Guyana Times - Wednesday June 19, 2024.pdf

ERC records over 100 cases of hate speech for 2023 – launches campaign

Decomposed

32,000

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan inspecting the Guard of Honour during the opening of the June Session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes on Tuesday in New Amsterdam

Rainy season contributing to overly-saturated, unstable mining areas – GGMC cautions

The current rainy season is contributing to overly-saturated and unstable mining areas and as such, operators need to take extra precautions during this period.

This warning was issued on Tuesday by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in light of continued mining-related incidents, including fatalities.

The Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC issued a statement on Tuesday noting that in miners’ quest for financial gain and economic development, the importance of adequate safety measures should not, and must not, be overshadowed by the desire to achieve financial gain.

Specifically, the statement emphasised that special note must be taken of the fact that recent rainfall has contributed to hazardous conditions in mining

areas as they become oversaturated, and therein unstable.

This, the Ministry said, underscores the critical importance of stringent safety measures, and the requirement for more restraint and caution to be exercised to avoid accidents.

The GGMC said it remained committed to working with miners and providing guidance to improve safe mining practices, and a collaborative approach must be continued by all stakeholders, to sensitise and educate miners about the need for

safe mining practices.

Among these practices is the need for enhanced vigilance wherein there is continuous monitoring of the mining area and for operators and workers to be alert to changing conditions.

According to the GGMC, heavy rainfall can quickly alter the stability of mining slopes and faces. In this regard, the importance of regular site assessments was also underscored.

The statement outlined that operators should regularly conduct thorough assessments of mining sites,

especially after heavy rains, to identify and address potential hazards such as landslides, flooding, and erosion.

Miners were also reminded to ensure that all safety equipment was in proper working order and that all personnel were trained in its use. Additionally, they were encouraged to maintain open lines of communication with GGMC officers and other relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry contended that while focus was on mitigating risks during the ongoing rainy season, safety practices must be reinforced and maintained year-round, to prevent accidents and guard against the loss of lives.

Mining deaths

Guyana has recorded over five mining deaths for 2024, with the most recent incident claiming the life of dredge owner Timothy

Fraser, also known as the “Mineral Boss”.

Fraser died in a mining pit collapse at Arakaka, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini) on June 5.

While details regarding the incident are sketchy, Guyana Times was told that the miner’s body has since been retrieved from the site.

Four days prior, another miner was injured when a 17-foot pit wall collapsed at Matarkai. Nolan Leung was jetting inside the pit with a six-inch water pump near the wall when it gave way.

Leung was transported to the Port Kaituma District Hospital for treatment.

Just a week before this incident, another miner, Leon Lyken, lost his life at Frenchman Backdam in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). The 27-year-old from Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo

(EBE), was working with others when a section of the pit collapsed. Lyken was trapped by the debris while his colleagues managed to escape, though one sustained a broken foot and other injuries.

More than a month before Lyken’s death, 47-year-old Stephen Mark Samuels of Karwap Mission, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), died in a pit collapse at Puruni Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Samuels, who was employed by a Brazilian national, was working when the eastern wall of the pit caved in, burying him. His co-workers retrieved his lifeless body, and the Police, upon finding no signs of violence, transported it to the Puruni Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, June 19 –02:30h-04:00h and Thursday, June 20 – 03:00h-04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, June 19 –14:35h-16:05h and Thursday, June 20 – 15:25h-16:55h.

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, with sunshine in the mid to late afternoon. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 3.58 metres.

High Tide: 14:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 08:18h and 20:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.85 metre.

Proposals received for abandoned Troy Resources mining pit – Min Bharrat …says

TGovt hoping for local consortium to take over large-scale operation

he Government is in receipt of proposals from companies willing to take over the abandoned Troy Resources mining pit in Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), though it remains hopeful that a consortium of local miners can take over the large-scale operation.

This is according to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat when asked for an update by Guyana Times on the sidelines of a meeting with goldsmiths from across the country on Tuesday.

“We’ve had a few proposals that we’re looking at presently. They themselves have gone into the property and done some assessments on the plant and what exists there, and the resources that are available as well. But to date, we have not finalised any agreement with any investor.

“We’ve already had talks with [Guyana] Gold and Diamond Miners Association [GGDMA], to see if we can have a local consortium established, to engage in the large-scale operation at Troy Resources, which includes restarting the mill or processing plant, as well as mining from the main pits,” Bharrat said.

Earlier in his presentation, Bharrat had explained the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of former Troy Resources Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ken Nilsson had on Troy’s overall operations, to the point where the Australia-based company never recovered and subsequently left Guyana.

“We have medium-scale operators who have left the mining sector. and in contracting now. Those are some of the challenges we are faced with. And then, of course, Troy Resources closing down didn’t help the situation

either. Troy Resources would have closed down during the COVID period, mainly because of 1) the CEO who had a lot of interest in keeping Troy Resources going, he died of COVID. Almost the entire workforce at Troy had COVID. They had to shut down the operation. And it was difficult for them to recover from that. Today, we would have acquired that property. It’s back with the State. And we’re looking for investors to restart the operation,” Bharrat said.

The company did leave Guyana under a cloud, however, owing the State over $2.6 billion in royalties. This had prompted the Ministry of Legal Affairs to write the company a demand letter and to pursue legal means of recovering the monies owed. According to Bharrat, this process continues. In the meantime, local small miners have been issued permits to mine around the area, while the main pit is reserved for a largescale investor(s).

“I know that the AG [Attorney General] chambers is taking action. They have started the process to do this. The Ministry of Natural Resources, our task was to secure the property …which we have done.

And we’ve been policing and monitoring the property. We’ve issued 100 small property holdings to local miners. Today, we have local miners operating in that area and producing.

“But with regards to the liability, the AG office is taking steps. But the small-scale mining that is ongoing now, if I may add, is not from the main pits or the areas in and around the processing plants. We have reserved that area, in the interest of finding another investor, be it local or foreign investors.

Troy Resources had been operational in Guyana since 2015 and out of the 634,905 ounces of gold declared in 2019, Troy Resources, as one of Guyana’s largest gold producers, accounted for a large portion of it. The company had reported production figures of 58,118 ounces of gold from its Karouni, Region Seven mine for 2019. In 2018, its gold production figure was 70,207.

It had also been announced in 2021 that the company would be partnering with Barrick Gold Corporation, a Canadian company with operations around the world. Based on the joint venture, the company was supposed to explore for gold near the Karouni mining site in Region Seven.

All of that has since fallen through and following the company’s departure from Guyana last year, the Government – through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Police Force – had taken control of the Karouni mine.

In addition to failing to pay outstanding royalties, the Australian mining company had failed to pay rental fees as well as adhere to its environmental obligations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and work programme.

Moreover, a number of companies and sub-contractors were also owed millions by Troy. In fact, there were workers who are owed wages for extended periods, prompting the Labour Ministry to intervene.

It was further reported that Troy Resources had entered into receivership, the process whereby creditors sell off a company’s assets to recover monies owed.

The Government had said that Troy actually initiated this process, but due to poor site management, persons have been raiding the site and stealing equipment and materials. (G3)

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Tackling drug trafficking routes

The issue of drug trafficking is a significant concern for any nation, and Guyana, with its strategic geographic location and porous borders, faces a particularly daunting challenge. For many years, Guyana has grappled with the infiltration of illicit drugs and has been used as a transshipment point. Tackling drug trafficking routes in Guyana demands a multifaceted approach that combines robust law enforcement efforts, regional cooperation, socioeconomic development, and international partnerships.

Only on Tuesday, this publication reported that the Director of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh is participating in the sixth phase of the SEACOP project, which sets out to address the urgent need for intervention in drug trafficking routes from Latin America to Africa.

This conference has encompassed over 80 participants in Portugal. According to the media report, the SEACOP project initially targeted Senegal, Ghana, and Cape Verde, but subsequent phases expanded its scope to include the Caribbean and Latin America to counter the origin and transit of illicit substances effectively.

According to an article on iNews Guyana: “Over the next three years, the project will focus on supporting the fight against illicit maritime trafficking and associated criminal networks. The project is designed to enhance security, public health, and socio-economic development by mitigating the negative impacts of these illegal activities.”

Effective law enforcement is pivotal in combating drug trafficking and Guyana has bolstered its efforts in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and interdiction operations. This includes investing in modern technology for border monitoring, enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, and ensuring adequate training for personnel. Additionally, collaboration between different agencies such as the Police, customs, and coast guard are essential to creating a seamless approach to intercepting drug shipments and dismantling trafficking networks.

Given its location in the Caribbean basin and South America, Guyana shares borders with several countries, making regional cooperation indispensable. Strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries and regional organisations is crucial for information sharing, joint operations, and harmonising legal frameworks. By coordinating efforts, countries can more effectively disrupt transnational drug trafficking routes that traverse multiple jurisdictions.

In 2023, CANU seized approximately 1363.28 kilogram of narcotics, consisting of cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and hashish that had a total value of $461.5 million.

Cannabis has been the most confiscated drug, accounting for 94 per cent of the total narcotics seized for the year, with approximately 73 separate seizures amounting to 1287.88 kilograms.

