Guyana Times - Thursday, July 4, 2024.pdf by Gytimes

Hurricane Beryl continues to wreak havoc across C’bean

PNC & AFC party elections give them no credibility to speak about free & fair elections – AG

Allegations of electoral irregularities during the recent Congress of the People’s National Congress (PNC) prove the party has no credibility to speak about free and fair elections.

This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall on Tuesday during his programme “Issues in the News”.

“If they can’t ensure that their own elections are free, fair and democratic, if they are accepting publicly that their own elections are undemocratic and fraudulent and irregular, then how can they present themselves as democratic. How can they ever speak about free and fair elections and about a transparent process,” he

said.

Nandlall reminded that this is the same political party “whose members and supporters would want you to believe that they are the champions of democracy.”

Referring to the drama that unfolded during the 2020 elections, Nandlall noted that “they have not yet accepted that they attempted on multiple occasions to steal those elections…”

He also reminded that allegations of electoral irregularities also surfaced within the PNC when former leader David Granger was elected.

“Every time they had

elections, internal elections, you see the hand of fraud, you hear allegations of fraud, from them.”

Aubrey Norton was elected leader of the PNC, after his only two competitors – Roysdale Forde and Amanza Walton-Desir –withdrew from contesting due to concerns about the electoral process.

Nandlall also spoke about the events surrounding the Congress of the Alliance For Change (AFC) where Nigel Hughes emerged as the party’s new leader.

“They threw out Khemraj Ramjattan completely and obviously Sherod Duncan became

a casualty, poor Sherod,” Nandlall expressed, noting that “whether you like him or not, he’s there dayin day-out.”

“Nigel Hughes leapfrogged a week before elections and hijacked the whole thing,” he added.

According to Nandlall, “that is what you have passing for democratic elections in these political parties.”

“That is why they cannot come close to the People’s Progressive Party. Look at their Congresses and look at the PPP Congress. It’s chalk to cheese, there’s nothing to compare,” he said.

No exam results for students who fail to return textbooks – Education Ministry

The 2024 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results will be announced today. However, the Ministry of Education published a notice on Tuesday which emphasised that results will be withheld for pupils who have not returned or replaced loaned textbooks.

The exercise of returning educational materials is in keeping with the ministry’s textbook policy,

which states, “Learners must return books before Progress Reports/ Examination Results/ Recommendations/

References are uplifted.”

According to the ministry, the policy has to be enforced to ensure that adequate textbooks and similar opportunities are given to the next batch of graduating students and while the ministry caters to a small amount of damage, “it is a very expensive enterprise to give everybody textbooks”.

Government has mandated that all students must have access to the

required textbooks for all subjects, and as a result, a total of 619,060 textbooks were procured for the primary and secondary levels at a cost of $3.3 billion in 2023 while 502,072 textbooks will be purchased in 2024 at a cost of $3 billion.

As a result, defaulting pupils from Grades Six and 11 will be unable to access their results online or by slip.

In fact, the ministry has advised that “if a student has misplaced a textbook, then he or she is required to replace the book rather than paying the cost for the book, Original textbooks must be replaced by original textbooks”.

The 2024 NGSA results announcement will be live-streamed on the Education Ministry’s Facebook page today.

A total of 15,488 pupils wrote this year’s NGSA on May 2 and 3. The pupils were tested in English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science.

Additionally, the same measures will apply to students who wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) May/June examinations and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Students sitting the NGSA Examinations (file photo)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, July 4 –02:30h-04:00h and Friday, July 5 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 4 –15:40h-17:10h and Friday, July 5 – 16:35h-18:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunshine is expected to prevail during the day with thundery showers in the morning. Clear to partly cloudy skies with thundery to light rain showers are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 15:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.36 metres.

Low Tide: 08:59h and 21:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.87 metre.

Dharamkumar Seeraj nominated as new High Commissioner to India

Guyana has written to the Indian Government, seeking accreditation for Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj to be appointed as the new High Commissioner of Guyana to India – a position that has been vacant for nearly two years.

According to a source, Guyana is awaiting accreditation from New Delhi before formally appointing Seeraj. This is likely to be done sometime before the end of this year.

“We’ve identified him and we’ve sent a request for Agrément (permission) but that request was sent during the time of India’s election so we’re waiting on the Indian government [to approve],” the source related.

Seeraj, a long-standing member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party, has been a Member of Parliament since 2006. Professionally, his career was primarily in the agriculture sector with him holding key positions within the rice industry including President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA)

As a parliamentarian, Seeraj had represented Guyana at the African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Union (ACPEU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly back in 2013.

His appointment would see Guyana seeking to further strengthen already strong bilateral collaborations in multiple areas especially agriculture.

“Given his experience serving at the ACP, given his experience with the RPA and international exposures, and given our areas of bilateral focus [with India] a lot of it being agriculture… I think he will do well in fostering the dynamic relations between our two countries. He has vast experience both locally and internationally, serving as Guyana’s representative to a number of international forums,” the source pointed out.

If Seeraj’s nomination for the role of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India if approved then his current seat in the National Assembly

will be left vacant.

His appointment will see him filling the diplomatic post that became vacant in October 2022 after Guyana’s then High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, was recalled following the circulation of a video which showed him verbally abusing a female Indian citizen outside his official residence in New Delhi.

While an investigation by Indian authorities found no evidence of misconduct during the August 2021 incident, which only came to light more than a year later, President Dr Irfaan Ali, emphasising the importance of representatives of Guyana conducting themselves in the highest regard, had said it was in the “best interest” that Persaud return home.

The Guyana Government has been placing much emphasis on strengthening its foreign policy, which includes filling the various diplomatic posts at overseas missions.

Only back in May, three new diplomatic appointments were made to fill vacancies in neighbouring Brazil, the Kingdom of Belgium, in Singapore and at the United Nations in Geneva.

In Brazil, Professor Compton Bourne has been appointed as Guyana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, while former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh, has been named Ambassador-designate to

Belgium. Singh will also be appointed as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).

Dr Leslie Ramsammy has been appointed to serve as Guyana’s Ambassadordesignate to Switzerland and will also assume responsibilities as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Back in April, Guyana’s Ambassador to China, Anyin Choo, was accredited as the Non-Resident High Commissioner of Guyana to Singapore.

In February, former CEO of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van West-Charles, was accredited as Guyana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Venezuela.

Dr Richard Van WestCharles presented his credentials to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on February 20 at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to strengthen its international relations, Guyana opened its embassy in Qatar last May – a move which President Ali has said would help the two countries to enhance their bilateral ties.

On the other hand, countries are also looking to establish their footprint in Georgetown, where massive economic activities are being undertaken.

Already, the Dominican Republic has set up an Embassy in Georgetown, and a resident Ambassador, Ernesto Torres Pereyra, was accredited in May 2023.

Guatemala is also on record to establish a diplomatic office in Guyana later this year – its first within the Caribbean Community (Caricom); while Colombia is also preparing to re-establish its Embassy in Georgetown.

In addition, France is also seeking to strengthen its presence in Guyana, and is slated to open a diplomatic office here next year – the first European Union member to do so.

During a live broadcast last July on efforts being undertaken to foster bilateral relations and position Guyana as a global leader, President Ali, who is currently serving as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), indicated that the Government has to ensure that all of its Foreign Missions are adequately staffed, so they can better position the country on the global stage.

Already, Guyana’s strong global engagement is reflected in the fact that the country is being called upon more frequently to represent on the world stage.

In January, Guyana commenced its tenure as one of five countries elected as non-permanent members for the term 2024-2025 at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – an organ of the United Nations that has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The following month, Guyana served as President of the Security Council, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, presided over several important meetings, including hearings on the Gaza war.

Also in June 2023, Christopher Arif Bulkan was elected as a Commissioner on the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). He is the first Guyanese national to serve on the 64-yearold commission. (G8)

Parliamentarian Dharamkumar Seeraj has been nominated as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India

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Frequent inspections needed for daycare facilities

Amother is grieving the death of her three-month-old baby, who suffocated to death at a daycare facility which was only known to be illegal after the child’s demise.

This recent incident and previous reports concerning daycare facilities in Guyana have brought to light a critical issue that demands immediate attention, that is the necessity for regular and rigorous inspections of these establishments.

Across the country, parents entrust daycare centres with the well-being and safety of their children, yet too often we hear disturbing accounts of neglect and inadequate facilities. This most recent case underscores a glaring gap in oversight and regulation that must be addressed without delay.

First and foremost, the safety and welfare of children should be non-negotiable priorities for any society. Daycare facilities play a crucial role in supporting working parents and facilitating early childhood education. However, for these centres to fulfil their role effectively, they must adhere to strict standards of care and hygiene. Regular inspections are not merely a formality; they are essential to ensure that these standards are met consistently.

In many developed nations, the frequency and thoroughness of inspections are mandated by law, with stringent penalties for non-compliance. In Guyana, while regulations may exist on paper, their enforcement appears sporadic at best. This lax approach leaves room for negligence and substandard practices to persist unchecked, putting vulnerable children at risk. In the case of little Kyrie Anthony Nelson this turned out to be true. Though the Ministry had no record of this facility reopening, from the modus operandi, it was operating unchecked and unnoticed by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Early Childhood Development Services Unit.

Further, the quality of early childhood education can profoundly impact a child's development. Properly-regulated daycare facilities not only provide a safe environment but also offer structured learning experiences that contribute to a child's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. By ensuring that these centres are regularly inspected and held accountable, the authorities are not only protecting children from harm, but also upholding their right to quality education from a young age.

The responsibility for addressing this issue lies not just with the operators of daycare facilities, but also with regulatory authorities and policymakers. It is incumbent upon the Government to allocate adequate resources for inspections, to establish clear guidelines for safety and hygiene standards, and to enforce compliance rigorously. This includes training inspectors thoroughly and empowering them to take swift action in cases of non-compliance.

Moreover, parents must be informed and involved in the process. They should have access to information about inspection reports, registration and be encouraged to report any concerns they may have about the care their children receive.

Transparency and accountability are essential components of a robust regulatory framework that aims to protect the interests of children above all else.

The urgent need for frequent inspections of daycare facilities in Guyana cannot be overstated.

It is a matter of safeguarding our children's safety, promoting their development, and ensuring the integrity of early childhood education. Delaying action will perpetuate the risks and compromise the future of our youngest generation. The Human Services Ministry must prioritise this issue with the seriousness it deserves and work towards a system where every child in day care is safe, nurtured, and given the best possible start in life.

Biden should bow out while he is still on top

By Dr raulston nemBharD

You cannot find a more civil, honest, decent, and accomplished politician in America today than Joseph Robinette Biden. He is 81 and his presidential rival, Donald Trump, is 78.

The anxiety that many Americans have, especially young Americans, is that between the two men, they do not have a real choice. The job of being the President of the USA is very demanding of a person’s physical and mental abilities. There is no point trying to skirt the inevitability of one’s mortality or the debility that one’s mortal frame undergoes as one ages. That is why close to 70 per cent would have wished that they had a better choice. Excoriating people for this concern is stupid.

An unbiased assessment of Biden’s presidency to date will reveal that he has been one of the most, if not the most, consequential Presidents for the past 50 years. He has presided over far-reaching legislation — the infrastructure and chips acts, the revolutionary climate change act, and others in the first two years of his presidency. He presided over the ending of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which had killed over a million Americans and maimed perhaps even more.

He set the country on a progressive and viable path, with the best economy in the past 50 years. Inflation has been tamed, but its haunting spectre remains for the many Americans who are living from pay cheque to pay cheque and paying high mortgage and rental rates while seeing their ability to purchase basic food items in the supermarkets dwindling.

