Guyana Times - Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Union steadfast

4 Guyanese students receive CNOOC scholarships

World Bank approves US$45M project to reduce Guyana’s flood risk

More persons temporarily displaced due to flooding in Region 9 Teacher charged with ganja trafficking

Heavy rainfall affecting Rupununi’s turtle nests – SRCS Programme Coordinator Omni Helicopters selects 2 Guyanese for specialist flight training

Damage to lighting system

Probe into CJIA’s lighting system malfunction during storm launched

Operations at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are returning to normalcy after a storm on Sunday evening disrupted flight schedules at the facility.

Intense thunderstorms and lightning, severely damaged several transformers and the lightening protection system of the runway lighting equipment at the Guyana’s international airport.

As a result, the airport runway lighting became inoperable forcing diversion of flights.

The runway is equipped with two independent circuits, each of which can facilitate aircraft landings.

Both the primary and alternate circuits were also impacted during the storm

and as a result, all incoming flights had been diverted.

On Monday morning, however, the affected flights were returning to the airport. These flights included American Airlines, JetBlue, and Copa.

In an update on the situation Monday afternoon, the Public Works Ministry

revealed that for the day so far, the airport had accommodated 10 flights, comprising a private aircraft, a cargo plane, and eight passenger flights.

It was noted that the return of flights were possible following repairs to one circuit of the runway lights, enabling night flight operations.

Efforts are underway by the maintenance team to restore the second circuit.

However, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill has announced that an investigation has since been launched to determine the root cause of the airport’s malfunction.

He explained that the said investigations would shed some light on future preventive measures.

“The first thing we have to do is find out what went wrong because we have a lightning protection system and we have two circuits. In case one goes out we have the next one. But in this case, both went out…We have to develop measures to prevent that from reoccurring,” Edghill said. (G1)

Technical staff working on Monday morning to retore the lighting system on CJIA’s runway

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, June 11 – No retraction and Wednesday, June 12 – 22:00h-23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, June 11 –06:50h-08:20h and Wednesday, June 12 – 07:40h-09:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 07:27h and 20:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.22 metres.

Low Tide: 13:34h reaching a minimum height of 0.85 metre.

No decision made as Education Ministry, GTU resume talks Teachers’ strike

…as Union steadfast on 20% interim increase demand

years for discussion, I think the terms of resumption is critical and we are concerned about the interim payout and how we flesh out the timeline for the discussion,” Lyte said Further, Lyte explained that the Union will continue pushing for the proposed interim 20 per-

Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine on Monday facilitated talks for the third time between officials from the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).

Once again negotiating parties were unable to settle on a mutual agreement on the terms of resumption as the teacher’s strike continues.

According to reports, new proposals were presented by Education Ministry and GTU, as both parties signaled interest to end the ongoing strike actions.

While the details of the proposals put forward were not shared, GTU’s President Mark Lyte said “tighter” timeline for the conclusion of the proposal talks were made.

Lyte made this comment during an interview with media following the meeting, where he disclosed that a Union is suggesting a 30-day period as the new timeline.

However, before a decision is taken, he said both parties have committed to discuss the terms with their principals and members.

As such, the Union is awaiting feedback from the Chief Labour Officer regarding a new date for the next meeting, and until then strike action will continue.

“Both parties have given some indication that we wanted to have this matter concluded and therefore positions were shifted on both sides with regards to how we can achieve that… we are not at a stage where we are talking about the

cent across-the-board salary payment for teachers, noting that the demand is crucial for the continuation of talks.

On this point, he reiterated that negotiations will continue when a reasonable proposal that caters for welfare of teachers is decided upon.

On the sideline of Monday’s meeting Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussian told media operatives that he will comment on these new developments, and efforts to contact other ministry officials have proved futile.

Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine during Monday’s meeting

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Continuing the fight to end child labour

Every year, on June 12, the world observes Child Labour Day, a solemn reminder of the millions of children worldwide who are deprived of their childhood and forced into laborious activities. In 2024, as this day is commemorated this year, it’s crucial to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that persist in eradicating child labour.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development. Despite significant strides in recent years, child labour remains a pressing global issue, affecting approximately 152 million children worldwide, according to the latest ILO estimates.

The theme for Child Labour Day 2024 is "Act Now: End Child Labour!" This theme emphasises the urgency of addressing child labour and underscores the collective responsibility of Governments, civil society organisations, businesses, and individuals in combating this scourge.

One of the notable achievements in the fight against child labour has been the increased awareness and advocacy surrounding the issue. Governments and international organisations have implemented various initiatives aimed at eliminating child labour, such as enacting legislation, promoting education, and providing support to vulnerable families.

Here in Guyana, child labour encompasses various forms, including children working in agriculture, domestic service, informal sectors, and small-scale mining operations.

The Government has passed legislation and enacted laws that mandate severe penalties for infringements that could cause harm to children while yet recognising that the Guyanese culture allows children to be involved in family income-generation activities, as well as children’s efforts to engage in odd jobs in their spare time, once such activities do not affect their education and/or jeopardise them or their health in any way.

Guyana has also ratified key international conventions, such as the International Labour Organisation's Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (No. 182) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, demonstrating its commitment to combating child labour.

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud had called on stakeholders to collaborate to end child labour in Guyana while Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton had warned employers to exercise their due diligence to discourage the practice.

To quote the Minister: “I wish to remind employers that they have a responsibility to prevent and eliminate this scourge in society and to ensure that the necessary due diligence in their business processes and supply chains is done to discourage the involvement of child labour in the business eco-system…”

On Child Labour Day 2024, it is imperative that we renew our commitment to ending child labour in all its forms.

Individuals can also contribute to the fight against child labour by making informed choices as consumers, supporting companies that adhere to ethical labour practices, and raising awareness about the issue in their communities.

As we mark Child Labour Day 2024, let us remember that every child deserves the right to a childhood free from exploitation and labour. By working together and taking concrete actions, we can create a world where every child can realise their full potential and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

On this journey, it is imperative that all stakeholders unite in their commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of every child, ensuring that they are afforded the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. Only through collective action and unwavering dedication can we create a future where child labour is relegated to the annals of history in Guyana.

Interrogating Jamaica’s avoidance of the CCJ

By Prof Hamid GHany

Appearing on the CVM TV show “CVM at Sunrise” in Jamaica on May 20 instant, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the hosts, Yendi Phillips and Dennis Brooks, that his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government holds the view that “our final court should be a Jamaican final court”.

In amplifying his point of view, he said, “The people should have a say; that’s number one for us. And secondly, if we are having a final court to be repatriated, it shouldn’t go to Portof-Spain; it should come to Kingston.

That has been our position.”

In dropping this constitutional bombshell, the day before his Government published the “Report of the Constitutional Reform Committee on the Transition to the Republic of Jamaica and Other Matters”, he revealed that he was taking a position on the CCJ issue before the publication of the report on May 21. There was division inside the committee as three people from the 15-member committee did not sign the report, namely the two Opposition members, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley and Anthony Hylton.

Attorney Hugh Small also did not sign the report. Last week, I highlighted the quote from the Executive Summary of the Report as it related to Jamaica’s final appellate court. However, the actual commentary in the body of the report throws more light on the Government’s reluctance to embrace the CCJ.

Under the heading in paragraph 12 entitled “The Issue of the Final Appellate Court”, the report read as follows: “12.1 There have been con-

siderable discussions on the question of whether Jamaica should, at this time, abolish appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) and substitute the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final appellate court. Such a change is unlikely to be achieved unless the two (2) political parties represented in Parliament are in support.”

Unlike other proposals in this report, whereby the committee overruled the positions of civil society on various issues, the committee expressed ambivalence on this one. Nowhere in the report was there any mention of the position taken by the Prime Minister in his breakfast television interview.

The advocacy of Jamaican nationalism as the basis for not making a decision on the removal of the JCPC and replacing it with the CCJ is a political position of the Government and not the committee.

Paragraph 12.2 of the report reads as follows: “12.2 At the commencement of its work, the CRC understood the Government’s position to be that the issue of the final court would be considered at a later stage while the Opposition was pressing for it to be included in the first phase of the work.”

It is clear that delaying the consideration of the CCJ telegraphed opposition to the proposal. The Prime Minister’s television interview served to confirm that with his comment, which recalled shades of the 1961 Jamaican referendum on whether Jamaica should accede to getting its independence under the umbrella of the West Indian Federation or whether it should walk alone. The electorate chose the latter.

According to paragraph 12.3 of

the report, which addressed the situation at the commencement of the committee’s work, the following is quoted: “12.3 Since then, the Leader of the Opposition has indicated on a political platform that he will not support the reform if it excludes a determination of the final court at this time. The position of Government remains that it should be dealt with at a later stage and that the matter be fully debated in the public sphere.”

This was the paragraph where the issue of the court being located in Kingston and not Port-of-Spain should have been discussed. The Prime Minister put his own spin on the issue in his television appearance the day before the publication of the report. Indeed, the CRC formed the view that the conflicting positions of the Government and the Opposition pose a serious risk to the success of the reform work. The committee concluded as follows: “12.5 As a way of helping to resolve the dilemma, the CRC considered whether the leaders would assist in building consensus and also, if there is no consensus, whether the issue of the final court should be placed on the referendum ballot.”

The committee passed the CCJ chalice and refused to drink from it. The question now is whether Prime Minister Holness has poisoned it with his breakfast comments. (T&T Guardian)

(Prof Hamid Ghany is a Professor of Constitutional Affairs and Parliamentary Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI). He was also appointed an Honorary Professor of the UWI upon his retirement in October 2021. He continues his research and publications and also does some teaching at the UWI.)

Jets of the Patrouille de France fly over the international ceremony at Omaha Beach in Normandy near SaintLaurent-sur-Mer. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944 (VOA)

“I

reached out to the President, and this was my blessing” – single mother gifted new home

Denise Lampkin, a 50-year-old mother of three from Amelia’s Ward, Linden has a brandnew reason to celebrate. On Monday, she received the keys to her own home, thanks to the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative.

Lampkin expressed her gratitude to the government and the MoM for this intervention, noting that her prior living conditions posed a challenge to her livelihood.

She said this new home has taken a weight from her shoulders, as she and her children will now be

comfortably accommodated. Previously, she was living in a makeshift home.