In an interconnected world, international cooperation is indispensable in combating drug trafficking. Guyana should continue to engage with international partners, including the United States, European Union, and international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). These partnerships can provide technical assistance, financial support, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen Guyana’s ability to combat drug trafficking effectively.

Tackling drug trafficking routes in Guyana is a complex and multifaceted endeavour that requires a comprehensive strategy encompassing law enforcement, regional cooperation, socioeconomic development, and international partnerships.

By adopting a holistic approach and addressing both the supply and demand sides of the issue, Guyana can make significant strides towards reducing drug trafficking activities, enhancing security, and fostering sustainable development for its citizens. The commitment to this cause must be unwavering, and all stakeholders – Government agencies, civil society, and international partners – must collaborate closely to achieve meaningful and lasting results.

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Time to cash in on the coconut industry

Dear Editor,

There’s no doubt about it: the coconut culture runs deep across the Caribbean and South America. From coconut water to coconut milk, and from coconut cream to other by-products, even the husk is put to good use in making craft items, or for household purposes. Its importance is the reason for a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of St Lucia in developing the Coconut Value Chain.

Here, in Guyana, I think we are beginning to ‘get the drift’, and I am quite pleased that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government recently distributed some high-yield coconut plants to Pomeroon farmers. This means a major boost to the coconut industry in the Pomeroon River area of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha actually announced that Government would make available some 3000 high-yield coconut plants to local farmers. In the opening phase of this distribution, over 120 farmers each received 25 Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut plants, forming part of a larger project. And as we recall, the distribution is really

a follow-up on a commitment made six months ago with the aim of improving the quality and yield of coconuts in the Pomeroon area.

What we really need to grasp is that coconut is not just about a nice way to slake our thirst. In terms of commerce, the global coconut industry was worth a staggering $4,512 million in 2023 ($4.5B+), and is set to top $31 billion by 2026. The industry has seen a huge rate of growth, with growing demand from countries like the USA, UK, Germany and other European countries seeking coconut products from tropical climes; which means potential for the local industry, more so as the industry is expected to grow at a remarkable rate each year.

A huge plus is that coconut farming is not only highly lucrative and quite thriving in many countries, especially in Asia, Africa, and Europe; but overall, coconut plantations are actually good for local ecosystems. For example, they can stabilise the soil. Importantly, coconuts are vegan, and there is no harm to animals.

Guyana has the land space, and the soil and weather are quite accommodating, so this thrust from the Government is something to really capitalise on.

During the plant distri-

bution exercise, Minister Mustapha carefully highlighted that the Brazilian Green Dwarf variety is the way to go, as it would produce approximately 240 coconuts per tree annually. This represents a significant increase from Guyana's current 160 coconuts per tree. Adding more value to the actual numbers, the said variety produces a much higher water content, around 700750ml, compared to the 300350ml from local varieties.

This kind of proliferation in the numbers of nuts and quantity of water lends impetus to realising the dream of the sector, which is “…not only to enhance coconut production, but to revitalize the entire coconut industry in Guyana… (according to the Agri Minister). “This sector has the potential to be highly lucrative, and we have the potential to supply markets throughout the Caribbean,” the minister has said.

No wonder Mustapha, via his Ministry, has already imported over 60,000 high-yield coconuts from Brazil, and there are plans to import another 40,000 from Mexico. This is big, and such a large-scale investment means that the designated 6000 acres for coconut farming would be maximized.

Yours truly,

HB Singh

Guyanese-American artist Jerry Barry describing one of his paintings to the United States Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, during her recent visit to Guyana. A special exhibition had been arranged at Castellani House for

visiting official and her team

What is the Government's role in the oil and gas industry?

Dear Editor,

In recent times, in fact, I should say since the PPP/C Government has taken office, the Opposition has began a campaign to block all developmental projects in this country. At the top of the list is the Oil and Gas Industry which is a major source of revenue by the present government. There have been numerous high-level litigations by The Opposition and its suspect NGOs, with the clear understanding that they are going to be an obstacle in the way of anything developmental or

progressive. For their part, a brainless opposition poses no real threat to the government; however, these socalled NGOs believe that they can become a pesky, oppressive force, enough to bring down the government. I pause at this juncture to highlight the fact that these NGOs and associate trade unions do not act alone, most of them are financed and controlled by big multinational corporations or are simply aligned with the opposition. And Like I said, their combined effort, is to be a burdensome

noose around the government's neck, and to seek into avenues where they can slow down or stop a government's progressive movement. But we will not allow our country to be derailed by detractors and naysayers.

It also means that our justices ought to be keen on following worldwide trends as it relates to the menacing act of these organizations. Justices must be avid readers, and updated research fellows in oil and gas affairs. They can ill afford to have their courts highjacked by persons with ulterior motives

because an entire nation can be affected, and a country can either rise or fall in the circumstances.

Therefore, whenever cases of this nature comes up, the questions that should be asked are; who are you a representative of? On whose behalf are you pleading a case? If it's on behalf of The People of Guyana, then, where is a list of signatures of a representative sample of "The People" they claim to represent? Further, should the court rule in their favour, who should be the beneficiaries of the largesse, is it the people or

Market power in Guyana is not properly regulated

Dear Editor,

The free market operates best when there are no barriers to entry and exit, and its operation is characterized by large numbers of participants. When these conditions do not exist in an industry, regulation is necessary to prevent suppliers of that industry from usurping consumer surplus, an economic concept of excesses accruing from pricing of total demand instead of each individual demand incrementally; which, as the name implies, rightfully belongs to the consumer.

There are blatant cases of this occurring in Guyana, despite regulatory bodies being in place to prevent their occurrence. Let’s start with the airline industry.

This industry definitely needs to be regulated, as the barrier to entry is the high cost of capitalization for suppliers. It is quite similar to, say, the electric utility industry, which requires large and costly doses of capital to operate. Not many can afford to participate. But this industry escapes regulation. Consequently, the

fare to travel to, say, Barbados from Guyana is the same to travel to New York, as if distance is without cost.

But that is not enough for these greedy companies. After prices are established at already high levels, as reservations take place, the companies increase prices for the remaining seats: the confiscation of consumer surplus. In a case known to the writer, the price of a seat to a Caribbean destination increased by US$30 during the few minutes it took to complete the reservation.

But even when regulation exists, as in the banking industry, regulators don’t seem to un-

derstand their role. Part of the problem is the skillset of these regulators. One cannot regulate an industry without a sound understanding of price theory, or microeconomics; but that is not a requirement. Consequently, some industries, such as the banking industry, are allowed to set fees for services that have no bearing on their costs, prompting a former Finance Minister to complain about ATM withdrawal fees banks charge, which have depositors agonizing over the high fees to make an electronic transfer from one account to another within the same bank. For one bank, this fee

is $1,000 per transaction, and this is obviously “manufactured”, with no relationship to costs. Is this known to the regulator? And if not, why not?

When weak regulation exists, or no regulation at all, for industries with market power, consumers are ripped off. It is time that these industries be identified; placed under appropriate regulation, and by regulators who understand their roles and are competent to carry out their responsibilities. Stop unfairly enriching companies and their shareholders at the detriment of consumers.

Faithfully, Louis Holder

the organization? These are all pointed questions that should be asked of the justices who adjudicate in such matters.

In the present scenario, The Government of Guyana should have no say in the management of The Oil and Gas Industry, this is according to opposition sentiments. In their world, government should seek permission from those sources before moving forward; a fantastic way to gain relevance in any society.

Now, in the first place, contracts were signed between ExxonMobil and The Elected Government of Guyana, that's the law, and that's how the civilized world operates. Nowhere in that contract was there a clause that includes NGOs or the opposition. Hence it behooves us to pay heed to the government and not its detractors. We must focus on development and forward movement.

On the other hand, the role of the Elected Opposition is to bring their concerns, grouses, or what have you, to parliament for discussions, and table your motions for an educated debate. These concerns may include NGO concerns also, it would be a thesis, antitheses, and finally, a synthesis to come up with the way forward on major projects. Parliament is the acme forum for all government programmes, and for this selfsame reason we elect governments to manage our affairs every 5 years.

Finally, Guyanese are wiser now we can choose for ourselves the group of persons that have the wisdom to manage our economy. Let our elected government do its work unhindered.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

Page Foundation

How glaciers form and melt is a complex process that can be hard to understand, but you can make a simple re-creation at home with ice and soil.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A plastic container

A small tub or bin

Soil

Procedure

Fill a plastic container with water and freeze it. Grab a small tub or bin and fill it with dirt. Throw in some leaves or other garden debris. Put the bin outside in a sunny spot and prop it up so that it is on a slight incline. Place the frozen ice block in the bin at the top of the incline and let it sit. Depending on how hot it is, you can let it sit for several hours and observe as it starts to slip down to the bottom end, hopefully picking up some of the dirt along the way.

After it has slid down a bit, stick the whole bin back into the freezer and let it reset. Once it has refrozen, take it back outside and repeat the process. You can do this multiple times.

