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ExxonM will have to explain inflated invoices in court -VPJagdeo

Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo stated on Thursday that

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) will need to explain in court why a massive US$12 192 billion invoice, submitted to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) by its former broker Ramps Logistics Guyana Incorporated (RLGI), was revealed tobeinflated.

Last week, it came to light that Ramps, contracted by Exxon to import oil well equipment, had submittedaninflatedinvoice.

Authority by your company As

This discrepancy caught the such, be guided accordingly that attention of GRA, prompting an this act constitutes a breach of investigation. It was reported that

Section 217 (1) (a) of the Customs in November 2023, Ramps Act, Chapter 82:01,” GRA told the submitted an invoice for oil well company equipmentvaluedatUS$4,467,662

but the declared value to Customs opportunity to show cause why w a s a s t a g g e r i n g inflated invoice matter as that (former minister Raphael) attributedtheerroneousdeclaration proceedings should not be US$12,192,103,923.91.

“unbelievable,” Jagdeo expressed Trotman signed, the responsibility to information obtained from instituted against them in

During his press conference his surprise at how the companies for paying taxes rests with the Exxon’s KABAL system This accordance with the Customs Act. yesterday, Vice President Jagdeo arrivedatsuchanexorbitantfigure. Government of Guyana on behalf publication understands that on The company in response to the underscored that the government is To underscore the enormity of the of Exxon and so we are treating December 11, 2023, Exxon Revenue Authority made several fullysupportiveofGRA’seffortsto sum on the inflated invoice, he this matter seriously as a result of representatives visited GRA to claims: that it was not the declarant address the matter In response to pointed out that it equates to the this ” assist with the investigation, where and has not made any false media reports of EMGL’s Country cost of two Floating Production Moreover, he expressed his enquiries were made in relation to declaration, that the declaration ManagerAlistair Routledge stating Storage and Offloading (FPSO) eagerness to hear the explanations Exxon’s conduct Further, in was made by Ramps, that it thatthecompanyhadnotreceiveda vessels. for the inflated invoice in court. response, Exxon in a letter dated (Exxon) has not made and court summons, Jagdeo revealed The Vice President went on to Jagdeo said, “It is a serious matter December 13, 2023 claimed that it subscribed or caused to be made thatalthoughhehadbeeninformed elaborate on the ramifications of We take it seriously If they have learned that Ramps, “incorrectly and

since last week that Exxon and approving such an inflated invoice. explanations (they) can give it to inputtedUSDasthecurrencyofthe declaration, that any error made by Ramps would be served with the He first reminded of the provision the courts, because now we have commercial invoice on the Ramps was a typographical error courtorder,thatactionhadnotbeen in the 2016 Production Sharing filed charges against them…” As a referenced Customs declaration, in which did not injure to the taken. Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed result of the incident, the VPstated place of GYD; and the error detrimentoforcauseanylosstothe

However, he said, “…I asked with the Exxon-led consortium for too that GRA have been instructed resulted in an overstatement of the Revenue Authority, that to the best the Commissioner General the Stabroek Block which allows toreviewtheinvoicessubmittedfor value of the items listed on the of EMGL’s knowledge all (Godfrey Statia) why is this so, Exxon to retain 75% of the thepreviousyears. commercial invoice and information that was available to since they told me since last week, revenues earned towards cost “We are now ensuring that consequently on the Customs Ramps from the KABAL platform itwasfiledandhesaidthatthecourt recovery or repaying the before we finalise, any of the declaration submitted by your was accurate and any error was not did not have the bailiff and they investments by the company The audit, the second audit, that the broker.” causedbyExxon. expect it to be filed, served today, remaining 25% is then shared with GRA will go back and check all Inresponsetothis,theRevenue Moreover,theoilcompanyalso the summons to go to court.” Guyana as profit, meaning the the back invoices last several Authority indicated that Exxon’s told GRA that under its contract, Jagdeo explained that efforts by country receives 12.5% along with years to see that there is really no claims/explanation cannot be Ramps had an obligation to review GRA to clarify the inflated invoice a2%royalty overstatement of any of these deemed as accepted in law, and verify all inbound shipping were not met with helpful To this, he said, “We made it invoices,”henoted particularlysinceastatutorydutyis documentation (such as bills of responses from Exxon. According clear that if invoices are Kaieteur News hasreportedthat imposed on Exxon to verify and lading, commercial invoices, to him, the oil company told GRA deliberately increase, it will have Exxonwasinformedthatduringthe ensurethatallinformationdeclared packing lists, certificates of origin, that given that the price on the an impact on two things; it will investigation, Ramps submitted a to GRA by its broker is true and etc ) and was contractually invoice is tax-free, it would not overstate the cost bank and two, it missive to the Revenue Authority correct. “In addition, evidence was obligated to review and verify all have resulted in the loss of any will change the tax liabilities of stating that it was contracted by obtained to prove that the untrue relevant shipping information taxes. “Butthatwasnottheissue,” the government, because as you Exxon to provide brokerage and declaration was caused to be made beforepreparingandsubmittingthe Jagdeo noted Describing the know, in accordance with the PSA freight forward service and and subscribed to the Revenue declaration.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

EMGL’s Country Manager, Alistair Routledge RLGI CEO, Shaun Rampersad

KaieteurNews

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EDITORIAL

WorldPressFreedomDay

The Fourth Estate is yoked to a sacred duty It is to presentinformationhonestly,accurately,andinabalanced waytothepublic. Moreover,onthisWorldPressFreedom Day, it is that unfettered ability to pursue news items and report on them without fear, without hindrance. The experience of this paper, a member of the Guyana Press cohort, has not been what it should be, particularly where that hallowed freedom to interrogate and inform has been severelyinhibitedalmostwithoutletup.

Whenmembersofthepresscorpsareforcedtofunctionin an environment of intimidation and hostility, then more than pressfreedomisatstake Therightsofcitizensforafairand clear picture on the developments impacting their lives are subjecttoduress,arecurtailed Anynarrowingofthatfreedom, any restraint on what it represents in its fullest (and freest) expressions,hasnoplaceinaworkingdemocracy Sincethe Government of Guyana loudly claims to be all about democratic freedoms, then the ones involving the local press cannotbetakenaslightlyandinsultinglyastheyhavebeenin recent times. There must be the freedom to access vital informationonatimelybasis,andnotatsuchtimethatsuits the whims and calculations of any political leader. The freedomtoaskquestionsisacrucialcomponentofthework ofaprofessionalpress,eitherasanentityorattheindividual journalist level. To circle around that freedom to escape providing answers generates reasonable doubts about motive and agenda. For leaders and officers of the governmenttoderogatebyattitudeandaction,inpersonor by proxy, the attempts of journalists to obtain information that Guyanese need to know, is indicative of the environmentinGuyanathathasbecomethenorm.

Manyfreedomsarenowroutinelyviolatedintherealmof theFourthEstateinGuyana Asapresenceinthedwindling local independent media cadre, the freedom to represent the pressprofession(andtheinterestsofthepeople)hascomeunder increasingattackweekafterweek Onenationalleader,with othersincloseattendance,hasgoneoutofhiswaytobehostile andderisive,manifestingaclosedmindnottobedisturbed,and aclenchedfistinvitedatone’sownrisk Whereheleftoff,his lackeysaredelightedtocontinueviaotherchannelstodenigrate press parties found to be offensive, without restraint or any recognitionofbasicdecency Whenaformerpresidentcould bepubliclytakentotaskforspeaking outside of his party’s playbookthatisrevealingenoughofwherethefreedomto speakisconcerned. Butanunimaginedandunprecedented depthisreached,whenthefamilyofthatformerpresidentis insultedinthesickestmannerpossibleineffortstodenya fundamentalfreedom.

Press freedoms are not what and how leaders say they shouldbe Freedomtoholdleadersaccountableareinseparable fromthecallingofgenuinemediapractitioners Whenpress freedom is under siege, then some of the objectives of those behindsuchaconditionbecomeclearer Thereissometruth, some fact, that those in charge do not want to be ventilated publicly Thereisonenarrativethatleadersaredeterminedwill betheonlyonecirculating,andtheywilldoanythingsothat monopoly position is not threatened or weakened Counter narratives, through revealing press reports, or thoughtfully presented contradictory commentaries, must be quashed When efforts to do so fall short, then even more aggressive actionsmustbetakentounderminereportandreporters.

Thishasbeenthecasewiththismediahouse,whichhas been subject to the smearing and slandering of its people. Before that, libel laws were weaponised and used for bludgeoningeffect. Wearestillgoingstrong,findingways to carve out the freedom to dig for information and to presentconscientiouslyandfearlessly Taxpayerresources have been wielded to bring us to our knees through the withholding of advertising dollars. We have not only weathered the assaults on the press freedoms that are ours by right, but we have also risen above the meanness and vindictivenessintendedtolimittheworkbeingdone,andto derailit.

The Government never ran Night schools in Sophia and Kildonan

DEAREDITOR

I read a letter byVincent Alexander in yesterday’s newspapers where Mr. Alexanderfalselyclaimsthe Government closed night schools in Sophia and Kildonan,andattributedthat to the Government being vindictive. Mr Alexander in his haste to feed his o

Vi

e President Bharat Jagdeo has ignoredthetruth.

Herearethefacts:

The Government never ran Night schools in Sophia and Kildonan. In Sophia, it was run by a nongovernmental group called the Sophia Community Development Association (SOCDA).

The PPP/C believes in making education available to as many persons as possible and has always realised that belief by actual programmes When in opposition and under the leadership of its General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP/C crafted a manifesto,whichannounced our intention to offer 20,000 scholarships to study in foreign universities paid for

bythegovernment.

The Government began fulfilling that promise with the establishment of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) That programme has provided scholarships for more than 25,000Guyanesetostudyin over 18 Universities locally andacrosstheworld.

Several areas and levels of study are offered. So successful has that programme been that it brought our attention to the persons who would have likedtobenefittherefrombut who had dropped out of schooland/ordidnotqualify for entrance into the universities and needed a secondchance.

As such, GROW (Get Ready for Opportunities to Work) was birthed. This is second chance programme where students can acquire the General Education Development(GED)andthe Scottish Certificate and Qualification Framework (SCQF). These serve as the equivalenttosuccessfulhigh school exit qualifications such as the Caribbean Examinations Council’s

(CXC)CaribbeanSecondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) or the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) that allows for further study at a tertiary level or simply for a feeling of accomplishment, capability and pride by the persons who ventured for thatsecondchance.

Inthetwoyearssinceits birth, the Irfaan Ali led Government has granted 5,887 scholarships to studentssothattheymayget that second chance. Of that number,3567(60percent)of those students have moved upandarecurrentlystudying on degree programmes in d i f f e r e n t f o r e i g n universities Some 366 residents of Sophia have graduated GROW and are currently sch

p awardeesonGOALstudying fortheirdegrees.

Mr Alexander may wish totakenoteoftheserealities and differences His government did not believe in and/or could not imagine norimplementaprogramme like GOAL or GROW for masspublicbenefitofpeople from all over Guyana. They

relied on non-governmental organisations to do that in small numbers. This Government gives second chances to large numbers of persons from every geographic location, religious persuasion, gender and ethnicity This is how one changes lives Bellyaching with falsities in the newspapers, whining about Jagdeo daily, making everything about race and ethnicity has never worked tochangelivesandIdaresay will not work to allow Mr Alexander that second chancetoleadattheMinistry of Education where he served in a leadership capacity for all the time APNU/AFC was in Government.

Itwouldhavebeenuseful and beneficial if Mr Alexander’s concern for peoplehadmanifestedinhis service over at the Ministry ofEducationproducingeven a single like programme to benefit the people of this country or even only those, hesaysherepresents.

Sincerely

Priya

Manickchand MinisterofEducation

An umbrella programme management unit needed for public infrastructure works

DEAREDITOR

In an April 23 letter whichwaspublishedinKN, Dr Muniram Budhu, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering expressed his opinionthattheGovernment withitsnewfoundoilwealth hasbeenundertakingawide range of infrastructure projects to develop the country and improve the living standards of its people. He noted however, thatitseffortsinthisrespect have been dogged by corruption, shortage of a skilled labour force and racial discrimination among other impediments To resolve many of these problems, Dr Budhu has suggested that the Government create an Umbrella Infrastructure Programme Management Unit which will not only prevent corruption but get value for its public infrastructure investments

andoverseetheprocurement and award of all contracts and their execution He further suggested that this Unit be tasked with project management and be composed with a privatepublic partnership which wouldbemoreeffectiveand efficient in the execution of itsmandate.

The Government has already established such a Unit - THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT AND T E N D E R ADMINISTRATION (NPTA) but its mandate needstobeexpandedforitto be more effective in its functions. Contrary to Dr Budhu’s claim,NPTAis not an independent body but a Government established Unit and its members are a p p o i n t e d b y t h e Governmentwholaysoutits policies and guidelines and uses its recommendations for such matters as contract

awardsandprocurement.

The NPTA has been functioning with a lot of criticism for its lack of transparency, allegations of racial discrimination and corruption in the award of contracts and purchase of equipment Therefore, a review and upgrade of its mandate is urgently needed not as suggested - an Umbrella Programme Management Unit For example, with respect to contract awards, the successful bidder should be selected as the lowest evaluated bidder and not as thelowestcostone.Bidders should be selected not only because of their low bid but becausetheirselectiontakes into consideration their integrity, experience, financial capability, personnel, equipment, etc. Most of NPTAawards have beentobidderswhowerethe lowest ones without taking

into consideration those otherfactors.

Because of this discrepancy, many of them have suffered from time, costs overruns and other factors and were unable to complete their contracts which the Government has had to take over and completeeventually In poor developing countries, such as Guyana corruption in formulating and executing infrastructure works is endemic at all levels An audit should therefore be carried out on all completed large infrastructures contracts to determine such factors as time and cost overruns and their causes thereof. This will provide valuable information to the Government in the preparationandexecutionof itsinfrastructureprojects.

Sincerely, CharlesSohan

The accomplishments of the Agriculture Minister must be applauded

DEAREDITOR

, It is my pleasure to pen this short letter to express my humblest opinion, moreso to “give Jack he jacket” As a proud Guyanese with an avid interest in the progress of this country and a longstanding supporter of the work done by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, I tookparticularinterestinthe work done by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.

The minister has always shown how hardworking and committed he is, whetheritisinhisfamilylife orworkrelated.

These attributed compounded with the discipline to “get the job done” has done him well. I recall during his time as Regional Chairman in Region6manyyearsago,he did his utmost to see

developmenttakeplacewith whatever resources made availabletohimatthattime. Make no mistake, you will always see criticism creeping its way in some wayortheotherbutthisdid notdeterhimfromexecuting his duties fairly He has brought that very attitude while performing the duties ofMinisterofAgriculture.

