Guyana Times - Thursday June 20, 2024.pdf

Bureaucracy, red tape removed as single-window portal for building permits launched

Distribution of "Because We Care" cash grant to begin on June 24

Region 1 man dies in ATV crash

Guyana has 187 pending money laundering cases

Nigel Hughes, David Patterson agree to accept Leader, Chairman nominations respectively

Distribution of "Because We Care" cash grant to begin on June 24

The distribution of the "Because We Care" cash grant to public and private school students will commence on Monday, June 24 across the ten administrative regions of Guyana.

This announcement

was made on Wednesday by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who explained that the $45,000 grant will be disbursed in two phases.

The announcement of the provision follows the conclusion of the nationwide verification pro-

cess, which required all nursery, primary and secondary schools across the country to supply registers with the lists of names for students within the respective classrooms.

The submitted names for those eligible were then provided to Regional Education Departments for the first round of verification, thereafter, to the Education Ministry for the second and final round of verification.

Manickchand said the standard procedure is part of efforts aimed at ensuring the nation’s children are well equipped and outfitted to attend school as Guyana forge ahead with plans to achieve

universal education.

“This is a grant for public and private school children who are in school. The eligibility criteria is that you have to be on the register, you have to have been attending school, and you have to have returned your textbooks to be able to access the grant… This is going to happen all across Guyana over a two-week period for

collection and distribution,” Manickchand said.

Parents and guardians are asked to take a form of identification in order to ensure that the distribution process is hassle free and is conducted in a timely manner.

For those individuals who have misplaced or do not have a valid Identification card, the Ministry has put a sys-

tem in place to allow a respected person such as a Pastor, Headteacher or Toshao within their community to identify them.

“It's very smooth, it's very transparent, it's very open, and every child who is entitled will benefit. Now, what does a parent have to do to receive this grant? You have to turn up, turn up to the place that we advertise. You have to look to see where and when you have to go to receive your child's grant, to see where that school is being served, and you have to walk along with identification, either passport, ID card, or driver's license,” the Minister added.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, June 20 –03:00h-04:30h and Friday, June 21 – 03:30h-05:00h.

Thursday, June 20 –15:25h-16:55h and Friday, June 21 – 16:10h-17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Bureaucracy, red tape removed as singlewindow portal for building permits launched …documents to be processed in 1 month

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected during the day and at night, with sunshine in the early morning hours and the early-to-late afternoon hours. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East SouthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:30h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 09:02h and 21:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.67 metre and 0.81 metre.

The approval of construction permits across Guyana has now been made easier with the launch of the new electronic Planning and Development Single Window System, which according to President Dr Irfaan Ali will remove the bureaucracy and red-tape in the current fragmented planning and approvals process.

Through a single online portal, planning applications can be submitted to a number of state agencies that are involved in the construction permitting process and will undergo a simultaneous approval process. The Single Window System will also allow applicants to track the progress of their applications and also allow them to appeal any rejection.

During the launch of the Planning and Development of Single Window System on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed that this project has been in the works since 2013 and got fasttracked when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returned to office

in 2020 and found that over US$50 million in private sector investments were being stalled due to the lengthy processing time for permits – as much as three years.

The Head of State noted that the introduction of this single window system will not only reduce the redtape but also identify which agencies and individuals are the ones lagging in processing these building permits.

“We will have agencies that are not pulling their weight and then the entire system face the burden of the inefficiency. In this approach now, there is a time set and if you don’t

development and the speed of development that is taking place… The only way we can catch up and the only way we can be relevant is if technology aid us and that is what is going on here,” he stressed.

Currently, the processing of all construction permits from the various state agencies take about three months. This time has now been massively reduced to one-month with the newly launched Single Window System.

submit your comment, it is taken as an approval… silent is taken as approval. And then you will be held accountable as to why you did not submit your approval. That’s an important part of the system; it’s time-sensitive. So, no one can hold your application on their desk anymore and believe they have all of God’s life to approve it,” President Ali stated.

According to the Head of State, while the existing system would have worked in the past, the current rapid development and expansion warrants a new approach.

“The system is totally antiquated for the type of

Unprecedented wave of development

According to Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, it was necessary to have such a portal given the unprecedented wave of development taking place across the country. In fact, she disclosed that between October 2020 to May 2024, the ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) considered 3,611 planning permission applications with some 136 of those directly related to the burgeoning oil and gas industry.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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

NA Multilateral School & CVQ success

In the realm of educational excellence in the Caribbean, New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) stands out as a beacon of achievement and innovation, particularly in the field of Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ). Established with a commitment to nurturing holistic development and academic proficiency, NAMS has not only embraced the CVQ framework, but has also emerged as a leading institution in its implementation and success.

In May, it was announced that after a comprehensive audit conducted by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) during their visit to Guyana, the New Amsterdam Multilateral School has been distinguished as the exemplar institution for Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) in the country.

Out of nine schools evaluated by the delegation, NAMS emerged as the foremost model, receiving accolades for its exceptional state of readiness, meticulous preparation, and robust arrangements in the domain of technical education.

The Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) is a regional qualification recognized throughout the Caribbean Community (Caricom). It is designed to certify the competence of individuals in various vocational areas, and aims to enhance the employability of individuals by providing them with practical skills and recognized qualifications.

The NA Secondary School has fully integrated the CVQ framework into its curriculum, offering students a diverse range of vocational courses.

What sets NA Secondary School apart is its commitment to excellence in the implementation of the CVQ program. The Government has invested in the facilities and equipment, creating a conducive learning environment where practical skills are honed under the guidance of experienced instructors.

Students of the NA Secondary School benefit from hands-on training and industry-relevant projects that prepare them for realworld challenges. The school has forged strong partnerships with local businesses and organizations, providing students with opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and direct industry exposure. This integration of classroom learning with practical experience ensures that NA Secondary School graduates are not only academically qualified, but also ready to contribute meaningfully to the workforce upon graduation.

The success of NA Secondary School in the realm of CVQ is evident in the achievements of its students. Graduates of the CVQ program at NA Secondary School consistently demonstrate high pass rates, and receive accolades for their competence and professionalism in their respective fields.

NA Secondary School plays a pivotal role in the regional CVQ ecosystem, actively participating in curriculum development initiatives and quality assurance processes. The school's dedication to continuous improvement ensures that its programs remain relevant and responsive to evolving industry needs and technological advancements.

New Amsterdam Multilateral School stands as an exemplar institution for Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), embodying the principles of excellence, innovation, and practicality in education.

Through its robust curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong industry partnerships, NAMS prepares its students not only for academic success, but also for successful careers in their chosen vocational fields. We commend the Education Ministry for the necessary investment it has made in the school, and the staff of the NA Secondary School for ensuring that its students are equipped with the necessary skills and certifications to excel in their chosen fields.

As the demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, institutions like NA Secondary School play a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the Caribbean region, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to thrive in a competitive society.

Councillors,

The question isn’t whether Trump or Biden is declining faster; it’s why the US is faced with this choice

By Emma BrockEs

No election involving Donald Trump can be considered normal, but among all the breaches and oddities of this uniquely strange presidential race, one thing stands out as stranger than others; and that is: speculation as to which of the two presidential candidates is showing the greater and more alarming rate of mental decline.

Until recently, this topic was considered at best unsporting and at worst dangerous – particularly on the left, where it is assumed that discussions around age will hurt Biden more than Trump. Even Trump, however, has benefitted from certain delicacies governing the subject of impairment. During his first run for president, when the words “narcissist” and “borderline personality” first started to be bandied about, plenty of mental health professionals popped up to steeple their fingers and point out it is neither polite nor judicious to diagnose others based on zero clinical information.

Since then, all standards have been lowered, cognitive impairment has become a major part of Trump’s campaign to undermine Biden, and both men – 78 and 81 respectively – have behaved in ways that might give even the most cautious observer pause.

These are two of the oldest people ever to run for president, at a time of unprecedented video documentation and manipulation, and in a race in which the stakes are so high you would have to be superhuman not to suffer the occasional lapse. Meanwhile, both are folksy, unorthodox communicators, with none of Obama-the-lawyer’s facility for pitch-perfect, off-the-cuff eloquence.

Still, the evidence of decline on both sides is compelling. Let’s start with Trump. There is something

grimly amusing about the defence that he has always been like this: hopelessly inarticulate, hopping between subjects on the winds of his own energy and inability to listen. For a long time, it worked. Over the last few years, however, Trump’s verbal style has been loosened into something more incoherent than charming. At a rally in Virginia earlier this year, he remarked: “Putin has so little respect for Obama that he’s starting to throw around the nuclear word.” And this is not the first time he has confused Biden with Obama.

He has struggled to pronounce a variety of words, including “Venezuela” and “respected.” And his verbal range appears to have been narrowed. As far back as 2017, Martin Amis, a closer studier of language than most, observed to me in an interview: “If you look at old tapes of him on [US talkshow] Charlie Rose, [he was] using words like ‘chagrin’ correctly and with a certain amount of ironic reserve.” (This is true. Go back to footage of Trump from 1992, and while the verbal tics are all there – his reliance on words like “tremendous” and “horrible” – the fact is, he is much more fluent.)

Biden has made similar errors. The transcript of a recent interview with Time magazine was brutal. The president had to double back to correct himself after mistaking Iran for Iraq; appeared to jump while talking about the environment between the Amazon and Angola with no connective thought in between; and twice corrected himself after suggesting Putin had invaded Russia, not Ukraine. In a discussion about the security threat posed by China, the transcript includes the devastating parenthesis, “[Editor’s note: Biden appeared to mean Xi here, not Putin.]”

And the visuals don’t help. By tacit agreement, there seems to be a well-meant reluctance to publicly

point out something that privately everyone is saying: who did Biden’s face?! Why didn’t he call Meryl Streep, who at 74 is ageing better than anyone in Hollywood, and thus the world, to ask for a recommendation? His skin is sheeny and somehow both puffy and taut, and the result is incredibly ageing – as, I might add, is Trump’s weight loss, which has made his face go the full Edvard Munch. Within these discussions, there is still, on both sides, a lot of grabbing at straws. Trump recently mixed-up Sioux City and Sioux Falls at a campaign stop in Iowa, which seems to me entirely understandable. And the heavily touted videos of Biden “wandering off”, first at the G7 in Italy, then at a fundraiser in LA, appeared questionable. On closer inspection, it seemed that the New York Post, in sharing the G7 video, had cropped it to make it look as if Biden was wandering into an empty field, rather than addressing a paratrooper off to one side. Still, he walked slowly and hesitantly in a way that hurt my heart, which is definitely not ideal in the context. You don’t want to look at a candidate for president and have the first thought out the gate be “Poor guy.”

And so, while we can reassure ourselves with the reminder that, for example, George W Bush said things such as: “Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream,” and he was only in his 50s, the more depressing fact about all of this is that out of a population of more than 330 million, this is the choice we face. You can be old, infirm, not on top of the details, and hopelessly inarticulate; or at least give a very strong impression that all of these things are true. But as long as you are a white man, you can still be president of the United States. (The Guardian) (Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist)

Village

villagers and staff of the agriculture department of St Ignatius Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) involved in the rice project funded by the Regional Democratic Council and supported by the agriculture department on Wednesday sowing six acres (Agriculture in Region 9 photo)

New mining areas will be opened up – Bharrat

…multi-year mineral mapping to play key role

Expressing concern over the exhaustion of existing mining areas due to decades of concentrated mining, Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat has assured that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is laser focused on opening up new mining areas.