How has the ice changed as it melted and froze again. How has the dirt “landscape” changed as the ice moved across it. You can write down your findings in your scientific journal. (Adapted from tomsofmaine. com)

ERC records over 100 cases of hate speech for 2023 – launches campaign to eradicate phenomenon

Over 100 cases of hate speech were recorded by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in 20223, a grave issue that needs to be seriously addressed by all stakeholders.

This statistical information and plea for betterment for how persons are treated were revealed by ERC’s Deputy Chairman, Charles Ogle during Tuesday’s launch of the Countering Hate Speech campaign by the Commission.

According to Ogle, the Commission has taken significant strides in monitoring these cases.

“In the past year, the ERC has monitored and recorded over 134 instances of hate speech, with 103 violations based on race, seven on religion, and 24 other violations. The Commission has taken significant steps to address these violations through cautionary warnings, mediation, reconciliation and for severe cases, referral to the Guyana Police Force,” he revealed.

Additionally, Ogle emphasised the impor-

tance of unity throughout Guyana and the need to address hate speech to maintain peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the country as he outlined the ERC’s ongoing efforts.

“Addressing hate speech has been an ongoing effort at ERC.

Over the years, the Commission has established a Media Monitoring Unit and tracked violations based on ethnicity across television, radio, newspapers, and social media. The ERC concords with the UN findings, as social media notably emerges as the main platform for spreading hate speech.”

He acknowledged the challenges faced by society, by stating that persons in Guyana should truly be proud of Guyana’s rich diversity and its corresponding positive attributes.

He noted that historical legacies of colonialism, slavery, and indentureship have left deep scars within Guyana, resulting in ethnic tensions and political divides.

He said that through unanimity in Parliament, the ERC was established to address some of these challenges and, along with stakeholders, work towards building a more harmonious society.

Ogle also highlighted global trends and their relevance to Guyana.

“As our UN partner has noted, global trends indicate that xenophobia, racism, intolerance, discrimination, and anti-religious hatred are driving hate speech. In Guyana, hate speech primarily targets indi-

viduals based on ethnicity and race. The Ethnic Relations Commission, tasked with promoting harmony and good relations, finds it crucial to counter hate speech in our society.”

The Conquering Hate Speech campaign will ensure that people are conscious that freedom of expression comes with an important responsibility to be respectful, tolerant, and mindful of what we communi-

cate. The ERC team will be available to conduct awareness sessions upon request to address the issues apart from those already scheduled.

The countrywide campaign to tackle hate speech will be done in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The 2002 Amendment Racial Hostility Act 1964, Chapter 2301, makes it a criminal offence to excite hostility or ill-will against persons because of their race and prohibits incitement to racial hatred. This can include potent words, written or public.

In addition, the Broadcast Act of 2011 prohibits the use of racial, ethnic, or religious vilification of any individual or group by broadcasting operators. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, No 1 of 2001 also states that it is a criminal offence for any person to make, or publish, or cause to be made or published any statement or take any action that results in or can result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among people. These laws demonstrate Guyana’s significant efforts to deter hate speech.

The UN General Assembly has declared June 18, the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

The campaign was officially launched on Tuesday

ECD construction worker nabbed with ganja remanded to prison

Forty-one-year-old Wade Morrison, a construction worker of Haslington New Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Tuesday remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge.

Morrison appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court where the charge was read to him which stated that on June 14, 2024 at

Haslington, he had 895 grams of Cannabis.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until July 10, 2024.

Police stated that ranks acting on intelligence, proceeded to Haslington New Housing Scheme and observed a man standing in front of a yard holding a plastic bag. Upon seeing the ranks, the man allegedly attempted to flee into the

yard, but was quickly apprehended.

The plastic bag he was carrying was found to contain a compressed parcel and ten small transparent Ziplock bags with cannabis. He was told of the offence committed and cautioned. He was taken to the Cove and John Police Station, where the marijuana was weighed in his presence and amounted to 895 grams.

Duo charged for narcotics possession

Two men were brought before the courts on Tuesday where separate drug possession charges were read to them.

Police stated that 28-year-old Jamaine Josiah, a construction worker from Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arrested on June 14, 2024 with 907.2 grams of marijuana.

He appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate's Court and pleaded not guilty. As such, he was remanded to prison. In addition. Troy

Sertimer, a 50-yearold clothes vendor from Middle Walk, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to possession of narcotics.

Sertimer was arrested on June 17 with 26.9 grams of cannabis in his possession. He appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read and the fine imposed.

How’d we fight…

…corruption?

Dear Reader, your Eyewitness wanna ask the question frontally – and brutally: Is it possible to get rid of corruption in general, and in Government in particular?? And he’d like to give you his answer just as frontally and brutally – NO!! There ain’t no ifs and buts about this: corruption is endemic to the human condition. All of the religions are as one about this. Isn’t it written in Genesis, “God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth”??

At that time, the Big Guy boomed out from on high: “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth”!! Now, your Eyewitness doesn’t like that “solution”, since he doesn’t see no Noah building no ark; and he’d like to continue living, thank you!!

So, does this mean we gotta accept corruption?? Absolutely not!! Some people are also born with the urge to kill their fellow human beings; should we allow the Netanyahus of the world to get away with their cold-blooded genocide?? More to the point: we’re all born with the urge to either lay or get laid with whomever turns us on. Do we allow folks to bop others on the heads like the cavemen of yore, and drag women into their lairs to satisfy their urges?? No, siree Bob!! The thing is, we gotta establish rules of the game to control those tendencies that are detrimental to us living the good life.

So, back to corruption. The first thing we all gotta follow is your Eyewitness’s philosophy – as stated above – and assume EVERYONE’s out to screw you over! Is that supermarket selling you tuna?? Check the expiration date!! That contractor bidding for contracts?? Check out if he’s bribing the folks in charge of procurement. The gold exporter shipping gold to the Mid-East or whatever? Check out if he’s bribing the gatekeepers; and so on, and so forth.

And because corruption didn’t just drop from above in 2020, the Government can reasonably point out it started when Burnham was given “independence” by the West and they closed their eyes to his corruption. Yup!! They even accommodated and facilitated the corruption!!

Surely, they didn’t think that the corruption in rigging the votes to stay in power would be confined to just that narrow area?? Darn!! Right off the bat, thousands had to be corrupted to duck the real ballots cast – and write new ones!!

In this gold smuggling and other corruption, the question will be, “Who’ll guard the guardians??” And the answer is: facilitate whistle-blowing!! Let thief man watch thief man!!

…land shortage??

According to Pres Ali, we’re fast running out of coastlands, so we gotta come up with a plan to satisfy the insatiable demands created by his government’s developmental plans!! Well, to your Eyewitness, the solution’s pretty simple: just as the US invented the slogan “GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!!” when their original 13 East Coast colonies started getting crowded; we can do worse than follow their example! Not only is there gold out west – but the move would help checkmate Mad Maduro’s nasty ambitions to take over our Essequibo!!

Now, your Eyewitness is aware that the President warned against cutting down our interior forests - which we’re virtuously (smirk!) committed to preserving in order to help with climate change. But we know that out west ain’t all forest!! Wasn’t the land where Jim Jones set up his Cool Aid-dispensing outfit suitable for farming?

We just gotta build more roads and railways Ankoko way!!

…unequal framing?

In Israel’s genocidal killings in Gaza, we’re confronted initially by personalized stories of the Israelis killed, but never the Palestinians. Like Yahoo’s “mourning Manhattan mother whose free-spirited 26-year-old Israeli daughter was killed in Hamas’ brutal weekend rampage.” At best, we read that “35,091 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops since Oct 2023”!!

Remanded: Wade Morrison

Charged: Jamaine Josiah and Troy Sertimer

Local security officials join global talks on dismantling drug trade routes

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Andre Ally and the Director of the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU)

James Singh are participating in the sixth phase of the SEACOP project which sets out to address the urgent need for intervention in drug trafficking routes from Latin America to Africa.

This critical initiative commenced in 2010 and has now entered its latest phase, inaugurated on June 17, 2024. The event has brought together over 80 participants from both sides of the Atlantic, including high-level officials from more than 20 countries

across the Caribbean, Latin America, and West Africa. The assembly is being held in Portugal, alongside

European Union (EU) and international partners.

The SEACOP project initially targeted

America to counter the origin and transit of illicit activities effectively.

Over the next three years, the project will focus on supporting the fight against illicit maritime trafficking and associated crimi -

nal networks. The project is designed to enhance security, public health, and socio-economic development by mitigating the negative impacts of these illegal activities.

Senegal, Ghana, and Cape Verde, but subsequent phases expanded its scope to include the Caribbean and Latin

CANU’s Director, James Singh during a panel discussion

Govt looking to develop integrated D&I strategy through US$500,000 IRIS Project

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture, met with representatives from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) project on Tuesday to discuss a project aimed at developing a strategic sustainable integrated national drainage and irrigation system in Guyana.

Guyana is one of the first countries to implement the grant-funded project, which was designed to support the Ministry of Agriculture in developing an integrated strategy for drainage and irrigation for the period 2025-2030.

