Kaieteur News

Bandits attack

Home Affairs

Ministry staff and her son

Man shot on ankle for gold chain

Bandits rob Chinese supermarket of phone cards for cost recovery -Bankof GuyanaReport out of US$11.8 billion revenue made in 2023

US Treasury targets in Guyana ...PS Mae Thomas sent on leave as Guyana Govt. opens probe

Put our own meters on Exxon’s oil pumps! Withlackofring-fencing...

Team Guyana at the ICJ in Hague, Netherlands

ICJ to set timelines for Guyana/Venezuela to submit second round of pleadings in border case

TheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)isexpectedtoset timelines for the submission of the second round of written pleadingsbyGuyanaandVenezuelaintheBordercontroversy case.

AccordingtoastatementfromtheGovernmentofGuyana, Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice on Tuesday convened a meeting with the agents of Guyana and Venezuela regarding the Arbitral Award of 3 October1899case(betweenGuyanaandVenezuela).

Thepurposeofthemeetingwastodiscussthesubsequent procedures in the case, pursuant toArticle 31 of the Rules of theCourt,andtodeterminewhetherasecondroundofwritten pleadingswasnecessaryfollowingVenezuela’ssubmissionof its Counter-Memorial on April 8, 2024, and, if deemed necessary, to establish the timelines required for the preparationofthesepleadings.

Accordingtothestatement,bothsidesagreedthatasecond roundofwrittenpleadingswasnecessary Guyanaproposeda period of 6 months from the date of Venezuela’s CounterMemorial submission (implying a deadline of October 8, 2024)foritsreply,however,wasopentoextendingthistolate OctobersubjecttotheCourt’sDiary

Venezuela requested a 12-month period from Guyana’s OctoberReplytoadequatelyprepareitsRejoinder,citingthe complexity of the case, despite the ICJ’s procedural rules whichgenerallyfavourshortertimelimits.

Guyana noted that Venezuela’s request for a 12-month periodwasexcessivegiventhatthecasehasbeenpendingfor sixyearsandthatthesubsequentpleadingsarenotintendedto recitefactsandlegalissuesalreadyraised.

The Court will now issue an order setting appropriate timelines for both parties to submit their respective secondround of pleadings, taking into account the representative’s representationsmade.

Guyana’s delegation was led by the MohabirA. Nandlall SC MP,Attorney General and Minister of LegalAffairs and included Carl B. Greenidge, Agent for Guyana at the ICJ, Philippe Sands, Legal Counsel, Pierre D’Argent, Legal CounselandLloydGunraj,Chargéd’Affairesa.i,Embassyof GuyanatotheKingdomofBelgium.

Venezuela’s team included H.E Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta, Agent for Venezuela to the ICJ who was supportedbyadelegationandlegalteam.

With

ExxonM grabs US$8.4B out of US$11.8B revenue made in 2023 for cost recovery

- Bank of Guyana Report

In the absence of ring-

fencing provision, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) in 2023 deducted a whopping US$8.4B of approximately US$11.8B in oil revenue generated in the Stabroek Block to repay its investments.

The Bank of Guyana in its 2023 Annual Report revealed, “The capital account recorded a lower deficit of US$1,780 0 million from US$3,658 4 million at end-December 2022. This was the result of net outflow of US$606.1 million in oil revenue to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) and US$8,381 0 million in cost recovery (withdrawalofequity)bythe oil and gas sector despite higherinflowstotheprivate sectorintheformofForeign DirectInvestments(FDIs).”

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of the Stabroek Block reported in its 2023 AnnualReportthatatotalof 142 million barrels of oil were produced and sold in

2023; Guyana received 17 millionprofitoilbarrels.The price of Brent crude oil averaged US$83 per barrel in 2023 This therefore means that the total revenue generatedbyExxonlastyear wasapproximatelyUS$11.8 billion.

In 2022, it was reported that the oil company deducted some US$7 4 billion to repay its investments in the Stabroek Block.Thisthereforemeans that cost recovery in 2023 grew by approximately US$1B.Theincreaseincost recovery was driven by the growth in oil production in the Stabroek Block In November 2023, the third Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) v

y, commenced production activities.

The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) stipulates that up to 75 p

l productionfromthecontract area each month can be recovered Costs not recovered in a particular

month will be added to the nextmonth’scharge. Notably after 75 percent of the costs are deducted to repay Exxon, the remaining 25 percent is then shared

government and the oil company. To this end, Guyana in 2023 received a meagerUS$1.6billioninoil revenue,includingthepaltry 2%royalty

Intheabsenceofa Continuedonpage22

Pie chart showing the revenues deducted by Exxon in 2023 for cost recovery versus what the country received.

Kaieteur News

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

EDITORIAL

Partnership or perversity

ExxonMobilhasauniqueunderstandingofhowan equal partnership works. However, it is cut, an equalpartnershipinanyenterpriseis1:1or50:50, or some identical math construction. Certainly, it could neverbeclaimedthatUS$6.5Bforonehalfofthepartnership andUS$1.6Bfortheotherequals1:1or50:50.

However that is kneaded, the dough still comes out the sameunevenway Itisnotahalfandhalfpartnership. Using the simplest arithmetic alone, that calculation and profitsharingrelationshipis4:1. Inthispretenseofafairandequal partnershipbetweenExxonMobilandGuyana,thecompany collectsUS$4foreveryUSdollarthatisgiventothiscountry

This leaves us with one conclusion: ExxonMobil must have its own brand of math, fuzzy numbers, fuzzier conventions, and the fuzziest results. The numbing, painful partofthissetupisthatGuyanagetscheatedandtakenfora ride on each occasion that the money is counted. The practicesofthisAmericanoilgiant,asaidedandabettedbya captiveandcoweringPPP/CGovernment,leadtothislatest revelation(US$6.5vs.US$1.6B)abouthowthissupposedly equalpartnershipoperates.

The people who are the bona fide owners, the first shareholders,inGuyana'swealthdonothavetheprivilegeto view the billions in expenses that ExxonMobil bills against localoilrevenues. Iftheycannotview,thentheycanneither reviewnorquestion.

Theycannotraiseanyobjectionaboutmillionscharged that are too much, or millions that should not be charged in thefirstplacebecausetheydonotbelongintheGuyanaoil revenuebucket. Thisisasbigaloopholethatcouldbe,and thatanyoilsuperpowercompanycouldget. Tointensifythe darkness,whentheelectedgovernmentoftheownersofthe nationalwealthpartnerwiththelocaloffshoreoilconsortium to conceal the billions of expenses, then the result is the result.

That is, US$6.5B for ExxonMobil and its gang, and US$1.6BforGuyana. Tomakethisclear,itisasharingratio of slightly over 4:1 and not 1:1, as the 2016 ExxonMobilGuyanaProductionSharingAgreement(contract)stipulates.

ThelimitedauditsthathavebeencompletedonGuyana's behalf relative to ExxonMobil's expenses have uncovered from the foul to what should be regarded as felonious. In regularcommercialactivity,anyothercompanyhadtriedto pull the trickyones thatExxonMobil did would have found itselfinmorethanhotwater

Its business would have been placed under all kinds of critical scrutiny and possibly other penalties to teach the harshestlessons.ButnotsointhisGuyanathatismosttalked about country in the world, and where the skullduggeries perceived of foreign oil operators are joined by those of locals.

The newest one is that the audit report involving US$7.3B in ExxonMobil's expenses that was introduced with much fanfare (and political self-congratulation), has nowbeenfoundouttobeonlypartofthereport,withdozens ofpagesmissing. Inthiscountry,governmentbuildingshave been burnt to the ground to keep major frauds from being detected.

Thoseweretheearlystepsthatweretakenatmisleading. They are now taken to a new level with audits and audit reports on ExxonMobil oil bills. The small items, small amounts to tease citizens, are part of the report published online. The huge expenses involving big-ticket items are nowhere to be seen in the official report released to the public. It could be a random human error, but that itself would be an accidentcharacterisedby much premeditation. Politics always takes precedence over principle and professionalism,andinGuyana,politicsisking,maybeeven God.

Guyana got stripped naked, robbed with its eyes open,

EMGL Royalty Payment, a 200 Million Shortage

DearEditor,

Reference is made to the ExxonMobil Guyana LimitedAnnualReport2023 (https://nextcloud a193 ca/ s/bGE7oFxpYmoe7xM).

In that report (Page 36), it is recorded that royalty p a i d i s G$21,922,725,604 00, representing 2 percent of

G$1,108,897, 727, 566.00 (Table1) However, the royalty paid is not 2 percent oftotalrevenue;instead,itis only 1.977%. The correct royalty at 2.0 percent is G$22,177,954,551 32; and

therefore, there is a shortage ofG$255,228,947.32which EMGLmustpay Awordof caution to policymakers: When dealing with large numbers, especially dollar values in billions and trillions, rounding percentage figures could resultinseriousshortagesin

themillions.Pleaseroundto no less than three decimal places to avoid this u n f o r t u n

misrepresentation, and only acceptafterverification.

As the old Russian proverb made famous in the West by President Ronald R e a g a n (https://en wikipedia.org/w iki/Trust, but verify ): 'Trust,butverify'. Time to collect the two hundredplusmilliondollars, Guyana. Sincerely, Dr.C.KenrickHunte Professor and Former Ambassador

Table 1: Shortage in Royalty paidEbyMGL 2023

Forde raises concerns about PNCR nominations

DearEditor,

Team Forde extends its gratitude to all party groups whohavedemonstratedtheir confidence in the vision to Regroup,Refocus&Rebuild the esteemed PNCR by nominating Mr Forde for P a

y L e a d e r H

w

we find it imperative to express our discontent with the procedural irregularities leading up to nominations day, compounded by the objectionable conduct attributed to Mr Sherwin B e n j a m i n , purportedly serving as the administrator of the Congress Committee and acting as the Accreditation Officeronnominationsday It has come to the attentionofTeamFordethat numerous group chairs and RegionalChairpersonsmade nominations without proper authorisation from the respective groups they r e p r e s e n t e d T h i s

transgressionwassoflagrant that Ms. Florence Bourne, the Chair of the North East La Penitence PNCR Group to which our candidate for leader,Hon.RoysdaleForde, SC,MP,belongs,citedtardy document submission as a pretext to circumvent the mandatedprocess.

This process, which necessitates convening all group members for a meeting to collectively nominate candidates for various positions, was disregarded with alarming impunity The brazen flouting of rules within a group directly involving our candidate raises concerns about the integrity of the nomination process nationwide.

Furthermore, it is disconcerting to note that Mr. Sherwin Benjamin, an overt supporter of Aubrey Norton's leadership, and himself a nominee for a position, assumes a pivotal

Sgt. Persaud denies asking for a raise to see Top Cop

Reference is made to a letter published in this newspaperonMay24,2024 underthecaption:“Payinga f i n e t o s e e t h e Commissioner of Police” whereitwasmentionedthat a Sergeant Persaud was accused of demanding paymentsfromvisitorswho w

o s e e t h e CommissionerofPolice.

Persaud has written to this newspaper through his lawyer denying the claims.

Kaieteur News hereby apologises to Sergeant Persaud for the publication oftheletterandalsoretracts it. The Guyana Police Force in an official statement following the publication of the letter had said that the Office of professional Responsibility h a d c o m m e n c e d investigations into the allegationsandthattherank was reassigned pending the outcomeoftheprobe.

through the diabolical terms and conditions of the 2016 ExxonMobil contract. Today, the reality of how clever ExxonMobil was and is registers even more powerfully Whatiscelebratedasa50:50partnership,withequalprofitsharing, is a total farce. This 50:50 partnership is so unequalthatthe4:1profitnumberinfavourofExxonMobil includes the measly 2% royalty that Guyana gets with its shareoftheprofits. Thisismorethanafarce,it'safraud.

role as the head of the Accreditation Committee

Historically, this committee has upheld the principle of impartiality as paramount. Regrettably,theappointment of Mr Benjamin to this crucial position signals a departure from this foundational principle

Despite the announcement of Mr Mortimer Mingo as t h e C h a i r o f t h e AccreditationCommittee,he was not present during the nominationsprocess.

This glaring absence of “appointed” officials not onlycontravenesestablished p r o t o c o l b u t a l s o underscores a disregard for procedural adherence and the party's constitution

Communication was initiated with both Mr. MortimerandMr.Alexander regarding their purported appointments to the Accreditation and Electoral Committees.