During a consultation with goldsmiths on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Minister made it clear that the Government is keenly aware of the need to open new mining areas. This is due to the need for more gold to be produced. One factor in the slump in production has seen the exit of large gold companies, such as Troy Resources.

“Quite honestly, another reason is because we’ve been mining one area, for decades now. We’ve been mining the same areas for decades. If you go to Mahdia, it’s the same area around Mahdia we mined for decades. If we go to Matthews Ridge, it’s the same thing. If we go to Puruni/Mazaruni, it’s the same thing. It’s the same areas we’ve been mining for decades now.”

“It simply means that we’ve exhausted whatever resources were there. And we have to open up new lands. And that is what we’ve been working with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association to do. But it is a costly exercise, but it must be done. Because that is the only way we’re going to open up new areas,” Bharrat said.

Bharrat further acknowledged that a major part of opening up new areas is the infrastructure such as roads, that must be built and maintained. But there is another component to opening up new areas and that is the surveys that are necessary to determine where the mineral deposits are.

In this year’s budget, $400 Million was set aside to do mineral mapping. According to Bharrat, the

process to contract someone to do the mapping has already started. He further emphasised that the mapping is not just about gold mining, but also Bauxite and other minerals.

“The mineral maps that exist now, are maps that would have been drawn up from data that was acquired, maybe about 40 years ago. So that is the process that has been started. To ensure that we first of all, look at the data that is available. And digitise that.”

“And then we’ll move to the mining districts, where we’ll actually do the physical survey. So, we can update the mineral map or inventory in the country. And as you would appreciate, the technology available today is much better than what would have been available 40 years ago,” he said.

According to Bharrat, this project will be a multiyear one that will result in a mineral inventory recording the types of minerals, quantity and where they are located. The Requests for Proposals (RFP) closed in April.

Phase One of this mapping project would focus on gold and diamond minerals, as well as on critical elements. During the Consideration of Estimates for the 2024 National Budget in February, Minister Bharrat had defended a $710 million allocation that is earmarked for several projects, including

the rolling out of a mineral mapping project which would be launched in phases.

According to the Minister at the time, this mineral survey is “badly needed”, and would assist with a more informed allocation of claims and mining blocks of mineralised areas. This, he explained, would significantly reduce deforestation caused by miners. With a limited or outdated mineral inventory, miners are usually is-

sued lands that they clear out, and if they do no find minerals, then they would move on to other locations.

The Natural Resources Minister had pointed out that this mineral survey would also remove or ease the cost of prospecting and exploration exercises, especially for small- and medium-scale miners. Already, miners do not usually invest in this exercise.

The gold mining industry contracted by 11.2 per cent in 2023, on account of lower output from the small and medium scale producers. Total gold declarations fell to 432,113 ounces last year.

Similarly, the bauxite mining industry also declined by 20.4 per cent last year, due to reduced output from both producing operators.

Bauxite production is estimated to have fall-

en to 525,000 tonnes last year. The other mining subsector – sand, stone, diamonds, and manganese – showed a more positive performance, with a 22.7 per growth in 2023.

Unsurprisingly, stone and sand extraction increased by 98 and 21 per cent respectively, with demand from construction activity in the public and private sectors continuing to grow. (G3)

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

Mined-out areas in Guyana

Page Foundation

Problem-solving with proportions

There are many kinds of proportion problems that you may run across in the real life. Just remember the basic steps:

Example:

Step 1: Express your proportion problem using two ratios.

Step 2: Use your proportion problem to set up an equation. Then cross-multiply.

Step 3: To find the unknown number, divide both sides of the equation by the same known number.

Exercises: Solve

1) If a bus can travel 100 kilometres on 5 litres of diesel, how far can it travel on 8 litres?

2) Jai studies 2 hours each week day for 4 subjects, how many hours would he need to study if he took 6 subjects?

3)Each mango tree in Farmer Singh’s farm bears 200 kilograms of fruit each harvest. If there are 20 trees, how many kilograms will he expect each harvest?

4) It takes Paula 4 minutes to inflate the wheels of the 2 bicycles belonging to her brothers. How long will it take to inflate the wheels of 40 bicycles?

5) Seema plans to save the money her mother gives her to take the bus to and from home every day, to buy a bicycle. If the bicycle costs $30,000 and Seema gets $300 in bus fare per day, how long will it take her to save the money needed?

Maps, in all shapes, sizes, and themes, are a common Social Studies topic. Kids love the textures and shapes of physical maps, the intricate symbols of product maps, and the rainbow colours of climate charts. But it can be another matter altogether when it comes to locating themselves within that context.

Here’s a fun family activity that builds this awareness, while also addressing the pressing environmental issue of our “global footprint”.

What you need:

10-20 foods that you eat often over a week. Try to include a range of categories, from produce and meat to milk to cereals and snacks.

Wall-size map of the world

Ball of thin coloured yarn

Push pins or repositionable tape (available at stationery or art supply stores)

Small sticky notes

What you do:

You are going to figure out how far your food travels to get to you. Start by putting up the world map, and marking your home town on it with a coloured marker.

Explore your kitchen, and pull out your 10-20 common food items. Keep them in their containers, or leave stickers on them, for this activity – you want to find out where they’re from!

Now, one by one, “map” your food: stretch your yarn from your house to the country or state, or even city, where your food was grown or made. Label each string with a postit.

Take out a plain piece of paper and start a list: for each food, use the map legend to figure how many miles it came, assuming it came “as the crow flies”. (It may not have, but this will still give us a useful ballpark). If a product came from within 50 miles, it may be too hard to be exact; just give it an average number of, say 20. And if it came from your back yard, of course, you can savour writing a nice round “0”! When you’re done, you should have a dramatic map with lines of varying lengths. Leave it up for the week and talk it over. Are there any foods you might choose that are closer to home? Tally your first total of miles...and then, for the next couple of weeks, see if you can beat your score. What is it like to “eat local”, and how can you do it more often? (Adapted from education.com)

APNU’s Vanessa Kissoon accuses PNC Leader of threatening to rape her

…Aubrey Norton denies allegations, says claims malicious, false ment.

Former People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament and current Linden Town Councillor, Vanessa Kissoon, has alleged that incumbent PNC Leader Aubrey Norton had threatened to rape her at gun point.

The shocking revelation was made by Kissoon in both video and printed statements, in which she claimed that while the two were alone in his vehicle after a funeral in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Norton locked the car doors, showed her his gun and made the threats.

Since the revelation of the incident, Norton has come out to deny all allegations, denying that he was ever alone in a vehicle with

Kissoon and calling on the former MP to come out and speak to the issue. In her statements release shortly after Norton’s denial, Kissoon said she had confided the incident to third parties “sometime back”, hence why the it has now been leaked, something Kissoon maintains

“Mr Norton stopped his car, locked it, showed me his gun in his foot and asked me, "If I put this to your head and rape you, what would you do?" I responded by saying, " I ain’t afraid of you or that sk*nt and you will have to f*cking kill me.”

Trauma

she did not approve of or consent to.

“Despite what Mr Norton is now alleging, I have travelled in Mr Norton’s car and under what I considered to be a threat to use a firearm which he had in his possession and showed to me,” Kissoon said in her state-

Bureaucracy, red tape removed ...

With the CHPA leading the implementation of this online platform, widespread consultations were held with stakeholders throughout Guyana, experts were retained to map and re-engineer the current system, and the relevant legislations were passed in the National Assembly.

A special Unit will be set up at the CHPA to manage the daily functioning of the single window system, maintain an electronic database and assist users, among other duties. In addition, a Planning Oversight Committee is also expected to be established, in accordance with the law, and will be responsible for monitoring the CHPA’s implementation of the system and ensure policy-adherence.

While the CHPA is the implementing agency, there are 15 other state agencies connected to the single window system, which President Ali disclosed was developed locally by the National DataManagement Authority (NDMA) and can be shared with Caribbean partners.

“One of the hindrances that we had in this programme was the software that we were initially looking at had a recurring cost that was very very high. It would’ve been very costly…

and it had a transactional aspect too. So, we tasked the NDMA to come up with a home-made solution that would not have any of the recurring cost and our National IT Consultant… and his team [came] up with this home-grown and home-made software that we can now share free of cost with the rest of our brothers and sisters in this region because this entire platform is meant to be transferrable to all the countries within the region so we can all improve our doing business indicators, enhance our competitiveness and transparency,” he noted.

New development in Guyana

In fact, the Guyanese Leader has already instructed Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh to write the various global indicators to keep them informed of this new development in Guyana.

“This definitely has to put us… in the top 10 when it comes to construction permitting. There are very few [similar] systems we can point to globally. We’re setting ourselves apart here and this is innovation at its highest,” Ali declared.

In the World Bank’s 2020 report on Ease of

FROM PAGE 3

Doing Business, Guyana was ranked 134 out of 190 countries. At the time, President Ali had committed to improving the country’s Ease of Doing Business ranking with the establishment of the single window system, among other things.

According to the Head of State at Wednesday’s launch, the introduction of the Planning and Development Single Window System is expected to create a more transparent, efficient and investor-friendly environment to help accelerate development, attract more investments and ultimately contribute to Guyana’s economic growth and modernisation.

He also outlined that it will take away the ‘human biasness’ from the approval process and shift it towards a more rulebased environment. The Guyanese Leader added that it will also eliminate corruption with the system.

“I don’t want everybody, when I go on a public outreach, to come to me and believe they have to talk to me to get things done. The system must work, the system must be rule-based, the system must be trusted, the system must be efficient,” President Ali posited. (G8)

Kissoon noted that, Norton did not carry out his threat. She described the traumatised state those threats nevertheless left her in and also urged members in the party to lay aside political considerations and do the right thing.

“Mr Norton did not carry out his threats or desires, but I have carried the burden of this threat, disrespect and violation for years. I did tell a few of my close confidantes. Mr Norton has never been anything more to me than just a political comrade. Mr Norton may have missed the times we are in and the value placed in protecting women and girls. No one should be subjected to such inappropriate sexual advances and threats.”

“To those men and women who have allowed politics and not what is right to influence your judgment of the situation, you have a lot to learn about abuse and sexual misconduct. I recall how vigorously some of you went after other accused but how you let down your own. Our party, our nation, needs more enlightenment and a nonpartisan approach to actions of this nature,” Kissoon further

said.

She also recalled her service to the party and the expectations placed on her to do the right thing.

Kissoon also urged other victims of sexual violence to learn from her example and to take control of their stories… least others do so for them.

"PNCR Party members, supporters, fellow Guyanese, I have served the people of this country with pride at the highest level of decision making. Many women, young people, persons of all ages, class and races look to me for leadership and expect me to do what is right. I am committed to their expectations of me as a female advocate and role model, a politician, a teacher, and most of all a mother.”

“Since my story has gone public without me initiating it, as it was my right, I state that was wrong, regardless of motive. Being forced to deal with this publicly as a result of the actions of another hurts. I can only say to those who like me are victims, do not make the same mistake as me. Take

control of your experiences before others do so for you,” Kissoon said.

Denial

On Wednesday, Norton in a video statement denied the allegations. Norton, who is currently vying to be reelected as Leader of the PNC on June 30, against the likes of Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde, SC., sought to link the allegations to his candidacy and made it clear that he has instructed his lawyers to take legal action.