The project is being implemented by IRIS through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Infrastructure

Resilience Accelerator Fund with financial support from the Governments of India, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to the tune of US$499,989.

While speaking with those in attendance, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the project was designed to align with the Low Carbon Development

Strategy 2030 and enable inter-ministerial collaboration on drainage and irrigation, and flood management efforts.

“The Government of Guyana’s development of its low-carbon and climate-resilient trajectory has recognised adaptation and flood management as critical to Guyana and its citizens and continues to make significant invest-

forts to move the food production system forward in keeping with Caricom’s Vision 25 by 2025 objectives to reduce Guyana’s food import by 25 per cent by 2025.

ments in capital and other works to support integrated sustainable solutions for drainage and irrigation. This project is hoped to support and complement the investment the Government is making. GGGI’s support to help NDIA [National Drainage and Irrigation Authority] integrate nature-based solutions into protecting Guyana’s coastal assets and communities is appreciated at this time with the kind financial support of the IRIS and the CDRI,” he explained.

He also said that while the project is geared towards developing a strategic sustainable integrated national drainage and irrigation system in Guyana, it will also complement ef-

Among the five objectives, the project seeks to support the NDIA in the development and publication of an updated Integrated Strategy for Drainage and Irrigation (ISDI) and to enable asset monitoring and data collection systems that help the drainage authority to implement its ISDI and prioritise nature-based solutions and social inclusion in D&I systems.

NDIA Chairman Lionel Wordsworth related that the flooding Guyana experienced in 2005 exposed the vulnerabilities of the country’s coast. This, he added, led to subsequent infrastructure interventions such as the Hope Canal which proved critical and immensely valuable in recent years.

The NDIA Chairman also said that through funding from the Government of Guyana, the Authority is currently working to develop drainage interventions similar to that of the Hope Canal in other regions along the coast.

Project Manager Ronald Cumberbatch also noted that a strategy is currently being developed in collaboration with the NDIA and other stakeholders. This strategy, which serves as a critical component of the project, will be completed by the end of 2024. The technical studies and data collection activities that will provide the information to formulate the strategy have commenced.

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026, will also enable the Ministry to fulfil its objectives within the LCDS 2030 and offer national strategic leadership in agricultural production and flood management. It will also facilitate capacity building for engineers attached to the NDIA.

CDRI comprises 39 member countries and seven international institutions and provides technical support to projects being implemented with its funding. The second call for submission of project proposals was launched by CDRI at the 4th International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda. The deadline for submission is the end of August 2024.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha along with officials from the NDIA, Ministry of Agriculture, IRIS and GGGI

32,000 flood-affected farmers benefit from agricultural inputs

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) are working with Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) countrywide to bring relief to farmers who lost cash crops due to severe flooding.

According to assessments conducted by the CDC, lucrative crops in over 100 farms in Itaballi and Eteringbang in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Monkey Mountain, Chenapau, Taruka and Kopinang Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and other communities in Regions Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were washed away due to heavy rainfall and storm-like weather.

Additionally, high winds also partially damaged several homes in Rockstone,

Region Ten, the occupants have since relocated with relatives.

In an interview with this publication, NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jagnarine Singh disclosed that fertiliser, seedlings, planting materials, and other agricultural contributions have been made available to some 32,000 farmers in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Five (MahaicaBerbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)

and Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice) to go back to the crop.

Singh explained that the items were provided to the various Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) and are being distributed to farmers assessments of the damage to lands are documented.

He noted that the provision of agricultural inputs is part of mitigation measures aimed at ensuring that farmers can recommence cultivation when the water level recedes.

“Right across Guyana, that's a programme for NAREI, under the Ministry of Agriculture, under the blessing of the Minister of Agriculture we are supporting farmers across the country… And I think based on the record, we've got about 32,000 of them,” the CEO disclosed.

Singh added that the distribution of agricultural inputs will continue until all the farmers countrywide return to farming, which will be reflected in records.

“So, all over, they're asking for plants, planting materials, fertilizers, small tools, all over… Everyone that comes forward, we have to talk to them and give them something,” he added.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said it will continue working with Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) to assist persons affected by providing them with cleaning and food hampers, mosquito nets, and buckets, as they await a recession of the flood

waters.

In fact, since the commencement of the May/June rainy season, CDC has distributed over 800 hampers countrywide.

Precautions

In April, farmers and other large-scale companies in the agriculture sector were advised to plan as an unusual weather forecast was predicted for the May/ June period. On Monday, the CDC reported that over 100 farms remain underwater as well as hundreds of residents were forced to higher grounds.

Chief Hydrometeorological Officer (CHO) Dr Garvin Cummings has disclosed that farmers countrywide were asked to harvest drought-tolerant crops early, collect water from trenches and conservancies as well as clear drains and other waterways to assist in flood mitigation.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

All attention now turned to the congresses of the PNC and AFC – get ready for drama

AThousands to benefit as Govt launches eye-testing, spectacles programme

Ts June 2024 gallops to an end, attention is rivetted on the PNC and the AFC. Both parties are holding their congress at the end of the month. In the case of the PNC, they are holding a three-day affair. In the case of the AFC, they are holding a one-day affair. Leading up to the congress, so far, there has been drama of the negative kind for both parties. There are allegations and counter-allegations of skullduggery in the nomination process and the roster of eligible members. For political parties that carry the rigging DNA like an albatross around their necks similar to the Ancient Mariner, one would have thought they would try to conduct themselves in a manner above board, with no one able to point fingers at them. But the fingers are already being pointed, and neither party needs anyone from outside to do the finger-pointing; it's coming like a tsunami from within.

But no kind of election in the PNC and now the AFC would ever be without suspicion. After all, both of these parties were part of the massive efforts to rig the results of Election 2020, and both played a pivotal role in delaying for five long months the swearing-in of the new president and the new Government. Both parties played a role in violating the constitution, when they refused to accept the No-Confidence Motion and delayed constitutionally mandated elections for almost one year.

But this is recent history. The fact is that the PNC, for their whole history, have shown an inability to conduct an election -- whether it is partyelection or national election -- without rigging. The PNC’s rigging prowess, unfortunately, is contagious.

When the AFC joined the PNC, the rigging bug became part and parcel of their being. Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, who were victims of PNC rigging when they were members of the PPP, and who have a history of railing against PNC rigging, themselves became masters of the art of rigging when the AFC became immersed in the PNC, between 2015 and 2020.

Between March 2020 and August 2020, they sold their souls and became baptized as election riggers by going along with the PNC-led rigging machinery. They even joined in making up the weirdest of stories. In Ramjattan’s case, the man spoke of the Russians who came to “hack the election machinery” for the PPP, trying to outdo Nagamootoo’s “half-bottle and quarter-bottle rum” story.

Today, the contestants for the PNC leadership are in a tense, ugly tussle, accusing each other of skullduggery. Aubrey Norton, the present leader, appointed himself as the coordinator of the Congress to be held at the end of this month. The General Secretary of the PNC has all but admitted that she is not in control of the list of electors. The computer CPU disappeared for a while. None of the contestants other than Norton has confidence that the list would be a legitimate one. All of them except Norton believe the list would be contaminated and skewed to ensure Aubrey Norton is returned as the PNC Leader.

It is unfathomable that 218 party groups have nominated persons for leadership and other positions in the executive, although the list of eligible members is still a “work in progress”, perhaps ready only the day before the elections. It is therefore even more unfathomable that Norton got 177 of these groups to nominate him. But this means also that, in spite of the machinations, almost 20% of the groups have nominated someone other than the incumbent to be leader.

Some of the contenders are even alleging that new groups have sprouted overnight, and that all these new groups have nominated Aubrey Norton. The irony is that not even staunch party members have any confidence that the party is capable of conducting a free and fair internal election. How then can any citizen ever trust the PNC to conduct free and fair national elections?

It is in this context that we can recall people saying in 2011 and 2015 that the PNC, after so many years of rigging, must have changed and must have metamorphosed like a caterpillar into a butterfly, and therefore should be given a chance. They were given a chance in 2015, and in 2020 they proved correct the mantra that a “tiger cannot change its stripes” when they desperately tried to steal the election, falling back into their natural habitat of election riggers.

The AFC promised, in their formation before the 2006 elections, that they would bring a new political culture to Guyana. But when they joined the PNC, the rigging bug was too strong for their weak belly, and the rigging bug took hold of their belly. They morphed into a part of the PNC. Ramjattan was not shocked when the AFC became inseparable from the PNC; he had warned that it would happen, and that the AFC would become “dead meat”. In deciding he would not run for leadership at their congress at the end of June, Ramjattan has conceded that the AFC is “dead meat”.

As Guyanese begin to turn their attention to Election 2025, they are watching the PNC and the AFC. Nothing, so far in the preparation by the two parties for their congresses at the end of the month, brings assurances or any hope that these political parties are legitimate and genuine “governmentsin-waiting”. Both parties demonstrate visibly to the public that they are not yet ready.

