Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-06-2024

More than extracting resources

- oil-and-gas sector building a bright future for Guyanese, Minister Bharrat says - locals helping to construct some of the world’s largest, most sustainable FPSOs

The Kwakwani barge resumed operations on Friday following a successful collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana (GOG) and the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to address the vessel’s issues. Contrary to rumours of the barge sinking, it was revealed that significant repairs were needed. The repair process, led by Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC)’s Manager, Wayne Watson and a team of 39 DHBC staff, took approximately 100 hours to complete. During this period, the GOG implemented measures to maintain economic activity, thereby minimising any disruptions. The return of the barge to service is crucial to the transport of goods and services in supporting the local economy and ensuring that commercial activities in the Kwakwani area continue uninterrupted

More than extracting resources

- oil and gas sector building a bright future for Guyanese, Minister Bharrat says - locals helping to construct some of the world’s largest, most sustainable FPSOs

WHILE the local content legislation has paved the way for Guyanese companies to be given first preference in the provision of key services such as catering and ground transportation, it also allows for opportunities in the sophisticated or technical aspects of the industry.

According to the law, Guyanese must also be considered for some structural fabrication, which may include works needed for Guyana’s floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels. In fact, Guyanese are already being considered for work on Uaru and Whiptail–the two largest oil projects in the ExxonMobil-led Stabroek Block.

The Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for these two projects acknowledge that there will be opportunities for Guyanese support during the drilling and installation stage. Those documents also note that Exxon is working closely with its contractors and subcontractors in identifying additional suitable opportunities for Guyanese workforce development.

This is evidenced by the efforts of its FPSO contractors—MODEC and SBM Offshore. For the Uaru Project, the fifth develop-

ment in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil has contracted MODEC to build an accompanying FPSO named, Errea Wittu. The FPSO will be designed to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day in 2026.

According to MODEC, “It will be one of the most sustainable FPSOs in the world, using an energy production system with a combined cycle turbine on board…” Three Guyanese businesses, Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services Inc. (GOGSSI), Asequith Guyana, and ZECO Group of Services, have already been hired by MODEC to provide fabrication services for the vessel, with the possibility of additional local co-operation, partnerships, and numerous spin-off benefits, according to the Japanese firm.

As for the Whiptail project, its FPSO will be called Jaguar. It is under construction by SBM Offshore which is using its industry-leading Fast4Ward® programme. It is also using the company’s seventh new build, the Multi-Purpose Floater hull, combined with several standardised topside modules. The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day by 2027. Building on the experience to date of FPSOs Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity and ONE

GUYANA, SBM Offshore continues to commit to local content development in Guyana by sourcing fabrication scope locally and integrating Guyanese engineers into the execution and operational teams.

In May, SBM also issued an RFI seeking Guyanese companies capable of contributing to the building of the Jaguar FPSO with

the capability to design, manufacture, and supply structural steel fabrication services. Additional opportunities are also emerging for Guyanese, too, as ExxonMobil Guyana recently published a request for information (RFI) to identify engineering and construction suppliers who can provide pipe fabrication and assembly, engineering,

drafting and installation procedure development services.

Exxon said it plans to put in place a multi-year enabling agreement for the fabrication and assembly of carbon steel and thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) well jumpers within the Georgetown area, hence its RFI to test the capabilities of the market.

In an invited comment, Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat said the government is keen on ensuring Guyanese are not just capturing the low-hanging fruits in the oil and gas sector but are well positioned to service the technical aspects of the industry.

“Guyana is on a trajectory to maintain the world’s highest GDP for five years straight. We are implementing numerous mechanisms such as the local content law to ensure this growth is felt by every citizen,” said Minister Bharrat.

He said other interventions have included the commissioning of a stateof-the-art FPSO facility simulator at Guyana’s Technical Training College Institute Inc. in Port Mourant, Berbice. The first phase of the state-of-the-art facili-

ty was commissioned on February 9, 2024. The initiative, largely led by SBM Offshore Guyana, Stabroek Block partners ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, and the government of Guyana, saw US$13 million being invested in the facility simulator dubbed FacTor. Overall, over US$100 million will be invested.

In May, the Guyana government also announced a landmark programme to train at least 3,000 welders through internationally accredited entities like The Guyana Oil and Gas Service and City and Guilds. Following the completion of these studies, these locals would be utilised across various aspects of the oil and gas value chain.

“Clearly, Guyana’s oil sector is not just about extracting resources; about building a sustainable future with our people at the helm. Our local content legislation has already set the stage for Guyanese to thrive in 40 categories of work, but we are pushing further,” said Minister Bharrat, adding, “Guyana is on a path to unprecedented growth, and we are ensuring that every citizen benefits from this prosperity.

The Prosperity FPSO

Gov’t, GTU making ‘serious progress’ - VP Jagdeo

THE Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) are making “serious progress,” Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

As the government remains committed to getting the nation’s educators and its kids back to the classrooms, Jagdeo, during a press conference at the Office of the President (OP) on Thursday last, noted that, recently, there have been some good engagements with the GTU.

“The ministry and the union have had some recent good engagements, exchange

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

of letters. And I think we're moving forward and hopefully, we'll get back to the table. I've seen some serious progress being made recently.”

Further, he reaffirmed that the government is prepared to have a multiyear agree-

“We disagree with the judge that there was no collective bargaining. We had a meeting when the union went on strike,” he said, noting that talks were still ongoing up to a week before the strike commenced.

Manickchand and Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, were present and heard the concerns of teachers.

ment from 2024 going forward.

Jagdeo, however, related that the government is still in disagreement with the High Court’s recent ruling in the case, which stated that teachers should be paid during the time they were on strike.

“If that ruling stands, any worker now can go on strike and make the argument that we have a court ruling which says that we should be paid for the days we strike, whether in the public sector or private sector.”

Last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali held consultations with several educators. During that engagement, the Minister of Education, Priya

Subsequently in November, the Head of State had announced increases to teachers’ salaries and other interventions.

These accumulated to a total of $1.9 billion.

Providing a scenario so persons could understand how the increases would apply, President Ali had said that a graduate Senior Mistress/Head of Department will now have their current salaries adjusted upwards from $243,069 to $262,917, and with the inclusion of the revision to education allowances, this represents an overall 12 per cent increase compared to the previous minimum salary paid to such persons.

In the case of a graduate Senior Assistant Mistress working in the hinterland, the current minimum salary was adjusted upwards from $223,232 to $243,076, and with the inclusion of the revision to education allowances and Remote Areas Incentive (RAI), this will represent an overall 16 per cent increase compared to the previous minimum salary paid to such persons.

Outside of salaries and allowances, all teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress or above, and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a duty-free concession on a motor car, are entitled to a duty-free concession for a motor car up to 1500cc.

‘Challenge the status quo’

- SLB’s senior official tells women -

urges

them to take up their space in the energy industry

By Trina Williams

THE promising increase in women's representation within Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector is setting the trend for barriers to be broken and for women to challenge the outdated status quo.

This was highlighted by the Managing Director of SLB for Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, Sharlene Seegoolam while giving the keynote address at the inaugural Women in Energy (WiE) Forum.

During her address, she made the call for women to speak up and make their imprint in male-dominated fields such as the oil and gas sector.

WiE held its inaugural forum on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under the theme “Championing Women in the Energy Sector: Creating Pathways.”

Women who have been at the forefront of advocating and supporting fellow females and bringing attention to the grip that gender inequality has on society were present at the WiE forum. Among some of the key speakers were the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in

Guyana, Adrienne Galanek.

According to Seegolam, who shared her story on how she became a leading woman in the energy sector, her goals are to ensure that citizens of those countries which possess all major resources have a space in the industry.

She then outlined how women are making an impact in the energy sector, even within those dangerous fields.

“In every part of the world, women are leading the charge in revolutionising how we produce, distribute and consume energy.”

Further, she stated that, despite their undeniable expertise and dedication, women remain underrepresented across the value chain in the energy sector.

“This needs to change!”

Seegolam said.

In light of this, she noted that championing WiE is not just a matter of equity or a “numbers game” but instead a strategic necessity that is required to produce continued success and sustainability in the industry.

“Women bring unique perspectives, talents and insights to the table, driving innovation and enhancing decision making,” while adding that studies have even shown that, time and again, diversity can foster transformation and drive the

success of a business.

Notably, she highlighted that WiE is not confined to a space created by an energy company but also energy adjacent and peripheral ones are important in advocating and supporting women.

Seegolam highlighted fields such as engineering, transport and logistics all play a critical role in fostering collaboration and partnerships with women in those areas.

The Managing Director then said that one cannot overlook the significance of embracing women in fields like food, marketing, education and research as these areas serve as the foundation for developing the next generation of innovative thinkers that will tackle global energy challenges.

Additionally, Seegolam outlined how both Guyana’s public and private sectors are rolling out measures to ensure the development of women along with gender balance.

CREATING PATHWAYS

A multi-faceted approach which addresses both the systemic barriers and the individual needs is required to create pathways in the energy sector.

In this regard, Seegolam said that there needs to be continued investment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educa-

tion and vocational training programmes. She also noted that as an industry there needs to be cooperation to develop the supply chain so that companies can grow.

“Here's the thing, creating pathways does not need to be complicated. There are many best practices in our industry and others,” the Managing Director related.

Further, during her impassioned address, she challenged women to: “Pay it forward, challenge the status quo. It can be as big as advocacy for

policy, partnerships, to provide opportunities for young women or small as ensuring the women in your organisation have space to contribute and excel...”

“Let's reaffirm our commitment to championing women in the energy industry and to create pathways to opportunities across all sectors of the energy landscape. Let's embrace diversity, foster inclusion and empower women to lead. To our young women in the room, there are many pathways to a career in the

energy industry. There is space for you in the energy industry. Unlock your why, and take that space,” Seegolam said. Additionally, the British High Commissioner echoed similar sentiments. As she emphasised the importance of women’s empowerment in the energy sector, Miller told women to claim their seat. Additionally, Galanek outlined what is needed for gender equality and how crucial it is for more women to participate in the energy sector.