“I saw a malicious and false post… contending that there’s some allegation of sexual harassment against me. I repeat, it is false and malicious. I wish to make it clear that at no point in my life did Sharma Solomon (PNC member & current Linden Mayor) ever ask me to drop Vanessa Kissoon to Linden. Secondly, at no time were Vanessa Kissoon and I in any vehicle alone, heading to Linden.”

“All of these claims are false and malicious. I wish to call on Sharma Solomon and Vanessa Kissoon to speak to this issue, since failure to do so may suggest that they’re complicit in this false and malicious post.”

According to Norton, he sees the allegations as a political plot designed to derail his campaign for leadership of the party. He also pointed out that the person who first leaked the allegations, is known to be campaigning for one of the candidates for leadership.

Distribution of "Because We...

This year, the "Because We Care" cash grant was increased to $40,000, coupled with the $5,000 uniform allowance and will benefit 205,000 children countrywide.

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.

According to reports

from Central Government, since assuming office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has expended a total of $27 billion on "Because We Care" Cash Grants, with an additional $8.6 billion in disposable income to be made available to families nationwide this year. According to Manickchand, approximately 214,000 school children in public and private schools have benefit from the annual cash grant thus far. (G1)

Former PNC MP Vanessa Kissoon

Incumbent PNC Leader Aubrey Norton

Region 1 man dies in ATV crash

A39-year-old man died on Tuesday afternoon after he lost control of the AllTerrain Vehicle (ATV) he was riding at Eyelash Backdam, North West

District (NWD), Region One (Barima Waini). Dead is Devon Moralis, who is from Wauna, Region One.

Police reported that he was riding an unregistered ATV at the time. It was reported that at about 15:30h Moralis

was riding alone en route to Providence Backdam NWD, when he lost control of the ATV while negotiating a left bend on the trail at a fast rate.

As a result, the ATV ended up on the southern side of the road and Moralis was flung to the northern side and remained motionless. Public-spirited persons alerted the Police, and ranks responded.

The ranks were accompanied by a doctor from the Matthew's Ridge Public Hospital, who examined Moralis and pronounced him dead at the scene. The body was transported to the Port Kaituma Public Hospital's Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. (G9)

Fighting…

…hate speech

It ain’t a coincidence that it was in 2021 that the UN decided to launch an “International Day Against Hate Speech” annually on June 18th – which this year was on Tuesday. The point is that after witnessing the escalating horrible genocides -- starting in the 1990s in Rwanda, then the Balkans, Sudan, and now Gaza -- it’s clear that while there’s no single cause for mass violence, hate speech preceded every one of the genocidal actions. And that’s as good a place as any to start doing something about this horror.

The thread that runs through hate speech is dehumanization of the target group – which then normalizes making them the brunt of the genocidal actions. In Rwanda, the hate speech was disseminated over radio, and before anyone realized the enormity of the gameplan, almost a million Tutsis had been hacked to death by their Hutu neighbours, backed by Hutu troops. For years, the Hutus had denigrated the Tutsis as inyenzi, or “cockroaches”, and as inzoka, or “snakes”. Because the Tutsis were taller than the Hutus, the latter used the coded message “cut down the tall trees” as the killing frenzy exploded. Who cares about destroying cockroaches?

Social media has now multiplied the dissemination of hate speech a millionfold, and across the globe, we see its effects. Can anyone think that if the Israelis had seen the Palestinians as equal human beings, they’d be bombing children in their beds? Or would the Arabized northerners in Sudan be killing off the Southern Africans as we speak, and nobody seems to want to know about it? And in our dear Mudland, we know all about hate speech, don’t we?? What else could’ve made violence erupt sporadically every few years in our ethnically divided country? As recently as Mid-June 2022, at Mon Repos Market, dozens of Indian Guyanese vendors were beaten, had their stalls vandalized and goods looted by African Guyanese youths.

It’s very heartening to see the UN collaborating with the ERC in this week’s efforts to eliminate hate speech. It has been recognized that the greatest danger lies with the politicians who’re deploying hate speech on social media to define the Government – and by extension its supporters – in very incendiary terms that’s gonna for sure cause an explosion before long. Rather ironically – but deliberately – the Government is accused of committing “genocide” against African Guyanesewhen in fact the Government has unleashed a very high profile program to attract that demographic to vote for them in the election scheduled for end next year!!

One of the hate-mongers has been charged under the cybercrime laws for allowing the most extreme hate speech to be used against four named top officials of the Government –that they be beheaded!!

The court must deal with this example condignly!!

…Mad Maduro

You gotta hand it to Mad Maduro; he’s working non-stop to take over our Essequibo, even as we then just react to his initiatives. Over at the ICJ, he requested that he get months more to file a reply that could’ve taken weeks. Just continuing his war of attrition against us!! Your Eyewitness thinks he’s gotten his way once again, since there’s been no announcement from the ICJ. But Mad Maduro hasn’t stopped there; he’s intensifying his diplomatic onslaught by sending envoys to Russia and China to firm up his alliances. And this time he’s going even further – he’s requested their support to join BRICS+, which is now up to 20 members and counting. If he’s accepted, that means he’ll have access to their financing initiatives while using his oil revenues to continue building his military capabilities. Your Eyewitness has been emphasizing that we may not have as much oil as Venezuela, but we’re about to eclipse them in production!! Maybe we can join BRICS+ also??

…our local retailers?

A group of sixty-five Guyanese retailers have gone public with accusations that they’re facing unfair competition from unregistered Chinese supermarkets and hardware stores that are popping up like Jumbie Umbrellas!! Do we really need this??

Dead: Devon Moralis

The ATV that Moralis was riding at the time of the accident

Guyana has 187 pending money laundering cases

In an effort to secure its financial system, the Government is working to tackle money laundering through its law enforcement and financial institutions.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall on Tuesday evening revealed that a total of 187 cases are pending in the criminal justice system relating to money laundering.

Speaking during his

programme ‘Issues in the News’, he related that this update was provided to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) at the 58th Plenary and Working Group Meetings held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from June 2 to June 7, 2024.

“We do not control the speed at which these cases are heard and determined but you cannot fault us for not filing the

cases and being in a state of readiness to prosecute,” Nandlall said.

Following recent sanctions instituted by the United States of America against two businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, and a former Government official and People’s Progressive Party member, Mae Thomas concerns about risks and consequences to Guyana’s financial system have been raised.

However, the attorney general assured that those comments are “premature, baseless and opportunistic.”

He noted that at the recent CFATF meeting, one of the platforms upon which Guyana was assessed was the Government’s commitment and that of state entities to ensure its financial system was protected.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall

Private Sector’s involvement in apprenticeship programmes minimal – Hamilton bemoans

Over the last three years, the Government has ramped up the level of access to Technical and Vocational courses, ensure that all Guyanese receive quality education and increase job intake in private sector entities, all with the hope of addressing the Guyana’s current labour shortage.

However, the local private sector’s involvement in efforts to build the country’s human capacity through the apprenticeship programme is minimal, with merely 221 apprentices in training.

This is according to statistics provided by the Labour Ministry, which indicated that

187 persons are engaged in the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) engineering programme and 11 are welders at Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation. In addition, 19 individuals are being trained

as plant operators, mechanics, electricians, and Millwrights with Bosai Minerals Group Guyana while six persons are being equipped with similar skills at Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated.

A breakdown of the data indicates that of the 221 apprentices in training, 209 are males and 12 are females.

However, when it comes to private sector-led apprenticeship programmes, the number is severely lacking compared to Government-led training initiatives.

This point was raised by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton during his address at the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry

With the support of the private sector and the active participation of all stakeholders, we can bridge this skill gap and

(CAGI) luncheon on Tuesday.

In this regard, the Labour Minister called for greater collaboration between the Government and private sector to ramp up skills training initiatives, in order to address labour shortages across the country.

On this point, he emphasised that it is essential to align training with industry needs to ensure the local workforce is adequately prepared.

“The data clearly shows that private sector involvement in apprenticeship programmes is minimal, which in my view can impact our country's ability to reduce sales mismatches in the labour market. 08:55

“We are not just addressing it immediately, we are laying the groundwork for a prosperous future. And all of us, we have to participate in this together.

build a robust, skilled and resilient workforce ready to thrive Guyana's economic growth and development,” Minister Hamilton said.

Further, while de-

country’s human capacity is not just a challenge but an opportunity for national development.

“The long-term approach for Guyana must be where our innovation delivery must be revolutionised. We must reach the place urgently where we give prominence to technical, vocational and educational training like we give academic training. We cannot discuss skills shortage and skills division and we have an education system whereby 35 students in a class, 12 of those students don't want to be in that class because they would rather be in a class where they can be using their hands,” he posited.

The luncheon hosted by Consultative

livering his feature address, Minister Hamilton explained that the expansion and strategic implementation of projects like Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) are part of efforts to address the crisis of an under skilled population.

He explained that the need to develop the

Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI) gathered together industry stakeholders, including employers, human resources professionals, and government representatives, to discuss the current state of Guyana’s labour market and share insights on potential solutions. (G1)

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton addressing those gathered at the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI) luncheon

Almost 4 years later Remains of mother, children who perished in Bartica fire laid to rest

Nearly four years after a tragic fire claimed the lives of a mother and her two young daughters at Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Potaro Road, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), they will finally be laid to rest.

Carolina Kennedy, 48, a housewife, and her daughters, Mariana Downer, five, and Gabriella Kennedy, three, perished in the blaze allegedly set by Carolina's reputed husband and the father of the children.

mains. They took to social media seeking assistance from relevant authorities, expressing their frustration at the bureaucratic obstacles that had prevented them from giving their loved ones a proper funeral.

They claimed that Carolina’s mother passed away without having a chance to lay her daughter and granddaughters to rest.

the remains on Tuesday.

The suspect was found hiding in the bushes near the house shortly after the fire and was arrested with minor burns to his feet.

The family has cremated the remains and will hold a funeral service in honour of Carolina and her daughters, on Thursday bringing a long-awaited closure to their tragic story. (G9)

The tragedy occurred when Carolina's husband, enraged after allegedly overhearing a phone conversation between Carolina and another man, set their house on fire on December 12, 2020.

The Bartica Police Station received a call about the fire, and despite the efforts of the Guyana Fire Service and the police, the wooden structure was completely engulfed in flames by the time they

arrived. The charred remains of Carolina and her daughters were found in the southeastern corner of the house.

Since the incident, Carolina’s family has faced numerous challenges in retrieving the re-

Family members recounted several trips to Georgetown, only to return empty-handed due to delays in testing, including DNA analysis. However, with the intervention of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and a payment of over $300,000, the family finally received

Carolina Kennedy and her two daughters, Gabriella Kennedy and Mariana Downer who died in the fire

Goldsmiths not purchasing refined gold sold by Gold Board – GM

…“We’re not witch-hunting” – Minister to goldsmiths …says gold must come from legal source

For the entirety of last year, the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) sold just 383 ounces of gold. This is juxtaposed against the fact that a recent bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) netted 240 ounces of gold that were about to be smuggled.

On Tuesday, goldsmiths from across the country gathered at Duke Lodge in Georgetown to meet with the Ministry of Natural Resources and relevant agencies to discuss issues in the sector. One such issue was that enough goldsmiths

are not purchasing the refined gold sold by the GGB, as they are legally mandated to do.

At the session, the Gold Board’s General Manager Eondrene Thompson revealed how much gold has been purchased from her agency from 2019 to date – amounts even she admitted were small, compared to the number of jewelers in operation.