But I believe, in the main, he is being unfairly tarred for these persistent trends in the economy. For one, critics fail to reckon with the tremendous economic fallout that accompanied the pandemic or the inflationary pressures oc-

casioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ill-fated and diabolical war with Ukraine. Also, the effects of price gouging by big businesses, that is clearly happening in the economy, must not be brushed aside.

Policies like the chip, infrastructure, and climate initiatives will take time to work their way through the economy. So their immediate effects will not be felt. But the reduction of insulin costs to a basic US$35.00, and the capping of medication costs to Medicare beneficiaries is already having positive effects on people’s lives. The Democratic messaging on these initiatives has been very poor, but those who benefit in the short and long term know the effects of what they are experiencing.

So that is the good part. Here comes the concern that many, including this writer, have after his dismal performance in the first debate against Trump. Let us be fair that one debate is not necessarily a harbinger of doom for Biden’s or even Trump’s candidacy. It may also be true that Biden was not well and so, as he admitted, was not up to his game. However, national polls, with regard to Biden’s age, long before the debate, indicated that close to 70 per cent of the people had concerns and saw it as a disqualifying factor for him in this race. Those who are rigidly loyal to Biden may scoff at this assessment, but that does not make the concern go away.

The concern was cemented in his poor showing in the debate. Unfinished sentences, failure to recall facts, frozen moments as he tried to think through a particular subject, and most important, an abysmal failure to fact-check and push back against the tissues of lies that spewed from Trump’s mouth were among the most critical elements in his failure in the debate. By not pushing back, he made Trump look respectable. Let me be clear. Insofar as debates

go, Biden lost, but Trump did not win. Biden’s lapses are characteristics that can be used to impute a loss to him, but the egregious lies told by Trump certainly did not qualify him to win either.

Biden must have a serious conversation with his family, close friends, and advisers and consider whether he is really up to speed, mentally and physically, to do the job of the US presidency in a very volatile and chaotic world. He might think that his body is telling him differently from what we saw last Thursday. But the debility of our mortal frame as we age is not something that can be easily brushed aside, especially when the country you are seeking to lead is at an existential moment. This applies to Biden as it does Trump, who is just three years his junior. For Biden, he had two aneurysms in 1988 when he was campaigning for the job he now holds. He had surgery to repair the damage. Subsequent CT angiograms up to 2014 have not indicated a recurrence of the disease.

That being said, and I am no doctor, one has to wonder at the effects of age on his cognitive abilities. However much you love him, one has to ask whether at 81 he really has the mental acuity to be President. The physical is more obvious, optically speaking. Does the country want to be tested on this?

Biden would be the first president in history to get a second term at 81 years old. The country needs more independent and transparent particulars on his and Trump’s health. If either man should refuse this level of scrutiny about their health, then there should be no question in the minds of voters where they should stand. The presidential race should not be about personalities but the very survival of America and peace in the world as we have known it over the past 75 years.

So, there are serious ques-

tions that Biden must ask himself, which only he can answer. Foremost among these must be whether his obduracy in persisting to run may cause the very thing that he is seeking to negate — Trumpism and the death of American democracy. Can his conscience bear the fact that continuing resulted in a Trump second term being a part of his otherwise illustrious legacy? As I am on this, there must be times when former US President Barack Obama has to ask himself whether he did enough to prevent Trump being unleashed on America. Biden can be the elder statesman who steps up to the plate and do one more for the country. He has done well as a President and has nothing to apologise for if he should bow out at this time and allow for a smooth transition to another Democrat who could carry the day. And there are worthy candidates for this, including four Democratic Governors. This must happen before Labour Day on September 2. But he must have his come-to-Jesus moment now so that whoever will emerge does so in good time. Those who support him, in light of the concerns raised above, and are prepared to wear blinders because of their loyalty to him is doing Biden and the country a disservice.

I can say this one thing to Biden: If he persists in continuing to seek the presidency and loses, he will be singularly blamed for the loss and may well become the most contemptuous President in our collective lifetimes. He will be well advised to bow out while he is still on the mountain top of respectability. (Jamaica Observer)

(Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storms; Your Selfesteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America.)

Guyana Police Force's Police Association and Welfare Department blood drive at the Officers' Training Centre compound, Camp Road, Georgetown on Wednesday (Guyana Police Force photos)

Sophia teen arrested with illegal gun

A19-year-old laborer from Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was arrested just after midnight on Monday for possession of an illegal firearm.

Karasabai man arrested with makeshift firearm

Police officers on mobile patrol in the vicinity of Cracrana, Karasabai Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu, Upper Essequibo) apprehended, a 29-year-old mason, on Sunday after discovering him in possession of a makeshift shotgun.

The man was spotted riding a bicycle with a long metal object on his right shoulder. The officers, patrolling on a police ATV, advanced towards him and as they approached, the man dropped the metal object next to a mango tree and stood a short distance away.

According to the Guyana Police Force on Tuesday, officers acting on a tip intercepted a white Honda XR motorcycle without registration nor documents between Regent and Wellington Streets, Georgetown.

Upon searching the motorcyclist, police discovered a .32 Taurus pistol with a magazine concealed in the crotch of his pants.

When questioned, the teen admitted that he did not possess a firearm license and was taken to the Brickdam Police Station, where the firearm was lodged.

He remains in custody pending charges.

After inspection, the officers identified the object as a makeshift single-barrel shotgun. The firearm, lacking both ammunition and a serial number, was examined in Thomas' presence. When questioned, the man confessed that he did not possess a valid firearm license and stated that he had crafted the gun for hunting on his farm.

Nigel Hughes seems to want to have his cake

Dear Editor,

I offer my congratulations to Nigel Hughes, the newly elected political Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party.

Mr Hughes has, however, immediately disqualified himself from contesting for the Presidency of Guyana at the forthcoming General and Regional Elections, or for any other political national leadership post, by declaring that he cannot comment on any matter involving ExxonMobil Guyana, which happens to be a client of his law firm; and worse, by his own admission, that a number of other oil companies operating in the oil and gas industry of Guyana are clients of his law firm.

Nigel Hughes has tied his own tongue from speaking on any matter regarding Exxon’s role and function in Guyana’s oil and gas industry, other than that which he is paid to do on behalf of Exxon. Mr Hughes is reported by Demerara Waves as arguing that the issue of his representing ExxonMobil “only arises if and when I become President or acquire a position of power; because then I am in a position to influence government policy”.

Not so, Mr Hughes, because by being unable to

independently address any matter on the oil and gas industry on behalf of, or representing the people of Guyana, you are in an inexcusable and inescapable conflict of interest.

Mr Hughes even unbelievably goes on to argue that, if elected as President, he would isolate himself from any deci -

and eat it too

sion in relation to oil and gas. Then may I ask: why would any Guyanese in his or her right mind vote for a Presidential candidate who disqualifies himself from directly addressing matters concerning the one major industry from which the country’s financial resources are found and economic future is based?

Mr Hughes is most certainly among Guyana’s most respected and successful lawyers. In court I would rather have him on my side than against me, but in politics, Nigel Hughes seems to want to have his cake and eat it.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Guyana does not need a return to reckless policies which led to economic ruin

Dear Editor, The PNCR's promises for the use of oil revenues are reckless and shortsighted. Their plan to dramatically increase salaries and pensions; offer monthly rentassistance, free tertiary education, childcare allowances, and various other benefits within the first 100 days of Government hinges dangerously on the assumption that oil revenues would remain high and consistent. This approach significantly increases Guyana's recurrent expenditure without a sustainable financial strategy in place. What happens if oil revenues drop? How will the high recurrent expenditures be financed?

History has shown us that relying too heavily on a single volatile source of income can lead to economic instability. The PNCR’s plan echoes the economic mismanagement seen

from 1964 to 1992 under the PNC, which led Guyana to the brink of economic ruin. Current price projections for oil add another layer of concern. First, the global shift towards renewable energy and the net zero agenda means that the demand for fossil fuels is expected to decline significantly in the coming decades. Secondly, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that under the net zero scenario, oil demand will drop drastically by 2050. This projected decline in demand is likely to result in lower oil prices, which will directly impact countries that rely heavily on oil revenues, such as Guyana. By focusing on shortterm populist measures without a solid foundation for long-term economic stability, the PNCR is setting Guyana up for potential fiscal disaster. Instead of reckless spending, it is crucial to

implement a balanced and sustainable economic plan that ensures the country's prosperity beyond the fluctuations of oil markets.

Responsible governments must diversify the economy, invest in renewable energy, and create a resilient financial framework to safeguard against the volatility of oil prices and the inevitable decline in global oil demand. This is what the PPP/C has been doing.

In contrast, the PNCR's plan, while appealing on the surface, fails to consider the long-term economic implications and the realities of the global energy market.

Guyana needs prudent and forward-thinking leadership to navigate these challenges, not a return to the reckless policies that previously led to economic ruin.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

The white Honda XR motorcycle that the suspect was riding at the time

The firearm that was found in the suspect's possession

He was arrested and escorted to the Karasabai Police Station along with the seized weapon.

Power Up Maths

Understanding percent

Power Up Maths

Understanding percent

Notice the term per cent has the smaller word cent in it. You know cents from dealing with money. Every dollar can be divided into 100 cents, that is 100 hundredths. Therefore, it probably will not surprise you that cent means hundredth. Per means by. A percent is a particular kind of ratio that is used to compare numbers to hundredths. The % sign is used to identify per cents. However, a percent is really a decimal that goes to the hundredths place. A percent can also be expressed as a fraction, with

Understanding percent

as the denominator.

Page Foundation

Understanding percent

Remember: Every percentage can be displayed as a percentage, a decimal, or a fraction with a denominator of

Example:

Notice the term per cent has the smaller word cent in it. You know cents from dealing with money. Every dollar can be divided into 100 cents, that is 100 hundredths. Therefore, it probably will not surprise you that cent means hundredth. Per means by. A percent is a particular kind of ratio that to compare numbers to hundredths. The % sign is used to identify per cents. However, a percent a decimal that goes to the hundredths place. A percent can also be expressed as a fraction, with the denominator. Examples:

Remember: Every percentage can be displayed as a percentage, a decimal, or a fraction with a denominator of 100.

Remember: Every percentage can be displayed as a percentage, a decimal, or a fraction with a denominator of

Exercises: Express the following as decimals and fractions 1)

Exercises: Express the following as decimals and fractions

Remember: Every percentage can be displayed as a

Remember: Every percentage can be displayed as a percentage, a decimal, or a fraction with a denominator of 100.

Exercises: Express the following as decimals and fractions

Oil spill experiment

Step 1: Lay your feathers on a table and use an eye-dropper to place a few drops of water on the feather. Does the water bead up? If not, spray just a bit of the baby oil on the feathers, then put a few drops of water on the feather again. Does the water bead up now? Why? The baby oil is working in place of the bird’s natural oil.

Step 2: Next, dip the feathers into a container of water, then separate the barbs and zip the feathers back together. What happens to the feather? Does it return to its original state? Why or why not?

Step 3: Now, add oil to your container of water, and then drag the feathers through the container. Remove the feathers from the container and repeat the process of pulling the barbs apart and zipping them back together. What happens now? How does this affect the birds’ ability to keep dry?

The barbs won’t zip when coated in oil. Oil and other pollutants that birds might encounter when they swim, bathe, migrate, or look for food, coat the barbs and barbules and prevent them from locking together. When barbs can’t “zip” up, feathers can’t keep water out or keep the bird warm and the bird could drown or have a dangerously-low body temperature. Unzipped barbs also affect aerodynamics of flight feathers, leaving birds unable to fly away.

Step 4: Cleaning the feathers. Conclude by swishing your oily feathers in a container with soapy water to remove the oil, dry the feather and then repeat the separation and zipping-up process. Does it work? Why or why not?