“My [previous] house burned down, so the only option I had was to come here and build this little home to make my children comfortable. Then, I reached out to the president, and this was my blessing. I thank God

for what has been done for me,” she told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd congratulated Ms. Lampkin, and attributed this intervention to the government’s drive to promote homeownership across the country.

“The president made a very specific mention of not leaving anyone behind and ensuring that we are able to reach and touch every citizen, especially the most vulnerable,” he said.

This, Todd ex-

No decision made as Education Ministry...

Proposed 20 per cent for teachers

On day two of conciliation talks held in May between the Education Ministry and the GTU, a document citing a demand of an interim 20 per cent across-the-board salary payment for teachers was presented to the Chief Labour Officer by representatives of the GTU.

According to reports, the Union requested that the increase be paid to teachers before any conciliation regrading timeframe for payment period for salary increases continues.

The demand made by the GTU is aside from monies to be paid to teachers when a payment period for the multi-year agreement is decided upon.

Additionally, the Union requested that the Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton recuse himself from the negotiations process.

Prior to this, both parties had agreed on terms of a resumption agreement and were prepared to sign said document presented by the Union, so that there is no victimisation of either party.

The document stipulated that during the consideration of the matter in dispute under the procedure, there shall be no strike, stoppage of work whether of

a partial or general nature, go slow, boycott, picketing, retardation of production or any other interference with the Ministry's operations, by the Union, nor shall there be any lockout or any other form of interference with the ministry's operations, by the Union, nor shall there be any lock out or any other form of interference by the ministry.

Very bad precedent

During a press conference on May 15, Education Minister Priya Manickchand made it clear that the Guyana Government will not sign off on the Union’s request, nothing that the body is setting “very bad precedent not only for the Guyana government, but for governments across the region”.

It was also explained by the minister that after May 20, ministry will have to start distance learning which will be instituted in homes to combat the current learning loss.

“We have a standing sacred almost duty to make sure that we look after children and anything that comes in the way of that has to be treated condignly and swiftly with solutions”.

“I hope that the same members in that Union body can take the Union back

and bring it to that place (of being reasonable) so that on Monday we end up with a resolution and conciliation agreement where we go to the table and engage in the conciliation process. If that breaks down then there is a place for arbitration,” the minister had said at the time.

The government has already addressed over 20 issues affecting teachers, aimed at improving their working conditions and overall welfare.

In fact, at the time of the last strike, President Dr Irfaan Ali had reminded that he has already met with teachers across the country and outlined the government’s plan to improve their livelihoods.

On April 19, High Court judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon had ruled in favour of the GTU, and stipulated that teachers’ salaries should not be deducted following their participation in the recent strike.

The High Court had also ruled against government’s decision to discontinue the deduction of Union dues from the salaries of teachers for the GTU.

This came on the heels of the Government’s refusal to negotiate for that salary increases for the period December 2019 to 2023, but

plained, is a significant element of President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s One Guyana vision.

He said the government is committed to uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable, and commended Lampkin for her efforts to safeguard her family’s livelihood.

“You have given your all, you are working hard here, and we are giving you this momentum. We are proud of your motherhood, and the attention to detail you have paid to your family. This timely gesture is meant to bring empowerment to you,” he expressed.

FROM PAGE 3

instead was ready to do so for a multi-year agreement starting 2024.

Appeal

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has filed an appeal. In the appeal filed on May 22, the Attorney General Chamber stated that the High Court Judge “erred and misdirected himself in law when he having found that the Applicant’s pleadings could not withstand judicial scrutiny, he failed and/or refused to strike out the pleadings as being frivolous, vexatious, and as disclosing no cause of action… erred in law in considering issues which were not properly and adequately pleaded or pleaded at all, and which did not fall to be determined by the Court.”

It added, that the judge also erred “…when he held that the ‘no work no pay’ principle was raised by the pleadings as an issue to be determined” and “… when he found that there is no difference between a right to strike and the freedom to strike, notwithstanding that the Constitution of Guyana, Chap. 1:01 does not provide for a right to strike, rather, the freedom to strike is expressly guaranteed by Article 147 of the Constitution.” (G1)

He reminded that the aim of the MoM is not only to help the most vulnerable, but

to tackle social issues through training, mentorship and community support.

“The fact that we are so diligent at this level, where men are giving of their service…it clearly shows that we want Guyana to be a One Guyana, and this is testimony to that,” the minister said.

The MoM initiative, was first conceptualised by President Ali in 2022. Since then, the group has spearheaded a number of enhancement exercises, and is completing about 50 homes for vulnerable groups across the country. Recently, a youth empowerment and mentorship programme was also launched to equip Georgetown youth with essential life skills.

Denise Lampkin

Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers: Reducing (continued)

In this activity, learn how trees compete to meet their essential needs and describe how varying amounts of light, water, and nutrients affect tree growth. This activity is best carried out with friends. The health of trees in a forest ecosystem depends on and is affected by many factors, including competition with other trees and plants for space, light, water/moisture, and nutrients. Trees produce their own “food” by using the chlorophyll in their leaves to capture energy from the sun in a process called photosynthesis, which uses carbon dioxide from the air and water from rainfall. If trees don’t get enough sunlight, air, water, or nutrients, they may grow slowly or even die.

Materials:

8” x 10” (20 cm x 25 cm) pieces of paper or white paper plates

4-6 different colours of construction paper; large sheet of paper or other means for recording group results.

Instructions:

Gather 4–6 different colours of construction paper – such as blue, yellow, white, green, black, and red—with enough of each colour

Cut 3” x 3” (7.6 cm x 7.6 cm) squares out of the different colours of construction paper (Keep the colours separate to start)

Think about what trees need to grow. (water, sunlight, air, or nutrients. Most of a tree’s mass is made of carbon, which comes from the air.)

What do you think would happen if a tree doesn’t get all the things it needs?

To model what happens when a tree doesn’t get everything it needs, have your friends spread out about three feet (90 cm) apart and stand (or sit in chairs) on a piece of paper or paper plate. They each represent a tree whose goal is to get as many needs as possible. They must stay planted on their paper and cannot slide it along the floor or step off it.

Equally distribute the “tree resources” ( coloured paper squares) around them so that the resources are about 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) apart.

Explain that each represents a tree need. Assign each need a colour (eg, blue = water, yellow = sunlight, white = carbon from the air, and green = a nutrient such as nitrogen or phosphorus).

Give a signal to start. Have the “trees” reach to gather the resources they need. Use the following quantity requirements to determine how many of the group’s trees are growing well or poorly: three or more of each resource means superior growth, two of each means average growth, and one or fewer of each means poor growth.

Discuss: What might happen to a real tree that can’t meet one or more of its needs? (It might grow slowly or eventually die. Point out that different species of trees have different needs; some tree species might need more water than others, for example.)

Conduct additional rounds, using one or more

of the following conditions: Trees stand or sit closer together on their papers (representing more competition).

Fewer water resources (representing a drought).

Fewer sunlight resources (representing overcrowding for young trees).

Fewer nutrient resources (representing poorquality soil).

Add a new coloured resource to represent fire (red) or an insect infestation (black), such as bark beetles or gypsy moths. How might this new element affect the trees? Discuss that some trees may not be affected.

Challenge your friends to look for outside examples of the different scenarios they modelled in the activity. For example, they may see groups of trees growing close together (and not getting enough sunlight) or a tree planted close to the pavement (and not getting enough water or space).

(Adapted from plt.org)

Exercises: Multiply

7 years later

Govt trying to recoup millions in undelivered health supplies paid for by APNU

Asmuch as $306 million worth of undelivered health supplies were paid for between 2015 and 2017, however, millions of dollars in goods were not delivered and the Health Ministry is still trying to conclude some of these transactions and recoup any losses.

During Monday’s sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the 2019 Auditor General report was examined. Specifically, PAC member and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira raised questions over the Ministry of Health paying upfront for $306.2 Million in goods from multiple companies that were not delivered between 2015 and 2017.

“Can we go to (paragraph) 920, where there is $306 million of goods was not delivered and according to the briefing notes, was not delivered at the time the briefing notes was done. So, of the $306 Million, $128.7 Million now remain undelivered.”

that, $67 Million was a contract that was done in 2015, where the item that was ordered, was not accepted by the lab.”

“And therefore, they were required to have a change in the delivery or specifications. That contract remained hanging for a while. And we are now taking steps to change this and reconcile the contract,” Watkins said.

plies for the ministry, that they are trying to address. According to Watkins, they are working on reconciling yet another contract, this time with Supply Chain Management Systems.

And in the very 2019 report, the Auditor General had urged them to continue to pursue either the delivery of the goods, or the recovery of the monies paid.

total contract sum was $70.4 Million. And that would have probably been paid on a bank guarantee,” Watkins explained.

Teixeira also said.

In response, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins, gave updates on some of the companies that were flagged. For instance, Caribbean Medical Supplies had actually delivered an item to the government that was not accepted. Instead, the company was required to change the delivery.

“As of the updated response, I can start with

“This is our notes of 2024. Could the Ministry of Health say, were additional supplies delivered? Or did they get back the money they advanced to the company, to put into the consolidated fund?”

the first company. We have $128 Million and of

According to the permanent secretary, there are multiple companies who still have these outstanding sup-

“Its multiple companies. I think there are different arrangements. The first one, for $67 Million, was paid in advance. The

“The supply chain management system was an agency that was set up through the US government to work with us on ARV management. We paid them… there’s a balance there… this became a cold case. We’re still trying to make efforts to see how we can reconcile this sum. I’m not sure if SCMS is still functioning as a sub agency of the US government.” (G3)

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins

Woman electrocuted while washing clothes

A33-year-old woman was electrocuted on Monday morning at Singh Street, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD), while washing clothes.

Dead is Kesi Adele Adams. Reports are that around 07:00h, the 33-year-old woman was washing clothes at the back of the house and the washing machine and dryer, which she was using to do so,

had an electrical defect which caused electricity to run through a long silver hose with metal wrappings that was attached to the dryer.

According to Police, it was suspected that Adams had held onto

the hose, which led to her being electrocuted. The woman was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.

Police said that the woman’s 63-year-old mother reported the matter.

Her body is at Ezekiel Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination, Police said on Monday evening.

Palace…

…coup?