“In 2019, we had 497 ounces purchased from the Guyana Gold Board. In 2020 we had 268 ounces. In 2021 we had 460, in 2022 we had 524. And I did not analyse what

caused the spike here. In 2023 we had 383. In 2024, as of May 31, we had 178 (ounces).”

“I can dare say, also, we know that it’s really a small amount, compared to the jewelers. If we should assess the jewelers that we have here,” Thompson further said.

Goldsmiths

During his presentation at the Duke Lodge consultation, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had noted that there are over 100 registered goldsmiths in the country. However, while the law mandates

that goldsmiths buy gold from the state, he acknowledged that in some cases goldsmiths work with materials brought by the clients themselves.

“There’s this issue of people bringing gold to you. I’m sure many of you, when you have your chance, what happens when people bring their gold to you? Because we know that is a common practice in Guyana. That people will bring, whether they have old jewelry or jewelry given to them, maybe as gifts from their parents or grandparents. And they bring it to you to remodify or redesign. And then in some cases, people may have other forms of gold that they bring to you.”

“We’re asking that in compliance, you note all these instances and you submit it to us. Or whether we visit you. We set a time frame, maybe quarterly, and we get the information. I don’t think that’s an issue for you either. We and the relevant agencies will deal with it. And the point is that we just want the origin of this gold that you’re using, to come from a legal source. That’s all. That’s the bottom line. We’re not witch hunting or anything else.”

Added to this are plans to import a machine that will allow the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to refine gold to a greater degree for persons to buy. As a matter of fact, GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison said that most of the components of the machine are already in Guyana, for assembly.

Only recently a bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport saw 240 ounces of gold being attempted to be smuggled.

For this month alone

several persons were arrested and charged for attempting to smuggle gold out of the country via jewelry.

In one instance, two US citizens and one Guyanese were intercepted with US$560,000 worth of raw gold at the airport at Timehri.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) reported that customs officers, with the support of officers attached to the Natural Resources Ministry and the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), unearthed 240 ounces of pure (raw) gold disguised as silver-plated jewellery on outgoing passengers on an American Airlines’ flight to JFK Airport in New York. The gold was confiscated after the three passengers were unable to produce the required permit and declaration to customs officials.

The three suspects: Ian Jacobis, 44, of Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara, along with US-based Shameena Ahamad, 52, and her 34-year-old daughter Ashiana Salamaly, both of Roraima Scheme, West Bank Demerara, were arraigned in a magistrates’ court and charged for the offence of exporting gold without a licence – in contravention of Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, and contrary to section 23 (a) of the said Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01. They have all been placed on bail.

Then on Tuesday USbased Guyanese busi-

nessman Saffee Ahmad was charged with the offence of ‘Exporting Gold Without License’, in contravention of Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act and released on $600,000 bail.

On Friday last a 36-year-old man was arrested at CJIA with over 23 ounces of gold jewelry.

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 11 sanctioned prominent businessman, Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed along with their company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, and former Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Mae Thomas, for their alleged roles in public corruption in Guyana involving gold smuggling. The US Treasury Dept alleged that Mohamed’s Enterprise evaded Guyana’s tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese Government of tax revenues by under declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities. Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

The US authorities stated that the company bribed customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments. (G3)

The Guyana Gold Board

Enhanced skills training, financing for micro businesses in C’bean needed – DDL Chair lobbies US officials

Executive Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the newly set up World Trade Center Georgetown (WTCG) Komal Samaroo has called for an effectively coordinated programme to facilitate training of Caribbean youths in basic technical skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and automotive technicians and for appropriate financing to assist with having these youth become micro and small entrepreneurs with the capacity to grow over time.

This was the consistent call last week in the US capital as the top Caribbean corporate executive undertook a series of public and private engagements with US government and elected officials and participants in Caribbean Legislative Week activities on Capitol Hill put on by the Institute of Caribbean Studies.

It was also the main thrust of Samaroo’s remarks at a working lunch in the Rayburn House on Capitol Hill hosted by DDL which also featured remarks by US Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Katharine Beamer, Director of the Caribbean Office at the US State Department and Dr Peter Ramsaroop’s keynote remarks on behalf of Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

“As our economies in the region expand to include sectors such as oil and gas and as we use the resources garnered therefrom to further develop our agribusiness, tourism and other sectors the demand for skilled technicians will grow and we have got to prepare from now to ensure that these skills are provided by the people of the

region. We see this demand already outstripping supply in Guyana where transformational development is taking place and the demand for skilled labor is hardly being met,” Samaroo told guests at the lunch.

Pointing to US Department of Labor statistics which show that 55 per cent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses, Samaroo argued that the same is required in the Caricom region especially since there is the demand for businesses that can use evolving technologies and this demand can be met by well trained and adequately financed small entrepreneurs.

He referred to the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) in Guyana which was started over two decades ago with a grant of $US 500,000 from the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF)and matched by local private sector. Over the years IPED has disbursed thousands of loans to micro and small entrepreneurs who could not qualify for loans from the formal banking sector.

“With counselling and effective monitoring, a majority of these loan recipients has been successful, and this approach needs to be intensified and expanded so that the youth of the region can take advantage of current and emerging opportunities. This is an approach that both US and Caricom Governments and private sectors should examine,” he advised.

Aware that not all Caricom member states are currently eligible for concessional financing due to their high-income status, Samaroo in private discussions with US officials posited that a regional approach could be adopted, and the initiative tangibly supported by the regional private sector.

He noted the constant reference to youth during various panel discussions during Legislative Week and the need to uplift and motivate the region’s young people to be productive and avoid criminal activity. “From what I have been hearing an intensified basic skills training program would serve as an effective mechanism to assist in ensuring security in the region,” he said at a meeting at the US State Department with Katharine Beamer and her team.

A recurring topic during the week’s activities was the question of the Caribbean’s effective engagement with the US. While many participants in the week’s activities complained of US neglect of the Caricom region, mainly because it is a peaceful region, some US personalities cited the lack of outreach to US agencies and organisations and claim that when reached out via visits by US officials to the region, commitments to follow up are often not kept.

In discussions with Allyson Browne Mc Kithen, Executive Director of World Trade Center Washington, DC at the Ronald Reagan International Trade

Center, it was agreed that the centres will work closely in the future along with relevant agencies and organisations to help advance the trade and development agenda between Guyana and the US, and where applicable in the Caricom region.

During the engagements in Washington DC, Mr Samaroo paid courtesy calls on Congressman Jackson and Katharine Beamer at the State Department, participated in Legislative Week discussions in both the House and Senate of the US Congress including a briefing with Francesca Eremeeva, a

top aide of US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland; informal discussions with officials of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), USAID and USTDA.

A conducted tour of the US Library of Congress by architectural historian John

Hancock Dickson was also part of the weeklong visit. Samaroo was accompanied by Executive Director of WTC Georgetown, Wesley Kirton, who is also the co-chair of Caribbean Legislative Week planning committee.

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

Nigel Hughes, David Patterson agree to accept Leader, Chairman nominations respectively

Executives of the Alliance For Change (AFC)

Nigel Hughes and David Patterson have agreed to split their recent nominations for leadership positions within the party.

This was revealed in a statement on Wednesday evening from the AFC – the minority party in the parliamentary opposition.

Last week, the party disclosed the results of its nominations for the top AFC executive positions at the upcoming Biannual Conference later this month.

Both Hughes and Patterson were nominated by two groups each for the post of Leader, while Patterson was nominated alongside others for the Chairmanship post.

According to Wednesday’s missive, Hughes and Patterson have agreed, following lengthy and robust discussions, to not compete against each other and instead split their nominations “in the best interests of the AFC and

country… [to] present a united front.”

Consequently, Hughes will accept the nomination for Leader of the AFC while Patterson will decline nomination for that position. In exchange, Patterson will accept the nomination for Chairperson of the Party.

“This we agree is in the best interest of a unified AFC,” the joint statement detailed.

Patterson was quoted in the statement saying, “I fully endorse Nigel Hughes as the best candidate to lead the AFC at this time as we head into the 2025 Regional and General

Elections. I am confident that with his leadership, our victory at the polls will be guaranteed.”

Meanwhile, Hughes added, “I am deeply appreciative of the great sacrifice made by David Patterson to decline the nomination for Leader. David has given outstanding service both at the party and national levels. I look forward to our joint united collaboration in building a stronger AFC and a modern Guyana. The AFC is and has always been the most inclusive political party and I am humbled to accept the nomination to lead this great party.”

Ahead of its 8th Biannual Conference set for June 29, the nominations for AFC’s leadership positions during a month-long process that saw the party’s incumbent General Secretary, Sherod Duncan, heading the list. He was nominated by 15 groups for the Leader of AFC post.

Notably, incumbent Leader and co-founder of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, is absent from all of the nomination category. Ramjattan had declined to comment on his absence last week when contacted.

In addition to Patterson, incumbent Chair, Cathy Hughes, along with Duncan and parliamentarian Juretha Fernandes also received nominations for the Chairmanship position.

For the Vice Chairman post, the candidates are Cathy Hughes, Arnold Sukhraj, Haimraj Rajkumar, David Patterson, Dereck Basdeo, Mark Goring and Michael Carrington. The incumbent vice chair is Ricky Ramsaroop.

With regards to

the General Secretary position, AFC’s other co-founder and former Leader, Raphael Trotman, who has been absent from public view for years, has been nominated alongside Ricky Ramsaroop, Dereck Basdeo and Cathy Hughes.

These key Executive positions will be complimented by 12 elected members of the AFC National Executive Committee (NEC), for which more than 60 party members are vying

for a seat. In addition to these positions, all Regional Management Committee chairpersons will serve on the NEC thus ensuring regional representation.

The AFC National Conference later this month will see the participation of over 285 delegates representing the 10 regions across Guyana, its Chapters in the USA, Canada, UK and the Caribbean as well as the Women For Change (WFC) and the Youth For Change (YFC).

This Conference is the highest decision-making forum of the party.

In a previous statement last month, the AFC said it “…looks forward to an exciting productive, empowering and collaborative Conference that will help shape the future direction of our party and our continued efforts to drive positive change in Guyana.”

“We do not control

“There was no evidence whatsoever that there was a lack of such a commitment from Guyana and all of the sectors and we were scored heavily in that regard,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney General referred to several steps taken by the administration since the sanctions were announced including the suspension of the Mohamed’s Cambio licence, accepting the resignation of Thomas and writing letters to the USA seeking clarifications and ways to collaborate.

He also alluded to the seizure of three aircrafts, one luxury yacht and a ship involved in drug trafficking while levying charges against those involved.

“One can’t fault

At the last National Conference in 2022, Ramjattan returned as AFC Leader with Cathy Hughes elected as the party’s Chair and Duncan as GS.

This decision by the AFC Executive to present “a united AFC” can be seen as a dig at its parliamentary opposition partner –the People’s National Congress (PNC)led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which is also holding its biennial congress this monthend and has been embroiled in a public-spat between the candidates that are contesting for the party’s leadership post.

PNC and APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton, is being challenged by party’s parliamentarians Roysdale Forde and Amanza Walton-Desir for the top post. (G8)

the...

Guyana for its lack of attempts and its commitment to dealing with organised crime across borders,” the AG added, noting that there is a host of amendments to the extradition treaty pending to bolster international cooperation on related matters.