What have you learnt from your experimentation? (startwithabook.org)

BY ROBERT FROST

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Continued from Wednesday

“All possibilities on the table” – Patterson on AFC coalescing with APNU for 2025 polls

…as PNC

still counting ballots 3 days after Congress to determine new Executive

With the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the largest party in the parliamentary Opposition Coalition – contemplating contesting the 2025 elections independently, the Alliance For Change – the minority Opposition party –says its executive members will soon meet to discuss whether they too are interested in heading to the polls solo.

This is according to newly elected Chairman of the AFC, David Patterson. He told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the party will soon meet its parliamentary opposition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) which includes the PNC.

However, he noted the AFC, which elected new leadership at its biennial conference last weekend, needs to do some in-house work before that meeting with its coalition partner which is likely to happen later this month.

“We’ll deal [with that meeting] within the next two weeks because we’re meeting with the individual AFC regions right now to assess their strengths and their readiness and their needs and those things like that. And then after that, we’ll meet with our bigger partners. So, before midmonth – in the next week or two [we’ll meet with the Coalition partners],” Patterson related.

The PNC-led APNU had coalesced with the AFC for the 2015 elections, which they won. The two parties then went back to the polls as a coalition in 2020 but lost.

The AFC, subsequently, formally broke its coalition deal with APNU back in December 2022. The revised Cummingsburg Accord, a political agreement between the two parties, had provided for this separation. At the time, former AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had indicated that the two

parties would do their political work separately but work in parliament jointly.

Asked about the AFC’s position on returning to the polls as a coalition, Patterson said his party has not discuss this matter as yet but added that they are open to all the possibilities available.

“[It’s still] early days on that… [But] all scenarios are still on the table. We’re still open to going alone; we’re still open to coalition talks; we’re still open to having a grand umbrella if other parties want to come and join the AFC as a grouping. All the possibilities are on the table,” the AFC Chairman posited.

Meanwhile, only days prior to his election as the new AFC leader, Nigel Hughes, had said during an interview that before the party prepares for next year’s polls, it must first conduct an assessment of the period leading up to, during and after the 2020 elections to determine what went wrong in order to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to the then coalition being voted out of office.

The new leader is facing heat over his recent election with criticisms mounting about possible conflict of interest between his political and professional careers.

Days prior to the AFC’s National Conference, Hughes, who is a civil and criminal lawyer, admitted that United States oil gi-

ant, ExxonMobil, along with several other oil companies operating in Guyana, are clients of his law firm –Hughes, Fields & Stoby.

On Sunday, Hughes told online news agency, Demerara Waves Online, that he would not sever ties with his law firm even as he embarks on his political career that could potentially see him holding a post in government office.

Hughes’ statements on Sunday sparked a response from Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who pointed to the potential risks that the new AFC Leader’s posture could bring.

“Nigel Hughes obviously did not read the definition of politically exposed persons in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009,” Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party stated.

In the Act, a ‘politically exposed person’ is described as “any individual who is or has been entrusted with prominent public functions on behalf of a state, including a head of state or of government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state-owned corporations, important political party officials, including family members or close associates of the politically exposed person whether that person is a resident in Guyana or not.”

In December 2018, when the no-confidence motion was passed in the National Assembly against the David Granger Administration, Hughes had sparked a contentious debate, exacerbated by legal and procedural challenges that had significantly delayed the country’s electoral process. Central to this debate was Hughes’ argument that, mathematically, one half of the House when divided stands at 32.5 members. “There is no such thing as a half member, so half of the House is 33 members…this is because you have to round up to identify half of the House,” he had said, mere days after the no-confidence motion was passed. Therefore, he posited that 34 is the majority of the 65-member House rather than 33.

The aftermath of the motion as a result of this argument had been marked by legal challenges, appeals, and judicial decisions that extended beyond the constitutionally-mandated threemonth deadline. In June 2019, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) handed down its decision that 33, not 34, was the majority of the 65-member House.

Contesting independently

The AFC’s position comes on the heels of Aubrey Norton, who was recently re-elected as Leader of the PNC – the largest party in the APNU faction, saying during a recent interview that his party is considering contesting the 2025 elections independently.

“In politics, you never say ‘no’. You have to analyse the situation, and as it emerges, you make the decisions. We are open to coalition, but we are a strong enough party that if we have to go [on our own], we can do that,” Norton said in

a live interview on a local radio station.

Norton, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, also indicated that he is interested in commencing discussions with the newly elected AFC Leader, Nigel Hughes

“I think we must,” he said when asked directly if he will be engaged with Hughes.

“I don’t see no reason why we shouldn’t. I’m prepared to talk with anybody,” the PNC leader added.

But even as Norton insists that the PNC is superior to the other parties in the parliamentary Opposition coalition, he was recently booted as the Chairman of APNU.

Last month, the parties within the APNU coalition – the Guyana Action Party (GAP), Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Justice for All Party (JFAP), the National Democratic Front, Equal Rights and Justice Party, and the Guyana Nation Builders Movement – held a meeting and elected GAP’s Vincent Henry as the new Chairman of APNU, a move which the PNC had deemed “null and void” since they were not aware of the elections.

However, Norton has

maintained that he is still the leader of the APNU coalition.

“I am still the chairman,” Norton insisted, adding “If you have a political movement, and one section of the movement has 90 per cent of the votes. In the APNU, the only political party that can claim to have ever gained significant votes to form a government is the PNCR.”

On another note, during its biennial congress last weekend, the PNC had passed a motion supporting that its leader be the presidential candidate at the 2025 polls but Norton said he is willing to step aside.

However, he explained that any new presidential candidate must be someone from within the PNC –should the party decide to contest as an APNU coalition.

“Which political party will have more than 90 per cent of the support of the Opposition [and] will give its power to 5 per cent or 10 per cent? It makes no sense. So, when I speak of a consensual candidate, I speak of a consensual candidate as it relates to the PNC. I don’t see us as a political party giving to a party that has never in this country gotten 15 per cent of the votes.”

Meanwhile, days after the PNC Congress ended, votes for the party’s 15-member Central Executive Committee were still being counted as of Wednesday.

Based on reports, there were 60 nominees on each ballot from which party members had to pick 15.

Efforts to contract the Returning Officer of the PNC Congress, Vincent Alexander, were futile but it was reported that the counting of those more than 1,000 ballots is ongoing.

AFC Chairman David Patterson

PNC Leader Aubrey Norton

“She didn’t even get to see her baby” – mom of teen

…as

Anewborn tests positive for dengue after mother's death

newborn baby boy has tested positive for dengue shortly after his mother lost her life following an emergency C-section. The mother, Lanita Jacobs, 19, from Hampton Court, Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam, succumbed to the disease on Saturday, just a week after contracting it.

According to the teen's mother, Vonitta Daniels, the baby was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Suddie Public Hospital and has been recovering. Guyana Times was informed that the baby’s platelet count was low, and he was bleeding. However, Daniels said the doctors are treating him, and now they’ve confirmed he has dengue.

“All the time they were saying that he doesn’t have it, but today [Wednesday] they confirmed that he has dengue… he is doing better now”, the woman said. Dengue, a viral infection spread by mosquitoes, can be transmitted from mother to child during

pregnancy, although such cases are rare. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that this vertical transmission poses risks such as pre-term birth, low birth weight, and fetal distress, depending on when the mother is infected during pregnancy.

Daniels recounted that her daughter started feeling unwell on June 21. While Daniels herself had contracted dengue the previous week and recovered, her daughter's condition deteriorated rapidly.

On June 22, after visiting a pharmacy for medication to treat pain and fever, Jacobs, who was eight months pregnant and due to give birth on July 17, continued to suffer severe symptoms.

"She was bleeding

and she complained of very bad belly pain… she wasn’t eating, only drinking tea," Daniels said.

Jacobs was eventually taken to Suddie Public Hospital on June 26 with a fever, neck pain, stomachache, and headache. After giving birth, her condition worsened, necessitating a transfer to Georgetown Public Hospital. Tragically, she passed away on Saturday, without seeing her newborn.

“While going to the hospital the last thing she kept saying to me was ‘Mommy I can’t take it anymore. My belly hurting me badly. They rushed her in to do a C-section and I didn’t even get to see her before. She didn’t even get to see her baby, she really wanted to see her baby because it was her first child,” Daniels said.

Family members reported that Jacobs experienced severe bleeding post-C-section. She was the eldest of eight siblings, and her mother said her death has left a profound void in their family.

“I don’t feel good because my daughter is dead. She was only 19…”, the tearful woman said. (G9)

Elections…

…in Old Blighty

Just in case we thought it was only Guyanese who’re going berserk over elections, let’s not forget that India, South Africa, and Mexico just completed some pretty tumultuous ones, and are trying to settle down - after picking up the pieces of their fractured politics. And today, the day the US - Britain’s former colony - declared their independence, the “Mother Country” is having its own elections, to decide who’ll run its affairs for the next five years!!

The Conservative Party – or Tories as they call themselves – have been in charge for the last fourteen years, and what a run it’s been!! From where your Eyewitness stands, one of the most memorable events was them quitting the European Union – Brexit!! Here it was, they’d insisted that Federation was the way to go in the modern world - and called us “backward” to’ve dumped the WI Federation they’d roped us into back in 1958. So, did they apologize to us for seeing the light on unions so far ahead?? That would be infra dig, wouldn’t it?

Another standout was the rise and fall of the buffoon Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. When the Brits had “tutored” us to rule our own country – as they looted our wealth wholesale – they insisted that political leaders gotta be “stiff-upper-lipped”. So, we had Burnham returning from England - after just 4 years - speaking in the measured, rotund cadences of Winston Churchill – with all his pauses and quips thrown in for good measure. And worse of all, he wore worsted suits with ties - in our tropical heat! Yet, THEY’d picked Boris Johnson - who looked like something the alley cat dragged in, and behaved even worse!!

And lastly, they allowed the grandson of an indentured Indian immigrant from Uganda – “Dishy” Rishy Sunak - to become their Prime Minister!! Mea Culpa?? All right…he tried his darndest to fit in with the Toffs by attending an elite “Grammar School” and then going on to Oxbridge for a “posh accent”!! Policy wise, he took the harshest stance against IMMIGRANTS, legal and illegal!! The latter he would’ve shipped off to Rwanda!!

But try as he did, he’ll certainly be booted out in today’s elections – by Labour’s Keir Starmer. And it’s not because Starmer’s ideologically to the left - as Labour is traditionally? Starmer’s moved so far to the right that his program’s barely distinguishable from the Tories’. Even if no one wants to say it out aloud, he’s a “REAL Brit, innit??

Another fly in the ointment for Sunak is the rise of far-right candidate Nigel Farage, who’s patterned himself after – here it comes – Donald Trump!! He’s projected to take a chunk of votes from the Tories, and become a thorn in their side from tomorrow!!

As the world turns!!

…in the US?

But what about the US – the country we’re all trying to emulate?? There, dear friends, they’re looking to Obama to rescue them from dementia-hit Joe Biden!! But they’re all ignoring the elephant in the room: the US debt!! For years, we’ve been warned to keep ours in line with our GDP. You can’t be spending more than you earn, cause sooner or later the nasty stuff’s gonna hit the fan. Most economists say that the maximum debt-to-GDP ratio should be around 77%. Our ratio’s a comfortable 23%, and yet the doomsayers are foaming at the mouth at the PPP Government’s quite moderate borrowing.

But what about our model – the US? Their 2023 GDP was $26.97 trillion, against debt of $33.17 trillion!! 127%!! That’s right folks, the US debt’s larger than its economy!! Even Obama’s “mumma-maan” can’t do much about that!!