I am always attending meetings when he is in Berbice and whenever I do attend, farmers or residents are always satisfied at the conclusion of these very meetings.

He listens, he provides solutions,heensuresthatthe needs of the people are met, if not immediately, in the nearfuture.

You may call me what you wish but I will not suppressmyopinions.Ihave chosenthismediumtodoso because I have seen the

Minister come under heavy scrutiny lately but these are people that refuse to see the bigger picture, these are peoplewhobelievethatthey can do better but really cannot,thesearepeoplethat findpleasureinhighlighting thebad,thesearepeoplethat areactuallylookingtoscore points. It is not constructive criticism.

All cannot be perfect whenitcomestogoverning, the Minister is one man tasked with a million and one responsibilities, he is humantoo.

At least you cannot say he is sitting in his office, enjoyingthebenefitsandnot working for the people, it is etched in his DNAto get up and go! I cannot ask for a better man to serve our people!

Yourssincerely,

OsborneCollymore Berbician

The core issue in the vendors’matter

DEAREDITOR

The letter writer has made a compelling call for CityHalltoactwithregards to vendors and vending (SN May 2), one of many such calls.

The core issue in this vendors’ matter can be summedupthus: thewrong was allowed to fester, nurture and became permanent to the landscape untilitbecamearight,aright forvendorstoputdownand take up spots and places in full view and knowledge of everyone,allturningablind

eye and looking the other way Now it has become a monster only to be quelled by court orders. And these are coming fast and furious, andstillnoplanorcourseof actiontodealwiththeissue.

NDCs should note the pointraisedintheletterabout vending and unsightly shacks sprouting up across spaces in communities some even permanent Mypointabouta wrongfesteringandbecoming a right while the authorities idlyallowthis

The vendors have to earn and live So with no

DEAREDITOR

ARRIVAL DAY

Forthelast172yearsout of Bharat / India, Indians have contributed to the economic and cultural development that has given risetoeconomicandcultural civilisations in the various countriesinwhichtheywere deployed.Theyhavedoneso as economic survivors in their respective countries such as those in Africa, the Pacific,theAmericasandthe Caribbean.

immediate end in sight, the vendors/vendingproblemwill notgoaway Asonecolumnist putsit,‘thepoliticiansseeking tocontroltheCityHall’spurse, will do whatever it takes for those vendors’ votes’ (GT April30)

And so we go life rumblesonindearGuyana.

Sincerely

ShamshunMohamed

However,thisisnotsimply a general economic development but there was a significant contribution, practically revolutionary on this scale of economy To illustrate my point on the Indian Diaspora’s economic contribution,let’sstartwiththe arguments laid forth by Dr Thomas Sowell, a Black American Economic Scholar who did his ground breaking research on Uganda where Indians were brought to build railwaysbytheBritish,These Indians decided to stay in Uganda and other parts of Africaforvariousreasons.The Indianstherebybroughtabout moderneconomicandcultural civilisations by engaging in megafarming,sugarfactories andbuildingcottonfactories.

Meanwhile, they were building economic empires forthemselves,theyengaged in mega economic building blocks and globalised trade for those nations on such a never-before-seen larger scale which allowed for the elimination of the more primal and medieval BARTER system which

existed amongst tribes and villages in Africa till that time. This monetary system boosted trading by out competing with even the white traders. This historic economic behaviour in boosting the economics of parts of Africa / Uganda contributed to the changing African economic behaviour economicallyandculturallyin terms of business which has had similar effect and repercussionsplayedoutinthe Pacific/Fiji,Mauritiusandthe Caribbean-Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname In these last threeCaribbeancountries,the arrival of Indians [Coolies] saved these Fallen States by reinvigorating the agriculture sector Indians started up businesses when their contracts expired Indians found a way to survive the colonial white and Angloblack elite landscape of the West Indies by their contributions in business as theywerenotgivenpolitically correct DEI jobs from the government Many could not go to school if they had not converted far less get a governmentjobdependenton a school certificate. They had to depend on their wits for survival Armed with their Vedic Culture (because the greatest majority would have been Hindus with a lesser percentage of Muslims and Christianity not wiping out

Hindus numbers with conversionunlikethetollithas takentoday),theIndianswere taughtculturalworkethicsand fruitful habits to toil and be thriftyandaccumulatewealth whichinjectedprosperityinto Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname

In 2024, as Indians celebrateIndianArrivalDayin the Caribbean, mainly in Trinidad, Guyana and Surinameonemustbemindful about the Economic and CulturalSufferingthatIndians endured for about 172 years and more We Indians added Economic / Cultural traits that workisnotaSINandwhileour other countryman failed to credit the Indian Race for the Civility and the economic development in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname, it is nottheendoftheroad

It is important that today in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname, in spite of the many political hurdles to jump over, Indians must remain united [Khoon Ka Rishta] – or Blood Bond to be strong and to prevail. As we know the word, “Indian” inArrivalDaywasnotallowed by a Black government. But today Emancipation Day is now changed to African Emancipation Day It’s time Indians own their narrative inTrinidad.

Regards

SitaRam

GPHC wants vendors removed from outside hospital

On Tuesday, Attorneys-atLaw Sase R Gunraj representing the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) issued an ultimatum to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) ofGeorgetownregardingthe presenceofvendorsnearthe hospital’spremises.

In a letter addressed to the Town Clerk, Gunraj has warned of proposed legal action if the M&CC fails to take immediate steps to address the situation. The hospital is located in North Cummingsburg, and bounded by Middle Street, East Street, Lamaha Street and Thomas Street, with New Market Street running through. The letter stated that several of these streets, particularlyEastStreet,New Market Street and Middle Street, have been encumbered by numerous stationary and itinerant vendors who purvey a varietyofitemsfromarange of makeshif

sta

ls, immobilevehicles,caravans andpushcarts.

Despite repeated attempts by the GPHC to addresstheissue,theM&CC has failed to take concrete measures to remove the encumbrances. The attorney

emphasisedthatthepresence of vendors not only disrupts the free flow of vehicular trafficleadingtothehospital but also obstructs pathways intendedforpedestrians.

Theletterhighlightedthe critical need for unimpeded access to the hospital by all vehicles, inc

, throughout the day and night.Itwasalsooutlinedto the M&CC, the importance of ensuring that motor vehiculartrafficcantraverse the surrounding roadways without

e, especially in emergency situations.

In light of the M&CC’s inaction, the attorney representing the GPHC demandedthatallvendorsbe removedfromthevicinityof the hospital premises within sevendays.

They further cautioned that the hospital is prepared toexploreallavailablelegal avenues should the M&CC fail to comply with the

December 2022, the government issued a final notice to vendors occupying spaces along the streets, citing concerns about the obstructionoftrafficflowin thevicinityofthehospital.

The notice stated, “Vendors are being reminded that the seven-day periodhasexpiredandteams fromtheMinistrywillbegin the removal process today, Monday, December 12, 2022” The New Market Streetvendorswereurgedto remove all makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, or other receptacles used for vending or have these removed by the ministry’s team.

IndianArrival has no significance for PPP

DEAREDITOR, This Sunday, May 5 is Indian Arrival Day, commemorating the day Indians first landed on the territory in 1838. It is a day inscribed in the psyche of Indians, a day they held cultural and religious activities annually going back over 180 years to celebrate life and their survivalafteralongdifficult journey and oppression on the plantations. It became a holiday that was fought for by a handful of Indians but opposed by the PPP governmentuntilitcavedin tounrelentingpressurefrom Indian activists and organisations.

Ironic, the PNC supported Indian Arrival Dayasaholidayreversinga positionitheldpriorto1992. Desmond Hoyte declared a one-off holiday in 1988 for the 150th anniversary of Indianarrival.

Although it is the most important day for Indians and perhaps for the entire nation given the number of Indians who arrived from India,some240,000,andthe largest racial group in the country for some 125 years, andtheircontributionstothe country and to the PPP, the PPP has disrespected Indians.Thepartyhasopted to hold its Congress coinciding with Indian Arrival Day. This is a day that Indians around the

c

s

commemorative activities nationally in every community

Yet, the PPP chose to hold a political party Congress rather than organise or join in celebrations to mark the arrival of Indians, 186th anniversary IdoubtthePPP would hold a Congress on G o o d F r i d a y o r Emancipation Day or on a holiday of significance to any other religious or racial group.

Clearly, the day has had noimportanceforthePPPor else it would not have opposed the holiday during its23yearstenure.Ithasno significance for the party except for a few Indians in itsCentralCommittee,allof whomhavelosttheirtongue to oppose the holding of a political party Congress on the most important day for theIndianGuyanesepeople. TheironyisthePPPdepends on Indians for political support; 96% Indians support the PPP If Indians withdraw their support, the PPPwould cease to exist. It isdefactoanIndianparty

Yet, no Indian has stood uptotheleadershipquerying w h y I n d i a n s a r e disrespected.Thepartydoes not care about Indians. The partyonlywantstheirvotes. After elective office, to hell with supporters! If the day

wasimportanttoJagdeoand Irfaan Ali, they would not haveplannedtheirCongress to conflict with Indian celebrations. Anil Nandlall, Vindya Persaud, Ashni S i n g h , S e e r a j

Dharamkumar, Indar Deodat,PriyaManickchand, among many others, owe their presence in parliament and in government because ofIndiansupport.

Yet, they have not voiced any object to their partyleaderorthePresident on holding Congress on IndianArrival.

They are spineless and clearlylackIndianvalues. Theywouldallbeatthe Congress canvassing for votes to get elected to the Central Committee rather than join in community celebrations in their neighbourhoods, regions, andnationally Indian Guyanese at home and abroad should takenoteofhowIndiansare treated as second class and silenced by the party and send a clear message when elections are held next year Indians need to push back against abuses and the disrespectmetedouttothem bythePPP

And why haven’t the Indian rights activists speaking out on the PPP’s disrespecting Indian Guyanese?

Yourssincerely, SharmilaAlly

Vending done near GPHC

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

PPP Congress

The unspoken objective of the PPP Congress which opens today is to solidify its hold on power, so that it can partner with ExxonMobil to continue ripping off Guyanese.

General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo would solidify his ways to dominate the PPP and controls its visions and thinking.

The congress will be a farce- it’s about one man ruling for the enriching of his favoured, to settle scores with opponents, including those inside the party. No genuine and honest PPP loyalist is safe.

THE PPP CONGRESS is about one man and his ambitions, his betrayals of the party’s founders. The PPP Congress will be about what perpetuates his stranglehold on followers, stifling resistance, and killing Guyanese hopes.

The PPP CONGRESS is about how the PPP as a party and as a government have become the stooge of ExxonMobil and Jagdeo its enforcer.

“Rights are only defended when people stand up; otherwise, they

remain on the paper”

– Forde tells Public Servants

LabourDay2024wasobserved on the heels of what many have called a ‘landmark ruling’by High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, in of the lead attorneys on behalf of battle, it’s never going to stop, relation to a month-long strike that the teachers, said in spite of the keep going forward, it’s never teachers had initiated calling for ruling, “you must not rest on your goingtostop ” better wages, conditions and a laurels,thisisanongoingbattle.” The Senior Counsel prefaced return of the Collective Bargaining Referencing the promised his fiery remarks to the May Day Agreement(CLA)process. appeal to the decision by Rally held at Critchlow Labour Justice Kissoon had ruled in Substantive AG and Minister of College (CLC) compound, by favour of the Guyana Teachers’ Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C. pointing to Justice Kissoon’s Union (GTU), that its strike was Forde told those in attendance, “I ruling, which he described as legal and as such, prohibited the want you to understand that the “landmark” and “serious progress government from acting on its victory in the court will continue, in vindicating our rights and Meanwhileindismissingrecent workers have a right to strike and decision to deduct the salaries of the battle will continue, we’ll go all standingupforourrights.” criticism by Vice President Bharrat because of the government’s teachers who participated in the the way to the CCJ (Caribbean To this end, he was adamant, “I Jagdeo–who had lambasted Justice conduct, its failure to act in month-longstrikeinFebruary Court of Justice), but you must not want you to remember, as a lawyer, Kissoon’s ruling as presumptuous, accordance with law, the workers Addressing the May Day Rally rest on your laurels, this is an as a citizen, as a Guyanese, that Forde S.C., was adamant that what are entitled to strike and no on Wednesday–a holiday set aside ongoingbattleyoumustplayandbe rights are only defended when had been happening “under the deductions be made from their to celebrate the contributions of anactivepartinit.” people stand up; otherwise, they leadership,underthegovernanceof salary.”

workers–organised by the Guyana He further pressed public remain on the paper waiting to be Bharrat Jagdeo and the People’s To this end, he posits, “...what Trades Union Congress (GTUC), servants, specifically teachers broughtalive.”

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is would have happened by this along with the GTU, Senior present at the rally, saying, “I have To this end, he used the to lock out labour as a critical decision,wewouldbeabletobreak Counsel (SC) Roysdale Forde, was told the President of the GTU, I occasion to congratulate the “the elementinoursociety.” free from the clutches of the adamant the battle was not over To have told the GTU people, take leadership of GTU and GTUC in According to Forde S.C., what government, the court would have this end, he was adamant, “that yourpeopleonthestreets,takeyour defendingnotjustlabourrights,but Justice Kissoon did in his ruling released all the obstacles in your rights are only defended when peopleonthestreets.” in defending all the Guyanese was to decide, “in circumstances way to ensure that you have better people stand up; otherwise, they FordeS C,furtherqualifiedhis people.” Prefacing his remarks and where the government is being wagesandconditions.”Tothisend, remain on the paper waiting to be call by saying, “I will be calls for public servants to remain oppressive, they are acting Forde S.C told the rally, “the only brought alive.” According to the presumptuous to say the Leader of steadfastandresolute,hepointedto unilaterally, imposing wages person, thing, or institution aspiring leader of the People’s the Opposition (Aubrey Norton) is the fact, “we would have received conditions, rejecting CLAs, and stopping you from moving from National Congress Reform supporting, and he has said it calls from throughout the you can establish that the union has where you are right now, to (PNC/R) and Shadow Attorney publicly, that he is supporting the Caribbean, from Africa, trying to acted responsibly by seeking to go ensuringyoureceivethewagesand General (AG) in the National labour movement, and as such, understand what it is that was through the process of conciliation conditions you deserve is Assembly, who also served as one “you got to be ready, (and) this is a achievedforlabourbylabour.” arbitration, that the union and the yourself.”