Some of the participants gathered at the forum

No-nonsense response to corruption

THERE is a positive correlation between democracy, development and good governance. Central to the above is the issue of accountability. Elected governments are accountable to the electorate and their continued stay in power rests with the electorate in periodic free and fair elections.

Guyana has had its full share of unaccountable governance, especially during the 1968-1992 period when all national and local elections were massively rigged to perpetuate the then ruling PNC regime in power. One consequence of undemocratic rule was the absence of accountabil-

ity norms. There was also the blurring of the lines of separation and independence of the three branches of government, namely the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary.

Guyanese who lived through that period of PNC 'party paramountcy' are all too familiar with the flying of the PNC flag over the Court of Appeal. There was also the self-styled Ministry of National Mobilisation funded by taxpayers, the only purpose of which was to mobilise and transport people to meetings and rallies organised by the then ruling party. In such an environment, there was limited,

if any, scope to hold the PNC regime accountable for its actions. The Legislative Assembly was very much farcical in nature as Bills were automatically passed, thanks to a stolen built-in majority. The situation had deteriorated to a point where, in the words of one leading clergyman, amounted to a crisis of confidence in the thenPNC administration.

Some in our society seem to think that 'corruption' and the perceived lack of accountability norms are of recent vintage. The recent action taken by the US Treasury Department is selectively and opportunistically used to create

the impression that there is 'corruption' in high places. Nothing could be further from the truth. As noted by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in his recent press conference, the PPP/C administration has taken the report by the US Treasury Department seriously and has in fact taken many executive actions to give effect to the findings of the report. According to Dr. Jagdeo, the Government of Guyana and local law enforcement bodies will conduct a probe into the gold smuggling and corruption claims that prompted United States sanctions on two members of the Mohamed's family

It’s ‘clear’ that PNC can’t lead Guyana

- Amanza Walton-Desir admits disunity, disparaging campaign tactics tainting party

GIVEN the mass level of schism and ‘mud-slinging’ within the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), even its member, Amanza Walton-Desir has admitted that the party cannot lead Guyana.

Walton-Desir, who is also in the race for the leadership of the PNC/R, made these remarks on her Facebook page, where she unearthed the disunity and disrespect that are ongoing in the party as its congress draws near.

During her broadcast, Walton-Desir said, “Re -

cent events have cast a shadow over our [PNC/R] noble cause. It pains me deeply to witness the vitriol and hostility that have begun to pervade our campaign. Known surrogates of some candidates are resorting to aggressive, reprehensible personal attacks against other candidates and against their fellow party members. This behaviour is not just an affront to the individual targetted, it is an assault on the very fabric of our party and everything we stand for.

“We must ask our -

selves what kind of country, what kind of future are we building if we tear each other down in the process? How can we lead a nation if we cannot even lead ourselves with dignity and respect? The answer is clear, we cannot.”

On Monday, the PNC/R held its Nomination Day for its upcoming congress. But instead of a day of togetherness as party members gathered from different regions, members underscored that the party is “weaker” than ever and has “regressed.”

In an invited comment

to the Sunday Chronicle, Walton-Desir called for a new political culture to be ushered in.

“For me, it is about creating a vibrant, strong opposition. For me, it’s about heralding a new political culture in our country,” she said.

and a Permanent Secretary.

In fact, the government had already written to the US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen seeking information on corrupt government officials in Guyana.

Democracy and the rule of law do not, however, exist in a vacuum but are premised on the concepts of fairness, the right to be heard, the presumption of innocence, and due process. Accordingly, and consistent with the norms of openness, transparency and good governance, the government has requested information from the United States authorities that could help take reme-

dial measures to prevent any such recurrence. No system, it must be said, is completely impervious to infractions of one type or the other and any information that could assist in the tightening up of systemic flaws can be helpful and productive. The PPP/C administration must be commended for the forthright and proactive measures it has taken in response to the US Treasury Report. This is yet another manifestation of the no-nonsense approach and zero-tolerance for corruption, real or imagined on the part of the PPP/C administration.

Norton secured 177 nominations; Walton-Desir, nine nominations; Forde, 20 nominations; Volda Lawrence, one nomination; Gary Best, two nominations; Carl Greenidge, four nominations; and Simona Broomes, two nominations. Nomination Day is part of the election process to elect a new party executive, including the Party Leader, Chairman, two Vice-Chairpersons, Treasurer and the 15 Cen-

Opposition Parliamentarian and PNCR Member, Amanza Walton-Desir

tral Executive Committee members. Despite Nomination Day being a major day for the PNC/R, the turnout was dismal.

The 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress will be held on June 28-30, 2024.

Exodus: Demobilising of Jah people

HERE are a few lines from one of the most popular compositions in the Bob Marley songbook. The album of the same name has been listed by Times Magazine as one of music’s greatest albums. I don’t agree that is Marley’s best album and many of my Marley’s choices are not from that album, although I concede that the arrangement on the song is fantastic but that is for another discussion, another time.

We know where we're going, uh!

We know where we're from

We're leaving Babylon

We're going to our Fatherland

Marley did not live long enough to see that Jah people did not leave Babylon and were prevented from going to their fatherland. The story of Bob Marley’s music and its relationship with the Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) of the Caribbean is one of the most bizarre moments in the cultural and sociological history of the 20th century.

Marley’s music was an appeal for an alternative society where human values cannot be born until people (not only African people but people in general) liberate their

psychology from the mental subjugation that arose hundreds of years ago and through its acceptance has permanently imprisoned the modern mind of the non-White races.

I haven’t done the research but wondered if Edward Said, the great Palestinian thinker (though his field was literature, he was very close to being an erudite philosopher) ever wrote anything about Marley. It would be absorbing to hear how he treated Marley’s philosophy since one suspects, in a weird way, Said may have problems with dark skin colour. I couldn’t believe when I read that he referred to the face of the great French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre as ugly.

Marley had a philosophy which he put to the world in music rather than in book form. The subplot was the elevation of Rastafari culture. No one before Marley and no one after Marley has successfully promulgated the inherent goodness in Rastafari ontology the way Marley did. But it began and ended there.

Turning out phenomenal songs, one after another, the genius of Marley put Rastafari culture on the face of the Caribbean. However, the penetration only occurred among the

working people of Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Almost 99 per cent of the practitioners of Rastafari in the CARICOM region came from the proletariat and the unemployed members of the lumpen-proletariat.

Marley not only failed to find conversion among the MCC, but that class took an oppressive attitude towards Rastafari adherents and severely repressed them. Marley, quite conscious of this, made a number of huge hits denouncing Babylon, which in Rastafari culture is the oppressive system.

Throughout the CARICOM region, the state used a vicious hand in repressing Rastafari culture. The police in Guyana, during the Burnham presidency, were particularly harsh on Rastas. They would be arrested without due process and humiliated by having their hair shaved.

In a speech denouncing the WPA, Burnham said if he should be removed, another Rasta would take his place. But the state under Burnham was cruel to the Rastas. The ultimate oppression of the Rastas in Guyana came under the Hoyte presidency when the most draconian legislation on the use of marijuana in the

entire Caribbean came in. A jail sentence was automatic for even one gram.

So, the question is why Marley failed in his philosophical message. The answer lies in the psychological complexity of Homo Sapiens. The mind makes a neat separation of the “vibes” it encounters in the world. Take Paul McCartney of the Beatles fame and Bob Dylan in the age of the hippies or what is referred to as the counter culture era between 1966 and 1970.

Dylan and McCartney were symbols of the hippie age and their music

was an integral part of hippie culture. But both Dylan and McCartney had no interest in the counterculture and the world of the hippie generation. Both said they simply made music that they liked and it began and ended there. This is one of the reasons for the huge split between McCartney and John Lennon. McCartney was conservative and Lennon was a hippie.

The irony with Bob Marley was that the Mulatto/Creole class made his music ubiquitous in the Caribbean. Marley’s music enthralled the MCC. Because of their

vast status in CARICOM countries, the MCC marketed Marley’s music. But the mind separated the music from the philosophy. The MCC had no time for Rastafari culture and, in fact, found it to be a weird sect and frowned on it.

This was more pronounced ironically in Jamaica. Today, of the entire CARICOM region, the power of the MCC in Jamaica has not been diluted since colonial days. To conclude, the MCC was zealous about the music of Marley but was disdainful of his philosophy.

Two significant occasions

MUSLIMS will celebrate ‘Eid-ul-Adha’ tomorrow, an event that marks the culmination of the Pilgrimage to Mecca, or the Hajj. Today, however, is Father’s Day, marked this year with a nationwide march organised by “Men on Mission” (MoM), a brainchild of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Launched in 2022, MoM is hoping the march will raise awareness against all types of violence and underscore an important point - physical aggression has no place in our society. While a great deal separates Eid-ul-Adha from Father’s Day, dads can draw inspiration from the life of Prophet Abraham, described as the father of all Prophets in both the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions.

So revered is Prophet Abraham in the Islamic tradition that Muslims invoke his name and ask God to bless

him and his family in the five daily prayers a Muslim must perform every day. Muslims pray facing the direction of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Ka’ba is housed in that sacred city and it was built by Abraham and his son Ishmail and dedicated to the worship of God. In the Quran we learn that God accepted Prophet Abraham’s offering and the Ka’ba is described in the Quran as ‘the house of God.’

Remarkably, Prophet Abraham, his son and his wife were home-builders. Everyone is entitled to a home, a place of celebration, joy, refuge and solace. This is one of the services that MoM has provided from its inception. MoM has handed over dozens of homes to deserving men and women, moving them from deplorable living conditions to the comfort of a space they can call home.

In the Quran, Prophet

Abraham is described as a “friend of God” and as a “fataa.” The latter refers to “a vibrant youth endowed with the quality of chivalry, a unique virtue that reflects the lofty ideals of wisdom, courage and justice.”