And the entire world – including us – is hooked on the dollar for trading, so if the US sneezes, we’ll catch the cold!! Bad!!

…in Guyana

But our soap opera elections preparation over in the Opposition benches just keeps on giving your Eyewitness grist for his mill!! The latest is what your Eyewitness always predicted: Norton ain’t stepping aside for no one!! He’s waited too long!!

Dead: Lanita Jacobs

Hurricane Beryl continues to wreak havoc across C’bean

…as wind-whipped rain pounded Jamaica on Wednesday

Hurricane Beryl on Wednesday bashed the south coast of Jamaica, unleashing 140 mph winds before heading west at a brisk pace toward the Cayman Islands.

ABC news reported that Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Wednesday afternoon that nearly 500 people were placed in shelters.

According to the ABC report, a hurricane warning was also in effect for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

The US National Hurricane Center predict that Beryl will maintain hurricane status later this week as it is expected to cross over the Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday or early Friday and emerge into the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm made landfall on Monday on Carriacou, an island in Grenada.

Beryl reached a Category 5 hurricane status in the Atlantic on Monday, with peak winds of 165 mph (270 kph).

In addition to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Beryl wreaked havoc in Barbados, St. Lucia, Jamaica and Trinidad and

Tobago - countries with large Guyanese diasporas.

On Wednesday, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated that it is collaborating closely with various consulates to ensure the wellbeing of Guyanese citizens.

Guyana Times understands that disruption to telecommunication services and electricity in the affected countries are contributing significantly to the slow transfer of information.

“The extent of damage is still being assessed. Information from Guyanese on the island is slowly trickling in but by Friday we will be in a better position to know

how many were affected and the extent of damage done” the Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry related.

Beryl has killed at least six people.

Over 38000 Guyanese residing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Barbados and Trinidad are reportedly affected by the devasting Hurricane Beryl, which continues to plough through the Caribbean with record-breaking wind speeds, causing massive destruction including loss of lives.

According to information provided by Guyana’s Diaspora Unit, an estimated 20,000 Guyanese in Barbados; 30,000 to 35,000 in Trinidad

and about 3000 in St Vincent and the Grenadines are affected. The number of those affected in Grenada has not been provided yet.

Damage assessments

Further, damage assessments are ongoing in all the affected countries and humanitarian efforts are being continuously mobilised.

A preliminary report prepared by Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) indicated that over 3000 persons from Union Island alone in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are displaced. In addition to

this, the roof of the Union Island airport was destroyed along with the main control tower at the facility.

In fact, there are 75 active shelters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines housing over 2000 persons, none are Guyanese.

Moreover, while Barbados, Tobago and St. Lucia have reported minimal damages to infrastructure, 90 percent of Grenada’s population which amounts to over 6000 persons are affected.

Spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric has disclosed that staff attached to the

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is working closely with the CDEMA to conduct damage assessments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. OCHA teams are also in Barbados, supporting the Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, as well as our partners in order to help them respond to the hurricane’s impact on Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where national authorities, our agencies and our partners are assessing the magnitude of the damage, among others.

The aid from Guyana being loaded into a GDF Skyvan for Grenada

The destruction left by Hurricane Beryl in Grenada

Baby’s death at illegal daycare PME reveals child died from suffocation; family blames negligence

Family members of a three-monthold baby, who died while at a daycare facility in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD), says that caregiver negligence led to the child’s death as the postmortem examination has revealed that suffocation as the cause of death.

The postmortem was conducted on Wednesday by pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s mortuary.

Kyrie Anthony Nelson, of Lot 753 Fourth Drive, Kaneville, EBD, died on Friday afternoon while in a cradle at Mya’s Daycare.

Rebekha Anthony, a 23-year-old single mother of two, recalled dropping off her son at the daycare at approximately 08:00h before heading to work. The daycare is owned by a 56-year-old woman and the facility is being managed by two staff members.

Anthony received a call from one of the employees later in the day, informing her that her child was unresponsive. Upon arriving at the facility with her family, they found that the

baby had not yet been taken to the hospital. By the time they arrived at the hospital, he was already blue and died shortly after.

Anthony explained that she had stayed at home following her son’s birth and had only recently returned to work, enrolling her child at the nearby daycare. With the postmortem results confirming suffocation, the family is demanding justice.

“I don’t even know how to explain this feeling… they said they fed my son and put him to lie down, but my son was not fed. When I went to the PME we were told that my son was not fed. My son died and it was

like my son was hungry,” the grieving mother said.

“My baby was a healthy baby boy who suffered from no illness. I make sure I take him to do a regular check-up. The most my baby can do is smile and kick up his feet; he cannot turn over on his own. I don’t put my baby on his belly to sleep; he is just three months old,” the tearful mother said.

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry has stated that investigations revealed 24 children were registered at the illegal facility, including three three-month-old babies.

According to the Ministry, the last time

documents were issued to Mya’s Daycare for renewing the Child Care Licence was on February 7, 2020.

The baby’s aunt, Shemelle Lloyd, said the family was unaware that the daycare was operating illegally.

“This left me disturbed that my nephew had to die like this. I can only imagine how he struggled and how he maybe punished. To me, they do not check on these babies regularly. A baby is supposed to be fed every two hours. How can you feed a baby at 9:00h and check on him back at 11:00h? His death was given as 14:01h. If he got up,

you didn’t check him back?

It is clear that my nephew was being neglected at this daycare,” the grieving aunt said.

“I have to get justice for my nephew … this isn’t easy for us. It was not until all of this happened that we became aware that the daycare was operating illegally and there were 24 kids to two teachers…how can this happen? Women have to go back to work three months after work and they don’t have any choice than to leave their children in the care of the daycare. I advise mothers to do background checks on these daycares,” Lloyd asked.

Meanwhile, the grieving mother said she hopes that whoever is responsible for her son’s death will face the full brunt of the law. “I don’t even have the strength. This is really hard for me to know that I left my baby and put my trust in this daycare. I carried my smiling baby to the daycare. A healthy baby with no complaints to the daycare and had to go to the hospital and receive a dead child. It is really painful and heartbreaking. I don’t think I can ever get over this,” the child’s mother said as she burst into tears. (G9)

Hurricane Beryl continues to wreak...

Assistance

As the affected countries started their clean-up, Guyana was the first country to send aid to Grenada – one of the most severely hit countries. In fact, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has led a proactive approach by mobilising aid to the affected countries.

This resulted in two shipments comprising generators, water purification tablets, batteries, hygiene items, and other necessities being handed over to Grenada’s Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy, Kerryne James by the Head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Ret'd), Nazrul Hussain at the Maurice Bishop International Airport, Grenada.

Further, the Guyanese Head of State tasked Prime Minister, Mark Phillips to lead the coordination efforts.

This decision was taken on Tuesday during a meeting with stakeholders at State House, Main Street, Georgetown. In addition

to that meeting, President Ali in his capacity as the Chairman of Caricom convened an emergency response meeting with regional leaders to evaluate the initial damages caused by Hurricane Beryl. While the outcome of that meeting is unknown, Guyana Times understands that the President has reiterated Guyana’s support during this difficult period.

In keeping with this commitment, two vessels and a bond at the Friendship Wharf Facility on the East Bank of Demerara, are being loaded with essential relief supplies from the Government of Guyana in conjunction with the private sector.

The first vessel is scheduled to depart the shore of Guyana on Sunday for St. Vincent and the Grenadines while the second vessel’s de-

parture to Grenada is set for July 10.

The vessels were inspected by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips on Wednesday.

Airline closure

Prior to Beryl arrival in Jamaica, the Sangster International Airport was closed from midnight on Tuesday. The authorities stated that after the hurri-

cane passes, they will assess when it will be safe to reopen. As such, it urged persons wanting to travel to Jamaica to check with their airline and resort to make other arrangements. Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport was opened on Tuesday to light air traffic after a complete shutdown on Monday.

On the other hand, the

while the Charles

International Airport on Cayman

did same at 15:00h on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Caribbean Airlines have also cancelled several flights in and out of the affected countries. (G1)

Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman ceased Airport Operations at 18:00h

Kirkconnell

Brac

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips inspecting vessels and a bond at the Friendship Wharf facility, EBD

Dead: Kyrie Anthony Nelson

Kyrie’s aunt, Shemelle Lloyd

Kyrie’s mother, Rebekha Anthony

Hurricane Beryl continues to

Fishing boats lie in the middle of the street for protection from Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Collin Reid)

People have been stocking up on supplies ahead of the hurricane's impact (Reuters)

Storm clouds hover over the mountains as people make last-minute preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Beryl on July 3, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Fishermen push a boat damaged by Hurricane Beryl at the Bridgetown fisheries, Barbados, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Waves from Hurricane Beryl hit the seawall in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)

Waves crash ashore on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A man covers the windows of a building to protect it from the incoming Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Collin Reid)

Workers dismantle an advertisement board to protect it from Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Collin Reid)

to wreak havoc across C’bean

Neighbours look out at beach erosion and a fallen tree the day after Hurricane Beryl hit St James, Barbados, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Workers board up windows as Hurricane Beryl approaches, in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 3, 2024 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Heavy winds have taken down some trees in Mandeville, Manchester in Jamaica (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Jamaicans stock up on food and other supplies at Sampars Cash and Carry in St Andrew on Tuesday ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Beryl (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Waves break on shore in Caribbean Terrace neighbourhood in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Probe launched into unprofessional conduct of firemen during Bush Lot blaze

…Fire Service response must drastically improve – AG

The Guyana Fire Service has launched

a probe into the behaviour of fire officers at the scene of a fire at Bushlot on the West Coast of Berbice on Monday, which resulted in massive destruction to businesses and residential dwellings as well as the loss of life.

Over the years, there have been much criticism about the conduct of firefighters and the manner in which they respond to disasters – from the length of time it takes them to arrive to their firefighting tactics and the inadequate supply of water in their engines.

It was no different at Monday’s fire at Bushlot on the West Coast of Berbice.

Many voiced their concerns over what they witnessed.

Supervisor of NALICO/ NAFICO Bushlot Branch, one of the businesses housed in one of the build-

ings destroyed by the fire, Charles Singh said when the Fire Service arrived on the scene, it appeared as if they arrived without water in the tank.

“They went looking for water and it took a little time about thirty-five or forty minutes and then they start to what they had to do,” he said while describing his experience at the fire scene.

Many others have been critical of the way firefighters operated and also the equipment they walked with to fight the fire.

Jewellery store owner Ramesh Khemraj, who operated three different businesses in one of the buildings that was destroyed in Monday’s fire said he was expecting the professional firefighters to be able to control the blaze before it had spread to a second building.

“The water when they spray the water it is just

like from here to just there [a few feet away] and right through on the road from the street to reach here, the hose is like a sprinkler; Minister Benn came himself and see it,” he told this publication on Tuesday at the fire scene.

Meanwhile, Javid Saywack who was assisted by public-spirited citizens in dousing the fire as it moved next to his house ensuring that the building received no damages as a result of the raging fire, explained that he was not at home when the fire started but was told that the fire service arrived promptly.

“However, their equipment was terrible. Had their equipment been working properly I think that a majority of what was lost could have been saved. The hose had holes... With the help of residents and people passing by, everybody that was on the road, they all chipped in and gave a helping hand they managed to save here along with the fire service we managed to save here and extinguish the fire just next to us.”

Probe launched

Fire Chief Gregory Wickham has since admitted that some firemen may have acted in an unprofessional manner and has since ordered an investigation.

In a release, he said ranks acted in an unprofessional manner during a major firefighting operation at Bushlot, West Coast Berbice on Monday, noting that an investigation into the matter has been launched.

When completed if defaulters are found they will be sanctioned accordingly.

The statement said that the Guyana Fire Service is committed to protecting property and lives from fire and offering a service with confidence to all who require it.