Senior Counsel (SC)

Roysdale Forde

The case against the establishment of IDPADA-G

The biggest mistake that t h e A P N U + A F C

government made in promoting the International DecadeforPeopleofAfrican Descentwastooutsourcethe workoftheDecadetoanongovernmentalassembly The establishment of the International Decade of People of African Descent

A s s e m b l y - G u y a n a (IDPADA-G) effectively delinkedgovernmentfroma direct role in fulfilling the mandate of the international decade. This was a huge mistake that has now come backtohaunttheAPNUand AFC The work of the international decade is now hobbled by the loss of government financing. Had the government been directly involved in the promotingtheprogrammeof action for the international decade, it would have been more difficult, but not impossible, for any government to extricate itself from the locallydeveloped programme of action. But there are other reasonswhythegovernment should have been more directly involved. The work oftheinternationaldecadein Guyanagotofftoalethargic start.Therewaslethargyand in-fighting during the first five years of the decade. Little was achieved and this reducedthetimeavailableto pursue a programme of recognition, justice and development for persons of African descent. Had the government been involved or had a national

c o m m i s s i o n b e e n

established for the international decade, it is likely that more progress would have been made and

madequicker

Another reason why the decision was a mistake was thattheUnitedNationsitself placed an obligation on States themselves, rather than organisations within States, to promote respect, protectionandfulfillmentof the rights of people of African descent worldwide. The ambitious action envisaged by the United Nations cannot be attained without the direct p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f governments in the work of theinternationaldecade.

Governments had key obligations including f o r m u l a t i n g a n d implementing policies aimed at addressing the historical and contemporary injusticesfacedbypeopleof African descent. This includedmeasurestocombat racial discrimination, promote equality and nondiscrimination, and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for v i c t i m s o f r a c i a l discrimination.

States were obligated to enact and enforce laws that p r o h i b i t r a c i a l discrimination in all its forms and ensure equal protection of the law for people of African descent. Thisinvolvedreviewingand amending existing legislation to remove discriminatory provisions and enact new laws to addressemergingchallenges facedbytheAfricandescent communities.

States were further encouraged to recognise, celebrate, and promote the rich cultural heritage and contributions of people of African descent to the

societies in which they live. This included supporting culturalevents,festivals,and initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting African descent culture and history States were responsible for promoting education and awarenessraising activities to combat stereotypes, prejudices, and negative perceptions associated with people of African descent This involved i

ng education on the history, culture,andcontributionsof A

communities into school curricula and conducting publicawarenesscampaigns to promote tolerance and understanding.

States were called upon to take measures to address the

c inequalities and disparities faced by people of African descent This included

education, healthcare, employment, housing, and other essential services, as well as implementing affirmative action measures toensureequalopportunities

communities.

In addition, States were expected to collect disaggregated data on the socio-economic situation of people of African descent and monitor progress in addressing their rights and needs This involved establishingmechanismsfor datacollection,analysis,and reportingtoidentifyareasof concern and measure the impact of policies and programs aimed at advancing the rights of

DEM BOYS SEH

Nottoolong,nottooshort!

Abarber belongs to a profession thatrequiresnotonlydefthands but also the ability to decipher thecrypticcodesofhair-relateddesiresthat clientsbringtothechair

Amanwalkedintoabarbershop.

The barber, ever the seasoned professional,greetshimwithasmileandthe age-oldquestion:“Howwouldyoulikeit?” Andsobeginsthedanceofwords,adelicate negotiation between client and coiffeur. “Not too long, but not too short,” the man says.

“Thickbutnottoothick,thinbutnottoo thin,”hecontinues,asifhe’sorderingaslice of pizza with just the right amount of cheese.

And then, the picce de résistance: the sideburns. “Pointed but not too sharp,” he declares. Dis he kind of mind-reading and deciphering dat dem barbers does gat to engage in.All de time, de barber know dat

communities. It is not difficult to see how given the need to address these systemic issues how the government could have outsourced the workofthedecadetoanongovernmental assembly This was a fatal mistake. It wasalwaysaskingtoomuch forIDPADA-Gtobesaddled with all these obligations. The scope of the work envisaged for the International Decade for People of African Descent necessitated direct government involvement due to the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced by African descent communities, many of which required legislative

andpoliticalaction.

Issuessuchascombating racial discrimination, enacting anti-discrimination laws, promoting equality in access to education and employment, addressing socio-economic disparities, and ensuring access to justice for victims of discrimination all required

strong governmental leadership and intervention. Legislative reforms, policy

formulation, and the allocation of resources were crucial in addressing systemic inequalities and advancing the rights and well-being of people of African descent. Given the belatedandlethargicstartto its work, any programme

wouldhavehadtobescaled down.Butmuchmorecould and would have been a c h i e v e d h a d t h e government actually been directly involved in managing the programme for the international decade forGuyana.

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

he tekkin a chance with dis man head becauseifthemannahknowwhathewant, howthebarberganknow

Nowandthen,yuhdoesalsofindsome difficult customers. One time a balding, middle-aged man asked his barber, “Why chargemethefullpriceforcuttingmyhair — there’s so little of it?” “Well,” said the barber, “I actually only charge a little for cutting it. What you’re paying for is my searchingforit.”

But sometimes, de shoes does be on de odder foot.Aman went to de barber.”How wouldyoulikeyourhairtoday?”askedthe barber “Look, I want this side all but completely shaved, with this 2 spots here bald,thisside,shorn,andinthemiddle,do asyouplease.”

”I am sorry, but I don’t think I can do that,”saidthebarber

“Butthatishowyoudiditlastweek.”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

Presumptuousisobnoxious,issulfurous

There must be some places that overstepping into a protected inter pares, and with that elevation “Presumptuous” is derogatory, VicePresidentBharratJagdeomust realm. Jagdeo knows this. The or self-anointment comes the dampens judicial independence, avoid going near However deeply judiciary is prohibited territory for obligation for him to comport introduces a dangerous chill into his sense of right and wrong is anyone from president to vice himself in every manner in a the universe of free judicial offended, he knows enough not to president to all other Guyanese; yet constitutionally honourable way thinking. What Jagdeo did with venture into critical public that is where Jagdeo ventures An ignoramus may be excused for “presumptuous” has its close PresidentAli as the equivalent of a pronouncements of the judiciary irresponsibly He knows what is his imbecility, but Dr Jagdeo is not cousin. It involved the same virtual ‘guarantee’ of a judicial over what he interprets to be called for under the umbrella of an imbecile. When the union and Justice Kissoon, and followed in ruling. Icombinethethree:judicial overreach. Dr Jagdeo knows all respect for the judiciary and its governmentarelockedinthethroes the aftermath of his parent decisions must be “predictable” too well about the separation of the hallowedindependence Ithinkthat of collective

company guarantee ruling that

powers doctrine that stands Dr Jagdeo went too far, he should disagreements, and the president went against Exxon Within “presumptuous” and sandwiched between the executive and the withdraw the comment I return to decides to meet with teachers, how minutes, VP Jagdeo was touting between the two, what was judiciary Dr Jagdeo knows that theaforementionedArticle122A(1), should that be interpreted? The what must be “predictable’ and tantamount to a ‘guarantee’ from Article122A(1)oftheConstitution which said, inter alia, “All courts record of the government, present about those decisions that could the political executive about a of Guyana mandates: “All courts and all presiding over the courts and past, has been to circumvent ‘spook investors ’ Taking favourable judicial decision to and all persons presiding over the shall exercise their functions collective bargaining processes to “predictable”frombeforeandwhat come,andIconcludeasfollows: courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control of any subvertitsflowandoutcomes. Itis is “presumptuous” earlier this

1. The Guyana judiciary is independently of the control and other person or authority; …from my view that the advisers of week,thealarmingisseen. Itisthat undersiegefromtheexecutive; direction of any other person or political, executive, and any other President Ali should have Vice President Jagdeo, (a former 2. The sinister and sabotaging, authority; and shall be free and form of direction and control.” cautionedhimaboutboththeoptics president, I remind again) has as directed against the local independent from political, There is absolutely no question of such moves and the purposes for arrogated unto himself the power, judiciary, are becoming alarmingly executive and any other form of here that former president Jagdeo whichtheywereintended. authority, and unfettered freedom apparent;and direction and control.” has ruptured that commanding In layman’s language and to speak for his PPP Government.

3. The constitutionally sacred VPJagdeousedadifficultword constitutional restraint when he commonsense perception, what ItistodictatetoGuyana’sjudiciary local judicial independence is a few days ago to describe some of was so bold and reckless to declare else, save for issues that could what it can say and what it cannot. coming in for subtle and, what came out of Justice Sandil J u s t i c e K i s s o o n t o b e normally fall within the boundaries How it can decide, and how it must sometimesbrazen,formsofcontrol Kissoon’s last decision in the “presumptuous.” The president is ofcollectivebargaining,couldhave not. Regardingthelatter,Irefermy anddirection. matter involving the Guyana theleaderofthenationalexecutive, been on the agenda, at its top? I fellows to his post parent company This must stop immediately

Teachers’ Union and the but his powers and those of his believethatthepresident’smeeting guaranteeadjudicationoutburst. Presumptuous is obnoxious GovernmentofGuyana. Innormal secondaryservantsandaffiliatesdo was untimely and improper, given To take matters higher, and Presumptuous is sulfurous circumstances, the use of not extend, should never intrude, the conditions prevailing. There ensnaring Guyana’s judiciary Guyanesemustreject. “presumptuous” provokes anger into the independent judicial arena. have been too many of these side again, it was CEO John Hess of

(The views expressed in this In the context of a judicial ruling, Secondaryservants,affiliatesofthe door overtures and self-serving Hess Corporation, a partner in the article are those of the author and t h e e m p l o y m e n t o f president number Dr Jagdeo, leadership schemes, which have Exxon-led Guyana consortium, do not necessarily reflect the “presumptuous”ispreposterous. It among others. In many instances, not benefited Guyanese workers, who interpreted what he heard in a opinions of this newspaper.) is rancorous, offensive, and he has risen to the level of primus be they teachers, others conversation with Guyana’s

Guyana has least effective Access to Information Laws in the Region

-CaribbeanMediaInstitute

Guyanahasenactedwhat the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) calls the least effective piece of Access to Information Laws intheregion.

ThisaccordingtoDionne Jackson-Miller,ofMIC,who this week provided the body’s legislative review of Freedom of Information Laws in the region for 2024 and its recommendations, singling out Guyana as,” a specialcase.”

The body has since recommended a complete

revamp of the local fieldthem.”

The Media Institute of the Caribbean, Dionne Jackson Miller

Republic Bank Group rakes in US$150M

in half-year profits

The Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), Vincent Pereira, announcedthisweekthattheGrouprecorded profit attributable to its equity holders of US$150 million for the six-month period endedMarch31,2024.

Thisrepresentsanincreaseinprofitsafter taxofUS$32millionor27%overtheUS$118 million reported in the corresponding period of the last financial year, the Bank said in a press release Excluding one-off losses reported in the prior period, core profits after tax and non-controlling interest increased by US$19 million or 15%. Total assets stood at US$17.6 billion at March 31, 2024, an increase of US$0.5 billion or 3.0% over the totalassetsatMarch2023.

percent say no clear legislation given its Further compounding explanations are provided ineffectiveness. Addressing the situation, he noted that and another 56 percent of Guyana specifically, the “because the information persons surveyed called the specialist said, “having gone commissioner is the be all legislations a “waste of through the Guyanese and end all, there is no time.” legislation,Ibelievethatthis internalappealsoanykindof “Across the region, we is, the let me pull from my appeal have to go to the high are seeing limited use, even rarely used diplomacy, let court.” where it exists, we are me just stay this is the least To this she quipped, “I hearing frustration with how effective law that has been don’t know where the it works as well as we are enactedacrosstheregion.” templatecame for that, don’t hearing journalist saying it’s According to Jackson- see that anywhere across the just not working,” according Miller,“webelievethatthere world.” t o J a c k s o n M i l l e r are so many issues with it, Acknowledging that Governments,shereminded, we believe that it needs while there are successful tend to adopt a culture of fundamental reform, we are cases of Freedom of hanging onto information, suggesting that there isn’t a Information and Access to especially when asking for peace-meal approach to then information laws working certain types of information try and patch this up, that the well, a survey conducted for that they find might entire law be repealed, the Caribbean has revealed embarrassthem. discussions take place and that “the laws don’t work as To this end, she was newlawsenacted. smoothly as they should, adamant that it was the

She did however insist there are instances of it obligation on the part of that the laws still be tested working.” governments across the even if to have data

Referencing some of the region to engage in d o c u m e n t i n g t h e challenges faced by maximum disclosure, since inadequacies in the Guyana journalists in the Region, all information held by law Jackson-Miller noted that as public bodies should be for Further lamenting the much as 34 percent of public information Guyana situation, she journalists in the region Governments she said were observed that there is no reports a flat our refusal on obligated to inform the provision for information the part of governments public, “we shouldn’t only officers in different whenitcomestimetolegally be asking for information, ministries or departments, a c c e s s i n g p u b l i c there is a lot of information “there is one central information Additionally, that government have that commissioner for the entire shesaid,wherelawsdoexist, they should be openly Guyana and all the requests 86 percent reported not publishing, we should be aresupposedtogotothisone getting any response able to watch see what is person who is supposed to whatsoever, while 49 beingdone.”

In announcing the results, Mr Pereira said, “The Republic Financial Holdings Limited Group (the Group) has delivered a strong performance for the half-year ended March 31, 2024. Throughout this six-month period, the Group continued to focus on advancing our strategic objectives, Directors has declared its second quarterly strengthening our market position across all interim dividend of US$0.09 per share the markets in which we operate, improving payable on May 29, 2024 to all shareholders customer experience and maintaining our on record at May 10, 2024. This brings the focusondeliveringoutcomesthatarealigned total dividend for the period to US$0.17, an tooursustainabilitycommitments.Thisdrive increase of US$0.01 or 4.5% over the total has resulted in enhanced performance across US$0.16paidinMarch2023. all the 16 countries in which the Group Hewentontosay“Ourstrategicemphasis operates, as demonstrated by an increase of on improving employee engagement, US$0.8 billion or 9.4% in the Group’s total enhancing customer experience and loan portfolio and the sustained performance satisfaction together with delivering on our in our investment portfolio which continues digitisationplan,willcontinuetoaddvalueto to benefit from the current high interest rate all stakeholders. As such, we look ahead to environment.” the coming quarters with confidence and

Headded,“TheGroupremainsvigilantin optimism. monitoring the rapidly changing external In closing, Mr. Pereira said, “I would like operating environment, and we continue to to express my appreciation and thanks to all demonstrate agility and resilience in seizing the members of the RFHL Team for their opportunities and navigating challenges to continued high level of commitment and to sustaintheGroup’sperformance.” ourvaluedcustomersfortheirdedicationand Based on these results, the Board of loyalty.”

Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), Vincent Pereira

Man busted with gun, ammo and cannabis

Policehavearrested The homeowner was a 41-year-old approached and informed W e s t B a n k about the information police

Demerara (WBD) obtained and requested manafterhewascaughtwith permission to search the an AR-15 rifle, four live property rounds of 7 62 x 39 Permission was granted ammunition, a quantity of and during the search, the suspected cannabis, and AR-15 rifle along with four cannabis plants at his live rounds of 7.62 x 39 Roraima Housing Scheme ammunition, four blue pills, property and three transparent bags containingcannabisseeds. approximately11.2gramsof

Acting on intelligence, a containing suspected

Ammunitions, Firearm and Narcotics Found

The man was informed cannabis. team of officers led by an cannabis in the living room of the offence, cautioned, The illegal items were Assistant Superintendent werefound. andsubsequentlyarrested. taken to the La Grange executed an operation that Further exploration of Police uprooted the PoliceStation. led to the discovery of the the yard led the officers to

The man remains in rifle, ammunition and uncover three cannabis confiscated the firearm, custody as investigations cannabis. plants and four Ziploc bags a m m u n i t i o n , a n d continue.

Cyclist injured in Mandela Avenue accident

A cyclist of Roxanne Burnham Drive is was showing green in his direction so he currently nursing injuries about his body at proceeded further west and in the process of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation doing so, the pedal cyclist suddenly turned (GPHC) following an accident which north to cross the road going from south to occurredonWednesday north.

Reportsarethatataround21:05hrsatthe Itwasatthatpoint,thecyclistendedupin intersection of Nelson MandelaAvenue and the path of the car and the left side front Cemetery Road, a car with licence plate portion of the car came into contact with the number PXX 240, driven by a 20-year-old pedalcyclist. individual from Lot I-2-897 Critchlow As a result of the collision, the cyclist fell Circle, Tucville, collided with the pedal onto the road and received injuries about his cyclist body

The motorcar was reportedly traveling The EMT was summoned, and he was west along the southern drive lane on the picked up in an unconscious condition and southern carriageway of MandelaAvenue.At transportedtoGeorgetownPublicHospital. thesametime,thepedalcyclistwasridingon He was examined by a doctor on duty thesouthernsideofthesoutherncarriageway and was treated for a broken left leg and oftheroad. multiple injuries to his body and later Police said it is alleged that the driver of admitted the car approached the intersection of Nelson The driver of the motorcar is currently in MandelaandCemeteryRoad,thetrafficlight custody,assistingwiththeinvestigation.

Govt. calls for enhanced coordination to achieve SDGs

The Government of Guyana has called these, which can affect the progress of their for enhanced coordination to achieve the policies.

SustainableDevelopmentGoals. According to the minister, enhanced Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and coordination and collaboration are key to Governance, Gail Teixeira, co-chaired the tracking these programmes and policies, annual meeting of the Government of ensuring that they deliver the desired Guyana and the United Nations Joint outcomes. Steering Committee, held at the However, the minister was also quick to Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown on highlight the Guyanese desire to take the Monday In her opening remarks, Minister helmofthenation’sdevelopment. Teixeira emphasized the need for increased She said that while Guyana needs collaboration in achieving sustainable development partners, tangible solutions in development goals (SDGs). “Here in this the country must be championed by the microcosm of the UN country team in the Guyanese. “We do believe that, based on government, [we have to assess] how well our knowledge and experiences, that we we are coordinating and collaborating, to want to drive this process. Based on the make sure that we are all on the same history, the view of Guyanese is that we page, and to ensure that the programmes want to determine where we go, how we are going the way we would like,” she get there, and how fast we get there,” the stated. ParliamentaryAffairs Minister underscored.

The minister highlighted the changing The Joint Steering Committee assessed the governance strategy as the country’s UN’s response to regional development economyexpandsandcommendedtheUN’s priorities during the implementation of the support during challenging times, UN M

particularly in civil defence strengthening. Development Framework. The meeting saw MinisterTeixeira pointed out a diverse array discussionsonfoodsystems,dataprotection, of challenges faced by organisations like andmechanismsforachievingSDGs. (DPI)

ExxonMspentGuyana’soilprofitstoseeklegaladvice onhowborder

controversywillaffecttheirpockets

During the period 2018- dispute is solely between the 2020, ExxonMobil Guyana two countries They Limited (EMGL) spent therefore pointed out that Guyana’s oil profits to seek anylegalfeesincurredbythe legal advice on how the Contractor must be shared Guyana/ Venezuela border only among the Stabroek controversy could affect Block partners- Exxon, Hess theirprofits. andCNOOC.

This was flagged in the “Even though the audit report prepared by Stabroek Block is within the VHE Consulting, a disputed area, it is only a partnership between portionoftheentiredisputed Ramdihal & Haynes Inc; area.Thisdisputedatestothe Eclisar Financial; and Good Office process over Vitality Accounting & three decades ago; it is Consultancy Inc. The local reasonablypresumedthatthe consortium was supported Contractor was aware of this by International firms- SGS dispute before their and Martindale Consultants acquisition of Stabroek for the cost recovery audit of Blockinterests,”theauditors Exxon’s uS$7.3B expenses, saidinthereport. rackedupbetweentheperiod Therefore, the team 2018to2020. made it clear that the legal According to the report, services retained by the Exxon spent a total of Contractor from Skadden US$500,000 or GY$100M Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Exxon’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in Guyana, the Liza Destiny

o n l e g a l c o s t s n o t for advice pertaining to the recoverable. Included in the border dispute is not amount were costs for legal recoverable since it does not adviceontheongoingborder meet the requirements controversy The document outlined in Section 3.1(h) of states that the company the 2016 Production Sharing daily capacity to 1.3 billion

Essequibo Essequibo is utilised the services of Agreement(PSA). bpdby2027.

Guyana’s biggest county, Skadden, Arps, Slate, ExxonMobil is the Guyana and Venezuela filled with gold, diamonds Meagher & Flom LLP, a top operator of Guyana’s oil rich are presently before the and significant natural US law firm to provide legal Stabroek Block, where over InternationalCourtofJustice resources. advice on the potential 11 billion barrels of oil has (ICJ)pendingtheoutcomeof Thecasefindsitsgenesis impact the border dispute been discovered since 2015. the border controversy, in Venezuela’s challenge to may have on the contractor’s In 2016, the oil giant signed where that country is the validity of the 1899 interest in the Stabroek the infamous 2016 PSA claiming two thirds of Arbitral Award of the Block. Further, Exxon also which allows it to exploit the Guyana’s mineral rich lands, boundaries that separate the sought advice on what could resources in the 26,800 Essequibo. Venezuela has twocountries.Asaresult,the be done to “defend that square kilometers block historically claimed two countries were sent to interest”. Presently over 600,000 Guyana’s Essequibo region the world court through the

ver barrels of oil per day (bpd) is as its own despite its initial United Nation’s (UN)

y acceptance of the 1899 peacekeeping process to ExxonMobil has no official ExxonMobil, with the Arbitral Award that gives settle the controversy once leading standing as the company aiming to increase Guyana control of the andforall.

Audit reveals

Four men robbed after attending Burna Boy Show - 2nd

Four men were robbed at D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown early Thursday morning by three men on bicycleswhilereturninghomefromthe‘BurnaBoyShow’.

According to reports, among the victims was a 41-yearoldmanofSouthRuimveldt,Georgetown.Hewasrobbedof a gold chain valued at US$1000, along with $150,000 GuyanaCurrency

Another victim, a 31-year-old Office Clerk residing in D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown, was robbed of an iPhone 12valuedatGY$100,000,a5-pennyweightgoldchain,and GY$40,000cash.

The perpetrators also targeted a 25-year-old unemployed female from South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was robbed of a 3-pennyweight gold ring valued at GY$45,000.Additionally, a 34-year-old QualityAssurance Officer, also from D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown, was robbedofa12ROnePluscellphonevaluedatGY$120,000 andGY$6,000.

Investigationsintotheincidentrevealedthatthevictims had just disembarked from their vehicle and were about to enter a yard at D’Urban Backlands when the three suspects approached them from the western direction. The suspects swiftly demanded the victims’ said valuables, with one suspect specifically targeting the female, coercing her to surrenderherbag.

The assailants proceeded to strip the other victims of their cash and possessions before making their escape on bicycles. No arrest was made and investigations are ongoing.

Sukhai accused of meddling in the affairs of Indigenous villages

- reportedly says only Amerindians eligible to vote in village elections

The main opposition on Saying that the minister

prerequisites for one to be Wi l l i a m s f u r t h e r ThursdaycalledoutMinister is patently wrong in her elected as a Councillor. explainedthatthisconflictin of Amerindian Affairs, pronouncement regarding

Among those is that one the legislation is causing Pauline Sukhai for allegedly the ineligibility of non- shouldbe“…anAmerindian major discomfort for meddling in the elections’ Amerindians to participate of at least eighteen years of residents in some Villages. affairs of Indigenous in the Village election age…” How can one be “We have received reports Villages. process, Williams pointed eligibletoelectone’sleaders that the names of so-called

Speaking at a news o u t t h a t S u k h a i ’ s but not be eligible to be non-Amerindians are being conference hosted by Leader observations laid bare two electedasaleader? Canyou removed from the voters’ of the Opposition, PNCR conflicting provisions of the imagine what it would be lists in some Villages. In Executive Member, Mervyn Amerindian Act. “This fact like if our Constitution said many reported cases, Williams said that Sukhai’s begs the question, why the that citizens could elect a persons of other ethnicities intentionistodeterminewho PPP is hell bent on resisting government but only one living in Villages for more gets elected in each Village, calls for the resumption of categoryofcitizenscanoffer than fifty years, married to in keeping with “the known the consultative process themselves as candidates? Indigenous spouses, their PPP policy of domination intendedtoresultinarevised This is clearly an attempt to union producing children, and control.” Williams told AmerindianAct? exclude persons the PPP are and grandchildren, watch on the news conference that in Williams noted that unable to control. The PPP in horror asVillage Councils one case, the minister is on Section 2 of the Act defines is an Amerindian who was

“Amerindians” are qualified holds on to the Amerindian post voters’lists from which record as saying that only an “Amerindian” as “… any born in, lives in or has his for inclusion on the voters’ Act as is, refusing to consult their names have been Amerindians are eligible to citizen of Guyana who – (a) principal place within the roll and are entitled to vote. with the Indigenous citizens deleted This is electoral participate in the electoral Belongs to any of the native Village… ; or (b) Who The Minister should read the of Guyana with regard to fraud. The PPP government process. “She speaks of non- or aboriginal peoples of lives within the Village and Act and operate based on the their demand for its revision. is causing serious divisions Amerindiansand“thosewho Guyana, or (b) Is a isrecognisedasaresidentby Law The law stipulating the Wecallonthegovernmentto

don’t look like us” in descendant of any person the membership rules of the publication of the list at least immediately resume the disenfranchisement is taking describing the mixed mentionedinparagraph(a);” Village;” sixtydaysbeforetheelection nationwide consultation place Families are now descendants of Indigenous “Itfollows,logically,thatfor Williams further stated is being violated since most aimed at revising the embroiled in conflict over Guyanese and Guyanese of Pauline Sukhai to live by her that Section 69 (1) (a) ofthevillageswerenotgiven Amerindian Act These exclusion from the electoral other ethnicities. The latter publicly stated position on provides that the Village the sixty days’ notice as is consultations which begun

description is cause for eligibilityforparticipationin Council “Shall” “compile an stipulatedintheLaw under theAPNU+AFC were Indigenous and mixed worry It is a matter that any Village elections, the electoral list of all adult The conflict arises, well advanced. The Minister parentage can no longer functioningEthnicRelations element of DNAtesting may residents” no later than sixty Williams said when it comes has in her possession the participate in the electoral Commission would have a become necessary Section 2 daysbeforetheelectiondate. to eligibility to hold office in Reports which emanated process. PPP operatives keen interest in inquiring also defines “resident” as, This is clear evidence that the Village. Section 71 (1) from the consultative nowhavenoregardfortheir into,”Williamscharged. “…anindividual–(a) Who “residents” as opposed to (a) through (d) lists the processandshemustact.

(Continued on page 20)

PNCR Executive Member, Mervyn Williams

$346M Bamia Primary School to be completed by June month-end

Having missed its third some six months prior to being deadline to complete handedthecontract.

the $346 million During a telephone interview

Bamia Primary School with this publication on Monday, projectinRegion10,thecontractor Adamssaidthatduringavisittothe now has up to June month-end to projectsitewithhisteaminApril,a completetheworks. number of works were yet to be This is according to Chairman completedonthebuilding.

Some of the completed works on the Bamia Primary School.

of the region’s Regional He shared that electrical works, Democratic Council (RDC) Deron installment of several windows, Adams who told Kaieteur News completion of ceiling, corrective thathewasadvisedbytheRegional works to some walls, painting of Executive Officer (REO) that a interior and completion to exterior two-month extension was granted wereyettobedone. fortheproject. Expressing his dissatisfaction Kaieteur News had reported with the slothfulness of the project, distancechildrenhavetowalkfrom Earlier this year, $127 million signed in November 2021 with that the school project was Adams said it is hoped that the the Bamia area all the way to was approved by the National St8ment Investment. St8ment expected to be completed in April, school could be completed soonest Amelia’s Ward Primary; it is a As

InvestmentInc.wasincorporatedin but at the time, works were only 75 so as to eliminate the challenges challenge for them. The delay of completingtheschool. Marchof2021anditsprincipalsare percent completed. The school is stude

being built by contractor, St8ment communityarecurrentlyfacing. hardshiponthem,”heexpressed. that the contract for the school was Bollers of Hits and Jams Investment Inc. that was formed “Theissueisthatbecauseofthe Entertainment along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammed of the Kashif and Shanghaifootballtournament. At the time of the signing, the project was expected to be completed within 20 months, that beingcompletedbyJuly2023.

this school is bringing more This publication had reported Rawle Ferguson and Kerwin

However, the contractor was unable to finish the project, and was given a new deadline of November 2023 to complete the works That deadline also passed and the works appeared to have beenstalled

DuringtheConsiderationofthe 2024 Budget, the Minister of Education was asked by the members of the Opposition about the status of the school, to which she announced that the school will becompletedforApril1,2024.