Well, your Eyewitness knows that Congress Place out in Sophia ain’t exactly a “palace” – but it was the best the PNC comrades could build when Burnham exhorted each member to buy at least one brick from his claybrick factory to replace their building on Camp Street that had been “mysteriously” torched!! But the expression “palace coup” describes what seems to be going on over there: a faction of the ruling group working to oust the present leader from within.

Your Eyewitness has already written about the sudden, rushed election of new office bearers of APNU – the fig leaf the PNC had created to hide its fangs. Norton says he wasn’t invited to the meeting and that it’s part of a plot to undercut his support at the upcoming PNC leadership elections. According to one report ,former General Secretary of APNU – “Lil Joe” Harmon – is behind this move. The fact that the latter had been forced to resign by Norton, back in 2022, might suggest there’s some truth to this assertion – since along with Granger, there’s a whole lotta beef between them after the 2020 debacle. So what’s the latest goings-on on the Eastern (Sophia) Front? An old war horse, whose claim to fame goes back decades when she was in the PNC’s youth wing – YSM -- but now resident abroad for half of those decades – weighed in. She declared, “Democracy is more than having elections; it is also about the credibility and integrity of those elections”!!! And suggested that Leader Norton’s been going around padding the PNC’s voters’ list – so to speak!! She claims he’s been creating new groups and inviting them to the Congress to vote for him!! Gasp!! This is outrageous!! How dare she suggest that any member of the PNC could even think of such a dirty deed?!! It just goes to show how far the rot has gone in the party. This statement would be treasonous if it were made about national leaders!!

What’s ironic about the accusation is that the accuser goes on to berate the present PNC General Secretary for not going out to form new groups!! She boasted that when the party had won the elections under the APNU/AFC banner in 2015, she‘d returned home and founded THREE groups in GT!! Imagine that!! Ain’t that like taking sugar to Albion?? When the PNC slipped back into office, folks were fighting to get a party card so they could share in the spoils – as in the days of yore!! And she admitted only two of the groups have lasted the course!! Expect more fronts to be opened up as we come down to the stretch. Many can’t stand to see a street-man leading the PNC!!

…faithful

What Norton should’ve done once elected leader was to follow Burnham’s example after he formed the PNC – and had to watch his back. He, of course, remembered how he plotted to oust Cheddi from day 1 – even though he’d been given a squeeze into the PPP after returning from London as a newlyminted lawyer. In addition to banishing some competitors as Ambassadors, Burnham chose a solid, older respectable professional from the boons – Dr Ptolemy Reid – to be his consigliere!! As in the Mafia, such a henchman had to be completely loyal to the leader and not harbour any desire to take his place!!

Reid was the man who stepped in -- even though he’s been retired – when Hamilton Greed…oops, Green!.. was roiling the PNC under Desmond Hoyte, because HE wanted to be leader. But hold it!! Maybe one of Norton’s rivals have enlisted an oldhead to push their cause. Who could it be?? Hamilton Green, who keeps turning up like a bad penny? Or Corbin? Forewarned is forearmed!!

…overrun

It’s not only politics is war by other means: in cricket, any game between India and Pakistan turns out to be WWIII!! So, they faced each other in Long Island of all places – and even the 119-113 scores favouring India was ballistic!!

Dead: Kesi Adele Adams

“Little to no chances of me losing” –Norton to PNC leadership challengers

...as Greenidge, Forde, Best, Walton-Desir nominated for leadership

The People’s

National Congress (PNC) held its nomination day on Monday at Congress Place, Sophia with the delegates nominating party executives including incumbent leader Aubrey Norton, Parliamentarian Roysdale Forde, Carl Greenidge and retired Rear Admiral Gary Best, for the post of leader.

During Nomination Day delegates came streaming into the compound to nominate persons to leadership positions in the party. As expected, incumbent party leader Norton was nominated for the position of leader, receiving 177 nominations.

Among those who were also nominated for leadership were Opposition Parliamentarians

Roysdale Forde (20) and Amanza Walton Desir (9), who have both been vocal about their willingness to run. Also nominated were retired Rear Admiral Gary Best (2); current Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge (4) and former Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes (2).

In an interview after the proceedings, Norton was confident that he has done enough work with the party groups and would ultimately prevail. He also took a swipe at his challengers by saying that party elections are won by engaging the grass roots, not on social media.

“I think there are little to no chances of me losing. From the time I became party leader, I have been engaging par-

ty members and party groups. We have rebuilt this party. Many will recall that by the time I became leader, people were saying they might not vote. We have worked with the ground… I have no doubt that the base of the party will support me and I will do much better than when I became leader.”

“Regardless of the groups, I’m sure I’m going to get more than 75

per cent of the nominations. Because the party people know me… I’m no newcomer. I’ve been in this party since 1972. So, I have no doubt as to what is going to happen in the party. Some people make the mistake of thinking party elections are won on social media. They are won by engaging party members and delegates.”

In an interview with

this publication on the eve of nomination day, Forde had also been confident that he would clinch the nomination and be nominated for other positions as well.

In a subsequent interview, Forde described his mission as one to rescue a PNC party that has never been weaker and more disorganised.

“I believe that I stand a very good chance. The

platform on which I’m seeking to lead the party is to rebuild, refocus and regroup the party. The party, I believe at this stage of its history, has never been weaker. Has never been more disorganised. We face serious challenges, in terms of our representation. Our ability to be on the ground.”

“And to be able to meaningfully impact the country at this stage of our development. There are a number of issues that continue to plague the country. I believe the opposition needs to do more work in the communities, be on the ground and be more policy driven… I believe over the past few years our party has regressed,” Forde explained.

Supporters of Amanza Walton-Desir

PNC leadership challenger Roysdale Forde

Omni Helicopters selects 2 Guyanese for specialist flight training

After an intense selection process, Omni Helicopters announced on Monday the selection of its first two Guyanese citizens to participate in its AbInitio flight program.

The two candidates, Somant Heeralal and Yadram Ramcharran were chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 20 candidates. They were standouts and are now set to undergo comprehensive training over the next 16 months at specialist flight training schools.

Upon successful completion of their training, the new pilots will be the first Guyanese pilots at Omni Helicopter Guyana Inc (OHGI´s) team.

Heeralal and Ramcharran will begin rigorous academic and flight training, culminating in obtaining a commercial helicopter license with an instrument flight rating. According to the company, this comprehensive industry-accredited pilot training program is designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the rigorous operating standards of the offshore helicopter sector.

Upon graduation, they will spend time building flight experience before progressing to be trained on larger offshore helicopters.

Somant Heeralall, who initially pursued a medical degree at Texila American University Guyana and worked

at Georgetown Public Hospital, joined Omni Helicopters in November 2023. He was one of six selected individuals for specialised training, encompassing both search & rescue swimming and aviation security. This experience ignited his interest in aviation, the company said.

Yadram Ramcharran, on the other hand, embarked on a four-year degree course at the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical

Engineering School in September 2017. Despite facing financial challenges during the Covid-19 period, he persevered and in December 2023, he successfully completed his associate degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, earning accolades for his abilities and performance. During his student training, he gained practical experience through ‘on the job training’ at Ogle Airport with CAMS and Omni Helicopters.

in Guyana. Somant and Yadram are welcomed to the OGH’s team as Guyana’s first offshore Ab-initio pilots,” said CEO of Offshore and Onshore International at Omni Helicopters International, Duncan Moore, said. Additionally, the OGH is confident that their talent, dedication, and passion for aviation will drive them to great things and also be an inspiration to others in Guyana seeking a flying career.

“This opportunity serves as an important milestone for OHGI and the aviation community

According to Moore, “creating new opportunities for national team remains one of our key priorities and adds to

more than half of our workforce who are already from Guyana. The OGH team will continue to make these investments in service of the goal of one day having an entirely Guyanese team.”

Omni Helicopters International (OHI), founded in Portugal in the 90s, stands at the forefront of Latin Americas air mobility and delivery solutions sector. As the region’s largest provider of these services, OHI caters to diverse customer groups across multiple segments, ensuring seamless and efficient solutions.

OHGI First Ab-Initio Pilots: Somant Heeralall (left) and Yadram Ramcharran

More persons temporarily displaced due to flooding in Region 9

Floodwaters have receded marginally in parts of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), however, several other villages such as Nappi are inundated significantly, given that those areas are experiencing above normal rain fall and water draining from nearby hills and mountains.

As a result, at least 20 persons in the region are displaced and have

been relocated temporarily with relatives and/or friends.

According to information from the Civil Defense Commission (CDC), homes and other structures have collapsed due to intense rainfall and heavy winds.

The commission has since set-up shelters in a few villages to house affected persons, but there are no occupants thus far.

Aids such as cleaning and food hampers,

mosquito nets and buckets, have been provided to affected persons across the region, while the commission and regional authorities work jointly to monitor and assess the circumstances to manage further impacts.

Last month, several villages in Region Nine were underwater following the prolonged downpours.

Some of the most affected villages were Potarinau, South Central Rupununi, Aishalton, Parishara and Nappi Village. In

addition to these villages, several bridges and roads were not accessible to vehicular traffic.

One such bridge was the Iwokrama Reserve, approximately 15 minutes away from the Kurupukari Crossing.

In addition, the Pirara to Lethem Road was completely underway thus leaving scores of passengers stranded on both sides. In light of these occurrences, the Civil Defence

affected areas to conduct thorough assessments. In addition, it handed over cleaning supplies to the Regional Authorities to be distributed to the residents.

Meanwhile, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had called for an emergency meeting to discuss and address the challenges faced in the region by rising water levels. During the meeting,

of all residents at this time.

Commission (CDC) dispatched a team to the

systems were activated to ensure the safety

However, the residents are advised to take all necessary precautions against waterborne diseases and floods and to be vigilant.

“Residents are encouraged to Listen to the local radio station and follow updates on the Office of the Regional Executive Officer, Facebook page, and the Regional Democratic Council Region nine page for accurate information,” the RDC stated.

The RDC staff have been providing free boat transportation to ensure the continued safe passage of Lethem residents following the submergence of the Pirara Bridge.

Residents are urged to be cautious during this period and to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 600-7500 at any time. (G1)

4 Guyanese students receive CNOOC scholarships

In a move aimed at stimulating talent within Guyana's petroleum sector, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL), partnering with the Natural Resources Ministry, has given scholarships upon four promising Guyanese students.

The scholarships, fully funded by CNOOC, covers education, transportation, and living expenses for the students in China.