One thing is for sure: the negative drama that would inevitably occur would not shock any person. Watch out for the drama to come. It is early yet, but the events at the end of June would convince the Guyanese people that, in November 2025, only one man, Dr. Irfaan Ali; and only one party, the PPP, would stand tall in Election 2025.

he government has officially launched its eye-testing and spectacles programme which will benefit thousands of vulnerable individuals on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The programme will see these individuals accessing financial assistance from the government to get their eyes tested and outfitted with the required spectacles.

Individuals under 18 years of age, and those over 65, will receive a $2,000 voucher for an eye test. If they require a spectacle, they will receive a $15,000 voucher.

One recipient, Rajdai Ramjall expressed relief at this intervention as she can now get eye care.

“I feel happy I collected a voucher to test my eyes, and I am so thankful to the government of Guyana,” she told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Another beneficiary, the Supervisor at the Byers Senior Citizens’ Home, Edith Best commended the government’s proactive approach to healthcare.

She added that she is grateful to have this level of attention being paid to senior citizen’s well-being.

“I am well pleased to collect these vouchers for the residents here. We acknowledge the Ministry of Health that they are taking so much interest in the senior citizens in the homes,” Best expressed.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that this programme forms part of the government’s holistic approach to healthcare. He said this aimed at preventative measures.

“What we want to do here is a comprehensive eye care programme, starting with screening for prevention at the younger age, and even if we find something, we will fix it, and as you grow older, we will have programmes in between so that we can address whatever problems we are finding at different age ranges,” he said.

The Minister reminded everyone that the government aims to offer 115

different interventions at the primary healthcare level.

He emphasised the importance of engaging the private sector to ensure that more individuals can access these services.

“We recognise that while we have capacity in the Ministry of Health, we would not be able to screen so many people at one time with our facilities. So, we have enlisted the help of the private sector and we have had some meetings with the private sector, all those who are licensed to be able to do screening. We have done that evaluation of them,” he said.

Last week, the health ministry signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with several private healthcare providers for this, and the Cervical Cancer Screening Programme.

These eyecare vouchers are valid at Da Silva’s Optical, Miracle

Vision Care, Regina’s Optical, Courts Optical, Optique Vision Care, Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, Doobay-Gafoor Medical & Research Centre, Eye Max Optical, Bhagwan’s Optical, Optical Works, Mings Optical and Eye Care Guyana, among other facilities.

Minister Anthony said that while many of these facilities are based in Georgetown, several have affiliate branches in different regions.

He stated that they would be travelling to the various regions to provide screening services where they are not available.

“This is not just a Georgetown programme. It is for the whole country. So, we are making sure that we provide the vouchers to people, and we also want to make sure that the providers are there to do the test,” he asserted.

Recognising the number of conditions that can affect one’s eyes, including myopia, glaucoma

and cataracts, the minister underscored the importance of regular eye exams.

Through this programme, the ministry also hopes to identify more persons who need optical operations so they can be provided with much-needed assistance.

“We have a separate programme that the ministry is running where, if you have a cataract, then we can work with you. We will put you on a list, then we’ll bring you in and make sure that you can get the surgery,” Minister Anthony explained.

Some $840 million has been earmarked in the national budget for the eye tests, while $995 million was set aside to subsidise spectacles cost.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Sonia Parag, private sector representatives and other stakeholders were present at the launch.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Govt pumps $489M for rehabilitation of vital infrastructure in Kwakwani

Thousands of residents and commuters of Kwakwani Region Ten are slated to benefit from critical infrastructural upgrades valued at a sum of $489 million.

These infrastructural works aim to bolster connectivity and accessibility in the mining and logging community.

The announcement was made by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, during

the inspection of the Kwakwani barge last Thursday.

“We came and we sat with the NDC and allotted $200 million and we walk with them, found out what are their priorities and we delivered on every one of those roads we committed to. Now in 2024, we are doing another $489 million in road works.”

This will see works being undertaken on the Kwakwani Waterfront

Road by Jemcorp Engineering and Imports in rigid pavement concrete to the tune of $225.6 million.

Spanning some 1000 meters in length and 6.1 meters in width, the six-month project commenced on June 14 is expected to be completed by December 14.

Continuation works are also being executed on the Orealla to Kwakwani road project. Orin’s Supreme Enterprise is foregoing this massive project to the tune of $181.8 million spanning 20 kilometers in length and 7.62 meters in width. The project has a similar timeline of six-months and is expected to be completed by December 14.

Additionally, Minister Edghill noted that the road linking project is in its fourth phase and once completed, will reduce the travel time for persons transporting goods and services as well as those in forestry that have concessions in these far-flung areas.

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill inspecting the work programme for Kwakwani

Over 30 Reg 7 officials benefit from PPC’s training session

OAttendees also included procurement staff, personnel from multiple regional and municipal departments such as accounts, procurement, planning, and health, as well as representatives from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The training session covered a diverse

ver 30 participants from various sectors in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) were part of a comprehensive training session on June 14, 2024, at Bartica Learning and Resource Centre organised by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) aimed at improving procurement practices and promoting accountability. The training session included members of the Regional Executive Office (REO), Regional Tender Board, evaluators, engineers, and Town Council members.

range of topics relevant to the commission’s operations and the procurement process including the Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities; the legislative framework, administrative review and debarment Process; the public procurement process; the procurement plan preparation; threshold and tender openings and the evaluation process.

Participants and members of the PPC during the training session

Teachers’ strike

MoE still mulling final mediation terms

– to present to Labour Ministry

Today marks nine days since Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine last facilitated talks for the third time between officials from the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).

During the meeting held on June 10, both parties were once again unable to come to a mutual agreement on the terms of the resumption of the nationwide teacher’s strike.

However, given that the Education Ministry and GTU both signalled interest in ending the ongoing strike, it was agreed that the Ministry on behalf of the Government would map out the way forward and later communicate the same to the Labour Ministry to mediate a final meeting.

This could result in teachers returning to classrooms sooner.

However, during an in-

terview with the Guyana Times, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton disclosed that his ministry has not engaged the Education Ministry since the last meeting (June 10).

“We have no new information other than the meeting ending with the Ministry of Education saying that they will return back or they will speak to the GTU about their proposal” Minister Hamilton said.

On the other hand, General Secretary of the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) Coretta McDonald in an invited comment stated that the union is still prepared to pursue national arbitration if talks fail for a third time.

On this point, she noted that the nationwide teacher’s strike continues.

“Well, we can only say that the Ministry of Education and by extension, the government, are not in-

terested in the education of our children. They are not interested in the welfare of our teachers. And the ordinary people in this country simply don't mean anything to this government because of the way they're operating,” she contended.

Efforts to contact ministry officials have proved futile.

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 for 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 regarding the timeframe for the payment period for sal-

ary increases.

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 Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton recuse himself from the negotiations process.

Before 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 oper-

ations, 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 lockout or any other form of interference by the ministry.

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 previous strike.

The High Court had also ruled against the 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 salary increases for the period December 2019 to 2023 but instead was ready to do so for a multi-year agreement starting 2024.

Executive members of the GTU at the last meeting

Convicted Berbice drug trafficker found murdered, 5 arrested

The lifeless body of 28-year-old Tyrone France was found along the parapet at Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice (EBB) on Monday.

At the time of his discovery, several marks of violence were found on the body leaving detectives to work on the theory that he might have been murdered. As such at least five persons have since been arrested and are being interrogated in connection with the murder.

Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus after the discovery, told media operatives that at the time, the man

was only clad in a pair of three-quarter pants.

He stated that based on preliminary reports, France attended a barb-que in the company of three others. A family member at the scene stated that based on the injuries, France was struck with a blunt object.

“Whether it is a cutlass or a piece of wood,

something was used. From the post mortem which we have not conducted as yet, we will get a report and that would ascertain what type of wound whether is a cutlass or a blunt object or any other object that was used,” he said.

According to the Commander, initial investigations led to the arrest of three persons but it is still an active investigation.

“On that morning three persons who were imbibing with the victim at the time were taken into custody and additionally this morning [Tuesday] based on intelligence gathering two persons were also taken into police cus-

The area where the body was found

tody as the investigations continue. There is a primary and a secondary scene. The location where they were imbibing, they moved from there including the vic-

Local security officials join...

In November 2016, Guyana joined 26 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Seaport Cooperation Programme (SEACOP), aimed at training and equipping inter-agency units to identify search and interdict all forms of maritime trafficking.

The MoU was signed by the Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and the Head of the European, Jernej Videtic.

The main objective of the initiative was to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies in monitoring maritime trafficking and detecting illicit cargo on board vessels. Access to databases and regional and inter-regional networks of partners is designed to move law enforcement towards an intelligence-led approach that will reduce the trafficking of cocaine.

and Home Affairs Ministry, PS Andre Ally at the event in Portugal

The first SEACOP specialised event in Guyana was held in March 2017 which saw the participation of nine law enforcement officials from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). However, this initiative was quashed by the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government. It was, however, resuscitated following the return of the People’s Progressive Party/Civil returned to office in 2020, August. Since then, there have been several meetings with law enforcement bodies but this is the first time, the Home Affairs Ministry was invited. During the meeting in Portugal, the Ministry’s permanent secretary is representing the policy aspect while Singh deals with law enforcement.