Canada and CDEMA sign agreement on disaster response

AAccording to a press Early Recovery Fund. The o

l statement, the MoU allows

commencement

Canada’s partnership with

of the Atlantic Canadian Armed Forces CDEMA through projects hurricane season, the support to assist affected like Targeted Support to Government of Canada and countriesduringdisasters. CDEMA and EnGenDER, the Caribbean Disaster The MOU was initially which enhance disaster Emergency Management

response and recovery Agency (CDEMA) have Minister Justin Trudeau at capabilities Canada also restated their commitment to the Canada-CARICOM supports the establishment cooperate and collaborate in Summit in October 2023, as of a Regional Logistics Hub responding to natural

and Centre of Excellence in hazards that result in CARICOM

ic Barbados with CDEMA and disasterswithintheregion. Partnership. Its aim is to theWorldFoodProgramme. Executive Director of provide timely and targeted High Commissioner CDEMA Elizabeth Riley support to the Caribbean Chatterjee emphasized and the High Commissioner through the Regional Canada’s ongoing support ofCanadatoBarbadosLilian Response Mechanism for its Caribbean neighbours Chatterjee, on Thursday, During

signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) Director, Elizabeth Riley, increasing complexity of thanked Canada for its responseoperations. support in strengthening Canada is committed to disaster risk management. providing timely assistance She highlighted the through its Armed Forces. importance of the MOU Can

CDEMA given the region’s multi- recognise the vulnerabilities hazard realities and the of the Caribbean region to forecasted intense Atlantic climate change and natural hurricaneseasonin2024. hazards.

Riley praised Canada’s R

consistent reliability, c

including assistance with coordination are vital to airport specialists, financial enhancing preparedness and aid, and logistical support resilience, considering the during COVID-19, and escalating frequency, scale, contributions to recovery and complexity of these initiatives like the Caribbean hazardsoverthepastdecade.

Sukhaiaccusedof...

From page 18

Indigenous lineage and the definition of “resident” in the legislation.”

According to Williams, over in Campbelltown in Region #8, former Toshao Marbel Thomas who was unlawfully removed from her elected office soon after the PPP assumed officehasagainbeenatargetofPaulineSukhai. “Ms.Thomas told her story on social media. She claims that after being nominated, seconded, and having her name placed on the list of nominees for the position of Toshao, the returning officer received a phone call. Following that call, Ms. Thomas alleged that the returning officer removed her name from the list of nominees. She alleged that the returning officer explained that he received instruction that caused him to remove her name. This is unlawful and a manifestation of the dictatorialnatureofthePPP.ThePPPmustallowtheresidents of Indigenous communities to elect the leaders of their choice and allow Returning Officers to function independently and notbedictatedtobyPPPpoliticians,”Williamsreported.

Williams said Marbel Thomas satisfies Section 71 of the Act in its entirety “Notwithstanding her unlawful removal from elected office, she did not present herself as a candidate in the election immediately following her removal. She was never convicted of any criminal offence. What then is her crime? Only Pauline Sukhai can enlighten us as to the reason(s) for Marbel Thomas not being eligible to be a candidatefortheCampbelltownVillageelection.Vindictiveis awordthatspringstomind,becausetheMinisterseemsnotto care about the massive allegations of corruption on the part of some elected officials whom the PPPsupports for re-election. PaulineSukhaimusttelltheIndigenouspopulationofGuyana the reason some Villages enjoy one month between nomination and election dates while others have only one to four days in some cases, and in others, both nomination and electionsbeingconductedonthesameday Insomecases,the tradition of holding elections on Sundays to facilitate the full participation of Villagers who work outside of the Village is now being discarded and conveniently abandoned,”Williams toldthenewsconference.Williamssaidthesevillageelections in2024arelayingbarethePPPdesirefortotaldominationand control of the Indigenous Guyanese population. “The Indigenous peoples of Guyana reject, in the strongest terms, the PPP’s unrelenting campaign to exercise total domination andcontrolovertheirverylives.”

CDEMA’s Executive Director Elizabeth Riley (right) and High Commissioner of Canada H.E. Lilian Chatterjee shaking hands at the signing the MOU at the High Commission of Canada.

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Hiring Manager for Akash people Variety store at lot 4 Robbstreet, Georgetown. Contact - 709-0340

Poor data gathering ‘hindering inequality fight’

(BARBADOS TODAY)

A trio of experts at a World Bank forum on poverty and inequality in the Caribbean have urged more frequent and consistent poverty surveys to get a better fix on the problem.

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Caribbean countries struggle with weak statistical capacity and low data usage, according to the multilateral lending institution. The World Bank’s Statistical Performance Indicator (SPI), which measures statistical capacity at the country level, ranks the Caribbean in statistical performance compared to other regions, aligning more closely with low-income countries.

Appearing Tuesday at a World Bank webinar on Closing the Caribbean Data Gap: Addressing Poverty and Inequality, Trinidad Saavedra, a World Bank economic analyst, said the lack of data continues to challenge authorities. “In many Caribbean countries, the frequency of the data collection of key data sources is not aligned with the best practice recommendations,” Saavedra said. “None of the countries, except for Jamaica, conduct household surveys for measurement according to the recommended time span of three to five years. Caribbean countries have produced only one or no poverty estimates in the past decade.

“This absence of up-todate household survey data for poverty measurement hinders the effective tracking

of Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty and inequality.”

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat’s Director of Regional Statistics Halim Brizan said the lack of a skilled data-gathering staff throughout the bloc has also hindered regular data collection. “Obviously to conduct poverty surveys, a team of interviewers or field staff must be hired and other support staff as well,” said Brizan. “Poverty surveys are normally done on an ad-hoc basis as a result, thus not very frequently administered in most countries in the CARICOM region. Therefore another challenge will be that skill sets are not easily retained.”

However, he quickly added: “Although there have been improvements in general survey collection and processing, countries are still heavily dependent on technical support from external experts or international development partners to analyse poverty data, to produce the poverty results and indicators, and to interrupt the results and write the analytical reports. Not having ready access to the skill sets required for data analysis and interpretation, can contribute to significant delays in the data production process, and thus, the dissemination of the results.

“The conversation when the results are available is [also] limited to just the overall poverty rate, and does not

get into the characteristics of the poor, and also the composition of the poverty.” Brizan said that the importance of relevant surveys and statistics cannot be underestimated when seeking to have an accurate view and framework to support the country’s sustainable goals.

“I would say factoring poverty and inequality measurement is an important component of monitoring and evaluation in the context of a country’s national sustainable development plans, which may give priority to either budgeting to either poverty surveys in the recurring expenditure of government, or mobilising funds so that these surveys can be implemented on a consistent basis,” said Brizan. “Ensuring that the surveys are budgeted for annually can therefore be seen as key best practice.”

Rosita Sobhie, a senior researcher and the dean of the Interfaculty for Graduate Studies and Research of Suriname’s Anton de Kom University, also explained that though such statistics are usually seen as only being important for the government, private sector players can also benefit. She suggested better promotion of statistical exercises. Sobhie said: “The National Statistical Office is very reliant on decision-making from the government. Maybe when we also take the chance to promote our own data and the usefulness of it, we can have other ways of funding.”

Iran charges journalists after BBC report on teen protester’s death

(BBC NEWS) Iran’s judiciary has filed charges against “a number of journalists and activists” after the publication of a BBC report alleging men working for the security forces sexually assaulted and killed a 16-year-old protester.

The judiciary-run Mizan news agency described the BBC Eye investigation into Nika Shakarami’s death in 2022 as “fake, incorrect and full of mistakes”.

It did not identify the individuals summoned for allegedly “disrupting the psychological security of society”. But two Iranian journalists who had commented on the report online said prosecutors had opened cases against them. One of them, Mohammad Parsi, wrote on Twitter/X that the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office had summoned him for publishing an “article about Nika Shakarami and the details of her murder”.

The second, Marzieh Mahmoodi, posted that “neither the charges nor the

details are known”. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi dismissed the findings of the BBC’s investigation as a plot by Iran’s enemies, becoming the first official to comment publicly.

“Enemies and their media have resorted to false and unreal reports to carry out psychological operations,” he told reporters outside a cabinet meeting, according to state media. Mr Vahidi claimed it was “an attempt to divert attention” from the current pro-Palestinian protests in the US as well as Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel last month.

There was no immediate comment from BBC News on the statements by Mr Vahidi and the judiciary. Nika Shakarami became a symbol of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protest movement that shook the Islamic Republic two years ago. The protests erupted in response to the death in custody on 16 September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman

who had been detained by morality police in the capital for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.

On 20 September 2022, Nika was filmed at a protest in Tehran setting fire to her headscarf, while other protesters chanted “death to the dictator” - a reference to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

She disappeared that evening after telling a friend that she was being chased by security forces.

Her family eventually found her body at a mortuary more than a week later. They alleged that she died from blows to the head and rejected claims from officials that she had killed herself by jumping off the roof of a building.

The BBC Eye investigation, published on Monday, was based on what is understood to be a leaked internal document summarising a hearing on Nika’s case held by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

VACANCY

Messages on World Press Freedom Day

G

u y a n a P r e s s Association’s World Press

Freedom Day 2024 statement

The Guyana Press Associationsalutesallmedia workers in Guyana for this World Press Freedom Day 2024.TheUNESCOTheme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalisminthefaceofthe Environmental Crisis,” not only places media workers on the frontline of another crisis and highlights the importance of the press in addressing challenges

brought on by the environmental crisis but it also gives us an opportunity toworktowardssolutions.

In Guyana, the press observes this WPFD at a time when the country faces a prolonged dry spell which seemstobenowabatingina number of regions, an uncontrolled solid waste management crisis to varying degrees in many areas, and dismally poor environmental management of a number of gold mining and coastal sea defence areas. Dried and cracked

canals,increasedfoodprices andshortagesofstaplessuch as cassava all point to a world and a country in the t h r o e s o f a d e e p environmentalcrisis. At a global level, scientists attribute such a phenomenon to climate change which, as we had seen in 2005, also causes devastating floods and can alsotriggerdangerousrisein sealevelstothedetrimentof Guyana’s coastland where the majority of people live, workandproducetheirfood. On a larger scale, what is visible is a country where littering and indiscriminate waste disposal is now a national pastime with authorities failing dismally toprosecuteperpetratorsand collect waste in a timely manner The local, regional and central governments must take collective blame forthestateofourcountry’s environmental crisis- dirty streetsandparapets,clogged drains and canals, and unregulated and unofficial dumpsites/garbagepiles. The huge Martian-like

scars could be seen in Guyana’s gold mining areas where there is no backfilling of mined out areas, miners have changed the course of creeks and rivers andtherearehugequestions surroundingtheactualuseof mercury abatement techniques and the eventual elimination of mercury use. Many of our Indigenous Amerindian communities havenoalternativebuttouse polluted water for their domesticuseandasasource offishhunting.

Similarly, the coastline near the sea defence structure symbolises bad waste disposal practices in ourtownsandvillageswhen one takes into consideration the millions of plastic drink bottles and other debris that wash up and wash off with eachtide.Sectionsofthesea defence are now veritable dumping grounds for domestic and commercial waste.Nooneseemstocare.

All this is happening before our very eyes while the blame game between government and the

oppositioncontinues.

Taken together- solid waste and climate phenomena- Guyana is i n d e e d f a c i n g a n environmentalcrisis.

Then, what’s needed by the media is constant and sustained training of a pool of specialist journalists whose task will be to simplifyscienceinformation to make it palatable and connected to their daily lives The Guyana Press

A

Guyanagovernment,private sector and various United Nations organisations inject resources into special serialised productions on environmental issues that will go beyond the average newsstorywhoselifecycleis perhaps one day or a few hoursorevenminutes.Atthe same time, media workers need to jealously guard against oil resources being used to bribe them from covering the real issues or engagingindisinformation.

The Guyana Press Association also calls for an

ABCEU Joint Statement -

World Press Freedom Day

The Heads of Missions oftheEmbassyoftheUnited States of America, H E AmbassadorNicoleTheriot; t h e B r i t i s h H i g h Commission, H E High Commissioner Jane Miller OBE; the Canadian High Commission, H E High

Commissioner Mark Berman,andtheDelegation oftheEuropeanUnion,H.E. Ambassador Rene van Nes, join together to observe World Press Freedom Day under the theme, “The importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis”.

Climate change and relatedenvironmentalissues havebeenattheforefrontof international dialogue for many years but recent and increasingly erratic weather patterns around the world, growing pressures on flora and fauna, food insecurity and water scarcity have all created new impetus for action. While governments and the international community are prioritising these environmental crises, solutions are not easy and sometimes controversial Given the differences in opinions and complexities of the crisis, the need for accurate and reliable information cannot be

overstated. Journalists therefore find themselves in a pivotal position, where their pen and their words can influence the hearts and mindsofcitizensinthehigh stake global environmental conversation. Freedom of expression is essential, allowing journalists the ability to deliver the facts about climate change and related issues freely and fairly, without influence or intimidation as climate research, climate talks and climateactionprogress.

With a low-lying coastline and rising sea

levels, Guyana is continuously affected by environmental crises like flooding,andmorerecently, prolongeddryspells.Under such conditions, access to information is crucial to help the Guyanese population understand local environmental impacts, planned interventions and costs, in order to make informeddecisionsandbea part of the global conversation.Thereliability of the information available to the public requires journaliststobegivenmore accesstodataandscienceto analyse in order to accurately inform the public. New research, data andfindingsshouldbemade

readily available to the media.Journalistsshouldbe allowed access to speak to

local experts and researchers involved in climate work. Additionally, they should also have the opportunity to see environmental work in action, facilitating ongoing learning and staying

informed about new interventions and climate activities.

This right to access c o m e s w i t h t h e responsibility for due diligence in reporting, especially at a time when misinformation and disinformation is rampant. Journalists are expected to be neutral and fair when representing the facts. A misrepresentation of facts and figures, whether deliberateoraccidental,can have damaging effects,

manipulating public perception (locally and internationally) of the environmental situation Thiscaninturnaffectpublic p e r c e p t i o n o f a Government’s response and use of funds during an environmentalcrisis.

We therefore encourage Government, Opposition and Stakeholders to be thoughtful and deliberate in their action and to practice

t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d

segregation and division in oursocietyasthenationseeks to tackle the environmental crisis The convenience of engaging the Guyana Press Association needs to cease immediately In as much, as aninstitution,theAssociation isalwaysreadyandwillingto workforthenationalgood,it cannotbeatthebehestofthe po

e. Sadly,neithertheMinisterof Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat nor the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Khemraj Parsram r

Association’s invitation to participate in its event for World Press Freedom Day 2

Association responded in the a

government’s invitation to participate in itsWorld Press FreedomDayevent

of Health in 2023 to help our journalists understand and report on suicides in Guyana, ourproposaltotheMinistryof Healthtoassistthemediawith training to help assist with its campaign on HPV Vaccines and our commitment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs andInternationalCooperation to ensure that press be informedbeforeitinformson challenges to Guyana’s sovereignty.

The GPA takes this opportunity to call on citizens to ensure the protection of media workers in Guyana. There has been an alarming increase in online attacks against media workers In some cases, women are trolled and bullied,inothercases,some of our journalists are met with aggression by public officials when asking probingquestions.

accountability Engagement with the media and the availability of accurate environmental and other information should be a norm and actively in practice.