“We will continue to ensure our ranks reflect this commitment and uphold the highest standards of professionalism,” Wickham said in his statement.

Monday’s fire resulted in some eight business oper-

ations and two residential dwellings being destroyed.

It also resulted in the death of a resident, Carl Persaud.

Wickham warned that any defaulters will be sanctioned accordingly.

Drastically improve

His statement came hours after Attorney General Anil Nandlall condemned the fire service’s response.

He said the fire service responses must improve drastically.

During his programme “Issues in the News” on Tuesday evening, the Attorney General spoke about the massive fire at

country deserve better.” Monday’s fire started at around 17:45hrs and persisted for several hours. According to one resident, it was extinguished at about 2:30h the following morning.

Police reported that it was over at 11:30h Response first came from the Onverwagt Fire Station. That team of firefighters was subsequently joined by others from the Mahaica Fire Station, New Amsterdam Fire Station, and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) fire department. The Fire Service was previously called out for its poor response by

Bushlot, that destroyed several businesses, residential dwellings and resulted in the death of one person.

“The response from the Fire Service leaves a lot to be desired,” he said, noting that “we cannot keep making the same mistakes. Fire engines cannot keep turning up the fires without water. This is unacceptable,” the AG said.

According to Nandlall, “the response of our Fire Service must be drastically improved. The people of our

President Irfaan Ali – the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces – after it was unable to save the Brickdam Police Station from a fire, even though their headquarters was located a stone’s throw away. In the wake of what unfounded on Monday, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs has called for a drastic improvement in the level of response being provided by the Guyana Fire Service. (G4)

Fire Chief Gregory Wickham

Local tour companies win Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards

Guyanese tour companies, Touring Guyana and Blackwater Adventures have secured Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024.

According to Tripadvisor, the largest travel advisory website, winners are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over 12 months.

Travellers’ Choice, formerly Certificate of Excellence, recognises businesses that earn consistently great reviews. Awardwinners are among the top 10 per cent of listings on Tripadvisor and consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reached out to the winners, who expressed gratitude towards persons who left positive experience reviews of their brands.

Managing Director of Touring Guyana, Shivana Gulchand, noted the importance of customer service.

She said her company is continuously engaging in training activities and other internal upgrades to improve the service it provides.

“People are spending

their money, they are taking time off to visit, whether they are locals or foreigners and you want them to have that truly unforgettable experience,” Gulchand said.

The company which has been in operation for the past three years, offers adventure tourism throughout Guyana with fun and engaging packages.

Gulchand said the com-

pany started as a hobby and from her desire to help people see the beauty of Guyana.

“I was tired of hearing persons bragging about Suriname and Trinidad and I said you know what, we have a lot to offer right here and I wanted to promote that and share that with the Guyanese people mainly and with the rest of

the world, so that they can see our beauty as well,” she said.

She also commended the work of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), which has played a major role in helping her develop her tour company.

Meanwhile, Blackwater Adventures, a family-owned company that operates out of Canje Creek, is receiv-

ing the award for the second time.

Proprietor, Dillon Ross highlighted the company’s consistent pursuit of excellence in service through dedicated hard work, explaining that it has a diverse demographic of clientele and thrives on meeting its expectations.

“They want authenticity, they want real connections

to things, especially to nature, and we provide that, each of my trips is different. You have to be able to provide commitment, when they pay, they have to know that their reservation is solid. I am proud to say that we have never cancelled on anyone,” Ross said. He also thanked the GTA for the support of his company.

431 Mocha students receive cash grants

Some 431 Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara students have received cash grants, a positive initiative by the government.

This information was provided by member of the Mocha Arcadia School’s Welfare department, Eulita Browne.

Cash grants were delivered to parents of students who attend Mocha Arcadia Nursery, Mocha Arcadia Primary, and the Children Are Us Nursery Private School.

Speaking at the distribution of the cash grants on Tuesday, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy said, “It was said that the monies allocated towards the grant of our children were actually a waste of taxpayers’ money. The previous administration deemed it a waste of taxpayers’ money. However, we did say in the 2020 campaign that this was one of the programs that we were going to revive and bring back on stream, and we would rather it be a waste of taxpayers’ money on our children.”

McCoy noted that the distribution of the cash grants continues due to the unwavering commitment of the government to ensure that students are well equipped with their essentials, better off than previous students who faced unprecedented

Minister

situations when they had to go to school.

“For us, our children remain very important, and as we try to educate them and prepare them for the future, we want our children to be better off than we were. Our manifesto commits to increasing it annually to the point where it reaches $50,000 within the first five years of government.”

Meanwhile, he emphasised the relief this grant provides to parents, revealing that parents are now in a position where they don’t have to bear the brunt of paying for so many items for their kids.

“And here we are with a grant that is now $45,000, a grant that eases the sacrifices of our parents who ensure their children are at school.

One of the objectives is to use this grant to keep our children in school and assist in whatever way possible.”

He added that one of the great things about this grant is that, it is just the beginning of the type of grant aimed at helping parents keep their children in school.

The minister further drew attention to the collective effort required from parents, teachers, and the government for the betterment of the nation’s youths.

“All of us have our role to play in children’s education. I want to thank the teachers, and I’m happy that you’re back in the classroom, continuing your contribution to nurturing our children and ensuring they can become the best they desire to be,

be it a lawyer, doctor, teacher, or anything they wish for themselves.

This will come true through our partnership as teachers, parents, and government, working together to make our children champions and stars of the future.”

On this note, he mentioned that he hopes parents take their roles very seriously and recognise that they should not entertain, support, or embrace politics that disrupt their children’s education.

“We should not allow our young ones to suffer due to political maneuverings and tactics by the unions or any

other organisation or individual that may want to play politics with our children’s education. Our children are too precious to be subjected to such harm and danger,” he told the gathering of Mocha parents.

In 2021, the Government reintroduced the cash grant distribution for school-aged children, as per its manifesto promise. The distributions at that time saw each child benefitting from $19,000— $15,000 from the “Because We Care” grant and $4000 from their uniform vouchers.

In 2022, the Government increased the “Because We Care” cash grant amount

from $15,000 to $25,000, and the uniform voucher from $4000 to $5000. This meant that each child went from receiving $19,000, to $30,000. It was also opened to all private school students as well.

In 2023, cash grants saw children registered in nursery, primary, and secondary public and private schools receiving a $35,000 grant, together with $5000 for school uniforms and other supplies. This year, the cash grant was increased to $40,000, coupled with the $5,000 uniform allowance and will benefit 205,000 children countrywide.

within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for public affairs, Kwame McCoy speaking to Mocha parents

A parent from Mocha Arcadia receiving her cash grant from Minister McCoy

Touring Guyana clients Dillon Ross with a client on a fishing trip

Govt to secure transport, titles for ECD housing co-ops

The Ministry of Labour and Attorney General’s Chambers are actively working to ensure members of housing cooperative societies along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor receive their transports or titles for lands they have been occupying for years.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton on Wednesday said this is an ongoing initiative by the government to empower residents by providing them with ownership documents that can be leveraged to secure loans for housing construction, thereby enhancing their quality of life.

“Many persons were able to own a house lot and build a house by being a member of a coop -

erative society,” Minister Hamilton underscored, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

In 2023, a total of 62 letters of no objection were sent to the Ministry of Housing and Water for

persons to obtain their titles or transports. Some 40 letters have been submitted to the ministry for 2024.

Residents from Plantation Hope and Bath Settlement in Region Five were among the benefi -

ciaries who received their transports in 2023.

Cooperatives are member-owned and controlled enterprises designed to meet their members’ common economic, social, and cultural needs and goals.

“In Guyana, even though there are many challenges faced when dealing with cooperative societies, the potential is there. Once properly managed, cooperatives can improve the lives of the masses,” Minister Hamilton explained.

With the provision of lands, several agricultural co-operative societies are engaged in large-scale farming, boosting food production and employment opportunities in many communities.

Agricultural co -

operatives, like the Corentyne Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Society, have played a crucial role in enhancing food production and employment, cultivating about 3,000 acres of rice. The labour minister pointed out that the Hopetown Multipurpose

Cooperatives Society Limited has diversified into sectors like transportation and rice cultivation.

The ministry’s co-op department continues to provide technical and other support to these groups, ensuring they are following the necessary guidelines and regulations.

Awareness campaign among series of activities planned to combat human trafficking

With the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons set to be observed on July 30, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs is collaborating with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to roll out a series of activities and initiatives to heighten awareness.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and Coordinator for the Trafficking in Persons

Unit, Daniel Griffith highlighted these concerted efforts while appearing on the HJ94.1 radio station on Wednesday, according to an article published by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Key among the initiatives planned is the launch of the repealed Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2023.

Sensitisation sessions will also be rolled out in the streets of Georgetown and other areas through what is termed the ‘TIP in the Streets’ campaign.

Furthermore, awareness campaigns will be disseminated in the ten regions of Guyana, highlighting indicators and the national referral mechanism. A fitness walk is planned for July 19.

With Guyana recording an increase in human migration, Minister Benn said it is important to improve the country’s detec -

tion capabilities.

“It’s important to raise awareness because some persons might not recognise and understand what may fall under the category of trafficking in persons… Those are some of the activities that will be planned this month to zero in on the causes, to zero in on what persons should be looking for to recognise the scourge,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Griffith highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts to increase the foreign-speaking human resource pool to cater to the Spanish-speaking community.

He alluded to the rigorous efforts by the two ministries, which are part of the ministerial task force to eradicate this scourge. Some 1,000 police ranks have been trained to recognise the elements of trafficking as well as stakeholders in the human rights community.

A Spanish hotline is also available where persons can make a report via a telephone call.

Due to the government’s aggressive and sustained efforts to combat this transnational crime, Guyana has maintained its ‘Tier 1’ status for the anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) rating in the United States State Department Trafficking in Persons report.

According to the US report, the government has fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

A beneficiary with her transport (Photo: DPI)

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

Life skills training programme for over 100 individuals – Labour Minister NA house destroyed by fire; arson suspected

Persons are now being equipped with the necessary tools to advance themselves in the workforce as the Labour Ministry in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Tuesday rolled out their new ‘Life Skills’ training programme through online course provider Coursera.

Speaking at the virtual launch of the new programme, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton highlighted that the programme was being discussed two years ago.

In this regard the minister noted that it is not only important for persons to have technical skills as well as theoretical skills he noted that in the workforce these skills are crucial.

“You cannot be a good plumber or electrician if you don’t not know how to do a bill of quantity. If you don’t have an understanding of English and Mathematics Arithmetic’s you will lose out on the job as skillful as you are” the minister asserted.

On this point Hamilton highlighted that the Ministry is currently seeking to de-

velop more programmes of a similar nature that will be administered to persons at the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). He highlighted that by equipping persons with these skills, new innovations to solve various problems will be created.

“That is one of the conversations coming out of this partnership, how you can help us to ensure that our training goes beyond the normal teaching people technical skills. How the skills will help the country deal with inefficiencies and things that are deficient, teach a man a building construction programme on how you can build a house faster better” the minister stated. Also present at the

launch was the Board of Industrial Training (BIT)

Chief Executive Officer

Richard Maugh, who underscored that the Board of Industrial Training will continue to provide Guyanese with the necessary resources needed for them to upskill themselves. In this regard, he encouraged participants to take the course seriously.

“For those who are befitting from the training we want to encourage you not to take lightly the opportunity that has been afforded you and to make sure that at the end of the period that you have the license that you make maximum use of it” he posited.

At the time of the launch, more than 115 beneficiaries seized the opportunity to register for the online life training programme. The programme will equip persons with Literacy, Numeracy, Health and wellness and entrepreneurships skills. Additionally, persons who complete the programme will be sent to the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency and will be awarded a job based on their qualifications.