This is the second group of students to be awarded petroleum science scholarships by CNOOC. They are Delicia Cameron, Shanae Henry Rasheeda Daniels, and Hailie Caesar. The scholarship is a collaboration with the Natural Resources Ministry.

At the signing ceremony, budding petroleum engineer, Delicia Cameron, revealed that upon completion of her studies, she would return to Guyana to work in the oil and gas sector.

“Studying petroleum

engineering in China will equip me with both the knowledge and skill so I can contribute to the sustainable development and advancement of my country. So, when I gain the knowledge, gain the skills, I will come back to Guyana and I will be a part of the oil and gas industry,” Cameron stated.

Shanae Henry, another scholar explained that she is really appreciative of this once in a lifetime opportunity. “These experiences have only deepened my appreciation for this moment. I am particularly excited about the prospect of immersing myself in Chinese language and culture. I look forward to calling it my home during my studies. This cultural exchange will not only enhance my academic experience but also broaden my global perspective, she stated.”

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat stated that he is sure this

opportunity would bring great pride to the students and their families.

“I'm sure that the only thing your parents want in return from you is for you to make them proud. I'm sure and 100% positive that all your parents want in return from you is for you to make them proud,” he stated.

He added that the only way in which they can make their parents proud is by accomplish-

ing the task that they are assigned to complete.

“You will make them proud by accomplishing the mission that you're going to, by finishing your studies, graduating, and returning home. Building a career, becoming a young professional, living a decent, respectable life, and helping at the same time to mold other young Guyanese and to help develop your country,” he added.

Meanwhile, CPGL President, Lu Xiaoxiang emphasised the company's commitment to developing local content and building capacity through its corporate social responsibility program.

Education, he noted, has always been a key pillar of CPGL's initiatives. “This event marks the reaffirmation of CPGL's commitment to build local capacity, develop local content, and bene-

fit the local population. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will allow you to pursue your dreams and make a positive difference in your community and country at large,” he underlined.

Under the current program, 10 scholarships will be awarded over three years. The first batch of students from the 2023-2024 academic year is nearing the completion of their first year of studies. Upon graduation, the scholarship recipients are expected to work with either the ministry or China Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) for five years, ensuring their newly acquired skills benefit the nation.

This batch is the second to benefit from this initiative, a joint program between CNOOC and the Ministry of Natural Resources. This year four awardees were selected, from 11 shortlisted candidates after a rigorous selection process. (G2)

Heavy rainfall, flooding hindered Independence safari …event cancelled; new safari set for November

Heavy rainfall which led to flooding has caused the cancellation of the inaugural Safari event, which was initially carded to be held from May 23 to May 26 at Rockstone, Bartica, Mahdia, and Karasabai.

In response to this, a new safari to South Rupununi is planned for November 2024 to compensate for the recent unforeseen circumstance.

Managing Director of Rainforest Tours, Frank Singh told Guyana Times that significant terrain challenges hampered the planning of the safari.

"People were very hesitant to go to the various locations scheduled for this year’s safari as there were lots of floodings ad-

ditionally, we had to cancel the recent inaugural Independence Safari because of the flooding and some of the roads were washed away," Singh explained.

He also pointed out that another setback was the fact that Mahdia district was infested with mosquitoes. According to Singh, this gave the planning committee another reason to reconsider their actions.

Amid the recent flooding, Singh noted that another safari is being planned in South Rupununi. He explained that this location would be much easier for travelers to reach.

“The new South Safari promises to be a more manageable trip, the South area will serve better for the tour. It is a much easier trip," Singh stated.

Despite the setbacks, sponsors are still on

board, he said.

Singh explained that the south Rupununi region provides an ideal opportunity to experience the outdoors, have fun, and discover the picturesque beauty of the savannahs and lesser-known places in southern Guyana's interior.

That region, he said, boasts some of the most stunning scenery. The area is home to over 400 bird species, including Jabiru Storks, Guiana Cock-of-the-Rock, and the rare Red Siskin.

The South Rupununi Safari will take adventurers through numerous Indigenous villages, including Shea, a Wapishana village where travelers will witness the towering Shea

Rock. From Shea, there will be stunning views of Bottle Mountain, Shiriri Mountain, and the Kanuku Mountains in the distance. This South safari offers drivers an opportunity to test their skills and explore the ‘Vaqueros' territory.

The Safari itinerary includes an overnight stay at Dadanawa on November 25, with stops at No. 58 and Lethem before departing from Georgetown.

On November 26, the journey continues with an overnight stay, passing through Shea Village, Maruranau, and Awarewaunau en route from Dadanawa to Aishalton. The next day, November 27, participants will travel from Aishalton to Katoonarib, with an overnight stay at Karaudarnau. On November 28, the trip continues with stops at Sand creek and Shulinab before reaching Lethem on November 29. The Rupununi Expo will take place from November 24 to 25. The safari concludes on November 30, as participants depart Lethem for Georgetown. Requirements for the trip include a four-wheeldrive vehicle in good condition and a spare wheel.

The safari was organised in collaboration with the Tourism and Commerce Ministry, the Guyana Tourism Authority, with Rainforest Tours and the Local Government Ministry. (G2)

Scholarship recipients alongside Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, CPGL President Lu Xiaoxiang and other officials

World Bank approves US$45M project to reduce Guyana’s flood risk

The World Bank has approved a project to help Guyana adapt to climate change and reduce flood risk in its coastal regions.

This initiative is set to benefit around 320,000 people, approximately 40 per cent of the country’s population, including the most vulnerable, the World Bank said on Monday.

According to the bank, Guyana is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Studies have shown that rising sea levels, among the highest in the world, expose 100 percent of the country's coastal agriculture and 66.4 percent of its coastal urban areas to flooding and erosion, with potential GDP losses that could exceed 46.4 percent. It added that Guyana's coastal drainage system comprises a unique, intricate network of canals, culverts, sluices, and pumps. Over time, its operational capacities have declined due to insufficient invest-

ments in maintenance and growing flood risk arising from urbanisation and the impacts of climate change. Following the 2005 floods, the government re-emphasised the importance of flood risk management and increased the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s budget. The new Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Project, the bank said, will build on existing efforts to enhance flood risk management in Guyana. The project will repair or re-

place more than 45 drainage infrastructure assets, focusing on sluices. Investments will take into consideration projected land uses, population growth, urbanisation, and climate change impacts to enhance drainage functionality for efficient rainfall runoff discharge, improve flood protection, and strengthen irrigation services.

“This initiative builds on a long-standing engagement between the World Bank and Guyana on strengthening resilience to flooding and nat-

the long term,” World Bank Group Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Diletta Doretti said.

“This project is also a critical component of Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy, aligning with the country’s broader vision for climate resilient growth,” she added.

flood risk management in urban areas, and provide training to enhance personnel capacity for system operation and maintenance.

ural hazards. With this operation, we are reinforcing Guyana’s efforts to maximize disaster risk management while protecting lives and reducing inequalities in

The project, the bank added, will work closely with Guyana’s Agriculture Ministry to help it effectively manage and operate the drainage system. It will upgrade the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority's asset management system, develop technical standards for

According to the bank, the project is a US$45 million grant, financed by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, which was set up and funded by Norway. Under the agreement, Norway compensates Guyana for curbing greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation. Guyana channels these payments into implementing its low-carbon development strategy. The Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Project is part of these efforts.

“Little to no chances of me losing” – Norton to PNC...

Meanwhile, Amanza Walton-Desir was also confident of her chances of being successful in the race for leadership… as well as the party’s chances of being renewed.

“Everyone that had doubts, that there are people within the PNC that are able to revitalise, reenergise and reinvigorate this great party. This is the party that laid the foundation for the development of this country.”

“And for those of you who said we are dead and we’re done, we got news for you. We are here. And we’re going to thrive. So, watch out for us. Because we’re coming,” WaltonDesir went on to say.

It has been announced that the long-awaited 22nd PNC/R Biennial Delegates Congress would be held from June 28 to June 30, 2024. Nomination Day is part of the election process to elect a new Party executive including Party Leader, Chairman, two Vice Chairpersons, Treasurer and 15 Central Executive Committee members.

In the lead up to the congress, contention had also arisen on Thursday after the recent election held by the A Partnership for National Unity where Vincent Henry of the Guyana Action Party (GAP) – one of the small parties that formed APNU – was elected as the new chairman.

In a statement, the Aubrey Norton-led PNCR had said it did not authorise the APNU meeting and called the elections “null and void.” This development comes on the heels of division within the PNCR over Norton’s leadership with party members citing the lack of financial accountability among a host of other issues since he

took over the helm of the main Opposition party in December 2021. Back in 2011, the PNCR had joined forces with GAP, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and the National Democratic Front to form APNU. Two other small parties, the Equal Rights and Justice Party (ERJP) and the Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM), later joined APNU in 2021. Before the June 6 election, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton was the Chairman of APNU. In addition to Henry, GNBM’s founder Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was also elected as General Secretary of APNU. (G3)

Supporters of incumbent PNC leader Aubrey Norton

File photo: Farmers and residents of Mahaica, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) battling floodwaters in 2019

Heavy rainfall affecting Rupununi’s turtle nests – SRCS Programme Coordinator

The heavy rainfall in deep south Rupununi area of Guyana, has caused significant distress to local turtle populations there.

This is according to Programme Coordinator of the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS), Neal Millar, who said that SRCS has been undergoing various initiatives in hopes to mitigate against these issues.

He was at the time speaking during an interview with Guyana Times, noting that heavy rainfalls, coupled with other effects of climate changes, can interrupt the breeding and nesting cycles of the turtles, which the conservation has experienced.

He also stated that while the SRCS is no stranger to heavy rainfalls, the recent deluges have been particularly problematic, leading to a marked decrease in their turtle counts.

“This kind of heavy rainfall is not uncommon in the usual cycles,” Millar explained.

“Wildlife, including turtles, are generally accustomed to these patterns. They have natural

SRCS

cycles and movements throughout the year.

From our perspective, this recent weather isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary for natural wildlife movement.”

Millar highlighted the dual impact of the flooding, stating, “It is important when the Rupununi floods as it allows connectivity for different species of wildlife, particularly fish. However, for our turtle project in 2022 and 2021, the early rainy seasons flooded out all their nests. Without our rangers relocating the nests, all those turtles would have perished.”