W e e n c o u r a g e journalists to maintain the integrityintheirworkandto continue to be curious and enquire. We encourage the public to show respect for the work of journalists, enabling them to present information without the threat of intimidation or attack(physicallyoronline), particularly women, and LGBTpersons.

Wecommendtheefforts of the government of Guyana towards providing training opportunities for members of the media and weencouragemoretraining and open discourse, including dialogue with the GuyanaPressAssociation.

It is important to acknowledge that in all aspects of society, the work of journalists is essential to human rights and a cornerstone to democratic processes. Media freedom and the freedom of expression benefit us all. When the media is reliable, fair and free to operate, and the government is transparent, our countries aremoresuccessful.

In light of the intolerable discourtesy extended to the Press Association by Mr Bharrat and Mr Parsram, the Guyana Press Association decided to withdraw its wellintentionedparticipationinthe government-organised event The GPA wants to take this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to building the capacityofourmediaworkers asweremainopentopursuing specialised training covering variousissues Thisisevident with our proposals to the PAHO/WHOandtheMinistry

GPA also calls on the Guyana Police Force to act swiftly in several matters before the police involving media workers These including the cyber bullying meted out to journalist, Davina Bagot in 2023, shooting incident involving journalist, Travis Chase in 2023 and the alleged sexual assault against the photographeralsolastyear

Asweendourstatement, theGPAcallsonalltomakea valuable commitment towardssavingourplanet.

A Press for the Planet

Association of Caribbean Media Workers

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers joins with the global fraternity of journalists and other media workers in observing World Press FreedomDay2024underthe theme “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis” This year’s observancecomesasweinthe region grapple with the existential crisis climate change presents to the Caribbean with rising sea levels, more violent storms, and more of the droughts we are currently experiencing. Therefore, the time has come forregionalmediatohighlight the impact the environmental crisisisalreadyhavinginour respective countries, especially its impact on the socio-economically disadvantaged The media plays a major role in reporting on environmental problems and possible solutions Freedom of Expression,enshrinedinthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in our c o n s t i t u t i o n s , i s accompaniedbyanumberof

limits through the region whichmeansthatthisrightis notabsolute.

Therefore, theAssociation of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM)urgesourmembersand others in the Information Industrytoactresponsiblyand not engage in misinformation and disinformation Further, this year’s observance highlights the need for specialised training of journalists in science communication so that practitioners are better able to reportonthescienceofclimate change for our diverse audiences. Beyond news reporting, the ACM recommends that regional governments, NGOs and InternationalAgenciesprovide much needed resources to support sustained reporting on environmentalmattersthrough features, documentaries and investigativereports

This World Press Freedom Day, the ACM takes the time to salute our colleagues while urging them to continue to execute their tasks bearing in mind that the planet is our home, andweneedtopreserveit.

Hundreds gather outside Israeli Embassy in Washington demanding ceasefire in Gaza

- Protesters vow to continue rallies, pay tribute to U.S. service member Aaron Bushnell who set himself on fire outside embassy last week

ANADOLU NEWS

Hundreds of people on Saturday gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in WashingtonDCtodemanda cease-fireintheGazaStrip.

Demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags chanted slogans against President Joe Biden while unfurling banners saying “Free Palestine”, “Stop The Invasion”, “Hands Of Rafah” , “Stop The Genocide”,“EndAllUSAid To Israel”, “Jews For Free Palestine”,and“EndAllUS Funding Of Israeli Apartheid.”

T h e p r o t e s t e r s remembered the US service member Aaron Bushnell who set himself on fire outside the embassy last week.

Bushnell, 25, an activeduty member of the Air Force, died after selfimmolating in protest againstIsrael’swaronGaza, and he wrote in his will that he wanted his ashes to be scatteredinafreePalestine.

“I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestineatthehandsoftheir colonizers, it’s not extreme atall.Thisiswhatourruling class has decided will be normal,” he said during a live stream on his mobile phone.

Then he proceeded to douse himself in gasoline, settinghimselfablaze.

Dressed in military uniform, Bushnell shouted “Freedom for Palestine” repeatedly,untilhecouldno longerspeak.

‘Wewillnotleavestreets untilweachievefreedom’

One of the protesters, who is also a director at American Muslims for P a l e s t i n e ( A M P ) , Mohammad Habehh said people are in front of the embassytogiveamessageto theUSadministrationandto theIsraeligovernment.

“We will not stop, we

willnotleavethestreetsuntil we achieve freedom and an end to this genocide that is being committed by the Israelis and the US government.

“I think the President (Joe Biden) and those who are guilty, are well aware of what is going on in the streets, whether it is this or the disruptions or the many actions that we are taking here in DC and around this country right now,” Habehh said.

He added protests are goingonaroundmajorcities in the US for Palestine, s a y i n g t h e B i d e n administration knows what the American people stand against.

“I think that Joe Biden has proved time and again, thatheisincapableofhaving any empathy for the Palestinianpeople.

“You heard him last weekwhenhewaseatingice cream,talkingaboutaceasefire while our people are being starved, while our

people are being killed in food lines. He’s eating ice creamtalkingaboutaceasefire,”Habehhsaid.

He stressed that he is hopeful that Palestinian people will get the justice and freedom that they deserve.

Mohammad Qasim, organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told Anadoluthattheyarecalling for a permanent cease-fire after nearly five months of Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, and for ending the occupationofPalestine.

“There’s an impending invasionofRafah.Therehas already been bombardment ofRafah,andwe’reouthere to pressure here in the heart of US empire, here in Washington DC to prevent that from happening,” Qasimsaid.

Whenaskedwhetherthe protest gets to the people in power,hesaid:“Absolutely, we have power in numbers, inthemorenumberswehave here in DC and across this

country and across North America.

“They are feeling all the disruptions that are happening.

They are feeling this pressure and we will continue to apply that pressureuntilweachieveall ofourdemands,”headded.

‘Wewillwin’

An American citizen Dominique Fierro, for her part, said they are demandingacease-fire.

“I’ve seen too much carnage, I’ve seen too much massacre.Itwasneverokay It will never be okay My heart breaks every day for everythingI’veseen.

“Ithinkifenoughpeople show up every single time thenyes,wewillwin.

People also staged protestsacrossotherstatesin thecountryforPalestine.

Israel launched a military offensive on the Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion, which Tel Aviv said killed about1,200people.

At least 30,320 Palestinianshavesincebeen killed and 71,533 others injured besides mass destruction, displacement andshortagesofnecessities.

Israelhasalsoimposeda crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, onthevergeofstarvation.

Israel is accused of genocideattheInternational CourtofJustice,which,inan interim ruling in January, ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

I’mhopingthatthiswill allendifenoughpeopletalk and if people aren’t silent anymore, and if they see something that they have to say something. I mean, you feel it in your soul that it’s wrong.Andifyoudon’tfeel it in your soul then something is inherently wrongwithyou.”

Football is in a quagmire...

From page 31 multi-purpose sports halls in Regions 1, 3, 7, 8, and 9, alongside multi-purpose sports facilities in Regions 2 and 10.

Despite the apparent increase in Ground Enhancement funds as reflected in records, the stark reality remains: there is a severe lack of facilities, particularly in Regions 3, 4, 6, and 10, capable of accommodating football. Aside from the GFF Elite League and school football, which are sustained partly by the efforts of organizations like the Petra Organisation and New Era Entertainment, football opportunities are scarce in Guyana, and this isn’t solely the fault of the GFF. In January, President Ali

convened with members of the Golden Jaguars at State House, expressing his government’s steadfast backing for the nation’s endeavour to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, affirming, “We will be rallying a new wave of energy and support around you.” However, I regret to convey that Guyana’s prospects for World Cup qualification are bleak, at least in the foreseeable future. Why?

It appears that President Ali and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport are diverging in their approaches to football and the development of community grounds.

I challenge anyone reading this to locate a single public ground in Georgetown and Linden that meets the basic

FIFA requirements for senior football. The truth is, there aren’t any. So, why are we harbouring dreams of World Cup qualification and aspirations when we struggle to provide the fundamental necessities for the game in Guyana?

Interestingly, the Government of Guyana might be the only entity in CARICOM that doesn’t financially support any league football. Unlike in Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and numerous other countries, where league football receives government backing, the GFF’s Elite League doesn’t receive any funding from the ruling administration.

We’re seeing massive construction for cricket, and

a commitment by President Ali to support the West Indies, but, what about football in Guyana? It’s a striking reality that there’s a larger audience for domestic football compared to domestic cricket in Guyana. Additionally, there’s a higher participation rate in football than cricket. Despite football being the world’s most popular sport, it receives minimal support from the Guyanese Government.

It’s a common practice for top-league clubs to receive grants from the governing administration elsewhere. So, what’s preventing this from happening in Guyana?

Applications open for vendors in West Indies host venues for ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –

The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 is inviting applications from persons interested in securing concessionary opportunities during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Tournament.

The ninth edition of ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup takes place from 1 to 29 June in the West Indies and USA. It will be the largest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ever and is expected to attract thousands of fans to its nine host venues.

Applicants must note that available spaces are limited and applications will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Once an applicant’s submission has been received and approved, rates for the preferred stadium, and an outline of the documentation required to confirm their position will be provided to the applicant.

Friday May 03, 2024

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

There's an important lesson to learn today, Aries, so don't shy away from the classroom. It's important to control your attitude now or it's likely to control you. It could be that your ego is a bit too inflated

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Consider the romantic relationships in your life right now, Taurus. It's important to remember that regardless of how hot and steamy a partnership is at first,

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today is your day to become a hero, Gemini. You don't have to be dressed in fancy tights and a cape to make an important difference in someone's life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

There's a great deal of fun to be had today, Cancer. Money isn't always necessary to make this happen, however. In fact, money isn't a great way to keep score.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Remember that the important thing isn't necessarily what you're doing but the people you're with, Leo. There's a great deal of passion in the air today that yo u can latch onto and put to good use.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

You could learn a tough lesson today, Virgo. More than likely, the harder the message hits you, the more important it was for you to hear. It's important that you accept failure gracefully.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

There's a great deal of fuel to keep your fire raging today, Libra. Powerful situations are apt to come your way in which you're asked to take decisive action. Don't shy away from added responsibility.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Remember that one wrong move today could cause you to have a headache for a good long while, Scorpio. Don't take uncalculated risks. There's dynamism and confidence in the air.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

It's a long road to becoming exactly the person you want to be, Sagittarius. You can't change who you are. Input from every person you know and lessons from every bump in the road.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You should always leave a loved one with loving words, Capricorn. Each time you exit a room, consider that you're never going to enter that room again. Perhaps you'll never see those people again.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Just when you think you have absolutely no energy left, you're able to kick into a higher gear. Push beyond your limits today, Aquarius. You'll find that you can achieve a great deal.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Regardless of how you feel today, Pisces, it's important to own up to your mistakes. Keep in mind that you're responsible for your actions. No matter how much you might want to shrink away,

However, this doesn’t absolve the GFF of responsibility for the local state of the game. The GFF Executive Committee may attempt to deflect criticism by highlighting the Elite League, but the reality is that it’s the only offering for senior football in Guyana, and that’s not a cause for celebration.

There’s still significant room for improvement in terms of the Elite League’s marketability. However, it’s challenging to achieve much when the league is being played at an incomplete facility due to the lack of suitable playing venues.

Garcia denies...

From page 26 muscle growth, has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list since 2008. It is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

Garcia floored Haney three times in his upset victory, but did not win his American compatriot’s WBC light-welterweight title after missing weight for the contest. The WBC requires all its fighters to enroll in its ‘clean boxing program’ and employs Vada to oversee the drug testing. Golden Boy Promotions, Garcia’s promoters, said they will “determine how this finding came to be”. “Ryan has put out multiple statements denying knowingly using any banned substances - and we believe him,” the statement added. Haney told ESPN the result has “put the fight in a completely different light”. “We learned about this situation not too long ago and it’s unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty,” Haney said.

“Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke. We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living.” British boxer Amir Khan was handed a two-year ban by UK Anti-Doping after he tested positive for ostarine in 2022.

Residents of the six West Indies host venues who are interested in securing a spot in their host venue should submit inquiries to cwivendors@cricketwestindies.org with the following information:

· Country of interest

· Business Name

· Contact Person(s)

· Contact Number(s)

· Preferred email address

· Type of product or service on offer (food, bar, craft, etc)

The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 aims to have a diverse selection of food, drink and other retail options available for the general public. As such, all types of vendors are encouraged to apply.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Tournament Director Fawwaz Baksh said: “This is the biggest and most exciting event to come to our shores in a long time. Business minded persons should do their best to be prepared for the opportunities presented and act quickly.”

Applications close, Wednesday 8 May at 5pm Eastern Caribbean.

Garcia denies steroid use after positive test report

his upset win in April.

Sport-RyanGarcia has denied taking performance-enhancing steroidsaftertestingpositive for a banned substance before his win over Devin Haney

Sanctioning body the WBC confirmed it had “received notification” from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) that Garcia returned “adverse findings” in tests taken in April.

ESPNhasreportedthatit obtained a letter, external fromVadashowingGarcia’s positiveresultforostarine.

The samples were allegedly taken the day beforeandthedayofhiswin over Haney inApril, but the results came through afterwards.

“EverybodyknowsthatI don’t cheat,” Garcia, 25, wroteonX.

“Never taken a steroid, I don’t even know where to get steroids. I barely take supplements.Biglies,Ibeat him.”

Garcia has 10 days to requestforhisBsampletobe tested. BBC Sport asked the New York State Athletic Commission to comment on

the reported failed tests and whetherthefightwithHaney couldberulednocontest.

“Safety, fairness, and integrity in professional athletic competition are essential. The Commission is in communication with Vada and is reviewing the matter,”itreplied.

Vadapresident,Margaret Goodman, told BBC Sport the organisation “does not publicly discuss results of any athlete without express permission.”

Ostarine, which is nonsteroidalandusedtosupport

(Continuedonpage25)

Tonali given suspended FA ban for betting breaches

BBC Sport - Newcastle midfielderSandroTonalihas beengivenasuspendedtwomonthbanafteradmittingto breaches of Football Associationbettingrules.

The Italian, 23, will not serve the ban if he does not commit further breaches before the end of next season.

He is already serving a 10-month ban running until August for offences during histimeinItaly.

Tonali was charged by the FA in March and admittedplacingbetween40 and 50 football bets after joining Newcastle from AC Milan last July, including fourontheMagpies’results.

The FA said the money placedonthebetsbyTonali, who has also been fined £20,000, would have been “well in excess of 100,000 euros”(£85,600).

Tonali’s four bets on Newcastle were all on his side to win, the FAsaid. He played in three of the four fixtures.