Prophet Muhammad instructed his followers that Prophet Abraham inscribed the traditions and rituals of the Hajj. During the Pilgrimage, Muslims commemorate Abraham’s wife, Hagar, and re-enact her desperate search for water to quench the thirst of her infant son. After running between the two mounts of Safa and Marwa, she returns to her son only to find him drinking water from the well of Zamzam, a well that continues to give water to millions of pilgrims who visit the sacred precinct to worship and circumambulate the Ka’ba.

In the New Testament, Jesus encourages his disciples to hold fast to the virtues

of Prophet Abraham. Prophet Abraham was steadfast in his belief; kind, decent, generous to his wife Sarah and then to Hajar. According to the Bible, he was promised, when he was at an advanced age and still without an heir, that he would be the father of a multitude of nations.

Of the two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the Bible tells us that the Lord said to Abraham: “Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael…behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”

In the Quran, God is quoted

as saying to Abraham: “I will make you an “imam” (a spiritual leader or a model) to the nations.”

Prophet Abraham’s model of parenting is timeless and universal. You don’t have to be a person of faith to recognise the amazing lessons that some religious scriptures convey. He married and desired a family and when a child was not forthcoming, he prayed for years for a child. He was given an entire nation and that’s why he is described in the Quran as “a nation” unto himself.

Prophet Abraham was also a person of deep conviction and faith and whatever tumultuous events he experienced in life he remained steadfast and unwavering in his belief. So ardently committed to his family that

we learn in a tradition from Prophet Muhammad that Abraham will be a caregiver to the children of paradise. Fathers have a tremendous responsibility and, indeed, at times it is a struggle to stay the course, but in building communities of families and mutually supporting each other, fathers can build the foundation of a society that allows wives, husbands and children to enjoy the fruits of our wealth and prosperity.

On this occasion of Eidul-Adha and Father’s Day, I pray that fathers in the length and breadth of Guyana will embrace the vital role they play in nourishing and shaping our nation’s future leaders, doctors, engineers, teachers, nurses, and lawyers.

ExxonMobil’s G$5 trillion investment is fuelling Guyana’s economic development

EXXONMOBIL Guyana and its co-venturers –

HESS Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, have committed to investing GY$5 trillion in Guyana’s offshore development through 2027. This follows a substantial GY$6 trillion investment in the Stabroek Block, amounting to a collective GY$11 trillion in overall investment in Guyana. This announcement was made on June 6 at the company’s 2023 Financials Media Briefing. This financial investment solidifies ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to developing Guyana’s hydrocarbon resources. From the start of production in late 2019, the

company has made around 30 discoveries offshore Guyana, with three Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels currently operating and producing more than 600,000 barrels of oil a day – and that number only continues to climb.

The first offshore project – Liza Phase 1, has so far received an investment of US$4.4 billion and currently operates at a capacity of 160,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd); the second project, Liza Phase 2 has so far seen an investment of US$6 billion and operates at a capacity of 252,000 bpd. The third project, Payara, saw a US$9 billion investment and operates at a capacity of 232,000 bpd. With the Yellowtail,

Uaru and Whiptail projects still to come onstream by 2027, Guyana's daily oil production will exceed 1.3 million bpd.

Philip Rietema, ExxonMobil’s Vice President and Business Service Manager, emphasised that the company and its co-venturers continue to invest in the offshore blocks, and in the onshore training and capacity-building required to support successful offshore operations. Additionally, with government’s approval, Exxon has been safely optimising oil production, which is resulting in even more profits and royalties flowing to the country.

As the world's fastest-growing economy, Guyana is set to harvest significant benefits from

this partnership and future investments, propelling its economic growth. This surge in economic activity, sparked by significant offshore oil discoveries, has attracted international investments and boosted the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

With production ramping up to 645,000 bpd, the oil-and-gas sector has already injected vast amounts of capital into Guyana’s economy – creating thousands of jobs and spurring massive infrastructure development.

From the government’s standpoint, concerted efforts are being made to diversify the economy, fostering sustainable longterm growth and ensuring economic stability. The

country has seen investments channelled to sectors like tourism, education, and agriculture; this is being done to create a balanced economy that can withstand fluctuations in global oil prices. It also ensures that the benefits of growth are broadly distributed across the population. With the government’s goal of leveraging this industry to benefit all Guyanese, the oil industry has spent more than GY$ 313 billion on Guyanese suppliers and contractors since 2015. Benefits and opportunities have also increased with passage of the Local Content Act, which prioritises Guyanese companies procuring goods and services in the sector.

A recent Labour Assessment executed by the Centre for Local Business Development revealed that the oil-and-gas sector, which currently has more than 6,200 Guyanese workers, will need at least 5000 more workers by 2028. As such, with production projected to rise rapidly by 2027, this impact cannot be overstated.

As Guyana continues its rapid ascent on the global economic stage, its oil-and-gas industry remains a key player in its growth story. ExxonMobil’s ongoing investments and operations will underpin the nation’s economic growth and development for years to come.

Behind the veil of the PNC Congress

LAST Friday, the incumbent leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Aubrey Norton hosted the party’s weekly press conference, giving his party’s take on various issues. Apart from answering the ‘planted’ questions that an old journalist, who is more like a PNC comrade, asked, the rest of the media bombarded Norton with thought-provoking and difficult, investigative questions about the party’s upcoming Congress.

The media, rightfully, wanted answers about the PNC nominations process which ended on Monday last. They wanted facts and the truth about a process that key stakeholders Roysdale Forde and Amanza Walton-Desir et al were complaining about from the start. They wanted to know what was going on inside Congress Place, and what led party members to protest the party headquarters.

Unfortunately, they ended their passionate endeavours without answers that would shed some light on several troubling issues. Norton was not forthcoming and was less than transparent. He was secretive and cautious

with how he answered but did not answer the media’s questions.

Also, Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C Government were blamed for everything that was happening under the sun in Guyana. This seemed to be Norton’s go-to answer for every question regardless if the question was based upon them. Norton made sure they were used as decoys and to distract from answering any serious or real question about the party or its congress. And, the party leader used a series of alternative facts and bedtime political stories, all the time hiding the confusion, infighting and growing divisions that were taking place inside his party.

Former PNC General Secretary Amna Ally had warned that Norton's leadership style was that of a dictator, to say the least. And, one of the qualifies of authoritarianism and dictatorship is that they rig, steal and cheat to stay in power.

Norton is accused, by party contenders, of selecting or handpicking all the members of the internal elections body. He, or the Congress Administrator or Director allegedly met with the Head of the Accreditation and Re-

turning Officer to read the plan and the riot act. He must come out of the polls looking virtuous and they must rig the party’s rules and regulations, if needs be, to make it happen.

There is no way that Norton secured 177 nominations from party groups. Already, Forde and Desir are complaining that the process was fraught with irregularities and malpractices. They are saying, in essence, that new groups and phantom groups were allowed to make nominations to paint and bolster the image for Norton.

They are also challenging the makeup of some of these so-called party groups. Other serious allegations about the persons and officials manning the Congress have been made and justly so.

Let’s face it, the party elections list is padded. While Norton has a few members protesting GECOM for a clean list, other members in PNC are protesting the PNC headquarters because of a similar issue. It duplicitous and the PNC, under Norton, should be ashamed for letting this happen. It has made some of its members hang their linen, in public view.

Secondly, Norton has had

months to prepare for Congress while Forde, Desir and others have had a month’s notice. This can never be a fair competition internally or a fair Congress.

They do not have enough time to run a good campaign. They are caught off guard and would have to muster up resources financial and otherwise to run against Norton. Was any thought given to this by Norton as the incumbent leader of the party or the Congress team? Was it a plot or a ploy all along to create an unfair and unbalanced playing field? Was it strategically done by Norton to create an unfair advantage?

Thirdly, the public is not buying Norton’s explanation as to the type of campaign that he is running. He said he is running a clean campaign and does not condone character assassination. Really?

If the public was to take its eyes and ears behind the veil of Congress Place, it would see and hear the mudslinging and vitriol that members of the Desir and Forde Teams are made to endure at the hands of known and high-ranking party members from Team Norton, in the presence in some instances of Norton. This is not com-

radery. This is not unity. This is not good competition. This is vile and nasty behaviour done at the leader's bidding because other party members dare to challenge his rule of tyranny and control. And, it is only Norton’s team. The other side responds too with an equally strong bite.

The bottom line is the PNC Congress is bringing out the true nature of all these persons running for office, and it is not looking good. They are ripping each other apart while jostling for posts in the party. Norton is leading the charge by running a divisive campaign. He is closely followed by Forde and Desir.

So, all of them are going to tear the PNC apart by ripping it to shreds internally first. The public must not listen to what Norton and others say when cameras are rolling but they must look at what they are doing each day.

If the PNC can’t get it house in order, how it going to convince the public, it is going to be able to run Guyana? If the party is running internal elections this way, then it is safe to have a concern about what will be its modus Operandi next year.

Finally, there are less than two short weeks to go. Nor-

ton should be setting the standard in the campaign. Desir and Forde should control team members. There should be a level of fairness, transparency and accountability that is woefully lacking. The discussion should be about the PNC, coalition politics and coming up with a plan for moving Guyana forward. The campaign has to centre on unity and togetherness not preparing to become the next government because clearly, the party will never gain government if it doesn’t change its rigging ways. Clearly, from the writings on the wall, it has not.

If Burnham’s party does not change focus or display some dignity and decency at this stage internally in these elections, it will implode. Norton, Forde and Desir, as well as all the nominees, should be ashamed of themselves. The PNC is dabbling in gutter internal politics and confusion seems to be the order of the day. It is cutting its nose and spoiling its face. It is headed downhill and Norton does not care as the incumbent leader. At this point, it is practising internal pariah politics!

Finance Minister lauds Guyana’s economic growth

By Shaniya Harding

CONNECTIONS were forged and partnerships were built at the AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana) Business Brunch and Finance Seminar which was held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Saturday morning.

A collaborative effort between AmCham and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event was celebrated under the theme, “Leveraging Your Assets for Sustainable Success.”