Even with the US sanctions recently announced, Guyana has successfully defended the favourable ratings garnered by its AntiMoney Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) architecture at the CFATF meeting.

Nandlall said the country “received a clean bill of health” following a rigorous and diligent process. “As the subject Minister with responsibility for

Guyana’s AML/CFT architecture and by extension its connection to the financial system, I say to you, we went through the lawful regulatory examination and Guyana came out with flying colours… Meaning our financial system and our AML/ CFT architecture does not pose any risk,” he noted. Present at the CFATF meeting were representatives of the Caribbean member states, CFTAF executives, representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), representatives of the World Bank, Canada, United States, United Kingdom and representatives of the Francebased Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Nigel Hughes

David Patterson

King Charles III renews patronage of Iwokrama International Centre

King Charles III will continue to serve as Patron of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (IIC) for another term, in supporting the Centre’s work to advance sustainable rainforest management and climate change resilience. This announcement is part of a series of events to celebrate the first anniversary of the coronation of King Charles 111.

Shooting outside auto company

Manslaughter charge recommended for security guard

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended a manslaughter charge for the security guard implicated in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jared Jagnandan at Shaf Auto Sales in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, on March 21.

This recommendation follows the recent submission of the investigation file to the DPP after additional inquiries were conducted.

On May 21, Jared's parents, Avalon and Reshma Jagnandan, voiced their frustration with the handling of the case by the Guyana Police Force in a public statement. Jared, a sales and marketing representative residing in Martyrs’ Ville, ECD, was shot and killed at his workplace.

The security guard involved in the shooting was employed by the auto company and was subsequently arrested following the incident.

According to the police report, the owner of Shaf Auto Sales stated that he and his wife returned to the store around 11:10h on the day in question after completing some business errands. They claimed that they found the suspect and Jared seated near the security officer's desk and shortly after, they heard a

loud bang from the store. Rushing out of his office, the businessman said he discovered Jared lying motionless on the floor, bleeding.

The security guard later informed them that Jared had been shot. He was taken to a private city hospital and succumbed to his injuries.

His parents have since been advocating for a comprehensive investigation to seek justice for their son. (G9)

US-based Guyanese on $600,000 bail for illegal gold export charge

AUS-based Guyanese businessman has been charged with the offence of exporting gold without a license in violation of Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act.

Saffee Ahmad, of Queens, New York, and also of Roraima Scheme, Versailles, West Bank Demerara, was arrested by an officer from the major crime investigation unit.

Ahmad appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday,

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Iwokrama said, “The then HRH Prince of Wales, His Majesty the King, first became IIC’s Patron in 2000 after visiting Guyana and the Iwokrama Forest, and has been a strong supporter of Iwokrama’s work to develop modern rainforest conservation models and practices, and its innovative approaches to valuing the ecosystem services which tropical forests generate for the benefit of mankind.”

While the Centre generates some revenue, it continues to receive support from donors

and corporate support programmes, and, in recent years, has benefitted significantly from the Government of Guyana.

Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali has charted Guyana’s innovative green development agenda through the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030), of which Iwokrama is an integral part in guiding the research and science of biodiversity. In tandem with Guyana’s rapidly developing oil and gas sector, the LCDS 2030 ensures that conservation remains a top national priority, and the Centre’s programmat-

ic activity is pivotal in supporting these goals.

“The Board, management and staff of Iwokrama, our community partners (the communities of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) warmly welcome this news of the His Majesty’s continued patronage,” Iwokrama has said, adding that the models of sustainable forest management contribute to rainforest conservation by delivering not only climate protection and environmental balance, but also real examples for socioeconomic development; in particular for the local communities whose livelihoods have been, and continue to be, dependent on the rainforest.

“His Majesty’s strong personal support to Iwokrama and his continued commitment to rainforest conservation at the global landscape are well respected and highly valued by the Centre,” the statement read.

Charged: Saffee Ahmad

where he pleaded not guilty. He was released on $600,000 and the case was adjourned to June 24.

Dead: Jared Jagnandan

King Charles III

Iwokrama International Centre

Pride Month & Allyship

In a world full of adversities, more workplaces need to truly embrace diversity – Fresh owner

Everyone deserves the right to earn a livelihood. But even more importantly, everyone deserves the right to work in an environment free from hate and discrimination.

This was one of the founding principles of Fresh, a small café started in June 2023 by Michelle Howard, her husband, Keon Howard and their friend, Jeffery Walcott. Nestled along Lamaha and Carmichael Street, Georgetown, Fresh prides itself in being a “love letter to Guyanese culture”.

It is supported by a small complement of staff, primarily made up of persons from often-marginalised factions of society, an intentional move by the café’s owners to ensure their workplace truly embraces the notion of diversity and inclusivity.

“When we began this venture, I emphasised to the boys that I wanted our partners to reflect the diverse community of Guyana,” Michelle Howard told the Guyana Times.

Michelle is a 47-yearold mother of three who is passionate about volunteerism, social work, community service and entrepreneurship.

Though not a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Michelle is a proud ally; and her business ventures, including Fresh, are signatories to the Guyana Together Campaign.

The campaign was launched in September 2023 by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and its partners, with the aim of achieving greater acceptance levels for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Guyanese, and reduce the level of stigma and prejudice by telling stories of real people who have found acceptance and support from family, coworkers, neighbours, friends and religious leaders.

To date, over 90 companies operating in Guyana have signed on, boldly declaring their support for all citizens to live their lives openly and with honesty, without fear of violence, discrimination or arrest.

“No one should be criminalised because of who

they are or who they love,” the campaign endorsement statement reads.

Workplace discrimination

Globally, both outright and subtle discrimination is hurting LGBTQ+ workers, and even driving them out of their jobs, the BBC reported in March 2023.

“Many LGBTQ+ employees – more than eight million in the US workforce alone, according to some estimates – have had similar experiences of discomfort and conflict, whether through explicit workplace discrimination, or microaggressions – subtler, indirect actions that intentionally or unintentionally make marginalised groups feel hurt or even attacked,” the report outlined.

Half of LGBTQ+ and “sexual and gender diverse” people surveyed by the Center for American Progress (Cap) in 2022 reported experiencing some form of workplace discrimination or harassment in the past year because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The number jumped to 70 per cent for transgender respondents.

And, often, these workers quit as a result: a 2021 study by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy, a US-based public-policy think tank, showed that more than one-third of LGBTQ+ employees said they have left a job during their lifetime because of how they were treated by their employer based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Locally, statistics are not available, but Michelle

says she is aware of similar situations affecting Guyanese.

She reasoned that despite significant progress being made nationally with regards to LGBTQ+ acceptance in society, members of the community continue to be marginalised in various spaces, including work.

In fact, a 2022 study which was commissioned by SASOD and conducted by RMK Consulting Enterprise, found that a majority of those interviewed supported the move for legislative changes to ensure the protection against discrimination for gay and transgender people in the workplace.

Workplace diversity

So, when Fresh was launched, there was an intentional move to ensure the workplace truly embraced and celebrated diversity.

In fact, the owners partnered with the National Commission on Disability Guyana, which connected them with the Deaf Association of Guyana Inc., through which they formed a partnership that allowed them to employ individuals with visible disabilities.

Through other avenues, concerted efforts were also made to hire persons from the LGBTQ+ community.

“Our work culture is built on fostering a community where people can express their identities, and we don't just tolerate diversity; we embrace it. This is especially significant for individuals who identify with the LGBTQ+ community, who often face societal challenges,” Michelle explained.

“Our café is not only a

place where healthier food just got tastier, but also a place committed to ensuring an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We strive to create an environment where our employees and customers alike can experience a sense of belonging and acceptance,” she added.

Michelle went on to explain that as Guyana’s economy expands and the country becomes a hub for more commercial activities, it will become a bigger melting pot of people and cultures.

Recognising this, she posited that it was a “no brainer” for herself and business partners to create workplaces that are truly inclusive.

“I feel everyone has something to offer and almost all of our partners who work with us, have taught us lessons of positivity or endurance and this is why I will work tirelessly to ensure that Fresh remains open and inclusive and when Guyanese come there, it gives them hope but also inspire them to be open and inclusive as we are,” Michelle shared.

To achieve a more inclusive work environment, Fresh offers gender-affirming healthcare benefits and policies while making it easy to use, as well as mental health support and counselling for their employees.

More importantly, with regards to inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, Fresh openly and proudly celebrates Pride Month.

Moreover, there is a no-tolerance policy against discrimination of any form.

“It is quickly admonished… We will not stand for any form of discrimination and will speak out against such practices,” Michelle affirmed.

“We want to ensure that we are very visible examples of how embracing others and sharing love and your spaces can be life-changing in so many ways. We have a role to play, we all do in respecting people and ending discrimination and we must be examples of that in our words and actions,” Michelle further expressed.

“People like me, who are providing employment, should seek after creating safe spaces. Safe spaces come from personal commitments you could make, endorsements and organisation commitments you should declare and also calls for all discriminatory practices to be removed…,” Michelle further relayed.

Community of support

In encouraging other workplaces to take deliberate efforts to be more inclusive in their practices, the businesswoman suggested that bold and public policies on “no tolerance for hate and disrespect” be embraced.

She also recommended that they openly, “promote respect among you and your work partners and you and the public; and make organisational and workplace endorsements of your safe work for LGBTQ+

members”, noting that “this goes a far way in letting everyone knows this is a safe and inclusive place.”

Moreover, she called for more companies to endorse the Guyana Together Campaign, adding that “this has provided me with such a new outlook on allies across the workplace, families and friends.”

For employees who feel marginalised in their workplaces, Michelle encouraged them to have hope.

“Please do not feel boxed in, there is a community of support and love for you all.”

Michelle also called for more to be done at a national level to ensure LGBTQ+ persons are more accepted by society.

“The time is now for us to remove all discriminatory laws or any legislation that target and marginalise members of the LGBTQ+ community. This is a must. This must be seen not only from a human rights lens but one that is crucial for development and employment. Guyanese who identify as LGBTQ have a right to live, earn, be themselves, free to express themselves and for that we must find each and every way to ensure that all have access to the same rights and privileges. Because of our laws, some people are still afraid to live, members of the community still have a difficult time to find employment and that is a fact, if we are to be inclusive as a country, we downright have to make some changes.”

Michelle Howard and her husband, Keon Howard

Fresh Café

55% of visitors who entered Guyana in 2023 were non-Diaspora persons – GTA

Guyana had seen an increase in the number of visitors entering the country in 2023, when compared to what had obtained in previous years.

This information has been presented in the 2023 Guyana Statistical conducted by the Guyana Tourism Authority. It has been highlighted that most of those visitors were from Guyana’s non-diaspora group.

According to the Guyana Statistical Digest, in 2023, Guyana experi-

enced an 11 per cent increase in visitors entering the country when compared to the previous year. Last year the country welcomed a total of 319,147 tourists through various ports. However, it has been noted that the majority of those visitors were not from Guyana’s diaspora group.

Notably, only 45% (144,307) of those arrivals were diaspora visitors, while 55% (174,840) were from its non-diaspora group.

The statistical report

highlighted that most of the non-Guyanese visitors had travelled from the United States and the Caribbean, with 44,704 and 71,305 visitors respectfully.

Meanwhile, the largest contingents of Guyanese diaspora travellers hailed from the United States (105,158) and Canada (19,851).