Mr Mortimer conveyed that he had not been approached by anyone regarding assuming the position of Chair of the

Accreditation Committee at the forthcoming congress, additionallynotingthatheis outofthejurisdiction.Onthe other hand, Mr Alexander clarified that he had not takenupanysuchpositionas Chair of the Electoral Committee.

In light of these irregularities, Team Forde perceives the entire nominations process as a prelude to a contrived attempt to bolster the perception of overwhelming supportforMr Nortonatthe u p c o m i n g Congress.

In conclusion, Team Forde reaffirms its commitment to upholding transparency,accountability, andadherencetoestablished procedures within the PNCR. We remain steadfast in our resolve to ensure that the democratic principles upon which our party stands are upheld, and that the integrity of our internal processes is preserved.

Sincerely RoysdaleForde

Sports and Mentorship - strong divisionary methods for Youth

DearEditor,

In Guyana, many young people are exposed to everyday violence Some evenfaceadversitiesthatcan lead them into contact with the law These coupled with abuse, neglect, and a lack of opportunities can create a fertile ground for hopelessnessanddestructive choices. However, there is the possibility of these activities being impacted positively by sports and mentorship.

Sports emerge as a powerful intervention strategy particularly in

communities with high incidencesofviolence.Take forexampleagroupofyouth engagedinagameofcricket or football in their community with a good mentor rather than grouping upanddoingsomethingelse that can negatively impact theirlives.Allthatisneeded toboostyoungpeoplemight be a mentor to develop such talentorevenaspace.

Sports can be identified as one catalyst for transformation, youths can find inspiration on the cricketpitchorfootballfield (Continuedonpage6)

Amanza Walton-Desir for Leader of the People's National Congress Reform

DearEditor,

As the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) approaches its Biennial Congress, I urge my fellow delegates to consider the outstanding qualities and exceptional leadership of Amanza Walton-Desir

Having known Amanza for many years and shared a deep connection with her family, I am confident that she embodies the spirit and vision required to lead our partyintoabrighterfuture.

IknewAmanza'smother, with whom I proudly served in the Guyana National Service.

From those formative years, I witnessed firsthand the dedication, resilience,

a n d u n w a v e r i n g commitment to service that defined her mother's character It is clear that Amanza has inherited these noble qualities, carrying forward a legacy of service thatrunsdeepinherfamily

Amanza's authenticity

a n d h u m i l i t y a r e immediately apparent to anyone who has had the privilege of knowing her She is a leader who genuinely listens to the concerns of the people and works tirelessly to address them. Her grassroots appeal isatestamenttoherabilityto connect with individuals from all walks of life, understanding their struggles and championing their causes with sincerity andcompassion.

In addition to her personal virtues, Amanza

possesses exemplary leadership skills and good judgment As Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs

a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Cooperation,shehasadeptly navigated complex international issues, advocating for policies that u p h o l d G u y a n a ' s sovereignty and promote diplomatic engagement. Her contributions have reinforced our nation's standing on the global stage and demonstrated her capacity to handle intricate matters with clarity and precision.

Amanza's dedication to service extends beyond her political roles. Through her involvement with the Joy Foundation, she has spearheaded numerous communityinitiativesaimed at improving the lives of underprivileged individuals. Her efforts in this capacity reflect her unwavering commitmenttosocialjustice andherbeliefinthepowerof collective action to bring about positive change

A m a n z a h a s b e e n instrumental in bringing together diverse viewpoints, fostering consensus, and steering the party towards a more inclusive and forwardthinking trajectory Her leadershipwithintheCentral Executive Committee has b e e n m a r k e d b y transparency,accountability, and a steadfast dedication to the principles of democracy What sets Amanza apart is her fresh and innovative approachtogovernance.She brings new ideas and perspectives that are crucial for the modernization and progressofourparty Her vision for a more inclusive and participatory democracy resonates with the aspirations of our members and the broader Guyanese society Amanza's

ability to work with a broad coalition of stakeholders, bridging divides and fostering unity, is precisely what we need to propel our party forward. She believes in building by addition and multiplicationratherthanby subtraction and division, emphasizing collaboration andgrowthoverdivisionand discord.Inthesechallenging times, the PNCR requires a leader who can inspire hope and drive meaningful change Amanza WaltonDesir is that leader Her authenticity, humility, exemplary leadership, good judgment,grassrootsappeal, fresh ideas, and capacity to unite diverse groups make her the ideal candidate to leadourparty

Istronglyurgemyfellow delegates to cast their votes for Amanza Walton-Desir for leader at the upcoming BiennialCongress.Together, let us embrace a future of progress, unity, and prosperityunderhercapable leadership.

Sincerely,

JoycelynWilson

Education Minister Priya Manickchand: A Champion for Guyana's Education System

DearEditor,

In a recent editorial, claims were made against Education Minister Priya Manickchand, accusing her of failing to adequately perform her duties and of resorting to threats of legal action as a defence mechanism However, a closer examination of the facts reveals a different p i c t u r e M i n i s t e r

Manickchand's tenure has been marked by significant strides in improving Guyana's education system, and the accusations against her do not hold up under scrutiny

Progressinthe EducationSector

1. Increased Enrollment and Access: Under Minister Manickchand's leadership, Guyana has seen substantial progressinincreasingaccess to education Enrollment rates at the nursery and primary levels have reached 88% and 92% respectively These figures represent a remarkable improvement and demonstrate the government's commitment to ensuring that children

have access to early education, which is crucial fortheirdevelopment.

2 Investment in

Education Infrastructure: The gover

t has invested heavily in the education sector, including the cons

ion and rehabilitation of schools across the country This investment is aimed at providing a conducive learning environment for students, thereby enhancing theireducationalexperience.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e introductionoftechnologyin classrooms, including the distributionoftabletsandthe implementation of elearning platforms, has modernized the education system and provided students with new learning opportunities.

3. Addressing Learning Losses: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to education systems worldwide In Guyana, the Ministry of E d u c a t i o n , u n d e r Manickchand's guidance, has taken proactive steps to address learning losses

incu

ing the pandemic. The introduction ofremedialprogramsandthe expansionofonlinelearning resources have been critical in mitigating the impact of school closures on students' education.

Debunking Misconceptions

1. Misinterpretation of Reports:Theeditorialcitesa World Ban

outcomesinGuyana.

While it is true that challengesremain,thereport also acknowledges the progress made in the last 15 years. It is misleading to attribute all shortcomings solely to Minister Manickchand, especially considering the systemic issues and external factors that impact education Moreover, the Ministry has been transparent in addressing these challenges and working towards sustainablesolutions.

2. Support for Teachers: Contrary to claims of n e g l e c t , M i n i s t e r Manickchandhasbeena (Continuedonpage6)

Sports and Mentorship - strong divisionary...

Frompage4 insteadofsuccumbingtonegativeinfluences on the streets Under the guidance of dedicated adults from their communities which can include coaches and parents who double as mentors, they not only develop athletic capabilities but also cultivate discipline, perseverance, and resilience

These qualities become their armour against theadversitiestheyfacedaily Throughsports andmentorshipyouthcandiscoverasenseof belongingandacceptance,replacingfeelings ofhopelessnesswithconfidenceandpurpose.

The DRIVE (diversion, reintegration, intervention vital for empowerment) initiative implemented by ChildLinK and its partners focuses on diverting youth towards more meaningful activities that will allow them to make their contribution to society

Investing in the potentials of young people and building a supportive ecosystem truly serve as an effective intervention strategy, particularlyasapreventionforyouthcoming intocontactwiththelaw Parentsandcoaches andthewidercommunitymustcollaborateto create opportunities for young people and offerthemguidancebothonandoffthefield, especially early school leavers. It is also imperative for communities to invest in comprehensive support systems beyond providingequipmentandfields. Bynurturing the potential of youth through sports and mentorship and providing youth with the necessary support, Guyana can pave the way for a brighter and more promising future for itsyoungergeneration.

Sincerely ChildLinKINC

Education Minister Priya Manickchand...

Frompage5

vocal advocate for teachers She has championed initiatives aimed at improving teachers' professional development and working conditions For instance, the Ministry has introduced continuous professional development programmes and revised salary structures to better compensate educators The government's efforts to engage with teachers' unions and address their concerns further demonstrate a commitment to supporting educators.

3. Legal and Constitutional Adherence: The accusation that Minister Manickchand disregardslegalandconstitutionalprovisions isunfounded.TheMinistryofEducationhas consistentlyupheldtherightsenshrinedinthe ConstitutionofGuyana,includingtherightto

collective bargaining and freedom to strike. Any legal action pursued by the Minister is within the bounds of the law and aimed at protecting the integrity of the education system and ensuring accountability.Minister Priya Manickchand has proven to be a dedicated and effective leader in Guyana's education sector Her efforts have led to increasedenrollment,improvedinfrastructure,and enhanced support for teachers and students alike Whilechallengesremain,theMinistry'sproactive measures and commitment to continuous improvementreflectarobustandforward-thinking approachtoeducation Theaccusationsagainsther lackfactualbasisandfailtorecognisethesignificant stridesmadeunderherleadership.

QuincyAnderson PoliticalActivist

Naming and power

DearEditor,

The furor that has erupted over the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) usage oftheterm“Negro”reminds us that questions of identity are still unsettled in our country And since our politics is dominated by the same question, it explains the intensity of the reaction and the need to address the concerns raised. A name is muchmorethanjustalabel; it's a significant part of our identity and plays a crucial role in our lives.And this is even more pertinent since our names were given to us by Europeans to signal their categorizationofusaslesser humans who could be exploited,firstasslavesthen asindenturedlabourers.

The word “negro” is from the Portuguese word for “black” - itself derived from the Latin “niger”.And it was the Portuguese who firstintroducedAfricansinto Europe as slaves with the colour of their skin being their most pronounced physicalfeature.

The notion of racewhere behavioral patterns were mapped onto physical characteristics soon followed.Eventhoughitwas widelyuseduptothemiddle of the 20th century by those so tagged – e.g., the Negro Progress Convention in Guyana; the United Negro ImprovementAssociationof Garvey - it has to be acknowledged that the term negro still envokes its historical baggage of chattel slavery and its sub-human justification.

As such, it should have long been expunged from official designations, as it was in the US, for example, sinceitwasthesameofficial institutions that had created the invidious classification tobeginwith.

As to what the term “negro” should be replaced withshouldbechosenbythe persons affected–Prospero cannotstillnameCaliban.In theUS,therehasbeenashift to the term “Black” and “AfricanAmerican”andthis isbeingmirroredinGuyana. I was exposed to the 1988 debateintheUSwhenJesse Jackson argued forcefully after his impressive run for the American presidency: “Blackdoesnotdescribeour situation:WeareofAfricanAmerican heritage...Every ethnic group in this country hasareferencetosomeland base,somehistoricalcultural base.

There are ArmenianAmericans and JewishAmericans and ArabAmericans and ItalianAmericans. (They have a) “degree of accepted and reasonable pride”, and had succeeded in connecting “their heritage to their mother country” and also to “where they are now” in America.” It caught on but there is still a substantial preferencefor“Black”.

When I returned to Guyanathefollowingyear,I proposed that race-based tags based like “negro” and “Black” be jettisoned and replaced by our cultural place of origin (ethnicity) h y p h e n a t e d w i t h “Guyanese” , which describes our citizenship of thecountryinwhichwelive. Andwhichguaranteesusall, equal rights. In our land of “six peoples” we were (in order of arrival) Indigenous Guyanese; African Guyanese; Portuguese Guyanese;IndianGuyanese; Chinese Guyanese and Mixed Guyanese It was interesting that one of the first to object to this nomenclature in the press was Mr Desmond Hoyte,

who insisted we were all simply“Guyanese”.Butasa man given to introspection, hesoonchangedhismind.