Despite the challenges, Millar expressed a silver lining.

“While the rainy season brings difficulties, it

also prevents the harsh conditions that continued droughts would impose on wildlife. Without this rain, we would face even more severe negative impacts on wildlife movement.”

Millar also spoke on the broader implications of climate change, noting that constant weather changing pattern makes it difficult for wildlife to continue in their usual natural cycles.

“Erratic weather patterns make it difficult for wildlife to follow their natural cycles. This can disrupt breeding and nesting cycles in regions along the Rupununi River where eggs weren't removed, all the nests would have died. Continuous erratic

Construction worker, woman charged for gun possession

A33-year-old construction worker and a 30-year-old woman were both remanded to prison when they appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court charged for illegal possession of a fireman. Oriel Lindie and Ronessa Hinds both of Overwinning Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam Berbice were taken to court on Monday after they were found in possession of firearm without license on last Thursday at Islington, New

Amsterdam Berbice. Charge laid under section 16 (2)(a) of the Firearm Act Chapter 16:05.

It is alleged that they had one 12-gauge shotgun in their possession.

When they appeared before Magistrate Michaelle Mathias and pleaded not guilty to the offence. However, they were both remanded to prison and the case will continue on July 15.

weather due to climate change could lead to a decrease in turtle populations and likely affect other species we haven't studied yet,” Millar explained

Addressing climate change directly, Millar shared, “since 2020, we’ve been working with UNICEF to develop the Young Climate Change Leaders Program. We're increasingly seeing the effects of climate change worldwide—more

droughts, more floods,” he stated whilst then also explaining that this program aims to raise awareness and understanding of climate change among young people in all indigenous communities in Region Nine. All of these initiatives stand as a statement for helping communities build climate resilience in their communities.

Millar on a hopeful note, announced that

funding by New Zealand High Commission which will encompass plans to teach and empower persons about environment related matters. “We recently received funding from the New Zealand High Commission to further support this initiative. As the younger generation will be most affected by climate change, empowering them with knowledge and resilience is crucial,” he revealed.

Programme

Coordinator Neal Millar

Ronessa Hinds Oriel Lindie

Guyana produced enough timber in 2023 to build more than 20,000 homes

The Natural Resources Ministry on Monday said that in 2023, Guyana produced approximately 446,000 cubic metres of timber products, enough to build more than 20,000 homes, based on United States standards.

According to the ministry, the forestry sector’s

contribution to Guyana’s economy is undeniable.

It stated that according to the US National Association of Home Builders and other sources, building one house typically requires about 22 cubic metres of timber. However, if one applies this production to a Caribbean or Guyana

context, where houses are typically smaller, the number of homes that could be built with this amount of timber exceeds 25,000.

This sector contributed greatly to the country’s exports, which reached US$20.5 million.

“Last year timber exports are expected to in-

Teacher charged with ganja trafficking

A49-year-old teacher of Bachelor's Adventure, East Coast Demerara was on Monday remanded to prison for trafficking in narcotics.

Sharon Mc Curdy, who was arrested last Thursday appeared before Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate's Court charged for possession of 31.4 lbs. of cannabis.

Mc Curdy pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison. The case will continue on July 3.

Remanded: Sharon Mc Curdy

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to the charge of Possession of Narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) (i) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Act Chapter 10:10.

omy, Guyana’s forests are also crucial in the global fight against climate change.

Only last week, a 25-year-old teacher was remanded to prison for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

According to police, ranks went to Boodram’s home and during a search, they discovered 11 transparent Ziploc bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems of cannabis, amounting to 3015 grams.

crease to US$31.4 million in 2024, marking a significant expected increase of US$10.9 million, or approximately 53%. More importantly, in 2023, Guyana’s forestry sector generated a gross domestic product of approximately US$86.32 million. With an expected growth of 3.9% in 2024, the sector’s GDP is projected to increase to around US$89.68 million. This growth is driven by sustainable practices and increased timber production,” the ministry said.

The performance of the sector in 2023, it pointed out was largely driven by increased production of logs, sawn wood, and round wood, outweighing declines in fuel wood and split wood.

supporting Guyana’s construction boom. The country’s economic growth, urged by increased oil production, has led to a surge in construction activities, including homes, industrial properties, and new buildings for businesses, hospitals, hotels, and schools.

Pysiffia Boodram, a mother of two of Public Road, Ruimveldt, faced

Boodram is scheduled to return to court on June 28.

This increased production, the ministry noted, is expected to continue

“Furthermore, the upcoming Gas-to-Energy project is expected to significantly boost the sector in 2025 due to the anticipated lower cost of power. With reduced energy costs, production in the forestry sector is expected to increase, particularly in the value-added wood products segment. Lower operational costs will make Guyanese wood products more competitive,” a statement on Monday said.

It added that while forestry is vital for the econ-

“More than 99% of Guyana’s forests remain intact, storing over 19 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The country boasts one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world. From 2010 to 2020, Guyana’s average deforestation rate was 0.059%, compared to the global tropical deforestation rate of approximately 0.533%, making Guyana’s rate about 9 times lower. Guyana employs numerous sustainable forestry practices to maintain the quality of its forests, based on principles outlined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).”

These include exemplary codes of practice for timber harvesting, the implementation of reduced-impact logging techniques, strong forest governance and legality practices, and careful pre- and post-harvesting planning. Guyana’s forestry sector is therefore not just an economic driver, but one that shows the government and its people are conscious of the need for sustainable management at every juncture.

Guyana to benefit from CA$10M regional smart agriculture project

Guyana has been identified as one of the eight Caribbean countries that is set to benefit from the new CA$10 million regional GenderResponsive ClimateSmart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean.

The project, which was officially launched on June 3,2024 at the United Nations House in Barbados will span a total of four years (20242028) and will be funded by the government of Canada and will be implemented by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

piloted to improve overall crop management. With the impact of climate and weather hazards, we have introduced Anticipatory Action protocols which are integrated with national Agriculture Disaster Risk Management and Climate Information Services”.

Representatives from regional partner organisations, Caricom Secretariat and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean

and governance”.

President of the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers, Carmen Nurse reflected that, “Every farmer expects when they plant to harvest, but that is not possible. Farming is no longer predictable. Through this project we want women farmers to build their skills to continue farming using climate-smart agriculture technologies”.

The Regional GenderResponsive Climate-

to transform and upgrade these value chains ensuring that they are market-driven using relevant data and facilitate public-private sector partnerships. The project will also increase the use of climate-smart technologies, innovations, and

First announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the Canada-Caricom Summit in October 2023, the regional project will contribute to improving the livelihoods of women and youth in climate-resilient agriculture value chains in the Caribbean. Through the Canadafunded project, FAO will work closely with the local Agricultural Ministries, farmer organisations, gender bureaus, research institutions, and community-based agro-processing centers

practices by agricultural stakeholders to make more data-driven decisions and advocate for the expansion of more inclusive, gender-responsive climate-resilient value chains.

Speaking at the media launch, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Lilian Chatterjee stated that “Canada recognises the disproportionate impact of food and input price inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate change in the Caribbean, which has exacerbated preexisting food insecurity. Women are powerful agents of change that can actively contribute to achieving sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. Empowering women and closing gender gaps in agri-food systems is key to deliver on the Sustainable

Development Goals. This new project will complement Canada’s other efforts to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship and food systems in the region, notably the CA$19.8 million Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean project and our support to Compete Caribbean”

FAO’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Dr Renata Clarke stated that the organisation has been promoting the use of climate-smart technologies that are adapted to the region and increases efficiency in the use of water, nutrients, biological control agents and reduce the use of pesticides.

“Integrating efficient and affordable practices and technologies such as renewable energy for solar pumps for irrigation, and digital agricultural sensors have also been

States (OECS), participating in the launch highlighted the project’s significance and its connection to the ‘Caricom 25 by 2025 Initiative’ and the 10-year Food and Agricultural Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy.

Vice-President of the Caricom Youth Advisory Body, Jerard Darville, stressed the anticipated benefits of the project on youth and the region noting “Inclusion of the Youth Advisory Body will empower future leaders and create more inclusive forward-thinking

Smart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean project aims to reach up to 2,500 direct beneficiaries over a four-and-a-half-year period, with women making up 50 per cent of the beneficiaries and youth making up 20 per cent. The project will engage more than 30 farming organisations, including women and youth-led organisations, over the implementation period. While targeting eight Caribbean countries, there will be broad regional benefits for all CARICOM Member States.

(L-R): ThuTrang Nguyen, International Assistance Program Officer, Global Affairs Canada; Abebech Assefa, Head of Cooperation for the Eastern Caribbean, Global Affairs Canada; Dr Renata Clarke, FAO’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean; Vermaran Extavour, Value Chain Expert & Project Coordinator, FAO's Subregional Office for the Caribbean; and Roberto Sandoval, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, FAO's Subregional Office for the Caribbean at the project launch at UN House in Barbados

Regional Haiti PM condemns killing of Police Officers in gang ambush

Haiti's new Prime Minister on Monday condemned the gang killings of three Police Officers on a patrol in a part of the capital controlled by gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier.

A group of armed men working under Cherizier ambushed a patrol from the Police's anti-gang unit in the Delmas 18 neighbourhood on Sunday and set them on fire, Police in the Caribbean country said.

Two officers were killed on site and two were evacuated by reinforcements –though one of them later died at the hospital.

Prime Minister Garry Conille promised State aid for the victims' families. Conille was sworn in this month and has yet to install his Cabinet after taking power nearly three months after his predecessor Ariel Henry tendered his resignation.

"This barbaric act is a direct attack on security and on stability of the nation," Conille said in a video address. "I send heartfelt condolences to the family of these officers who are gone along with their colleagues and friends."

He spoke after being briefly hospitalised on Saturday for what his of-

fice called "a slight illness".

Police union SYNAPOHA, however, said words were not enough and demanded the victim's bodies be returned.

Unverified videos on social media apparently filmed by gang members appear to show footage of the charred truck and captured firearms.

Gang leader Cherizier later shared a video on social media in which he said Police Officers had gone rogue and come "to kill people in lower Delmas".

He also challenged Police to recover the seized firearms if they can.

Kenyan President William Ruto on Sunday said that a long-awaited deployment of Kenyan

Police Officers set to lead a United Nations-sanctioned international force to support Haitian Police should arrive in one or two weeks, African news outlets reported.