Information obtained from the report highlighted that the United States dominated the visitor market over the years except for 2019, when the

12 small businesses to benefit from Green Fund this year

The Small Business Bureau (SBB) is taking applications for the Green Business Technology Fund which will see businesses benefitting from a million dollars in grant funding.

Chief Executive Officer of the SBB Shazim Ibrahim, while speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday noted that the fund started in 2019. So far, he said, more than 30 businesses have benefitted.

He noted that the fund was created to assist in developing groundbreaking solutions for today’s environmental challenges.

“What they would do is submit a proposal and they would pitch that idea to a group of judges. It would be about how environmentally friendly their business is, and any type of process improvement that shows some type of technology was used to make their business easier. They can be able to access grant funding up to 1 million dollars,” he stated.

For access to the fund, applicants must be registered clients of the small business bureau, making less than 60 million dollars in annual turnover, less than 20 million dollars in business assets, and with less than 25

employees.

He noted that this year, the bureau is looking to attract persons from a wider cross-section of businesses.

For example, in smart waste management systems, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water conservation technology, air quality monitoring and improvement, sustainable transportation, smart traffic management, eco-friendly building materials and other areas.

“You can come up with any idea, remember this is a competition, we are only doing twelve grants for this year at $1M each, so you will have to make sure that your idea is a niche and meets environmental standards, and aside from submitting an actual proposal, you will have to do a pitch in front of a panel of judges from different agencies,” Ibrahim

Caribbean occupied the largest share of visitors entering the country with a total of 123,645 visitors, which was 26,873 more than the figure of those coming from the US: 96,772. However, from 2020 to date, the United States has been identified as the country with the most visitors entering Guyana.

In 2023 the United States contributed a total of 147,768 arrivals, followed by the Caribbean with the second-highest number of arrivals at 54,739, trailed by Canada with 27,219 and Europe with 17,845. South and Central America recorded the fewest arrivals at 7,356, while the Other/Not Stated Market accounted for 12,883 arrivals.

stated.

He is also encouraging people to make use of this opportunity.

“Remember, you are receiving a grant to help you with this business. However, when this business starts, 100 per cent of the proceeds go to you.

[You] are starting an innovative business that will help the environment…the community… You will be receiving rewards and profits as long as this business kicks off,” he stated.

Clients of the SBB can submit their detailed business proposals to the SBB Head Office Lot 1, La Penitence or any one of the help desks in the various regions on or before July 19.

Short-listed applicants will pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of judges who will select the final 12 to benefit from funding to up to a million dollars.

Further, there was a decline in Caribbean arrivals compared to 2022, whereas Europe experienced the most significant increase in market share percentage (51%) among the major markets. The report also revealed that the majority of visitors that travelled to Guyana came for holiday in 2023. The peak months when visitors travelled were March (27,352), April (28,478), July (30,377), September (27,850), and December (31,108), primarily driven by non-diaspora visitors. The report also highlighted that the average expenditure per international traveller in 2023 was estimated to be around $222,000. According to the WTTC Economic Impact Report

(Guyana) 2023, the tourism industry in Guyana supported over 18,000 jobs, highlighting its crucial role in the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile the total number of visitors entering the country this year is expected to grow by nine per cent, with an estimated total of 350,000 persons entering the country. Arrivals are expected to increase due to the following events/ activities: Guyana/Cricket Carnival, Caribbean Premiere League 2024 (CPL), and other sporting events. Further, the country can expect additional visitors due to the continued oil production, increased marketing and expanded product development, and major conferences.

New Petrobras CEO says President wants firm to boost national economy

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brazilian oil giant Petrobras Madga Chambriard said the country's President asked her to work toward boosting the nation's economy while maintaining profitability at the oil firm.

Chambriard, who took over as the Staterun company's top executive after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired the former CEO in May, said at her formal installation on Wednesday that Petrobras' vision for Brazil is aligned with the President's priorities.

Chambriard's stance was echoed by Lula, who spoke during the event held at Petrobras' CENPES research centre in Rio de Janeiro.

"No one wants shareholders to lose one cent," said Lula. "Nobody wants Petrobras to be a loss-making company."

Petrobras shares plunged last month after Lula fired the former CEO Jean Paul Prates due to fears he would

look to install a new CEO that would boost Brazil's economy at the expense of its shareholders. To meet Lula's request, one of Chambriard's main priorities is to speed up the firm's US$102 billion investment plan for the 2024-2028 period, which she said has the potential to generate "hundreds of thousands of jobs".

Last week, Chambriard announced her new management team and appointed three Directors with technical know-how and a long history in the country's State-run firms.

After the event on Wednesday, Chambriard told Journalists she does not see further changes on the company's senior management staff.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Journalists under threat in Amazon rainforest report

The murder of British reporter Dom Phillips in the Amazon rainforest two years ago was not an isolated crime in a region where violence against Journalists has soared in recent years, a report published on Wednesday said.

As the world's interest in the Amazon as a barrier against climate change has grown, so has the work of Journalists reporting on environmental and other crimes in the vast and often lawless region, but it has come at a price.

There have been 230 cases of violence against Journalists in the Amazon

in the last decade, with nine reporters murdered, the Vladimir Herzog Institute, a nonprofit rights organisation said.

Incidents of violence against Journalists more than doubled from 20 to 45 between 2021 and 2022, years when former hard-right President Jair Bolsonaro was in office, according to its report. Bolsonaro eased environmental controls and gutted enforcement agencies to foster development in the Amazon, which spawned a boom in illegal gold mining and logging.

President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva, who took office last year, has said

he will confront organised crime contributing to destruction of the world's largest tropical rainforest. Deforestation has slowed, but progress has been hard on other fronts.

Violence against Journalists retreated in 2023, the report from the Herzog Institute showed, but remained slightly above the historical average.

Philips was shot in 2022 by illegal fishermen when travelling with Bruno Pereira, an expert on isolated Indigenous people who was tracking the activity of poachers on protected reservation land. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ecuador struck by nationwide power outage, faulty transmission line blamed

Anationwide electricity outage struck Ecuador on Wednesday, leaving the nation of some 18 million in the dark, including the capital's subway system, as authorities worked to repair faulty power lines, a senior official said on Wednesday.

"There is a failure in the transmission line that caused a cascade disconnection, so there's no electricity at a national scale," Public Works Minister Roberto Luque said in a post on X.

Luque also serves as the country's acting

Energy Minister.

A Reuters witness said there was confusion on the streets of Quito, the capital, as traffic lights ceased working.

Operations of Quito's subway system have also ground to a halt.

"Due to a general failure of the national interconnected electrical energy system, the operation of the Quito Metro is interrupted while the systems are restarted and verified," the metro system said on X.

While the South American country has struggled with a drought affecting hydro-electricity power generation, heavy rains over the weekend forced authorities to take three hydroelectric plants offline.

The weekend rains provoked a landslide that killed at least 17 and left 19 others injured. The disaster prompted Ecuador's private OCP oil pipeline to suspend operations and declare force majeure.

In April, Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa declared an energy emergency and announced planned electricity cuts.

(Reuters)

Chinese 'underground bankers' accused of aiding Mexican cartel

The US has accused a Chinese "underground banking" network of helping Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drugs cartel with money laundering and other crimes.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged 24 people with offences that also include distributing narcotics.

Law enforcement officers have seized about US$5 million in proceeds, as well as guns and hundreds of pounds of cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy pills.

The DoJ touted the close cooperation with Mexican and Chinese law enforcement a message

that has been echoed on the Chinese side.

The US accuses the Sinaloa cartel of helping to fuel a deadly epidemic by flooding the country with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin.

The DoJ highlighted a "conspiracy" during which more than US$50 million in drug proceeds moved between the Sinaloa gang members and Chinese underground "money exchanges".

It said these underground exchanges were being used by Sinaloa operatives to move their illegally acquired cash from the US to Mexico.

These Chinese ex-

changes offer a "ready market" for US currency, the DoJ said, explaining that some Chinese nationals want "informal alternatives" to conventional banking because the Beijing Government caps the amount of money they can take out of China.

A statement from Beijing, quoted by the AFP news agency, appeared to confirm the rare close collaboration with the US, saying authorities there had arrested a money-laundering suspect. That person had been involved in running a US car dealership before switching to "illegal foreign exchange trading".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T&T Opposition Leader: Labour gave workers rights

Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar said she salutes the nation s working men and women with pride, hope, and solidarity on the occasion of Labour Day, celebrated in Trinidad on Wednesday.

In a release, she said the labour movement has secured many things people take for granted, such as minimum wage; 40-hour work weeks; rights to sick, personal and maternity leave; workplace security; workers compensation;

insurance and pension plans. She said T&T s revolutionary labour movement began in the 1930s, with the historic hunger marches led by Elma Francois, Jim Headley, Jim Barrette and Dudley Mahon from 1933-35, and the protests of 800 sugar workers at Brechin Castle, Esperanza and other Central and Northern Sugar Estates on July 6, 1934.

Persad-Bissessar said on June 19, 1937, the historic Butler

Oilfield Riots officially cemented the trade union movement as a viable social, economic and political force, which created the foundation of the country s modern-day democracy.

The Opposition Leader said this Labour Day finds T&T in considerable social and economic turmoil under the destructive anti-worker, anti-trade union PNM [People s National Movement] Government .

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends the swearing-in ceremony of Brazilian State-run oil firm Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 19, 2024 (Reuters/Ricardo Moraes photo)

Around the World

OIL NEWS

Oil dips after hitting 7-week highs on demand hopes, war jitters

Oil prices dipped on Wednesday after hitting seven-week highs as summer demand optimism and concerns over escalating conflicts offset an industry report that said US crude inventories unexpectedly rose.

Brent crude futures slipped six cents, or 0.1 per cent, to US$85.27 a barrel by 1943 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 10 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at US$81.47 per barrel.

Brent reached US$85.84 a barrel earlier in the session, its highest since May 1, while WTI traded up to US$81.96 a barrel, the highest level since April 30.

Trading activity was thin due to a US federal holiday.

"The current snapshot presents an underwhelming picture, but there are green shoots that indicate a more optimistic outlook," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.

The Brent price being US$8 over the lows hit in early June "shows genuine optimism that the global oil balance will eventually tighten", Varga added.

Both benchmarks, having recovered strongly in the last two weeks, gained more than US$1 in the previous session after a Ukrainian drone strike led to an oil terminal fire at a major Russian port.

In the Middle East, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned of a possible "all-out war" with Lebanon's Hezbollah, even as the US attempted to avoid a broader conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

An escalating war risks supply disruption in the oilproducing region.

"The potential escalation of tensions in the Middle East is adding some supply risk to the oil demand equation," said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at TD Bank, adding recent US economic data supported bets the Federal Reserve would move towards cutting interest rates in coming months.

China data this week showed May industrial output lagged expectations, but retail sales, a gauge of consumption, marked the quickest growth since February.

Meanwhile, US crude stocks rose by 2.264 million barrels in the week ended June 14, market sources said on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a 2.2-million barrel draw in crude stocks.

However, gasoline inventories fell by 1.077 million barrels, while distillates rose by 538,000 barrels, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Official stocks data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due today. (Reuters)

Israeli tanks push deeper into Rafah, forcing people to flee again

Israeli tanks backed by warplanes and drones advanced deeper into the western part of the Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Wednesday, killing eight persons, according to residents and Palestinian medics.

Residents said the tanks moved into five neighbourhoods after midnight. Heavy shelling and gunfire hit the tents of displaced families in the Al-Mawasi area, further to the west of the coastal enclave, they said.