As for the other groups, the Indians who were brought as Indentured labourers (“Girmitiyas”) were labelled “Coolies” by the British in most of their communications – coolies; coolieships;cooliehousing; c o o l i e f o o d , e t c Interestingly,itwasalsoused fortheChinesetheyshipped around the world as indentured labourers but in Guiana, the label only stuck tothosefromIndia.Theterm “kuli” was from an Indian language, meaning labourer or porter and is still so used widelyinIndia.However,in the colonies. it was a term laden with negativity and suggested “uncivilized”, “dirty”, “pagan”, “heathen” and certainly lesser in all ways to Whites and other groups. It would appear that the “coolie” usage did not make it into the official designations as “negro” did but was substituted by “East Indian”todistinguishitfrom “West Indian”. This raises tworelatedquestionsarising from Columbus misnaming the islands in the Caribbean archipelago “West Indies” after discovering he was nowhere near the “Indies” and India he was seeking. Are our Indigenous Peoples comfortable with being labelled “Amerindian”? In my own writings, I prefer “Indigenous Guyanese” but ultimately, it is a question thattheyshouldanswer And should we stop using “West Indies” in favour of “Caribbean”? Oh what a tangled web was woven when the Europeans tried to labelus.

Sincerely,

RaviDev

Govt. facilitates engagement with Soesdyke\Linden Highway residents, commercial banks

Ministry of Housing and Water on Tuesday hosted a face-to-face engagement with residents along the Soesdyke Linden Highwaywhorecentlyreceivedtheirtitlesto leasedlands.

The event, held at the home of a PPP supporterinTimehri,allowedtheresidentsto discuss loans and mortgages with the financing officers of various commercial banksandtoapplyfortheministry’ssteeland cementsubsidy.

The Department of Public Information (DPI)spoketoresidentswhowereexcitedto commence consultations on building their homes. Daniel Primo was fortunate enough to be qualified for the ministry’s steel and cement subsidy and expressed his eagerness to start the construction of his home. “With

howIamfeelingnow,tomorrowIamgoing tomylandtoseewhatisgoingonandifIcan startmyfoundation…BecauseIamthankful for the little materials and it will help me a lot,”themanexpressed.Primowasoneofthe residentswhoresidedatHillFootandwhose housewasdestroyed.

For Susan Singh, who lives along the highway,herworriesaboutprovidingabetter future in terms of housing for her kids and grandkidshavebeenlessenedsinceshehada fruitfuldiscussionwithoneofthebanksand theministry

“I am so proud of the initiative that His Excellency has given us today I am so thankful for my lease especially I am so happythatIwillbeabletoownahomeformy

Continued on page 22

Some of the residents engaging with finance officers from the various banks

A successful diaspora policy requires an expanded view of nationhood

In recent years, there h a s b e e n a n increasing chorus withintheGuyanesediaspora expressing a desire to contribute to national d e v e l o p m e n t T h e government's response has been to encourage these individuals to return home and provide their services directly

However, this approach has met with limited success

due to unrealistic expectations, the lack of opportunities and a local environment that can be scary to remigrants. This has created a disconnect betweentheaspirationsofthe diaspora and the realities of home.

To address this issue, the government needs to adopt a more realistic framework for itsdiasporapolicy Insteadof focusing on the physical remigration of skills, the policy should leverage the human resources and financial capabilities of the Guyanese diaspora without necessitating their return to Guyana By embracing a broader concept of nationhood that integrates Guyanese communities worldwide, the government can create a more effective and sustainable model for nationaldevelopment.

Thegovernment'scurrent strategy seems to involve organisingjobfairsandother initiativesaimedatattracting overseas skills to Guyana. However,thisapproachoften falters due to three main roadblocks First many potential returnees expect conditions similar to what

theyexperienceindeveloped

c o u n t r i e s T h e s e expectations include high salaries, secure housing, and comprehensive social services Given Guyana's economic status, these demands are challenging to meet, leading to frustration anddisillusionment.

Second, there is often a mismatch between the skills offered by the diaspora and theopportunitiesavailablein Guyana. Without a clear and strategic alignment of needs and resources, these initiativesfailtogeneratethe desiredimpact.

A third obstacle is the harsh reality of remigrating to Guyana. Who would willingly return to a country plagued by incessant mosquito attacks, frequent power outages, and chaotic road conditions where human

ten undervalued? The threat of being targeted by marauding bicycle and motorcycle gangs or home invaders furtherdiminishestheappeal of relocation. Unless these critical issues are addressed and resolved, it is unlikely that many Guyanese will choose to relocate permanently

One of the failures of policies to encourage diasporic engagement has been the absence of any review of such policies

Remigration policies have beenaroundfordecades.But how many of those who returnedhavestayedoreven contributed meaningfully to Guyana's development? Eachsucceedinggovernment fails to do an analysis of

national diasporic policies withtheconsequencethatthe same mistakes are repeated leadingtosustainedfailureto attract skills and investment fromthediaspora.

A successful diaspora policy requires an expanded view of nationhood. Guyana must recognise that its national community extends beyondgeographicalborders to include all individuals of Guyanese descent, regardless of their location. Thisbroaderperspectivecan help create a more inclusive approachtodevelopment.

By integrating the diaspora into national development, Guyana can tapintoawealthofresources that ar

urrently underutilised.

T h i s a p p r o a c h acknowledgestherealitiesof the modern world, where geographical boundaries are less significant, and virtual engagement is increasingly prevalent.

To overcome these challenges to this expanded notion of nationhood, the government should shift its focus from physical remigration to remote engagement. This involves creating mechanisms that allow the diaspora to contribute from their current locations. Such a framework can harness the expertise, experience, and financial resources of the diaspora moreeffectively

Instead of organising job fairs, the government should i n v e s t i n d i g i t a l infrastructure to facilitate virtual collaboration. Online platforms can be developed

DEM BOYS SEH

De pawn is the weakest piece on de board

Demboyssehdepawndoesgetdeshort endofdestickeverytime.Yousee,indislife, depawnislikedelikklemanwhoalwaysgeh blame for all dem big people mistake. Is always de pawn who deh pon de front line, takingalldeblowswhiledebigshotsdoessit in dem air-conditioned office sipping champagneandeatingcaviar

In de game of chess, de pawn is de weakest piece. But in business and politics, depawnismorevulnerablethanachickenin amongoosehole.Demboysseh,depawnis de sacrificial lamb, de one who does get throw under de bus when things go south. Dem CEOs'andpoliticiansdoessitpontop and plan dem big moves, but when things does start to stink, is de pawn who geh pick upanddumpindelandfill.

Look how dem big business executives doesrundemcompanyintodeground,butis depoorpawnwhodoeslosehejob.DeCEO does collect he fat severance package and sailoffintodesunsetponheyacht,whilede pawndoesstruggletofinddenextmeal.

to connect diaspora professionals with local projects, businesses, and institutions. These platforms can serve as hubs for knowledge exchange, and consultancy services, enabling the diaspora to contribute their expertise without the need for relocation. Tel-medicine and e-learning are two opportunities that can have animmediateimpact.

Encouraging financial investments from the diaspora can significantly boost national development.

The government can create a

opportunities,suchasselling sharesinprojectsspecifically tailored for the diaspora. With the need for more

international hotels, the government can work to create a model in which Guyanese, both at home and abroad, can invest in economic ventures such as hotels.

To initiate this essential shift, the government must move beyond organising job fairs and instead focus on craftingacomprehensiveand inclusive diasporic policy developed through extensive consultations with diaspora members. The government must prioritise a resultsoriented approach to diaspora relations by establishingacompetentand well-resourced diasporic secretariat. This secretariat should be staffed by individuals possessing the

requisite skills, motivation, and resources to effectively engagewiththediasporaand facilitate their contributions to national development. The immediate cancellation oftheplannedjobfairshould be seen as a step towards redirecting efforts to where they will have the most impact: developing a robust and actionable diaspora policy But we all know that thiswillnothappen!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

In politics, is de same story Dem big politicians does mek all dem crooked deals, butwhendeheatturnup,isdejuniorstaffer, delikklepawn,whodoesgetblameandsent todegallows.

Demboysseh,youmustneverbeapawn indislife.Ifyoudoanplayyourcardsright, you might end up in de wrong pond, floundering like a fish outta water Instead, try to be de Queen or de King or even de Knight. Dem pieces does plan dem moves carefully,makingsuretheynahendupasde fallguy.Demboysseh,deQueenisdemost powerful piece, moving freely and taking charge.DeKnightdoesjumpoverobstacles andnavigatetrickysituations. So tek a page from dem chess book and be smart. Plan your moves and doan let nobodymekyoudepawn.Causeindislife,if you end up as de pawn, you might find yourselfoutindecold,withnobodytoturnto andnowheretogo.Anddat,demboysseh,is afateworsethanbeingcheckmated. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

One for Guyana too

Mexico just did itwithClaudia Sheinbaum, a formermayor Guyanamust dosotoo. Thereisnobetter timethannow

Elect a woman to lead this country Somewhere to other than where it is, and withnomoreofthosethatit has at this time of great developments. What is it that Guyana has, has had, and looks likely that it will continuetohave?

For one, it has been all men, with one curious exception. Iamforcedtosay curious because Mrs. Janet Jagan, as president, never really caught on, got settled on her feet, really got going onallcylinders.

Ididn’tlikethefactthat i n a c o u n t r y a s demographically diverse as Guyana,anaturalisedcitizen was the best that we could do, and so swiftly after Independence, and the much-hailed return to democracy It didn’t strike that way then, and still doesn’ttoday

Perhaps, that strange handiwork of President Jagan, which so few ever speak about, was enough to condemn her into a lesser placethanshedeserves. Look at what her own political descendants have done to her and her illustrious spouse. I am thinking of that 1999 deal withtheYanks. Itisenough to last several lifetimes beyondmine.

So much for that blip in

leadership The men were men before in that we had CBJ and LFSB Today, to callthemenmiteswouldbe an insult to those low-level creatures

Ask for a straight sentenceandastraightright to the eye is the favourite response Those who have no hair to speak about have no heart Those who pretend to have a head on their shoulders open their mouths and prove how

emptyitis

Those who have much weighhavenomuscleatall. It is all blubber and blabber IthinkthatGuyaneseneedto takea chancewith a woman as the national leader I go further: Why not an allwoman party? And still further: why not an allfemale cabinet? Think of this my fellow travelers (pleasedon’tthinkalongthe lines of isms): women are nurturers. Women are the bestofcaregivers.

Women are the primary problemsolvers. Checkout their homes and their families, and how they do much with the little they have Women are the supremeteachers.

Given a chance, a woman, a school of females could be Guyana’s best leaders ever And, since I am allowing myself to get carriedaway,Isaythatitthe time has come to give the younger women in this country a closer look. The PPPhas one. The PNC has

itsown. Isaywhynot? Guyanese should think of the possibilities, of what could be… How much of a difference women could make. I am deadly serious, even though the likelihood ofawomanascendingtothe top in political Guyana is a bleakprospect.

HereisanotherwaythatI am thinking which I recommend to every other local:themeninthePPPand PNC have done so poorly, been of such dispiriting qualities, represent such malevolencethatthewomen of Guyana cannot do worse. Not even if they tried. Not even those with a wellearned rap for feral instincts andpredilections.

Mexicans got their Claudia. Isn’t time that GuyanesegottheirVindyaor that outside of outside shots Amanza? Forget about the other grand character straight out Machiavelli, maybeevenDanteAlighieri, who refuses to return what was put in her hand for

temporary custody but decided to make it permanent. Yes, there is thattypeofcosmetic,orsoI hear

Remember that I am (well, used to be) a betting man. Iwilltakemychances with a woman to lead us out of the morass and mud and madness (the malignancies also).

And, of course, as all Guyanese should know by now, those are all the work product of the males in the midst. I urge anyone, and I mean anyone in Guyana, to prove me wrong. Spare a second or two on any Thursday afternoon, and thereisthestrangestkindof love song coming out of FreedomHouse.

Be dedicated and look back a few hours or whenever and there is another exercise in manly futility Whenthemanlyhas converted to regular calumny, then the hour has arrivedforGuyanatotrythe womanly

Think about it Give it a try Who knows, perhaps that is the remedy that this country needs, has been looking for so long, and always coming up a day late, and short of the right man

I can see a Guyanese womanleaderstandingupto Alistair Routledge and the man from Kansas now reigninginTexasandstaring them down. Dare to mess withmyGuyanesechildren! Let’s see who prevails. Try me and see who will be left standing at the end. Quite frankly, there are chronic doubts that the men leading the way today can lay claim to any of those familyjewels.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

US$11.5MPatrolVesselcommissionedforGDF

The GDFS Shahoud

Guyana’sabilitytodefendandmonitorits maritime territories will be enhanced significantly with the addition of a new offshorepatrolvesseltotheGuyanaDefence Force’s(GDF)fleet.