The ministry’s presence is an indication that the Government of Guyana is committed to combatting drug trafficking. Over the years, millions of dollars have been pumped into law enforcement bodies CANU, to fight drug trafficking.

The budgetary allocations have undoubtedly led to the success of CANU.

In fact, CANU stated that approximately 1363.28 kilograms of narcotics were seized in 2023, and Cannabis sativa (ganja) accounted for 94 percent of the total seizure.

Statistics provided by the agency showed that, in the course of 73 sepa-

rate operations, 1,287 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from 74 seizures.

From 18 operations conducted, 75.17 kilograms of cocaine were seized. Ecstasy and hashish seized accounted for respectively 0.12kg and 0.10kg, and they came from four operations.

During the period under review, drugs confiscated by CANU carried a local street value of approximately $461.5 million. The narcotics seized for the period consisted of $75.1 million in cocaine and $386.3 million in cannabis.

A disaggregation of the data showed a total of 80 persons were arrested, comprising 70 males and 10 females. Some 54 persons were charged, and 47 convictions were secured. Of these arrested, 38 persons were predominantly within the 30-50 age bracket, while 33 were in the age bracket of 18-30 years.

In addition, for the first three months of 2024, a startling 1.1 tonnes of marijuana and over 75 kilograms of cocaine from various operations across the country were intercepted. A majority of the marijuana is from the Andean region of South America which includes Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

tim and it is believed that the incident would have taken place at the primary and then it moved to the secondary location where the victim’s body would have been found there.”

France was previously convicted and imprisoned for narcotics

possession and was on the police’s radar for other incidents. He was recently put out of his home by his mother as his company and activities were not approved by other family members.

Police are continuing their investigations.

Over 30 Reg 7...

Training sessions were already held in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. Feedback from Region Seven emphasises the significant value and impact of these sessions, reinforcing the Public Procurement Commission's (PPC) dedication to improving procurement practices throughout all regions.

This initiative is crucial in ensuring standardised, transparent, and efficient procurement processes across the country, thereby fostering greater accountability and better resource management.

Looking ahead, the PPC is poised to extend

FROM PAGE 17

similar training programs to Regions 1, 8, and 9 in the upcoming weeks, which will complete coverage across all ten administrative regions. By equipping stakeholders with the requisite knowledge and skills, the PPC aims to cultivate a transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement ecosystem conducive to sustainable development in Guyana.

The objective of these training sessions is to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective entities.

Govt pumps $489M...

Persons blasting quarries at Orealla will also be able to utilise the thoroughfare to transport and sell their aggregates at the market.

Internal thoroughfares and drainage works are also set to be rehabilitated by VG Group Guyana Incorporated. This will see the road between Kwakwani and Hururu being upgraded for easier accessibility for commuters particularly, school children.

FROM PAGE 16

The works are valued at $82.2 million and is being executed in asphalt spanning 600 meters in length and 6.1 meters in width. The project duration is four months with works set to be completed by October 14.

According to the minister, the magnitude of infrastructural works in the sub-region is for the benefit of the people as well as the economic development of the region.

CANU’s Director, James Singh

Dead: Tyrone France

Decomposed body of 61-year-old man found in East Canje house

The decomposed body of a male was on Monday found in a house at Ordinance Fortland Scheme, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

According to reports received, police received an anonymous call at around 18:15h on the day in question, informing them of a foul smell emanating from a house in the community.

As such, a team was dispatched to the area where the body which was in an advanced state of decomposition was found in a chair.

The house in which the body was found

51 murder trials listed as June session of Berbice Criminal Assizes opens

The June sessions of the Berbice Criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday with some 62 cases for various offenses slated to be heard.

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Patrick Crawford, while presenting the Goal delivery revealed that 51 inmates are awaiting murder trials, five for attempted murder, and six are awaiting trial for matters related to sexual activities against children.

According to a resident, the owner of the building lived in the up-

The deceased was subsequently identified as 60-year-old Gandela Babulall, who was last seen alive some five days ago. Residents stated that Babulall would normally have friends over and they would consume alcohol.

per flat but had been away for the past three days. The body was taken to the New Amsterdam Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Miner charged with murder 3 years later

Twenty-seven-yearold Keron David also known as “Chiney”, a miner from Falls Top, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini) was on Tuesday charged with the offence of murder which occurred three years ago.

Charged: Keron David

He was accused of murdering 22-year-old Royston Frank between November 6 and 7, 2021,

Annandale

at Big Creek Landing, NWD.

David, who had been on the run since the incident, was arrested on June 15. Soon after his arrest, he was charged with murder but appeared virtually before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

David was not required to plea and was remanded to prison.

youth gets bail on rape charge

Twenty-one-yearold Elijah Adams, from Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Tuesday granted $120,000 bail by Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a rape charge. Adams was reported in July 2023 and was being investigated for the offence of ‘Rape of a

Child under 16 years’.

He nevertheless, appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate Court on Tuesday where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plea to the indictment but was granted bail.

The matter was adjourned to June 27, 2024. Rape accused: Elijah Adams

Thirty-four of the prisoners awaiting trial are between the ages of 21 and 30 years old.

Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall is expected to preside over the Criminal session, which will run until October. Meanwhile, on Tuesday the February session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes formally closed.

During that session with 104 cases listed, State prosecutor Attorney-at-law Cicelia Corbin presented eleven matters before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry who sat from May.

Six were for sexually related offenses, three for attempted murder with alternative counts of unlawful wounding,

felonious wounding, and wounding with intent. One matter was also presented to the Judge for manslaughter and another for abduction.

The session also saw a case being put before the judge for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

In four matters presented to the court by the prosecution, the accused were acquitted by jury verdicts of not guilty.

In two separate matters, the accused were found guilty by the jury and are currently awaiting sentencing while in two other matters, the accused pleaded guilty. Their sentences have been deferred.

Meanwhile, in three other matters present-

ed during the February session, the trial judge directed the juries to return formal verdicts of not guilty; in two of these, the complainants testified they did not wish to proceed with their evidence, while the trial Judge upheld a nocase submission in the other.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) entered nolle prosequi [a formal notice of abandonment by a plaintiff or prosecutor indicating that they will proceed no further in an action or suit] in nine matters; in one case the accused died while the complainants in the others submitted written states that they did not wish to proceed with their matters.

Man gets 9 months for stealing aerated drinks, music box from church

Aconstruction worker was on Tuesday sentenced to nine months imprisonment for stealing a quantity of Malta, aerated drinks, and a music box from the Good News Fellowship Full Gospel Church in Bartica.

Mario Singh, 37, admitted to stealing four

cases of Malta; three cases of Thrill soft drink and one music box after breaking into the church over the weekend.

He appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty and was given the prison sentence.

A Police band during the parade on Tuesday

Jailed: Mario Singh

Windies Women’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024: ODI#2 of 3…

Sri Lanka take unassailable 2-0 lead

Vishmi Gunaratne's half century and Kavisha Dilhari's starring with bat and ball have secured a five-wicket win for Sri Lanka in the second ODI against West Indies in Hambantota. With the win, Sri Lanka have secured a series victory, as they have gone 2-0 up with a game to go. It is Sri Lanka's first series win against the West Indies since 2008.

Having been set a target of just 93, Gunaratne's run-a-ball 50 broke the spine of the chase on a sluggish Sooriyawewa surface in a particularly impressive performance, as it followed the early dismissals of both Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama inside the first 10 overs.

With Dilhari (28 off 38) for company, Gunaratne made it seem as if she was batting on a different surface to the rest, as she plundered nine fours and

GFF

T– as Dilhari, Gunaratne shine

a six in her innings. West Indies, as a whole, had hit only 13 boundaries. When Gunaratne fell in mistiming a full-toss to midoff, Sri Lanka needed just 14 more for victory. Karishma Ramharack grabbed the wickets of Hasini Perera and Dilhari shortly after, to finish with innings’ best figures of 2 for 29, but there would be no late jitters, as Sri Lanka sauntered to vic-

tory with 172 balls to spare.

It was a win set up by the bowlers, particularly the spinners. Dilhari's figures of 4 for 20 were the best of the innings, but she was ably supported by the left-arm orthodox pairing of Sachini Nisansala and Sugandika Kumari, who maintained the pressure from the other end.

For their part, the visitors struggled to turn over

the strike effectively, and had an alarming number of dots played out through the innings. Of their total, 52 runs came in boundaries, and just 40 from running between wickets, despite their batting out 31 overs.

Rashada Williams showed patience at the top of the order with a 62-ball 24, but was cleaned up by a Kumari arm ball. The pace pairing of Udeshika Prabodhani and Achini Kulasuriya were also miserly at the start of the innings, with the latter being rewarded for a seven-over opening spell with the two wickets - the pinpoint yorker arrowed in on leg stump to Shermaine Campbelle being a particular highlight.