The seminar featured several impressive speakers who tackled different areas of business, finances, and entrepreneurship. Among the notable speakers was Tracey Smith, the Management Consultant at Bold Enterprise Solutions & Technologies, who facilitated a session on strategic planning and revenue analysis.

Smith, who has extensive experience advising both national and international clients, provided insights on financial health. Devindra Kissoon, Founding Partner of London House Chambers and President of AmCham Guyana was also a speaker. His presentation focused on safeguarding wealth, asset management, and protection. Moreover, Serah Radhaykissoon, the Chief Executive Officer of Drevait Inc., which provides management consultancy services, delivered an interactive session on how partnerships can unlock

in infrastructure in the social sectors, schools, hospitals, health centres, clinics, etc.,” he outlined.

The revenue from the oil sector has accelerated the government's ability to fund these projects. “The commencement of oil production and growth in oil production has enabled the government for us to do more and to do it more quickly,” he said.

from next door, or not only from within Guyana, but you are competing with the rest of the world,” he said. “But in the long run, you will only survive and succeed if you are globally competitive.”

A significant part of Dr. Singh’s address focused on the importance of gender equality and inclusive participation in achieving national goals. “There is an abundance of literature, academic and otherwise, that documents very clearly how important gender equality and how important all participation by all genders are for the achievement of optimal outcomes,” he stated.

greater opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The keynote address was delivered by the Minister of Finance and Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, who explored the broader financial situation of the country, highlighting the unprecedented economic growth and opportunities emerging in Guyana.

“Over the last three years, 2021-2023, Guyana's economy has grown on average by almost 40%, over 39% per annum, on average,” Dr. Singh revealed. This exceptional growth is projected to continue, with the economy expected to grow at an average of almost 30% per annum by 2027.

“There is no precedent that I know of, of any country in the world, any time in human history, that I'm

aware of, that has grown at this extraordinary pace over a period as sustained as a year,” he added.

Dr. Singh attributed a significant part of this growth to the booming oil and gas sector.

“We moved from a point where we achieved first oil, and we had a single FPSO producing 120,000 barrels of oil per day, to a point where we now have three FPSOs producing just about 600,000, maybe a little bit under 600,000, maybe 560,000, 600,000 barrels of oil per day,” he detailed. The projection for 2027 is even more astounding, with expectations to produce 1.2 million barrels of oil per day.”

The rapid expansion in the oil sector has had a ripple effect on the demand for

goods and services across the country. “What the commencement and growth in the production of oil has done in Guyana is that it has triggered rapid increases and expansion in demand for every single category of goods and services,” Singh explained.

This burgeoning demand underscores the vast opportunities available for businesses within the country.

Dr. Singh also spoke about the government's national development priorities, which include significant investments in transport, energy, and social infrastructure.

“The national development priorities have long been known: investment in transport infrastructure, investment in energy infrastructure, investment in social infrastructure, investment

Addressing the audience of business leaders and entrepreneurs, Dr. Singh emphasised the abundance of opportunities in Guyana.

“To young or new entrepreneurs, I say to them, there really is no shortage of opportunity,” he encouraged. He advised entrepreneurs to conduct thorough self-assessments to identify their competitive advantages. “You need to identify the niche in which you have a competitive advantage. What you know, and what you are good at, and what you will be able to do well,” he advised.

Dr. Singh also stressed the importance of competitiveness and skill development. “We are operating in an era today where you are competing, where your competition comes not only

He emphasised the government's commitment to full participation of all citizens irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, or geographic location. “We have recognised for the longest while that we can only achieve the objectives that we have set ourselves as a government and as a country if there is full participation of every single citizen of Guyana,” he said.

Dr. Singh praised the Women’s Chamber for its crucial role in supporting women-owned businesses. “The Women’s Chamber has an extremely important role to play in ensuring and supporting women-owned businesses through their establishment, their incubation, their growth, and their ultimate well-being and prosperity,” he acknowledged.

Minister of Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh during his address at the AmCham Business Brunch and Finance Seminar

Tracey Smith, the Management Consultant at Bold Enterprise Solutions & Technologies

- VP Jagdeo says as demand for oil to decline in the

future

Guyana ‘locking in’ on early investments in oil& gas sector

WITH the energy transition advancing, Guyana is sparing no effort to “lock in” those early investments in its rapidly growing oil and gas sector, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

At the time, Jagdeo was referencing the International Energy Agency (IEA) reporting that within the upcoming years, there will be a decline in the oil demand. However, Guyana is not letting the window of opportunities close.

The Vice President during a press conference at the Office of the President (OP) on Thursday last outlined the importance of planning for the future.

While underscoring its importance, he highlighted that Guyana previously found itself indebted in the 90s owing to the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNC/R)

imprudent strategies while it was in government.

“So, you have to be careful to ensure that whatever you commit to, particularly on the recurrent side, wages other recurrent expenditure, that it can be sustained based on future revenue flows, so that's the first point. So, I

think when people see this, they should have cause to rethink what many are advocating,” the Vice President said.

As it relates to the IEA’s predictions regarding the future of fossil fuels, beyond that date, one will not attain investments within that sector since there will be no demand for it.

“So, nobody will invest because their assets would be stranded and they would make huge financial losses. So, what you have to do is to make sure that even before they fall off in demand, which is coming, and as predicted by the IEA, that you secure your investments early.”

Examining Guyana’s commitment to this, Jagdeo said that Guyana has locked in six Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, which according to him will take the nation to 1.3 billion barrels. As a result, over the period, this would amount to around US$50 billion of investments.

On that note, the Vice President said, “Very, very few countries in the world have been able to secure

that investment or to do it on for fossil fuel. Suriname is still to start. They may start producing if everything goes well and they make a decision to invest as investors by the end of this year or so to do a project.”

Additionally, according to the latest edition of the IEA’s annual medium-term market report, despite the slowdown in growth, global oil demand is still forecast to be 3.2 million barrels per day higher in 2030 than in 2023 unless stronger policy measures are implemented or changes in behaviour take hold.

It also noted that producers outside of OPEC+ are leading the expansion of global production capacity to meet this anticipated demand, accounting for three-quarters of the expected increase to 2030. The United States alone

is poised to account for 2.1 million barrels per day of non-OPEC+ gains, while Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Guyana are poised to contribute a further 2.7 million barrels per day.

At a previous press conference, the Vice President explained that at maximum production of its oil and gas resources, Guyana will still remain a carbon sink nation.

At the time, he was defending the government’s strategic decision to utilise its oil resources while simultaneously maintaining its forest. He reminded that the country boasts over 87 per cent of standing forest.

Guyana’s forest stores approximately 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon with the country maintaining a low deforestation rate, Jagdeo noted.

Guyana arms multi-trillion-dollar oil sector with most modern laws in Western Hemisphere – AG

By Kiana Wilburg, CEO at Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo

SINCE assuming office in August 2020, the Guyana Government has embarked on an aggressive legislative and regulatory reform programme. This approach has produced a modernised Petroleum Activities Law which the nation’s Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC hails as “the most modern expression” in the western hemisphere.

During his first appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast, a programme powered by the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, the Minister of Legal Affairs detailed the comprehensive nature of the revamped framework to govern the oil and gas industry.

The Attorney General noted that the Petroleum Activities Law, enacted in August 2023, replaced the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986. Nandlall noted that the 1986 legislation was promulgated at a time when there was no evidence of petroleum products in commercial quantities. By sheer passage of time, that legislation was rendered archaic and ineffective to govern the 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources unlocked by an ExxonMobil-led consortium in the Stabroek block during the period 2015 to 2024.

Nandlall was keen to note that the new oil law was not drafted locally.

“…That is the important

thing about our government, we know when we don’t know.

We are courageous and intelligent enough to accept that… we engaged in drafting that bill through engagements with experts that looked at models in Europe, Canada, several states in the U.S.A, the Middle East, and we came up with that law,” said the Attorney General.

He added, “It is the most modern expression of the law in this hemisphere, and it caters for everything…”

The reformed legislative and regulatory framework for the oil sector also saw the introduction of the Local Content Law in December 2021.

“We recognised quickly that unless we protect local labour, it would be ousted from the sector completely…Why?

The sector by itself has certain inherent, inalienable characteristics. The companies operating in the oil and gas sector, they move as a collective,” Nandlall said.

In this regard, he noted that ExxonMobil moves with a well-developed ecosystem of service providers.

“Unless you have some way of carving a niche out for

your people, then that entire sector would be dominated by that congregation that follows the major operators,” stated the Attorney General. It is with this understanding that the government moved quickly to introduce the law which calls for Guyanese to be given first preference across 40 categories of work.

To ensure the prudent spending and saving of the nation’s oil revenues, Nandlall said the PPP/C government introduced a Natural Resource Fund law in December 2021. This legislation, he said, ensures that all revenues are subjected to strict reporting guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability, from the point of receipt to the spending of every cent.

“The Ministry of Finance must disclose every deposit into the fund and seek parliamentary approval before spending. The Act also speaks to the use of the fund…the president and government can’t just go and decide they will buy 10 airplanes and two helicopters with the money. It can only be used for transformational national projects,” said the Attorney

General.

He stressed that any violation of the law carries heavy penalties, humongous fines, and jail sentences.

With Guyana now host to over US$55 billion in offshore developments, there is an astounding growth in contracted commercial activity to support these initiatives. There are also substantial spin-off effects for other industries such as agriculture, construction and services. Considering this growth and the contracts they are tied to, local authorities found it prudent to introduce a modernised Arbitration Law. This was done in

May 2024.

In this regard, Nandlall said, “We are now operating in a modern, commercial environment. For the first time, we now have in the commercial sector, global operators and giants in every sphere of activity… You must prepare to regulate such a transformed environment with internationally accepted standards for the settlement of disputes when they arise, hence the passage of this Bill.”

Overall, Nandlall said Guyana is sending a resounding message to the world: “We are open for business, committed to transparent governance, and

dedicated to creating a thriving investment climate.”