An early morning fire on Tuesday has left a domestic worker and her mother without a home.

The Lot 240 Bristol Street, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) building went up in flames at about 04:00h on Tuesday.

Twenty-six-yearold Leona Sealey, called ‘Michelle’; a domestic worker said at about 18:00h on Monday, she overheard her brother threatening to burn down their house.

The woman said hours later, she woke up and

found their home engulfed in flames. The New Amsterdam Fire Service was contacted and was able to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.

Police have since arrested one man as investigation continues.

Refractive errors most common eye condition in children – Ophthalmologist

Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Georgetown Hospital Corporation, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim on Tuesday said that refractive errors are the most prevalent eye issue among children.

During a recent edition of “Guyana Today,” Dr. Sugrim, highlighted that refractive errors affect the eye’s ability to focus on objects, whether near or far. He further explained that these errors can be caused by irregularly shaped eyes, which affects how light enters and is interpreted by the eye. Some individuals may have better vision for objects up close, a condition known as nearsightedness or myopia. Conversely, others may see distant objects more clearly, a condition referred to as farsightedness or hyperopia.

He also said that astigmatism was identified as another common cause of refractive errors, this condition is where the cornea is not round but egg-

shaped. This irregularity causes rays of light to focus in different directions.

Dr. Sugrim noted that these refractive errors can be corrected with spectacles or contact lenses however if not corrected at an early age amblyopia which causes the eye to have a dull vision. On this point he noted that the Government Eye testing and spectacles programme main aim is to correct refractive errors primarily in children.

“All three of these conditions, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism is corrected with spectacles or contact lenses. The best or the easiest way to treat those conditions is with spectacles and then we have our optometrist that will examine the kids and determine what type of refractive error they have. Now, with regards to children and if you do not correct your refractive error at an early age with the spectacles, the child may end up having what we call a lazy eye or amblyopia and that eye has a dull vision,”

he stated. Meanwhile last month the government officially launched its eye-testing and spectacles programme, which will benefit thousands of vulnerable individuals. The programme will see these individuals accessing financial assistance from the government to get their eyes tested and outfitted with the required spectacles. Individuals under 18 years of age, and those over 65, will receive a $2,000 voucher for an eye test. If they require a spectacle, they will receive a $15,000 voucher to as a copay.

These eyecare vouchers are valid at Da Silva’s Optical, Miracle Vision Care, Regina’s Optical, Courts Optical, Optique Vision Care, Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital, DoobayGafoor Medical & Research Centre, Eye Max Optical, Bhagwan’s Optical, Optical Works, Mings Optical and Eye Care Guyana, among other facilities.

The aftermath of the Angoy’s Avenue fire

Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Georgetown Hospital Corporation, Dr Shailendra Sugrim

Regional

Hurricane Beryl strikes Jamaica as death toll creeps up, destruction widespread

Hurricane Beryl churned menacingly over Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon, after uprooting trees, ripping off roofs and destroying farms as it forged a destructive, water-soaked path across smaller Caribbean islands over the past couple days.

The death toll from the powerful Category Four hurricane rose to at least nine, but it is widely expected to rise as communications come back online across drenched islands damaged by flooding and deadly winds.

In Jamaica, the storm hit the island's southern coast on Wednesday afternoon, pummelling communities with intense wind and rain as emergency groups evacuated people living in floodprone communities.

"It's terrible. Everything's gone. I'm in my house and scared," said Amoy Wellington, a 51-yearold cashier who lives in Top Hill, a rural farming community in Jamaica's southern St Elizabeth parish. "It's a disaster."

Almost 500 Jamaicans were in shelters by Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told reporters, urging people in high-risk areas to move.

"We have not seen the worst of what could happen," Holness said. "We can do as much as we can do, as (is) humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God."

The airports in the Jamaican capital, Kingston,

and tourist-popular Montego Bay were closed throughout the day.

The loss of life and damage wrought by Beryl underscores the consequences of a warmer Atlantic Ocean, which scientists cite as a telltale sign of human-caused climate change fuelling extreme weather that differs from past experience.

Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the hardest-hit areas in the eastern Caribbean, said in a radio interview that the country's Union Island was "flattened" by Beryl.

"Everybody is homeless ... It is going to be a Herculean effort to rebuild."

Speaking to State media, Nerissa Gittens-McMillan, Permanent Secretary at St Vincent and the Grenadines' Agriculture Ministry, warned of possible food shortages after 50 per cent of the country's plantain and banana crops were lost, with significant losses also to root crops and vegetables.

In Kingston, streets were quiet as anxious residents hunkered down after spending the morning stocking up on essential supplies.

Jamaicans braced for electricity cuts later on Wednesday, according to a power company official, with roads near the coast already washed out as steady rain continued to fall and winds picked up in the capital.

In St Elizabeth, local politician Joseph Patterson said the power was out and

Scattered debris clutters the waterfront after Hurricane Beryl passed the island of Carriacou, Grenada, July 2, 2024 (Reuters/ Arthur Daniel photo)

the situation was "getting gradually worse by the minute," with aggressive winds bringing down trees.

By Wednesday afternoon, the well-defined eye of the spiralling hurricane was located about 65 miles (105 kilometres) southeast of Kingston, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), though its outer rings were already lashing much of the island with a population of nearly 3 million.

Beryl is packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kph (140 miles per hour).

The force of the winds is expected to weaken somewhat in the next day or two, according to the NHC, though it cautioned that Beryl will remain at or near

Panama deportations unlikely

to be enough to curb Darien crossings

An agreement between Panama and the United States to try to deter migrants from crossing the treacherous Darien jungle, by repatriating those that enter the Central American country illegally is unlikely to succeed and could make journeys even more dangerous.

Analysts said the plan announced on Monday, in which Washington agreed to cover the cost of repatriating migrants, would struggle in the face of the vast numbers of people currently arriving in Panama.

And any success in bringing down the number of people crossing the Darien would likely only result in increases elsewhere, perhaps in even more dangerous conditions, they added.

Panama's presidency and the US State Department and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year a record 520,000 migrants crossed the Darien, a stretch of jungle that divides Panama and Colombia where people who trek on foot for days often face robbery, violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse.

In recent years, the major-

ity of migrants have been from Venezuela and other South American countries, such as Ecuador, facing internal strife. There have also been increasing numbers from outside Latin America, including from China, Afghanistan, and other countries.

Those passing through the Darien, authorities say, are mostly attempting to reach the United States. The record numbers have prompted Panamanian authorities to seek international help and harden their border security, though numbers have kept rising.

Immigration is a core election issue ahead of the November US presidential election, with President Joe Biden eager to show voters he can control illegal crossings at the southern US border.

He has pointed to a recent fall in apprehensions at the US-Mexico border as evidence his policies, including a broad asylum ban on migrants caught crossing illegally, are working.

It seems unlikely, however, that Panama could organize enough repatriation flights to make a difference.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

major hurricane strength as it moves on to the Cayman Islands.

"Life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides from heavy rainfall are expected over much of Jamaica and southern Haiti through today," the NHC said in a post, adding that dangerous winds and storm surge are also expected in the Cayman Islands through early Thursday.

The centre added that a hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, as well as the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, including for the country's top beach resort Cancun.

US

We could not sleep Overnight in Haiti as Beryl's impact grew progressively stronger, residents anxiously awaited its full impact.

"We were not comfortable. We could not sleep normally with the wind, the water. Many people slept in the yard," said Pouchon Jean-Francois, who lives in an improvised camp in Portau-Prince.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was injured as she surveyed an area south of Beryl on Tuesday night, where the Manzanares River in Sucre state burst its banks.

President Nicol s Maduro confirmed the injuries caused by a falling tree to his second-in-command, along with head injuries suffered by senior officials accompanying her, after intense rainfall struck inland from the country's Caribbean coastline.

On Tuesday night, Maduro told State television that three persons had died and four were missing in the area, along with more than 8000 homes damaged by torrential rains, including at least 400 destroyed.

The unusually-early hurricane strengthened at a record pace, which scientists argue is almost certainly fuelled by climate change.

Beryl is the 2024 Atlantic season's first hurricane and

the earliest storm on record to reach the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson fivestage scale. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a large number of major hurricanes in an "extraordinary" season this year.

Additional confirmed fatalities so far include at least three in St Vincent and the Grenadines, a senior official told Reuters, where Union Island has suffered severe destruction of over 90 per cent of buildings.

In Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "Armageddon-like" conditions with no power and widespread destruction, while also confirming three deaths.

Beyond near-term impact in Jamaica and Haiti, the NHC warned that Beryl will likely make landfall on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula as early as tonight.

In Cancun, officials said supplies of wooden boards used to protect doors and windows were dwindling as locals and tourists prepared for Beryl's arrival.

Laura Velazquez, head of Mexico's civil protection agency, encouraged tourists in Cancun and nearby Tulum to hunker down in hotel basements once the hurricane approaches, in comments to local broadcaster Milenio. (Reuters)

resumes talks with Venezuela, pushes for fair July 28 election

Senior US and Venezuelan officials restarted talks on Wednesday, with Washington saying it urged President Nicol s Maduro's Government to ensure that elections scheduled for July 28 will be "competitive and inclusive."

Venezuela's chief negotiator Jorge Rodriguez said the two sides agreed during the virtual meeting to work on improving fraught relations and to maintain "constructive and respectful" communication.

The US has expressed concern about whether Maduro who is seeking a third term in office will make good on his promises to hold a free and fair presidential election. Western Governments dis-

T&T

Pmissed his 2018 re-election as a sham.

The Socialist president is now pitted against Edmundo Gonzalez, a veteran ex-diplomat who was named the main Opposition candidate after primary winner Maria Corina Machado had a ban on holding office upheld by the Supreme Court in January, a move condemned by the US at the time.

Machado has since given Gonzalez her backing, and he has built a large lead over Maduro in opinion polls.

The US reimposed oil sanctions on Venezuela in mid-April, accusing Maduro of not fully complying with electoral guarantees he made in deals with the opposition.

Maduro said on Monday he

had accepted a US proposal to resume direct talks. The last known meeting between senior US officials and Maduro's representatives took place in Mexico in mid-April. "We discussed a wide range of issues and continued to urge competitive and inclusive elections on July 28 in Venezuela," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said of Wednesday's meeting. Rodriguez said that while continued talks were intended to "gain confidence", Venezuela had expressed its "rejection of the misrepresentations that spokespersons of the US Government have published about this dialogue." He did not elaborate.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

opens door to hurricane victims

rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has announced that children from hurricane-ravaged regions in Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines will be allowed to enter Trinidad and Tobago and seek refuge with their families.

The decision was made Tuesday in reaction to the pressing need to help and support the hundreds of individuals in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation

and deaths on the islands. Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines faced significant devastation.

“Given the level of total devastation experienced on these islands, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledging the deep familial ties between these islands and Trinidad and Tobago, has offered to allow schoolage children from the devastated zones to be allowed into Trinidad and Tobago if they

have family here who may wish to house them during the school holiday period that is upon us at this time,” the PM said.

Back in 2017, Dr Rowley offered accommodation to Dominicans who were left homeless following the passage of Hurricane Maria. At the time, the usual immigration requirements necessary for entry into the country were waived. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Around the World

NEWS

Oil prices rise on deep weekly draw in US crude inventories

Oil prices gained about one per cent on Wednesday after a larger-than-expected decline in US crude stocks, but gains were capped by concerns about rising global inventories in thin trading ahead of the US Independence Day holiday.

Brent crude futures rose US$1.10, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$87.34 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained US$1.07, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$83.88.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a 12.2 million draw in the country's crude oil barrels in storage last week, which was larger than analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 680,000-barrel draw.