Some eight months into the war, there has been no sign of let-up in the fighting as efforts by international mediators, backed by the United States, have failed to persuade Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.

Displaced Palestinians, who fled their houses due to Israeli strikes, shelter at a tent camp, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024 (Reuters/Hatem Khaled photo)

Twelve Palestinians were also killed in an Israeli strike that hit a group of citizens and merchants in the south of the Gaza Strip, medical sources told Reuters

Shipping industry urges Red Sea action as Houthis sink 2nd vessel

Urgent action must be taken in the Red Sea to stop attacks on merchant shipping by Yemen's Houthis, leading industry groups said on Wednesday, after the sinking of a second ship.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched drone and missile strikes on the important trade route in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In more than 70 attacks, they have also seized one vessel and its crew and killed at least three seafarers.

"It is deplorable that innocent seafarers are being attacked while simply performing their jobs, vital jobs which keep the world warm, fed, and clothed," the world's top shipping associations said in a joint statement.

"These attacks must stop now. We call for States with influence in the region to safeguard our innocent seafarers

and for the swift de-escalation of the situation in the Red Sea."

The Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier attacked by Yemen's Houthi militants in the Red Sea last week has sunk, salvagers confirmed on Wednesday.

The vessel was struck with missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat, according to sources.

International naval forces have been deployed to provide mainly defensive support for ships still sailing through the Red Sea, but the attacks have increased significantly.

Insurance industry sources said on Wednesday there was also mounting concern over the use of attack drone boats by the Houthis.

"They are harder to defend against and potentially more lethal as they strike the waterline," one industry source said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

on Wednesday. The people were hit as they waited for convoys of aid trucks carrying goods through the Kerem Shalom crossing in Salahuddin Road northeast of Rafah, the sources added.

Israeli forces have laid waste to much of Gaza and seized most of the Palestinian territory, but have yet to achieve Israel's stated goal of wiping out Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages.

Medics and Hamas media said eight Palestinians were killed in Al-Mawasi and many families fled north in panic. They did not identify the fatalities, and the Israeli military said it was looking into the report.

Residents said Israeli army forces blew up several homes in western Rafah, which had sheltered over half of Gaza's 2.3 million people before last month, when Israel began its ground offensive and forced most of the population to head northwards.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Climate change threat hangs over haj pilgrimage as hundreds perish in heat

Nearly two million Muslims will reach the end of the haj pilgrimage this week, but extreme heat has proved fatal for hundreds who began the journey last Friday to the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

At least 562 persons have died during the haj, according to a Reuters tally based on Foreign Ministry statements and sources.

Egypt alone has registered 307 deaths and another 118 missing, medical and security sources told Reuters, as temperatures at times soared past 51 degrees Celsius.

"It was so harsh and the people cannot bear that type of heat," said Wilayet Mustafa, a Pakistani pilgrim.

A witness said bodies lay on the side of the road near Mina, just outside Mecca, covered with

the white Ihram cloth a simple garb worn by pilgrims until medical vehicles arrived.

Climate scientists say such deaths offer a glimpse of what is to come for the tens of millions of Muslims expected in coming decades to undertake the haj.

"The haj has been conducted in a certain way for more than 1000 years now, and it's always been a hot climate," said Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, a scientific advisor at German institute Climate Analytics. "But ... the climate crisis is adding to the severity of the climate conditions".

During the haj to the Kaaba, a cube-shaped stone structure at the Grand Mosque, pilgrims perform religious rites as taught by the Prophet Mohammad to his followers 14 centuries ago. (Excerpt from Reuters)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Listen to others, but don't trust or believe everything you hear. Make intelligent investments and spend money only on necessities. Protect yourself from insult or injury.

Look at the big picture. Don't let anger set in when a positive attitude will help you get your way. Play to win and act out of compassion and understanding. Compromise will lead to optimum results.

Look at every angle. Learn from experience and trust only reliable people and sources. Invest more time in getting the facts and restoring rather than replacing. Take advantage of offers from institutions.

Participate, get moving, and tighten up your routine. Join groups that encourage you to set an excellent example for loved ones while expanding your friendships.

Seek out activities and events that excite you, and you will meet people who can make a difference in your life. Deal with situations that cost you emotionally or financially.

Get a second opinion regarding purchases, contracts or medical issues. Discipline will be required when dealing with emotional problems or anyone giving you a hard time.

An opportunity to travel, learn or change course is apparent, along with misinformation. Refrain from making a snap decision, or you may hit a dead end. Don't feel pressured or overreact.

Pour your heart and soul into something creative that satisfies you. Your energy and a spirited attitude will turn something you enjoy doing into a lucrative pastime. Romance is favored.

Keep your thoughts to yourself and be observant. You'll have to be smart with your money and commitments. Joint ventures or shared expenses will prove difficult.

Collect your thoughts and prepare to deal with whatever stands between you and what you want. Don't miss out on an opportunity because you are reluctant to take a chance.

Consider what's important to you and participate in events and activities you feel passionate about. Refuse to let anyone pressure you into making changes that aren't beneficial.

Control your emotions when dealing with work-related matters or matters that can influence your reputation. Focus more on personal and home improvements.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2024…

South Africa defeat a game USA

– As de Kock, Rabada provide cutting edge performances

It was another game, another close one for South Africa, and they seem to be making a habit of sneaking over the line at this T20 World Cup. This time they were pushed by USA, who gave an excellent account of themselves in their first Super Eight match. On a batter-friendly pitch, USA kept South Africa to under 200, from a position of 126 for 1 in the 13th over.

Quinton de Kock’s first half-century of the tournament set South Africa up, before Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh took 3 for 15 between them, but the rest of the attack could not provide enough support.

Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 53 to give South Africa a competitive total to defend.

USA were off to a bright start, thanks to Steven Taylor, but Kagiso Rabada’s double-strike in the Powerplay kept things even. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi squeezed USA through the middle overs, but South Africanborn Andries Gous very nearly had a decisive say

It had to be. After scores of 20, 0, 18 and 10, in what could be his last international assignment, de Kock finally brought out the big guns. He didn’t hit South Africa’s first boundary; that was Reeza Hendricks’s six over cover, and he waited until the fourth over before he properly got hold of one; but when he did, he did not stop. De Kock pulled Jasdeep Singh through midwicket, and then hit him for three successive sixes, all with the wind

one at the end of the fielding restrictions.

De Kock went on to bring up fifty with a six off Corey Anderson off the 26th ball he faced, and

over in Ali Khan’s direction, and Khan took a stunner to deny the South African captain the chance to push the score above 200.

Despite all that, USA still gave away 53 runs in the last five overs, and will not be entirely happy with some of their bowling. While Netravalkar and Harmeet’s eight overs cost just 45 runs, with four wickets and only four fours, the other five bowlers delivered 12 overs for 148 runs, took no wickets, and gave away nine fours and 10 sixes.

Rabada roars back Rabada has operated somewhat in the shadows in the group stage of the T20 World Cup, and has taken just four wickets for 84 runs in four matches. With South Africa contem-

USA at 53 for 2 after the Powerplay. He came back to bowl the penultimate over, with USA needing 28 runs off the last 12 balls, and broke the partnership that threatened to take the game away.

relished the chance to play against the country of his birth and let them have it.

Gous gave himself some time to get his eye in, and hit his first boundary off the sixth ball he faced, off Rabada. He sent Marco

Gous and Harmeet shared a sixth-wicket stand of 91 before Harmeet hit a Rabada full toss to Stubbs at midwicket and departed, along with USA’s hopes.

Gous at home

eventually recorded his highest score in T20 World

Excellent catching, erratic bowling

USA’s fielding got them back into the game: from Anderson’s excellent judgement to take a skier off Hendricks’s top-edge in the third over, to Shayan Jahangir judging his distance from the boundary rope well at cow corner to end de Kock’s knock. But it was Ali Khan who dived forward as he ran in from the deep backward point fence and held on to the grab that could have changed the innings.

Aiden Markram, on 46, hit the last ball of the 15th

plating using two specialist spinners, the debate ahead of this match was which of the three seamers to leave out. On form, Nortje and Ottneil Baartman each made a strong case to stay in the XI ahead of Rabada, but the decision was made to leave Baartman out in favour of Rabada’s experience.

He repaid that call by removing an aggressive-looking Taylor with his third ball in the fourth over, and seemed to be ramping up his pace as his spell developed. In his next over, Rabada had Nitish Kumar caught at deep square leg off a length ball on the pads, and put South Africa in front, with

Welkom’s Andries Gous is from the same place as Dean Elgar, and was part of the group of South Africans who took up offers to play in the Minor League just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He made his international debut three months ago, and

South Africa (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R

Quinton de Kock † c Shayan

Jahangir b Harmeet Singh 74

Reeza Hendricks c Anderson b Netravalkar 11

Aiden Markram (c) c Ali Khan b Netravalkar 46

David Miller c & b Harmeet Singh 0

Heinrich Klaasen not out 36

Tristan Stubbs not out 20

Extras (b 1, nb 2, w 4) 7

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.70) 194/4

Did not bat: Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Reeza Hendricks, 2.4 ov), 2-126

(Quinton de Kock, 12.2 ov), 3-126 (David Miller, 12.3 ov), 4-141 (Aiden Markram, 14.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Saurabh Netravalkar 4-0-21-2

Ali Khan 4-0-45-0

Jasdeep Singh 2-0-36-0

Nosthush Kenjige 3-0-29-0

Harmeet Singh 4-0-24-2 Steven Taylor 2-0-21-0 Corey Anderson 1-0-17-0

Jansen for six over long-on, and then laid into Nortje, taking 18 runs off the last four balls of his third over. That included back-to-back sixes, the second going over midwicket and bringing up his half-century off 33 balls. But he saved the best for the 18th over, when he hit Shamsi for successive sixes to keep USA in the game. They needed 50 from the last three overs, and then just 28 off the last two. Gous finished unbeaten on a career-best 80. (ESPNCricinfo)

Quinton de Kock cashed in on the back-half of the powerplay

Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada celebrating

Saurabh Netravalkar trapped Aiden Markram with a full, wide ball

Andries Gous struck a timely fifty to keep his side afloat

World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships…

Petterson-Griffith set to rock the world again today

…Confident of being #1

Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffth will be taking on lifters from 32 other countries from just around 13:00hrs today; and that’s when he’ll make a strong claim to win the 93kg division at the ongoing World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships taking place in Druskininkai, Lithuania.

Having ended the 2023 edition with bronze and silver medals in the respective squat and deadlift competitions, PettersonGriffith will be employing an all-out effort to at-

tain the ultimate prize this year, despite the challenges he has faced in getting to the competition.

He will actually arrive in Lithuania about seven hours before the weighin, and this is because his Schengen visa was received only on Tuesday afternoon, and he commenced his journey on Tuesday night.

He had experienced a similar challenge last year, but the Guyanese strongman was not deterred. He says he is very focused on again making himself and Guyana proud.

“I am becoming used to these kinds of challenges,

and am mentally and spiritually prepared for the task at hand. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, includ-

Preparation underway for July 14 PMTC Caricom horse meet

Horse owners and trainers across Guyana have begun preparing for the July 14 annual Caricom horse meet to be staged by the Port Mourant Turf Club.