With a world-class Petroleum Activities Law, a progressive Local Content Act, and stringent Natural Resource Fund legislation, Nandlall firmly asserts that Guyana is setting new benchmarks for governance that attract global investors and protect local interests. He said Guyana’s modern Arbitration Law further solidifies its position as a premier destination for international business, equipped to handle complex commercial activities with internationally accepted standards.

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC

Bids open for construction of three schools in Region Eight

AS the government continues on its path to enhance education across the nation, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) has opened bids for the execution of three schools, valued at approximately $75 million.

According to an ‘Invited for Bids’ (IFB) advert issued by the RDC, which was published by this newspaper recently, it is seeking eligible bidders to undertake the construction of a primary school at Red Creek Village and Pennak Village and a school at Kurubrung/Wailang Village.

Each school is estimated to cost $25 million.

Bids for the project are to be submitted on or before June 20, 2024, to the Chairman of the office of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

“Interested eligible bidders may inspect the Bidding Document and obtain

further information from the Regional Office, Regional Democratic Council No.8 Mahdia 111- Miles Potaro Road during normal working hours Monday to Friday between the hours 08:30-15:15 hrs,” the IFB read.

It added the bid shall be submitted in a plain

Tender Box.

All Bids must be accompanied by Valid Certificates of Compliance from the Manager of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Commissioner of Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

envelope bearing no identification of the bidder and clearly marked on the top left-hand corner "Tender for” and submitted in the

Notably, over 50 schools across Guyana are being either constructed or extended in a bid to improve access to education even as the Ministry of Education is finalising changes to schools’ curriculum.

This is according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, who made this disclosure during a recent press conference where she provided updates on the expansion of the country’s education sector.

While Guyana has achieved universal primary education, as noted by the United Nations, Manickchand stated that the country is left to achieve universal nursery and secondary education, and, as such, efforts are underway to facilitate this.

This year, she said the government is building nursery schools across the country along with several primary schools and secondary schools.

To this end, she indicated that while many critics have said that building schools mean nothing, this was one of the promises the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) made in its manifesto.

As such, Manickchand noted, “Building a school allows children to go to school. Where there’s no school, there’s no place for children to go so it’s very easy for people to say we could boast about all the schools… To the people in the hinterland, if you don’t have a school, you can’t get a secondary education.”

ENet partners with regional ICT leader in new JV – DynamIQ

- team pays courtesy call on PM Phillips

ENet, Guyana’s only locally-owned telecommunications provider, has partnered with Memory Bank Computers Ltd (MBC), a regional technology solutions leader, to form DynamIQ, a new and innovative Information Communications Technology (ICT) solutions provider in Guyana. This strategic partnership brings together the expertise and resources of two industry giants to deliver tailored ICT solutions that meet the unique needs of their clients.

By combining MBC's 35 years of ICT solutions expertise with ENet's robust network infrastructure - including data centres, an international subsea cable system, countrywide fiber optic and 5G mobile connectivity - DynamIQ will focus on cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and managed ICT services. Committed to delivering end-to-end solutions, DynamIQ aims to address the specific needs, pain points, and productivity objectives of its clients. From seamless connectivity to state-of-the-art devices and top-tier security

measures, DynamIQ promises a comprehensive, streamlined experience designed to drive growth for its clients.

During a courtesy call with the DynamIQ team comprising MBC CEO, Akiel Ghany; ENet CEO, Vishok Persaud; DynamIQ Director, Nadia Bulkan, and ENet Head of Business, Devon London, the Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, emphasised the pivotal role of ICTs in the country’s transformation. He also highlighted the importance of expertise in managing emerging concerns such as data integrity and cybersecurity.

“I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s dedication to creating an enabling environment for the use of ICTs across all sectors, bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal access within Guyana. Guyana is on a path of rapid development and increased adoption of technology is a critical part of pursuing sustainable development. Our government is committed to making and supporting investments that

will improve Guyana’s ICT sector, and DynamIQ is a partnership that brings value and will not only meet existing demands but also create new opportunities for innovation and development," remarked Prime Minister Phillips. Akiel Ghany, CEO of MBC and DynamIQ, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "The launch of DynamIQ will deliver premium ICT solutions that empower organisations and enterprises in Guyana to thrive in the digital era. We are focused

on delivering value and bestin-class solutions at the lowest market price for our clients.”

MBC brings a wealth of experience and skill to the partnership, with accolades such as being a Lenovo Platinum Partner in both the Intelligent Devices Group (IDG) and Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG). Additionally, MBC has been recognised as the English Caribbean’s most experienced Nutanix partner and is a HP Amplify Power Partner in Managed Print Services.

The timing of this new

joint venture is opportune as Guyana, a new oil economy, attracts increasing attention from regional and international companies. With a thriving private sector and a growing dependence on ICT services to boost productivity, the demand for advanced ICT solutions has never been greater.

Moreover, the region demonstrates a pressing demand for advanced cybersecurity, as evidenced by numerous instances of public agencies falling victim to cyber attacks including Trinidad and

Tobago’s justice department, multiple regional private sector conglomerates, and the Bermuda government, which all suffered cyber attacks last year. DynamIQ aims to leverage the strengths and expertise of both companies to deliver high-quality technology solutions to Guyana. With a focus on innovation, cybersecurity, and efficient IT solutions, DynamIQ aims to drive digital growth and development in both the public and private sectors.

Guyana to navigate ‘complexities’ to lobby for funding for tropical forest

- at upcoming G20 Summit, VP Jagdeo says

GUYANA intends to lead frank discussions to mobilise funds to continue conservation efforts of tropical forest in developing states at the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil that will be held later this year.

This is according to the country’s Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who, while responding to questions posed by the Guyana Chronicle at a recent news conference stated that there are “artificial hurdles” that have been placed in the pathway of developing states to access financing.

“We are basically going to talk a bit more about how we navigated a very complex international environment that is still not sympathetic to countries that have this

valuable resource that makes a big impact globally on climate issues, but can’t get any help for [their] tropical forest,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo lamented that there is simply not enough attention being paid to tropical forests and their role in sequestering harmful greenhouse gases.

The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).

When the summit is held in Rio de Janeiro in November, Guyana intends to further lobby for climate financing to support the conservation efforts for forested countries.

“There is a clear recog-

nition that deforestation and forest degradation around the world is a major contributor to climate change, maybe about 16 per cent of the green house gases come from the deforestation and degradation and there is no net zero without addressing this, yet there is no attention being paid to it,” he bemoaned.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, the plan is to level the ‘playing field’.

“Either you have more public money to address this very important mitigation option, or use-based market-based mechanism.”

Guyana has used the market-based mechanism; however, there are many other developing states that may not be able to access this due to the complex land tenure

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

systems in those countries.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, there will be a ‘menu’ sort of approach as to how forested counties will mobilise funds to continue conservation efforts for tropical forest.

Guyana for decades have been lobbying for a structured mechanism to earn

monies for tropical forest and while the country has crafted its own success, it is frustrating for many other states.

Through its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCD’S) Guyana has set out a model to balance economic development alongside conserving the country’s forests

and biodiversity, while being compensated for same. This approach has enabled the country to conclude transactions of almost US$1 billion in payments for the climate services provided by Guyana’s forests, of which US$227 million stemmed from the bilateral deal with the Government of Norway, and an additional US$750 million from the sale of ARTTREES credits made in 2023.

For those who may not know, the voluntary carbon market gives companies, non-profit organisation, governments, and individuals the opportunity to buy and sell carbon offset credits. A carbon offset is an instrument that represents the reduction of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases or emissions.

(L-R) – ENet Head of Business, Devon London; ENet CEO, Vishok Persaud; Prime Minister Mark Phillips; MBC CEO, Akiel Ghany and DynamIQ Director, Nadia Bulkan

53 traffic cases made during Police ‘white light’ exercise

FIFTY-THREE traffic cases were made on Friday night when the Guyana Police Force conducted a ‘white light’ exercise along the road corridors of Beterverwagting, Vigilance, and Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The exercise was carried out between 18:00 hrs and

20:00 hrs.

Some of the cases were: breach of fitness, unlighted motor vehicle, bicycle without bell and lights, obscured ID mark, failure to produce a driver's licence and failure to wear a safety helmet.

The ‘white light’ exercise was spearheaded by Sergeant John, Sergeant

Hemerding, Sergeant Goodridge, Sergeant Persaud, and Chairman of the Regional Road Safety Council, Mr Sirestsi Bascom. It involved other ranks from the Traffic Department in Regional Police Division 4'C'.

Gov’t to request US$66M in supplementary funds to subsidise electricity cost

THE government intends to submit a supplementary budget proposal of US$66 million to the National Assembly for approval. This allocation aims to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices.

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, while detailing the measures the government has implemented to cushion the rising cost of living so that Guyanese do not feel its full impact, noted that the cost of fuel is on a steep incline. According to the VP, the cost has increased from $70 to over $100 per barrel, and the government has been absorbing these increases.

“We are paying over $105, maybe $110 per barrel. But we are not increasing the price of electricity. In another country, they would have increased the price of electricity…So, that means before the end of the year, we will go to Parliament for a supplementary of US$66 million for just subsidising electricity, we have to go to the Parliament for that before the recess, because of just fuel prices,” Dr Jagdeo told reporters at his press conference at Office of the President on Thursday last.

He pointed out that, contrary to what is being peddled in the local media, the government is working diligently to lessen the impact of the global rise in the cost of living.

The government has also reversed over 200 taxes and fees that were previously imposed by the APNU+AFC coalition government, boosting household disposable income countrywide by over $300,000 annually.

“If we didn’t do that, if we didn’t keep water rates constant and electricity rates constant, and remove the taxes from fuel so that the price wouldn’t be increased for gasoline and diesel too much, it would have pushed up transportation, water, electricity. And people don’t recognise that – the tens of billions of dollars going into that,” he said.