It remains unclear when the rest of the force – with troops from Benin, Chad, Bangladesh and the Caribbean – would land.

SYNAPOHA warned at the start of this year of a rapidly shrinking and under-resourced Police body.

The international force was initially requested by Haiti's former Government in 2022, but has faced extended delays. Gangs have since grown their control over the capital, pushing hundreds of thousands from their homes and millions into hunger. (Reuters)

Wildfires threaten unique Brazil ecosystem

Firefighters are battling wildfires in Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland.

The Pantanal is home to jaguars, giant anteaters and giant river otters.

Close to 32,000 hectares have already been destroyed by the fires in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, local media report.

Climate experts say this year's wildfire season has started earlier and is

more intense than in previous years.

Firefighters said their efforts to extinguish the flames were being hampered by high winds over the weekend.

The region has also seen less rain than in other years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread.

The number of fires from the start of the year up to June 9 has been 935 per cent higher than in the

same period last year, according to figures from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The rise is particularly worrying as the high season for wildfires is not due to start until July.

Mato Grosso do Sul state authorities declared an environmental state of emergency in April, saying low levels of rainfall were creating ideal conditions for wildfires. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Kartel and co-accused return to Court of Appeal in fresh push for freedom

Lawyers representing dancehall star Vybz Kartel and his co-accused Shawn ‘’Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John headed to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica Monday morning in another bid to secure their freedom.

But prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions were in court trying to convince the panel of judges that the four should face a fresh trial

for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

The Court of Appeal was scheduled to begin hearing arguments Monday to determine whether to order a retrial for the four or set them free.

The hearing is scheduled to last for five days with lawyers on both sides having submitted skeleton arguments to the court last month.

Kartel and his co-accused are back before the Court of Appeal af-

ter a March 14 ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council that the appeals against their convictions should be allowed and their convictions be quashed on the grounds of juror misconduct.

The Privy Council further ruled that the case should be remitted to the Court of Appeal for it to decide whether to order a retrial of the men or a dismissal.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Cuba woos Russians, Chinese to revive ailing tourist sector

Russian tourist Serguei Boyaryshnic wandered in awe among the pastel-coloured buildings and cobblestone streets of Old Havana on a weekday morning, his family in tow.

"We had heard a lot about Cuba. Our countries have been friends for years," said the 36-year-old Moscow resident, who had joined a small tour group. "We love everything about it."

Cuba has recently begun offering perks to entice visitors like Boyaryshnic from allied countries such as Russia and China as it struggles to revive a

stagnant tourism sector still struggling to recover from the pandemic.

That has meant more and sometimes direct flights from Russia and China, the elimination of visa requirements for Chinese visitors and Cuba's recent decision to accept Russia's Mir payment cards, one of only a handful of countries to join Moscow's alternative to Visa and Mastercard.

That strategy has paid early dividends.

More than 66,000 Russians visited the Caribbean island in the first three months of the year, State-run Cuban media reported, double that of the same period in 2023. The

Russian visitors are one of Cuba's few tourism bright spots, however. Stiff US sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump contributed to a sharp reduction in US visitors, and arrivals from many European countries have also dropped off this year, State data shows.

Cuba's bet on distant countries may not make up for the overall visitor decline, said Paolo Spadoni, an associate professor at Augusta University and expert on Cuban tourism. A trip from Beijing, with layovers, for example, can require 24 hours or more of travel. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Lula defends proposal for peace talks in call with Putin

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended his proposal for peace talks involving both Russia and Ukraine in a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from Brazil's presidential palace on Monday.

Lula's special advisor Celso Amorim has already signed, along with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a statement calling for negotiations "recognised by both Russia and Ukraine". (Reuters)

Garry Conille attends a ceremony with members of the transition council where he is presented as Haiti's interim Prime Minister, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, June 3, 2024

(Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol photo)

Around the World OIL NEWS

Oil prices up 3% to 1-week high on hopes of higher summer fuel demand

Oil prices climbed about three per cent to a one-week high on Monday, buoyed by hopes of rising fuel demand this summer despite a stronger US dollar and expectations the US Federal Reserve will leave interest rates higher for longer.

The Fed hiked interest rates aggressively in 2022 and 2023 to tame a surge in inflation. Those higher rates have boosted borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, which can slow economic growth and reduce demand for oil.

Similarly, a stronger US dollar can reduce demand for oil by making dollar-denominated commodities like oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Brent futures rose US$2.01, or 2.5 per cent, to settle at US$81.63 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.21, or 2.9 per cent, to settle at US$77.74.

That was the highest close for both crude benchmarks since May 30.

"Futures are higher as expectations of summer demand are supportive of prices ... despite the broader macro landscape remaining less optimistic than weeks previous," analysts at energy consulting firm Gelber and Associates said in a note.

Goldman Sachs analysts said they expect Brent to rise to US$86 a barrel in the third quarter, noting in a report that solid summer transport demand will push the oil market into a thirdquarter deficit of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd).

The US dollar, meanwhile, rose to a four-week high against a basket of other currencies as the euro fell sharply due to political uncertainty in Europe after gains by far-right parties in voting for the European Parliament prompted a bruised French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap national election.

Oil last week posted a third straight weekly loss on concerns that a plan to unwind some production cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, from October will add to rising supply.

Despite the OPEC+ cuts, oil inventories have risen. US crude stocks increased in the latest week, as did gasoline stocks. Energy consultancy FGE also expects oil to rally, with prices reaching the mid-US$80s into the third quarter.

"We continue to expect the market to firm up," FGE said. "But it will likely need a convincing signal of tightening from preliminary inventory data."

Looking ahead

Investor attention now turns to the release of US consumer price index data for May on Wednesday for hints on when the Fed may start reducing interest rates.

The market is also waiting for the conclusion of the Fed's twoday policy meeting on Wednesday, in which the central bank is overwhelmingly expected to hold interest rates steady.

Markets dialled back expectations for rate cuts by the Fed in September after stronger-than-expected jobs data on Friday, with pricing now reflecting a less-than-50-per-cent chance of a reduction. Expectations for a cut had risen as high as 69 per cent last week.

Traders also trimmed their expectations for the amount of Fed easing this year, with pricing implying just one cut versus two prior to the payrolls data, according to data from financial firm LSEG.

The market is also waiting for monthly oil supply and demand data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and OPEC today and the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday. (Reuters)

UN Security Council backs Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan

The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian militants to accept the deal aimed at ending the eight-monthlong war.

Hamas welcomed the adoption of the USdrafted resolution and said in a statement that it was ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance".

Russia abstained from the UN vote, while the remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favour of the resolution supporting a threephase ceasefire plan laid out by Biden on May 31 that he described as an

Israeli initiative. "Today we voted for peace," US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Council after the vote.

The resolution welcomes the new ceasefire proposal, states that

Israel has accepted it, calls on Hamas to agree to it and "urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition."

Algeria, the only Arab member of the council, supported the resolution because "we be-

lieve it can represent a step forward toward an immediate and lasting ceasefire", Algeria's UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council.

"It offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians," he said. "It's time to halt the killing."

The resolution also goes into detail about the proposal, and spells out that "if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue".

However, it did not contain enough detail for Moscow. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asked what Israel had specifically agreed to and said the Security Council should not be signing up to agreements with "vague parameters".

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Jury begins deliberating in historic Hunter Biden case Aircraft carrying Malawi Vice President missing, search under way

Jurors in the Hunter Biden gun case have begun deliberating, and must now decide the fate of the US President's son.

The 54-year-old is accused of lying about his drug use on a federal form while buying a weapon in 2018, and of illegally possessing a firearm while he was allegedly a drug user.

For days, Prosecutors presented evidence to suggest that Biden was in the throes of addiction when he purchased the gun in Delaware.

His defence team say he was in recovery and therefore not a drug user at the time.

Biden, who did not testify, denies the three related charges.

If convicted, he could face up 25 years in prison.

In a lengthy closing argument, Prosecutor

Leo Wise said "no-one is above the law" and the case is "no more important, or less important, because of who the defendant is".

"The central issue in this case is whether he was an addict, and knew that he was," Wise added.

To make the Government's case, Wise pored over witness testimony from Biden's former partners and his own memoir to try to show he was an active drug user around the time he bought the gun.

The evidence, Wise said, was "personal. It was ugly, and it was overwhelming".

Biden's defence team argue he was in recovery at the time, so was truthful when he indicated on the paperwork that he was not a drug user. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Amilitary plane carrying Malawi’s Vice President and nine others has gone missing and a search is under way, the president’s office has said.

The plane carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima left the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday, but failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport about 370 kilometres (230 miles) to the north around 45 minutes later.

Aviation authorities lost contact with the plane when it “went off radar”, the statement from Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera’s office said.

“All efforts to make contact with the aircraft since it went off radar have failed thus far,” the statement said.

The president had ordered national and local authorities to “conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft”, his office said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Chakwera was informed of the missing plane by the Head of the Malawian armed forces, then ordered a search operation and cancelled a trip to The Bahamas.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda ThomasGreenfield votes during a UN Security Council vote on a US-drafted resolution backing a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, June 10, 2024 (Reuters/ Stephanie Keith photo)

Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Find out where your money goes. Set up a budget you can live with and put an end to unnecessary expenses. Use intelligence, insight and energy to reach your potential. Look for opportunities.

A change you make will cause emotional conflict if you don’t offer a reasonable explanation. Keep your expenses down in order to avoid criticism. Having a solid plan will make your life easier.

Protect your home and possessions. Don’t make costly changes to please others. An opportunity to broaden your interests, knowledge or friendships is favored. Listen carefully.

Work by yourself until you are satisfied with the results. Don’t allow others to interfere with your vision or disrupt your plans. Share your ideas when you feel confident about them.

Making a premature change under emotional duress will backfire. Take the time to think things through and fulfill your dream. Timing is essential; prepare thoroughly and act accordingly.

Don’t second-guess yourself or let someone confuse you with false rhetoric. Put your effort and energy where it counts. Trust in your ability to find success and happiness.

Use your knowledge to improve your life. An open mind will help you expand your options and follow through with your plans. Don’t let anger interfere with what you want to accomplish.

Pay attention to price tags and fast-talking salespeople. You’ll find a deal that appeals to you. Turn your attention to something that intrigues you, and you’ll discover a new pastime.