The US$11.5M vessel was named the ‘GDFS Shahoud’, in honour of Colonel Michael Shahoud, who was among the five GuyanaDefenceForceofficerswhodiedina helicoptercrashinDecemberoflastyear The

vesselwascommissionedonTuesday

In his remarks, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali noted that the vessel is aptly named, commemorating Colonel Shahoud’s legacyofcourageandunwaveringdedication toservinghiscountry

“As we commission this vessel, we honour his memory and the sacrifices of all who have served, ensuring their enduring contributions continue to inspire and safeguardournation,”heexpressed.

The president reiterated that while diplomacy remains Guyana’s first line of defence,thegovernmentrecognisestheneed forrobustandresponsivedefencecapability

“Weareapeacefulnationbutwearealso vigilant and must understand the threat that surroundsus.Therefore,youmustalwaysbe in a state of readiness to ensure the fundamental aspects of our independence

andsovereigntyarealwayssafeguarded.The acquisitionofGDFSShahoudmanifestsour commitment to strengthen our defence responsecapability,”thepresidentsaid.

President Ali explained that increased economic activity in Guyana and the transformational path the country is on necessitated a more coordinated national defencestrategy

The government has responded to this need and implemented an inter-agency approach that sees not only physical enhancements and the acquisition of more assets,butthebuildingofhumancapacity

“Incommissioningthisvessel,wearenot only adding to our naval fleet but also reinforcing our commitment to a comprehensivedefencestrategythatprotects ournationalinterest,”hesaid.

Continued on page 22

US$1millionapprovedtomaintainCoastGuardvessels

Approximately US$1 million has been approved by the United States Embassy for the maintenance of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard’s vessels, along with ongoing training provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.

This is according to the United States AmbassadortoGuyana,NicoleTheriot,who was speaking during the commissioning ceremony for the GDFS Shahoud, a 115 Defiant monohull patrol vessel on Tuesday, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported. This collaboration extends beyond just government agencies, with Metal Shark Builds, the US-based company that constructed the Shahoud, pledging its assistance in Guyana’s Coast Guard modernisationefforts.

“We just recently approved approximately US$1 million for the

sustainment of the Coast Guard’s other vessels,aswellasU.S.CoastGuardprovided training for Guyana. Hand in hand with the p

SOUTHCOM (Southern Command) will continue to provide subject matter expertise, training, maritime-focused security cooperation, and security assistance opportunities,”shesaid.

This ongoing partnership aims to ensure Guyana’s Defence Force remains effective. The Ambassador said that the US will continue to work with the government to transform Guyana’s defence and security sector to achieve collective security and regional stability “Together, the United States and the Government of Guyana will uphold our commitment to peace and prosperityforall,andmaintainthisregionas azoneofpeace,”sheadded.

Buildingonthispartnership,theChiefof Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, revealed discussions initiated by the U.S. MilitaryLiaison’sOfficetofacilitatetraining tooperatetheGDFSShahoud.“Thisisbeing facilitated through the Caribbean Basin SecurityInitiativeplatform,”heexplained.

Brigadier Khan emphasised the importance of partnerships for shared development. He stressed that acquiring equipment is just one piece of the puzzle. Guyana must leverage the training and experience offered by regional partners to enhanceitscapabilities.

“Thisformsanintegralpartofenhancing ourcapacityandconsolidatingourcapability AndImustsay,wehavebeendoingjustthat tothepointthatourexistingpartnershipsare at their highest peak in the history of our defencerelations,”heunderscored.

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot

Single mother of three finds out house on fire after dropping children to Sunday school

The Berbice home engulfed in flames

Asinglemotherisnowatwitsendafterafireofunknown origindestroyedtheirEastCanje,BerbicehomeonSunday

The woman has been identified as Dian Gobin. Gobin is themotherofthreechildrenaged3,5and7yearsold.

During an interview with Kaieteur News, a distressed Gobin said the fire occurred between 8:15hrs and 8:30hrs at BetsyGround,EastCanje,Berbice,aftershedroppedoffher threechildrentoSundayschool.

Gobin said that every Sunday, she takes her children to Sundayschool.

“So I bathe them and sent them off to Sunday school but theydidn’tgorightaway,”Gobinsaid,whilstcitingthatshe Continued on page 22

The aftermath of the fire

USTreasurytargetscorruptionnetworkinGuyana

The Department of the Treasury’sOfficeofForeignAssets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday said that it is targeting what has been described as a corruption network inGuyana.

According to statement issued via its website, the OFAC has sanctioned members of one of Guyana’s wealthiest families, Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, their companies, Mohamed’s Enterprise, and Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing Team. Additionally, OFAC sanctioned embattled Guyanese Permanent Secretary, (PS) Mae Thomas whoseUSvisawasevokedlastyear after she was intercepted, questioned and her phone seized while in-transiting in the United States. Since the official US sanction,shewassentonleavewith immediate effect, the Government ofGuyanasaidinapressrelease.

The trio has reportedly been targeted for their roles in public corruption in Guyana These individuals and entities are sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rightsabuseandcorruptionaround the world “Today’s action underscores our commitment to

Nazar Mohamed

Sent on Leave: Mae Thomas

holding accountable those who s

’s underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Te

IntelligenceBrianE.Nelson. “

coordination with our partners in

U S law enforcement, will continuetotakeactiontosafeguard the U.S. financial system from abusebycorruptactors,”headded. These actions were conducted in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations New York

Azruddin Mohamed

OCDETF) Strike Force, Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection (CBP)OfficeofIntelligence–New York Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Miami Field Office, with assistance from HSI Miami, CBP Miami and New YorkFieldOffices,NewYorkCity

Police Department Intelligence Bureau,andtheDrugEnforcement Administration.

AccordingtotheOFAC,goldis one of Guyana’s main exports, but it remains a highly fractured industry with small-scale gold mining operations in Guyana occupying a majority share of the country’s gold production. These small family-owned businesses have informal relationships with larger purchasers and traders like Mohamed’s Enterprise. “Once mined, Guyanese gold is sold and traded throughout international markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union,”thedepartmentadded.

It explained further that Mohamed founded Mohamed’s Enterprise in Guyana before expanding to the United States as a moneychangerandtransitionedinto gold trading, growing Mohamed’s Enterprise into one of Guyana’s largest gold exporters In time, AzruddinMohamedultimatelytook over Mohamed’s Enterprise, which also now does business as “ConfidentialCambio”

According to the department, Azruddin and Mohamed’s Enterpriseallegedlyevaded

Continued on page 24

More training for judicial officers to better handle complex court cases – AG Nandlall

Comprehensive training sessions,alongwithongoing educational initiatives, will be conducted to provide judges and legal officers in Guyana with the essential skillsandknowledgeneeded to navigate emerging

complexities within the courtroom, Attorney General(AG)AnilNandlall, S.C.saidonTuesday

The Attorney General was at the time speaking on his weekly ‘Issues in the News’programme.

Nandlall highlighted the evolving challenges confronting Guyana, citing the emergence of new legal

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs,Anil Nandlall, S.C

domains in the oil and gas sector in addition to other burgeoningsectors.

TheAG also pointed out that many of these developments present Guyana with “new and thorny issues,” that the country’s courts haven’t dealtwithbefore.

As a result, he said that cybercrime, artificial intelligence, e-transactions, personal data, and privacy laws are all being introduced.

Accordingly, the AG noted that judges and other judicial officers have to be trained to effectively implementthelaws.

For instance, the AG explained in reference to etransactions,“Youcanbein New York and I am in Guyana, and you sign and I sign at the same time on a computer screen and we have a witness and we both signandthatislegal now if there is a breach and the issue comes up, which country has jurisdiction over this contract This is a very simple example that is a new legal issue that we havetodetermine ” Nandlall stressed therefore on the need for continuous education/ training for members of the judiciary, “We have to start to train judges and have continuous education as part of the functional responsibilities of judicial officers and police officers and legal officers in every otherareainthesociety”

Similarly, the Attorney General noted the new laws being implemented affect the police who are required toenforcethem.

“From the time, President Ali signs the law and it comes into force, [the policeman] has to enforce it...[but] poor guy hasn’t evenreadthelaw,hedoesn’t evenknowwhatthelawsays but he’s expected to enforce it,”theAGsaid.

Meanwhile,theAGalso spoke about the new eticketing system for traffic offences where individuals will be charged by a ticket generated through a camera. He said the police willbetrainedtoimplement this.

$97Mdigitalx-rayunitcommissioned atFortWellington,Region5

Residents of Fort Wellington and other neighbouring communities can expect expedited X-ray services as a modern, $97 million digital X-ray unit was commissioned at the FortWellingtonHospitalon Monday

This new diagnostic apparatus replaces the outdated analogue machine and promises greater efficiency and reliability in conducting radiography for the people of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). At the commissioning ceremony,

Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal explained that before the new machine, there were constant delays, causing frustration among patients who required such service.

N o w , w i t h t h e commissioning of this modern equipment, there will be no more delays for the people of MahaicaBerbice Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Theresa Sarju highlighted that this newest addition to the hospital's servicesissettobenefitover 4,000residents.

Delivering the feature address was Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony stressedthatthegovernment found that it needed to replace aged equipment. He said this was necessary

r e c o g n i s i n g t h e transformation that is currently unfolding throughout the country. He further explained that the units emit smaller radiation thatislessharmfultopeople compared to traditional X-

rays, which require protective gear to prevent exposure to radiation over

Former

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh witnessing a demonstration of how the machine is used

time.

“It doesn't harm people and that by itself is a very importantconsideration.So, withallthenewunitsthatwe areputtingin,thisisasafety feature… because you are exposed to a lower dose of radiationbutyou'regettinga higherqualityofimage,”he explained. Additionally, the quality of imaging will be enhanced significantly and can be uploaded to a server a c c e s s i b l e a t t h e GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) by a radiologist.Thegovernment isimplementingmeasuresto improve diagnostic capabilities in all ten administrative regions by replacing analogue

machines So far, approximately 15 digital

machines have been installed in various health facilities across Guyana. “I thinkbytheendoftheyear,I would safely say that we would have replaced all the

table

analoguemachinesandwe'll beaddingtootherareasthat requiresuchdigitalX-rays,” the health minister further informed.

The ministry is also replacing ultrasound equipment nationwide to enhancediagnosticcapacity at various facilities. Senior MinisterintheOfficeofthe P r e s i d e n t w i t h responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh also delivered brief remarks He reemphasised that it is the vision of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to build a world-class healthcare system “Our government'sobjectiveisto ensure that good quality healthcare is available to everyone within reach, to every single Guyanese citizen, irrespective of their village. That is our agenda. Andthisx-raymachineisto be seen in that context,” he

tennis

stressed.

TheWorldBankGroup's representative, Diletta Doretti commended the government's step to enhanceaccesstohealthcare forthoseinoutlyingregions. She also sounded the institution's commitment to continued cooperation to achieve One Health in Guyana.

This is part of a joint partnership between the World Bank Group and the Government of Guyana as part of the One Health programme. The machine costover$19.7million,and the UPS and PDU cost $16 million. The room that h

retrofitting to accommodate the new equipment for $40 million Additionally, the electrical system was upgraded at a total cost of $18 million, bringing the total expenditure to $97 million.(DPI)

Bandits attack Home Affairs Ministry staff and her son

A 43-year-old research officer attached the Ministry of Home Affairs was robbed on Saturday of her handbag containing $100,000 in the company of her eight-yearold son at Wellington Street, Georgetown.

Police identified the victim as Michelle Baptiste.

Kaieteur News understands that she had just left her workplace when she was

Man

attacked by a lone bandit. He reportedly snatched her handbag before running towardsawaitingmotorcycle with a rider making good his escape Apart from the $100,000, the handbag also contained her cellphone and othervaluablearticles.

According to reports, her son remains traumatised by the incident. Investigations areongoing.

shot in ankle for gold chain

A 2 5 - y e a r - o l d Albouystown,Georgetown man, Dicquayn Osborne wasshotonSaturdaytohis ankle for his gold chain worth$100,000.

Kaieteur News learnt that he was liming on JamesStreet,Albouystown whentwomenapproached him. They began shooting

at him and one of the bullets struck him in the ankle A wounded Osborne fell to the groundandthegunmensnatched hisgoldchainandfledthescene. Hewasrescuedbyeyewitnesses and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)wherehewasadmitted. Policeareonthehuntforthetwo suspects.