Newcastle said Tonali is “continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educationalprogrammewith the club’s full support and willcontinuetotrainwithhis team-mates”.

An independent regulatory commission heard the process has had a “profound effect” on the midfielder and “is something he does not want toexperienceagain”.

The independent commission,insummarising the evidence, said the FA contended it was “highly unlikely”thatit“wouldhave ever become aware of Tonali’s misconduct but for hisadmissions”.

The written reasons

issued on Thursday stated the four Newcastle matches Tonali admitted betting on were: a n a c c u m u l a t o r involving either Newcastle to beat Brighton on 2 September 2023 or to beat Burnleyon30September; -an accumulator including Newcastle to beat Brentfordon16September; -a single bet on Newcastle to beat Manchester City on 27 September; -an accumulator including Newcastle to beat WestHamon8October

It was also confirmed Tonali took part in an FA training programme about betting inAugust, nine days before his offences began, but he had not fully understood the content because of “his English beingextremelylimited”.

BBC

Ryan Garcia floored Devin Haney three times in

(Getty Images)

ICC bans Devon Thomas for five years under Anti-Corruption Code

SportsMax - The

International Cricket Council (ICC) announced yesterday that they have imposed a five-year period of ineligibility from all cricketonWestIndiesplayer DevonThomas.

The 34-year-old, who has represented the West Indies in one Test, 21 ODIs and 12 T20Is, accepted breaching seven counts of the anti-corruption codes of SriLankaCricket(SLC),the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean PremierLeague(CPL).

T h o m a s w a s provisionally suspended for corruption on May 23, 2023 when he was slapped with the following seven charges:

Article2 1 1oftheSLC Code - contriving or being partytoanagreementtofix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka PremierLeague2021

Article2 4 4oftheSLC Code – failing to disclose to the Designated AntiCorruption Official, withoutunnecessarydelay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engageinCorruptConduct in the Lanka Premier League2021

Article 2.4.6 of the SLC Code - failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated AntiCorruption Official’s investigation by failing to

provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requestedbytheDesignated Anti-CorruptionOfficial.

Article 2.4.7 of the SLC Code – obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation into Corrupt Conduct,including(without limitation) concealing, tampering with or d e s t r o y i n g a n y documentation or other information that may be relevanttothatinvestigation and/orthatmaybe evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of CorruptConduct.

Article 2 4 4 of the ECB Code – failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct at the AbuDhabiT102021.

Article 2.4.4 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated AntiCorruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or

Some excellent bowling from leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and the young Ashmead Nedd, gave their teams crucial wins as yesterday’s roundoftheGCBT10Blastcontinued.

Essequibo Jaguars defeat Demerara Hawksby7wickets

Chasing 94 set by Hawks, the duo of Mavindra Dindyal (36) and Guyana Harpy Eagles wicket-keeper Kemol Savory (36) tooktheJagscomfortablyto96-3;withAryan Persaud picking up 2-10 and Ronaldo Alimohamed(1-25).

TheHawksbattingsufferedearlieratthe hands of spinner Ashmead Nedd as he continued his form in this competition, starringwith4-6.

invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct inrelationtotheCPL2021.

Article 2.4.2 of the CPL Code – failing to disclose to the Designated AntiCorruptionOfficial(without unnecessary delay) the receiptofanygift,payment, hospitalityorbenefit(a)that he knew or should have knownwasmadeinorderto procureabreachoftheCPL Code, or (b) could have brought the player or the game of cricket into disrepute.

T h e “ p e r i o d o f ineligibility,” as the ICC called it in yesterday’s release, is backdated to when he was provisionally suspendedlastMay

ICCalsoruledthat“the last 18 months of the period of ineligibility wouldbesuspended ”

“Having played both

cricket, Devon attended numerous anti-corruption educationsessions

He therefore knew what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes but failed to meet these obligations across three different franchise

leagues, ” said Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit intherelease.

“This ban is apt and should send a strong message to players and corrupters that attempts to corrupt our sport will be dealtwithfirmly,”headded.

Support came from Harpy Eagles speedster Nial Smith who claimed 2-7, leaving David Williams (41) the only threat fortheHawksbatting.

Berbice Piranhas beat Essequibo Anacondasby50-runs

Quentin Sampson pummeled 50 off 17 ballswithaquartetoffoursandahandfulof sixeswhileRickeySargeant(46),Tagenarine Chanderpaul (23) and Rajiv Ivan (15) took themtoadaunting148-3;withBruceVincent (2-18)thelonewicket-takerforAnacondas.

TheAnacondas were then mowed down for98in9.3overs.

Only Anthony Adams who spanked 28 off 12, Raymond Perez (20) and the consistent Ushardeva Balgobin (18) managedtotroublethescorers.

Spin master Veerasammy Permaul continued to torment batsmen this tournament, bowling his way to 4-24 with GarfieldPhillipssupportingwith3-10.

Actioncontinuestodayfrom12:30h.

IPL: Kumar the hero as Sunrisers stun Royals for final-ball win

S p o r t s M a xBhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero as Sunrisers Hyderabad came back from the brink to secure a finalballwinoverIndianPremier League leaders Rajasthan Royalsyesterday Kumar left the Royals reelingat1-2astheychased 202 for victory, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samsonforfirst-overducks, flattening middle wicket to send the latter walking five ballsin.

A 127-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag then seemed to have the Royals closing in on a fifth straight win, only for their chase to unravel in spectacular fashion.

Twowicketsapiecefrom Thangarasu Natarajan and

‘One

The excitement will reach its peak this Sunday (May 5) as fans eagerly await the climactic showdown in the One Guyana Kings and Queens of the Sand Beach Football championship Who will reign supreme as the championsofthesand?Will it be the dynamic Young Gunners or the formidable Hi Flyers claiming the 2024 Men’s title? Or could the undefeated Speightland Ladiesthwarttheaspirations of Hururu Stars for the championshipcrown?

The final showdown is set to unfold at the PPP-C OfficecompoundinLinden. The stakes are high as the competitionculminateswith the crowning of its champions.

In a battle of skill and determination, the Hi Flyers

PatCumminslefttheRoyals needing20runsoff11balls, andRovmanPowellcameup with a thrilling cameo, the highlight being an unbelievable dive to avoid being run out on the penultimate delivery, which took Rajasthan within two runs of victory and one of a superover

However, there was one moretwisttocomeasPowell swung at Kumar’s full toss, which clipped his back leg and was confirmed as out followingareview,sealinga memorable win for Sunrisers.

The Sunrisers had also foundthemselvesinaholein their own innings, only for Nitish Kumar Reddy (76) andHeinrichKlaasen(42)to finishunbeatenandbringup a total they were just about

able to defend Data

Debrief: Kumar bookends back-and-forthinnings For much of the Rajasthan innings, it looked like Kumar’s early dismissals of Buttler and Samson would count for nought, with some expensive overs from CumminsandMarcoJansen leaving the Royals on the brink.

However, Kumar steppedupwhenitwasallon thelineonthefinaldelivery, leavingPowellinatangleto end Hyderabad’s two-match losing streak and lift them intothetopfour Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad201for3(Nitish KumarReddy76*,Head58, Avesh 2-39) beat Rajasthan Royals 200 for 7 (Parag 77, Jaiswal67)byonerun.

Footballteamwillclashwith the Young Gunners, vying for the grand prize of $1,000,000 and the prestigious trophy Even the runners-up will not leave empty-handed, securing a respectable $500,000 in prizemoney

Meanwhile, in recent developments coming out from the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation coordinating unit; Team Platinum has been disqualified from the tournament, awarding automatic third-place position to MS Ballers, following Team Platinum’s misconduct during a semifinalclash.

As a result of this disqualification, MS Ballers has already secured the third-place cash prize of $200,000. This unexpected

turn of events leads to an exhibition match between MSBallersandHururu.

The grand finale kicks off at 7:00 pm, featuring Aroaima Ladies facing off against Rockstone Women for the Queen’s third-place trophy.At 8:00 pm, all eyes will be on the showdown

between Speightland WomenandHururuWomen, battling for the first-place trophy and a cash prize of $400,000 Tournament

run

p w

l claim $200,000, while third and fourthplacefinisherssecure $100,000 and $50,000, respectively

The tournament is organised by the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation under the One Guyana brand, with the support of Bakewell and other prominententities.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero as Sunrisers Hyderabad came back from the brink to secure a final-ball win.

Devon Thomas

Pakistan bowlers shine to hand West hand Indies first loss of tour in fourth T20I

Sadia Iqbal celebrates with her team-mates. (PCB)

SportsMax-WestIndies Women suffered their first lossontheirtourofPakistan asthehostssecuredaneightwicketwininthefourthT20 International at the Karachi NationalStadiumyesterday.

Excellent Pak

bowling meant the tourists were restricted to just 84-9 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.

Shemaine Campbelle (26), Zaida James (19) and Jannilea Glasgow (10) were the only West Indian batters to get double-figures as Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar dominated with 3-18 from four overs and 3-19 from fourovers,respectively Pakistan then needed only16.3overstoreach87-2 and secure their first win of theseries.

and Shamilia Connell took a wicket, each, for the Windies.

Full Scores: West Indies

AyeshaZafarledtheway with 42* off 48 balls while GullFerozafinished21*off 24balls.

Women 84-9 (Shemaine Campbelle26,SadiaIqbal318,NidaDar3-19);Pakistan Women 87-2 (Ayesha Zafar 42*, Gull Feroza 21*, Afy Fletcher 1-6, Shamilia Connell1-8).

Official Anthem for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,

‘Out of this World’, released by Sean Paul and Kes

The International Cricket Council

( I C C ) h a s announcedthereleaseofthe ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Official Anthem, Out of this World, by Grammy award winning artist Sean PaulandSocasuperstarKes.

Withjustunder30-daysto-go until the ICC Men’s T20WorldCup2024begins, the release of the anthem setsthetoneforwhatwillbe the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever, with 20 international teams playing 55 matches across the West Indies and USA from 1-29 June.

The anthem, produced by Michael “Tano” Montano, was launched along with the music video, whichfeaturescameosfrom eight-time Olympic gold-

medallist and tournament ambassador Usain Bolt, cricketstarsChrisGayle,Ali Khan, Shiv Chanderpaul and other Caribbean personalities.

The music video is a visual celebration of cricket thatcapturestheatmosphere andenergyfansfromaround the world can expect when they attend ICC Men’s T20 WorldCupmatches. The track and music video are available to view and is also available on digital streaming music platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, JioSaavn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook,andothers.

Fanscanalsogetintothe spirit of the ICC Men’sT20 WorldCupbycreatingtheir owndanceinterpretationsof

the “knock it out of this world” dance step, which is featuredinthevideo.

Grammy Award winner Sean Paul said: “I have alwaysbelievedthatmusic, like cricket, has the power to bring people together in unityandcelebration

This song is all about positive energy and Caribbean pride and I can’t wait for the carnival of cricket to get started and hear everyone singing along to the anthem, bringing the party to stadiums across the West IndiesandUSA ”

Soca Superstar Kes said: “Cricket has always been a major part of Caribbean culture, so I’m honoured to write and record the official anthem for the T20 World Cup

Respect goes out to the entire crew whose creative input inspired this anthem. The track embodies the vibrant culture and energy of cricket and is a real anthem for people to sing out and feel the spirit of unity ”ICC General Manager - Marketing and Communications, Claire Furlong said: “With just 30 days to go until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins, the release of the officialanthemsetsthetone for a celebration in which global fans will come together to experience an incredible month of cricket. Wearedelightedtohavetwo globallyrecognisedartistsin Sean Paul and Kes produce our official anthem, which will be at the heart of the event, heard across our

stadiums, global broadcast, andICCdigitalplatforms.”

Additional hospitality opportunities and tickets willbereleasedtodaytoall ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 matches from 10h00 Antigua Standard Time Fans are encouraged to secure their World Cup tickets to avoid missing out onthishistoricalevent.Visit tickets.t20worldcup.comfor d e t a i l s o r e m a i l hospitality@t20worldcup c om. Ticket box offices for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup also open across the West Indies today at Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia,SaintVincentandthe Grenadines and Trinidad andTobago.

Boxofficelocations: Antigua and Barbuda:

AntiguaRecreationGround

· Barbados: Kensington Oval

Guyana: Guyana CricketBoardOffice

Saint Lucia: Daren SammyCricketGround

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Commercial Centre

Trinidad and Tobago: Queen’s Park Oval and NationalCricketCentre Box office operating hours: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago: MondaytoFriday10:30am - 6:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00am-4:00pm Saint Lucia and St VincentandtheGrenadines: MondaytoFriday:9:30am5:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00am-2:00pm.

Andre Fletcher smashes unbeaten 84 as West Indies A extend dominance

to take 3-1 lead

SportsMax - In yet another commanding performance, Andre Fletcher led from the front with an unbeaten 84 as the West Indies A secured a comprehensive 28-run

victory over Nepal yesterday, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in theirfive-matchT20series.

Fletcher, who had scored 53 against the hosts on Wednesday, continued his rich vein of form with a scintillating knock of 84 not out from just 54 balls, including ninefoursandfoursixes

His explosive innings, coupled with Johnson Charles’ brisk 58 off 30 balls, propelled the visitors to a formidable total of 209-3 in their allotted20overs Theduo shared a pivotal secondwicket partnership of 92 runs in less than nine overs to lay a solid foundationfortheirteam Charles,comingoffan unbeaten 119 in the

against Nepal

previous match, played another impactful cameo, striking three fours and six sixes before his departure Fabian Allen contributed a quick-fire 33 not out from 19 balls and with Fletcher shared in an unbroken stand of 83,toboostWestIndiesA beyond the 200-run mark

f o r t h e s e c o n d consecutivegame

TheNepalesebowlers struggled to contain the West Indies batsmen, with Kushal Bhurtel beingthemostsuccessful among them, claiming 223fromhisfourovers In response, Nepal’s chase was anchored by a valiant effort from their captain, Rohit Paudel, who blazed his way to 82 off just 47 deliveries, featuring seven fours and five sixes However, Paudellackedsubstantial support from his teammates as Nepal faltered and eventually foldedfor181

Apart from Paudel, Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Gulsan Jha contributed 19 each butfailedtocapitalizeon their starts against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack Matthew Forde and Hayden Walsh Jr starred with the ball, claiming three wickets each, while Fabian Allen chipped in with 2-34 Gudakesh Motie, despite being expensive, managed to pick up two crucialwickets. With this victory, West Indies A have taken an unassailable3-1leadinthe series,settingthestagefor the final match scheduled to be played on Saturday The dominant display by the tourists bodes well for their confidence heading into the final encounter and also ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, with Cricket West Indies set to announce their squad for the tournamentonJune1

Celtics are ‘learning from mistakes’

after series win over Heat

SportsMax - Jayson Tatum claimed that the Boston Celtics are learning from their mistakes after securing their place in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics are intothesemifinalsfollowing a 4-1 series victory over the Miami Heat after winning Game 5 118-84 on

Wednesday

In taking the series, the Celtics avenged their 2023 Conferencefinalslosstothe Heat, who routed them in Game 7. Tatum praised the team’s attitude during the win, saying: “That’s how it shouldbe.

