton, Team We Stand United Women

1 Clivecia Spencer, Team Coco

2 Savannah Hyles

3 Abigale Jeffrey, Team Kaieteur Attack

Alex Leung and Aaron Newton

Clivecia Spencer

The 2023 ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ Under-14 champions, Bartica Secondary and Waramuri Top Primary

A glimpse of the Boys U14 final between Bartica Secondary (orange) and Waramuri Top