Bandits rob Chinese supermarket of phone cards

ThreebanditsonMonday evening robbed the L. Smart Chinese Supermarket Red Road,Providence,EastBank Demeraraof$300,000worth of cell phone cards and the owner'scellphone.

Police said that the robbery took place around 20:25hrs Investigators reported that one of the

suspects entered first and pretended that he was shopping. As he approached the counter, the other two suspects rushed into the supermarket and held the owner who was there at the time at gunpoint. They relievedhimofhiscellphone and then grabbed the phone cardsbeforerunningaway

player remanded for possession of guns, ammo and drugs

Aformer table

tennis player

EdinhoLewis,37, was slapped on Tuesday with several charges after he was busted on June 8 with an illegal Ak-47 rifle, a Glock pistol,ammunitionanddrugscocaineandmarijuana.Lewis, a resident of 26 Da Silva Street, Kitty, Georgetown appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus He wasslappedwithfivecharges includingillegalpossessionof afirearm,illegalpossessionof ammunition and the illegal

possessionofnarcoticsforthe purposeoftrafficking.

It was alleged that Lewis onJune8,2024athisDaSilva Street apartment had in his possession 544.5 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking; 107 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; possession of components of firearms, which includes AR-15 magazines, one AK-47 magazine, three Glock magazines, without being the holder of a firearm licence enforced at the time. He also hadinhispossessiononeAK47 Rifle and one Glock 26

Pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence. Police also found 830 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, four live .223 ammunition, nine live 9mm ammunition, two live .32ammunition. Following his arrest, he reportedly told investigators that he lives alone in the apartment but was not the owneroftheguns.

In court, his lawyer Bernard Da Silva argued that the former tennis player does not live at the apartment but with his mother at 25 Shopping Plaza, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He

reportedlyrentstheapartment to friends and foreigners and has not been there for the last two weeks and had only showed up on the day raid to conductinspections.

Da Silva alleged that the apartment was at the time being occupied by one of Lewis' friends and another tenant and they were scheduled to vacate the property on the same day policesearchedandfoundthe illegal items. Da Silva argued that given the circumstances, the alleged offences brought against his client must be tre

allegation. He requested bail for Lewis and stated that the former tennis player is prepared to lodge any n

prosecution objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence and the penalty for same.

Further, the prosecutor disclosedthatLewishasbeen under police surveillance for sometime.

After listening to both sides, the Acting Chief Magistrate Lewis denied bail andadjournedthematteruntil July12,2024.

Remanded: Edinho Lewis

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Hunter Biden’s found guilty on all three charges in gun case

(AL JAZEERA) United

States President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden has been convicted by a jury of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun.

A 12-member jury in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, found him guilty on all three counts against him on Tuesday, making Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.

Hunter Biden, 54, slightly

nodded his head after the verdict was read but otherwise showed little reaction. He then patted his lawyer Abbe Lowell on the back and hugged another member of his legal team. First lady Jill Biden arrived at the courthouse minutes after the jury delivered its verdict and was not in the courtroom when it was read. Hunter Biden left the courthouse holding hands with the first lady and his wife. They did not speak

ExxonM grabs US$8.4B

From page 3 ring-fencing provision, the companies can use the income from producing oil projects to pay for other projects that are yet to commence producing oil.

A ring-fencing provision would therefore prevent oil companies from using revenue generated from a production field to offset costs in another project. It would also mean that when that project cost is repaid, Guyana would enjoy 50 percent of the revenue generated there.

Although Guyana has been repeatedly advised by international experts to ringfence the projects in the Stabroek Block, the country has refused to include such a provision to govern new

projects being awarded to the operator.

While the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton is yet to announce a policy decision regarding ring-fencing, the government of Guyana has made it clear that the implementation of such a policy is not on its agenda. Chief policymaker for the petroleum sector, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo previously explained, “We admitted that we are foregoing revenue now in exchange for massive future income because it's going into new projects that will increase production and so even with the same share of the 50/50 plus the two percent royalty that the future income, because of the bigger scale will be massive in

Single mother of three finds...

From page 15 had to go and repair her electric bike, after she dropped them off at Sunday school. The woman recalled getting a phone call while she was on her way to the mechanic shop to have her electric bike fixed informing her that her two-bedroom wooden house was on fire.After receiving the call from her neighbour, Gobin rushed home only to find her home engulfed in flames. Contact was made to the Guyana Fire Station and firefighters did their best to save the house.

The distressed woman told Kaieteur News that she has been living at the location for about six years and estimates her loses to be in the vicinity of $6M. “Every time I think about it [the fire] I cry, I can’t get over it,” she said.

The mother of three is seeking public assistance. Persons desirous of assisting her can make contact on 643-5756.

to reporters, got into waiting SUVs and drove off.

After the decision was announced, President Joe Biden said he would accept the outcome of the case and “will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal”. The president said he and the first lady are proud of Hunter, who has been sober since 2019.

“Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that,” the president said in a statement.

out of US$11.8B revenue...

Guyana's case and we are deliberately foregoing that in this period for that purpose and then trying to grab this bone now could cause you to lose all the bones, the bigger bones too in the future.”

While Jagdeo fears Guyana not being able to gain revenue in the future from the sector due to a ring-fencing provision, experts in the industry have urged the nation to include such a provision to ensure it enjoys early returns from the sector. In three separate reports dated 2017, 2019 and 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated: “This asymmetrical treatment of profit and cost oil will benefit the contractor at the expense of delaying government revenue.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with another international expert, Chatham House and the World Bank called on Guyana to include a ring-fencing provision for each project.

Painting a more graphic picture in one of his reports on Guyana was Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), To m Sanzillo. IEEFA estimated that Guyana should receive upward of $6 billion annually by 2028 or sooner, however, the organization believes that due to all of the new costs, Guyana will be shortchanged until the 2030's, if not longer.

Govt. facilitates engagement...

From page 8 children and grandchildren,” Singh said.Acknowledging that she got through extremely fast with the ministry, Maria Pierre said that engagement indeed seeks to meet the needs of the people along the highway. “It was a fast process. It is nice that they brought all these programmes to the highway for us. I want to thank the president and the ministries for this initiative,” the young

woman noted. Present at the outreach were the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy.Minister Croal stated that although the highway developmental plan is on the agenda, the government is still ensuring that every citizen is better off than before.

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From page 12

According to the head of state, this vessel will also support efforts to combat illegal fishing and transnational crime.

President Ali pointed out that the government has been consistent in its efforts to bolster the GDF’s capacity, as is reflected in the notable $42.2 billion budgetary allocation this year.

The commander-in-chief noted that this allocation represents a more than $20 billion increase in allocations for the Force. He pledged that the existing quota of fleets in the Air Corps would also be expanded to meet the immediate needs of the GDF.

The ‘GDFS Shahoud’ “Between 2020 and 2023,

we have expended $11.4 billion in recapitalising the GDF. Between 2020 and 2023, we have invested more than $8 billion in major acquisitions and infrastructural development of the Air Corps and the Coast Guard,” the president told the gathering.

He continued, “For this year, we’ve increased the capital expenditure of the force from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $20 billion. This substantial investment reflects our efforts, ensuring that the GDF is well equipped to meet contemporary security challenges,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan reiterated that the acquisition of this vessel signifies yet another tangible step

in bolstering the Force’s capacity to protect and defend Guyana’s maritime domains.

He praised the partnership between Guyana and the US as they strive towards maintaining a zone of peace.

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, also pledged her country’s continued support for Guyana’s development, especially through training and upskilling.

The US$11.5M 115 Defiant Monohull patrol vessel was designed and built by US-based Company, Metal Shark Builds.

The company has committed to working alongside the Coast Guard to operationalise the vessel.

“Our presence here today is a commitment by His Excellency. Now that you have received your home ownership, this is a follow-up activity. This alone will tell you that as a government how committed we are to ensuring that by every possible means our citizens can have an opportunity for a better life,” the housing minister stressed.Meanwhile, Minister McCoy encouraged the residents to look and plan for the future and build sustainable lives. “J ust think about what the highway will become, a better place and the removal of the situation of squatting and people becoming actual owners of the lands they occupy, and a cleaner environment,” Minister McCoy asserted. Last week, the residents were given their leases by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and later some were allocated lands in Swan.

Hunter Biden

$165M estimated to construct dispensary in Charlestown

Seven contractors have submitted bids to construct a No 1 Dispensary in Charlestown, Georgetown that is estimated to cost $165 million, the National Procurement and Tender

Bidder AmountTendered

ProredResources

Lot1

$5,152,500

Lot2

$2,679,500

Lot3$8,250,625

Lot4$6,745,000

SPREnterprises

BMSoatAutoSales

TelsEngineeringServices

Lot1

$5.2M

Lot2

$2,645,925

Lot3$8,463,996

Lot4$6,915,828

Lot1

$7,171,265

Lot2$4,447,889

Lot3$12,624,366

Lot4$10,307,625

Lot1

$3,195,000

Lot2$1,722,500

Lot3$5,047,385

Lot4$4,232,205

MSTrading Lot1

$2,877,000

Lot2$1,438,500

Lot3$4,447,850

Lot4$3,665,550

Akamai

Lot1$3,484,296

Lot2$1,742,148

Lot3$5,570,257

Lot4$4,577,293

Man

pleads guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm

Thirty-nine-yearoldCarltonBaker

Carlton Baker

Administration Board (NPTAB) office disclosed on Tuesday

TheprojectwhichfallsundertheMinistryofHealthwas openedonTuesday

Supplyanddeliveryofbreastmilksubstitute.

Bidder AmountTendered

NTVentures

EssentialSuppliesInc.

DeSincoLimited

AnsaMcALDistributionInc.

HRDistributors

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids: HinterlandElectrificationCompanyLimited

Supplyanddeliveryofmaterialsforwiringofhinterland buildings.

MinistryofHealth

ConstructionofNo.1DispensaryatCharlestown.

$41,892,000

$17,409,600

$19,782,000

$29,800,600

$58,440,000

GuyanaNationalBureauofStandards Procurementofequipmentandsoftwarelots1and2.

Bidder

NCC

RsconexInvestment&ManagementInc.

NexTechInc.

NewlytrainedEMTsinBerbice deliverbabyinfirstouting

In the early hours of Saturday June 8th, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) of the recently commissioned

milestone first delivery performed/assisted by the NewAmsterdamEMS.

Moriah, her newborn, and the EMTs

o f P a r f a i t Harmonie, WBD, was arrested on June 6th in relation to an incident that occurred about a month prior,onMay8,inwhichhe was accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on an individual known as Dicky Peters. Baker appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate's Court on June 10, where he was charged withtheoffence,towhichhe pleaded guilty Magistrate Scarce denied bail, as the court awaits a probation report for sentencing. The matter was adjourned to June27,2024.

l Services department at the NewAmsterdamFireStation responded to a call of a critical and urgent situation that came through the 912emergencyhotline.

Upon arrival at the location of the emergency, the EMTs, T Smartt, J Haney, and driver R. Porter, met 41-year-old Michelle Moriahinactivelabour The recently trained crew members swiftly and diligentlysprungintoaction, assisting with the birth procedure, which was carried out safely and brought into the world a hea

y b

by boy at approximately 07:39hrs, much to the delight of those present This was the

The efficiency and diligence with which the crew provided care for the patient is certainly commendableandapositive indicator of the impact that the Emergency Medical Services initiative has and hopefully continues to have onthecommunity

Thereisapersistentissue in Guyana with the way that persons in need of medical care or a hospital visit are transported; the necessary pre-hospital treatment/care israrelyadministered,which can often worsen the patient'ssituation.

With EMS, however, patients like Michelle Moriahandhernewborncan receive the assistance and care they need swiftly, from well-trained, well-equipped professionals.

Michelle

Hamas seeks ‘complete halt’ to war in Gaza proposal response At least 49 dead, 140 missing in migrant boat sinking off Yemen: UN

(BBC NEWS) Hamas says it has submitted its responsetoaUS-backedplan foraceasefireinGaza,witha senior group official telling the BBC that it still requires an Israeli commitment to a permanentceasefire.