This July 14 Caricom meet will be the final competitive preparation for horses that would be participating in the yearly signature racing showpiece, the Guyana Cup, slated for August 11 at the Rising Sun Turf Club in Region 5. Horses have already been working out at the Port Mourant Turf Club and getting acclimatised to conditions.

The provisional programme set for the Caricom horse meet has eight races carded and close to 10 million dollars in cash and prizes up for grabs. The feature race will be open to all horses, and will be run over a distance of approximately 1350 metres, with the winning horse being awarded Gy$1,5M.

The race for three-year-old Guyana and West Indies bred horses would be run over 1350 metres, and the winning animal would be awarded $500,000.

Horses in the H & Lower category would contest a race over 1500 metres for a winner’s purse of G$400,000.

Other races on the card include the E Class non-earner last start & F and Lower, the two-

year-old Guyana bred, the J & Lower, the L Open, and the J/K/L Maiden.

All races would be run under the guidance of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules, and races are subject to being changed. Owners would need to show proof that their horses have been vaccinated at time of entry.

Entries for the July 14 CARICOM race meet would be closed on July 8, 2024.

The organisers are asking that horses be properly entered for participation in the meet by way of entry forms, and are asking that

Contact be made with: Dennis on 640-6396; Fazal on 611-1141; Buju on 658-7637; Shazeena/Rose/Vanessa on 3220789; or Ginjo on 618-7278.

For additional information or queries, please contact Ginjo on 618-7278. All two-year-old horses would need to be covered by a Veterinarian’s Certificate (verify date of entry).

The Port Mourant Turf Club CARICOM meet would serve as the final competitive preparation for the August 11 Guyana Cup meet, which is organized by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee. Guyana Cup will be held at Rising Sun Turf Club, and new horses from near and far will be battling for supremacy.

ing the Ministry of Sport and the Guyana Olympic Association, for assisting in making this trip pos-

sible. I’d like to say to all of Guyana, ‘Rest assured you’ll be welcoming home the World Champion’,” the

CWI announces new partnership with FairBreak Foundation

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and FairBreak Foundation have announced a new partnership to promote and support women’s cricket in the region.

Aside from its invitational T20 tournaments, FairBreak has created a new Foundation, which would use donations to support grassroots women and girls’ cricket programmes across the Caribbean.

FairBreak Global is dedicated to promoting gender equality through women’s invitational T20 tournaments, having to date successfully hosted two ICC-sanctioned tournaments in Dubai (2022) and Hong Kong (2023).

Johnny Grave, CWI Chief Executive Officer, has said, “We are pleased and enthusiastic to be the first ICC Full Member Board to partner with FairBreak. One of the new strategic objectives of CWI has been to achieve parity between women and men in cricket by 2027, and we believe that this partnership will allow us to showcase the talent and potential of female cricketers in the West Indies, while promoting inclusivity and gender equality within the sport.”

Showstopper has said. Petterson-Griffith had turned in a magical performance at Sheffield24 earlier this year in England, while also breaking the world squat record (332.5kg), which was eventually retaken by the USA’s Gavin Aiden with a squat of 337.0kg. While Aiden did not make the cut for Worlds this year, Petterson-Griffith is ranked third based on nominations, behind USA’s Brandon Pitre and Sweden’s Gustav Hedlund, winner of the Sheffield24 Powerlifting Championship.

An unforgettable showdown of the world’s best strongmen in the always fiercely contested 93kg class is anticipated today against competitors from USA, Sweden, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, Cameroon, Ireland, Malaysia, Algeria, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Cyprus, China, Jamaica, Belgium, Slovenia, Latvia, New Zealand, South Africa, Quatar, and the US Virgin Islands.

Guyana has already copped a bronze medal at these championships through the efforts of Dominic Tyrell, who made an encouraging senior debut on Tuesday in the 83kg division. The youngest competitor in that division, Tyrell also ended 6th in the world out of 25 athletes.

Cheryll Rogers, FairBreak Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are delighted to partner with CWI and bring the support of FairBreak to the communities of the Caribbean. It has been my pleasure to bring FairBreak up to a new level for women’s cricket. Our aspiration is to partner with cricket boards and charities to uplift community cricket, as well as create new pathways into the women’s professional game.

The new FairBreak team and their commitment to the highest standards of safety and governance are setting a gold standard for the environment in which we invite players to play. Our tournaments will now be held in the best stadiums in the world, including the West Indies. A truly unique opportunity”.

FairBreak’s commitment to the West Indies includes investment in grassroots cricket programmes that would benefit and inspire future generations of female cricketers throughout the region, as well as through engaging local coaches, match officials and other support personnel in upcoming FairBreak Invitational T20 Tournaments planned for the future.

ENTERTAINMENT

Carlos Petterson-Griffith (right), with IPF President Gaston Parage and GAPLF President Franklin Wilson, at Sheffield24 in February this year

Trinidadian Jockey Rico Hernandez in the saddle during an early morning workout at Port Mourant Turf Club this week

The CWI partnership with FairBreak is set to benefit women’s cricket in the region

World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships…

Tyrell claims Deadlift bronze; places 6th overall on debut

Afantastic performance by Francebased Guyanese strongman Dominic Tyrell saw him claiming the bronze medal in the deadlift, while placing sixth overall in the 83kg category at the World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships which are being held in Druskininkai, Lithuania.

Moving up in weight and coming up against seasoned campaigners in the senior category after graduating from the junior ranks, Tyrell did not allow that to get in the way, and turned in a fabulous performance to keep the Golden Arrowhead flying high on the international stage.

Contesting the first of two flights of lifters, and against 25 other lifters overall, Tyrell’s deadlift of 342.5kg was good enough to land him the bronze medal, which complimented the silver he won as a junior

last year in Malta. Such was the performance of Tyrell that he was the top lifter in his flight. He achieved a best Squat of 265.0kg (10th overall) and a Benchpress of 167.5kg (13th overall) for an overall Total of 775.0kg, which landed him sixth overall in the world in a field of 25 athletes from the USA, Great Britain, France, Hungry, Canada, Italy, Peru, Denmark, Japan, Czechia, China, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Singapore, Qatar, Lebanon, Brazil, Malta, Cyprus and Kuwait.

The top spot overall went to Kengamu Jurins of Great Britain, who had a total of 845.0kg. Second place went to Orhii Russel (843.5kg) of the USA, and Asein Enahoro of Hungry claimed the third place with a total of 807.5kg.

Enahoro won the deadlift with his first attempt of

367.5kg, while Jurins was second with 350.0kg, ahead of Tyrell, who ended third. Commenting on his performance, Tyrell said, “Just overall very, very happy with my performance. I executed on the highest level and the biggest competition of my life, and all the hard work paid off.”

Minister of Culture,

Blue Water Shipping Girls’ U15 Championships… GFF starts kit distribution to Round-of-16 teams

A glimpse of what to expect when the Blue Water Girls’ Round-of-16 begins this weekend

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Wednesday began distributing kits to schools competing in the upcoming Round of 16 of the Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary Championship.

Queen’s College players, who were among the first to qualify for this stage of the tournament, were fittingly the first to receive their new kits, featuring the GFF and Blue Water Shipping brands, on June 19. The presentation took place at that school in Georgetown.

Round of 16 teams will take to the field in distinctive uniforms on June

22 and 23 at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Joining Queen’s College will be Santa Rosa Secondary, Waramuri Primary Top, Westminster Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, Woodley Park Secondary, Charity Secondary, Tucville Secondary, President’s College and Ann’s Grove Secondary.

The student athletes are vying to become the first GFF-Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary Champions. This is Guyana’s largest girls’ tournament.

GFF President Wayne Forde confirmed that all schools will receive their kits in the upcoming days. “The kits were produced in a variety of colours, including the colours of the Golden Arrowhead alongside the tournament shield, complemented by the logos of GFF and Blue Water Shipping,” he detailed.

“These girls have performed admirably in the first round, and secured their place in the Round of 16. It’s important for us that players experience a full competition environment, which includes having distinctive kits,” Forde added.

More than a thousand student-athletes from nine regions across the country participated in this Ministry of Education-endorsed tournament, which kicked off on 4th May. Region eight is set to participate in the next edition of the tournament.

The competition marks the beginning of the competitive phase of the FIFA Football For Schools (F4S) programme, designed to inspire children to learn life skills through enjoyable football sessions.

Parents and students are encouraged to support the teams on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00hrs at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence.

ment of athletes and sports across the board, and pointed out that Powerlifting has been doing Guyana proud as it has also raked in three World Championships in 2023.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, also expressed delight at Tyrell’s performance, stating that Tyrell is very talented and disciplined, so it is no surprise that he has continued to shine on the international scene for Guyana.

Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, extended congratulations to Tyrell on his sterling performance, and noted that he is pleased to see him continuing in a positive vein from the junior ranks.

Minister Ramson assured Tyrell of the Government’s commitment to the continued develop-

On behalf of the powerlifting fraternity, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) President also congratulated Tyrell for a splendid display, noting that his discipline, commitment, and understanding of the sport would see him doing even better in the ensuing years.

“Tyrell is a very talented and hard-working athlete who is setting a very

high standard. As a nation, we are privileged to have him at this juncture, along with Carlos PettersonGriffith who is ranked third in the world right now, and Romeo Hunter who will be competing as a sub-junior for the last time at Junior Worlds this year. This is fantastic for us as a nation, and we are very proud of them all,” he said.

“This Federation will continue to work even more to further enhance the sport, as we are aware there’s lots more to be done to really give us that chance of being even better. The areas of coaches and referees’ development will be priorities this year,” he added.

The GAPLF is extending appreciation to the Government of Guyana, National Sports Commission, and the Guyana Olympic Association for the continued support to the sport.

Upper Mazaruni football tournament at semifinal stage

Youth football action in Region 7 took an interesting turn on day three of the Upper Mazaruni District Football competition on Tuesday.

Two exciting clashes were on the cards as the week-long tournament continued at the Waramadong Ground. The first matchup was a female category clash between the villages of Paruima and Jawalla, but after the smattering of fans had been waiting for a lengthy time without witnessing any fireworks, Jawalla was awarded a penalty opportunity, which was successfully converted by Cezanna Reuben in the 34th minute.

Jawalla’s celebrations were short-lived, as an infraction on their part led to Paruima being awarded a penalty in the 37th minute, and Lezandra Henrito found the back of the net for Paruima, to level the scores.

No other goals were witnessed for the remain-

der of the game, resulting in a 1-all draw between the two.

Later, all it took was a solitary goal for Paruima’s boys to get the upper hand over Jawalla boys. Nadir Williams was the marksman, finding the back of the net in the 12th minute of the encounter to hand his team the victory. There was an anti-climactic end to the day’s football action, as Waramadong and Phillipai boys played to a stalemate in the final game of the day.

The tournament has moved into the semifinal stage on Wednesday, and

Kako and Waramadong are set to face off in the Girls’ category, while Kako and Waramadong locked horns in the male category.

The semifinal action will also continue today, with Kamarang and Jawalla girls going toe-totoe from 15:00hrs, while defending champions Paruima and Waramadong boys battle for a spot in the final, beginning at 16:30hrs.

The Upper Mazaruni District Football tournament is sponsored by Guyana Beverages Inc under their Busta and Turbo brands, and by MVP Sports.

Dominic Tyrell proudly displaying the Golden Arrowhead and his deadlift bronze medal

The Boys in the Upper Mazaruni District tournament preparing for battle

Jawalla goal scorer Cezanna Rueben

Paruima goal scorer Lezandra Henrito