Additionally, budgetary

measures to cushion the effects of the global rise in the cost of living since 2020 have been meted out to Guyanese. These initiatives include grants for persons with disabilities, small business owners, patients on dialysis, and Indigenous Peoples.

the Guyana Marketing Corporation from June 6- June 13, 2024, the price of beef, chicken and pork remain at a stable $700, $500 and $800 per pound respectively at Stabroek Market. This is also the case at the Mon Repos market. Consumers

“We have removed the 50 per cent tax on fuel, which is about $75 billion, benefit to people. So, everybody benefits from it, but they don’t see it directly. We have removed that, the 50 per cent excise tax. We’ve removed a ton of value-added tax. We have adjusted the freight costs for calculation of taxes,” Dr Jagdeo pointed out.

Moreover, farmers are benefitting from various interventions such as better access to drainage and irrigation (D&I) works, access to more farmlands, and the distribution of free planting materials and fertilisers. These interventions continue to increase crop production and generate more income.

To cushion the cost of living continuously for many families, prices for agricultural commodities remain stable at various markets countrywide.

Based on data compiled by

can purchase one local white egg for prices ranging from $42 – $50 at the Stabroek, Bourda, Mon Repos, McKenzie, Vreeden-Hoop, Parika, Rosignol and Skeldon markets.

Notably, various vegetables such as bora, carrot, and lettuce, which are in high demand, are also affordable at these markets. The price for one bundle of bora is $1,500 at Skeldon, Vreed-enHoop, Rosignol, and Bourda markets.

Meanwhile, the market price for one root of lettuce remains at a stable $380 at Parika and Skeldon market, $150 at Rosignol market, $300 at Vreed-en-Hoop market, $200 at McKenzie market, $360 at Mon Repos market, $280 at Bourda market and $230 at Stabroek market.

The 2024 budget also allocated some $7 billion for additional cost-of-living measures, which will be utilised later this year.

JASODRA Muriall, a 26-year-old housewife of Long Dam, Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, was charged, on Friday, with the offence of ‘possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking’.

She was arrested with 667 grams of marijuana on June 13.

The defendant appeared at the Mahaica Magistrate Court before Principal Magistrate Allan Wilson, where the charge was read to her. She pleaded not guilty and was placed on $150,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to 2024-07-05.

Jasodra Muriall

The ‘white light’ exercise in motion

‘Delusions of grandeur’

The following is a full statement issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources:

Raphael Trotman continues to revel in what obviously is some form of delusions of grandeur. Perhaps it first surfaced in a major way in his book in which he painted himself as one who can rescue Guyana from the 2016 catastrophic contract with ExxonMobil, deluding himself in the obvious belief that the public would forget that he negotiated and

signed the very contract in the first place.

More recently, in the press, he repeated this demented allusion of saving Guyana’s oil and gas sector by possessing the willingness and capability of “renegotiating” the very lopsided contract that he authored.

Today, the public is visited with another fit of his fantasy on the matter of gold smuggling by accusing the government of dismantling a unit that never existed. It is worth re -

calling that, in 2016, in a published news report, Mr. Trotman admitted that 50% to 60% of LOCAL GOLD PRODUCTION was lost to smuggling, as he estimated that approximately 15,000 ounces of gold were being smuggled overseas weekly.

The news article further stated that former Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, was also made aware of a briefing from law enforcement agents out of the United States about gold smuggling

out of Guyana. If, indeed, these former senior government officials were made aware of the severity of the issue, then they should be held accountable.

Mr. Trotman now wants to change the narrative with respect to the source of gold allegedly smuggled by referring to an operation involving Guyana, Venezuela and Columbia, although he mentioned the source as LOCAL GOLD PRODUCTION in the very news article in 2016.

CDC monitoring flood situation in Regions Seven to Ten

THE recent heavy rainfall in Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have resulted in flooding, affecting approximately 30 households and 60 farmlands.

According to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Public Relations Officer, Patrice Wishart, the situation is being closely monitored. As the waters slowly recede in most parts of Region Nine, high water levels persist in sections of Region 10.

In response, the government, through the CDC, has provided cleaning hampers to several communities in Regions 10, Nine, and Five, and established shelters to accommodate temporary oc-

cupants if necessary.

The CDC, in collaboration with regional and government authorities, continues to monitor the flooding situation across the country as the May/

June rainy season persists. Additionally, aid from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector has been mobilised to enhance the

- Natural Resources Ministry debunks Trotman’s contradictory stance on Guyana’s oil and gold issues

Further, in today’s disclosure, Trotman regails that the then Ministry of the Presidency initiated “its own intelligence-led operation” to curb gold smuggling and transnational crime. “I am reliably informed that this operation was shut down within five days of the new administration taking office in 2020.”

Mr. Trotman cannot leave the nation in such suspense. He must disclose, who were involved in this intelligence-led operation?

flood response capacity. Meanwhile, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) is keeping a close watch on the impact of the flooding on livestock.

Which law enforcement agency led this investigation? Why was no one charged in five years while they were in Government? Why has no report or any information whatsoever in respect of this investigation ever been made public? Why only now, nearly a decade after, the public is hearing of this information and investigation?

For the public record, no such operations/investigation were discovered at the Office of the President in August 2020 and logically there was no “shut down” of any such operation within five days of the Government taking office three and a half years ago, or at all. In the circumstances we are forced to conclude that Raphael Trotman is enduring another flight of his usual fantasies.

Elderly man hospitalised after shot in hand

A 64-year-old man is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after sustaining a gunshot wound to his hand on Friday night.

The incident occurred at 21:30 hours on Water Street, Georgetown near Muneshewers Limited.

The victim has been identified as Joseph Singh.

According to the police, the victim was proceeding north on Water Street when he observed a grey Pitbull

minibus with 'Trade Plate' carrying two unidentifiable males, one of whom discharged several rounds in his direction.

The bus drove off in a northern direction. Singh sustained a gunshot wound to his hand and is currently hospitalised. No spent shell was recovered when the police visited the scene.

Detectives will review surveillance footage in the area as investigations continue.

Man arrested with 895 grams of marijuana during intel-led operation

The marijuana that was discovered

DURING an intelligence-led operation on Friday night, police ranks arrested a 41-year-old construction worker with 895 grams of marijuana at Haslington New Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The ‘cordon and search’ exercise was carried out between 17:40 hours and 18:20 hours.

The police, in a statement, said that ranks, acting on information received,

went to the above address where they observed a man standing in front of the yard, holding a bulky plastic bag in his hand. Upon seeing the ranks, the man ran into the yard and attempted to escape.

Police gave chase, and he was apprehended with the plastic bag in his hand. The bag contained a compressed parcel and ten small transparent ziplock bags containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be Cannabis.

The 41-year-old suspect was told of the offence committed and cautioned. A further search was conducted on his home and in the yard, but no additional narcotic was found.

He was thereafter arrested and escorted to the Cove and John Police Station, where the suspected Marijuana was weighed in his presence and amounted to 895 grams. Investigations continue.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith hosting Panamania for Father’s Day

HUSBAND and wife Michael and Beverley Smith, both skilled musicians in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), are joining forces this weekend to put on a Father’s Night show called Panamania that they said will truly be a treat for all those who show up due to the quality of entertainment that is in store.

The duo did Panamania last year for the first time and was heartened by the response they received and the compliments regarding its high quality.

“We wanted to do this for the fathers. There is always something special for mothers, so we were thinking to have something for the fathers,” Beverley told the Sunday Chronicle.

“The show was very good last year and we had a good turnout so we said we will make it something annual. Fathers can expect a special treat,” she added.

The show promises to be very entertaining and will feature popular vocals like Charmaine Blackman, Candace Fields, Beverley herself and others.

Mr. Smith is in charge of the Police Steel Orchestra and many of the artistes performing will be coming from there to do different solos. As the Inspector in charge of the Police String Band, Beverley is dealing with the voices. “I had my choice of picking people to sing and he had his choice of picking people to do pan. So we mix the voices with pan and call it Panamania,” she explained.

Mr. Smith has been with

the GPF since 1990 and Beverley started about the same time but was away for 10 years in between. Explaining how both their careers and love story got started, she shared: “He was here first and they were forming a police band and they wanted people to sing. I was stationed at the police tailor shop; I used to sew uniforms and I was singing and he heard me and asked if I wanted to join the band. He took me to his officer and they all agreed I was a fit for the band.”

From then, Beverley was a frontline singer in the band and because of her skills and interest, she eventually became the lead vocalist. “As

the years went by, I got my first promotion, my second, third; this is my fourth promotion now and I am actually the person who runs the band.”

At the show, Beverley has a special surprise for her husband for Father’s Day. ‘ “Persons who miss it will really miss a great treat. I am sure if persons come out we will have double and triple next year because I am sure someone will tell another about the quality of the show.”

The Fame International Band will be on hand to back the artistes at the Georgetown Club, Black Magenta when the party gets started at 7 pm, and tickets are going for $3,000.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Sunday June 16, 2024)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Mahela Jayawardene (SL) – 302 runs

(2) Dirk Nannes (AUST) – 14 wickets

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who hit the highest score in the ICC T20 World cup 2010?

(2) Who had the best bowling figures in a single match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

England beat...

FROM BACK PAGE

the scoring.

A dramatic day took another turn when Namibia opener Nikolaas Davin retired out to bring big-hitting David Wiese to the crease with 82 from 24 balls needed, but even with his striking 27 from 12, Namibia finished on 84-3, leaving England winners by 41 runs.

They must now wait to

see if Australia beat Scotland in a match that starts at 01:30 BST today.

If they do, barring an improbably high-scoring match, England will go through to the Super 8s, where they will play their first match on Thursday (01:30 BST).

If Scotland beat Australia for the first time in their history, or if there is no result in St. Lucia, the Scots will take their place.

ENGLAND DO THEIR BIT

The job is not yet done for England, but, for a long while, it looked as though they would not even get into this position. The match was 46 minutes away from being abandoned when conditions finally allowed play to begin at 16:00 local time.