Inastatement,thegroup, and its Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) allies, expressed "readiness to positively" reach a deal. The proposed ceasefire plan - which was endorsed by the UN security council on Monday nightcallsforasix-weekceasefire that would eventually become permanent Qatar and Egypt - who, along with the US, have mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas - confirmed that the Palestinian group had submitteditsreply

In its statement on Tuesday evening, Hamas calledfora"completehalt"to fighting in Gaza "The response prioritises the interests of our Palestinian people and emphasises the necessity of a complete halt totheongoingaggressionon Gaza," Hamas and the PIJ said. The groups added that they were ready "to engage positively to reach an agreement that ends this war".

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said it was "helpful" that Hamas had submitted a

responseandthatUSofficials were"evaluating"thegroup's requests. Earlier on Tuesday USSecretaryofStateAntony Blinken said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "reaffirmed hiscommitment"totheGaza ceasefire plan and the world was waiting for the Hamas response. The proposal set out by President Biden last monthinvolvesaninitialsixweek ceasefire, with Hamas releasing some hostages in exchange for Israel releasing an undefined number of Palestinianprisoners.

Asecondphasewouldsee the remaining hostages releasedbyHamasandatotal withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as part of a “permanent” ceasefire, but the latter would still be subject to negotiations. The actual Israeli proposalreportedly lengthier than the summary presented by Mr Biden - has not been made public and it is unclear whether it varies from what thepresidentconveyedinhis statement on 31 May It was presented to Hamas days prior to Mr Biden's speech. Mr Netanyahu has acknowledged his war cabinet has authorised the plan but has not voiced unequivocally support for it. Far right members of his cabinet have threatened to quit his coalition and trigger

its collapse if the deal goes forward, seeing it as surrendertoHamas.

AsMrBlinkenmetIsraeli officials in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, protesters outside hishotelheldAmericanflags calling for an agreement. Many held pictures of hostages and chanted: "SOS, USA", and "we trust you, Blinken,sealadeal".

Vicki Cohen, the mother of Nimrod Cohen, 19, an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October, held a banner showinghispicture.Shetold the BBC: "We come here to ask Blinken and the USA government to help us, to saveusfromourgovernment. Our prime minister doesn't want to bring our loved ones back, we need their help to pressure our government." HethentravelledtotheDead Sea for a conference ofArab leaderscallingforgreateraid access into Gaza, where he saidIsrael"candomore".He alsoannounced$404million in new aid for Palestinians, urgingothercountriestoalso "stepup"assistance.Thewar began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others back to Gaza as hostages The Hamas-runhealthministryin Gaza says more than 37,000 peoplehavebeenkilledinthe Israelioffensivesincethen.

(BBC NEWS) At least 49 people have been killed and 140 more are missing after a boat carrying refugees and migrants from theHornofAfricatoYemen sank, according to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s ' International Organization forMigration(IOM).

The vessel that capsized on Monday was carrying some 260 people, mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, who had set off from the northerncoastofSomaliato travel 320km (200 miles) across the Gulf of Aden to reachYemen.

Refugees and migrants fromtheHornofAfricaand EastAfrica are increasingly braving the dangerous journey to reach Saudi ArabiaandotherArabstates oftheregionviaYemen.The IOM said in a statement on Tuesday that 71 people had beenrescued,eightofwhom

Refugees and migrants are taking the sea route despite the effects of Yemen's war [File: Saleh Al-Obeidi/AFP] (AFP)

were taken to hospital. At least six children and 31 women were among the dead.

In April, at least 62 people died in two shipwrecks off the coast of Djibouti as they tried to reachYemen.TheIOMsaid at least 1,860 people have died or disappeared along theroute,including480who drowned.

More refugees and migrantsaretakingtheroute despite the devastating effects of a nearly decadelong war in Yemen, which erupted after the Houthi group rebelled and took control of large areas of the country, including the capital,Sanaa. The flow of migration has been undeterred in the aftermath of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, as well.The Iran-aligned Houthis have for months carried out

attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war on Gaza, with the United States and the United Kingdom respondingwithairraidson Yemen in a stated effort to protect international interests.

The number of migrants arriving in Yemen annually tripled from 2021 to 2023, soaring from about 27,000 to more than 90,000, the IOM said last month. The agency reports that about 380,000 migrants are currently in Yemen. The sinking of the boat on Monday “is another reminder of the urgent need to work together to address urgent migration challenges and ensure the safety and security of migrants along migrationroutes,”saidIOM s p o k e s p e r s o n MohammedaliAbunajela.

USTreasurytargetscorruptionnetworkinGuyana

Frompage17

Guyana's tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenues by under declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities. “Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed's Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms of gold from importandexportdeclarationsand avoided paying more than $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana,” the US Treasury alleged. It further alleged that: “Mohamed's Enterprise has bribed customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments. Mohamed's Enterprise had paid bribes to Guyanese government officials to ensure the undisrupted flow of inbound and outbound personnel that move currency and other items on behalf of Azruddin andMohamed'sEnterprise,”OFAC alleged.

Further detailing the alleged acts of corruption by the Mohameds,theOFACclaimedthat to conceal their illegal activity and operate with impunity, Azruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise have engaged in extensive bribery schemes involving government

officials in Guyana This, the departmentsaidincludesproviding direct and recurring bribery paymentstoGuyanesegovernment officials to ensure favourable treatment in criminal or civil matters that would otherwise suggesttheirinvolvementinillegal criminalactivity “Inreturn,corrupt officials receive cash and gifts for incidents that are overlooked.

Additionally, Mohamed's Enterprise has paid bribes to corrupt Guyanese government officials to facilitate the award of government contracts,” the OFAC alleged.

Thedepartmentwentontonote that one such official, “Mae Thomas, was the Permanent Secretary to Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs from October 2020 through August 2023, and is the currentPermanentSecretaryofthe MinistryofLabour

While Permanent Secretary to Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs,thedepartmentallegedthat Thomas used her position to offer benefits to Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin, among others, in exchange for cash payments and high-valuegifts.“Thomasmisused herpositiontoinfluencetheaward of official contract bids and the

approval processes for weapons' permits and passports on behalf of Mohamed's Enterprise. A corrupt Permanent Secretary could manipulate procurement processes to suit their preferred bidder by providinginsideinformationatthe early stages of evaluation. Access to a Permanent Secretary of any Ministry could afford contractors insightintoupcomingprojectsand bid values. Permanent Secretaries canactasthelegalauthoritytosign contracts on behalf of their ministry,”OFACoutlined.

OFAChasdesignatedAzruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise for beingpersonswhohavematerially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technologicalsupportfor,orgoods or services to or in support of, corruption, including the misappropriation of State assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery, that is conducted by a foreignperson.

SANCTIONSIMPLICATIONS

As a result of OFAC's action, thestatementnotedthatallproperty and interests in property of the designated persons described

above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must bereportedtoOFAC.

Inaddition,anyentitiesthatare owned, directly or indirectly, individuallyorintheaggregate,50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specificlicenseissuedbyOFAC,or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involveanypropertyorinterestsin propertyofdesignatedorotherwise blockedpersons.

In addition, OFAC warned financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action “The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person,”thestatementsaid. Maesentonleave

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Government of Guyana said that it has taken careful note of a press release issued by the United States DepartmentoftheTreasury,which informed of three Guyanese nationals and entities as being sanctioned by the Department's OfficeofForeignAssetsControl. Based on the information referenced in the press release, the Government said that Ministry of Finance and relevant statutory agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority will be requesting additional information on the matters highlighted, with a view to aiding local law enforcement agencies The GovernmentofGuyanasaidittakes veryseriouslytheclaimscontained in the press release and will continuetoengagerelevantUnited States entities on these matters. In themeantime,itsaidthePermanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour,Ms.MaeThomashasbeen sent on leave with immediate effect.'TheGovernmentofGuyana will continue to work with the United States government on all matters of mutual interest, includingtherespectfortheruleof law and order,” the Government saidinitsstatement.

China squeeze into next World Cup qualifying stage, Thai heartbreak

South Korean skipper Son Heung-min gets away from China's Xie Wenneng (Jung Yeon-je)

AFP - China squeezed into the third round ofAsian qualifyingforthe2026World Cup despite a 1-0 defeat at South Korea yesterday, with Indonesia also progressing on a night of drama Paris Saint-Germain's LeeKang-inscoredjustafter the hour in Seoul for South Korea,whowerealreadyinto the next qualifying phase as g r o u p w i n n e r s

The damaging loss left China's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, but Thailand failed to take advantage as their dreams of progressing fell agonisingly short.They needed to beat basement side Singapore by three goals in Bangkok to leapfrog China into second place in Group C of the second qualifying phase, but theThaiscouldonlywin3-1.

China and Thailand finished with the same number of points and same goal difference, but the Chinese went through with a superior head-to-head record Some of the Thai players were in tears at the end In contrast to the crushing disappointment in Bangkok, Indonesia celebrated reaching the third qualifying round for the first timewitha2-0homevictory over the Philippines

Indonesia joined Iraq in advancing out of Group F, with Thom Haye and Rizky Ridho the goal-scoring heroes in front of a raucous crowd of 64,000 in Jakarta.

H i r o s h i m a

Japan are looking to qualify for their eighth straightWorld Cup when the tournamenttakesplaceinthe United States, Canada and Mexico."We were facing a teamthathadtowin,andthe players got the result by working hard to prepare, doingthethingsthattheyhad to do," said the coach

"But the final round coming up will be a completely different level from the second round " North Korea thrashed Myanmar 4-1 in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to leapfrogSyriaandjoinJapan in moving out of Group B.

second phase and did not concede a goal in six games.

In GroupA, a late EidAl Rashedi goal gave Kuwait a 1-0 win againstAfghanistan, sealingtheirplaceinthenext stage of qualifying at the expense of their opponents and India, who lost 2-1 to group-toppers Qatar

Eighteen teams will contest the third qualifying round in Asia, when there will be direct spots for the World Cup up for grabs. -

WednesdayJune12,

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

You sometimes have difficulty making up your mind.Youdon'talwaysknow exactly what you want Today, Aries, you'll be at peacewithyourself.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Sometimesweallfeelalittle lost,Taurus.Weoftenwantto move mountains and use all our energy and enthusiasm to trytodoso Butafewmoments later we could feel that all effortshavebeeninvain.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You have a natural ability to accomplish a great deal rather easily, Gemini. But today you may feel snowed underwithprojects.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Your day has finally come, Cancer You have your own vision of life and you like sharing it with others.You're far from thinking that you're anysortofnewmessiah.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Todayyou'llhavethestrange feeling that something is floatingintheair Thetimeis right to try to understand the different needs of your familycircle.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Asthedawnofanotherquiet and peaceful day appears, Virgo,youwillbeinthebest disposition to observe and appreciate the lightness of things. Life can seem so beautifulonsomedays.

2024

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Youwillfindacleanpageon the agenda today, Libra.You shouldtrytothinkonlyabout yourself.Thiswillallowyou to meditate about your life andbeatpeacewithyourself.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

You will wake up today on cloud nine, Scorpio. Your morale is at a peak.You will feeltotallyfreeandbeableto clearly perceive the essentialsoflife.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

The astral energy will have you reminiscing all day long over childhood memories, Sagittarius. These memories willtakeyoutothehousesand placeswhereyouwereraised

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You love interacting with peopleothersmightconsider eccentric. You can't help it. You're simply attracted to them.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You have always tried to build up your health using traditional methods, and you take great care of yourself. But this morning you might feelalittlecurious.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Sometimes, it's amazing to see how your relationships can spin so easily out of control, Pisces. Today you mayhavetodealwithalotof tension within your group. You'llalmostfeelasifnoone understandsthesituation.

- Five-star JapanElsewhere,coachHajime Moriyasu warned Japan that the third qualifying round will be "a completely differen

vel" after thrashing Syria 5-0 to go through with a 100 percent record Moriyasu's side completed the second qualifying stage on maximum points with 24 goals scored and none concededafteraneasywinin

In Group D, Malaysia defeatedTaiwan3-1athome but it is unlikely to be enough, unless Kyrgyzstan lose to Oman later by seven goals.In a dead rubber in Group I, Australia thrashed Palestine 5-0 in Perth with Portsmouth's Kusini Yengi scoring twice, one from the spot.Bothsideswerealready into the next phase

LikeJapan,Australiahad maximum points in the

Frompage33 their World Cup journey is just beginning Using the Nations League in LeagueA, they aim to assemble a formidablesquad. Looking ahead, Guyana's Group D battles in the CONCACAF Qualifiers will see them face Nicaragua on June 6, 2025, and Montserrat onJune10.Thetoptwoteams fromeachgroupwilladvance to the next stage, forming 12 teams split into three groups offour

These teams will clash in six matches from September throughNovember2025,with the group winners securing theirticketstothe2026World Cup.Additionally,thetoptwo third-place teams will enter intercontinental playoffs, facing nations from South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The four lowestranked teams will compete in single-elimination matches, withthevictorsmovingonto thenextstage.