Refrain from letting anyone suppress or limit you. Take charge, speak for yourself and question anything that doesn’t make sense. Put your time and energy into research and action.

Take stock at home, decide what’s disposable and sell what you no longer need. Double-check instructions and information; someone will mislead you if it benefits them.

Sit tight and let the dust settle. Take charge, ask questions and put a plan in place that is easy for you to handle. Social events, personal improvements and love are in the stars.

Caution will be necessary to make the most of your time and money. Don’t count on others for help. Any change you make will require your undivided attention.

Bangladesh fall short as SA conjure a win from nowhere

South Africa survived an almighty scare to maintain a 100 per cent win-record at the T20 World Cup 2024, and in New York, where they chose to bat first in their final fixture at Eisenhower Park. On a used wicket, Aiden Markram decided to put a total on the board, and it almost looked like a mistake. South Africa were 23 for 4, but a record 79run fifth-wicket stand between Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller took them to 113, which they scrapped hard to defend.

Bangladesh's start was not ideal. They were 50 for 4 after 10 overs, but Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah put on 44 for the fifth wicket and got them back on track. They almost also got them over the line and will look back on one incident which could have forced a Super Over. In the 17th over, Mahmudullah missed a flick off Ottneil Baartman, which hit his front pad and deflected to the boundary for what looked like four leg byes. But he was given out off that ball, which made it dead at the point of impact, and reviewed the decision. Ball-tracking

showed Mahmudullah was not out, but because he had been given out, the four runs did not count, as outlined by the International Cricket Council's protocols on DRS (3.7.1) in the playing conditions for T20 Internationals. In the end, Bangladesh fell short by four runs. That, and their inability to capitalise on Keshav Maharaj bowling the final over for the first time in

SCOREBOARD

South Africa (20 ovs maximum)

Reeza Hendricks lbw

b Tanzim Hasan Sakib 0

Quinton de Kock †

b Tanzim Hasan Sakib 18

Aiden Markram (c)

b Taskin Ahmed 4

Tristan Stubbs c Shakib Al Hasan

b Tanzim Hasan Sakib 0

Heinrich Klaasen

b Taskin Ahmed 46

David Miller

b Rishad Hossain 29

Marco Jansen not out 5

Keshav Maharaj not out 4

Extras (lb 3, w 4) 7

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 5.65) 113/6

Did not bat: Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Reeza Hendricks, 0.6 ov), 2-19 (Quinton de Kock, 2.3 ov), 3-23 (Aiden Markram, 3.5 ov), 4-23 (Tristan Stubbs, 4.2 ov), 5-102 (Heinrich Klaasen, 17.3 ov), 6-106 (David Miller, 18.2 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING

O-M-R-W

Tanzim Hasan Sakib 4-0-18-3

Taskin Ahmed 4-0-19-2

Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-18-0

Rishad Hossain 4-0-32-1

Shakib Al Hasan 1-0-6-0

Mahmudullah 3-0-17-0

Bangladesh (T: 114 runs from 20 ovs)

Tanzid Hasan c †de Kock

b Rabada 9

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)c Markram b Nortje 14

Litton Das †c Miller

b Maharaj 9

Shakib Al Hasan c Markram

b Nortje 3

Towhid Hridoy lbw b Rabada 37

Mahmudullah c Markram b Maharaj 20

Jaker Ali c Markram

b Maharaj 8

Rishad Hossain not out 0

Taskin Ahmed not out 1

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 5) 8

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 5.45) 109/7

Did not bat: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Tanzid Hasan, 1.6 ov), 2-29 (Litton Das, 6.1 ov), 3-37 (Shakib Al Hasan, 7.4 ov), 4-50 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 9.5 ov), 5-94 (Towhid Hridoy, 17.1 ov), 6-107 (Jaker Ali, 19.3 ov), 7-108 (Mahmudullah, 19.5 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING

O-M-R-W

Marco Jansen 4-0-17-0

Kagiso Rabada 4-0-19-2

Ottneil Baartman 4-0-27-0

Keshav Maharaj 4-0-27-3

Anrich Nortje 4-0-17-2

T20Is and sending down three full tosses, cost them the game.

Maharaj was tasked with the final over after Markram bowled the seamers out earlier. It seemed a miscalculation, but he got two wickets as Bangladesh sought to clear the boundary though neither Jaker Ali nor Mahmudullah could. Mahmudullah was out on the penultimate ball – off a full toss – to a well-timed running catch by Markram from longon, which all but ended Bangladesh's hopes.

Morkel: South Africa held their nerve defending a low total South Africa leave the USA with three wins from three matches, and will move to St Vincent to play Nepal in their last group match. They are in pole position to qualify for the Super 8s. Bangladesh also head to the West Indies, and will play Netherlands and Nepal, with the Super 8s still in sight.

Top-three troubles

For all the talk about the power of their batting line-up, South Africa's top three have underperformed thus far, albeit on tough batting surfaces. Collectively, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Markram have scored 61 runs in nine trips to the crease at an average of 6.77. Of teams that have played at least two matches at the tournament, only Uganda and Papua New

Guinea average lower.

The biggest concern will be Hendricks, whose scores of 4, 3 and 0 are the low-

on hand to shore up the mid-section of the innings.

Three overs: 13 runs

After Tanzim Hasan (3 for 18) set the tone with wickets upfront, Taskin Ahmed took charge of the latter stages, helped by Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman. Between them, the trio gave away just 13 runs in the last three overs of South Africa's innings, and removed both danger batters Klaasen and Miller in a clutch display of death bowling. Klaasen was dismissed halfway through the 18th over, when he slogged across the line but was early on his shot, and the low bounce took the ball onto leg stump. Taskin only conceded three singles off the rest of that over to finish with 2 for 19 from his four overs. It may have been a

est of the trio, and whose methods of dismissal appear to show a technical deficiency. Twice in two games, Hendricks has been stuck in his crease and then played down the wrong line. He'll be looking over his shoulder knowing fellow opener Ryan Rickelton is waiting on the bench, and could get an opportunity in the next match.

Things got even worse when Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for a duck in the fifth over. South Africa have only lost their first four wickets by end of the fifth over on five occasions in men's T20Is, and two of them came in this competition. Happily for them, they had Klaasen and Miller

gamble to use legspinner Rishad for the penultimate over, especially when his previous three cost 28 runs, but he knocked Miller out with a topspinner second ball, and Maharaj could not get him away. Rishad's final over cost just four. Then came the Fizz, who took the ball away from Maharaj for four consecutive dots before a fifth went wide and was called as such. The batters scored three runs off the last two balls and were frustrated by their inability to score any boundaries in the last three overs.

Happy Birthday David Miller On his 35th birthday, Miller was given a gift

when he edged the first ball Mahmudullah bowled. But Litton Das, who was standing up to the stumps, was unable to react quickly enough to take the catch. Miller was on 13 at the time and went on to more than double his score and finish on 29. But that wasn't the end of the presents for him. He was stationed at extra cover when Maharaj was brought on to bowl the first over after the powerplay, and Litton, not content with what he had already given Miller, slapped the ball straight to him. Miller made no mistake, and Bangladesh were 29 for 2 in the seventh over.

Three overs: 15 runs Bangladesh had to get 20 runs off the last 18 balls, and after putting on the squeeze in that period would have expected it to be difficult, but perhaps not that difficult. Kagiso Rabada bowled the 18th over, despite not being his best at the tournament so far. He only half-appealed when Hridoy missed an attempted clip to the leg side, but was rewarded with a wicket first up. Rabada went on to concede only one more run in an over of hard lengths. Then Baartman stepped up for the 19th, and stuck to a slightly fuller length which neither Mahmudullah nor Jaker could get away. He conceded seven runs. The test was when Maharaj, who has never done this job before, was left with the final six balls. He started with a wide. His second legal ball was a low full toss that Mahmudullah hit hard down the ground, but the slow outfield stopped it from getting to the rope. Jaker tried to send the next one over the rope, but couldn't clear long-on, and then Rishad managed a leg bye. But the last two balls were both full tosses that should have been dispatched over the rope. However, Mahmudullah's effort found Markram, while Taskin could only hit the final ball to cover to give South Africa a nervy anti-choke win. (ESPNcricinfo)

Keshav Maharaj struck with his first ball of the match

Tanzim Hasan Sakib took three wickets in his first spell

Tertiary Basketball League…

Points fest brings exhilarating end to group stage

The 2024 edition of the Tertiary Basketball League continued at the National Gymnasium on Sunday, June 9, with Linden Technical Institute (LTI); New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and University of Guyana (UG) culminating the group stage with contrasting wins.

The opening game of the night saw the LTI, with their ability to convert baskets, emerging victorious against a dominant Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), with a 12-point margin of victory after a final score of 72-60.

National junior player Kimol Grimmond, with 32 points, led the

LTI from the jump ball, with an all-round performance from his team.

Bolt suffers serious injury during Soccer Aid 2024

Jamaican sprint legend

Usain Bolt has sustained a serious injury during Sunday night's Soccer Aid 2024 charity match, held at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium. The world-famous sprinter was seen leaving the pitch on a stretcher after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon, a devastating blow for the athlete and his fans.

Bolt, who has previously scored in the ITVtelevised game, was eager to add to his Soccer Aid tally. Leading the line for the World XI alongside former Italian pro and Juventus megastar Alessandro Del Piero, Bolt showed his characteristic enthusiasm and determination. Del Piero managed to find the net, giving the World XI a 2-1 lead in the first half. Unfortunately, Bolt didn’t manage to score, and his team ultimately lost their lead, ending up on the wrong end of a 6-3 scoreline. The situation worsened for the 37-year-old in the second half. Bolt went to ground with an injury and had to be replaced by comedian Jason Manford. The sight of the Olympic legend being stretchered off the field caused significant concern among fans and fellow

athletes alike.

Late Sunday night, Bolt took to Instagram to reveal the extent of his injury. He posted a photo of himself in a moon boot, next to a pair of crutches in the World XI dressing room at Chelsea’s ground.

In his caption, Bolt wrote: "Ruptured Achilles but done know we a warrior." The post garnered numerous supportive comments, including one from fellow sprinter Justin Gatlin, who joked: "Bro what you out here doing?!? We retired remember," and a message from the official Olympics account, which read: "Sending positive vibes, and wishing you a speedy recovery."