English nerves jangled when play did begin, as Wiese conceded only two from his first 10 balls on a pitch offering plenty before

left-armer Ruben Trupelmann castled Buttler, and Phil Salt nicked behind.

It was Bairstow who initially broke the shackles by hitting spinner Bernard Scholtz for four with a reverse sweep, and he followed up by clubbing a six.

After that, Brook was superb, producing his best World Cup knock at a crucial moment.

England resumed on 82-3 after eight overs after the rain interruption, and he flat-batted seamer Jack Brassell for six over extra cover, and delicately scooped two for four over fine leg.

Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone both struck two sixes late on - they made 16 from six balls and a four-ball 13 respectively - as England recovered to a score well above par.

Their bowling lacked threat, but England did enough. Now, all eyes turn to St. Lucia (BBC Sport)

Leon Bailey’s agent, JFF, at odds over why player was selected for Copa America campaign

THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has found itself embroiled in yet another controversy following the announcement of the Reggae Boyz squad for the upcoming Copa America competition.

The squad, revealed on Wednesday last, included Aston Villa winger, Leon Bailey, who quickly took to social media to label the inclusion as "misleading information." This development has sparked confusion and debate among fans and stakeholders alike.

players; we speak with the player's club or the player's agent. In this case, (Craig) Butler, got in contact with the General Secretary Dennis Chung,” Ricketts said. “He wanted other players [from Phoenix Academy] in the U20 squad and he wants players in the senior team in exchange for Bailey. The General Secretary told him no, I can’t deal with that."

available for Jamaica’s game against Mexico but would be available for the second and third group-stage games of the Copa America. Consequently, the coach decided to include Bailey in the squad based on this assurance.

Ricketts said he is unaware of any other matters that arose between Butler and the Reggae Boyz head coach.

Dominica earlier this month. Following his suspension, Bailey announced on a podcast that he was taking a break from international football.

JFF President, Michael Ricketts, in an interview with Sportsmax.TV early Thursday, provided insight into the selection process and the circumstances surrounding Bailey's inclusion. The president explained that no player is selected for national duty until there is dialogue with the player’s club or representatives.

According to Ricketts, the situation stemmed from complex interactions between the JFF, Bailey, and his father and agent, Craig

Butler. Butler, he said, had attempted to negotiate Bailey's availability for the national team by seeking the selection of players from his Phoenix Academy for both the national senior team and the national U20 team.

"We don’t speak with the

The president explained that the general secretary does not play a role in team selection, that is the responsibility of the coaching staff.

Ricketts noted that following his conversation with Chung, Butler then placed a call to Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and during their conversation assured him that Bailey would not be

"Having told the coach that Bailey would be available for the second and third games, the coach named Bailey as part of the squad," Ricketts stated.

Bailey, who has been suspended since the November international break for breaking curfew, had not featured in Jamaica's recent matches, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Dominican Republic and

On social media Wednesday last, Butler reiterated Bailey’s stance, stating that posts suggesting Bailey’s willingness to participate in the Copa America were misleading. "Posts made on social media that are surfacing at this time is a misrepresentation of his position," Butler wrote. "We wish the Reggae Boyz well in the Copa America competition and he, along with his management team, will continue to support the Jamaica National Team at all levels … change must come…Respect and One Love for all."(Sportsmax).

Clinical New Zealand cruise to victory over Uganda

A BRILLIANT display of bowling has helped New Zealand cruise to a nine-wicket victory over Uganda in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup match in Trinidad on Friday.

Left-armer Trent Boult (2/7) set the tone with two wickets during the opening over and his teammates joined in on the act as Uganda were all out for just 40 in the penultimate

over after they were sent into bat first by Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. And the Kiwis wasted no time in cruising to their first triumph at the tournament, as Devon Conway (22*) helped them ease past the victory target in the sixth over of the chase.

Tim Southee (3/4), Rachin Ravindra (2/9) and Mitchell Santner (2/8) all collected multiple wickets for the Black Caps, while

Kenneth Waiswa (11) was the only Uganda player to reach double figures with the bat.

The victory sees New Zealand move up to third place on the standings in Group C, although they remain out of contention of earning a place in the Super Eights with Afghanistan and the West Indies having already qualified. (ICC media)

‘We belong here’ - Paudel’s message after Nepal’s near-miss against South Africa

NEPAL nearly pulled off an upset by defeating tournament contenders South Africa in Group D of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024. When eight runs off six balls became two off two, the roars from Nepalese fans grew louder, as the Rhinos edged closer to securing a historic first-ever win against a Test-playing nation. That was not to be the case as Ottneil Baartman hit the hard lengths and used the short ball cleverly, ensuring that striker Gulshan Jha missed both his attempts at a winning shot. The batters tried to steal a bye off the final delivery, but the ball ricocheted off Jha’s back straight into the arms of Heinrich Klaasen, who affected a run out with a direct hit.

Still, this performance gave Rohit Paudel, the skipper of Ne-

The

pal’s enthusiastic pack, enough reasons to hold his head high in the post-match press conference.

Restricting a strong South Africa line-up to 115/7 on the back of a brilliant 4/19 by Kushal Bhurtel,

and then nearly chasing it down in the second innings, meant that the Asian side belonged at the global stage.

“I feel like the way we played today; it shows that we

belong here,” Bhurtel added.

“And the way we bowled, I think, and the way we batted also, I think we belong here. And this will give good confidence to us for the next game against

Bangladesh.”

Paudel was pleased with Nepal’s performance in both aspects of the game on a trying wicket.

“I am very proud of the unit, especially the way they played today. The way we bowled in the first inning and the way we batted. Especially in the last few moments where we could have capitalised on our side, but it went their way," he said.

Nepal’s performance was noticed by prominent cricketing voices.

Among them was South Africa legend Dale Steyn, who called the game the “Match of the Tournament” on ICC's Digital Daily show, and enjoyed the spectacular atmosphere at the game, which had a very vocal and invested Nepalese fan base.

“It would’ve been the talk of the tournament if Nepal

would’ve gotten over the line. It would’ve been fantastic, and they deserved to win," Steyn said.

“(This was) the match of the tournament to be honest with you. The matches have gone down to the wire (in USA), we’ve moved down to the Caribbean thinking that scores are going to be back up to 160, maybe 170.

“But these nail-biting thrillers. I saw people crying in the stands, it shows how much it means to them, and that’s what cricket is all about.”

While their final group game against Bangladesh might be a dead rubber for them, Nepal can still affect the Tigers’ chances of qualification. The Nepal-Bangladesh fixture takes place today (Sunday). (ICC Media)

Nepal Cricketers after their one-run loss to South Africa

Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey JFF President Michael Ricketts

Star Rentals increases support for One Guyana T10 Tapeball

STAR Rentals, Guyana's leading event rental company, has cemented its commitment to the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast by returning as a major sponsor for the second season.

Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2023, Star Rentals has significantly increased its support by sponsoring the G$1.5 million first prize for

the upcoming season. In a press statement issued on Friday, the company expressed its delight at partnering with the tournament again. "We were thrilled with the marketing value generated in 2023," the statement read. "Taking a chance on an unknown venture proved to be an excellent investment, not just for us as a company, but for the entire community.

Witnessing young talent flourish and the enthusiastic crowds, particularly at the finals, was truly special. We're excited to be even more involved this year."

Star Rentals has also pledged to play a leading role in the popular Cricket for Charity match. Last year's event, championed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, successfully raised over G$20 million for worthy

causes.

The second season of the fast-paced T10 tournament kicks off on August 3rd. Matches continue on August 4th and 11th and culminate in the finals on August 25th.

The National Stadium will once again host the championship match.

Thirty-two teams will vie for glory in a straight knockout format. The

first two days will see the Round-of-32 and Roundof-16 matchups, followed by the quarterfinals on August 11th.

Beyond the top prize, there's something for everyone. The runners-up will take home G$500,000, while the losing semi-finalists will each receive G$250,000. Individual accolades will be awarded for Player of the Final, Most

Wickets, Most Runs, and Most Valuable Player. Last year, Eccles AllStars emerged victorious, defeating V-Net Vipers in the finals. Team Corruption and Tarmac secured the losing semi-finalist positions. Fans are encouraged to visit the One Guyana T10 Blast Facebook page for the latest updates and information on team registration.

Ex-Arsenal and Everton striker Campbell dies aged 54

FORMER Arsenal and Everton striker, Kevin Campbell, has died at the age of 54 after a short illness.

Campbell scored 148 goals in 542 appearances across spells with eight clubs during his career.

He won four major trophies with Arsenal and also played for Leyton Orient, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, Everton, West Brom and Cardiff.

Campbell made his final appearance as a player in February 2007 before moving into broadcasting.

Everton said earlier this month he became ill in May

and was "very unwell" in hospital.

"We are devastated to learn that our former striker,

Kevin Campbell, has died after a short illness," said Arsenal.

"Kevin was adored by

everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin."

Everton said: "Everyone at Everton is deeply saddened by the death of our former striker, Kevin Campbell, at the age of just 54.

"Not just a true Goodison Park hero and icon of the English game, but an incredible person as well - as anyone who ever met him will know. RIP, Super Kev."

Campbell's son Tyrese - a striker who has spent the past seven seasons at championship side, Stoke City, thanked the public for their support.

"The pain of this is inde-

scribable and, as a son, you look at your dad as invincible. He is my idol, the one who I wanted to be when I grew up," said the 24-yearold.

"He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one-in-a-million person that was loved by everyone. A special, special person. I'll miss you Dad.

"I would now ask that the privacy of our family is respected as we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable father, brother, uncle and all-round amazing human being."