CONCACAF announced that the winners of these critical matchups will earn their place in the highly anticipated2026tournament.

Frompage32 this remains the biggest challenge to improved internationalperformances. The 25 member squad comprise of six Goalkeepers – Alysa Xavier, Empress Charles,JessicaMittelholzer, Keziah Johnason, Sarah Harry, as well as seven Defenders –Julia Gouveia, Kezia Chinian, Kirsten Gomes, Kazaquah Uzzi, Makeda Harding, Tekeisha Deleon, Trisha Woodroffe. The squad also has seven solid Midfielders - Charlia Webb, Clayza Bobb, Gabriella Xavier, Kenisha Wills, Madison Fernandes, Sarah

and five

-

Klautky, Temmara Clarke

Strikers

Abosaide Cadogan, Carolyn Deane, Chantelle Fernandes, Makaylah Poole, Princessa Wilkie,SamanthaFernandes.

Guyanawomen'shockey...

More Governmental support needed for Anti-Doping Programmes in the Region

(St George, Grenada)

Chairman of the Caribbean

Regional Anti-Doping Organization,Patrick Werleman is calling for more governmental support for Clean Sport programmes in the region. With the focus now on the Paris 2024OlympicGames,Werlemanis hoping for increased financial and technical support for various programmes.

“The integrity of sport is paramount. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard it. The journey towards Clean Sport is a challenging one, requiring unwavering commitment from Member Countries and their respective governments It is essential that the necessary resources and support be provided to the National Anti-Doping Organizations, the Member Country Representatives and their anti-dopingprogrammes.”

“Our athletes are the pride of the Caribbean. As they prepare to showcasetheirtalentsontheworld

stage, particularly with the Paris Olympics just a few weeks away, the eyes of the world will be upon them. They represent not only themselves but the hopes and dreamsofourentireregion.Itisour duty to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make the right choices, embracing the values of fair play and integrity,”Werlemanadded.

Werlemanwasspeakingduring the opening ceremony of the CaribbeanRADOAnnualGeneral Meeting held in Grenada over the weekend (June 9). This year's AGM was preceded by a Member Country Capacity Building Workshop which focused on mechanisms for effective and intelligent testing programmes in countries as well as strategic planning to enhance operations in individualMembersCountries,and byextensiontheCaribbeanRADO.

Francisco León Cannock, DirectoroftheWorldAnti-Doping Agency (WADA) Latin America and Caribbean Office reiterated

WADA'saimofstrengtheningtheir supportfortheAmericasregion.

“We have a renewed strategy for the region and a larger team. Our regional office now has five committed full-time staff supporting and collaborating closely with the RADOs, governments,

NADOs[NationalAnti-Doping Organizations], NOCs {National OlympicCommittees]andathletes of the Americas... Relations with the Caribbean governments are very important to WADA, and we areworkingtomakethemstronger WADA has now held three intergovernmental forums with Sports Ministersfromtheregion.Thegoal of these forums is to foster collaborationwithintheCaribbean, a region of the world with great sporting success,” Leon Cannock said.

Desiree Stephen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry ofYouth and Sports, highlighted Grenada's commitment to sport and antidoping.

“Just recently, we hosted the 2024CARIFTAGames,theworld's largest premier junior athletics meet,whichincludedWADA'sfirst athlete engagement activity in the Caribbean, for which we are extremelygrateful.Thissuccessful exerciseofCleanSportwasdonein conjunction with the Caribbean RADOandtheGrenadaNADO.It is safe to say Grenada is a proud sporting nation. Asguardians of sporting integrity, it is our collectiveresponsibilitytoensurea level playing field for all athletes.

Through the Ministry's collaborative efforts with organizationslikeGrenadaNADO andCaribbeanRADO,wereaffirm our commitment to combatting dopinginsportsandpreservingthe purity of athletic endeavors,” said Stephen.

Meanwhile, Bernard Wilson, President of the

(GOC) acknowledged the importance of anti-doping, identifying the area as one of the pillarsofsport.

“What you do [in anti-doping] is very significant and very important to the Olympic movement, to sport in this region, and every other region We understand the attraction involved in cheating. The stakes are high. The higher the stakes – the more likely it is that people will cheat. I appreciate what you do, 100 percent!IknowweoftheGrenada Olympic Committee appreciate what you do. The Government of Grenada appreciates what you do; and we don't only appreciate, we putourmoniesbehindit.”

In thanking the Ministry of Sports and GOC for their support, Dr SoniaJohnson,Chairofthe Grenada NADO outlined the

importance of this AGM.

“We gather to celebrate achievements, address ongoing challengesandsetnewgoalsinour relentless pursuit of clean and fair sport. Over the past years, our collective efforts have made significant strides in combatting dopinginsportthrougheducational awarenessandtesting.

We are not just here for our annual AGM but to forge ahead with our methods and principles guidedbythe[WorldAnti-Doping] Code,sothatsportintheCaribbean will be based on integrity and fair competition.”

During the visit, the Caribbean RADOSecretariatalsoconducteda Clean Sport Education Workshop with representatives from several sporting federations at the GOC headquarters.

Barbados will host the 2025 AGM. The Caribbean RADO will also celebrate its 20thAnniversary nextyear

Caribbean RADO Chairman, Patrick Werleman

KFC Elite League Season Six DenAmstelFCand MonedderlustFCsharepointsingoallessdraw,Ann's

GroveFCdominateBuxtonUnitedFC3-0

DenAmstelFCand Monedderlust FC

battled to a goalless draw, while Ann's Grove FC secured a commanding 3-0 victory over BuxtonUnitedFConMonday evening in the KFC Elite League Season Six Round Two.

In the June 10 opening fixture, Den Amstel and M

breakthrough, yet neither side couldfindthedecisivegoalat

G

Federation (GFF) National

C

Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Bothteamssecuredawelldeservedpointfollowingtheir hard-foughtdraw

In the evening's final showdown, the first half remainedgoalless,butthetide turned as Quincy Barry of Ann's Grove broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, followed swiftly by Shaquan Davidinthe73rdminute,and

Den Amstel FC and Monedderlust FC battled to a goalless draw

finally, Travis Williams sealed the deal with a goal in the 90+3rdminute.

The league was streamed live on the FIFA+ platform for the first time this season, captivatingaglobalaudience.

Round Two kicked off on 25thMayandissettoconclude afterforty-fivematches.

The ten elite clubs,

Police Force FC, Western Tigers FC, Santos FC, and Fruta Conquerors FC,

for the runners-up, £800,000 for the

£500,000 for the fourth-placed team.

The competition is now fiercerthanever June 13 Fixtures: Fruta Conqueror FC is set to clash withBuxtonUnitedFCat6:30 p.m., followed by Santos FC goinghead-to-headagainstDen AmstelFCat9:00p.m.

Bothexcitingmatchupswill beheldattheNTC.

American Coco Gauff rises to career-high No. 2 in world tennis rankings

(UPI) --American Coco Gauff continued her tennis ascent Monday,risingtoacareer-highNo. 2intheWTAToursinglesrankings. She trails only Iga Swiatek, who beat her in the French Open semifinalsenroutetothetitle.

Coco Gauff of the United States makes a return against Iga Swiatek of Poland during a semifinal match Thursday at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris. (Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI)

"Idon'tfeellikemygameisall thewaydevelopedyet,"Gaufftold reporters last week in Paris. "I definitelydon'tthinkI'mthereyet."

Gauff, 20, replaced Belarusian

Aryna Sabalenka, who dropped to No 3 Kazakhstan's Elena

Rybakina (No 4), American Jessica Pegula (No. 5) and No. 6 MarketaVondrousovaoftheCzech Republicheldontotheirrankings.

Italian Jasmine Paolini, who lost to Swiatek in the finale Saturday at Roland Garros, ranked No 15 before the tournament Her run resultedinaclimbtoNo. 7 China's Qinwen Zheng, Greece's Maria Sakkari and Tunisian OnsJabeurroundoutthe Top10.Sakkaridropped from No. 7 to No. 9. Jabeur moved from No. 9toNo.10.

American Danielle Collins, ranked No. 11, felloutsidetheTop10.

Gauffownsa205-91 singlesrecord,including a 30-9 mark this year She claimed more than $2 5 million in prize money since the start of 2024.

She also teamed up with Katerina Siniakova oftheCzechRepublicto

beatPaoliniandfellowItalianSara Errani on Sunday for the French Open doubles title. She is the No. 12 doubles player in the world.

Belgium'sEliseMertenstopsthose rankings.

With her first career Grand Slamdoublescrown,Gauffbecame the youngest woman to win Grand Slam singles and doubles titles since Svetlana Kuznetsova (19) in 2005.

On the men's side, Jannik SinnerbecamethefirstItalianman toclaimthetopspotintheATPTour singles rankings. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in a French Open men's singles semifinal and won the tournament SundayinParis,climbedfromNo. 3toNo.2.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who withdrew from the French Open because of a knee injury, dropped from No. 1 to No. 3. German Alexander Zverev, who lost to Alcaraz in a tight men's final at RolandGarros,remainedtheNo.4 playerintheworld.RussianDaniil MedvedevstayedatNo.5.

Casper Ruud of Norway,

HubertHurkaczofPoland,Alexde Minaur of Australia and Grigor DimitrovofBulgariaroundoutthe theTop10men'splayers.

Taylor Fritz remained the highest-ranked (No. 12)American in the singles rankings. Fellow Americans Tommy Paul (No. 13), Ben Shelton (No. 14), Sebastian Korda (No. 26) and Christopher Eubanks (No. 45) each climbed in therankings.

Tennis stars now will prepare for the grass court season ahead of Wimbledon 2024, the third Grand Slamoftheyear,whichwillbeheld fromJuly1to14inLondon.

Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff, Rybakina, Pegula and each of the other Top 10 women's players are on the entry list for the Berlin Ladies Open, which will be held from Saturday to June 23 in Germany

Alcaraz leads the entry list for the cinch Championships, which will be held June 17 to 23 in London. Several other top men's playersareinactionthisweekother other grass-court tournaments in GermanyandtheNetherlands.

Ann's Grove FC secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Buxton United FC.

Major Infrastructure work to transform South Dakota Circuit

Over the next few months, significant infrastructure developments are set to take placeattheSouthDakotaCircuit,aiming to elevate the venue to international standards.

This ambitious project includes the construction of a new international standard drag strip, enhanced spectator areas, and plans for a new pit lane and boxes.

GMRSC President Mahendra Boodhoo emphasized the importance of these upgrades, stating, "This work will pushmotorsportsforward.Wehaveseen the 1.6-mile circuit extension, and now we will focus on the drag strip and spectators'seatingareas."

These enhancements are expected to significantly improve the experience for

both drivers and fans, fostering a more competitiveandenjoyableenvironment.

The government has been instrumental in supportingtheseinitiativesfromtheoutset.In additiontotheinfrastructureatthecircuit,the roadleadingtothecircuitfromtheairportside is already being paved by the government, improvingvisitor'saccessibility

Boodhoo expressed his gratitude for the ongoing governmental support and called on corporate Guyana to join in supporting the future of motorsports in the region. "I would liketoencouragecorporateGuyanatocomeon boardwithmotorsports.

This is a new era for motorsports in the Caribbean,"hesaid.

As these developments unfold, the South Dakota Circuit is poised to become a premier destinationfor motorsportsinthecountryand theregionatlarge.

Exclusive:Boxing-Saudiwealthfundholding talkstocreateboxingleague,sourcessay

R e u t e r s -

LONDON/RIYADH, (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in discussions with multipleboxingstakeholders tocreatealeague,potentially reshaping the competitive landscapeofthesport,people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

PIFislookingtoinvestin a joint venture with some of the sport's stakeholders that would feature more boxing bouts, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity

A handful of leading promoters including Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions are involved in the discussions that could result in a deal valuing the new entity between $4-5 billion, one of thepeoplesaid.PIFwantsto create a venture that would

bring the main sport's organiserstogether,inwhich it would take a minority stake,thepersonadded.