Bolt's injury cast a shadow over what is usually a celebratory and charitable event. His participation in Soccer Aid has always been a highlight, drawing fans worldwide to

see the track icon showcase his love for football. Despite the unfortunate incident, the event continued, with both teams and the crowd offering their support and well-wishes to Bolt.

In a statement following the incident, Bolt expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying, "Thank you to everyone for your kind messages and support. I’m in good hands and will focus on my recovery. It’s a setback, but I’ll be back stronger."

Despite Bolt's injury, Soccer Aid 2024 successfully raised significant funds for UNICEF, continuing its mission to support children in need worldwide. Bolt’s involvement, even under such difficult circumstances, once again underscored his commitment to charitable causes and his enduring impact on the world of sports. (Sportsmax)

goal for us to come and be on top of the league.”

The second game of the night NATI having their first taste of victory as Upper Corentyne Combined (UCC) remained winless. NATI secured a 2-point victory, with the scoreline reading 52-50.

Aberone Collins was persistent as he managed to get the ball through the net to topscore with 23 points and he received support from Jerome Trim (14 points) and Timothy Rampersaud (11 points).

Lerone Joseph also contributed 13 points.

Quintyn Dexter did not miss out on the action for GSA, as he netted 14 points while Dennis Prince contributed 12 points and Omarion Sampson, 11. Grimmond, in giving an exclusive comment to Guyana Times Sport divulged the key to the team's unbeaten streak in the tournament.

Grimmond said, “Well, I mean we felt good at least the job is not done, but at least we got the win tonight, play great defence, especially offence. I think it is staying to get together as a team, playing as a team, communicating well; we didn’t fear anyone coming into the competition and that was the main

Fredrick Lashley continues to be pivotal in the UCC offence as he managed to topscore for his team with 16 points, while Adrian King scored 12 points and Aaron King and Aldon Angel contributed 10 points apiece.

With the final game of the night being decided from the threepoint line in the final seconds of the game, UG managed to prevail in a one-point victory over Government Technical Institute (GTI). Their opponents failed to score free throws which resulted in their demise 63-62.

With a phenomenal 34 points, Jushawn Bayley led UG’s offensive attack with his ability to manoeuvre. He was supported by

Malachi Grimmond, who scored 10 points, and Oroyo Trotman, who scored 7 points.

Also giving an exclusive comment to this publication was Bayley, who expounded that mental fortitude was the key to the win.

Bayley explained,

“Exhausted, man, tired gotta fight through it, we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, especially from the free throw line; we get them back in the transition line from the offence. All in all, it was a great game. Mindset, mentality, gotta stay in it , with all of the bad calls, good calls, we gotta stay in it.”

The tournament will continue next Sunday from 17:00h as the semi-finals are set to commence. (Omar Mckenzie)

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ExxonMobil U14 concludes exciting...

Led by an Ashante Scott hat-trick in the 2nd, 5th and 10th minutes, Bush Lot’s girls overcame Westminster Secondary 6-0. Moneta Fraser (29th, 33rd) registered a brace while Latisha Jack scored the 6th in the 27th minute.

Another five- goal haul came off the boots of Nerismar Williams (5th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 27th) as Bartica flattened Cotton Field by the same 6-0 margin. Keyls Williams (25th) scored Bartica’s other goal.

IAE needled Christ

FROM PAGE 23

Church’s girls on the back of a Tamera Fredericks strike in the 28th.

Then, goals from Rodlesa Collins (4th) and Serina Cox (6th) led East Ruimveldt and New Campbellville Secondary to a 1-1 draw.

Also in shared results, New Central High and New Amsterdam Secondary played to a stalemate.

The ExxonMobil U14 tournament will head into the Round of 16 this weekend at the same venue.

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The unbeaten Linden Technical Institute

The Jamaican sprint legend had to be stretchered off the field

Antigua Falcons announce new players; TKR rope in David, Roy

The newest Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise on the block has signed a trio of Pakistani stars alongside a number of regional powerhouses, as they build their squad for their debut season.

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have 12 confirmed players for the 2024 season and will have five spots to fill at the draft in July. They will feature Pakistani internationals Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman alongside other international signings Chris Green and Azmatullah Omarzai.

For the Caribbean players, Brandon King and Fabien Allen headline the list while the likes of Hayden Walsh Jr, Shamar Springer, Kelvin Pitman, Jewel Andrew, and Joshua James have been signed to the new franchise.

On the other hand, a majority of the Trinbago Knight Riders, the runner-up team from 2023, will make a return this year, in addition to two major international signings.

Explosive Australian batsman Tim David and England’s Jason Roy have been signed to TKR. While Ireland’s Josh Little, USA

international Ali Khan and Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil will return to the franchise this season.

Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Dwayne Bravo, Jayden Seales, Mark Deyal, Keacy Carty and Terrence Hinds are among the 15 players announced by TKR. As such, the Trinidadian franchise will have two emerging player spots to fill at the draft in July.

The Republic Bank CPL 2024 will bowl off in the home of the new franchise, with the Antigua Falcons taking on the St

ExxonMobil U14 concludes exciting group stage

The stakes were high on Saturday in the ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ Under-14 school football tournament, with a number of teams fighting to stay alive in the competition.

The day began with Chase’s Academic Foundation breaking Three Miles Secondary’s winning streak in a 3-2 encounter. Akeel Young netted a brace in the 6th and 15th minutes while Trevon Glasgow (12th) scored the other in Chase’s winning effort. On the losing side, Labron Mendonca (22nd) and Aaron King (24th) netted one apiece.

A 30th-minute Ayden Kench goal and an own goal in the 14th pushed Abram Zuil Secondary past St Joseph’s 2-1. Akel Sahaeo netted St Jospeh’s equaliser in the 26th minute.

A brace from Jadan Christian in the 3rd and 11th minutes and one from Garfield Jones in the 17th helped Bartica Secondary ease past East Ruimveldt’s boys in a 3-1 affair. Jadan Abrams netted East Ruimveldt’s lone goal in the 27th minute. Then, one each off the boots of Floyd Thomas, Nigel Sulker and Jadon Bourne in the 14th, 20th and 24th minute respectively helped Patentia

Secondary to a 3-0 defeat of New Campbellville. It was a fierce battle between VYC and Leonora Secondary, but the latter eventually prevailed 4-2. Keon Grant led with a brace in the 9th and 28th minutes, while Issiah Wilson (22nd) and Quincy Fraser (26th) were the goal scorers for Leonora. Tyre Liverpool (5th) and Casmir Thomas (30th) were on-target for VYC. School of the Nations edged Queen’s College 2-1, compliments of a brace from Emannuel Yakara in the 10th and 34th minutes, while QC’s only reply came from Javier Mendonca in the 10th.

Hope Secondary upset Waramuri Primary Top boys with a win by the same margin. Malachi Khan (12th) and Kenrick Pellew (30th) netted one each for Hope, while

Waramuri’s only goal came off the boots of Bradley Williams in the 18th.

A similar scoreline was also witnessed when Christ Church Secondary and President’s College met. Jadel Liverpool (7th, 28th) scored the double for Christ Church while Quaison Cooke found the back of the net in the 30th for PC’s consolation.

One strike each from Ramario Garraway (15th) and Elwyn Lewis (27th) spurred Brickdam Secondary to a 2-0 win over Charlestown Secondary.

A solitary strike from Jaquan Smith in the 19th minute made the difference between winners West Demerara Secondary and Bush Lot Secondary in a 1-0 affair.

The 2-2 draw between Bygeval and Carmel Secondary was a comedy of errors as both sides netted

own goals. Outside of that, Jefferson Rodriguez (31st) and Earl Lawrence (22nd) netted one each for the two schools, respectively.

The result was similar between Christianburg Wismar and Westminster Secondary. Shakell Waaldijk (11th) and Germine Garrett (28th) were the marksmen for Westminster while D’ Wayne Garraway (6th) and Pharez Noble (23rd) scored for the Linden side.

Meanwhile, an entertaining final game of the day saw Dolphin Secondary holding the dominant Santa Rosa Secondary to a 2-all draw. Kevin Norton (18th) and Shane James (23rd) were the goal scorers for Santa Rosa while Gowan Adams (16th) and Tyler Abrams (27th) netted once each for Dolphin.

New Amsterdam’s

Natan Henry opened the scoring in their clash with St John’s College in the fourth minute, but St John’s Jeremiah Williams levelled the scores in the 21st for a 1-all draw between the two.

In other games that didn’t have a clear result, New Central High and Cotton Field Secondary, Annandale and L’ Aventure Secondary, and Marian Academy and West Ruimveldt all played to a stalemate.

Over in the girls’ competition, the goals rained down like the weeks prior.

Santa Rosa Secondary, again, had a big win, pummelling Abram Zuil 9-0.

Veronica Chatta led with five goals in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 20th, and 29th minutes while Maria Atkinson (16th, 22nd) netted a brace and Anelisa Robinson scored one in the 28th.

Defending champions

Waramuri Primary Top downed Carmel Secondary 7-0, on the back of a team effort from Erika Harris (2nd, 16th, 25th); Darwina Boyal (5th); Nickisha Williams (14th, 27th) and Brentia Marks (29th). Another team effort saw Marian Academy drubbing Dolphin Secondary by the same margin. This time, Caitlin Larose opened the scoring in the first minute, followed by goals from Skyler DeNobrega (12th); Kaleigh Todd (11th, 30th); Ashely Walton (22nd); Ella Fernandes (24th) and Haley Haberkorn (28th).

One strike each from Arianna Stoby, Dalisa Joseph and Melissa Evans in the 20th, 25th and 28th minutes powered Three Miles Secondary to a 3-1 victory over Tucville Secondary. Cearra Glasgow had earlier opened the scoring for Tucville in the 10th minute.

President’s College later defeated Charity Secondary by the same margin, with a brace from Reyanna Gounga in the 25th and 28th minutes and one from Kimore Edwards in the 20th. Similarly, Emily Desilva netted Charity’s consolation early in the fourth minute.

Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Thursday, August 29 at 19:00h. On the other

hand, the Knight Riders get their campaign started on Saturday, August 31, also against the Patriots but at Warner Park, St Kitts from 19:00h.

The Trinbago Knight Riders retained the majority of their 2023 team

A look back at the ExxonMobil U14 action over the weekend