"Strong exports, a slight drop in imports, and a rebound in refinery runs colluded to draw crude inventories by a whopping 12 million barrels," said Kpler oil analyst Matt Smith.

But the market's reaction was muted partly due to lower trading volumes ahead of Independence Day, analysts noted.

Potential supply disruptions due to Hurricane Beryl have also kept prices elevated, although concerns eased after the US National Hurricane Center said the storm was expected to weaken by the time it entered the Gulf of Mexico this week. The rain and wind impacts could still disrupt Mexico's offshore oil production as well as its export infrastructure and tighten supply, said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates. Mexico is a major crude oil exporter.

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) output rose for a second consecutive month in June, a Reuters survey found on Tuesday, which weighed on oil prices. Higher supply from Nigeria and Iran offset the impact of voluntary supply cuts by other members and the wider OPEC+ alliance.

"OPEC+ was reported to have increased production in June despite pledges to keep quotas in check through the third quarter, and lingering concerns over a tepid recovery in China sent a bearish signal," Panmure Gordon's Kelty said.

Also dampening prices were surveys that showed that China's services activity expanded at the slowest pace in eight months and confidence hit a four-year low in June. Overall business growth across the eurozone also slowed sharply last month. China is the largest importer of crude barrels, and a slowdown in the country's economic activity can damage oil demand. (Reuters)

Gaza ceasefire effort shows signs of revival as Israel pounds enclave

Signs of renewed activity emerged on Wednesday in the quest for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the nine-month-old war in the Gaza Strip while Israel launched more strikes on the devastated enclave.

After weeks with little public diplomacy, mediators Egypt and Qatar delivered a response from Hamas to a proposal that would include a release of hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel is studying the document, said a statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on behalf of the Mossad spy agency.

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been

trying for months to secure a truce and the release of 120 remaining hostages in Gaza, but their efforts have repeatedly failed.

Hamas says any deal

Labour predicted to rout Sunak's Conservatives as Britain goes to polls

Britain looks set to elect Labour Party leader Keir Starmer as its next Prime Minister when voters go to the polls on Thursday, sweeping Rishi Sunak's Conservatives out of office after 14 often turbulent years.

Opinion polls put Starmer's centre-left party on course for a landslide

I am running, Biden says, as he scrambles to reassure

Democrats, campaign staff

US President Joe Biden vowed to stay in the 2024 presidential race during a call with campaign staff on Wednesday and insisted in meetings with Democratic lawmakers and governors that he is fit for re-election despite his shaky debate performance last week.

Biden dialled in to a call with worried members of his campaign team and told them he wasn't going anywhere, according to two sources familiar with the call.

"No one is pushing me out. I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end," Biden said in an email blast by his campaign, urging supporters to "pitch in a few bucks" to help defeat his rival Donald Trump in the November 5 presidential election.

The President met virtually and in person with 24 Democratic Governors and the Mayor of Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening to reassure them he is up to the job of standard-bearer for

the party after the faltering debate performance.

In that encounter with Trump on Thursday, Biden mumbled under his breath, lost his train of thought at times and, at one point, talked of beating Medicare. The President has said that he was tired after two foreign trips and the White House has said he had a cold.

Vice President Kamala Harris has meanwhile gained support as his potential replacement.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

victory as voters turn their backs on the Conservatives following a period of in-fighting and turmoil that led to five Prime Ministers in eight years.

However, surveys show many voters simply want change, rather than fervently backing Labour, meaning Starmer could enter office with one of the biggest to-do lists in British history, but without a groundswell of support or the financial resources to tackle it.

"Today, Britain can begin a new chapter," Starmer told voters in a statement today. "We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour."

Sunak, who called the election months earlier than expected, has in recent weeks abandoned his call for a fifth consecutive Conservative victory, switching instead to warning of the dangers, of an unchallenged Labour Party in Parliament.

He issued a fresh rallying cry to voters for election day, saying a Labour government would hike taxes,

(Excerpt from Reuters)

must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.

Putin

"Israel is examining the response and will respond to the mediators," the Mossad statement said without further details.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules Gaza, said in a statement that its leader Ismail Haniyeh had calls with Qatari and Egyptian mediators around ideas to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza as well as communication with Turkish officials.

The New York Times reported that Israel's top generals want a Gaza ceasefire even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, widening a rift between the military and Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would let Hamas survive. (Excerpt from Reuters)

and Xi hail stability of ChinaRussia partnership on SCO sidelines

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have hailed their country s partnership on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (CSO), a regional security bloc founded by the duo as a counterpoint to Western might.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, both Putin and Xi commended the grouping s expanding membership, which includes the Central Asian countries, as well as India, Iran and member-in-waiting Belarus. They also continued to portray the China-Russia relationship as a stabilising force in chaotic times.

Putin said the SCO was strengthening its role as one of the key pillars of a fair multipolar world order . However, he maintained that the cooperation is not aimed against anyone, we

are not creating any blocs or alliances, we are just acting in the interests of our peoples.

Speaking during televised remarks in advance of a bilateral meeting with Xi, the Russian leader quickly turned to the relationship between Moscow and Beijing. He said the two countries comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are experiencing their best period in history . In turn, Xi referenced the turbulent international situation and external environment and said Russia and China should continue to uphold the original aspiration of friendship for generations to come . He went on to call Putin an old friend and said the countries had laid plans and arrangements for the next development of bilateral relations. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Israeli tanks operate inside Gaza near the Israel-Gaza border amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Israel, July 3, 2024 (Reuters/ Amir Cohen photo)

A worker prepares to deliver election ballot boxes in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, July 3, 2024 (Reuters/Russell Cheyne photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan [Sputnik/Sergei Guneev/Pool via Reuters]

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Take better care of yourself and your possessions. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of your generosity or kindness. Put your energy into projects or pastimes that you find exhilarating.

Change what’s necessary. Pay more attention to how you look and feel and what you can do to make your life less stressful. Focus on what’s happening around you.

(May 21-June 20) (April 20-May 20)

Put your energy behind your skills, experience and knowledge, and you’ll gain acceptance and momentum in achieving your goals. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans.

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Do what you love to do. Don’t let your dreams fall by the wayside. Take the initiative and share what you have to offer. Start small and use your passion to work toward a goal.

Be open about your feelings and intentions, and you’ll change the dynamics of a relationship. Showing strength and courage will grab attention and get results. Pay attention.

Put your emotions aside, focus on facts and use common sense to sort through difficulties you encounter. Participate in an event that offers insight and stimulates your creative side.

Keep an open mind. Don’t rely on someone else to do the work, or you’ll be left out when it counts the most. Consider what you enjoy doing most and turn your attention toward doing it.

Satisfy your imagination and put your skills to good use. What you discover will help you adjust your life to satisfy your needs. Leave nothing to chance when dealing with financial matters.

Invest time and money in yourself. Explore the possibilities and expand your options through networking. Do whatever it takes to discover your true potential.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Nurture essential relationships. Find out where you stand and adjust your intentions accordingly. A change at home should make your space functional and ease stress.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Don’t worry about things you cannot change. Focus on what will promote comfort and joy. Put your energy where it counts, and apply pressure to people who can help you reach your goal.

Nothing can stop you once you start. Put your head down and drive forward with confidence and willpower. Don’t feel that you must stick to the norm. Romance is on the rise.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

The Rose Hall Town

Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization, will be hosting its 34th annual cricket academy at the Area H ground in Rose Hall Town from Monday July 8. The club has been hosting this academy since its formation in 1990, and this year’s edition is expected to be the largest of its kind.

Club Secretary Hilbert Foster has said that the main objectives of the annual cricket academy are as follows: to mould the players into all-round cricketers who are capable of playing at the highest level; to instill in them the importance of discipline and education; to correct technical flaws in their game; to educate youths on the history of the game; and to get youths to understand the history and tradition of the game.

Foster, a former president of the Berbice Cricket Board, has said that, over the years, the success enjoyed by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club has been the result of getting a constant flow of high-quality players into the club’s structure.

The academy would be headed by Level 3 coach Winston Smith and a battery of coaches, including Floyd Benjamin and Eon Hooper. Classes start daily at 9:00hrs, and snacks would be provided for 120 students who would be participating

in the academy. This year’s edition is being sponsored by Bakewell and Guyana Beverage Company (Busta).

Cricket manager Rabindranath Kissoonlall has said the club has invested a lot in this year’s academy, and it strives to maintain its reputation as a high producer of players for Berbice and Guyana. The club has invested heavily to obtain a mobile grass cutter to maintain the ground, while it has also obtained several new equipment, including a 32X8-inch mat for batting practice on the concrete pitch, 100 feet of practice net, modern catch-

ing practice equipment, and four new Kiddies cricket kits, among other things. Kissoonlall said the club strongly believes in preparing its youths for success in the future.

Head coach Winston Smith has disclosed that a two- week comprehensive programme of intense training and coaching has been specially prepared for the academy; and there would be lectures on a wide range of topics, including drug abuse, peer pressure, history of cricket, captaincy and leadership, tradition of the game, role of sports ambassador,

The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) held a memorial volleyball tournament to honour the memory of the late Mrs. Cecelia Joseph, mother of veteran player Winston Joseph, last Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at the D’Edward grass court in Berbice.

Four teams displayed their skills in the tournament, namely: Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), D’Edward Academy

team, Berbice High School (BHS), and Upper Corentyne Technical Institute (UCTI).

After the preliminary round robin was played, GSA and BHS advanced to a best of three finals, which GSA won by scores of 2225, 25-17 and 15-10.

The first prize trophy went to GSA, compliments of Amarnauth Singh, while the second prize trophy was awarded to BHS, compliments of Haun French.

In individual accolades, Best Setter was awarded to Takhur Nandram of GSA, compliments of Sabrina.

The ‘Best Libero’ prize was won by Rico Fredricks of GSA, compliments of Fred; and the ‘Best Attacker’ accolade went to Omarion Sampson of GSA, compliments of Farouk Abdul.

At conclusion of the tournament, Mr. Joseph thanked the Berbice and Guyana Volleyball entities for upkeeping the sport.

RHTY&SC’s annual cricket academy commences on July 8

and laws of the game. Practice matches would also be played daily between different age groups: Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19.

Smith is urging young females to join the academy and learn how to play the game.

The RHTY&SC has the distinction of having Guyana’s only full-time female cricket team, and the club is looking to attract more members for the Rose Hall Town Metro female team. Among the females produced by the club are Shamine Campbell, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Plaffiana Millington, Shabiki Gajnabi, Melanie Henry, Trisha Hardat, Mariam Samaroo, Diane Prahalad and Uma Matadin.

The RHTY&SC plans to reward “the cricketer of the 2024 cricket academy” with over 300,000 dollars’ worth

of prizes, including an electric bike, one electronic tablet, a lazy boy, a designer watch, a King’s Jewellery world gold medallion, design clothing, cricket gear, household equipment, and school materials.

Awards would also be given to the best batsman, best bowler, most disciplined participant, the person with the best attendance record, most cooperative member of the academy, and most improved member of the academy.

Approximately 10 cycles and four electronic tablets would be given as prizes, while every attendee of the academy who successfully completes the attendance rate of 90% would receive a school bag and educational materials.

This year’s academy is being sponsored by Bakewell, the Guyana Beverage Company and T&R Construction Company. A

LeBron James will spend at least one more season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he’ll be able to play alongside his son, after reportedly agreeing to a new contract on Wednesday.

ESPN reports James will sign a two-year deal worth $104 million, which includes a player option for the 2025-26 season as well as a no-trade clause.