“We should be learning fromourmistakesandthings wecould’vedonebetterand applying it to the next season,becausewe’retrying to have a different outcome thisyear.”JaylenBrownand Derrick White each scored 25points,whileSamHauser had 17 points and Tatum added 16 with 12 rebounds fortheCeltics.

Despite a recordbreaking shooting performance by the Heat in Game 2, they struggled to

Jayson Tatum claimed that the Boston Celtics are learning from their mistakes.

gainafootholdintheseries. They missed 26 of 29 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 56-29 in Game 5 while playing without the injured Jimmy Butler, Terry RozierandJaimeJaquezJr

The Celtics were also without a key player, as Kristaps Porzingis missed his first postseason game with a right calf strain that willkeephimoutforatleast a week. Brown insisted that the Celtics have proven that

they were never reliant on anysingleplayer

“I think we just have to continue to play our game like we’ve been doing our wholecareerandcontinueto showourgrowthbytrusting ourteammates,”hesaid.

“Ithinkifwe’regoingto win,we’regoingtowinasa team.” Up next for the topseeded Celtics is the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando seriesthattheCavalierslead 3-2.

Bolt pleased with Ja’s male sprinting resurgence; hopeful Seville will medal in “wide open” men’s 100m in Paris

SportsMax-Takeitfrom theincomparableUsainBolt that the race for the men’s 100m title at this summer’s Paris Olympic Games will bewideopen,asheisyetto identify any clear favourite to stake a claim on the covetedgoldmedal.

Bolt,whosewordscarries theweightofhisunparalleled legacy, gave his views on the possibleOlympicoutcome,as healsosharedthoughtsonthe progress of male sprinting in Jamaica, which he believes remains alive with the emergence of Rohan Watson, Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake, Ryiem Forde,andKadrianGoldson, inparticular

Seville has been the main protagonist on that list, as he hasconsistentlyknockedatthe door of a global 100m medal over the years He placed fourth at both the 2020 Olympic Games and last year’sWorldChampionships

The 23-year-old’s rise from promising newcomer to bona fide contender has captured the imagination of Jamaican track and field

Usain Bolt...I am really hoping Oblique can break into the top three this time around.

enthusiasts at home and abroad. With blistering speed andunwaveringdetermination, Seville has carved out a name forhimselfasoneofJamaica’s most promising talents, and along with the others, carries thehopesofanationknown foritssprintingprowess.

“I think these athletes represent our chances, but it isallaboutexecution.Ithink over the past years, it (Jamaica’s male sprinting) has been struggling, butIdo think that Oblique has been keeping it alive,” Bolt, the ambassador for Red Stripe’s ‘Guh Fi Gold and Glory’ campaign, told journalists

during the event’s launch in Half Way Tree on Wednesday

“He has made all the finalssofar;itisjustforhim to now get in the top three. And I think it’s just consistency I think the one thing with Oblique is thathe always gets injured, but hopefullyhecanbeconsistent thisseasonandstayontheright pathandhe’llbefine So,I’m just looking forward to seeing them,” the iconic sprinter added.

Though American Noah Lyles, who copped the sprint double at last year’s World Championships, has been a dominant force, his compatriotsFredKerly,silver medallistatthe2020Gamesin Tokyo,andChristianColeman arealsoprominentcontenders, whiletheyounggenerationof Jamaican sprinters –Watson, Seville, Blake, and Goldson –have also entered the conversation

Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, are also expected to be in the mix in Paris, while Italy’s Marcell

Bolt is pleased with the emergence of Rohan Watson, Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake, Ryiem Forde, and Kadrian Goldson, in particular.

JacobsandCanada’sAndreDe Grasse, the gold and bronze medallists from the 2020 Games in Tokyo, are yet to enter the fray ahead of the globalmulti-sportshowpiece Whileitisstillearlydaysyet, Bolt, an eight-time Olympic goldmedallistandtheworld’s fastest man over 100m and 200m, expressed optimism about Seville’s Olympic

Gamesmedalprospects,ashe believes the young sensation has proven that he can match strides with those names on thelist.

“Let’sseewhathappens I thinkit’searly Nooneisdoing anything, and I haven’t seen anythingimpressivesofar So, Ithinkitisstillwideopen Iam really hoping Oblique can break into the top three this

time around. I think he has alwaysworkedhardoverthe years,andheisalwaysinthe finalandalwaysdoingwell. So hopefully, he will break intothetopthree,”Boltsaid.

Onthatnote,Bolt,whois looking forward to a second OlympicGamesasaspectator since his retirement in 2017, believes the athletes stand readytowritethenextchapter inthecountry’sstoriedhistory ofsuccess

“Overall, we all have high hopes. The throwers, jumpers, everybody. Everyone is doing well, and you can see where they are steppingup.

The medal tally will be good as always. Jamaica alwaysshowsup.Wealways getatleastfivemedals,andI think we are aiming to get eightto10medalsinParis,” heshared.

“I think the athletes will ( m a i n t a i n t h e i r performance) Jamaica is alwaysupthere.Wearestill the sprint capital of the world, and I think we will continue to dominate,” Bolt ended.

Over45Girlsbenefitfromempowering‘Kickin’ Conversations’activityhostedbySBMOffshoreGuyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – SBM Offshore Guyana successfully hosted its inaugural ‘Kickin’ Conversations’ mentorship

s e s s i o n w i t h t h e beneficiaries of its Women in Football Development Programme, executed in partnership with the Vurlon Mills Football Academy

The event which took place on March 28, brought together over 45 young female athletes along with their six coaches, offering themauniqueopportunityto

engage directly with

e s t e e m e d w o m e n

professionals of the SBM OffshoreGuyanateam. The session featured motivational talks and interactive sessions led by SBM Offshore Guyana female employees, who covered a range of empowering topics. Onecia

Johnson, the Human Resources Manager, presented on the topic ‘Neverstoplearning’. Karla Coimbra, Operations Manager for the Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel discussed how ‘Loving what you do is a

LegitimateCareerGoal’.Dr Shivon Lewis-Isles, Health and Industrial Hygiene Advisor, spoke about how ‘Failure is Also Progress’. Tanisha Selby, Instrument and Controls Engineer, advised on ‘Investing in ValuableRelationships,’and Narima Rodrigues, CategoryBuyer,highlighted the importance of ‘Aligning Time Spent with What is ImportanttoYou’.

In addition to the mentoring sessions, participants had the opportunity to share their views, personal experiences

and career paths in the oil and gas industry, as well as thoseoutsideoftheindustry

Further, the young athletes enjoyed creative and artistic activities like painting, spokenwordpoetry,andlive musicperformances.

SeniorCoachattachedto the Vurlon Mills Football Academy, Ms Sheron Abrams, expressed her gratitude, stating, “I would liketogiveaheartyroundof applause and gratitude to everyone who took part in making today’s occasion a special one, the SBM O f f s h o r e G u y a n a

management and everyone inattendanceforcomingout today and helping to make thiseventahugesuccess.”

In her closing remarks, Ms.Johnsonreflectedonthe day’s achievements and the importanceofhavingaplan, saying,“Iwanttoencourage you,everythingthatyoudo, ensure you have a plan. Ensure it adds value, ensure it’s meaningful to yourself, toyourlifeandeventoyour futuregenerations.”

The Women in Football Development Programme is designed to teach football skills and empower young

girls by exposing them to a range of potential career paths,mentorshipandallthe other positive benefits derivedfromparticipatingin football The programme aims to foster confidence and ambition in the participants,equippingthem with the skills necessary to succeed in any endeavour theychoosetopursue. For more information about the Vurlon Mills Football Academy and its initiatives, please contact Mr Vurlon Mills at 6131361 or Marisha Fernandes at600-3332.

Boris Becker no longer bankrupt, court says

BBC News - Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker’s bankruptcy has officially ended, after a UK judgefoundhehaddone“all thathereasonablycoulddo” to fulfil his financial obligations.

The German tennis player was declared bankrupt in June 2017, owing creditors almost £50m.

TheHighCourtwastold he still owed about £42mbut lawyers for Becker said the 56-year-old had reached a settlement agreement with the trustees appointed to overseehisfinances.

They said Becker, who wasjailedin2022forhiding £2.5m in assets to avoid paying debts, will provide a “substantial sum” into the bankruptcyestate.

Beckerwascatapultedto stardom, aged 17, in 1985 when he became the youngestsinglesmaleplayer to win the Wimbledon Championships.

He went on to win a further two Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens andtheUSOpen.

Afterretiringfromtennis in 1999, he commentated at WimbledonfortheBBCand turnedhishandtocoaching, working with Novak Djokovic.

He moved to London in 2012, and his bankruptcy stemmed from an unpaid loan of more than £3m on a luxury estate in Mallorca, Spain.

Although bankruptcy orders end after a year in England and Wales, a judge suspended the automatic

Boris Becker [PA]

discharge of the order in 2018 because Becker was “failing to comply with his obligations”.

Lawyers for Becker last month asked a judge to lift thesuspensionsayinghehad done“thebestpossibleheis capableofdoing”.

Giving written reasons for his decision, Chief Insolvency and Companies CourtJudgeNicholasBriggs said said it would be “perverse” not to lift the suspensionnow

He said: “On the spectrum of bankrupts who

range from ‘difficult as possible and doing everything to frustrate the trustee’s inquiries’ to ‘cooperative, providing information and delivering upassets’,MrBeckerclearly falls on the right side of the line.” The judge said an “unresolvedmatter”wasthe locationofsomeofBecker’s trophiesthataremissing.

He noted Becker has no further information relating to the whereabouts of the trophies but did not object them being minted or monetised.

The judge said: “As the joint trustees are concerned to realise and distribute assets this offer provides a commercialoutcome.”

Louis Doyle KC for Becker told the court the settlement agreement

“affectsacompromiseofall outstanding matters in the bankruptcy although that is predicated on Mr Becker making payment which will havetheeffectofprovidinga substantial sum into the bankruptcyestate”.

He said the resolution with the trustees includes the “outstanding trophies” and that Becker “can’t do more than he has done to bringustothispoint”. Becker was jailed for two-and-a-half years in April 2022 at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of four offences

He was acquitted of 25 other charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals from his tennis career

The event, which took place on March 28, brought together over 45 young female athletes along with their six coaches.

HEAR ME OUT!

BYRAWLETONEY

The football scene in Guyana finds itself in a quagmire—not the comical character Glen Quagmire fromFamilyGuy,mindyou.

I’m speaking about the real challenges facing football in Guyana and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which seems to be using its KFC Elite League as

’

lying issues I’m referringtothe

e Government o Guyana in football andthedireshortageof adequatefacilitiesacrossthe country hindering the game’sdevelopment.

Football is in a quagmire

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and its Member Associations are grappling with a shortage of facilities for the beautiful game. T

announcement that the country’s National Football Team, the Golden Jaguars, will have to host their June 11th “home” game in the FIFA World

Whether you’re a footballenthusiastornot,it’s hardtodenythatthestateof football in Guyana has been declining, exacerbated further by the challenges broughtonbythepandemic.

s against Belize inBarbados.

Irfaan Ali’s administration, h a s a l l o c a t e d

$13,405,300,000 to the sportssector

In 2020, out of the Ministry’s $2 7 billion budget, $805.3 million was allocatedtosports.

The following year, in 2021, the sports sector received an allocation of $1.5billionfromthenational budget.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh underlined that of this amount, $915 5 million was earmarked for enhancing community grounds nationwide, with planstotransformtheminto parks and establish premium, multi-purpose sports facilities meeting international standards in RegionsTwo,Six,and10.

, particularly considering that issues surrounding the poor condition of the National Track and Field Centre at Edinburgh have been welldocumented since its openingin2015.

To provide context, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, under President

In 2022, the sports budget increased to $2.2 billion, with $250 million designated for the ongoing enhancement of community grounds throughout the country

By2023,theMinistryof Sportsawasignificantboost in its budget, reaching $4.3

billion, as disclosed by Dr S i n g h d u r i n g t h e presentation of the National Budget.

This year marks a milestone for the sports

sector, receiving its largestever allocation of $4 6

advancingsportsinGuyana.

Within this allocation, $1 billion is earmarked

while $957 million is

continuedconstructionof (Continuedonpage25)

Nine newly trained teachers are now equipped to assist with FIFA F4S programme -AspartofGFFChildSafeguardingPolicy

The training was in prepa

completed a three-day FIFA Football for School (F4S) w

Safeguarding led by Orin Francois, GFF’s Senior

Child Welfare and Protection Officer, from April 25-27 at the Federation’s National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence.

upcoming Blue Water Shipping National Girls U

L

ague startingonMay4,withover 50 schools participating nationwide.

The educators, Saskia David, Janacy Johnson, Thon Barnwell, Riaz Rupnarain, Christopher Gaskin, Tinesha Trotman,

Akiliah Butcher, Anandi Blair, and Gailan Barnwell, underwent the F4S training module and familiarized themselves with the GFF Child Safeguard Policy, launched in 2022 with supportfromtheMinistryof Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture.

The F4S programme,

promotes sports as a means to develop essential life skills.GFFPresidentWayne Forde aims to ensure all youth football officials undergoChildSafeguarding training in the coming months.

Facilitator Francois expressed satisfaction with thegroup’sresponse,noting t h

d understanding of F4S and insights into GFF’s child

safeguardingmeasures.

TheGFFiscommittedto p r

n g a s a f e environment for children in football. The Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary School Championship marks the competitive phase of F4S, involvingoveronethousand student-athletes from sixty public schools across Guyana.

Towanda McCalmon,

transformative potential of football in imparting life skills and creating a safe environment.Teachers from various secondary schools,

Slingerz FC’s Simeon Moore in action against Den Amstel FC in the GFF Elite League. (Keno George photo)

Rawle Toney

GFF officials and Teachers share photo-op at NTC following the conclusion of the FIFAF4S workshop.

Veerasammy Permaul had another exceptional game yesterday picking up 4 wickets.

unbeaten 84 as Windies A 84 extend dominance to take 3-1 lead against Nepal

Bowlers dominate as Jaguars, Piranhas clinch T10 Blast wins as Official Anthem for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, ‘Out of this World’, released by Sean Paul and Kes

ICC bans Devon Thomas for five years under Anti-Corruption Code

Andre Fletcher led from the front with an unbeaten 84.