After the West Indies had stumbled to 54 for 6, Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher opted for an aggressive approach, and it worked briefly. Their 28-run seventh-wicket stand came at better than a-run-a-ball,

West Indies Women (50 ovs maximum)

Rashada Williams †

b Kumari 24

Shabika Gajnabi run out (Dilhari) 0

Shemaine Campbelle (c)

b Kulasuriya 9

Stafanie Taylor lbw

b Kulasuriya 1

Chedean Nation c Kulasuriya

b Dilhari 12

Chinelle Henry c Silva

b Dilhari 7

Aaliyah Alleyne

b Athapaththu 16

Afy Fletcher lbw

b Dilhari 16

Zaida James lbw

b Athapaththu 5

Karishma Ramharack not out 2

Shamilia Connell

c & b Dilhari 0 Extras 0

TOTAL 31 Ov (RR: 2.96) 92

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Shabika Gajnabi, 2.4 ov), 2-16 (Shemaine Campbelle, 8.2 ov), 3-22 (Stafanie Taylor, 12.2 ov), 4-46 (Rashada Williams, 19.3 ov), 5-53 (Chinelle Henry, 22.1 ov), 6-54 (Chedean Nation, 22.6 ov), 7-82 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 27.1 ov), 8-90 (Zaida James, 29.2 ov), 9-92 (Afy Fletcher, 30.5 ov), 1092 (Shamilia Connell, 30.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Achini Kulasuriya 7-1-16-2 Udeshika Prabodhani 5-0-5-0

but was snuffed out when Alleyne missed a straight one from Aththapathu. Fletcher was the penul-

Sugandika Kumari 6-0-16-1

Sachini Nisansala 5-0-27-0

Kavisha Dilhari 6-0-20-4

Chamari Athapaththu 2-0-8-2

Sri Lanka Women (T: 93 runs from 50 ovs)

Vishmi Gunaratne c Henry

b Zaida James 50

Chamari Athapaththu (c) b Alleyne 1

Harshitha Samarawickrama c Nation b Connell 0

Kavisha Dilhari c Henry

b Ramharack 28 Hasini Perera b Ramharack 1

Nilakshika Silva not out 6 Anushka Sanjeewani † not out 2 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL 21.2 Ov (RR: 4.35) 93/5 Did not bat: Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sachini Nisansala Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Chamari Athapaththu, 2.6 ov), 2-21 (Harshitha Samarawickrama, 5.4 ov), 3-79

timate wicket to fall, lbw off Dilhari, who wrapped up the innings a ball later. (ESPNCricinfo)

hosts inaugural student-referee training

he Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s)

Referees Department held its inaugural student-referee field training session on Saturday, June 15, at Queen’s College Sports Ground in Georgetown, and seven student-athletes representing various schools participated in the activity.

The training, which took place in the ongoing Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls' National Secondary Schools Championship, saw five girls from President’s College: Alicia Raymond, Beyonce Bennett, Serendi Xavier, Danelle Fredricks and Jenel Bellarmine; along with two boys from Queen’s College: Matthew Persaud and Darren Graham, participating in a refereeing fitness session and drills. All these participants were between the ages of 14 and 16 years old.

This initiative forms a key component of the FIFA FOOTBALL for School (F4S) programme -- a collaboration among FIFA, the GFF, and the Ministry of Education.

Participants are all active footballers for their respective schools, but have embraced the referee training programme to enhance their knowledge of the game and skills for the future. The session was con-

ducted by Lenval Peart, Head of the Referees Department, with assistance from Fitness Instructor Tyrone Tyrrell. Peart has said he is satisfied with the group's active participation and their dedication to gaining a broader perspective of the game.

"Our first student-referee programme is off to a great start, even with the rain. The participants showed great enthusiasm. We focused on fitness, and introduced them to match fundamentals. They interacted well and responded positively to instructions," Peart shared. "I was absolutely pleased to see so many young women showing an interest in the game

from the refereeing perspective," he added.

Beyonce Bennette of President's College has said she loves football, and found the session enjoyable because it gave her a new perspective on the game. "As a referee, you must always watch the infield," she cautioned.

Dellon Graham of Queen's College has said he is always ready to learn new things. "And since I like playing football, why not join the refereeing programme and understand another role of the game?” he asked rhetorically. He added: "At first I thought being a referee was simple, but today I learnt there are some different technicalities."

The refereeing training initiative is ongoing, and is available to all schools participating in the GFF-Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls' National Secondary Championship.

“The success of the F4S programme requires sustained investment in capacity building across the entire school football ecosystem. We need to develop more referees, match commissioners and venue coordinators within the school system. My hope is that many of these young people will eventually move on to serve the sport at other levels with the knowledge and skills they will acquire from these training programmes. These are important steps as we endeavour to establish the GFF Schools Football Secretariat later this year,” President Forde has remarked.

The tournament, Guyana's largest girls' competition, signifies commencement of the implementation phase of the FIFA Football For School (F4S) programme, established in collaboration with FIFA, the GFF, and the Government of Guyana on May 12, 2022.

More than a thousand student-athletes have enrolled in the national competition, which culminated in the finalisation of the Round of 16 on June 2, fol-

lowing matches across nine regions.

The Round of 16 competition would feature Santa Rosa Secondary, Waramuri Primary Top, Westminster Secondary, Queen's College, New Campbellville Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, Woodley Park Secondary, Charity Secondary, Tucville Secondary, President's College and Ann's Grove Secondary competing at the GFF Providence facility in games set for June 22 and 23.

Pooran’s 98, McCoy’s...

Pooran couldn't do much damage to Naib, who bowled a couple of superb overs for two wickets, using the slower ones to trick the batters. When Pooran clobbered back-to-back sixes in the last over off Naveen, he looked primed to get to a century, only to be denied by a direct throw from Omarzai from deep cover.

No match in the chase

Coming into the match, Afghanistan's middle order (#3 to 6) averaged a mere 19.71, with the openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran doing the heavy lifting in the big wins against New Zealand and Uganda. Gurbaz fell early in trying to take on powerplay enforcer Akeal Hosein, and this exposed the Afghanistan middle order in a tall chase.

Ibrahim managed to punish an erring Alzarri Joseph, hitting him for one

four and two sixes in the first six overs. He also managed to get a few away from Hosein, but could not keep down a languid flick off Obed McCoy to deep backward square leg. McCoy was brought in for Romario Shepherd, who has gone home for the birth of his second child. Playing his first match in this T20 World Cup, McCoy then dismissed Najibullah Zadran a couple of balls later, before knocking Nabi over to reduce Afghanistan to 63 for 5 inside the tenth over. Omarzai managed to strike a few lusty blows, but Hosein, Gudakesh Motie and Andre Russell never let Afghanistan get away. As a result, West Indies registered their second-biggest win in T20 World Cups (by runs), and head into the Super Eight stage with a clean slate, as if to say, "Talk now!" (ESPNCricinfo)

A look at the student-referee training hosted by the GFF

Kavisha Dilhari took four wickets and calmed Sri Lankan nerves with a crucial 28 after they lost two early wickets

ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2024…

Pooran’s 98, McCoy’s three-for blow away Afghanistan

It's been a World Cup for the bowlers, but Nicholas Pooran has set the tone early for a dominant batting dis play from the West Indies, who thrashed Afghanistan to fin ish the group stage with a perfect re cord.

Pooran tore into Azmatullah Omarzai in the pow erplay and made him leak a world record 36 runs in an over; and Afghanistan never quite recovered from that blow.

Pooran's 98 off just 53 balls helped West Indies to 218 for 5, which was 104 too many for Afghanistan in the last group match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The result had little bearing on the Super Eight seedings, which

were pre-decided, with both teams already ce-

Nicholas Pooran acknowledging the crowd after his blistering 98

114, with all the five bowlers the hosts used sharing the spoils.

It was the highest total for West Indies in Men's T20 World Cups; and Pooran, who hit eight sixes in his stay, has surpassed Chris Gayle to become the leading six-hitter for the West Indies in

Edgy Charles sets the tone

Johnson Charles has a stand named after him at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia, and he did not disappoint. He had two ducks and a 44 heading into this game, and he understandably was tentative at the start of his innings. However, he started with a flurry of fours, mostly via outside edges - beating short third to either side in the

second over, and then getting one over point in the third.

He confident ly dealt with any thing with pace, but Naveen-ul-Haq's change of pace was too much to contend with, and he chipped one to cover after a duel that saw a dropped chance.