The agreement allows the Lakers to have the first father-son pair of teammates in NBA history, after the team selected Bronny James Jr. in the second round of last week’s draft.

LeBron James, who turns 40 in December, will be entering his 22nd NBA season and seventh with the Lakers, and remains among the league’s elite players even at his advanced age. The NBA’s alltime leading scorer averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 71 games last season despite playing through a lingering left ankle injury for much of the campaign.

James is one of only three players, along with NBA MVP

Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic, to average at least 25 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists per game in 2023-24.

The four-time MVP and NBA champion also achieved a pair of unprecedented feats last season, when he became the first player in league history to be named to 20 AllStar teams, as well as the first to reach 40,000 career points.

James won his fourth career NBA title by leading the Lakers to a championship during the COVID-19 affected 2019-20 season, and helped the club to a surprise run to the 2023 Western Conference finals. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of this year’s play-offs, however, after losing to the Nuggets in five games.

The Lakers took Bronny James with the 55th overall pick, after he spent one season at the University of Southern California. The younger James suffered a frightening cardiac arrest during a practice session last summer, but was later medically cleared

number of the club’s friends are supporting the academy with gifts and prizes, including John Lewis Styles, The Gift Center, HA Snacks Corporate Limited, DeSinco Trading, Ricks and Sari Agro-Industries, ANSA McAL, King’s Jewellery World, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, and Bounty Farm Limited.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was founded in 1990 by threetime Commonwealth Youth Service awardee the Saint Francis Xavier Youth Club, and is the only youth and sports club in Guyana to have ever received a national award. It has won 121 cricket tournaments, and has produce 123 players for Berbice and Guyana combined for this year. Ten of its members have so far gained national selection at different levels, while ten of its players have played at the international level.

K.C Singh handing over documents for the electronic bike prize to RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary Jonathan Rampersaud

The victorious GSA team displaying their prizes

Cecelia Joseph Memorial Volleyball tournament…

MCYS/NSC Learn to Swim programme heads to Essequibo on Saturday

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), in association with the National Sports Commission (NSC), is set to ink another piece of history when the inaugural Learn to Swim Programme in the Cinderella County splashes off on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

The venue is the Imam

Bacchus Swimming Pool located at Affiance, and the opening ceremony is set for 14:00hrs. It will be attended by the Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr; Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle; and Regional Chairman Mrs Vilma De Silva, among other officials.

The registration process commenced weeks ago, and,

to date, upwards of 350 persons coming from all the villages on the Coast as well as from the Pomeroon, have already registered.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, has deemed this a historic moment, and said it’s in line with Government’s “One Guyana” initiative, and this is one of the reasons this programme is being taken around the country.

Head Swimming Coach of the National Sports Commission, Paul Mahaica, has indicated that he and his experienced team of coaches/instructors are all excited for this inaugural programme, and that all systems would be put in place to ensure another seamless and successful activity.

Sessions will be held for children from 14:00 to 15:00hrs and from 15:00 to 16:00hrs on Fridays and Saturdays. The adults will be taking centre stage on Sundays from 15:00 to 16:00hrs. The dates are July 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28.

Children and adults in the Cinderella County who are interested in learning to swim can contact Regional Sports Officer Ms. Wazeeda Bacchus (667-0207), Head Coach Paul Mahaica (6155714 or visit the following facebook pages: Ministry of Sport or @Guyana Learn to swim.

West Demerara hand GCA tense 1-wicket defeat as tournament bowls off

…ECCB beat UDCA by 190

West Demerara sneaked past Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) by a single wicket as action in the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Under-17 50Over tournament bowled off at the Everest Cricket Club Ground earlier this week.

GCA posted a moderate 100 all out in 34.4 overs, batting first on Sunday last. National youth player Shamar Apple (38),

GDF goalkeeper collapses, dies during training

Enoch Carmichael, a goalkeeper attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club, collapsed on Wednesday morning during a practice session at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and was subsequently pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Demerara, where he had been rushed for medical attention.

Details on this incident remain sketchy, but it has been reported that as a substitute for the Elite League defending champions, Carmichael was going through his goalkeeping drills when he collapsed. He was rushed to the nearest medical facility, the Diamond Diagnostic Center, EBD, but unfortunately succumbed.

The GDF Football Team were likely preparing for their KFC Elite League clash with the Fruta Conquerors Football Club, which was scheduled for 21:00hrs tonight at the same Providence venue.

Up until press time, no official word had been forthcoming from the GDF Football Club regarding Carmichael’s death. However, it has been indicated that staff members of the GDF team visited the player’s grieving family on Wednesday.

The Guyana Football Federation, on the other hand, said in an official statement, “The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Enoch Carmichael, who tragically passed away on Wednesday morning during a routine training session with the Guyana Defence Force FC at the National Training Centre, Providence.

“On behalf of the Federation and the entire football community, I extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family of Enoch Carmichael. We are saddened by the loss of such a promising talent. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.” This statement was signed by GFF President Wayne Forde.

As a mark of respect, all

KFC Elite League matches scheduled for this week have been postponed until further notice. Guyana Defence Force, the defending KFC Elite League champions, are currently preparing for the Caribbean Shield Cup Championship in Curacao later this month.

Aside from the ongoing KFC Elite League, the

GDF are in preparation for the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Club Shield Championship, to be played later this month in Curacao.

The GDF FC are slated to be among 20 club teams from around the region who would compete for top honours. That tournament is scheduled for the period July 25th to August 4th.

runs

Dave Mohabir (18*) and Emmanuel Lewis (12) led Georgetown’s batting. Patrice Fraser (217) and Yudesh Seetaram (2-24) were the leading wicket-takers, as three other West Demerara bowlers, including opener Parmeshwar Ram (1-10), assisted.

The chase was set up by opener Arvind Suknanan, who stroked a gritty 45 with just one four off 124 deliveries. Ram hit two fours in his 17 and 11 runs came from Seetaram.

The spir ed bowling per formance from GCA almost en abled them to pull off a win, had it not been for the nerves of the West Demerara tailenders. Lewis took 2-16, spin ner Stephon Sankar took 2-13, and Dhanesh Persaud took 2-19.

Jayden Dowlin took 1-10 and skipper Mohabir took 1-9, as the other players to return wickets.

East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) beat Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) by 190 runs After posting 219-8, thanks to primary scorers Vikash Wilkinson (47), Arun Gainda (39), and Yannick Newton(22), the ECCB steamrolled the UDCA by almost 200 runs. Marvin Forde was the UDCA’s most successful bowler, with figures of 4-23. UDCA were rattled for 29 inside 20 overs, after brilliant spells from Saif Ragbeer (2Gainda (22) and Marcel Nandu (2-1).

Thursday, July 4, 2024: GCA vs UDCA at Everest, starting from 08:00hrs.

Friday July 5, 2024: WDCA vs UDCA at MMZ, starting from 09:30hrs

WDCA vs ECCB at MMZ, starting from 09:30hrs

Marvin Forde

Vikash Wilkinson

A glimpse of what Essequibo can expect from the ‘Learn to Swim’ programme

The late Enoch Carmichael

Hodge spearheads solid batting effort from Windies in England warm-up

Kavem Hodge has slammed a thumping century to help the West Indies to a solid total in the first session of their 3-day warm-up match against the First-Class Counties (FCC) Select XI in Beckenham, England. It happened on Wednesday afternoon at the Kent County Cricket Ground, as the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Zachary McCaskie had a tough start, returning to the dugout for 4 and 2 runs respectively.

Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie recovered with a 106-run partnership that saw Louis hitting 50 in 63 balls before departing. McKenzie went on to hit 73 in 85 deliveries as he attempted to build another partnership with Alick Athanaze.

Athanaze was the third West Indian batter to reach the half century mark on Day One, contributing 74

runs in 105 balls to the Men in Maroon’s tally.

Kavem Hodge, however, was the shining star of the day, as he crafted an impressive century. Hodge hit 14 fours and two sixes in a sparkling 112 off 128 deliveries.

The remainder of the West Indian batting lineup all went back to the dugout for single digits, as they

posted 339 all-out in 79.1 overs in their first innings.

Farhan Ahmed was the pick of the FCC bowlers, claiming 4-48 from 12 overs, while John Turner took another four-wicket haul for 60 runs in 12.1 overs.

The FCC Select XI, batting after West Indies were bundled out, got to 15 without loss, compli-

ments of Harry Singh and Ben McKinney, before rain forced an early close of play. Following his commanding innings, Hodge spoke of their time in the middle, and what would be crucial to West Indies’ preparation for the series. He said, “It was pretty good. It was cold, but I enjoyed it. My first time playing in England. It’s always nice to come out here and, regardless if it was your first time, you want to create a good impression and make the most of the opportunity. So, it was good to spend some time in the middle.”

Sharing about the Windies’ preparation, Hodge said, “I think it’s just a matter of getting accustomed to the conditions. Obviously, it’s much colder than the Caribbean, the ball swings a lot, I think it’s just a matter of taking in the environment. You know, we’re lucky to come here a week or so before the first Test match. So, it’s just a matter of taking in the environment, enjoying each other’s company, and working hard together.”

Looking ahead to the series bowling off at Lord’s next week, Hodge responded to inquiries about what their now famous Australian win has done for the team’s confidence. He enlightened, “It’s playing a big role in the sense of belief that we have as a team and the Caribbean on a whole. Obviously, you know, going into a Test match with Australia with 7 debutants, I wouldn’t think much people gave us a chance; but it proved to everybody the belief that we have as a team.

“We prepared well. I must big up Andre Coley and his background staff.

You know, they’re doing a lot of work. A lot of work that people don’t see but, you know, it showed there on the field. It’s something that really pushed us, and we’ll continue to ride off of

The warm-up action was scheduled to continue at 06:00hrs local time today with the FCC Select XI trailing West Indies by 324 runs.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st Innings

BATTING R Kraigg Brathwaite (c) c Hamza Shaikh b Turner 4

Zachary McCaskie c †Duke b Hull 2

Mikyle Louis c McKinney b Turner 50

Kirk McKenzie c Turner b Foreman 73

Alick Athanaze c Hamza

Shaikh b Farhan Ahmed 74

Kavem Hodge c Jack b Turner 112

Jason Holder c Hamza

Shaikh b Farhan Ahmed 4 Joshua Da Silva † c McKinney b Farhan Ahmed 2

Tevin Imlach c Luxton b Turner 4

Kevin Sinclair lbw b Farhan Ahmed 1

Alzarri Joseph not out 0

Extras (b 4, lb 6, nb 2, w 1) 13

TOTAL 72.1 Ov (RR: 4.69) 339

Did not bat: Jayden Seales, Jeremiah Louis, Isai Thorne

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Zachary McCaskie, 1.4 ov), 2-10 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 2.2 ov), 3-116 (Mikyle Louis, 22.1 ov), 4-147 (Kirk McKenzie, 29.1 ov), 5-285 (Alick Athanaze, 57.6 ov), 6-299 (Jason Holder, 63.5 ov), 7-303 (Joshua Da Silva, 65.4 ov), 8-328 (Tevin Imlach,

(Kevin Sinclair, 71.5

10-339 (Kavem Hodge, 72.1 ov)

Joseph, Motie miss WI’s tour game, after flight from Guyana cancelled

FDespite reaching England late, Shamar Joseph will be good to go for the first Test on July 10

the First-Class Counties XI, which started in Beckenham from Wednesday. It is understood that

means they will be good to go for the first Test, which starts at Lord’s on July 10. Shamar had grabbed

ast bowler Shamar Joseph and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie were late to link up

Kavem Hodge had a great day out on Wednesday, smashing a century (Kyle Andrews Photo)

Windies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and elected to bat first

Despite reaching England late, Gudakesh Motie will be good to go for the first Test on July 10