Turki al-Sheikh, a close advisor to Crown Prince MohammedbinSalmanwho has been heavily involved in the sports sector and is chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, was overseeing thefinaldiscussionsarounda potential deal about a month ago,asecondpersonadded.

Reuters cou

d not establish the details around how a league would be structured.

PIF and Matchroom Boxingdeclinedtocomment and Golden Boy Promotions did not respond to requests forcomment.

Currently the sport is made up of boxing organisations including the World Boxing Council, the

Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, and the World Boxing Organisation, which each have their own rulesforchampionshipbelts.

Saudi Arabia has poured billions of dollars into sport as it seeks to wean the kingdom off of oil dependency under de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed's Vision 2030 program,whichaimstobring in tourism, boost the private sector,andcreatejobs.

And according to the court, Boxing is the latest sport to attract possible investment from the PIF, whichischairedbythecrown prince, after deals across golf,Formula1,andfootball. The fund has also been consideringaninvestmentin a new cycling league, Reutershasreported.

The PIF shook up the

world of golf by funding the LIV Golf series, in a move thatcreatedarivalrywiththe PGATourandledtoashock deal to merge the tours that wasannouncedlastyear

That deal is now at risk after talks between the PGA andLIVhavestalledandasa U.S.senatepanelcalleditan attempt by Saudi Arabia's government to "buy influence"inU.S.sports.

Criticsaccusethecountry ofusingitssovereignwealth

fund to engage in "sportswashing" in the face of heavy criticism of Saudi Arabia'shumanrightsrecord.

“Ifsportwashingisgoing to increase my GDP by way of 1%, then I will continue doing sport washing,” the crown prince told Fox News lastyear

Thekingdomhasalready hosted some of boxing's biggest fights and events.

"There is big opportunity in boxing" Al-Sheikh told

ESPN earlier this year "But you must improve the market."

SRJ Sports Investments, ownedbyPIF,boughtastake in the United States' ProfessionalFightersLeague inAugust2023.

Since then, boxers like heavyweight Tyson Fury have made their way to Riyadh for fights, attended by Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the kingdom's soccer leaguelastyear

Construction of the Drag strip underway.

Turki bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Sheikh and Anthony Joshua are seen during the fights. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo)

LTI,GTI,GSAandUG advanceintoYBGTertiary BasketballLeaguesemis

Season two of theYouth Basketball of Guyana (YBG) Tertiary League concluded its fifth and final round before moving on to theknockoutstage.

T h e N a t i o n a l Gymnasium was electrified on Sunday as Linden Technical Institute (LTI), New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), and the University of Guyana (UG) secured wins to advance to thesemi-finals.

The triple-header began with a thrilling matchup betweentheGuyanaSchools of Agriculture (GSA) and LTI. The crowd favorites, LTI, defeated GSA by 11 points, boosting their confidence for the next stage.KemolGrimmondhad anoutstandingnight,scoring 32 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and making 4 steals, leading LTI to a commanding 72-61 victory Leron Joseph also contributed significantly with 13 points and 9 rebounds Despite strong performances from GSA's

Shannon Wilson and Dexter Quintyn,whoscored15and 14 points respectively, GSA fellshort.

In the second match, NATI dominated Upper Corentyne Combined with a 25-point blowout. Jerome Trim had an exceptional double-double performance with 14 points and 19 rebounds. Aberone Collins led the scoring with 23 points, as NATI stunned UCC 62-37 Timothy Rampersaudadded11points and 8 rebounds to the victory UCC's Aaron King putupacommendableeffort with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The University of Guyana clinched a spot in thesemi-finalswithanarrow 1-point win over the Government Technical Institute (GTI) in a nailbitingfinish.JushanBailey's 34-pointgameguidedUGto a 62-61 victory, with Malachi Grimmond adding 11 points and 7 rebounds. Despite the loss, GTI's Martin Edwards, Peter

YBG's Tertiary Basketball League continues this Sunday with semi finals action

Langevine, and Jamal Mercier all posted doubledoubles Fortunately for GTI, they will still advance to the semi-finals due to the point'sdistributionsystem.

The tournament will continuewiththesemi-finals this Sunday, June 16th, startingat5:00pm.

Di Maria on target as Argentina down Ecuador 1-0

Angel Di Maria celebrates his goal in Argentina's win over Ecuador in Chicago on Sunday. (Justin Casterline)

AFP - Angel Di Maria scored the only goalasArgentinawarmedupforthedefence of their Copa America crown with a 1-0 friendlyvictoryoverEcuadorinChicagoon Sunday.Di Maria, named as captain for the game with Lionel Messi on the bench, baggedhis31stinternationalgoalinthe40th minute of an entertaining clash at Soldier Field.

Patient approach play saw Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul play an incisivepasstodefenderCristianRomeroin anadvancedpositionontheedgeofthearea.

The Tottenham centre-back swiveled brilliantly and picked out Di Maria with a

superb reverse pass and the veteran winger dartedinbeforesteeringadeftlowfinishpast EcuadorgoalkeeperHernanGalindez.

Di Maria made way for Messi on 56 minutesbuttheInterMiamistarwasunable tohelpArgentinaaddtothescoreline.

Sunday'sgameinChicagowasoneoftwo friendlies Argentina have scheduled before they kick off the Copa America on June 20 against Canada in Atlanta.The reigning world champions face Guatemala in Landover,Maryland,onFridayastheywrap uppreparationsfortheCopaAmerica,which isbeingstagedintheUnitedStatesthisyear withteamsfromCONCACAFparticipating.

Guyana women's hockey team to attend PAHF Challenge in Bermuda

Th e G u y a n a

women's hockey team is scheduled to compete in the 2024 Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge set for Hamilton, Bermuda from September 20-28 The Challengeisaqualifierforthe PAHF Cup scheduled for Uruguay in 2025 and is Guyana's only path to qualifyingforaWorldCup.

Sixteamswillbevyingfor thesingleavailablespotinthe PAHF Cup which are hosts Bermuda, Brazil, Guyana, Jamaica, Peru and Mexico.

Ofthesixteams,Mexicoisthe highest ranked team listed as #37intheworld,followedby Peru as #41, Brazil at #54, Jamaica at #67, Bermuda at #68andGuyanaat#70.

Asquad of 25 players has been selected to commence training for the Challenge. The squad sees several new faces, mostly emerging from the country's 2023 Under-21 team that competed in the Junior Pan American Championshipsthatyear

Among the seasoned players of the squad are the

Xavier sisters, Gabriella and Alysa, full back Trisha Woodroffe and right winger

C

phenomenonMakaylahPoole is the youngest of the squad whichfeaturesthirteenunder21 players including overseas based Sarah Klautky, Charlia Webb an

n Fernandes.The squad will be guidedonceagainbynational coachPhilipFernandes.

Guyana last competed in the PAHF Challenge back in 2011 where they finished runners-up to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Only four players remain in contention for selection from the previoussquad.

Meanwhile, the sport continues to struggle with the lack of an artificial surface and recently was crippled by the closure of the major cricketgroundsinpreparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. Fernandes indicated that creative measures have to be taken in order to prepare a squad for such an event withoutafull-sizedpitchas

(Continuedonpage27)

Members of the 25-member squad expected to travel to Bermuda for 2024 PAHF Challenge.

Deon Moore ‘brace’ Golden Jaguars to clinical win over Belize -

Deon Moore's brace in the 66th and 71st minutes, along with Liam Gordon's 67th-minutegoal,propelled Guyanatoa3-1victoryover Belize last evening in Barbados during the 2026 WorldCupQualifiers.

Belize'slonestrikecame from forward Carlos Bernárdez in the 88th minute, but it was too little, toolate.

Amidst roaring cheers from the handful of passionate supporters at the Wildy Astro Turf, the Golden Jaguars bounced backfromtheir2-0defeatto PanamaonJune6;reignited theirWorldCupdreams.

Belize suffered their second qualifying defeat, following a 4-0 loss to NicaraguaonJune8.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz highlighted the historical rivalry between the sides before the match, marking Guyana's second win over Belize in three encounters,buildingontheir 2-1wininthe2019National League(LeagueB).

Their first clash, a 2002 Friendly, saw Belize victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.On the eve of the clash, Shabazz emphasized the game's must-win nature tokeepGuyana'sWorldCup hopesalive.

His vision is to see Guyana join the ranks of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as Caribbean nations reaching theFIFAWorldCup.

Shabazz's lineup featured Quillan Roberts in goal, who has been exceptional for Guyana sincehisdebutin2019.

The Golden Jaguars'

Royals Crush Raiders 101-49, to remain unbeaten, Jets blast winless Kings, 92-42 LABA Senior Club Championship... One game on tonight

team performance

force comprised

Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Stephens Duke-McKenna, Elliot Bonds,andMoore.

The defence, anchored by Liam Gordon, Terrence Vancooten, Jalen Jones, Daniel Wilson, and Leo Lovell, was equally impressive.

Playing a 4-4-2 formation, with Glasgow starting as a winger and Moore and Moriah-Welsh up front, Guyana created numerous scoring opportunities Their relentless attacks saw shots narrowly miss, hit the crossbar, or saved by Belize's resilient goalkeeper,WoodrowWest.

Scoreless at halftime, Guyana emerged in the second half showcasing their dominance. Already dominating possession with 64%, Moore was crafty, slicing inside the 18-yard boxandexpertlyreceivinga pinpointpassfromGlasgow

Just a minute later, Gordon found the back of the net from inside the penaltyarea,capitalizingon adefensivelapsethatleftthe Golden Jaguars wingback unmarked.

Moore struck again in the 67th minute, notching his fifth international goal with a clinical finish from a Moriah-Welsh pass, further extendingGuyana'slead.

The energy on the field ramped up as Seattle Saunders'OsazeDeRosario replaced Moore in the 72nd minute, and Kadel Daniel subbed in for DukeMcKenna.

RyanHackettenteredthe fray, taking over from Mo

The Guyana Defence Force FC attacking midfielder immediately madeanimpact,launchinga powerful shot from a Leo Lovell pass that forced Belize'sWesttosave.

Despite a late goal from Bernárdez to pull one back for Belize, Guyana's Jalen Jonesnearlysealedthegame withaheaderthatdemanded another stunning save from West Coach Shabazz praised his team's stellar performance, attributing their success to rigorous preparation.

Henoted,however,that

(Continuedonpage27)

The Victory Valley Royals continued their unblemished run with their third win, a 101-49 mauling of Retrieve Raiders as home side Amelia's Ward Jets

zoomed over Central Mackenzie Kings, 92-42, when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Senior basketball championship continued Saturday night at the Amelia'sWardHardCourt. In a total team effort, the Royalstriumphedagainstthe Raiderswhoneverposedany real challenge, as they maintained leaded throughouttheencounterand accelerated with a 30-13 third quarter run before easing home winners, 10149 The Royals charge

included Harold Adams' beingthemainarchitectwith 24 game high points, Yannick Tappin chipped in with 18, Orlan Glasgow 15 and Keifer Tappin contributed nine points. For theRaidersShemarSavoury netted 13 points and Neil MarksJr scoredseven.

Amelia's Ward Jets then humbled Central Mackenzie Kings, 92-42 after holding a comfortable, 40-25, lead at lemon time In a brilliant display of team basketball the Jets never relinquished their dominant play as they completedaveryimpressive victory

In that winning run, Dennis Niles and Quincy Easton were on target, each netting a game high 25

points, while Joel Webster got10.

Leon Benjamin had a team high 14 points and Jason Watson and Stephen George both scoring eight points.Tonight (Wednesday) there will be one game between Block 22 Flames and Retrieve Retrieve Raiderswhichbouncesoffat 6 30pm At stake in this tournamentis$100,000with theloserscollecting$75,000 and third place $50,000 while for placing fourth $25,000 Recently Nigel Hinds, the former President of the Guyana Basketball Federation, handed over $200,000 to assist in the promotionofthisthesecond tournament for the year by theLABA.

ByRawleToney

attacking

Omari Glasgow,

Gordon made way for NathanFerguson.

The Victory Valley Royals after their latest victory.

Shabazz praises

Golden Jaguars starting team against Belize.

Sports

Deon Moore

‘brace’ Golden Jaguars to clinical win over Belize

- Shabazz praises team performance

Major Infrastructure work to transform South Dakota Circuit

Aerial view of the South Dakota Circuit.