After coming through Arsenal's youth set-up, Campbell made his senior debut for

the club in 1988, also having loan spells with Leyton Orient and Leicester. He scored nine goals in 22 appearances for the Gunners during their title-winning 1990-91 campaign. Campbell then helped the London club win the FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993, and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. Forest signed Campbell in the summer of 1995, and he spent three seasons at the City Ground, scoring 22 goals in 39 games during his final term to help the club win promotion to the Premier League. (BBC Sport)

India and Canada split points in damp Lauderhill

..India turn their attention to the Super Eight stage of the tournament now where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday

THE T20 World Cup 2024 game between India and Canada was called off due to wet outfield. There wasn't a lot of rain on the day - a passing drizzle - but the ground at Lauderhill had taken enough water on Friday when USA and Ireland had to settle for a point each as well for it to still be unfit for play. There were two inspections by the umpires and the ground staff worked hard for over three hours but nothing could be done

to convince the officials that the outfield was safe enough.

India turn their attention to the Super Eight stage of the tournament now where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday. Canada's campaign, though, has come to an end, but it was a memorable one where they upset Ireland and can also look forward to an improved chance of making the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Only one of the participating teams in the

Americas regional qualifiers can go through to the World Cup. But now that USA are already through, Canada stand a stronger chance making it through the pathway.

Lauderhill is meant to host one more match at this T20 World Cup - Ireland vs Pakistan on Sunday. Both teams have already been eliminated from the tournament. There is forecast for rain in the morning which may once again affect the cricket.

Kevin Campbell won four major trophies during his time at Arsenal

Mavericks beat Celtics to keep NBA Finals series alive

THE Dallas Mavericks kept their NBA Finals hopes alive with a 12284 victory to deny the Boston Celtics a clean sweep in the best-ofseven championship series.

Luka Doncic topscored with 29 points while Kyrie Irving added 21 as the Mavericks ended their opponents' 10-game play-off winning streak and claimed the third-largest win in Finals history.

But they still have a mountain to climb as they try to become the first team to come from 3-0 down and win an NBA play-off series, with game five to come in Boston on Tuesday (01:30 BST).

"We knew we have

more," said the Slovenian. "As we always say, we're going to believe until the end.

"I think our energy was way higher. Everybody was locked in defensively."

Doncic and Irving helped their side go 34-21 up after the first quarter, and they dominated defensively after that to lead 61-35 at the break.

The Mavs were up 9257 when the pair left the game with one minute and 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

Tim Hardaway Jr add-

ed 15 points off the bench for Dallas and 20-year-old rookie Dereck Lively II added 11.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown managed only 15 and 10 points respectively for the Celtics as they suffered their worst loss in Finals history.

"I thought they played with a ton of energy and physicality," said Mazzulla. "And they are a great team, that's the reason why they are here when they play like that."

Spotlight on NZ transition after Boult confirms this will be his last T20 World Cup

ONLY three members of New Zealand's squad will be below 30 by the time the team returns home Could it be the end? Is it over? For Trent Boult, at least, it is.

"Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be my last T20 World Cup," Boult told the media after taking a tone-setting 2 for 7 in what was essentially a dead rubber against Uganda.

In T20 World Cup matches all told, his returns are excellent. He has 32 wickets in 17 outings, and an economy rate of 6.07, the second-best among the tournament's top ten all-time wicket-takers.

Boult, now 34, has anyway only been a sporadic presence in New Zealand international sides since he was released from his central contract almost

two years ago. If this is his last T20 World Cup, it may follow that the world has seen the last of him in ODI World Cups as well - the next T20 World Cup is set for 2026, but the next ODI World Cup is scheduled

only for the year after that. Although New Zealand have not made the Super Eight of this ongoing tournament, Boult still has one final T20 World Cup match remaining, against Papua New Guinea on Monday.

Confirmation that Boult will not play another T20 World Cup brings into sharp focus the future of what is now an ageing New Zealand team. In this squad, only three players

will be under 30 years of age by the time the team returns home (Mark Chapman has a birthday over the next few days).

It is natural to question whether this is the beginning of a transition period for New Zealand, particularly after they failed to progress out of their group. New Zealand had made the semi-finals of every ODI and T20 World Cup since 2015.

Boult and Tim Southee had played significant roles in the majority of those campaigns. After this game - in which they bowled unchanged through the powerplay to leave Uganda 9 for 3, and finished with combined figures of 5 for 11 in eight overs - Boult spoke as if he felt there would be limited opportunities for the two to play together in the future.

"I look at the partner-

ship with Tim with very fond memories," he said. "We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously he's a very good friend on and off the ground. It was nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. Some great memories, and hopefully a couple more still to come."

Earlier in the tournament, New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, had also been asked whether he saw this tournament as the end of a generation, to which he replied: "No, I think there's still guys that will be here for some time."

But at the very least, New Zealand will soon have to find a replacement for one of their greatest-ever quicks.

(Espn Cricinfo)

Luka Doncic recovered from a disappointing game three to lead his side to victory

Green Machine ready for T&T rugby challenge

...says Head coach Lawrence Adonis

HEAD coach of the National Rugby Team Lawrence Adonis says that preparation has been hampered a bit by the weather but they have prepared as best as possible to give a good account of themselves whatever the conditions.

Guyana will lock horns with the men from the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday June 22nd at the Guyana Defence Force ground.

Long time national head coach Lawrence Adonis says they are prepared to represent their back yard well.

“Right now we are in the midst of trying to get a closure to getting ready for this tournament

because the weather has been a little bad for us but we have been working in it, sometimes we strive in this kind of weather because over the years we have had to play in this weather, the team is almost 90 per cent ready, we have a few more practice games to get everything in a tight package for this tournament.”

The coach said that some players were nursing injuries

“We had a few injuries to the starting team from Trinidad but it does not affect our team because we have enough back up players to come, we also expect some of our overseas player to come in for this tournament.”

He says they will ramp up

training in the coming days to have the team 100 per cent ready.

While skipper Jamal Angus says he’s heartened by the talent of the young group and believes fly half Tyrese Samuels will have an immediate impact in the squad, as one of the six overseas players in the squad.

“There is a lot of potential in this team, a lot of raw talent, as one of the older guys now, I have been working my hardest to get them in-tuned with where they should be, teaching them the rules and roles and I think they are catching on very well, it’s a lot of talent and they are willing to put it out and they are going

to put on a good show.”

He added that “Tyrese has for the longest while been one of our best Under 19s, and I expect him to bring a lot of experience, while young, he has played a lot of 15’s overseas and he will

bring a lot of solidity in defence, I look forward to his contribution come game day.”

The game is the return leg of the Green Machine’s Rugby American North 15’s championship match-up with Trinidad and

The

Weak batting condemns WI Women to ODI opening defeat

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka,

(CMC) – West Indies Women tasted their first defeat to Sri Lanka Women in seven outings when they produced an anemic batting effort to crash to a six-wicket defeat in Saturday’s opening One-Day International of the threematch series.

After mustering only 195 all out in the 48th over after being sent in at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, the Caribbean side lacked the firepower to stall the hosts’ run chase, and they got over the line at the start of the 35th over.

Harshitha Samarawickrama top-scored with 44 not out from 53 balls, expertly controlling the chase after Sri Lanka lost a cluster of wickets, by adding 73 for the fourth wicket with Hasini Perera (43) and a further 24 in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership with Nilakshika Silva (eight not out).

Fast bowler Aaliyah Alleyne (2-22) and leg-spinner Afy

Fletcher (2-31) finished with two wickets apiece.

For their part, West Indies Women were eyeing a competitive total when they cruised to 75 for one before suffering a collapse, the senior trio of Hayley Matthews (38), Stafanie Taylor

(33) and Shemaine Campbelle (27) all getting starts but failing to carry on.

“[It was] not our best game but at the same time I think they’re still positives we can take from it,” said captain Matthews.

“I think the fact some of our top order were able to get starts shows a decent sign, and I think we were definitely set to put on a really big score early on and unfortunately, lost wickets in clumps which I think hampered us.”

Rashada Williams (6) was an early casualty in the third over with seven runs on the board, but Matthews and Campbelle came together to post 68 for the second wicket and revive

England beat rain and Namibia to keep hope alive

ENGLAND beat the rain and Namibia to keep their T20 World Cup defence alive, but are still reliant on Australia beating Scotland to go through to the Super 8s.

their side’s fortunes.

The stylish 26-year-old Matthews struck half-dozen fours in a 53-ball knock while Campbelle, 31, counted four fours in 51 balls at the crease.

When both perished in the space of four balls in the 19th over from left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari (3-30), several small partnerships got West Indies Women up to their eventual total.

Taylor, who faced 56 balls and counted three fours, added 33 for the fourth wicket with Chedean Nation (6) and a further 22 for the sixth wicket with Aaliyah Alleyne (14), before Karishma Ramharack (14) and Shamilia Connell (9) put on 25 for the final wicket.

The home side dominated the chase from the outset before the right-handed Gunaratne, who struck five fours, fell to the second ball of Alleyne’s first spell when she top-edged a pull and was taken by the bowler running around to short mid-on.

Alleyne then bowled Athapaththu in the 14th and when Fletcher had Kavisha Dilhari stumped without scoring in the 17th over, Sri Lanka Women had lost three wickets for 13 runs in the space of 20 balls to be 101 for three.

However, Perera arrived to lash seven fours in a 59-ball knock while Samarawickrama counted five fours, to end West Indies Women’s hopes of a win.

The weather threatened to wash the match out entirely, a scenario that would have eliminated England, but eventually the clouds cleared to allow a frantic, shortened contest.

Initially given 11 overs to bat, England were 13-2, including captain Jos Buttler out for a four-ball duck, but rallied to post 122-5 in an innings reduced to 10 overs by another shower.

Harry Brook made a crucial and enterprising 47 not-out from 20 balls, while Jonny Bairstow hit 31 from 18. Namibia’s target was increased to 126 because of the interruption, but, despite finding wickets hard to come by, England always restricted

TURN TO PAGE 20

Tobago, after defeating them in April in Port of Spain by 24-23 scoreline at the Hasely Crawford stadium.

game scrums off at 3pm local time and will be live streamed.

Head Coach Lawrence Adonis Green Machine Skipper Jamal Angus

Hayley Matthews top-scored with 38

Harry Brook made a crucial and enterprising 47 not out from 20 balls