Powerful Pooran raises decibels

Two balls were all Pooran needed to get his eyes in on a belter of a pitch in Gros Islet. He signalled his arriv al with a record 36-run over against Azmatullah Omarzai, in which he hit three sixes and two fours, including one off a noball. Afghanistan generally turn to Mujeeb Ur Rahman for control in the powerplay, but with him out injured, Rashid Khan had to bring himself on for the first time this T20 World Cup. He was welcomed with a couple of fours as West Indies finished the powerplay on 92 for 1, the highest score in the first six overs in

back a template we were so used to seeing in IPL 2024: scores around and over 250, but Rashid and his spin-twin Noor Ahmad used the slight purchase from the surface to tie the batters down. Both varied the legbreak and googly, and also the lengths, to keep the batters guessing. The bounce from the surface

SCOREBOARD

West Indies (20 ovs maximum)

Brandon King

b Azmatullah Omarzai 7

Gulbadin Naib lbw

b Motie 7

Azmatullah Omarzai c Powell

b Hosein 23

Johnson Charles c Gulbadin Naib

b Naveen-ul-Haq 43

Nicholas Pooran † run out

(Azmatullah Omarzai) 98

Najibullah Zadran c Charles

b McCoy 0

Mohammad Nabi

Shai Hope c Najibullah Zadran

b Gulbadin Naib 25

Rovman Powell (c) c sub (Nangeyalia Kharote)

b Gulbadin Naib 26

Andre Russell not out 3

Sherfane Rutherford not out 1

Extras (lb 4, nb 2, w 9) 15

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.90) 218/5

Did not bat: Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Obed McCoy

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Brandon King, 1.5 ov), 2-102 (Johnson Charles, 7.6 ov), 3-135 (Shai Hope, 12.1 ov), 4-199 (Rovman Powell, 18.3 ov), 5-215 (Nicholas Pooran, 19.4 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-0-38-0

Azmatullah Omarzai 2-0-41-1

Rashid Khan 4-0-45-0

Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-41-1

Noor Ahmad 4-0-20-0

Mohammad Nabi 1-0-15-0

Gulbadin Naib 2-0-14-2

Afghanistan

(T: 219 runs from 20 ovs)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz † c Russell

b Hosein

Ibrahim Zadran c Charles

b McCoy

also came to their aid. As a result, only one four and three sixes -- two of them by Shai Hope against Mohammad Nabi -- came in the middle phase (overs 7 to 16), when West Indies scored only 66 and lost two

Deserving Pooran misses out on ton

The 17th over almost woke up the sleeping giant Pooran, who got his first four since the powerplay when Gulbadin Naib misfielded one at sweeper cover. He then tore into Rashid, who had figures of zero for 21 heading into his last over, in the 18th. Pooran stayed deep in the crease, and often cleared his front leg in a bid to convert the good length deliveries that Rashid generally bowls. Pooran's leg side was the longer boundary, and Rashid bowling full only helped Pooran’s cause. He struck three sixes and a four in the over to take 24 off it, decisively turning the tide in the hosts' favour.

b McCoy 1

Karim Janat run out (King/Hosein) 14

Rashid Khan (c)c Powell

b Russell 18

Noor Ahmad c Rutherford

b Motie 2

Naveen-ul-Haq c †Pooran b Joseph 4

Fazalhaq Farooqi not out 0

Extras (b 4, w 3) 7

TOTAL16.2 Ov (RR: 6.97) 114

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 0.3 ov), 2-45 (Gulbadin Naib, 6.2 ov), 3-59 (Ibrahim Zadran, 7.4 ov), 4-59 (Najibullah Zadran, 7.6 ov), 5-63 (Mohammad Nabi, 9.2 ov), 6-89 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 12.3 ov), 7-89 (Karim Janat, 12.5 ov), 8-98 (Noor Ahmad, 14.1 ov), 9-107 (Naveen-ul-Haq, 15.4 ov), 10-114 (Rashid Khan, 16.2 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Akeal Hosein 4-1-21-2

Andre Russell 2.2-0-17-1

Alzarri Joseph 3-0-30-1

Gudakesh Motie 4-0-28-2

Obed McCoy 3-0-14-3

ENTERTAINMENT

Men's T20 World Cups.

GoG injects $7M into Aliann Pompey Invitational meet

…Event set to light up NTFC this Saturday

The Aliann Pompey Invitational (API) meet, set to be run off this weekend at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara (WCD), has received a major boost from the Government of Guyana by way of the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (MCYS), a missive from that entity announced on Tuesday.

Some $7 million has been injected by the MCYS into this Saturday’s track event, representing the largest investment ever received from the

Government of Guyana since inception of this meet in 2016.

Similar to what had obtained in previous years, this year's AP Invitational is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour, and it provides several athletes from around the world with a final opportunity for direct qualification to the Paris Olympic Games. The cut-off date for qualification to the Olympics has been set at June 30.

In a brief handing over ceremony held at the MCYS Boardroom on Main Street, subject

Minister Charles Ramson Jr declared that the Aliann Pompey Invitational aligns perfectly with President Irfaan Ali's vision to position Guyana as a hub for marquee sporting events, thereby enhancing the country's sports tourism sector. His remarks followed a meeting held yesterday between the MCYS, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and event organiser Aliann Pompey.

Minister Ramson also highlighted that this investment, the largest since the event's inception in 2016, underscores the

Government pledges two-year support

Through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Government of Guyana has pledged its support for the Kares ‘One Guyana’ T10 Tape ball Blast for the next two years.

Following a well-received inaugural edition in 2023, Minister Charles Ramson Jr has confirmed continued funding for the fast-paced cricket competition.

Recognising its potential for growth, the MCYS has solidified its sponsorship for the next two tournaments, the minister foreseeing the tournament as having the capacity to grow further into a mega sporting event involving people from communities nationwide.

His sentiments echo those of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who has hailed the 2023 tournament as a tremendous platform for grassroots sport activities and a catalyst for attracting international exposure.

According to the organising team: “Tape ball is certainly the community sport, and we saw last year that when the teams came to represent, their communities were in support, which was most evident in the massive crowd at the National Stadium.”

Government of Guyana's commitment to supporting the AP Invitational. The focus, he said, is on sustaining and developing Guyana's only international track and field championship.

Meanwhile, Pompey, after thanking Minister Ramson and the Government of Guyana, stated, “The overarching theme for this year’s edition of the competition is ‘Legacy’. We see that played out in different areas. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has committed in a big way to the success of the meet, not just this year, but several to come. The Honourable Minister has expressed the importance on building on the foun-

dation year by year, and knows that it means commitment over a period of time,” Pompey said. She added that the input of the MCYS “is significant to the longevity of the competition and to the sport. All this trickles down to our athletes, and

we’ll continue to see significant development. We thank him for his support.”

A press conference is scheduled for Friday in the boardroom of the MCYS headquarters on Main Street, Georgetown, where further details would be provided.

Upper Mazaruni Football tournament…

Jawalla Girls; Kako, Kamarang Boys win on Day 2

The Upper Mazaruni District Football tournament continued on Monday with another three exciting games showcasing football talent in the hinterland.

Stadium on August 25.

With the increased interest from teams, the organisers have indicated that with essential corporate support, they would venture to have more teams in the competition from 2025.

The first prize has been increased to G$1.5M, while the second prize is now G$500,000, and the two losing semi-finalists would each pocket G$250,000.

The first game of the day saw Jawalla thumping Kako 5-0 in the female category, with Jawalla’s Deviana Hunter being the star on show, netting a hattrick of goals in the 16th, 23rd and 50th minutes. She was ably assisted by teammate Caezanna Reuben,

Once again, 32 of the best Tape ball teams in Guyana will vie for lucrative cash prizes and year-long bragging rights, with action set for August 3, 4, 11, and 25.

The semi-finals, final, and Cricket for Charity match return to the National

The organisers further elaborated that with keen interest from persons from Pakistan, the United States of America, Trinidad, Barbados and Dominica, there is undoubtedly immense potential for exponential growth with more corporate support. Additionally, the tournament has another humanitarian impact. The Cricket For Charity match, led by President Ali, raised over G$20M in 2023, and that number is expected to be increased with the continued support of a critical stakeholder in the private sector.

Cash and other prizes will be given to the Playerof-the-Final and the Most Valuable Player, as well as the ones scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets.

Last year, Eccles AllStars defeated V-Net Vipers in the final, while Team Corruption and Tarmac were the losing semi-finalists.

who found the back of the net in the 5th and 22nd minutes to bring the team’s tally to 5.

The Jawalla males did not enjoy similar good fortune, and were adminis-

tered a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Kako males. Kelyeon Williams was Kako’s chief marksman, exacting revenge for the girls’ side with a hattrick in the 17th, 23rd and 48th minutes of the encounter.

The final game of the day resulted in a 4-1 victory for Kamarang over Phillipai.

Kelvin McCalmont opened the scoring in the 2nd minute of the encounter, and later made it a 2-0 game in the 15th minute. Raydon Krammer also netted a double, finding the back of the nets in the 36th and 48th to bring Kamarang’s tally to four. Lennon George netted Phillipai’s consolation goal in the 12th minute.

The Upper Mazaruni District Football tournament will continue over the course of the week; it is sponsored by Guyana Beverages Inc under their Busta and Turbo brands, and by MVP Sports.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr (right) with one of the organisers, Akeem Greene, after a recent meeting at his office

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle making a presentation to Aliann Pompey

Jawalla’s goal scorers are, from left: Caezanna Reuben (2 goals) and Deviana Hunter (3 goals)

Kamarang’s goal scorers are, from left: Raydon Krammer (2 goals) and Kelvin McCalmont (2 goals)